No member of the Pamunkey tribe is of full Indian blood. While the copper- colored skin and the straight, coarse hair of the aboriginal American show decidedly in some individuals, there are others whose Indian origin would not be detected by the ordinary observer. There has been considerable intermixture of white blood in the tribe, and not a little of that of the Negro, though the laws of the tribe now strictly prohibit marriage to persons of African descent.
No one who visits the Pamunkey could fail to notice their race pride. Though they would probably acknowledge the whites as their equals, they consider the blacks far beneath their social level. Their feeling toward the Negro is well illustrated by their recent indignant refusal to accept a colored teacher, who was sent them by the superintendent of public instruction to conduct the free school which the State furnishes them. They are exceedingly anxious to keep their blood free from further intermixture with that of other races, and how to accomplish this purpose is a serious problem with them, as there are few members of the tribe who are not closely related to every other person on the reservation. To obviate this difficulty the chief and councilmen have been attempting to devise a plan by which they can induce immigration from the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina. The Indian blood in the Pamunkey tribe is estimated at from one-fifth to three-fourths.
The Pamunkey, as a tribe, are neither handsome nor homely, long nor short, stout nor slim; in fact, they differ among themselves in these respects to the same degree found among the members of a white community of the same size. They are not particularly strong and robust, and their average longevity is lower than that of their neighbors. These facts are perhaps in a measure attributable to the frequent marriages between near relatives.
The average intelligence of these Indians is higher than that of the Virginia Negro. With a few exceptions the adults among them can read and write. In view of their limited advantages they are strikingly well informed. A copy of one of their State papers will serve to give an idea of the maximum intelligence of the tribe. It reads as follows:
Pamunkey Indian Reservation
King William County, Virginia,
June 26, 1893.
We, the last descendants of the Powhatan tribe of Indians, now situated on a small reservation on the Pamunkey River, 24 miles from Richmond, Virginia, and one mile east of the historic White House, where Gen. George Washington was married to his lovely bride in the St. Peter s Church. We are now known as the Pamunkey tribe of Indians, following the customs of our forefathers, hunting and fishing, partly with our dugout canoes.
We hereby authorize Terrill Bradby to visit the Indian Bureau in Washington and in all other Departments and Indian tribes, and also to visit the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
We, the undersigned, request that whenever this petition is presented, the holder may meet with the favorable approbation of the public generally.
C. S. Bradby, Chief
Council
J. T. Dennis
W. G. Sweat
R. L. Sampson
T. Bradby
Town Clerk
R. W. Miles
Trustees
Jas. H. Johnson
W. T. Neat
B. Richards M. D.
Members of the Tribe
E. R. Allmond
A. J. Page
G. M. Cook
W. A. Bradby
T. T. Dennis
The Pamunkey Indians are temperate moral and peaceable. Ill feeling between the tribe and their neighbors is almost unknown. They are exceeding proud of their lineage and love to tell how bravely and stubbornly their forefathers resisted the encroachment of the whites. Opechancanough is their hero. They take special delight in relating the familiar story of how this noted chief when old and infirm was carried on a litter to battle that his presence might inspire his men to deeds of bravery.
It may not be amiss to give here a tradition concerning this tribe which is related as explanatory of the name of a certain ferry that crosses Pamunkey river about ten miles above the reservation. The name of the ferry is Pipe-in-tree now spelled Piping-tree. The tradition runs thus: On one occasion the Pamunkey braves met a committee of white settlers at this place and negotiated a treaty. When all the terms had been agreed to the consummation of the treaty was solemnized in usual Indian fashion by handing around the same pipe to the representatives of both nations each taking a puff as indicative of friendship and good faith. The pipe was then deposited in a hollow tree nearby and ever afterward when the colonists disregarded their agreement the poor Indians would remind them of u pipe-in-tree.”
Aside from their mode of subsistence there is nothing peculiar in the manners and customs of these people except perhaps an inclination to the excessive use of gaudy colors in their attire. Their homes are comfortable and well kept. The houses are weather boarded and are as a rule one-story-and-a-half high and consist of from one to four rooms. The best structure on the reservation is their church building where services are held every Sabbath. The church receives the hearty support of the whole tribe the membership of the church and that of the tribe being almost coextensive. As to their creed they are all of one mind in adhering to the tenets of the Baptist denomination.
