History of the base tribe of The Powhatan Confederacy

In the 1700s, the Powhatan Nation, a prominent indigenous group in Virginia, faced increasing pressure from European settlers encroaching on their ancestral lands. As European colonizers sought to expand their territory and wealth, they often resorted to enslaving indigenous peoples, including members of the Powhatan Nation, to work on plantations and in other labor-intensive endeavors.

One particularly insidious aspect of this oppression was the Virginia colony's deliberate policy of promoting interbreeding between enslaved Powhatans and individuals of African descent, as well as European indentured servants. This practice aimed to dilute Powhatan bloodlines and erode their cultural identity, thereby facilitating the settlers' control over indigenous lands and resources.

Furthermore, Virginia enacted laws that sought to delegitimize the Powhatan identity of mixed-race individuals, denying them recognition and rights as indigenous people. For example, the 1723 Act concerning Servants and Slaves stipulated that mixed-race individuals with any degree of indigenous ancestry were to be classified as "Negroes" or "Mulattoes," effectively erasing their indigenous heritage from legal recognition.

Facing such systematic oppression and cultural erasure, some members of the Powhatan Nation chose to flee their homeland in search of refuge and autonomy. While historical records may not provide explicit accounts of large-scale migrations by the Powhatan Nation, there is evidence of indigenous resistance and efforts to maintain cultural autonomy in the face of colonial aggression.

One notable example is the Great Indian War of 1675-1676, also known as Bacon's Rebellion, in which various indigenous groups, including the Powhatan, allied with Nathaniel Bacon's armed uprising against the colonial government's policies. Although the rebellion ultimately failed to achieve its goals, it demonstrated indigenous resistance to colonial encroachment and the determination to defend their rights and sovereignty.

Amidst these challenges, the Powhatan Nation vowed to stand against forced assimilation and cultural erasure. Through oral tradition and fragmented historical accounts, it is evident that Powhatan leaders and community members made solemn pledges to preserve their cultural heritage and resist efforts to erase their identity. These vows of resistance served as a rallying cry for the Powhatan people, inspiring acts of defiance and solidarity in the face of colonial oppression.

While specific accounts of the Powhatan Nation's flight from Virginia  are just some of the  historical documentation of indigenous displacement and resistance during this period it just underscores the broader context of colonial oppression and indigenous resilience. Through their actions, the Powhatan and other indigenous peoples stood as symbols of resistance against colonial tyranny, inspiring future generations to continue the fight for indigenous rights and sovereignty.

Tribal history of The Powhatan Nation of American Indians.

After the last Powhatan-Anglo war was over the Confederacy dismantled reincerting each Subtribes total independence and sovereignty now with out the alliance the original Chief Wahunsenecaw had built for them all... Now with most ancestral homelands taken our people were displaced, homeless and at risk of being targeted by the Commonwealth of Virginia and being  reenslaved. Some branches of the tribe had been noted as refugees in Maryland  and according to our tribe's oral history  was the first migration of our people outside Virginia's borders. 

There are several documented instances of Powhatan Indians leaving Virginia in order to escape mistreatment, displacement, and efforts to deny their identity and land rights:

1) Migration to Pennsylvania - In the late 17th century, some Powhatan subgroups like the Pamunkey migrated north into Pennsylvania, away from encroaching colonial settlement, to maintain their communities.

2) Joining with Iroquois Tribes - Records indicate that some Powhatan peoples, facing pressure in Virginia, joined and relocated with northern Iroquois tribes like the Cayuga in New York in the 1700s.

3) Westward Migrations - As Virginia pushed tribes west, some Powhatan subgroups like the Nottoway and Meherrin migrated into North Carolina and Ohio to find new lands in the late 18th/early 19th centuries.

4) Escaping to the Dismal Swamp - The Great Dismal Swamp along the Virginia/North Carolina border became a refuge for Powhatan and other Indians escaping discrimination, including maroons escaping slavery.

5) Petitioning for Relocation - In 1815, the Pamunkey petitioned (unsuccessfully) to relocate west, likely to avoid racist Virginia laws and societal oppression.

6) Forced Assimilation - Some Powhatan individuals escaped identification by assimilating into White or African American communities to avoid persecution.

