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 HISTORIGAL SKETCH OP THE INDIANS WHO 
 INHABITED THE EASTERN PART 
 OP NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 By Frederic Kidder 
 
 Hist. Mag. 
 June, 1857, 
 
"X 
 
 Library of 
 The University of North Carolina 
 
 COLLECTION OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 ENDOWED BY 
 
 JOHN SPRUNT HILL 
 
 of the Class of 1889 
 
 ^^70.01-^ ir^tK 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 Vol. I.] 
 
 JUNE, 1857. 
 
 [No. 6. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE INDIANS 
 
 WHO INHABITED THK EASTERN PART OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 FROM 1524 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 Extracts from a. Paper read before the New England Ilistorical 
 and Genealogical Societ) , May 5, 1857, 
 
 BY FREDERIC KIDDER, ESQ. 
 
 In pursuing investigations into the early his- 
 tory of ahnost any part of our country, we meet 
 at once with traces of a race which till a compara- 
 tively recent period have been unknown and 
 whose history the researches of the most perse- 
 vering antinuary cannot pursue beyond the period 
 of European discovery and colonization. 
 
 jNIuch philosophical enquiry has been expended 
 in endeavors to solve the question — so naturally 
 presented to every enquiring mind led in any way 
 to pursue this subject, — from whence did the 
 aboriginal inhabitants of America come ? and at 
 what period did they make their advent here ? 
 
 In attempting to answer this query, some of our 
 most ingenious writers have gone over the whole 
 ground, and have brought forward many interest- 
 ing arguments to show in what way this continent 
 might have been peopled, but have entirely failed 
 in demonstrating in any satisfactory manner that 
 there is more than a possibility of their theory 
 being correct. In the limits of a paper like this, 
 it will not be advisable to enter upon this field of 
 enquiry, but rather to pi'oceed at once to detail 
 what we have been able to collect relative to the 
 Indians who inhabited the eastern part of North 
 Carolina, giving the particulars of their earliest 
 discovery, the names of the various tribes, their 
 locations, numbers and customs, as well as some 
 account of the wars in which they became involved, 
 causing their (jxtinction or removal from the State. 
 Every person who has had much experience in 
 collecting facts from any other source than written 
 authorities, must be aware that but slight reliance 
 can be placed upon any relation beyond the vision 
 or memory of the relator. And "without giving 
 credent e to any of the various tales with which 
 the natives were so much disposed to amuse and 
 
 HIST. MAG. 21 
 
 often to satisfy the Europeans on their first arrival 
 on their shores, we will commence at once with 
 the authentic narratives of the earliest discovery 
 and explorations of this coast. 
 
 The earhest interview which any European 
 had with the Indians in the territory now consti- 
 tuting the State of North Carolina, took place 
 during the voyage of Verrazzano, in 1524. He 
 first made the coast in the latitude of 34°, proba- 
 bly just north of Cape Fear, and thus describes 
 the natives Avhich he saw there : — 
 
 "Many people who were seen coming to the 
 sea-side fled at our approach, but occasionally 
 stopping, they looked back upon us with astonish- 
 ment, and some were at length induced by various 
 friendly signs to come to us. They showed the 
 greatest delight on beholding us, wondering at our 
 dress, countenances and complexion. They then 
 showed us by signs where we could more con- 
 veniently secure our boat, and offered us some of 
 their provisions. That your Majesty may know 
 all that we learned, while on shore, of their man- 
 ners and customs of life, I will relate what we saw, 
 as briefly as possible. 
 
 " They go entirely naked, except that about 
 the loins they wear skins of small animals, like 
 martens, fastened by a girdle of plaited grass, to 
 which they tie all round the body the tails of other 
 animals, hanging down to the knees. All Ou;er 
 parts of the body and the head are naked. Some 
 wear garlands similar to birds' feathers. The 
 complexion of these people is Hack, — not much 
 different from that of the Ethiopians. Their hair 
 is black and thick, and not very long ; it is worn 
 tied back upon the head in the form of a little tail. 
 In person they are of good proportions, of middle 
 stature — a little above our own, — broad across 
 the breast, strong in the arms, and well formed in 
 the legs and other parts of the body. The only 
 exception to their good looks is that they have 
 broad faces ; but not all, as we saw many tliat had 
 sharp ones with large black eyes and a fixed ex- 
 pression. They are not very strong in body, but 
 acute in mind, active and swift of foot, as far as 
 we could judge by observation. In these last par- 
 ticulars they resemble the people of the East, 
 especially those most remote. 
 
 We could not learn a great many particulars of 
 
 ^<\<\f< 
 
162 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 [June, 
 
 their usatjes, on account of our short stay among 
 them and the distance of our ship fi-om the 
 shore. " * 
 
 After tliis brief interview, a period of more than 
 sixty years elapsed before this coast was againj'is- 
 ited by Europeans, and the red man pursued his 
 original occupations, and pleasures, without any 
 intervention from the other hemisphere. And if 
 the happiness of his race alone Avas to be con- 
 sulted, it were well if their knowledge of the white 
 man had been limited to the transient visit of the 
 enterprising Italian. 
 
 But the spirit of adventure was now aroused 
 through AVestern Eui-ope, and in 1584 Captains 
 Barlow and Amidas, with two ships, made their 
 appearance on this coast. 
 
