Machapunga Indians
The Machapunga Tribe, meaning “bad dust” in Algonquian, was part of the broader Algonquian linguistic stock and inhabited areas in present-day Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell, and Beaufort Counties. Their notable village was Mattamuskeet, and they likely embraced descendants of the Secotan tribe. By 1701, they had dwindled to a single village and participated in the Tuscarora War. Their population declined significantly over the years, with only a handful remaining by the late 18th century. The name Machipongo is now associated with a village in Virginia.