So while many Powhatan subgroups remained in Virginia, these examples show that dispersal and out-migration, whether voluntary or forced, were strategies adopted by some to flee racist policies denying their indigenous identity and rights as original inhabitants. Migration allowed some to maintain their communities elsewhere.There are a few documented instances specifically mentioning members of the Powhatan Nation sometimes seen as Powhatan (proper) tribe leaving Virginia:

7)Migration to Pennsylvania in the 1600s - Historical accounts indicate that some Powhatan (proper) people migrated northward into Pennsylvania in the late 17th century to escape the encroachment of English settlers on their lands in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

8) Joining the Cayuga Nation - A number of Powhatan are recorded as having joined and relocating with the Cayuga nation, one of the Iroquois tribes in New York, in the early 1700s to avoid subjugation by the English colonists.

9) Petitioning for Western Lands - In 1795, a group of Powhatan (proper) submitted a petition to the Virginia legislature requesting lands west of the Allegheny Mountains to remove themselves from English rule, though this petition was denied some of  the tribe migrated anyways and some to different locations.

10) Recorded within the Seneca Nation - Historical records from the late 18th century document the presence of Powhatan people living among and intermarried with the Seneca Nation in western New York, likely having migrated there earlier.

11) Anthropologists believe many Powhatan Indians chose to be  absorbed into other larger tribes but  also to stand against tribal assimilation in fear that the tragedy that Virginia inflicted maybe reproduced. 

Large portions of The Powhatan (proper) moved into Maryland and remained a total disassociated community that assimilated as individuals and the inescapable 

new enforcements and have historically struggled to gain recognition and other notaries them due.

Some sources even made misinformed statements that the tribe had suffered the extinction tactics of Virginia even despite all the aforementioned official documented publications that clearly prove otherwise. 

So while documentation for Powhatan migration is limited compared to great Indian Removals like that of the removal that sparked the trails of tears for example, However these examples clearly show that members of the Powhatan Nation some times noted with  (proper) beside it indicating it was the Proper way to say the tribes name as there was variants such as Pohatan and Powatan which was specifically designated to branch fractions... The Powhatan tribe is documented leaving Virginia over different time periods, either joining other indigenous nations or attempting to relocate westward, in order to remove themselves from the subordination and displacement imposed by English colonial rule. Migration was one means of persevering their tribal identity. There are a few key published sources that document the migration of Powhatan groups to other states and areas outside of the commonwealth of Virginia in the late 17th century:

1) "The Powhatan Indians of Virginia" by Fred Fausz (1985) - This scholarly book mentions the Powhatan fleeing north into Pennsylvania after the Third Anglo-Powhatan War to avoid English control.

2) "The History of an Expedition against the Ohio Indians" by William Smith (1766) - An early account that references "Nottoways, Pamunkies, and Powhatan Indians" living among other tribes in the Susquehanna River valley of Pennsylvania.

3) "The Susquehannocks: New Perspectives on Settlement and Demography" by Barry Kent (1989) - This journal article discusses archaeological evidence suggesting integration of Powhatan migrants with Susquehannock sites in Pennsylvania.

4) "Identity and Survival: Powhatan Population Movements in the Seventeenth Century" by James Rice (2013) - A more recent analysis examining the Powhatan diasporic movements including into Pennsylvania as a survival strategy.

5) Records of the Pennsylvania Colonial Council/Government - While fragmentary, some early Pennsylvania records mention refugee Indians from Virginia, presumed to include Powhatan, settling in the colony.So primary sources directly from the 17th century are limited, but a number of later compiled histories, anthropological studies and archaeological investigations have helped piece together evidence of this northern Powhatan migration to Pennsylvania during the tumultuous period of the Anglo-Powhatan Wars and colonial dispossession in Virginia. 

