Native American

The list of items below have been tagged as part of the Native American historical collection here at AccessGenealogy.

Tocobaga Indians

Tocobaga Tribe. Meaning unknown, though toco means in Timucua “to come out,” “to proceed from.” Tocobaga Connections. (See Utina) Tocobaga Location. About Old Tampa Bay. Tocobaga Villages. The main town was at or near Safety Harbor at the head of Old Tampa Bay. Tocobaga History. Narvaez probably landed in the territory of this tribe in 1528, but his chroniclers speak of meeting very few Indians. Eleven years later De Soto’s expedition disembarked just south in Tampa Bay but came into little contact with this tribe. Two years after driving the French from St. Johns River in 1565, Menendez visited Tocobaga, … Read more

Surruque Indians

Surruque Tribe. Meaning unknown. Connections. Somewhat doubtful, but they were probably of the Timucuan linguistic group. (See Utina.) Location. At or very close to Cape Canaveral. History. The Surruque appear first in history as the “Sorrochos” of Le Moyne’s map (1875) and his “Lake Sarrope” also probably derived its name from them. About the end of the same century, the sixteenth, trouble arose between them and the Spaniards, in consequence of which the Spanish governor fell upon a Surruque town, killed 60 persons and captured 54. Later they probably united with the Timucua people and shared their fortunes. Population. No … Read more

Saturiwa Indians

Saturiwa Tribe. Meaning unknown. Saturiwa Connections. (See Utina) Saturiwa Location. About the mouth of St. Johns River. Some early writers seem to include Cumberland Island in their jurisdiction. Saturiwa Villages. Laudonniére (1586) says that the chief of this tribe ruled over 30 subchiefs, but it is uncertain whether these subchiefs represented villages belonging allied tribes, or both. The Spaniards give the following: San Juan dell Puerrto, the main mission for this province under which were Vera Cruz, Arratbo, Potaya, San Matheo, San Pablo, Hicachirico (“Little Town”), Chinisca, and Carabay. San Diego de Salamototo, near the site of Picolata, on which … Read more

Onatheaqua Indians

Onatheaqua Tribe. In the narratives of Laudonniére and Le Moyne this appears as one of the two main Timucua tribes in the northwestern part of Florida, the other being the Hostaqua (or Yustaga). Elsewhere I have suggested that it may have covered the Indians afterward gathered into the missions of Santa Cruz de Tarihica, San Juan de Guacara, Santa Catalina, and Ajoica, where there were 230 Indians in 1675, but that is uncertain. (See Utina)

Pawokti Indians

Pawokti Tribe. Meaning unknown. Pawokti Connections. They were probably affiliated either with the Tawasa or the Alabama. In any case there is no reason to doubt that they spoke a Muskhogean dialect, using Muskhogean in the extended sense. Pawokti Location. The earliest known location of the Pawokti seems to have been west of Choctawhatchee River, not far from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. (See also Alabama) Pawokti History. Lamhatty (in Bushnell, 1908) assigns the Pawokti the above location before they were driven away by northern Indians, evidently Creeks, in 1706-7. Although the name does not appear in any … Read more

Pensacola Indians

Map of the Pensacola Indians Cultural Reach

Provides an overview of the Pensacola Indians history, location, and what they were known for.

Potano Indians

Potano Tribe – Meaning unknown. Potano Connections. (See Utina) Potano Location. In the, territory of the present Alachua County. Potano Towns. The following places named in the De Soto narratives probably belonged to this tribe: Itaraholata or Ytara, Potano, Utinamocharra or Utinama, Cholupaha, and a town they called Mala-Paz. A letter dated 1602 mentions five towns, and on and after 1606, when missionaries reached the tribe, stations were established called San Francisco, San Miguel, Santa Anna, San Buenaventura, and San Martin(?). There is mention also of a mission station called Apalo. Potano History. The name Potano first appears as that … Read more

Pohoy Indians

Pohoy Indians, Pooy, or Posoy. Meaning unknown. Pohoy Connections. They were evidently closely connected with the Timucuan division of the Muskhogean linguistic stock. (See Utina). Pohoy Location. On the south shore of Tampa Bay. Pohoy Towns. (See History.) Pohoy History. This tribe, or a part of the same, appears first in history under the names Oçita or Ucita as a “province” in the territory of which Hernando de Soto landed in 1539. He established his headquarters in the town of the head chief on June 1, and when he marched inland on July 15 he left a captain named Calder6n … Read more

Macapiras Indians

Macapiras Tribe, or Amacapiras Tribe. Meaning unknown. A small tribe which was brought to the St. Augustine missions in 1726 along with some Pohoy, and so apparently from the southwest coast. There were only 24, part of whom died and the rest returned to their old homes before 1728.

Chilucan Indians

Chilucan Tribe. A tribe mentioned in an enumeration of the Indians in Florida missions made in 1726. Possibly the name is derived from Muskogee chiloki, “people of a different speech,” and since one of the two missions where they are reported was San Buenaventura and elsewhere that mission is said to have been occupied by Mocama Indians, that is, seacoast Timucua, a Timucuan connection is indicated. In the list mentioned, 70 Chilucan were said to be at San Buenaventura and 62 at the mission of Nombre de Dios.

