Some
information about the Saponi, and other Northern Bands of the Catawba
The Saponi are firsr found near presentday Lynchville
Roanoke, and Charlottesville, Virginia. The bands that united with
the Saponi eventually included the following; The Saponi proper,
Tutelo,Ocaneechi, Stukenoke/Enoke/Eno, Keyauwee, Miepontski,
Stegaraki/stegarski.(1).
Notice the Monacan and Mahook in the far north. To
their south are “Sapon” and “Nahyssan” If you get rid of the
“Nay” you have “Yssah”, very similar to “Yesaw”, which
was what these people called themselves, and is verysimilar yo
Esaw/Yssaw/Isaw; what the southern branch of the Eastern Siouan
people's called themselves. The “Akenatzi”mentioned have got to
be the “Occoneechi”.
Heathcock, talking about Lederer's witings, states
“These parts, (the Piedmont of Virginia), were formerly possessed
by the Tacci, alisas, Dogi, but they are extinct; and the Indians now
seated here, are distinguished into several Nations of Mahoc,
Nuntaneuck, alias Nuntaly, Nhayssan, Sapon, Monagog,
Monquoack,Akenatzi, and Monakin, and one language is common to them
all (2)
In 1676, the Tutelo, Saponi, and Occoneechi were living
on islands on the Roanoke River, when they were attacked by Nathaniel
Bacon as part of “Bacon's Rebellion. In 1680, the treaty of the
Middle Plantation was signed, by the Saponi between may and June of
that year, Mastegonoe was tribal chief and Tachapoake was headman. In
1701 John Lawson found the Saponi dwelling on the Yadkin River in
North Carolina near the present town of Salusbury, North Carolina.
Haithcock next mentions that the Saponi had moved by 1711 to a place
called “Sapona Town,” a short distance from the Roanoke River, 15
miles westt of Windsor, Bertie County, North Carolina. This was
apparently, before the Tuscarora War of that same year. Haithcock
mentions one Saponi took the name “Johnson”, after a settler
named John Johnson, who lived at Sapona Town. In 1713 Virginia's
governor, Alexander Spotswood, established some lands for the Eastern
Siouans. Elements of the following bands were reported to have gone
there, to a place called “Fort Christanna”; Saponi, Tutelo,
Occoneechi, Meiponstky, Monacan, and the Stegarsky. These all came to
be called the Saponi Nation. Tanhee Soka, Saponi, signed his mark at
Fort Christanna. (3).
So the Northern Catawban bands (which included the
Saponi and othrs) were almost constantly on the move from the 1670s
until they arrived at Christanna in 1713. That's between 40 and 50
years. During this time their numbers decreased drastically. They
were apparently enslaved, died of disease, and in the slave wars,
often instigated by South Carolina traders. More on this later.
John Lawson visited the Saponi town when it was located
on the Yadkin River in 1701., near the present town of Salisbury. Per
Haithcock, they then moved to Bertie County, North Carolina with the
Tutelo. He states that the Saponi, Tutelo, and Occoneechi, had moved
to a 'new town', called Sapona Town, 'evidently', before the
Tuscarora War. He states their town was east of the Roanoke River,
about 15 miles west of the present day town of Windsor, Bertie
County, North Carolina. He mentions an 'Indian surnamed Johnson, and
there was a Caucasian named 'John Johnson' living at the town of
Sapona. In 1713 Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood invited these
Saponi, Tutelo, Occoneechi, along with the Eno/Stuckenock,
Meiponponstky, Monocan and Stegarsky Indians became the Saponi. These
Indians were invited to live at Fort Christanna in Southeastern
Virginia. All of these people were Northern and Eastern bands of the
Catawba Nation. Haithcock speaks often of how these Indians had lived
on or near the Ohio River before being pushed back east and south,
and points to the names of rivers in the area as evidence. My opinion
is yes, this is evidence, but I don't think this evidence constitutes
proof. Others say these Eastern Siouan peoples had lived in the
Carolina's and portions of Virginia from the distant past. My
personal opinion is that this void was filled by Algonquin peoples,
the Shawnee, the Miama (also called Twigtwees), the Shawnee, and
others. Also many people forget that each tribe lived in a small
region, yet also controlled vast regions which they considered their
'hunting grounds'.
Here is a map showing the Saponi at the location near
what is today Salisbury, North Carolina, about 1701, when visited by
Lawson.Notice how the Tuscarora control most of Eastern North Carolina.
Here is a map of the same region AFTER the Tuscarora
war. Notice most of Eastern North Carolina, prviously controlled by
the Tuscarora, has been cleared of Indians. There were also a couple
of bands of the Siouan peoples that are also gone from this region.
