The Powhatan: Location

The Powhatan confederacy occupied the lowland region of Virginia from the Atlantic Ocean inland to the rivers and from the Patuxent south to the Carolinas. The Atlantic Ocean bordered Virginia on the east; Florida bordered it on the south; and Nova Francia on the north. The western limits were unknown at that time. The low land, from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay up to the head of the rivers was called Virginia; the high land extended beyond the falls at Richmond and was called Britannia. Forty or 50 miles from the falls was a high, woody land, with rocky and mountainous hills. From the mountains ran brooks which became five principal rivers (now called James, York, Rappahannock, Potomac and Patuxent) which run from northwest to the southeast. The York river split into two smaller ones, the Pamunkey and the Mattaponi, and the James River divided into the Chickahominy and James.^{1Christian F. Feest, The Powhatan Tribes (New York: Chelsea House, 1990), 15-16.}

In the south at Peccarecamek and Ochanahoen, the natives had two-story houses with stone walls. It is said they were taught this construction by the English at Roanoak. “When Captain Newport with 110 men landed at the Chesapeake Bay in 1607 he found people breeding turkeys, and at Ritanoe, the Weroance Eyanoco preserved seven of the English alive—fowre men, two boyes, and one yonge mayde (who escaped and fled up the river of Chanoke), to beat his copper, of which he hath certaine mynes at the said Ritanoe, as also at Pamawauk are said to be store of salt stones.”^{2William Strachey The Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia; espressing the cosmographie and comodities of the country, togither with the manners and customes of the people Edited from the original manuscript (ca. 1610-12) in the British Museum by R.H. Major, Esq. of the British Museum. (London: Printed for the Hakluyt Society, 1849), 26.}

To the west and northwest was the territory of the Monacans. On the north lived the people Powhatan called the Bocootawwonaukes, who melted copper and other metals. Pokotawes was their kind of wheat and was more in abundance in the high land, which also had more beasts, while the low land had more fish and fowl. The Chesapeake Bay and Powhatan river divided the land into North and South Virginia. The south cape of the bay was called Cape Henry and showed white hilly sand with pines and firs growing along the shore. The north foreland of the bay was called Accowmack by the Indians and Cape Charles by the English. South Virginia lay very low, with sandy soil, no rocks or stones, diverse trees, uncharted rivers and many islands. The south was supposed to be under a leader as powerful as Powhatan.^{3Ibid., 27-28.}

North Virginia lay on the north side of the Powhatan river (called by the English, King’s river and later James river), to the Falls at Richmond, and then to the Atlantic. The principle towns and forts of the English were situated on the north shore of the King’s river. All of this was under the dominion of Powhatan. From the north side of the Chesapeake Bay was the Chickahamania river, another river by the Cedar Isle, a convenient harbor at Kecoughtan, the by-rivers turning into bays, coves, and creeks. Most of these by-rivers were inhabited by several nations, or rather families, who took their names from the rivers, and who were commanded by a weroance.^{4Ibid., 29, 35.}

At the mouth of the King’s river were the Kecoughtans who had no more than 20 able men. The Paspaheghes, some 40 miles from the Bay, had about 40 men. On the south side of this river, the Appamatucks had 60 men; the Quiyougcohanocks, 25; the Warraskoyacks, 40; the Nandsamunds, 200; the Chesapeacks,100. There were about 100 Weanocks, 30 Arrowhatocks, and 40 Powhatan. On the Chickahamania river there were about 200 men. The Chickhamanians were governed by priests and assistants of the elders called Caw-cawwassoughes. Fourteen miles north of the river Powhatan was the river Pamunck, which Strachey called the Prince’s river (York river). Where this river divided the country was called Pamaunke, and had about 300 men. About 25 miles lower on the north side of this river is Werawocomoco, where their great king lived when Captain Smith was delivered to him as a prisoner. At that time, there were not more than 40 able men. Ten or 12 miles lower, on the south side of the Youghtanund river was Chiskiack, which had about 40 or 50 men. ^{5Edward Arber, editor Travels and Works of Captain John Smith, President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England 1580-1631 (Edinburgh: John Grant, 1910), 51-52.}

At Cinquoteck, the Pamunck divided into two branches: on the south branch were the Youghtamunds who had about 60 men, and on the north branch were the Mattapaments with 30 men. On the north side of this river was Werowocomoco, “where theire great kinge inhabited when we came first into the country…Upon Youghtamund is the seat of Powhatans three brethren, whome, we learne, are successively to govern after Powhatan, in the same dominions which Powhatan, by right of birth, as the elder brother, now holdes.” On the river Opiscatumeck or Toppahanock (Queens river, now Rappahannock) were the Mannahoacks, the Cuttatawomen with 30 men, the Moraughtacunds with 30 men, the Toppahanocks with 100 men, and the Nandtaughtacunds with 150 men. On the Patawomeck (Elizabeth, now Potomac) were the Wighcocomoco with 130 men, the Cekakawwon with 30 men, the Onawmanient with 100 men, and the Patawomeck with 160 men. The Patawomeck divided into four smaller rivers: Quiyough--Taxenent (40 men), Potapoco (20 men), Pamacocack (60 men), Moyoones (100 men), and Nacothtank (80 men).^{6 Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia, 35-38 .}

On the Pawtuxunt (Dukes river) were the Acquintanacsuck, Pawtuxunt, and Mattapament (200 men altogether): “…but they inhabite togither…these, of all other, were found the most civile to give entertainment, and therefore from them we receaved great curtesie and much good cheare.”

On the east side of the bay was the river Tockwhogh with 100 men; the Ozinies with 60 men; the Kuskarawaock, 200 men; Tants Wighcocomoco, 100 men; Acohanock, 40 men; and Accomack, 80 men. Smith estimated that within 60 miles of Jamestown there were 5000 people, mostly women and children, and only 1500 men.^{7John Smith A True Relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that Collony, which is now resident in the South part thereof, till the last returne from thence. Written by Captain Smith, Coronell of the said Collony, to a worshipfull friend of his in England. (London, 1608), 55.}

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Last updated 05/08/2008