Nacotchtank facts for kids

The Nacotchtank were a group of Native Americans who lived in the area we now call Washington, D.C. They lived there in the 1600s. Their main village was located where the Potomac River and the Anacostia River meet.

The name Nacotchtank comes from an old word, "anaquashatanik." This word means "a town of traders." The Nacotchtank people were known for trading. They had good land and rivers nearby, which helped them trade many things. In 1608, an English explorer named John Smith visited them. He saw that the Nacotchtank were successful and had lots of resources.

The Nacotchtank spoke a language called Piscataway. This language is part of the larger Algonquian language family. Many tribes along the Atlantic Ocean coast spoke similar languages. The Nacotchtank were closely connected to the Piscataway Chiefdom in Maryland. The Piscataway's grand chief, called a Tayac, led many tribes in a loose group.

The Nacotchtank paid tribute to the Piscataway chief. This chief lived in a village called Moyaone, which is now Accokeek, Maryland. Over the years, people have found old items from the Nacotchtank. These include hair combs, pendants, pottery, and even dog bones. These findings help us learn about their culture.

Later, the Maryland colony started taking over Nacotchtank land. They wanted land for growing tobacco. The Nacotchtank were forced to move. The last records of them are from the late 1600s. They found safety on Theodore Roosevelt Island in the Potomac River. Over time, the remaining Nacotchtank joined the Piscataway tribe. Today, the name Anacostine (a Latin version of Nacotchtank) lives on. You can see it in the names of the Anacostia River and the Anacostia neighborhood in D.C.

What's in a Name? The Nacotchtank Story

The name Nacotchtank comes from the Algonquian word "anaquashtank." This word means "a town of traders." When European colonists arrived, they often changed Native American names. They found some sounds hard to say.

English settlers changed "-tchtank" to "-stine" because it was easier. So, Nacotchtank slowly became Nacostine. Later, a group called the Jesuits added an "A" to Nacostine. This created the name Anacostine.

Even though the Nacotchtank preferred shorter names, Anacostine is closer to the original meaning. Today, the name Anacostine honors the Nacotchtank people. It is used for the Anacostia River and the Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

How the Nacotchtank Were Organized

The Nacotchtank were part of the larger Piscataway Chiefdom. The Nacotchtank tribe had about 300 members. The Piscataway were much larger, with about 7,000 members. The Nacotchtank allied with the Piscataway for protection. This helped them against the powerful Powhatan Chiefdom from Virginia.

The Piscataway Chief, called a tayac, loosely led the Nacotchtank and other tribes. The tayac was the most important chief. The chiefs of smaller tribes, like the Nacotchtank, were called werences. The Nacotchtank werence would gather tribute, like corn or animal hides. They would then give it to the Piscataway tayac. The tayac lived in a village about 15 miles south of Nacotchtank land.

History of the Nacotchtank People

Early Life: A Rich Community (Before 1608)

The Nacotchtank lived in a great location with a mild climate. This allowed them to have a thriving community. They had many natural resources. Being near two major rivers meant they had plenty of fish. The area was also a famous fishing spot.

The woodlands around the rivers were full of wild animals. They hunted bison, turkey, deer, and geese. The Nacotchtank were also skilled farmers. They moved inland to flat, fertile land to grow crops. They grew corn, beans, and squash, known as the Three Sisters.

With so many resources and a good location, the Nacotchtank became a center for trade. They traded with nearby tribes, like the Iroquois from New York. They mainly traded animal furs, which they had a lot of. The Nacotchtank eventually controlled most of the fur trade in their region.

Meeting English Settlers (1608-1650s)

The Nacotchtank were first written about by Captain John Smith in 1608. He visited their village, which was protected by a palisade (a fence of strong posts). Smith was exploring the land around the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. He wrote in his journal that the Nacotchtank were friendly. He said they "did their best to content [him]." These first meetings were peaceful.

In 1621, Captain Henry Fleet and about 26 settlers from Jamestown tried to trade for corn. The Nacotchtank were suspicious. A fight broke out, and all the settlers were killed except Captain Fleet. He was captured and held for five years. During this time, Fleet learned the Nacotchtank language and culture. He saw their trading village Tohoga (in modern-day Georgetown). He noted it was the center of the fur trade with the Iroquois.

In 1622, the Nacotchtank faced their first death from colonial forces. This happened during the Second Anglo-Powhatan War. The English colonists allied with the Patawomeck tribe. The Patawomeck lived across the Potomac River from the Nacotchtank. They were long-time enemies. The Patawomeck chief helped the colonists attack the Nacotchtank. They wanted to get corn and get revenge for Fleet's party.

A combined force of colonists and Patawomeke warriors killed 18 Nacotchtank people. They drove the rest from their homes and burned the village. Captain Fleet remained a captive. He escaped in 1626.