My maternal great-grandmother is Bessie Lee Bradby of James City County and her great grandfathers were John W Bradby (mulatto) and Miles Bradby. Miles was listed in the census as a free person of color along with William Terrill Bradby in 1830 before it was authorized to be listed as a Indian (ind) or Native American (na) on the following census of 1840. The story was told that Miles took a Pamunkey wife (Elizabeth/ Betsy) then was banished from the reservation for trying to live amongst the tribe. This has been a family mystery unsolved. The family remained close to Charles City, migrating to Stonehouse, and James City County where many Bradby/Bradberry descendants still live. I know that interracial marriages in the tribe to persons of color was forbidden but any information would help.
Is it also possible that Miles Bradby could be a merger of the two prominent surnames Miles and Bradby amongst the Pamunkey and Chickahominy? It is a repetitive name amongst descendants.
Also if your last name isn’t MILES BRADBY ADKINS OR ATKINS (same thing )then 9/10 your not pamunkey those are all Charles city names and if you really pamunkey then you would kno that’s where most pamunkey and Chickahominy members are although pamunkey reservation is in West Point and the Chickahominy reservation is located in Providence Forge area of Charles City and for every one claiming to be a descendent of matoaka aka Pocahontas please jus stop it’s offensive you don’t even kno her name
There are many Pocahontas descendants that don’t have those last names. What are you talking about?
Hi! So I did the whole ancestry DNA thing! Looks like my 14th great grandfather was Cornstalk III . Chief Opechan Stream Cornstalk Shawnee Iii and his wife
Scent Flower Pawpawiske Powhatan
I am very interested in finding out more of my family history. Is there someone from the tribe I could talk to? Maybe visit? Thank you 🙂
This entire Cornstalk – Shawnee genealogy is false and fraudulent. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Shawnee_Heritage_Fraud
I am a Direct Decendant from Richard Nickens was born in 1660 in Lancaster, Virginia. He had three sons and three daughters with Christian Yocconhockon between 1680 and 1708. He died on August 4, 1713, in his hometown at the age of 53….Our family currently lives in Washington DC Area we have been researching very sorted family history from England, Ireland and Portugal…from the Mali to the COngo, from South Carolina Trail of Tears and Pamunkey river in VA… You want to talk about TRUE AMERICANS ….REAL AMERICANS….they don’t get more authentic than us!!
Looking for information of one of my g grandfather sure wish you could help Aries Brown born 1802 king & Queen Virginia I have hit A brick wall with his father Arries Brown wife Joanna Crocksin been told Arries fought with the white man and the day he and other Indians went to Register during the trial of tears he was killed by the white man by brother has done his DNA and R1b1a2a1b5a in group 10 just looking for my Native family also been told cousin to Dragging Canoe and Nancy Ward witch I would be happy but the father of (Aris Brown who was born 1802 from King and Queen Virginia ) I know is my family
Thank you for your time any guidance in the direction would help my phone 615 495-7860 my name Betty Brown
Hello,
Betty My name is Valerie .. I live in Murfreesboro , TN i see you have a TN phone number .. My family is from King and Queen Co. Virginia .. But also i think that my Mother may be a descendent of the Pamunkey Nation. It is all a big secret and very little is known; it is rumored that my maternal Grandfather’s mother was from the Pamunkey tribe. I am very curious.. can you share what info you have.. I am trying to encourage my mother to have a DNA genealogy test. her family is from West Point and Charles City Area. My email is valerie.mannery2@gmail.com
Hello ! My name is Nikki and I was searching for my families background to their relatives. I only have one name and that is Earl Lee Bird/Byrd, not sure of the spelling but I believe that he lived in the Newport News/Hampton Area/ Phoebus area and that is recalled from my uncle Calvin who is deceased, his twin sister Carolyn is currently living in Richmond and their mother’s name was Sadie.
The issue here that i have found is that many of these tribes even today still hold racist views. They make their enrollment impossible even though they probably have ancestors same as someone llike me. The Patawomeck,pamunkey and mattaponi. The way they thought about blacks at the time is the reason many of the black descendants were torn away from heritage and they make it impossible for those descendants to return home. Im not a rolfe descendant but a descendant of the child moataka had with kocoum . I am a shipp,Monteith,bryant descendant which puts her as my 12th great grand.
Such a shame
I am also, from the Bryant family, Chris Brown is also a member of my family, it is a shame
****Several of my relatives on Ancestry.com indicate that they are direct descendants of Pocahontas****
Is there a DNA test available to determine if I am related to her?
