The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People — John Shaqi
The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its PeopleHaynie, Miriam
History
The Stronghold: A Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People
Haynie, Miriam
Northern Neck (Va.)
Captain Smith returned to the Moraughtacunds[4] and had the three women
brought before him. He had a chain of beads put around the neck of each.
He then sent for the King Rappahannock to come, and bade him choose the
one he most desired. The second choice was given to the "king" of the
Moraughtacunds. Then Smith generously presented Mosco with the third
woman. All parties seemed to be satisfied with this distribution.
[Footnote 4: The name "Moraughtacund" was corrupted to the present
"Morattico."]
The next day six or seven hundred Indians of both tribes assembled to
celebrate the peace that had been thus established. No weapons were to
be seen, friendship was pledged with the English, and the Indians
volunteered to plant corn for them. In return John Smith promised
hatchets, beads and copper.
Mosco was so pleased that at the height of the celebration he renounced
his name in favor of one meaning "stranger" and voluntarily became a
subject of the English King, James the First.
After the celebration Captain Smith sailed again into the Chesapeake,
leaving behind this river that the Indians called Quick-Rising-Water.
_HENRY AND POCAHONTAS_
In 1609 an English boy landed at Jamestown. He was probably about
fourteen years old at that time since records show that he had been
baptized in England in 1595.
In a short while Henry Spelman was to find himself in a virgin forest
among painted savages and wild beasts. What a change for this young son
of a British nobleman!
Harry had no doubt been accustomed to a quiet and bookish atmosphere at
his home at Congham, Norfolk. His father, Sir Henry, was interested in
history and antiques, and in fact was noted for his studies along those
lines.
[Illustration: _Henry Spelman living amongst the Indians._]
And why did Sir Henry permit a boy so young to set out upon such a
dangerous expedition? Was it because Harry was a third son and could
therefore expect little in the way of lands and riches? Since Sir Henry
was one of the Council for New England, and treasurer of the Guiana
Company, he may have had his eyes on broader horizons.
It was August when Henry arrived in Virginia. It was the hot, muggy
season when mosquitoes were plentiful. Shortly after his arrival Captain
John Smith took him on a little journey to visit Powhatan. How excited
Henry must have been at the prospect of seeing the great chieftain! How
little did he suspect what Captain Smith had planned to do with him.
Henry later wrote the following account:
"I was carried by Capt. Smith, our President, to ye litell Powhatan
where unknowne to me he sould (sold) me to him for a towne called
Powhatan (site of present Richmond city) and leavinge me with him, he
made knowne to Capt. Weste, (Francis, brother of Lord Delaware) how he
had bought a towne for them to dwell in...."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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