Featured Documents

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 20 April 1666, between the Lord Baron of Baltimore and the Province of Maryland and the Pascattaway, Anacostanck, Doags, Mikikiwomans, Manasquesend, Mattawomans, Chingwawateick, Hangemaick, Portobackes, Sacayo, Panyayo, and Choptico Nations, regarding the Rules and Restrictions concerning Colonial/Indigenous Relations and Reparations to the Chingwawater and Nangemaick Nations for Colonists' Crimes. Signed by: Amehoick for the Matchecomico and Sacayo, Choticke Councellor of Chingwawateick and Pangayo, Unawcawtanim for Mattawoman, Necutahamon King of Nangemy, and Mawnawzimo for Nangemy.

Declared on 15 December 1669 at the City of St. Marys, that the Lands Allocated to the Pascattaway, Annacostanck, Doags, Mikikiwoman, Manasquesend, Mattawomans, Chingwawateick, Nanjemauk, Portobacco, Sacayo, Pangayo, and Chaptico Indians belong explicitly to those Tribes, and no Colonists may settle there; however, Trade must be Maintained between the English and the Eastern Shore Indigenous.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 22 October 1722, between the Province of Maryland and Knosulin, alias Mr. Walker, and Wassennge, alias Daniel, Chiefs of the Assateague and Pocomoke Nations respectively, with specific Demands for Yearly Tribute for English Protections. Signed by: Knosulin, King of the Assateague Indians and Wassennge, King of the Pocomoke Indians.

Declared on 15 December 1669 at the City of St. Marys, that the Lands Allocated to the Pascattaway, Annacostanck, Doags, Mikikiwoman, Manasquesend, Mattawomans, Chingwawateick, Nanjemauk, Portobacco, Sacayo, Pangayo, and Chaptico Indians belong explicitly to those Tribes, and no Colonists may settle there; however, Trade must be Maintained between the English and the Eastern Shore Indigenous.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 19 September 1661, between the Province of Maryland and Pinna, King of Pickhattomitta, on behalf of the Passayonke Nation in Response to Violent Interactions between Indigenous Peoples (Passayonke, Miniqua, or Sinigo) and colonists. Signed by: Pinna.

A surveyor drew this plat of 16,429 acres in Dorchester County to denote what the English Colonists thought of as land set aside for the Choptank Indians. This fragmented plat is one page from a Land Office Certificate of survey file documenting land described as “Nanticoke Mannor, Vienna Town, Nanticoke Indian Lands.” A certificate of survey is an official description of a plot of land. The Land Office issued warrants of survey to the county surveyor who then generated certificates of survey as part of the land patent process. This plat is unpatented, meaning a land patent was not issued.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 9 April 1700, between the Province of Maryland and Oquotomaquah, the Emperor of Piscattaway, and the Province of Maryland and Izingoughsiowaugh, the Queen of Pamunckey, with Specific Demands for Yearly Tributes for English Protections and the Relocation of both Nations to Pomunckey.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 20 April 1666, between the Lord Baron of Baltimore and the Province of Maryland and the Pascattaway, Anacostanck, Doags, Mikikiwomans, Manasquesend, Mattawomans, Chingwawateick, Hangemaick, Portobackes, Sacayo, Panyayo, and Choptico Nations, regarding the Rules and Restrictions concerning Colonial/Indigenous Relations and Reparations to the Chingwawater and Nangemaick Nations for Colonists' Crimes. Signed by: Amehoick for the Matchecomico and Sacayo, Choticke Councellor of Chingwawateick and Pangayo, Unawcawtanim for Mattawoman, Necutahamon King of Nangemy, and Mawnawzimo for Nangemy.

Declared on 15 December 1669 at the City of St. Marys, that the Lands Allocated to the Pascattaway, Annacostanck, Doags, Mikikiwoman, Manasquesend, Mattawomans, Chingwawateick, Nanjemauk, Portobacco, Sacayo, Pangayo, and Chaptico Indians belong explicitly to those Tribes, and no Colonists may settle there; however, Trade must be Maintained between the English and the Eastern Shore Indigenous.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 9 April 1700, between the Province of Maryland and Oquotomaquah, the Emperor of Piscattaway, and the Province of Maryland and Izingoughsiowaugh, the Queen of Pamunckey, with Specific Demands for Yearly Tributes for English Protections and the Relocation of both Nations to Pomunckey.

Exchange of Gifts and a Renewal of Peace between the Sinnico (called Sachochinagheti) and Pascattaway Nations and the English, dated 16 April 1685, in Baltimore County.

Specific Locations of Zaccaya and Pangaye's Mannors along Wiccomocco River and Portobacke Creek respectively, as determined in Late April, 1667 for the Possession of the Lord Proprietary.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 22 October 1722, between the Province of Maryland and Knosulin, alias Mr. Walker, and Wassennge, alias Daniel, Chiefs of the Assateague and Pocomoke Nations respectively, with specific Demands for Yearly Tribute for English Protections. Signed by: Knosulin, King of the Assateague Indians and Wassennge, King of the Pocomoke Indians.

Exchange of Gifts and a Renewal of Peace between the Sinnico (called Sachochinagheti) and Pascattaway Nations and the English, dated 16 April 1685, in Baltimore County.

Articles of Peace and Friendship, dated 5 July 1652, between the Province of Maryland and the Sasquesahanogh Nation defining the Relationship between the Two Parties, while also specifically detailing English Land Claims to Land in and around the Chessapeake Bay. Signed by: Sawahegeh, Treasurer, and War Captains and Councellors Aurotaurogh, Scarhuhadih, Ruthcuhogah, and Wathetdianeh.

Articles of Peace and Amity, dated 29 June 1666, between the Province of Maryland and Wastahanda Hariguera and Gosweinquerack qua, War Captains of the Sasquesahanough Nation in Response to the Deaths of Englishmen in Baltimore County by one Wanahedana of the Sasquesahanoughs; Demand for the Deliverance of the Two Sons of the King of Potomack to Major Samuell Goldsymth as Prisoners as Part of Reparations. Signed by Wastahanda Hariguera and Gosweinquerack qua with Pictographic Signatures.

In the 1600s many Indigenous towns and villages thrived in the Chesapeake coastline and waterways when Captain John Smith and his crew sailed into the region to explore what for them was a “new world.” Smith drew illustrations of Powhatan (a paramount Chief based in what is now Virginia) shown with his people in a wigwam and another showing a Susquehannock warrior. Smith recorded locations of Native communities and Indigenous place-names in a way that fit with his colonizing ambitions, preserving some and renaming others in English. The Captain also did not understand relationships between the Peoples that he encountered and perpetuated some misinformation. The publication of this engraved map in 1612 heralds the destruction of Indigenous cultures on the one hand, but it also preserves important fragments about the communities that predated the English invasion.

A surveyor drew this plat of 16,429 acres in Dorchester County to denote what the English Colonists thought of as land set aside for the Choptank Indians. This fragmented plat is one page from a Land Office Certificate of survey file documenting land described as “Nanticoke Mannor, Vienna Town, Nanticoke Indian Lands.” A certificate of survey is an official description of a plot of land. The Land Office issued warrants of survey to the county surveyor who then generated certificates of survey as part of the land patent process. This plat is unpatented, meaning a land patent was not issued.