Destruction of Chickahominy Indian Towns
Historical highway marker W-22-a · New Kent County
During the Third Anglo-Powhatan War (1644-1646), English colonists burned Chickahominy Indian towns in this area, destroyed valuables and food, and took many prisoners. The English built Fort James in 1645 and used it to stage raids. The fort stood southeast of here near the Chickahominy town of Moysenac. In Feb. 1645, Gov. Leonard Calvert of Maryland arrived and participated in the attacks. The war ended in Oct. 1646 with a treaty that required the Chickahominy to leave their traditional homeland. They moved to present-day King William County. Decades later they began moving back to their original territory, but by then colonists had claimed the valuable riverside lands.
Department of Historic Resources, 2009