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Dissertation contains pages with print at a slant, filmed as received_______ 16. Other _____ University Microfilms International Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE PISCATAWAY INDIANS OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND AN ETHNOHISTORY FROM PRE-EUROPEAN CONTACT TO THE PRESENT By Paul Byron Cissna submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology Signatures of Committee: Cnairman: Dean of the College ■iii/V'tr ^ _____ Date 1986 The American University Washington, D.C. 20016 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Q) COPYRIGHT BY PAUL BYRON CISSNA 1986 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE PISCATAWAY INDIANS OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND AN ETHNOHISTORY FROM PRE-EUROPEAN CONTACT TO THE PRESENT BY Paul Byron Cissna ABSTRACT At European contact in 1608, the Algonquian-speaklng Plscataway chiefdom was dominant on the Western Shore of Maryland. This dissertation presents their ethnohistory from pre-European contact to the present. There are a number of research goals. Two are considered major: first, to determine the origin of the myth that the Indian "disappeared" from the area; and second, to determine why the Plscataway came to be viewed as non-Indians. The methodology demanded both fieldwork and the analysis of numerous source materials: archaeological, linguistic, ethnographic, historical/ archival, and contemporary. The archaeological Potomac Creek Complex dates to about 1500 A.D. and includes the Plscataway auid the Virginia Patawomeke. Relations with Virginia pre-dated and influenced those with Maryland, settled in 1634. Early Maryland relations were basically cordial, with some conflict and subtle struggle for dominance. Relations later deteriorated. About 1700 A.D., some Plscataway left the Colony; others did not. Colonial policy in the late 1600s effectively removed the Plscataway from later records: influential whites living near Indian communities acted as intermediaries in Indian/English disputes. The colonial concept of "mulatto" included people of mixed Indian parentage. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Combined with anti-miscegenation laws, these factors led to the belief that the Plscataway had left the Colony and that those who remained were not Indian. Nevertheless, the records reveal that the Plscataway continued to be viewed as a unique population. Individual racial classifications were frequently contradictory. The nineteenth century saw an increased use of terms such as "free person of color." Marriage records reveal a high rate of endogamy. This has decreased in recent years. The Plscataway "re-emerged" in the late 1800s. This research shows that they have a strong matrilineal focus and community organization. Extant roles correspond to clan mother and chief. Use of the white intermediary in external conflicts continued until recent years. A number of Plscataway, presently divided into three factions, are engaged in a revitalization movement, vocally asserting Indian identity. Their struggle for recognition as Indians is succeeding, with many people moving into their once rural area. The Plscataway must now maintain their group identity in the face of increased suburbanization. ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This study is dedicated to the Piscataway Indians of Southern Maryland Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of people provided either direct input or indirect assistance to this dissertation. A complete listing would be quite lengthy. While all assistance has been sincerely appreciated, the contributions of several individuals stand out. Laura Laylin read and commented on a portion of the manuscript. Dr. Richard Dent and Ann Renker provided input and insights in a number of long conversations. Dr. Thomas Smirniotopoulos read some of the material on the physical anthropology of so-called "isolates" and provided a physician's perspective on some of the Issues. Dr. Gloria y 'Edynak kindly read the same material and provided insights from the physical anthropological perspective. Dr. Louana Lackey and Dr. Ruth Landman have encouraged me throughout this effort. Shirley Rosenstock of The American University's Inter-library Loan desk quickly accessed an endless array of source materials from libraries across the Eastern Seaboard. Julia Stam provided eleventh hour typing services--and an editor's eye for grammar and style, Chris Johnson of the University of Maryland Cartographic Services produced excellent maps, which greatly add to this dissertation. Several people have provided support and input above and beyond the call of duty. Among these are my parents, Lee Maxwell and Edna Byron Cissna. James Sorensen offered liberal access to his impressive collection of Marylauid historical materials and was forever dropping by with another indispensable book--and advice. Special thanks should also go to Dr. William L. Leap who, although not directly involved in the iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. dissertation, has been my anthropological mentor and friend for over a decade. Without his training, this dissertation would have been a much more difficult process. Dr. George Harris deserves special recognition. He introduced me to ethnohistory a number of years ago and spawned the idea for this study. Special acknowledgement and thanks also go to my dissertation committee, those individuals who gave so freely of their time and talent to ensure a quality product: Dr. Stephen R. Potter, Dr. Charles W. McNett, Jr., and my mentor/advisor/friend. Dr. June Evans. Finally, special thanks go to the Piscataway, to those individuals who also gave freely of their time a:id knowledge, shared with me their plans and aspirations, and willingly revealed pertinent aspects of their culture. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...............................................................il ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................