| TUSCARORA CHRONOLOGY IN NORTH CAROLINA |
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1585-1712 1585-1587 Sir Richard Grenville, Ralph Lane, Thomas Hariot, John White, and others set sail from Plymouth on April 9, 1585, to establish the first of Sir Walter Raleigh’ s colonies, arriving at Roanoke Island on August 17th.
Accepting the theory of the French, Menendez de Aviles, and Vicente Gonzalez; Grenville and Raleigh establish what is now known as “the Lost Colony” in 1587 at 36degrees north on Roanoke Island. (Page 54, Spain and the Roanoke Voyages by Paul E. Hoffman, 1987 America’s Four Hundredth Anniversary Committee)
Edward, second in command of the Grenville Fleet, gave a deposition on December 7, pertaining to the whereabouts of the English at Roanoke.
1590 John White, the governor of the colony, went back to England in 1587, shortly after the colonists were settled. Returning in 1590 he wrote: “…According to a secret token agreed upon between them and me at my last departure from them, which was that in any way they should not fail to write or carve on the trees or posts of the doors, the name of the place where they should be seated; for at my coming away they were prepared to remove from Roanoke fifty miles into the main…” (Sider’s, “Living Indian Histories” page 88, and McPherson report)
Early 1600's By this time, the English now in Jamestown send individuals into what is now North Carolina, looking for the Lost Colonists. On at least 7 occasions, there are reports of sightings of at least some of the Colonists, all being within Tuscarora territory. (F.Roy Johnson's "Lost Colony in Fact and Legend", 1983 Johnson publishing Co. ISBN-0-930230-9)
The late,Thomas C. Parramore, in the "Lost Colony in Fact and Legend", in the section called "The Lost Colony and the Tuscarora", he states that the Spanish had outposts within Tuscarora territory for many years, and that it was possible that it was these Spanish, who had incited the Tuscarora to capture and destroy most of the English colony.
1654 Francis Yeardley sends a group into Tuscarora country, where they reported that they had met a Tuscarora chief. "This chief has invited them to his village, where he said lived a Spaniard, who had been among these Tuscarora for seven years. The Spaniard was said to be very rich, to have some thirty people in his party, including Negro slaves, and had been absent from time to time on long trips" (Lost Colony in Fact and Legend) 1660 Reverend Morgan Jones, in traveling in the Tuscarora country was captured by the Doegs, a branch of that tribe who spoke Welsh. He describes them as settled upon Pontigo River near Cape Atross.” (Taken from Senate Doc. 677, page 46)
1669-1670 John Lederer, German explorer visits the town of Kateras(Katearas) on July 14th 1670, “ a place of great Indian trade and commerce and chief seat of the haughty emperor of the Taskiroras, called Kaskusara, vulgarly called Kaskeous…” ( taken from Senate Doc. 677, page 12)
rivers to the sounds to gather food and to fish. There was an island in the Neuse River which they called Roquist Island but which is now known by another name. They went to this island often, for that is where they found their food. There were alot of turtles on that island, and they caught those turtles and made turtle soup. They called that island Roquist, for that is the Tuscarora word for turtle." (F.Roy Johnson's "The Tuscaroras" Volume 2) 1672 The French explorer Jacques Marquette met a party of Indians on the upper Mississippi who, by their language and dress, were thought to be Tuscaroras. Finding they had guns and other European goods, Marquette asked them where such wares were obtained and was told that they came from white men in the east who "had rosaries and pictures."
The encroachment and taking of Tuscarora lands, and the enslaving of Tuscarora people continued for years. Appeals and attempts to stop these practices failed, culminating in what is known as the Tuscarora War.
fetch wood and water without risk or danger By the second, the children born and those to be born, implored for room to sport and play without the fear of death or slavery. By the third, the young men asked for the privilege to leave their towns without the fear of death or slavery to hunt for meat for their mothers, their children and the aged ones. By the fourth, the old men, the elders and the people, asked for the consummation of a lasting peace so that the forests (the paths to other tribes) be “as safe for them as their forts.” By the fifth, the entire tribe asked for a firm peace that they might have liberty to visit their neighbors. By the sixth, the chiefs asked for the establishment of a lasting peace with the government, people and Indians of Pennsylvania, whereby they would be relieved of “those fearful apprehensions they have these several years felt.” By the seventh, the Tuscaroras begged for a “cessation from murdering and taking them, that by the allowance thereof, they may not be afraid of a mouse, or any other thing that Ruffles the Leaves.” By the eighth, the Tuscaroras being strangers, came with blind hopes the government of Pennsylvania would “take them by the hand and lead them, and then they will lift up their heads in the woods without danger or fear.” (Johnson 67) In early September of 1711, John Lawson and Christopher DeGraffenried are captured while scouting for new lands. The Assembly of the Great determines to free DeGraffenried, but puts Lawson to death. Four days later, on September 22, 1711, Machapunga, Bear River, Pamplico, Coree, Neusiok, Woccon, and the lower Tuscarora attacked the town of Bath, starting what is now known as the Tuscarora War.
1712 Barnwell's first engagements were against apparently only northern Tuscarora towns, who had not taken part in the War as of yet. In these villages, he killed and or captured only women, children, and elderly. From these "battles", he is given the nickname, "Tuscarora Jack".