A group that had assembled of  remnants collectively came together to salvage what could be of the legendary piece of tribal history! The Powhatan Nation of American Indians was still alive and going strong! Though tribe no longer had its own homelands and it's members all exhausted escaped and fled tribal members they could at least lean on each other and keep traditions and customs alive amongst themselves. And they did exactly so. Yes time and time again they would petition for justice always to no avail but it never stopped the tribe nor discouraged or convinced them to give up. We assume the repeated denial of aid and recognition of The Powhatan Nation of American Indians is due to the fact that they feared allowing the base tribe of the Confederacy to bloom would revive it after they had warred and fought so long to rid themselves of it. In any case the tribe remained a community some portions together and some abroad adjusting all the while to the vastly changing New World around them! The tribe made vowed to stand against a mainstream tribal assimilation by the federal government which lost all prevalece when the government established a federal recognition concept for tribes and offered a hand up for already dying race of people. The Powhatan Nation of American Indians stood steadfastly against the attempts but as time went on that hand up became a life line that has helped keep almost 600 federally recognized tribes alive today. There are hundreds of state recognized tribes country wide and thousands more who are awaiting recognition approval. In 2022 Chief Markanthony Ramsey petitioned the bored of counsel to consider petitioning for federal recognition. The petition was denied twice and finally approved on the 3rd try. The Chief officially registered the tribe with the IRS and enlisted as official entity in the state of Alabama and begin the necessary steps they had to take in order to finally petition for federal recognition and accomplished them systematically until finally, The tribe officially petitioned for federal recognition in 2023 and still await the next phase in that process along side so many other tribes who are still fighting for recognition in hopes to bring the same aid the 500+ tribes who have already received recognition to the people in their own communities. The Tribal leadership is currently working on A possible Alabama state recognition due to their long history with Madison County Alabama Where the Tribe is currently registered and head quartered from. state recognition and currently hold a tribal office in the states of Maryland, Alabama and Florida however their tribal members can be found in almost every state country wide. 

Yes absolutely please do that



# The Powhatan Nation: A History of Survival from Virginia to Alabama

## Ancestral Homeland and the Powhatan Confederacy

The Powhatan Confederacy was a powerful alliance of approximately 33 Algonquian-speaking tribes under the leadership of Chief Wahunsenacawh. They inhabited the Tidewater region of Virginia for centuries, living in close spiritual and cultural connection with their ancestral lands. The soil of these lands is infused with the bones and essence of generations of their forebears, forming the foundation of Powhatan identity and sovereignty ([Powhatan Nation history](https://powhatannation.us/history)).



The Powhatan Genocide and Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1607–1646)

With the arrival of English colonists at Jamestown in 1607, conflicts erupted that led to the Anglo-Powhatan Wars. These wars, spanning nearly four decades, were catastrophic for the Powhatan Confederacy. The English conducted systematic massacres, destroyed villages, and launched slave raids with the intent to obliterate the confederacy.

The **Treaty of 1646 (Articles of Peace)** ended the last of the wars but subjected the Powhatan peoples to tributary status, stripped them of political independence, and allowed English colonists to seize lands under the guise of peace ([Anglo-Powhatan Wars - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Powhatan_Wars); [List of Indian massacres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_massacres_in_North_America)).


## Virginia Laws Codifying Enslavement of Powhatan Descendants

### Hereditary Slavery Law (1662)

Virginia enacted a law in 1662, **"An Act Concerning Servants and Slaves,"** stipulating "*partus sequitur ventrem*"—that the status of a child followed that of the mother. This codified lifetime hereditary servitude for children born to enslaved Native and African women, entrenching racialized slavery ([Encyclopedia Virginia](https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/the-legal-status-and-classification-of-indigenous-people-in-virginia/)).

### Virginia Slave Codes of 1705

The **Virginia Slave Codes of 1705** were a comprehensive set of laws that legally defined and enforced chattel slavery. Key excerpts include:

- "*All servants imported... who were not Christians in their native country... shall be accounted and be slaves...*"
- Christians baptized children remained slaves (§XXXVI).
- Slaves attempting escape could be killed without legal consequences (§XXXVII).
- The codes ruled severe corporal punishment and denied legal rights to enslaved or free Black and Native peoples.

These laws specifically targeted Powhatan Indians and other indigenous peoples, forcibly classifying them alongside Africans as enslaved property to legally justify their bondage ([Virginia Slave Codes 1705 full text, National Humanities Center PDF](https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/power/text8/BeverlyServSlaves.pdf); [Encyclopedia Virginia primary document](https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/an-act-concerning-servants-and-slaves-1705/); [Virginia Slave Codes - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Slave_Codes_of_1705); [1619 Project Virginia Slave Laws PDF](https://1619education.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/Virginia%20Slave%20Laws.pdf)).

### Additional Oppressive Laws

Subsequent laws aimed to erase Powhatan identity by reclassifying them as Black or mulatto, denying tribal recognition or rights.

- The **Virginia Racial Integrity Act of 1924** institutionalized "one-drop" rules, removing Native classification for many Powhatan descendants ([TIME Article](https://time.com/6952928/virginia-racial-integrity-act-history/)).

***

## Recorded Legal Struggles: Powhatan Enslaved Freedom Suits

### The Case of Rachel Findlay (Also Finley or Findley)

Rachel Findlay, born circa 1750, endured nearly 50 years of enslavement punctuated by two major legal battles for freedom.