Thwy either fled south to the Catawba are in the location located on
the map as “Saponi Peoples” just to the west of the Meherrins.
This was the location of Fort Christanna, founded by Virginia
Governor Spotswood as a refuge for the last remnants of the Saponi
and the bands that associated with them. It wasn't until the strength
of the Tuscarora had been shattered that most of North Carolina
became widely settled. Within a few more years, the power of the
Catawban peoples, which consisted of most of the rest of the bands in
South Carolina, would be shattered in the Yamassee War, opening the
way to the settlement of much of South Carolina.
In 1714, Tanhee Soka and Hoontsky are mentioned as
Chiefs of the Saponi at Fort Christanna.
The last surviving man who spoke the Tutelo language,
Horation Hale, was said to have stated the people called all the
Eastern Siouan peoples the “Yesah'. James Mooney stated the Catawba
name for their own people was the 'Esaw'. Esaw and Yesah are
practically identical, and is proof these people were all ONE NATION,
at one time (4).
Per Haithcock, 300 Saponis were brought to Fort
Christanna in March of 1715. In March 1716, it was reported some 60
Saponi warriors went on a war party against the Genito Indians. These
are probably the Seneca. At this time they were ruled by twelve
elders, and one a single chief. It was said that they would not treat
with the English but in their own language. This probably means no
tribal members spoke English fluently at that time.
In 1722, a treaty was signed between the Seneca and the
colonies and Indians of Virginia, and both Carolinas. The following
Saponi men were mentioned in a letter by Virginia Governor Gooch;
Great George, John Sauano, Ben Harrison, Captain Tom, Pyah, Saponey
Tom, Pyah, Tony Mack, Harry Irvin, and Dick. After the killing of a
Nottaway Indian, four Saponi wee sent to jail. They were Chief Tom,
Chief Mahenip, Harry Irvin and Pryor. I suspect Captain Tom and Chief
Tom are the same people. I also suspect Pyah and Pryor are the same
person.
In 1732 some Saponi returned to Fort Christanna from
the Catawba. They returned to Fort Christanna. They were also allowed
to settle along the Appomattox or Roanoke Rivers.
In 1733 the Saponi and Nottaway wanted a treaty between
themselves, and wanted to include the Tuscarora.
In February of 1739, there was mention of 'a Saponi
Camp' on the south side of the Nuese River in Craven County, North
Carolina.
Probably about 1740, the Tutelo went north, stopping at
Shamokin, Pennsylvania. These eventually went up to join with their
ancient enemy, the Six Nations.
In
1742, eleven Saponi men are mentioned in the records of Orange
County, Virginia. Their names are given as Maniassa, Captain Tom,
Blind Tom, Foolish Zach, Little Zach, John Collins, Charles Griffen,
Alexander Machartoon, John Bowling, Isaac, and Tom. It is interesting
that 'Captain Tom' is mentioned both in 1722 at Fort Christanna and
in 1742 in Orange County, Virginia. There are two other interesting
names that time the Melungeons of Southwestern Virginia and
Northeastern Tennessee early in the 19th
century to the Saponi of Fort Christanna. We have John Collins and
Charles Griffen in 1742 in Orange County, Virginia. We also have the
Collins family, claiming a mixed-Indian origin in NE Tn. We also have
a teacher named Charles Griffen who tought the Indians at Fort
Christanna, and an Indian by that same name in Orange County,
Virginia 3 decades later.
In 1749 in Johnson County, North Carolina, on the south
side of the Nuese River, at a place called Powell's Run, a 'Saponi
Camp' is mentioned at that location (5).
In 1753, the Tutelo joined the Six Nations, formerly
their mortal enemies.
In 1755, there is mention of 14 men and 14 women living
in Person County, North Carolina, who are Saponi Indians.
On
April 19th,
1755, John Austin, a Saponi Indian, and Mary, a Susquehanna Indian,
applied for a pass to the Catawba Nation.
In 1757, a party of Indians from the North
Carolina/Virginia border region, visited Williamsburg, Virginia, and
met with Virginia's governor. Some were Saponi. Here I wish Haithcock
had elaborated more. If “some” were Saponi, what tribe were the
rest?
There are dry spells where the Saponi aren't mentioned
much. Haithcock mentions some who had earlier gone north to the Six
Nations, in the 1760s and 70's. Unfortunately Haithcock mentions
nothing more about those Indians that fought for the Brittish in the
French and Indian War. He does mention some Saponi mized bloods who
are mentioned on militia rosters in 1777 during the American
Revolution. He lists their surnames as Riddle, Collins, Bunch,
Bollins, Goins, Gibson, and Sizemore.