 ******** 
 
 The next year was signalized by the arrival of 
 numerous ships and colonists under Sir Richard 
 Grenville. In this fleet came several gentlemen 
 of high repute in their native country, — men who 
 had been trained at Oxford and Cambridge, — 
 among whom was Thomas Ilariot, a philosopher, 
 mathematician, and historian, who here saw human 
 nature in its most primitive aspect and unsophisti- 
 cated form. 
 
 It is to his pen we are indebted for an interest- 
 ing account of the natives of this region ; and as 
 it was written previous to the great changes which 
 their manners and customs soon underwent in 
 consequence of their commerce wth the whites, it 
 is of much more value than any subsequent one. 
 
 There was also in this expedition " Master John 
 T\Tiite, an English painter, who was sent into the 
 country by the Queen's Majesty, not only to draw 
 the description of the place, but hvely to describe 
 the shapes of the inhabitants, their apparel, man- 
 ners of living and fashions, as well as of many other 
 things, at the special charges of the worthy knight, 
 Sii"*Valter Raleigh, who bestowed no small sum of 
 money In the search and discovery of that country." 
 
 It is to the talents of White that we are in- 
 debted for the illustrations of aboriginal life to be 
 found in that rare work entitled " Harlot's Vir- 
 ginia," published by De Bry, in 1590; and that 
 they were true representations, we want no better 
 proof than to know that they were executed under 
 the eye of such true and honorable men as Lane 
 and Hariot. ****** 
 
 As it is certain that previous to the advent of 
 the Europeans the habits and practices of Indian 
 life had known little change, we can assume that 
 the pen of Ilariot and the pencil of White would 
 as well describe the aborigines of five centuries ago, 
 as of the period when Raleigh's ships first rode at 
 anchor along the sandy shores of Ocracock and 
 Hatteras. ******* 
 
 * N. Y. Historical Collections, vol. i. 
 
 The description of the natives of this coast pre- 
 vious to about 1590 were mainly from persons who 
 had been sent out in the expeditions made at the 
 suggestion and charge of Raleigh. On the aban- 
 doning of his colonization project, the intercourse 
 with the natives ceased ; and there was probably 
 for a period of sixty years very little if any inter- 
 course between Europeans and Indians, till the 
 English commenced permanent settlements along 
 the shores of Albemarle Sound and Chowan 
 River, which must have been subsequent to 1650. 
 
 In the absence of any other chronicler for a 
 long period than Lawson, it will be necessary to 
 draw largely from his work, entitled " The His- 
 tory of Carolina," which was published at Lon- 
 don, in 1718. It details a long journey which he 
 made into this part of the country as early as 
 1700, and was probably mostly written not fal- 
 from 1710. He seemed to have been well versed 
 in all matters relating to the Indians, and his 
 statements may be relied on. In the following 
 pages we shall confine our description to the coun- 
 try lying east of the Falls in the Roanoke and 
 Tar Rivers, and northward of Core Sound. 
 
 Over this large area was spread various tribes 
 who seem to have been known by distinct names, 
 and who often spoke quite different languages, 
 while their general habits and modes of living 
 were similar. 
 
 The following may be considered as the near- 
 est approximation to their names, locations, and 
 numbers, about the year 1700: The Tuskarora 
 Indians had fifteen towns, viz : Haruta, Waqui, 
 Contah-nah, Anna Ooka, Conauh-Kare, Harooka, 
 Una Kauhan, Kentanuska, Chunaneets, Kenta, 
 Eno, Naur-hegh-ne, Oonossoora, Tosneoc (Tos- 
 not), Nonauharitse, Kursoorooka. These towns 
 contained then by estimation 1,200 fighting men 
 and a total population of not far from 4,000 per- 
 sons. The Waccon (Wocracon or Ocracock) 
 tribe had two towns, viz : Yupwaureman and 
 Tootatmeer, containing 120 warriors. Macha- 
 puQga tribe were probably located on the river of 
 that name. Although their town was called ]\Iara- 
 miskeet (Matimuskeet), it had only 30 fighting 
 men. Bear River (Bay River?) tribe, 50 fighting 
 men. Maherring Indians were located on the 
 Maherring river, and had 50 warriors. Chuwon 
 (Chowan) Indians were settled on Rennet's Creek, 
 and had 15 men only. The Paspatank Indians, 
 on that river, had but 10 men. They had pre- 
 viously been considerably engaged in farming, 
 kept cattle and made butter. Poteskeit tribe were 
 situated on the North River, and had 30 fighting 
 men. The Nottaway tribe were on Winoack 
 Creek, and had 30 fighting men. The Hatteras 
 tribe were located on the banks near the Cape, 
 and had 16 fighting men. The Connamox tribe 
 were located about Cape Lookout, in two towns, 
 
 ^ -f # t 
 
 s 
 
1857.] 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 163 
 
 Coralline and Raruta, and had 25 fighting men. 
 The Neus were probably on that river; their 
 towns were Cliatooka and Rouconk ; fighting men, 
 15. Pamptico Indians, 15 fighting men. The 
 Jaupini Indians had onl)^ 6 persons. 
 
