Queen Ann (Pamunkey chief) facts for kids

Queen Ann was a powerful leader of the Pamunkey people, a tribe from Virginia. She is known from records between 1706 and 1718. Queen Ann worked hard to keep peace between her tribe and the colony of Virginia. She also fought for the rights of her people. She was born around 1650 and is believed to have died around 1725.

Who Was Queen Ann?

Queen Ann was a respected leader, sometimes called a Weroansqua. This means she was a female chief or ruler of her tribe. She took on this important role after Queen Betty, likely in 1708 or even earlier. Queen Ann's main goal was to protect her people and their way of life.

A Leader's Journey

Queen Ann is first mentioned in historical records in 1708. Before her, the Pamunkey were led by Queen Betty. Queen Betty had become the leader after her aunt, Cockacoeske, in 1686. These three leaders, Cockacoeske, Betty, and Ann, are sometimes confused with each other. However, we know that Cockacoeske died in 1686, so she was definitely not Queen Ann.

Clearing Up Confusion

It can be tricky to tell some of the Pamunkey leaders apart. This is because there are not many old documents. Also, the Powhatan people, who the Pamunkey are part of, sometimes changed their names. It has been suggested that Queen Ann and Queen Betty might have been the same person. Some historians think she might have changed her name to Ann after Queen Anne became the Queen of England in 1702.

Fighting for Her People

Queen Ann's last known visit to the colonial authorities in Virginia was in 1715. She went there to ask for fair treatment for her tribe. The Pamunkey people were facing many problems. Settlers were moving onto their land, and there were raids. Even though the Pamunkey had tried to live peacefully, they were often treated badly by the Virginian settlers.

Protecting Land and People

Queen Ann tried to protect her people and help them survive. She asked the colonial leaders to stop outsiders from buying tribal land. She also asked them to stop selling alcohol to members of her tribe. These actions show how much she cared about her people's well-being and future.

Education for the Future

In 1711, Queen Ann sent her son to the Indian school at the College of William and Mary. This was part of an agreement with the governor of Virginia. If her son and another Pamunkey child went to the school, the tribe's debts would be forgiven. The name of Queen Ann's son is not known today. Many old records were either not kept or were lost over time due to wars and other events.