Only if you are descended from her through your entire maternal line… mom, her mom, her mom, etc.
Well…there goes that possibility. I would not proclaim heritage unless I knew it for a fact. I bet at least 75% proclaiming a DNA connection with her would be disappointed if they actually tested their DNA against hers. ;0
I have just received my family tree & it takes me back beyond Chief Powhatan. I was doing research & found this article. Fascinating!! Hello family, from Southern Utah
My grandmother on my dads side was Cherokee & pumunkey. Her father changed his last name to Jacks very early on. I want to know how to go about finding my heritage for Pumunkey. Is there a blood test that’s accurate? I don’t have much written information but need some guidance.
FOUND OUT I AM A DIRECT DECEN. Of Chief Powhatan and The Queen of the Pamunkey Tribe Cockacoeske- My maternal mother to grandmother to ggmother back through her maternal bloodlines show a paper trail and documented history and heritage of her and John west as well as his Will from 1716 showing his daughter to be the daughter of The pamunkey Queen Cockacoeske even though much documentation only shows her illligetimate son with John west but also a “jane” doe on ancestry papers so i checked the rolls of pamunkey voters as well as the census from 1900- 1910 and she is legibally there as Susanna of the Pamunkey tribe or Susannah West or also Dabney some have speculated her las name to be of Swann origin but the dates do not match up as it would have shown her in maryland and thus is not the case. I am sooo excited to learn my true heritage after it being hidden frrom me for sooo long.
Does anyone have an info on a Gideon “Gid” Sweatt, Sweet or Sweat that lived on the reservations? He has 2 sons buried at the church on the reservation Sterling and Frank Sweatt. My husband’s grandfather is their 1/2 brother but he changed his name when he moved into Richmond to get a job at the gas works. His name was Silas Sweet. His brother Sterling owned a store in Richmond and lived down the street from Silas and his family. We came to reservation years ago and talked to Daisy. She and her family were very close to Frank who never married or left the reservation. Any info anyone would have would be very helpful.
My name is Yvonne. Daisy Stewart Bradby was my aunt. When I was young she would prepare meals and take to Mr. Sweat. From what I remember he lived in a house across the railroad tracks, which is considered Old Town.
The mother of one of the first elected “negro”s in Virginia was Pamunkey; as was he. The late 1800’s was a period where they already began to separate native tribes by skin. The separation via cultural/political acceptance had already began earlier in the century as was full force after the war of 1812. Those who would sign treaties and sell land and turn over freedmen would be granted land in “Indian Territory and other reservations”. The “black” natives and other “freedmen”, (whom essentially would be considered part of the tribes they found) were labeled “negroes” or “freedmen” as a whole and many either assimilated into western culture and became laborers and farmers… Coalesced into communities that resisted and eluded “deportation”. The Yamassee Wars, Red Stick Wars, and Seminole Wars were predominately against these excluded Natives..from multiple tribes…all considered “Negroes” by colonial authorities, along with their asiatic descended allies and kin.
One would wonder what would make one so keen on “racial identity” when Native American tribal society was always to that point seen as a culture based and often egalitarian society.
Wondering if there is a more complete list of early Pamunkey tribal members? I have ancestors from Virginia, that descend from Cherokee and possibly the Yamassee, and more particularly the Jamestown area and early pioneer counties, who all lived there during the early 1600-1700’s.
Thank you for sharing the article! It is a beautiful read and very informative. Touching and so enjoyable to learn of the Powhatan lifestyles and more!
Thank you, your comment was very informative. It is often said African American love to claim ancestry to Indians tribes, I guess am one but not of the well know tribes such as Cherokee but Pamunkey tribe. The story is my great grandmother (Staves)is Pamunkey Indian was disown because she married my great grandfather who is a decendent of Hopson from York Co. Va. he was said to favor my father who is light skin over my dark skin Aunt. It was told that she tried to smother my dark skin cousin. My reason for mentioning these things is that you seem to have knowledge of blacks ancestry to native Americans. and I would like to know more.
Question, are the Pamunkey connected to or thru the Cherokee? I am confused by all I read. I have recently started my geneology search, on one side, I am Cherokee, another, I am Pamunkey, then I am Old Cheraw……I get asked sometime, are you Indian!!!!!! I think I had better “hash” my bloodline out. I still read and do my geneology so maybe I can understand better. Thank you for your help in this.