 The Toteros, Saponas, Keiauwees, Acanechos, 
 and Schoccories, had then lately emigrated from 
 the west, and the five tribes were supposed to 
 contain in all about 750 persons. These were 
 principally located on the Sapona (Deep) River 
 and its tributaries. Lawson states that all these 
 tribes had very much diminished since their inter- 
 coui-se with the whites, and that rum and the 
 small pox had reduced them within fifty years to 
 less than one sixth of their original numbers. 
 
 Thus these various tribes and divisions con- 
 tained over 1,500 fighting men, and, including 
 women and children, over 6,000 persons. 
 
 In their general characteristics the Indians of 
 this part of the country were more advanced in 
 those arts that go to make up the comforts of life, 
 than were the natives of most parts of America. 
 
 In person they were an exceedingly well shaped 
 people, — rather taller than Europeans, — their 
 faces broader and cheek-bones not so prominent 
 as in the more northern tribes. This peculiarity 
 it will be seen is a strongly marked feature in all 
 the portraits now extant, and is still a marked 
 feature in the remaining southern tribes. 
 
 The color of all the American Indians was quite 
 uniform, and the difference of chmate seemed to 
 have no effect on the surface of the skin. 
 
 But the tribes which we are now describing had 
 a singular custom of daubing themselves with a 
 preparation of beai-'s grease mixed with the soot 
 from burning pitch pine, similar to lampblack. 
 Commencing this in earliest infancy, it was always 
 continued, and gave them a very hlack and un- 
 couth appearance. In hunting, these people ex- 
 celled all others, depending entirely on the bow 
 and spear till some time after the permanent set- 
 tlement of the country ; and when they came to 
 possess fire-arms, they soon handled them quite as 
 dexterously as the whites, and Avere for a long 
 time employed by the planters for this purpose, as 
 no part of the continent more abounded in game 
 than this region. But the superiority of these 
 Indians over the northern tribes seemed to be 
 mainly In their greater attention to agriculture. 
 To satisfy us on that point, it is only necessary to 
 examine the picture of the town of Secota, in 
 Harlot's work before alluded to ; and all the 
 chroniclers who have written of them previously 
 to the Indian war in 1712, fully describe the 
 abundance of their vegetables and the great ex- 
 tent of their fields. In this respect they seemetl 
 to be far in advance of almost any other tribes of • 
 ■which we have minute information. I 
 
 Unlike their northern neighbors, they did not i 
 
 consider labor as degrading, and compel their 
 women to cultivate the earth ; but, on the con- 
 trary, they seemed to delight in the labors of the 
 field, and used every exertion to impress their 
 young men early with the necessity of cultivating 
 the soil. ' Of course their efforts were not to be 
 compared with those demanded in our own time. 
 Their circumstances and necessities did not re- 
 quire It ; for, with a mild climate, the virgin soil 
 yielded abundant harvests without the manures or 
 deep ploughing that are now required. But that 
 their main subsistence was derived from the pro- 
 ductions of their fields, there can be no reasonable 
 doubt. The variety of their productions must have 
 been much greater than has generally been sup- 
 posed. 
 
 The most Important of these was the maize 
 or Indian corn. To what particular part of the 
 continent this plant was Indigenous, has never yet 
 been fully ascertained ; but certain it is, that no- 
 where does It seem to be more prolific, or show a 
 more splendid appearance, than on the alluvial 
 lands In the eastern part of Korth Carolina. There 
 many fields have continued to produce large crops 
 for two centuries without showing any apparent 
 diminution of fertility. Cultivated as this plant Is 
 over the entire extent of our national domain, it 
 may be considered as the best symbol of our coun- 
 try, more expressively representing plenty than 
 any other production of our soil. The ease with 
 which it was planted, gathered and preserved, 
 without risk of injury from insects or the elements, 
 as well as the rapidity with which it could be pre- 
 pared for use, made it Invaluable to the aborig- 
 ines. 
 
 They also cultivated extensively a great variety 
 of beans ; some of which, particularly calamneies, 
 are in use among the white people at the pres- 
 ent day. Watermelons, squashes, pumpkins, and 
 gourds, were quite abundantly raised, as also 
 ground-nuts, and undoubtedly potatoes. 
 
 With regard to tliis last vegetable, considera- 
 ble doubt "has been expressed whether It had 
 been known to the aborigines of this part of our 
 country previous to the arrival of the Europeans ; 
 but if we consider it a well authenticated fact that 
 the earliest colonists carried it to England, and 
 that Raleigh took great pains to cultivate It on his 
 estate in Ireland, and disseminate it through that 
 island, it would seem but a fair Inference that it 
 was once a native of -Roanoke Island or Its Imme- 
 diate vicinity. But as botanists have in vain 
 looked for the plant in Its wild state in that neigh- 
 borhood, it has been decided that it could never 
 have been Indigenous to that locality. May it 
 not, like tl;e maize, have been a native of some 
 more southern clime, and cultivated and perpetu- 
 ated by the Indians, as no other vegetable would 
 seem to answer as well the description which 
 
164 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 [June, 
 
 Ilariot gives of one of their principal produc- 
 tions. 
 
