Living Along the Chesapeake Bay
Long before English ships arrived on the shores of what is now called Virginia, the Kecoughtan people lived peacefully along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, near the mouth of the James and Hampton Rivers. Their name, "Kecoughtan," is believed to mean "Great Water" or "Place of the Great Shells," and they were part of the larger Algonquian-speaking tribes of the region.
Daily Life of the Kecoughtan:
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Villages: The Kecoughtan lived in dome-shaped homes called yehakins, made of saplings and covered with mats or bark. Villages were located near water sources for fishing, travel, and trade.
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Food: They were expert fishers, farmers, and hunters. Corn, beans, and squash were grown in the fields, while fish, oysters, and clams were harvested from the Bay.
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Culture: Their society was matrilineal, meaning descent and inheritance passed through the mother’s line. Women managed homes, gardens, and familial ties, while men hunted, fished, and protected the village.
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Spiritual Life: The Kecoughtan believed in a powerful spiritual world. They honored the natural elements—sun, water, wind, and animals—and practiced ceremonies led by spiritual leaders.
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The Kecoughtan were known as friendly people who welcomed traders and travelers. They had their own chiefs (known as werowances) and lived largely independent until the rise of the Powhatan Confederacy.
Paquiquineo: The Boy Taken Across the Ocean
Paquiquineo, later known by the Spanish as Don Luis de Velasco, was a young Kecoughtan boy whose life would take a dramatic turn in the mid-1500s. He would become one of the earliest Indigenous people to travel across the Atlantic and return home.
His Journey:
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Kidnapping (circa 1561): Spanish explorers led by Captain Antonio Velázquez kidnapped Paquiquineo near the Chesapeake Bay. He was taken aboard a ship and brought to Spain.
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Life in Spain:
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He was baptized and given the Christian name Don Luis de Velasco, in honor of the viceroy of New Spain.
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Paquiquineo was educated in Spain and later taken to Mexico (New Spain), and eventually joined Jesuit missionaries.
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Return to Virginia (1570):
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He returned with a Jesuit group to establish the Ajacán Mission in the Chesapeake Bay region.
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The missionaries hoped he would help convert his people to Christianity.
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The Jesuit Missionaries:
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Father Juan Bautista de Segura (mission leader)
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Father Luis de Quirós
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Brother Gabriel Gómez
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Brothers Cristóbal Redondo, Sancho Zevallos, Pedro de Linares, Gabriel de Solís, Juan Bautista Méndez
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A young altar boy named Alonso de Olmos
The Tragic End:
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After returning to his homeland, Don Luis abandoned the missionaries and rejoined his people.
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In 1571, tensions rose. It is believed that Paquiquineo turned against the missionaries, possibly due to their disrespect for his culture or attempts to dominate his people.
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The missionaries were killed, and the mission was destroyed—ending Spain's early attempt at colonization in the region.
Opechancanough: Defender of the Homeland
Opechancanough, whose name means "He whose soul is white", was one of the most influential leaders in Virginia’s early history. Though not of the Kecoughtan, he became a central figure in their fate as he rose to power within the Powhatan Confederacy.
Who was Opechancanough?
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He was the younger brother of Wahunsenacawh, the Powhatan leader who established a vast alliance of tribes in the region, including the Kecoughtan.
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A skilled warrior and strategist, Opechancanough led efforts to resist English expansion into Indigenous lands.
Major Events:
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March 22, 1622, Uprising:
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Opechancanough led a surprise attack known as the Powhatan Uprising of 1622.
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Nearly 350 colonists were killed in a coordinated assault aimed at driving the English out
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Renewed Conflict in 1644:
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He launched another massive uprising in 1644.
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Captured by the English in 1646, he was paraded through Jamestown and later killed by an English soldier.
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Opechancanough is remembered as a symbol of resistance against colonization. His leadership inspired many tribes, including the Kecoughtan, to preserve their way of life in the face of growing European pressure.
Arrival of the English & the Fall of the Kecoughtan
In 1607, English settlers arrived and established Jamestown, just upriver from Kecoughtan territory. Though initial contact was peaceful, tension grew quickly.
Key Events:
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1607:
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English explorer Christopher Newport and his men visited the Kecoughtan, receiving food and guidance.
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1609–1610:
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Relations began to sour. As the English pushed for more land, Indigenous resistance increased.
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July 9, 1610 – The Seizure of Kecoughtan:
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Englishmen led by Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas West (Lord De La Warr) attacked the Kecoughtan village.
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They killed many of the inhabitants and seized their land, establishing what became known as Fort Algernon at the mouth of the Hampton River.
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English Leaders:
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Sir Thomas Gates – Deputy Governor of Virginia
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Sir Thomas West (Lord De La Warr) – Governor of Virginia who arrived with reinforcements
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George Percy – Led some of the violent confrontations with the Kecoughtan
Aftermath:
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The surviving Kecoughtan people either fled inland, joined other tribes, or were absorbed into the Powhatan Confederacy.
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Despite attempts to erase their presence, Kecoughtan descendants lived on, often adopting English surnames such as Tann, blending into society while keeping their heritage alive.
Legacy of the Kecoughtan
Today, the story of the Kecoughtan people is being reclaimed. Their descendants continue to honor their ancestors, share their history, and celebrate their survival. The land they once walked is now known as Hampton, Virginia, but their spirit and contributions remain deeply rooted in the soil of the Chesapeake Bay.
Their story is one of resilience, identity, and survival—a reminder that the Kecoughtan Nation was never erased.
Emily Isabel Tann
Emily Tann Vanderhorst with her husband, John H. Vanderhorst with their children.
First Row Left: Mary Vanderhorst, Frances V. Vanderhorst, Emily, John, Pear L. Vanderhorst,
Standing in the Rear: Blondell Vanderhorst, Clarence A. Vanderhorst, Ruth Vanderhorst, twins: Robert E. Vanderhorst, and Edward M. Vanderhorst.