Please correct this most offensive and outdated article. A people on the verge of extinction were forced into conforming to colonial mores and values, as well as Virginia law. The Pamunkey do not subscribe to such racist trends and have removed the echo of such laws from Tribal Law. It is now time to heal and respect all of creation. As the 12th granddaughter of Matoaka (Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan), please update this article to better reflect current values, along with the historic voluntary generosity of a people soon impacted by first contact tragedy and sacrifice. Thank you, most kindly, t. (Until we meet, again)
Hello T Powhatan. My name is Josh, and I have a few questions for you about lineage if you are able to respond. My grandfather lived very close to the reservation and I did not get a chance to speak to him directly about our heritage before he passed away because I was still young. His name was W. T. Bradby. Any information you have would be very much appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.
I’m also a 12th great-granddaughter of Pocahontas, but I’m descended from her son Thomas. Are you descended from her first child (who I cannot find the name for in my research, so sorry), or from Thomas Rolfe?
Do you have kin in the Northern Neck area of Virginia. The Garland family in particular?
Hello , I learned that I was part of the pamunkey indian tribe, I learned this from speaking to my grandmother which is now 87. I was able to obtain alot of information to get me started in wanting to learn more about this tribe but it was rather heartbreaking to read the racism overtune of our tribe. I even looked through the pics and my great grandfather pic was on the page under an”unknown pamunkey indian” which I have my own pictures to prove” but this info and the history of this tribe have caused me to discontinue my efforts of unite. Including going about this and closing out the REAL pamunkey blood line to me is not away of healing or making whole.
Hi, Nakeisha:
I’m not Pamunkey, but I would recommend you persist. The history of anti-Africanism in both whites and Natives during the era of enslavement (1661 – 1865) and the era of Reconstruction and fragmentation (1865 – 1940s) is painful, but must be redressed. However it can only be redressed with the efforts of people like you (and myself), who are people of blended ancestries currently identifying as African-American but truly reflecting a rich heritage replete with Native culture and blood.
This is a historic article (from 1893) that reflects the thinking of the time, not of now. Tribal racism continues to be an issue, but it is a shrinking one — and one that is only fought by people like you reclaiming the parts of their identity that have too long been denied.
I am from Canada and my great grandfather was a cook from Virginia and am wondering if that is a name could be a descendant of the
Pamunkey tribe.
Why should this piece of history be erased? I love seeing actual thoughts, feelings and facts reflected in works.
You can’t rewrite history and shouldn’t attempt to.
I forgot to mention, I too, am a descendant of Powhatan, Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
My great grandmother supposedly was born on the pamunkey indian reservation in virginia in the 1800’s. Her name was Sadie Sable and may have married a man with the last name of Jackson. They had many children, my grandmother being one of them whose name was Hilda Jackson Callis; she had a brother named Chester and one named Ishmael – all Jacksons. I understand there was a fire on the reservation and the birth certificates were destroyed. I would like to trace Sadie Sable’s ancestry, if possible. Any help you could provide would be appreciated. (eadcside41@GMail.com)
Hello, I just very recently discovered Susannah Pamunkey was my 7th Great-Grandmother, and Chief Powhaton was my 9th Great-Grandfather. I am honored to have found this info…and look forward to all the info i can find
Acorrding to ancestry.com (if this is correct) this is my Pamunkey heritage and family tree:
Princess Susan Susannah Pamunkey Swann West- Dabney d’Aubigny (1643-1724) LLM7-B6F LB95-NNB/ 1643-1724
7th great-grandmother
Dorothy Dabney Pumunky/Powhatan Trice Anderson L27X-PCX 1655-1742
Daughter of Princess Susan Susannah Pamunkey Swann West- Dabney d’Aubigny (1643-1724) LLM7-B6F LB95-NNB/
William M Dabney Anderson GS18-S73 1687-1735
Son of Dorothy Dabney Pumunky/Powhatan Trice Anderson L27X-PCX
Elizabeth Diane Barber Anderson Trice GS18-QTV 1724-1787
Daughter of William M Dabney Anderson GS18-S73
Sarah Trice KHW5-HQR 1801-1832
Daughter of Elizabeth Diane Barber Anderson Trice GS18-QTV
PVT Jesse Marcus Taylor CWS LV9D-WS9 1832-1912
Son of Sarah Trice KHW5-HQR
Walter Scott Taylor 1868-
2nd great-grandfather
My email ->
bbunnag@msn.com