Volume 16 , Issue 44

Virginia Algonquian Groups

The following list of Virginia Algonquian groups is based on the accounts of English settlers, whose interest lay primarily in Indian military power. The locations were those of capital towns as shown in Smith's map, and any relevant archaeological reports on these towns were cited.

Pronunciations and spellings were the modern ones still found in Virginia place names, unless otherwise specified. The list begins with a north-south sweep down the Eastern Shore, then moves up the southwestern bank of the James, down the northeastern bank of the James, and so on to the Potomac.

Occohannock (originally spelled Accohannock; ah-co-han-nock): about three miles west of Exmore (Accomac County); 40 men (i.e., warriors; Smith and Strachey); actually a sub chiefdom of Accomac.

Accomac (ac-o-mack): at the head of Kings Creek, near Sheraton (Northampton County); 80 men (Smith and Strachey). The name means "across the water."

Chesapeake (Ches-a-peak): east of the South Branch of the Elizabeth River (city of Chesapeake); 100 men (Smith). Not originally part of Powhatan's dominions and probably exterminated by the time Jamestown was founded. The name means "big salt bay." Nanosecond (Nan-sa-mund): at the junction of the Exchange Branch with the Nanosecond River proper, near Reid's Ferry (city of Suffolk); 200 men (Smith and starchy).

Warraskoyack (name now obsolete; possibly wa-ra-skoik): on the Pagan (formerly Warraskoyack) River, at or near Smithfield (Isle of Wight County); 40 men (Smith in 1612; not mentioned in his 1624 account) or 60 men (Strachey).

Quiyoughcohannock (name now obsolete; possibly kwee-o-co-han-nock): at Claremont (Surry County); 25 men Smith) or 60 men (Strachey). The first three syllables indicate a connection with a deity; exact translation doubtful.

Wyanock (now spelled Weyanoke; wye-a-nome): primary capital on Weyanoke Point (Charles City County) and secondary capital at the head of Powells creek (Prince George county); 100 men (Smith) and 100 men in the morhtern sector and 50 in the southern sector (Strachey). The name may mean "at the bend."

Appamattuck (now spelled Appomattox; ap-po-mat-tux): on the western bank of the Appomattox River upstream from Swift Creek (Chesterfield County); 60 men (Smith) or 100 men (Strachey). The name may relate either to trap fishing or to a waiting place.

Powhatan (possibly formerly po-ha-tan; now pow-a-tan): on the east side of the James River near its falls (city of Richmond); 40 men (Smith) or 50 men (Strachey). The name may mean "Priest's town" or, more likely, "town at the falls." The Powhatan name for the falls was Paqwachowng.

Arrowhateck (name now obsolete; possibly ar-ro-ha-teck): on the eastern side of the James River ten miles downstream from its falls (Henrico County); 30 men (Smith) or 60 men (Strachey).

Weyanock northern territory (see above).

Chickahominy (chick-a-hom-a-nee): no one capital town (James City, Charles City, and New Kent counties); 200 men (Smith in 1612; 250 in 1624 account) or 300 men Strachey). An archaeological survey has been carried out. The name means "Crushed corn people."

Paspahegh (name now obsolete; probably pa-spa-hay): west of the mouth of the Chickahominy River (James City County); 40 men (Smith and Strachey). The name probably means "at the mouth [of a stream]."

Kecoughtan (khi-co-tan): southeast of the mouth of Hampton Creek (city of Hampton); 20 men (Smith) or 30 men Strachey).

Chiskiack (or Kiskiack; name now obsolete; probably chih-ski-ack): east of Inian Field Creek (York County): 40 or 50 men (Smith) or 50 men (Strachey). Some excavation has been carried out.

Youghtanund (name now obsolete; probably yo-ta-nund): somewhere on the upper Pamunkey River (King William or New Kent County); 60 men (Smith) or 70 men (Strachey).

Pamunkey (pa-mun-kee): several "capital" towns near the mouth of the Pamunky River (King William and New Kent counties); 300 men (Smith and Strachey).

Mattapanient (anglicized to Mattaponi [mat-a-po-nye]): somewhere on the middle reaches of the Mattaponi River (King William or King and Queen County); 30 men (Smith) or 140 men (strachey. The name may mean "landing place."

Werowocomoco (name now obsolete; probably weh-ro-wo-com-o-co): at Puritan Bay (Gloucester County); 40 men (Smith and Strachey). The capital of Powhatan's empire in 1607. The name means "Kings-howse [town]."

Pinakatank (or Payankatank or Peanketank; pa-yank-a-tank): on the northeastern side of the Piankatank River, just downriver from Scoggins Creek (Middlesex County); 40 men (Smith in 1612; 50 or 60 in his 1624 account).

Opiscopank (or Opiscatumek; anglicized to Piscataway [pih-scat-a-way]; originally the accent was probably on the second syllable): on the southwestern side of the Rappahonnock River, east of Lagrange Creek (Middlesex County); no warrior count - the group appears only on Smith's map and i Strachey's text in passing.

Nandtaughtacund (possibly anglicized to Nanzatico; nan-zat-i-co): east of the head of Portobago Bay (Caroline County); 150 men (Smith and Strachey).

Cuttatawomen (name obsolete in that area): on the northwest side of the Rappahonock River near Popcastle Turn (King George County); 20 men (Smith and Strachey). Excavations have been carried out on or near the site.

Pissaseck (name now obsolete): at Leedstown (Westmoreland County); no population given. Some excavation has been carried out.

Rappahannock (or Toppahannock; rap-a-hah-nock): apparently two capital towns, one near Neals Point (Richmond County) and one somewhere near modern Tappahannock; 100 men (Smith and Strachey).

Moraughtacund (anglicized to Morattico [mo-rat-i-co]; therefore, the original was probably pronounced mo-raw-ta-cund): near Simonsson (Richmond County); 80 men (Smith and Strachey).

Cuttatawomen (anglicized to Corrotoman [cur-ro-toh-man]; therefore, the original was perhaps pronounced cuh-ta-tah-wo-man): southwest of White Stone (Lancaster County); 30 men (Smith and Strachey).

Wiccocomico (anglicized to Wicomico [wi-com-i-co]; therefore, the regional was probably pronounced wi-com-i-co): north of the head of the Little Wicomico River (Northumberland County); 130 men (Smith and Strachey). The name could mean "House [or town] at the end," perhaps meaning the end of Northern Neck.

Sekakawon (or Secacawoni; anglicized first to Chickacone and then to Coan; the accent was probably on the penultimate syllable): somewhere on the Coan River (Northumberland County); 30 men (Smith and Strachey). Excavations have been carried out.

Onawmanient (anglicized to Nomini [na-min-ee]; therefore, the original may have been pronounced o-naw-man-i-ent): on the western side of Nomini Bay (Northumberland County): 100 men (Smith and Strachey).

Patawomeck (anglicized to Potomac [pat-toh-mack]; therefore, the original may have been pronounced pa-taw-o-meck): north of Accokeek Creek (Stafford County); 160 men (Smith in 1612 and Strachey; more than 200 in Smith's 1624 account). Excavations have been carried out. The name may mean "trading place."
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