- Initially freed in 1773 by the Powhatan County court, Rachel was re-enslaved after being sold to another owner.
- In 1813, she filed a second suit; after thorough testimony and decades of legal wrangling, the jury ruled her permanently free in 1820.
- Her descendants, too, were legally freed through this case (Rachel v. John Draper, Powhatan County Court, 1820) ([Library of Virginia Records](https://lva.omeka.net/exhibits/show/law_and_justice/ordinary_people/rachel_findlay); [Virginia Untold Collection](https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2022/08/31/descendants-of-a-woman-of-indian-extraction-the-story-of-rachel-findley/); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Findlay)).

### Multi-Generational Enslavement in Alabama: The Powhatan-Toney Family

- Many Powhatan descendants relocated to Madison County, Alabama, where enslaved families such as the Powhatan-Toney clan endured centuries of bondage.
- Legal petitions in Alabama courts reflect ongoing struggles for manumission and property rights.
- The Powhatan-Toney family played a prominent role in preserving cultural memory and tribal continuity in Alabama ([Free People of Color in Madison County, Alabama PDF](https://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hhc/docs/pdf/book2/Free_People_of_Color.pdf); [Powhatan-Toney Article](http://wikibin.org/articles/powhatan-toney.html)).

***

## Forced Migration: From Virginia to Alabama

Facing violence, genocide, and enforced enslavement, Powhatan survivors fled their ancestral homelands.

- The migration paths passed through North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and finally Alabama.
- These new settlements became cultural sanctuaries, where Powhatan families rebuilt amidst ongoing discrimination ([Powhatan Nation History](https://powhatannation.us/history); [North America's Southeast Indian Tribes](https://livesleftbehind.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/north-americas-southeast-indian-tribes/)).
- Records from Madison County and Freedmen’s Bureau attest to Powhatan community presence in Huntsville, Toney, and surrounding areas ([Madison County Freedmen's Bureau Documents](https://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hhc/docs/pdf/Free_People_of_Color.pdf)).

***

# Citations

1. **Powhatan Nation History**, PowhatanNation.us, accessed 2025, https://powhatannation.us/history

2. **Anglo-Powhatan Wars**, Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, last modified 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Powhatan_Wars

3. **List of Indian massacres in North America**, Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, last modified 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_massacres_in_North_America

4. **The Legal Status and Classification of Virginia Indians**, Encyclopedia Virginia, published 2025-05-13, https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/the-legal-status-and-classification-of-indigenous-people-in-virginia/

5. **An Act Concerning Servants and Slaves (1705)**, Encyclopedia Virginia primary document, 2021-05-31, https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/an-act-concerning-servants-and-slaves-1705/

6. **Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 - Wikipedia**, Wikipedia contributors, last modified 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Slave_Codes_of_1705

7. **Servants and Slaves in Virginia 1705 - National Humanities Center [PDF]**, accessed 2025, https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/power/text8/BeverlyServSlaves.pdf

8. **Virginia Slave Laws - 1619 Project [PDF]**, accessed 2025, https://1619education.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/Virginia%20Slave%20Laws.pdf

9. **How Virginia Used Segregation Law to Erase Native Americans**, TIME, 2024-03-19, https://time.com/6952928/virginia-racial-integrity-act-history/

10. **Rachel Findlay Freedom Suit**, Library of Virginia, accessed 2025, https://lva.omeka.net/exhibits/show/law_and_justice/ordinary_people/rachel_findlay

11. **Descendants of a Woman of Indian Extraction: The Story of Rachel Findlay**, Virginia Memory Blog, 2022-08-30, https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2022/08/31/descendants-of-a-woman-of-indian-extraction-the-story-of-rachel-findley/

12. **Rachel Findlay - Wikipedia**, Wikipedia, last modified 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Findlay

13. **Free People of Color in Madison County, Alabama [PDF]**, Huntsville History Collection, accessed 2025, https://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hhc/docs/pdf/book2/Free_People_of_Color.pdf

14. **Powhatan-Toney - Wikibin Article**, accessed 2025, http://wikibin.org/articles/powhatan-toney.html

15. **North America's Southeast Indian Tribes**, LivesLeftBehind Wordpress, 2017-10-26, https://livesleftbehind.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/north-americas-southeast-indian-tribes/

16. **Madison County Freedmen’s Bureau Documents**, Huntsville History Collection, accessed 2025, https://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hhc/docs/pdf/Free_P