Caparaz Indians

Caparaz Tribe. A small tribe or band placed in 1674 in connection with a doctrina called San Luis on the Apalachee coast along with two other bands called Amacano and Chine. Possibly they may have been survivors of the Capachequi encountered by De Soto in 1540. The three bands were estimated to contain 300 people.

Chine Indians

Chine Tribe. A small tribe or band associated with two others called Amacano and Caparaz in a doctrina established on the coast of the Apalachee country called San Luis. Other evidence suggests that Chine may be the name of a Chatot chief. Later they may have moved into the Apalachee country, for in a mission list dated 1680 there appears a mission called San Pedro de los Chines. This tribe and the Amacano and Caparaz were said to number 300 individuals in 1674.

Amacano Indians

Amacano Tribe. A tribe or band perhaps connected with the Yamasee, placed in a mission on the Apalachee coast in 1674 with two others, Chine, and Caparaz. The three together had 300 souls.

Icafui Indians

Icafui Tribe. Meaning unknown. Icafui Connections. They were undoubtedly of the Timucuan group though they seem to have been confused at times with a tribe called Cascangue which may have been related to the Muskogee or Hitchiti. On the other hand, Cascangue may have been another name of this tribe, possibly one employed by Creeks or Hitchiti. Icafui Location. On the mainland and probably in southeastern Georgia near the border between the Timucua and the strictly Muskhogean populations. Icafui Villages. Seven or eight towns are said to have belonged to this tribe but the names of none of them are … Read more

Guacata Indians

Guacata Tribe – Meaning unknown. Guacata Connections. On the evidence furnished by place names in this section, the tribe is classified with the south Florida peoples. Guacata Location. On or near Saint Lucie River in Saint Lucie and Palm Beach Counties. Guacata History.-The Guacata are first mentioned by Fontaneda (1854), who in one place speaks of them as on Lake Mayaimi (Okeechobee), but this probably means only that they ranged across to the lake from the eastern seacoast. Shortly after his conquest of Florida Menendez left 200 men in the Ais country, but the Indians of that tribe soon rose … Read more

Fresh Water Indians

The Fresh Water Tribe, also known as “Agna Dulce,” refers to the inhabitants of several towns in eastern Florida between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral. These towns included Anacape, Antonico, Maiaca, and several others, although not all native names have been preserved. This region’s history mirrors that of other Timucua provinces, with notable events including Ponce de Leon’s arrival in 1513 and the establishment of Spanish missions in the 17th century. The population saw a rapid decline following early conversions to Christianity. By 1602, 300 individuals from this district had been Christianized or were under instruction.

Chatot Indians

Chatot Tribe. Meaning unknown, but the forms of this word greatly resemble the synonyms of the name Choctaw. Chatot Connections. The language spoken by this tribe belonged, undoubtedly, to the southern division of the Muskhogean stock. Chatot Location. West of Apalachicola River, perhaps near the middle course of the Chipola. (See also Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana). Chatot Villages. From the names of two Spanish missions among them it would appear that there were at least two towns in early times, one called Chacato, after the name of the tribe, and the other Tolentino. Chatot History. The Chatot are first mentioned … Read more

Hitchiti Indians

Hitchiti Tribe. Perhaps from Atcik-hata, a term formerly applied to all of the Indians who spoke the Hitchiti language, and is said to refer to the heap of white ashes piled up close to the ceremonial ground. Also called: At-pasha-shliha, Koasati name, meaning “mean people.” Hitchiti Connections. The Hitchiti belonged to the Muskhogean linguistic family and were considered the mother town of the Atcik-hata group. (See Apalachicola) Hitchiti Location. The Hitchiti are oftenest associated with a location in the present Chattahoochee County, Georgia, but at an earlier period were on the lower course of the Ocmulgee River. (See also Florida … Read more

Chiaha Indians

Chiaha Tribe. Meaning unknown though it may contain a reference to mountains or highlands. (Cf. Choctaw and Alabama tcaha, Hitchiti tcäihi, “high.”) Also called: Tolameco or Solameco, which probably signifies “big town,” a name reported by the Spaniards. Chiaha Connections. The Chiaha belonged to the Muskhogean linguistic stock and in later times spoke the Muskogee’ ‘tongue, but there is every reason to class them in the Hitchiti group. (See Apalachicola) Chiaha Location. In later historic times the Chiaha were on the middle course of Chattahoochee River, but at the earliest period at which we have any knowledge of them they … Read more

Mikasuki Indians

Mikasuki Tribe – Meaning unknown. Mikasuki Connections. These Indians belonged to the Hitchiti-speaking branch of the Muskhogean linguistic family. They are said by some to have branched from the true Hitchiti, but those who claim that they were originally Chiaha are probably correct. Mikasuki Location. Their earliest known home was about Miccosukee Lake in Jefferson County. (See also Oklahoma.) Mikasuki Villages. Alachua Talofa or John Hick’s Town, in the Alachua Plains, Alachua County. New Mikasuki, near Greenville in Madison County. Old Mikasuki, near Miccosukee Lake. Mikasuki History. The name Mikasuki appears about 1778 and therefore we know that their independent … Read more