Mattawoman facts for kids
A freshwater-tidal estuary on Mattawoman Creek, Maryland named after the Mattawoman tribe who originally lived there
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Extinct as a tribe | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Eastern Shore of Maryland, Virginia | |
| Languages | |
| Eastern Algonquian | |
| Religion | |
| Native American religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Piscataway |
The Mattawoman were a group of Native Americans. They lived along the Western Shore of Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay. They were there when English settlers first arrived in the early 1600s.
The Mattawoman people made their homes along Mattawoman Creek. This area is now known as Charles County, Maryland. An early explorer named John Smith also wrote about them. He saw them near Quantico Creek in Prince William County, Virginia. John Smith called them Pamacocack.
Who Were the Mattawoman?
The Mattawoman were one of many Algonquian-speaking tribes. These tribes lived along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay. They were an important part of the region's history.
Their Language and Neighbors
The Mattawoman spoke a language from the Algonquian family. This language group was common among many tribes in the area. They were connected to the Piscataway tribe. The Piscataway were a larger and more powerful Algonquian group. The Mattawoman were loosely part of the Piscataway's larger chiefdom. This means they were under the general leadership of the Piscataway chief.
When Did They Live?
The Mattawoman tribe lived in the Chesapeake Bay area for many years. Records show they were present until about 1735. After this time, the tribe as a distinct group no longer existed.
