Cockacoeske facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cockacoeske
Statue of Cockacoeske included in the Virginia Women's Monument.
Pamunkey leader
Preceded by	Totopotomoi
Succeeded by	Betty
Personal details
Born	ca. 1640 Pamunkey Neck, Virginia
Died	1686
Spouse	Totopotomoi
Children	John West
Known for	First signatory of the Treaty of 1677

Cockacoeske (also spelled Cockacoeskie) was a powerful Native American leader. She lived in the 1600s, from about 1640 to 1686. She was the chief of the Pamunkey tribe in what is now Virginia.

For about 30 years, Cockacoeske worked with the English colonists in Virginia. She tried to bring back the strength of earlier Native American leaders. She also worked to keep peace among the different tribes she led. She was the first tribal leader to sign the important Treaty of Middle Plantation.

In 2004, Cockacoeske was honored as one of the "Virginia Women in History" by the Library of Virginia.

Becoming a Leader

After the death of a great chief named Opechancanough in 1646, the group of tribes he led started to fall apart. Cockacoeske's husband, Totopotomoi, became the leader of the Pamunkey in 1649. However, the British only called him "king of the Pamunkeys." They did not call him "king of the Indians," as they had called earlier powerful chiefs.

Totopotomoi was killed in 1656 during a fight called the Battle of Bloody Run. He was fighting alongside the British against other Native American groups.

Queen of the Pamunkey

Cockacoeske was related to Opechancanough. After her husband's death, she became the sole leader, or Werowansqua, of the Pamunkey. The British colonial government recognized her as the "Queen" of Pamunkey.

She ruled for nearly 30 years. Her people lived on land between the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers. This land was given to them after a war ended in 1646. Today, this area is known as the Pamunkey Indian Reservation.

Challenges During Her Rule

The biggest challenge to peace during Cockacoeske's rule was Bacon's Rebellion. This was a revolt by different groups of people, led by a man named Nathaniel Bacon. Bacon was a wealthy farmer who wanted more power. He used the anger of settlers who felt they had poor land. These settlers were also upset that the government protected Native American tribes who sometimes raided their settlements.

Meeting with Governor Berkeley

Governor Berkeley asked the Pamunkey for help against Bacon. So, Cockacoeske went to the statehouse in Jamestown. She wore her best clothes, including a special deerskin cloak. Her son and an interpreter came with her.

The Governor's council told her she had to send warriors to help them. Cockacoeske was a skilled diplomat. She spoke with great emotion, reminding them of her husband's death. She said, "Tatapatamoi dead," meaning her husband was dead. She reminded the council that her husband and many of his warriors had died helping the British before. They had received nothing in return.

When asked again how many warriors she would send, she turned away. She answered in a quiet voice, saying "twelve." This was even though she had 150 warriors in her town. She then left, showing she was not happy with how she was treated.

Bacon's Attacks

Bacon's first attacks were against the Pamunkey. Cockacoeske and her people had to leave their camp and hide in a swamp. Bacon's followers chased them. They captured one of the Queen's helpers and tried to make her lead them to the Pamunkey. When she led them the wrong way, they killed her.

Cockacoeske tried to get help from the Governor's Council. Eventually, the English government sent a group to stop Bacon. After Bacon died from an illness, the rebellion slowly ended. The English Crown criticized both sides for how they treated the Pamunkey and other friendly tribes. They said it was important to bring peace back to the area.

Treaty of Middle Plantation

On May 29, 1677, Cockacoeske and her son signed the Treaty of Middle Plantation. This treaty was made with the new Virginia Governor, Jeffreys. It took almost a month of talks to create the treaty.

Terms of the Treaty

In the treaty, Native American leaders like Cockacoeske agreed to be subjects of the British Crown. They also gave up their claims to their old lands. In return, they received protection from other hostile tribes. They were also guaranteed a certain amount of reserved land.

The treaty also made alliances stronger between Native American groups. It set out the rights and duties of the British. Cockacoeske, known as "Queen of the Pamunkey," was the first to sign. This showed her strong negotiating skills. It also showed her ability to claim other tribes under her leadership. Other important leaders also signed, like the Queen of the Weyanokes and the kings of the Nottoways and the Nansemonds.

Cockacoeske's Influence

Cockacoeske wanted to be more than just Queen of the Pamunkey. She influenced Article 12 of the treaty. This article said that each Native American King and Queen had equal power. However, it also said that "the Queen of Pamunkey to whom several scattered Indian Nations doe now againe owne their antient subjection...."

This "ancient subjection" meant that some tribes had been under the Pamunkey's rule in the past. Historians believe these "scattered nations" included the Chickahominys and Rappahannocks. They might have also included the Chiskiacks, Totachus, and Mattaponys. Three other local Native American groups joined the treaty by 1680.

Challenges to Her Authority

Soon after the treaty was signed, some among the Chickahominys and Rappahannocks resisted Cockacoeske's demands. They said they had not paid tribute for many years. They also complained that she had executed some Chickahominys.

British officials still trusted Cockacoeske's leadership. However, they complained about Article 18 of the treaty. This article said British Virginians would settle arguments between tribes. The British would have preferred to let the tribes fight among themselves.

Cockacoeske tried to use British help several times in 1678 to enforce the treaty's rules. But it seems the Chicahominys and Rappahonnocks successfully rejected her claims of power over them.

Family and Successors

Cockacoeske had one known child, a son named John West. He was likely born around 1656 or 1657. He was thought to be the son of an English colonel. Because of his name and birth after her husband's death, some believe his father was John West or his son John West. The Virginia-Indian Treaty of 1677/1680, which he signed, called him "Cap't John West, sonne to the Queen of Pamunkey."

The modern Patawomeck Tribe believes Cockacoeske had a daughter with Totopotomoi. Her name is not known, so researchers call her "Jane Totopotomoi." She married Thomas Harrison.

Cockacoeske died in 1686. The Pamunkey people had a matrilineal society. This means leadership passed down through the mother's side of the family. So, her niece, Betty, became the next leader.