 Perhaps the most remarkable production of 
 tlieir fields was tobacco. This plant was indis- 
 pensable to their comfort and happiness, and Avas 
 highly valued. The only use made of it was in 
 smoking, and this was the manner in which it was 
 consumed in Europe for a long period after its 
 introduction there ; and it is certainly to be re- 
 gretted that its use was ever extended to chewing. 
 
 It was not only as cultivators of the soil that 
 these Indians exhibited their industry ; but, con- 
 sidering their implements and facilities, they were 
 no mean artisans. By referring to the work be- 
 fore mentioned, it will be seen how reacHly they 
 felled the largest trees of the forest by fire, and 
 fitted them to a proper length in the same way. 
 And how completely they made that element do 
 the duty of the axe and adze, in excavating and 
 shaping their canoes, as Avell as their bowls and 
 other utensils ! Lawson informs us that in his 
 time he had known Indians who, with an ordinary 
 knife, would stock a gun in a skilful manner, 
 although they had never seen it done betbre ; and 
 he asserts that many of them readily learned and 
 worked at handicraft trades, as well as ICuropeans. 
 
 In their dispositions and habits of social life 
 they certainly exhibited a milder deportment than 
 has been generally attributed to them. They 
 could not at that time be called a warlike people ; 
 and while most of the aboriginals of the country 
 were so constantly engaged in contests with neigh- 
 boring tribes, the general character of these people 
 was that of men of peace. 
 
 They never quarrelled among themselves nor 
 treated any of their household with severity. 
 Much of their time was spent in amusements ; 
 among these was gaming. This Avas principally 
 done by means of split reeds, about seven inches 
 in length and fifty-one in number. The art is to 
 discover first what number each one has after they 
 have been distributed. To perform this with facil- 
 ity, required considerable numerical calculation, 
 which often astonished the white people who were 
 spectators. They had several other games, one 
 of which somewhat resembled the throAving of 
 dice, for Avhich they substituted the stones of the 
 persimmon, one side of Avhich Avas marked, and Avas 
 decided by the number of times these came upper- 
 most in a given number of throws. Their ball- 
 playing Avas extremely exciting, and gave them 
 an opportunity to display their great agility and 
 speed. 
 
 LaAvson says : " They are patient under all 
 their afflictions, and have many amiable qualities. 
 They are really better to us than we have ever 
 been to them, as they ahvays freely give us of 
 their victuals at their quarters, Avhile we let them 
 walk by our doors hungry, and do not often re- 
 
 lieve them. We look upon them Avith disdain and 
 scorn, and think them little better than beasts in 
 human shape ; while, Avith all our religion and 
 education, we possess more moral deformities and 
 vices than these people do." 
 
 He pi'oceeds to give his ideas of what measures 
 are most proper and available to civilize and 
 make them good and useful citizens. His advice 
 Avas certainly by far the most proper and practi- 
 cal method of Christianizing them that had then 
 been proposed. He seems to have urged the 
 carrying out of the laAv of kindness and human 
 brotherhood in the true spirit of philanthropy. 
 
 Living as he did among this people for several 
 years, and Avell knoAving their habits, capacities, 
 and inclinations, it must be supposed that his in- 
 formation, and advice, was given with truthful 
 and serious intentions of benefiting their condi- 
 tion, and rendering a service to the white people 
 Avho had settled around them. It also shoAvs that 
 the natives Avere kind-hearted and industrious, 
 anxious for instruction, Avith a capacity fully equal 
 to the Avliite settlers in learning and practising the 
 arts of civilized life, as then In use among the rude 
 pioneers of that region. But the Avise suggestions 
 of the kind-hearted LaAvson had no influence. 
 ******** 
 
 In December, 1710, the Meherin Indians fell 
 on one of the most distant settlements on ChoAvan 
 River, and killed two or three persons. This Avas 
 a direct retaliation for an attack the Avhites had 
 made on them a short time previous. The people 
 throughout the province Avere much alarmed, and 
 many gathered into small forts for mutual protec- 
 tion, while they sent an application to the Colo- 
 nial Legislature for relief; but the government 
 were too much engaged in their OAvn petty 
 schemes of aggrandizement, to listen to any appli- 
 cation of their constituents. The Indians Averefor 
 a time appeased, and confidence restored; but 
 finding themselves continually encroached on by 
 the Avhites, who took possession of their best lands 
 as fast as they Avished to extend their settlements, 
 they again made preparations to assert their natu- 
 i-al rights and find redress for long continued 
 insults and Avrongs. 
 
 The Tuscaroras Avere now by far the most 
 numerous and energetic tribe, and it Avas on their 
 territory that the AvhItes had recently trespassed ; 
 consequently they took the initiative in calling on 
 all the tribes to send delegates to a council of Mar. 
 In this meeting it Avas arranged to make one 
 united effort to redress their Avi-ongs and remove 
 the Avhite intruders from the country at a single 
 blow. In order to effect this, an arrangement was 
 made for each tribe to act only in the district to 
 which it might be assigned. 
 
