NO. 5 MANAHOAC TRIBES IN VIRGINIA BUSHNELL I3 



were a village or group of Manahoac who had been forced to abandon 

 their country to the northward, along the Rappahannock and the 

 Rapidan. 



The pressure exerted by enemy tribes from the north undoubtedly 

 caused the dispersal of the Manahoac from the region they had oc- 

 cupied in 1608. The movement may have begun soon after the middle 

 of the century, at a time when the Iroquois were waging relentless 

 war against the Erie, thus leaving the tribes to the south of them 

 free to act on the offensive. 



The difficulties that were being experienced by the colony along the 

 frontier at that time were expressed in several reports recorded by 

 Hening," one of which is quoted, and although this is dated March 

 1661-2, it refers to events and happenings that had transpired some- 

 time before. It reads in part : 



Upon the report of the committee appointed for the Indian affaires it ap- 

 pearing that the Susquehannock and other northern Indians, in considerable 

 numbers frequently come to the heads of our rivers, whereby plain paths will 

 soone be made which may prove of dangerous consequence, and alsoe affront 

 the English and destroy their stocks and gett the whole trade from our neigh- 

 bouring and tributary Indians; // is ordered by this assembly that for prevention 

 and of other injuries to the English from the Marylanders for the future, that the 

 honourable governour cause by proclamation a prohibition of all Marylanders, 

 English and Indians (which they have alreadie done to us) and of all other 

 Indians to the Northward of Maryland from trucking, tradeing, bartering or 

 dealing with any English or Indians to the southward of that place, and that 

 by commission from the governour collonel Wood be impowered to manage 

 the said businesse. 



The falls of the Rappahannock were at that time beyond the frontier 

 of the colony, and it is easily conceived that " the Susquehannock and 

 other northern Indians " had, during their southern raids, traversed 

 the region to the westward, entered the valley of the Rappahannock, 

 and thus caused the native tribes to disperse and seek new homes 

 elsewhere. 



The historic " Carolina Road ", which may not have acquired its 

 name until about the middle of the eighteenth century, followed the 

 course of more ancient trails that led from north to south. It crossed 

 the Potomac at the mouth of the Monocacy, reached the Rappahan- 

 nock in the vicinity of the present Kellys Ford, thence to the left 

 bank of the Rapidan which was probably crossed at or near Fox 

 Neck.'" The crossing may once have been at a very old, long-abandoned 



"Hening, op. cit., vol. 2, p. 153. 



"Harrison, Fairfax, Landmarks of Old Prince William. Privately printed. 

 2 vols., Richmond, 1924. 



