Patuxent people facts for kids

The Patuxent (also called Pawtuxent) were a Native American tribe. They lived along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in what is now Maryland. They spoke a language called Algonquian. The Patuxent tribe was part of a larger group known as the Piscataway.

Who Were the Patuxent People?

The Patuxent tribe lived near the Patuxent River. This river flows into the Chesapeake Bay. They were among the first Native American groups to meet European explorers and settlers. One of the first Europeans to teach them was Andrew White, a Jesuit missionary.

Early European Encounters

The first European to explore the Patuxent River was Captain John Smith. He sailed about 40 miles up the river in 1608. He wrote that the Patuxent was "a faire and delightful navigable river." At that time, Captain Smith noted there were 17 Native American villages along the river.

Life and Culture of the Patuxent

The ancestors of the Patuxent people moved to this area about 2,000 years ago. They were skilled farmers. They grew many important crops. These included corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, and tobacco. They had large farm fields that were already cleared. These "old fields" were very useful for later European settlers.

Changes and Moving On

As more European settlers arrived, they started large tobacco farms. These farms took over much of the land. This meant the Patuxent people had to move. By 1674, some Patuxent people lived on a special piece of land. This land was 700 acres and was set aside for them by Lord Baltimore. It was located at Billingsley Point, near what is now Upper Marlboro. Today, this area is a public park.

By the 1690s, the remaining Patuxent people left Billingsley Point. They joined another Native American group. This group lived in Chaptico, on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. This area is now in St. Mary's County. Over time, the Patuxent tribe became extinct as a distinct group.