Shakori Tribe

Shakori Indians. A small tribe associated with the Eno and Adshusheer in North Carolina in the 17th century. It is doubtful, from their physical characteristics, whether they were of Siouan stock, though they were allied with Siouan tribes. As the Shakori were constantly associated with the Eno they were probably linguistically related to them. They are first mentioned by Yardley (1654), who says a Tuscarora Indian described to him among other tribes of the interior “a great nation called Cacores,” of dwarfish stature, not exceeding that of boys of 14 years, yet exceedingly brave and fierce in fight and active in retreat, so that even the powerful Tuscarora were unable to conquer them. 1

They were then near neighbors of the Eno. Lederer (1672) found the villages of the two tribes about 14 miles apart, that of the Shakori being farthest west. 2 In 1701 Lawson found the two tribes confederated, and the Adshusheer with them. Their village, which he calls Adshusheer, was on Eno river about 14 miles east of the Occaneechi village, probably a short distance northeast of the present Durham, North Carolina. 3

They resembled the Eno in their customs. According to Col. Barnwell, commander in the Tuscarora War of 1711, they are identical with the Sissipahaw. 4

In 1733, William Byrd and his companions met with an “Old Indian” called Shacco-Will, living about 7 miles from Major Embry’s, who himself resided on the South side of the Nottoway River. Schacco-Will reckoned himself 78 years of age at the time. 5 This is almost certainly the same man as Enoe-Will who Lawson met and talked with in 1701. At that time, he was described by Lawson as chief man of the Schoccories, “mixt with the Enoe-Indians, and those of the Nation of Adshusheer” and that he ruled as far as the Banks of Reatkin (Haw River). 6

For Further Study

The following articles and manuscripts will shed additional light on the Shakori as both an ethnological study, and as a people. Consult:

• Mooney, Siouan Tribes of the East, Bull. B. A. E., 1894. (The Eno, Shoccoree, and Adshusheer Indians)

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Citations:

1. Yardley (1654) in Hawks, Francis L. History of North Carolina, Vol. II, 19, 1858.[↩]
2. Lederer, John. Discoveries in three several marches from Virginia to the west of Carolina, 1669-70. Collected and translated by Sir. W. Talbot. London, map, 1672. (Same, in Harris Collection of Voyages, vol II, London, 1705. Same Rochester, 1902).[↩]
3. Schocceries. – Lawson, John, History of Carolina, containing the exact description and natural history of that country, London, 1714. (Reprint, Raleigh, 1860), 384, 1860.[↩]
4. Shacioes. – “The Tuscarora Expedition, Letters of Colonel John Barnwell,” in South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, IX, 31, 1908.[↩]
5. Shacco. – Byrd, William. History of the dividing line, and other tracts, vol. II, 2, 1866.[↩]
6. Shoccories. – Lawson, John, History of Carolina, containing the exact description and natural history of that country, London, 1714. (Reprint, Raleigh, 1860.[↩]

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