 Thus to the Tuscaroras was apportioned all the 
 settlements on the Roanoke River, as well as the 
 
1857.] 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 165 
 
 region between t]iat and the Chowan River, Avliile 
 the Pamptieos were to assault all the whites to be 
 found on the north side of the latter. The 
 Cothechneys living on the stream that then bore 
 their name, but now known as the Contentney, 
 "were to join the Corees, Avho inhabited the shores 
 and island near Beaufort. They were to fall on 
 the S\viss and Huguenots who had very recently 
 erected their cabins along the banks of the Trent 
 and Neus; while the small tribes of Mattamus- 
 keets and Muchapungos were allotted to take pos- 
 session of the town of Bath and the immediate 
 vicinity. 
 
 As showing the universal feeling of hostility 
 that pervaded all the Indian tribes at this time, it 
 is only necessary to mention, that although the 
 secret must have been known to some hundred 
 individuals, a large part of whom were in daily 
 intercourse with the whites, it was not divulged or 
 •^the plot for a moment suspected by the settlers. 
 
 On the day preceding the new moon, the Tus- 
 caroras, twelve hundred strong, left their chief 
 town, which, according to their ancient usage, 
 they had enclosed with a palisade, and soon 
 breaking into small divisions, sought the vicinity 
 of the white settlements, Avhile some few entered 
 the houses with the usual enquiries for food 
 or traffic. Assuming to ffeel disappointed and 
 aggi'ieved, altercations between them and their 
 entertainers soon took place. On a sudden a loud 
 whoop was given, and all the Indians who had 
 been secreted in the vicinity rushed upon the un- 
 suspecting whites, and a scene of indiscriminate 
 slaughter immediately commenced. The aged 
 grandsire, the stalwart husband, the affectionate 
 wife, with their children of every age and sex, fell 
 victims to the tomahawk and scalping-knife. '--In 
 many settlements the massacre was complete ; not 
 a single white escaped ; whole families and names 
 became extinct. 
 
 On the Neus and Pamptico Rivers the Tusca- 
 roras, now transformed into Infuriated tigers, 
 caused the blood of the whites to flow like water. 
 'More than a hundred and thirty persons were 
 known to have been murdered within a few 
 hours, the largest part of whom never received 
 the rites of burial, as the survivors dared not leave 
 their refuge for any purpose. 
 
 The Corees in the meantime had executed bar- 
 barous work upon the poor Swiss palatines who 
 had but a short time previous found here a shelter 
 from persecutions In the Old World, but only to 
 find a sanguinary grave amid the pine forests on 
 the banks of the Trent. 
 
 After this bloody butchery had been mainly 
 consummated, the Indians, Instead of retiring to 
 their strongholds, seemed rather to have become 
 more infuriated by the sight of their victims, 
 whose bodies they continued to dishonor and man- 
 
 gle like demons from the infernal regions, and fin- 
 ished the awful scene by setting fire to every 
 building and vessel within their range. , 
 
 This state of affairs continued for several days, 
 and In the meanwhile the surviving whites had 
 collected into some places of temporary safety, 
 where, by standing on a continual guard, they 
 could defend themselves and their families against 
 the foe. 
 
 This massacre took place on the 22d of Septem- 
 ber, 1711, — a day and year long remembered 
 throughout this region. 
 
 A short time previous, Mr. Lawson, who was 
 then Surveyor General of the province, had. In 
 company with Baron Graaffenreidt, who had 
 superintended the emigration of the palatines, 
 ascended the ISTeus with a design to explore the 
 country bordering on that river for the purpose 
 of laying out a tract of land for a place of resi- 
 dence for these emigrants. Having reached a 
 point some twenty miles above Newbern, they 
 landed and were preparing to pass the night, 
 when they were suddenly joined by a large num- 
 ber of Indians, who were evidently in bad humor, 
 and who, taking from them their provisions and 
 arms, compelled them to take a long march into 
 the foi'est till they reached an Indian town. Here 
 Lawson and his companion underwent a long ex- 
 amination before a council of more than two hun- 
 dred warriors, as to the general claims of the 
 whites and the Immediate reason for their being 
 found there. Lawson's reply was that they wished 
 to find a nearer route to the Virginia settlements, 
 for which purpose they had designed merely to 
 explore the country. 
 
 After a lengthened consultation, in which the 
 Indians complained much of the conduct of the 
 whites, and were particularly severe on Lawson, 
 who they supposed to be the main cause of their 
 being dispossessed of their lands, they finally con- 
 cluded to dismiss their prisoners and let them re- 
 turn. But at the earnest suggestion of an influen- 
 tial chief, they were detained till the next day, 
 when a party fell on them and gave them a brutal 
 beating ; and another council being held, they 
 were condemned to die. The next day this de- 
 cision was carried into effect, Lawson and a 
 negro servant who had accompanied Inm being 
 roasted alive ; while the Baron, against whom 
 they had no particular animosity, was retained a 
 prisoner for a few weeks and then set at liberty. 
 Thus perished by an awful death a man who, so 
 Yar as we can judge by his writings, was really 
 the truest friend those tribes had ever found 
 among all their white acquaintances, and who 
 found only a horrid death from the race whose 
 customs and virtues he had faithfully chronicled, 
 and thus perpetuated their names and annals to 
 all coming tlnie. 
 
166 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 [June, 
 
 As soon as the whites couhl rally from the awful 
 panic which the general slaughter had created 
 they soon collected into small forts, eleven in 
 number, and made some efforts to retaliate on the 
 enemy. 
 