Sometime in Mid November, King Hancock is captured by King Blount and subsequently executed by North Carolina Colonial officials. A James Coheree, who was captured by Virgina Rangers and delivered to the North Carolina government, was executed with Chief Hancock. (N.C. Colonial Records vol.1 pages 881,896; Paschal,99.) 1713-2005 1713 Moore continues to attack Tuscarora villages, until March 20th, when the final battle of the war at Fort Neoheroka(Snow Hill, Greene County) began.
1713-1730’s End of Tuscarora War, and beginning of forced migration of many so-called “hostile” Tuscarora from N.C. to N.Y. which lasts approx. 90 years. Tuscarora who don’t leave state disperse in all directions. 1715, the so-called “friendly” Tuscarora are confined to reservation in Bertie County on the Roanoke River, under Chief Tom Blount. Dissatisfaction with reservation life led to people continually leaving the reservation, for lands still unoccupied by Europeans. 1714 150 Tuscarora are given land by Colonel Barnwell at Port Royal S.C., for their fighting against the Yamasee. A few years later, Chief Foster asks to bring their families from North Carolina. 1719 In 1719 the colonial government hired Tuscarora under King Norris to travel King Gilbert of the Coosaboy as emissaries to the Spanish at Saint Augustine. These Tuscarora were from the Roanoke River but were then living at Port Royal. The Indian expedition to Spanish Florida traveled in seven canoes. Locklear, Lowery( all spellings), Oxendine, Jacobs, Maynor, Brooks, Jones, Freeman, Cumbo, Kearsey(all spellings), Revels, Canady, Pugh, Blount, Smith and many other current Tuscarora surnames, are listed on numerous tax lists, land grants, and estate wills in northeastern part of North Carolina. Many of which were located living on, or adjacent to Bertie County reservation. (Partial resource; settlement pattern study, LRDA 1983) 1739 Chief Tom Blount dies, and on the third Tuesday in June, James Blount was selected as new Head Chief at the village of "Rehorsesky", or Rasewtokee. This may or may not have been Tom Blount's son. After 1766, James Blount is no longer signer of Tuscarora documents. Families with same surnames continue migrations from the Roanoke/Neuse areas to Bladen County area, settling along drowning creek basin and many points in between, again holding lands in common. (Partial resource; settlement pattern study, LRDA 1983) For example;
TO KING BLUNT, CAPT. JACK, AND THE REST OF THE TUSCARORA CHIEFS -- Brothers, & Friends, This will be Deliverd you by our Brother Tom, a Warrior of the Nottoways, who, with others of that Nation, have distinguished themselves in our service this summer, against our Cruel and perfidious Enemys--The intent of this, is to Assure you of our real Friendship and Love--and to confirm & Strengthen that chain of Friendship, which has subsisted between us for so many ages past,--a Chain like ours, founded on Sincere Love, and Friendship, must be strong and lasting, and will I hope endure while Sun & Stars give Light -- Brothers, You can be no strangers to the many Murders & Cruelties--committed on our Country Men, & Friends, by that False & Faithless people the French, who are constantly endeavouring to corrupt the minds of our Friendly Indians--and have Stirr'd up the Shawnese & Delawares, with severall other nations to take up the hatchet against us--And at the head of many of these Native Indians have invaded our Country, laid waste our lands, plunder'd our plantations, Murdered defenceless Women & Children, & Burnt & destroy'd wherever they came--which has enraged our Friends the Six Nations, Cherokees, Nottoways, Catawbas, and all our Indian Allies, and prompted them to take up the Hatchet in our deffence, against these disturbers of the Common peace -- I hope, Brothers, you will likewise take up the Hatchet, against the French & their Indians, as our other Friends have done,--and Send us some of your Young Men, to protect our Frontiers, and go to War with us, against our restless and Ambitious Foes--And to encourage Your brave Warriors, I promise to furnish them wl. Arms, Amunition, Cloths, provision, and every necessary for War,--And the Sooner you Send them to our asistance, the greater mark will you give us of your Friendship--& the better shall we be enabled to take our just Revenge of their Cruelties - - May You Live Long, a happy & prosperous people, and may we Act with mutual Love & Friendship--While Rivers run, or Trees grow--is the sincere Wish, of... Your Friend and Brother --... G In confirmation of the above & in hopes of your Complyance w'. my request -- I give you this String of Wampum.
1802-1803 Un-ratified Treaty initiated between the United States (on behalf of North Carolina) and Tuscaroras, pertaining to lands in Bertie County. These Leases, and also previous ones initiated, are now set to expire in the year 1916.
In consideration of the agreement, on the part of the legislature of e State of North Carolina, that they will, by certain acts of the General Assembly of said State, facilitate the collection of the rents due, or to become due the leases of said lands heretofore made: And on the condition that an act or acts of the General Assembly of the said State shall be passed, authorizing the said Tuscarora nation, or the chiefs thereof, in behalf of said nation, to lease, on such terms as they may deem proper, the undemised part of the lands allotted to them in the county of Bertie, in the said State, as well as other parts thereof, now under lease, or leases, for years, so that the term or terms of the leases made of the whole or any part thereof, may extend to the 12th day of July, which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixteen: 1835 Tuscarora, by then, known as “free persons of color” or “mulatto” are again, disenfranchised by North Carolina, with the amending of North Carolina constitution.
1840-1875 The “Lowrie Wars” take place within this time frame. Various individuals and publications write about the origin and ancestry of local Tuscarora. For example;
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