The Material Evidence: Indian Badges

Metal Badges of the Virginia Tributary Indians (1661-1662) (McCary 1983)

As European colonizers laid claim to the Chesapeake and expanded their horizons, the world of Native Americans contracted. Their movements became more and more restricted by foreign laws, badges, and guns. Only two years after Jamestown's settlement in 1607, Virginia attempted to legislate Indian movements around colonial settlements. In 1609 there was a move to make the Powhatan Indians 'tributaries' to the English, meaning they would be forced to sign treaties and provide measures of corn, dye, and animal skins weekly. After Indians attacked the fort in 1622, the English pursued them for a decade, "deprising them whatsoever may yield them succor or relief." By 1644, amid mounting suspicion and population pressure, the Indians tried once more to force the English out. The colonists defeated the remaining Powhatan tribes and new treaties were signed in 1646. The Indians became tributaries, ceded certain lands, and were required to have successors to Chief Opechancanough appointed or confirmed by the English. In return, tributary Indians would be protected from their enemies (McCary 1983). Ceded territories were divided and distributed equally among other tribes, effectively destabilizing and scattering Powhatan power. At nearly 100 years old, Chief Opechancanough was slain while imprisoned in Jamestown (McCartney 1982:174).

Indian "messengers from the Emperor" coming to an English tract were required to wear a badge "upon paine of death". Early on the badges were "a coate of striped stuffe (material)" picked up and returned by a messenger Indian at appointed places. In 1656  a "ticket" authorized passage. 1661/62 the badges became coin silver and copper medallions with the names of towns inscribed on them. These are the badges depicted here. These metal badges were given to the local kings to issue to messengers.  By 1680 the use of badges as identification and authorization faded out; by 1694, they were no longer used. In 1680, following Bacon's Rebellion of 1676 and the 1677 Treaty of Middle Plantation, twenty silver badges were given as gifts to Virginia's tributary Indians. These are not those badges (McCary 1983).

Similar practices to restrict Indian mobility were in force in Maryland, though no metal badges have surfaced. The Proceedings of the Council of Maryland 1692-1694 (Archives 8:517) mentions limits beyond which Indians may not travel. The Maryland Archives makes many references to rangers patrolling the woods of Maryland on the lookout for non-local Indians and roaming horses. Maryland Indians were required to "shout out" when approaching English settlements (personal communication Ed Chaney 2005).

Both the Patomeck and Machotick badges were recovered on a farm which became the Camden Site (44CE3) just east of Port Royal on the south side of the Rappahannock River in Caroline County, Virginia. In 1832, the Pratts family found the Patomeck badge in a cultivated field. One hundred thirty two years later, the Machotick badge was recovered nearby. The Camden Site was occupied by Virginia Indians c. 1650-1690. 90 components of a large village were identified during excavation on this 1,430 acre farm. This site was probably the home of the King of the Matchotick Indians.

Patomeck Badge

Description:

Coin silver 2 1/2" long; 2 1/4" wide.

'Ye King of' inscribed on one side, 'Patomeck' on the reverse. (Note that the spelling of Patomeck was corrected by the engraver.) Tendrils with leaves flow from a central vase below the words.

Machotick Badge (aka Matchopeak, Matchopick)

The Machotick Indians resided in the area of present day King George County and Westmoreland County in the Nomini Bay area of the Potomac. The Machotick badge was found in 1964 on a high bluff overlooking the south side of the Rappahannock River on the same estate where the Patomeck badge had been recovered 132 years earlier.

Description:

Coin silver. 2 1/2" long; 1 3/4" wide; 1/16" thick.

'Ye King of' inscribed on one side, 'Machotick' on the reverse. Tendrils with leaves flow from a central vase below the words. The word 'Machotick' was engraved on a small plate which was riveted to the obverse face. The hole for suspending the medallion is "either greatly worn or imperfectly prepared."

Pamunkey Badge (No image available)

The Pamunkey Indians still reside in the area of present day West Point, Virginia, about 30 miles northeast of Williamsburg. They were once the largest group united under Powhatan and the powerful lineage of the 'house of Pamunkey' (McCartney 1989:174).

Description:

Coin silver. At least 1 7/8" long, 1 5/8" wide.

'Ye King of', with 'Panunkie' on obverse (misspelled). Illustrated in Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 by Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia Historical Society Secretary (1888).

The Appamuttucks Badge

The Appamuttucks lived along the James River, near the Appomattox River, and near Petersburg, Virginia. The Appamuttuck's badge was found in the early 20th century about seven miles south of Appomattocks Indian Towne at Raceland Farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

Description:

Copper. 2 1/4" long; 1 5/8" wide.

Only 'Appamattock' is engraved on both sides. The design is the same on both faces of the badge.
Tendrils with leaves flow from a central vase below the word Appamattock. This badge has two holes, one on the top, and one on the bottom. McCary believes it was probably made in England. He speculates this badge was worn like a gorget, and that the lower hole was added in Virginia. He could see that the metal had been forced out (probably by a nail) in the lower hole.