 ;. A party of about fifty men made an excursion 
 to see what was the condition of the outer settle 
 ments, and soon met a large body of Indians, with 
 which they kept up a desultory fight for three 
 days. The Indians lost fifteen, and the whites 
 but two ; but were forced to return to their quar- 
 tei's, Avhieh they found surrounded by a body of 
 the enemy, who were soon repulsed. 
 
 At the same time, a small tribe wlio were sup- 
 posed to be friendly, had been allowed to remain 
 within the fort ; but during the attack on the out- 
 side, they rose upon the garrison. They were 
 soon subdued, but not till nine of their number 
 were slain, and about forty women and cliildren 
 secured and soon sent off by a vessel to be sold as 
 slaves. 
 
 As soon as possible a messenger had been 
 despatched to Charleston, who laid before the 
 Legislature of South Carolina a petition which set 
 forth the distressed situation of the colony, and 
 further stated that owing to the continued broils 
 among the people, they could make but little 
 effort against the enemy, and must implore aid 
 from their sister colony. This was promptly 
 granted, and a large sum, efjual to eighty thou- 
 sand dollars, was voted to carry war into the 
 camps of the hostile Indians. 
 
 Six hundred militia and three hundred friendly 
 Indians, under the command of Col. Barnwell, 
 were soon on their march to the scene of devasta- 
 tion before described. 
 
 An express had also been sent to Governor 
 Spotswood of Virginia, with the news of the mas- 
 sacre. But as he had previously been informed 
 that the Tuscaroras who inhabited their more 
 northern towns were not implicated in the bloody 
 transaction, he sent word to them to meet him in 
 council at an appointed time on the Nottaway 
 River. Some of the chiefs attended, and, after 
 considerable preliminary discussion, he proposed 
 that all. of them who had not joined in the massa- 
 cre should make common cause with the Virgin- 
 ians against the hostile party. 
 
 But intestine feuds and jealousies were not at 
 this period limited to North Carolina alone, but 
 were rife in Virginia, and the Legislature refused 
 to pass the necessary bills to place a suitable force 
 in the field to operate in conjunction with the 
 friendly Indians, for the relief of their neighbor- 
 ing colonists. But the Governor wisely took 
 measures to prevent the Indians within his tei'ri- 
 tory joining the malcontents. 
 
 As soon as Col. Barnwell with his troops and 
 Indian allies arrived, he was joined by as many 
 
 soldiers as Governor Hyde could induce to take 
 up arms. 
 
 Meanwhile the Tuscaroras had not been idle, 
 but gathering their forces into one body and 
 erecting such defences as their means would 
 arhnit, they waited the movement of the troops. 
 On the banks of the Neus, about twenty miles 
 above Newbern, was the spot where the Indians 
 were disposed to make a stand. Here they had 
 enclosed a large space by a strong palisade, inside 
 of which was secured an enclosure of logs. With- 
 in this barrier they had placed their women and 
 children, while the warriors went forth to meet 
 Barnwell and his allied forces. A battle took 
 place, in which the South Carolinians fought with 
 much bravery, and were boldly supported by 
 their Indian associates. The Tuscaroras were 
 defeated, having more than a hundred of their 
 warriors slain and a large number wounded. The 
 survivors retreated to their stronghold. Barnwell 
 captured over a hundred, which were afterwards 
 sold as slaves. 
 
 In a few days Barnwell and his forces appeared 
 before the Tuscaroras' stronghold, and with a 
 Swiss, who had seen service in Europe, acting as 
 engineer, they commenced a regular investment 
 of the jjlace. The siege continued some days,' 
 as the whites were forced to make regular ap- 
 proaches towards the fortification. At last the 
 Indians, finding that there was no escape, and 
 that preparations had been made to set their 
 ■n;orks on fire, offered to capitulate. Barnwell 
 granted them terms, and supposing the war was 
 ended, returned home. - ■ 
 
 The next year. Governor Hyde ha-^-ing received 
 orders from England, made some efforts to reduce 
 the belligerent Indians to terms, and give peace 
 and quiet to the people. But the colony had been 
 so reduced by the war that nothing could bo 
 effected, and application was again made to South 
 Carolina and Virginia for assistance. The former 
 of these promptly raised a small army, which they 
 placed under the command of Col. James Moore, 
 who immediately marched his forces to the Indian 
 district and awaited for orders. 
 
 In the meantime, the reins of government had 
 fallen into the hands of President Pollock, who 
 in fused new energy into the desponding colonists, 
 which soon had a beneficial influence on the 
 tribes. 
 
 On the 25th of November, preliminary articles 
 of peace were signed by the President and coun- 
 cil on the one part, and Tom Blunt Savoonah and 
 foi-.r other chiefs for the Tuscaroras. 
 
 By this instrument the Tuscaroras piomised to 
 make war on the Cothechnys, Corees, Bear River, 
 and Pamptico Indians, and to give no quarter to 
 any male of these tribes above the age of fourteen 
 years, but to capture and sell to the English all 
 
1857.] 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 167 
 
 under that age ; and as soon as these tribes -svere 
 destroyed, then to join the Avhites against the 
 Miichapungos. They also bound themselves to 
 surrender to the English all the property they had 
 captured during the war and relinquish a large 
 part of their lands lying below the Cotechny, and 
 also to pay a yearly tribute, and give hostages for 
 the fulfilment of all the articles. 
 
