MENU
Chiefs
During our research of the Taptico and Tapp connection, we found several names of past Tribal Chiefs or Great men of the Wicocomico Nation. The list will enter the title used for that particular period of time.
From the earliest known leader to the last leader; William Taptico, various titles were used, and some may have been misinterpreted by the English when recording some action.
We will also list names of various Wicocomico Indians that were mentioned. Some names may be a clue to a persons Native American Heritage.However keep in mind that many of the indians changed their Indian names to the name of an English friend, or an English employer, or if they were slaves or indentured servants to the names of the English that owned them.
We also have to keep in mind of the possibilty that many of the tribes merged with the larger tribes in Virginia and some may have crossed into North Carolina and joined the Cherokees. Currently Virginia has eight tribes that survived the colonization of Indian land.Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Rappahannock, Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi, Monacan, Nansemond and Pamunkey.As we have stated previously, it is our intent to reestablish the Wicocomico Indian Nation. There are hundreds of Wicocomico descendants through out the United States that were disenfranchised because of the English Colonists failure to appoint or allow the hereditary heirs take reign of the Wicocomico Nation when King William Taptico died in 1719. If the natural process had been allowed to take place, the Wicocomico may very well have remained in existence with out a break.
TRIBAL CHIEFS---
Weroance-------------1655
- Machywap was the first Tribal Chief after the merger of the Sekacawone and Wicocmico.
- Pewem and Owasewas
- Orasonay, Chistecuttewaws and Tatememony
- Owasawas, Appenmaw and Chicatomen
- Robert; is referred to as "Robert The Great Man
- William Taptico I; this is the father of William Taptico II, last Tribal Chief.
- John Vesey; It's difficult to determine if the English did not understand the council structure or the titles. The English call John Vesey a Chief man, however William Taptico II was called King William Taptico in 1710 when he presented three Indian Arrows as an acknowledgement for the land he and his Nation holds in Northumberland County Virginia.
- William Taptico II was the last Tribal Chief of the Wicocomico. He died in 1719 and it appears the tribal land was turned over to Phillip Smith, based on a document William Taptico I supposedly signed about 1693.
Other names that were identified other than the above are, Mosco, Nordas, and George.
If any reader feel they are descendants of the above names , feel free to email.
| © ,2000, | Last Updated Dec 2000 |