Arrohattoc

Last updated
Arrohateck
Total population
Extinct
Regions with significant populations
Eastern Virginia
Languages
Powhatan
Religion
Indigenous religion
Related ethnic groups
Pamunkey, Patawomeck, Chickahominy, and other Algonquian peoples

The Arrohattoc, also occasionally spelled Arrohateck, was a Native American tribe from Henrico County, Virginia in the United States.

Contents

In the early 18th century, the tribe was led by their chief Ashuaquid and was part of the Powhatan Confederacy. [1] Their main village was located on the James River, the location of which is now the site of Henrico, Virginia. [2]

History

17th century

In 1607 the tribe came into contact with Christopher Newport and John Smith, who were exploring the area with a small group of men associated with the Virginia Company of London. [1] [3] The group was given a warm welcome by the Arrohattocs, a reception that they enjoyed when they continued up the James River and arrived at another village, which was ruled over by Powhatan's son Parahunt, [4] also known as Tanx (meaning "Little") Powhatan. [5] The tribe would also continue to help the settlers when their fort was attacked by hostile Indians later that same year.

However, as time progressed relations between the Arrohattocs and English colonists deteriorated, and by 1609 the tribe was unwilling to trade with the settlers. [1] As the population began to dwindle, the tribe declined and was last mentioned in a 1610 report by the visiting William Strachey. By 1611 the tribe's Henrico town was found to be deserted when Sir Thomas Dale went to use the land to found Henricus. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rountree, Helen C. "Ashuaquid (fl. 1607)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. Frank E. Grizzard; Daniel Boyd Smith (2007). The Jamestown Colony: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-85109-637-4 . Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  3. "History Predating Most Of The Country". About Henrico. Henrico County Virginia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  4. Earl Swift (1 May 2002). Journey on the James: Three Weeks Through the Heart of Virginia. Journey on the James: Three Weeks through the Heart of Virginia. pp. 163–164. ISBN   978-0-8139-2119-8 . Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  5. Horn, James (2008). A Land As God Made It: Jamestown and the Birth of America. New York: Basic Books. p. 52. ISBN   9780786721986.