 In a few weeks the armistice that had been 
 agreed on was broken, and the Tusearoras again 
 assumed a hostile attitude, but fearing the South 
 Carohna forces, retired to Fort Nahucke, which 
 they had strongly foi-tified. Col. Moore had 
 brought with him about one thousand friendly 
 Indians, with whom, and a small militia force, he 
 surrounded the fort. A terrible battle took place. 
 
 The Tusearoras within the fort were finally 
 captured or destroyed to a man. It is related 
 that Col. Moore secured over eight hundred pris- 
 oners, all of whom were afterwards disposed of as 
 slaves, many of them being shipped to the north- 
 ern colonies for a market.* 
 
 A treaty was again made with Tom Blunt, as 
 head chief; but it did not prove effectual, as the 
 Indians had now become so desperate that their 
 chiefs had but little control over them. A desul- 
 tory and harassing war lasted for some time, which 
 was finally brought to a close by the energy of 
 Col. Moore and his Indians, who followed the 
 hostile savages into their retreats amid the swamps 
 and morasses with which this part of the country 
 abounds. 
 
 These continued reverses at last broke the 
 spirits of the remaining Tusearoras. They had 
 repeatedly sent runners to their old friends, the 
 Five Nations, for aid ; but none came, — probably 
 from the infiuence then exerted over the Iroquois 
 by the colony of New York, with Avhom they had 
 made treaties pledging themselves never to lift the 
 hatchet against the whites. 
 
 Finding all hope futile as regarded rest for 
 themselves in any part of their ancient domain, 
 and reduced to a tithe of their fonner numbers, 
 their very existence as a tribe becoming doubtful, 
 they availed themselves of a previous invitation 
 from the Five Nations, and decided to remove to 
 their territory and blend their fortunes with that 
 confederacy. 
 
 It is impossible to fix the date of this exodus. 
 Some authors place it as early as 1712, which is 
 probably an error. Schoolcraft states it as occur- 
 ring in 1714, in which year some parties certainly 
 went ; but is it not more likely that it occupied 
 some two or three years ? It is certain that the 
 main part of the tribe had joined the Iroquois in 
 1717, by whom they were cordially adopted as the 
 
 * In the "Boston News-Letter" of that year are 
 many advertisements of Southern Indians, for whom 
 purchasers were wanted. 
 
 Sixth Nation ; and although no particular terri- 
 tory was then assigned to them, they became the 
 guests of the Oneidas, and were located a few 
 miles west of the present site of Utiea. Of their 
 precise numbers then, it is impossible to fix a reli- 
 able estimate. Between 1708 and 1715, they had 
 lost 1,000 warriors, who represented a population 
 of at least 5,000 souls. In 1736, the French 
 estimated they had 250 warriors or 1,250 souls. 
 In 17G3, Sir William Johnson said they had 1-10 
 warriors, who would represent a population of 
 about 700 persons. This Avas undoubtedly very 
 near the truth, as he was on very confidential 
 terms with their chiefs. 
 
 At the commencement of the Revolutionary 
 war, Johnson made great exertions to retain the 
 Iroquois in the service of the king. "With most 
 of the tribes he was successful ; but through the 
 exertions of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, a missionary, 
 the Oneidas took up arms on the side of the col- 
 onies, and were joined by the largest part of the 
 Tusearoras, who were then their neighbors. They 
 did not suffer much by the war, and soon after its 
 close, finding the white settlements constantly en- 
 croaching upon them, they wisely assented to re- 
 ceive a grant of land from their ancient friends, 
 the Senecas, within the present limits of Niagara 
 County, to which they soon removed. Their title 
 was confirmed to them by the State of New York. 
 
 A part of the land which had been allotted to 
 them by North Carolina was leased to individuals, 
 and had been constantly in their possession by 
 permission of the Legislature. It was now dis- 
 posed of, and the proceeds invested in lands which 
 they purchased of the Holland Company, in their 
 immediate vicinity. 
 
 On this territory they soon commenced making 
 improvements, and have continued to progress 
 until at the present time they appear to po'ssess 
 most of the comforts and conveniences of the 
 neighboring white people who rank as the hum- 
 bler class. 
 
 Retaining one of the peculiarities of their Caro- 
 lina ancestors, the men cultivate the soil with 
 energy and success, while the women are noted 
 as thrifty housewives, and pride themselves on 
 their dairies. In religion and education they have 
 made commendable progress, having had a mission 
 established among them as early as 1807. Some 
 forty years ago, a Presbyterian church was organ- 
 ized, which now contains about fifty members. 
 
 About twenty years since a Baptist church was 
 formed, over which James Cusick, a chief and 
 brother of their historian, officiates. 
 
 Their schools are said to be nearly as well 
 attended and kept as those among their white 
 neighbors ; and two-thirds of their whole number 
 are members of a temperance society. 
 
 In 1845, they numbered about 50 families, in 
 
168 
 
 HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. 
 