After escaping, Captain Fleet used his knowledge of the Nacotchtank. He started trading with other tribes. He eventually took over the fur trade that the Nacotchtank had controlled. When the Jesuits arrived in Maryland in 1634, Fleet helped them. He translated the Algonquian language for Governor Leonard Calvert.

Losing Their Land (1650s-1697)

In the 1650s, the Province of Maryland saw a huge demand for tobacco. This led to a need for vast areas of land for tobacco farms. In 1663, Cecil Calvert gave Thomas Dent 850 acres of land. This land, called Gisborough, was right next to the main Nacotchtank village.

With the Maryland colony so close, they began taking Nacotchtank land. Also, the Europeans brought new diseases. The Nacotchtank had no immunity to illnesses like measles, cholera, and smallpox. Many Nacotchtank people died from these diseases.

In 1668, the Nacotchtank tribe, with fewer people, moved. They relocated to Anacostine Island, now called Theodore Roosevelt Island. This island is in the Potomac River, across from Georgetown.

Their Legacy Today (1697-Present)

By 1697, the Nacotchtank living on Theodore Roosevelt Island sought safety. They joined the larger Piscataway tribe in Southern Maryland. Around 1700, the Piscataway, along with the Nacotchtank who joined them, moved north. They settled near the lower Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.

Even though the Nacotchtank tribe was absorbed, their name lives on. The Anacostia River and the Anacostia neighborhood in D.C. are named "Anacostia." This name comes from the Latin version of Nacotchtank.

Where the Nacotchtank Lived

Captain John Smith's "Map Of Virginia" shows where Native American groups lived in 1608. The red circle shows the Nacotchtank village.

Before colonization, the Nacotchtank tribe lived entirely within what is now Washington, D.C. They lived where the Potomac River and the Anacostia River meet. Most of their settlements were along the water.

Their main village, Nachatank, was on the east bank of the Potomac River. This is now the site of the Bolling Air Force Base. John Smith's journal noted that the Nacotchtank chief lived there with about 80 warriors. Smith's "Map of Virginia" shows this main village. Captain Fleet, during his captivity, saw other smaller villages. He mentioned Tohoga, Mosticum, Shaunetowa, and Usserahak.

Archaeologists have found evidence of Nacotchtank villages in D.C. For example, in 1997, an excavation near the Whitehurst Freeway in Georgetown found a hair comb, a hammer stone, and pendants. This area was the site of the Tohoga village. Tohoga was a trading village, located by the Potomac River for easy access.

Evidence also shows Nacotchtank lived further inland. When the White House swimming pool was built, archaeologists found items like quartzite points and pottery fragments. These findings suggest Native American presence. Quartzite blades with points on each end are typical of the Nacotchtank. Fragmented pottery also points to a permanent settlement.

Archaeologist Samuel Proudfit mapped another Nacotchtank village on Capitol Hill. This land now holds the Supreme Court and Library of Congress. The Nacotchtank used this flat land for farming. They grew large amounts of corn, beans, and squash. This flat land was better for farming than the uneven land near the rivers.

Nacotchtank Culture

Language and Communication

Since the Nacotchtank were allied with the Piscataway, they spoke the Piscataway language. This language is a dialect of the Nanticoke language. Both are part of the larger Algonquian language family.

Algonquian languages are "polysynthetic." This means that one word can be made up of many smaller parts. Each part adds a bit of meaning to the word.

Village Life and Structure

The main village, Nachatank, was home to the werence (the local chief). It also housed close family, priests, and councilors. The werence stored tribute, like corn and hides, from other villagers there. The chief's home and religious buildings were protected by a palisade. About 80 warriors lived in this main village.

Outside the main village, the Nacotchtank lived in a "dispersed settlement" pattern. This meant homes were somewhat isolated, with large open fields between them. Groups of 2 to 100 homes were clustered together. They shared a spot for burning wood for fires. Between these clusters were plots of land, 20 to 100 acres in size. These plots were used for growing plants and crops.

The Nacotchtank lived in wigwams (dome-shaped huts) and longhouses. These types of homes were common for tribes along the East Coast. Villages also had shared sweat houses. People who were sick would visit these houses to be healed.

Art and Daily Objects

The Nacotchtank used two main types of rock: quartzite and soapstone. They found these rocks in quarries in their territory. They would chip off large pieces of rock. Then, they would take them back to their villages to create tools and other items.

Quartzite was easy to chip and found in the Piney Branch area of Northwest D.C. It was used for sharp tools, like spears and arrow points. Soapstone was found mainly at the Rose Hill quarry in Northwest D.C. It was used to make bowls and pipes.

Archaeologists have also found pieces of Nacotchtank pottery. Fragments were found during an excavation under the White House.

The Carolina Dog was the only domesticated animal living with the Nacotchtank. These dogs were rarely eaten. They were important symbols of respect and honor. Carolina Dog skeletons have been found on top of human skeletons in ossuary burials. This suggests the dogs played a very important role in Nacotchtank culture.