Choptank people facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Extinct as a tribe | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Eastern Shore of Maryland | |
| Languages | |
| Nanticoke | |
| Religion | |
| Native American religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nanticoke, Lenape |
The Choptank (also called Ababco) were a group of Native American people. They spoke a language called Algonquian. Historically, they lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This area is part of the Delmarva Peninsula.
The Choptank people lived along the lower Choptank River. This area now includes parts of Talbot, Dorchester, and Caroline counties. They spoke Nanticoke, which is similar to the Delaware language. The Choptank were special because they were the only Native American group on the Eastern Shore to get a reservation. This land was given to them permanently by the English government. They kept this land until 1822. Then, the state of Maryland sold it. Part of the money helped pay for Maryland's share of Washington, D.C..
Contents
History of the Choptank People
The name Choptank likely comes from the Nanticoke word tshapetank. This word means "a stream that separates" or "place of big current."
Life and Relations with Other Tribes
The Choptank people spoke an Algonquian language. They were independent but shared culture and language with the Nanticoke. The Nanticoke were a larger, more powerful group living south of them. After English settlers arrived, the Choptank and Nanticoke had different experiences. The Choptank kept good relationships with the European settlers.
Over time, many Choptank people married into the larger society. This process is called assimilation. It means they slowly became part of the main culture. Like many smaller tribes, the Choptank stopped existing as a separate group. However, their descendants, or family members, are still alive today.
The Choptank Reservation
In 1669, the English created the Choptank Indian Reservation. This was the only permanent Native American reservation on the Eastern Shore. The land for the reservation later included the city of Cambridge. Cambridge is the main town in Dorchester County.
The last town where the Choptank lived in Dorchester County was Locust Neck Indian Town. They left this town around 1790. In 1822, the state of Maryland sold the reservation land. The money from this sale helped Maryland pay its part for creating the District of Columbia.
Choptank Legacy Today
The U.S. Navy tugboat Choptank was named after the tribe. This boat served from 1918 until 1946. The towns of Choptank, Maryland and Choptank Mills, Delaware, are named after the river. Fictional members of the Choptank tribe appear in the early parts of James Michener's 1978 novel, Chesapeake.