 [June, 
 
 all, 283 souls. They cultivated over 2,000 acres 
 of land ; and raised that year nearly 5,000 bushels 
 of wheat, 3,500 bushels of corn, over 4,000 bush- 
 els of oats, and made 7,537 pounds of butter. 
 They also produced many other articles. They 
 keep a considerable stock of cattle, hogs, and some 
 horses, and have in their possession over 5,000 
 acres of good land. 
 
 A few years since, the writer visited their vil- 
 lage, situated about eight miles from Niagara 
 Falls, and was surjiriscd to find there a commu- 
 nity so prosperous and flourishing. They still re- 
 tain traditions of their former importance and 
 numbers; and some of their oldest men like to 
 speak of the tales recited by their grandfathers, 
 who told of their warlike exploits, as Avell as their 
 success in hunting, when they wandered between 
 the Neus and Moratic Rivers. 
 
 They still continue to speak their original lan- 
 guage, much coi-rupted however by their inter- 
 course with the other tribes of the confederacy. 
 Like all Indian dialects, it is continually vary- 
 ing with their own condition. But it retains its 
 distinctive peculiarities, and philologists are still 
 puzzled in deciding to which of the grand divi- 
 sions it originally belonged. Lawson gives a 
 short vocabulary of it, which makes it certain that 
 it could not be classed with the Algonquin, which 
 was the almost universal tongue spoken through- 
 out the Northern and Middle States, extending 
 west to the Upper Mississippi, and excluding the 
 Iroquois, whose language is totally distinct from 
 any other known. Is it not probable that the 
 original language of the Tuscaroras was radically 
 the same as the Senecas V and may they not 
 have once formed one community ? 
 
 To a person of an enquiring mind, who takes 
 any Interest in the aboriginal i:ace, the short ride 
 from the great Cataract whlch._ brings hun to the 
 residence of the remnant of this once great peo- 
 
 f)le, is full of instruction. AVe can see here the 
 ineal descendants of the men whd ^yelcomed 
 Raleigh's colonists to the New World, — who held 
 familiar intercourse with Grenville, Lane, Hariot, 
 and White, and whose portraits illustrate the vol- 
 ume befor(> mentioned ; for Secota and Pemelock 
 were at that time the chief:'?tOwns of the Tusca- 
 roras, and were only deserted by them for a more 
 interior location, on the advent of the first perma- 
 nent white inhabitants. 
 
 Their history is an instructive one. It shows 
 what changes they, as well as the whole land, 
 have undergone since the Avhite man first cast his 
 anchor on the sands of their native country. 
 With their present habits of temperance and in- 
 dustry, they may retain their distinctive character 
 and name for centuries yet to come, the only 
 living representatives of the numerous tribes who 
 once inhabited eastern North Carolina. 
 
 BIOGRAPHY OF " \^ tevoiltto: 
 
 A SKETCH OF THE L. . 
 
 ROGERS CLARK, THE 
 
 TUCKY, ANO THE 
 
 OLUTION iN 
 
 BY HON. JOHN REYIv 
 
 The valley of the !MississI is, more x 
 
 for the preservation of its early settlemen 
 great abilities and extraordinary services 
 eral Clark, than to any other individual. A 
 many great and honored heroes, such ; 
 ernor Shelby, Generals Sevier, Robinson, ai 
 others, whose names are handed down to po' 
 terity with a blaze of glory, '• acted well thv 
 parts," yet, the extraordinary talents and sorvic 
 of General Clark in the Revolution stand unr 
 ailed in the great Western Valley, and deservec 
 entitle him to the highest honors and fame, 
 was In the West, wliat General Washingtc 
 In the East, the unrivalled champion of the 
 lution ; and he may be hailed with great prop 
 The WasJiinglon of the West. 
 
 He was born on the 19th of November. 
 In Albemarle County, V'-gliiia, of highly res- 
 ble and wealthy parents. — He received • .ly . 
 common education, and directed his youthful en- 
 ergies to the forest and the chase. He, like Wash- 
 ington, was engaged in his eai-ly days as a sur- 
 veyor of land. In the year 17 72 he was at the 
 mouth of the Kanawha, on the Ohio River, In the 
 pursuit of his profession. But the martial music 
 in 1774 inflamed his youthful mind, and he 
 joined the campaign of Gov^. Dunmore to chastise 
 the Indians in the valley of the Scioto, in the 
 present State of Ohio. He commanded a com- 
 pany from the Old Dominion, during a part of the 
 campaign ; and was appointed on the march a 
 staff officer to Governor Dunmore. 
 
 In the year 1775, he made Kentucky his resi- 
 dence, and remained there during life. At that 
 early day, Kentucky existed without a govern- 
 ment. Young Clai-k, whose mind was by nature 
 and reflection exceedingly strong and comprehen- 
 sive, decided at once that the country must have 
 an organized government ; and an assembly of the 
 people to act on the subject was convened at 
 Harrodsburgh in the year 1775. 
 
 Clark and Gabriel Jones were appointed by 
 the meeting to present their condition to the Gov- 
 ernment of Virginia, and the result was, the coun- 
 ty of Kentucky was established in the year 1776, 
 and a complete Government organized in it, 
 under the protection of the parent State, Vir- 
 ginia. This was the main pillar of defence for 
 the West against the hordes of hostile savages 
 that surrounded the country on all sides. 
 
 But after many years of the greatest exertions