Haithcock says a group of Saponi, Nansemond, and
Tuscarora peoples organized together in the 1780s, and they formed
what is today known as the Haliwa Saponi, around a place known as
“the Meadows”. They are called Haliwa because they live in both
Halifax and Warren Counties, in North Carolina.
In 1784, some old Saponi families are still living in
Brunswick County, Virginia, near the location of the former Fort
Christana. Their surnames are Robinson, Haithcock, Whitmore, Carr,
Jeffreys, and Guy. Many of these families are also found in
Hillsborough County, North Carolina (6).
Hathcock mentions the following, “The
Saponi/Christanna Indians by 1827 were being documented or recorded
as Catawba by their friends, neighbors and officials in the
Department of the interior. He provides 2 quotes. I.] “If descended
from Indians at all, they were likely Catawba and lived in Eastern
North Carolina.” and ii.] “It is a region much more likely to
have been occupied by Indians from Virginia or by the Catawba Indians
who ranged from South Carolina up through North Carolina into
Virginia.” He mentions the surnames of these families; Hathcock,
Dempsey, Jefferies, Guy, Johnson, Collins, Mack, Richardson, Lynch,
Silvers, Mills, Riddle, Austin, Hedgepath, Copeland, Stewart, Harris,
Nichols, Shepherd, Gibson, Coleman, Martin, Branham, Johns Taylor,
Ellis, Anderson, Tom, Ervin, Bowling, Valentine, Goens, Sizemore,
Bunch, Coker, Rickman, Whitmore, Mullins, Perkins, Harrison, Holley,
Pettiford. Haithcock them implies these families were recognized by
the state of North Carolina as the Haliwa Saponi Indians in the
latter third of the twentieth century. Haliwa stands for the two
counties where they mainly lived, Halifax and Warren Counties in
North Carolina (7).
Heathcock mentions some 79 Saponi names. Some are full
names, some are just given, and some are just surnames. Here is that
list:Chief Mastegonoe, Chief Manehip, Chief Chawka, Chief Tanhee,
Seko, Chief Tom, Chief John Harris, Captain Harrry, Captain Tom
(Chief Tom and Captain Tom are perhaps the same person), Ned
Beqarskin, Ben Bear Den, Pyah, Pryor (probably the same), Manniassa,
Dick, Harry (perhaps the same as Captain Harry), Isaac, Tom (perhaps
the same as captain or Chief Tom), Lewis Anderson, Thomas
Anderson,Isham Johnson, Will Matthews, Isaac White )perhaps the same
as 'Isaac'), John Hart, Carte Hedge Beth, Sepunis, Cornelious Harris,
John Collins, Lewis Collins, Mullins, Charles Griffin, Absalon
Griffin, Hannah Griffin, John Sauano, Saponey Tom,Alexander
Marchartoon, John Bowlinig, Ben Harrison, Tony Mack, Great George,
Little Zach, Blind Tom, Foolish Zach, Hary Irwin, Tom Irwin, John
Austin, Sr and Jr, Richard Austin, Tutterow, Dempsey, Miles Bunch,
William Thims, Chritopher Thims, John Head, Isaac Head, Heathcock,
Jeffryes, Guy, Whitmore, Robinson, Carr, Ford, Long, Rickman, Coker,
Jones, Richardson, Mills, Stewart, Going, Jackson, Thore, Williams,
Branham, Johns, and Coleman. Now these are in adition to some of
those already mentioned that are not mentioned here (8).
So recapping, first reports have the Monacan and
Manahoac first being mentioned by John Smith to the west of the
Jamestown Colony in 1607. In 1670 John Lederer has the Saponi and
their allies along the eastern slope of the Appalachians in Virginia
and Nprth carolina, indicating a movement southward. Lawson finds
them near the present site of Salisbury, North Carolina. They flee
again to live not far from the Tuscarora even before the Tuscarora
War of 1722, only to flee again, to Fort Christanna by invitation of
the Governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood..about 1714. Some flee
with the Tuscarora up to Six Nations, but most remain in Virginia and
the Carolinas whereover time, they become a mixed race minority in
their own homelands. They were constantly being attacked prompting a
treaty in 1722 with the Six Nations. Heathcock suggests a remnant
fled north about 1740 to live with the Six Nations.
Haithcock's
Compilation
1.] 1., Introduction
2.] page 4, The History of the Saponi Tribe and the
Saponi Nation compiled by Richard Haithcock
3.] page 5
4.] page 5
5.] page 6
6.] page 7
.7] page 10.
8.] page 11
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