Wiccocomico and the History of The History Guy

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When English Colonists first set foot on a peninsula of the James River 416 years ago, there were an estimated 15,000 native Americans living in the region, and the colonists’ relationship with those natives would drive much of the subsequent history. The stories of their fates are an integral part of American history, even many years before anyone had heard of the “United States.” The story of the small tribe called the Wiccocomico deserves to be remembered.

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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

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Script by JCG

#history #thehistoryguy #USHistory

[TheHistoryGuyChannel]

As an added bonus, you can start a 30-day free trial of MyHeritage's best subscription for family history research - and enjoy a 50% discount if you decide to continue it.

[mudflapmatt]

The way you say the last line with such pride deserves to be remembered.

[hoodagooboy]

It deserves to be remembered that the History Guy is the descendent of a King.

[DavidHBurkart]

What a special episode of The History Guy. It isn't every day history impacts you in such a personal and prideful manner. Thank you for sharing your history with us. The History Guy and his lineage deserves to be remembered.

[markrothenbuhler]

Thanks, THG. What a twist ending! I love this episode, your highness!

[georgej.dorner]

As a Maryland native, I've been aware of Wicomico County, etc, but never knew the tale behind it. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[pjreads]

When you mentioned Elizabeth Taptiko changing her name to Tapp, I immediately wondered whether my daughter-in-law is another descendant of William Taptico. Her 8th great grandfather was in my family tree as William Tapp, born in 1689 and dying in 1719. She is descended from his son William J Tapp, his son Fielding Lewis Tapp I, his son fielding Lewis Tapp II, his daughter Nancy Tapp Soper, her daughter Emaline Soper Morris, her son Benjamin F. Morris, and his daughter Ruth Morris Ferguson and her daughter Anna Ferguson Coleman - who is my daughter-in-law's grandmother. No one in the family knew about his life story. What a neat heritage! I have changed my family tree to reflect his complete name William Taptico and information about his story.

[RAKKAR]

This story just had me enthralled for some reason, and then the twist at the end put the biggest smile on my face! Really puts everything into perspective and gets the mind thinking and pondering the "what ifs" and "I wonder"!! I've often considered trying a DNA search and looking deeper into my heritage, but I am usually hampered when you get passed the greats and great-greats! This has truly piqued my curiosity!!

[jarmokankaanpaa]

Small note about matrilineality: the chief's mother would not have been the daughter of the previous chief but his sister. Matrilineality is based on the observation that whereas you cannot always be certain about a person's father (before DNA of course), you CAN be certain of their mother for obvious physical reasons. Thus, while the chief and his daughter may not be blood relatives, the chief and his full sister certainly are since they share the same mother. In matrilineal societies it is also typical that a male child's closest male relative is not his father but his mother's brother, who is his nearest elder male relative since he belongs to the same matrilineal clan while his father belongs to a different clan -- presuming of course that the clans are exogamous, as they usually are. However, matrilineality should not be equated with matriarchy (as certain 19th century theorists such as J.J. Bachofen and Friedrich Engels postulated); numerous historical native societies have been matrilineal but few if any of them have been matriarchal.

[michaelbrown]

My mother's ancestor stowed away on a boat at 13 from Norway and when they found him he was put ashore in Georgia and the Cherokee Chief took him in. Her family walked the trail of tears. When my mom left Oklahoma in the 40s her her whole family was small and blond when she went back to Oklahoma where she was born and ask about any people with the last name of Parkerson the only person in the area was a big dark native American. You never know who is in the family tree by what you look like.

[danimal]

This one was GREAT!!! By far, the absolute BEST episode of THG that I have watched to date! I must admit, I despised history in high school, but thanks to you and a select few others I now, at the age of 61, cannot get enough of it! Had my high school teachers possessed your talent, history likely would have been my favorite subject!!!

[KillrMillr]

Wiccomico of the Powhatan confederation here, my great grandfather was full blood Indian, native of Tidewater VA, near the James river. They were one of the first tribes to be robbed, forced to assimilate. What’s amazing is how he was able to stay pure blood after so many generations. Incidentally, he was 7’0 tall.

[mlwillis]

i don't normally comment on videos but I came across your video because i was specifically looking for info on William Taptico. According to my family search William Tapp IV ( great-grand son of William Taptico) is my 7th Great-Grandfather! It's crazy!! That make us very distant cousins! The end of your video blew my mind! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIDEO!!

[bjalexandria]

This was fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I descend from William Taptico and Christian Bourne via their daughter, Mary Tapp, who married William Yeats/Yates. The Chief was my 8th Great Grandfather. Mary's daughter, Susannah Yeats, was my 4th Great Grandmother.

[jwv]

Really enjoyed this one. I grew up in the Tidewater area. Lived in Chesapeake most of my life. Great to hear this history.

[johnguill]

Well done, Sir. I am a native, and still current resident, of Chesapeake, Virginia, and I enjoy learning about our history.

[saxon]

I live on the Potomac near the mouth. A good resource is the Essex County courthouse in Tappahannock. It is one of the few in Virginia not burned by Yankees or British.
Well done with the personal connection.

[davidshaddick]

Love that last twist! Congratulations on telling a little of your family's history!

[caturdaynite]

I have a distant ancestor who fought in Revolutionary War on the side of Canada, his last name was Fornier. He came from the St Lawrence valley. Over the centuries that side of the family moved to New York, Pensylvania, and eventually Ohio, where my Grandma was born in 1909. I was born in Indiana and I now live in Wisconsin.

[CoachTaraGarrison]

Whats up cuz! Haha. I came to watch this bc I found out I am also a descendent of William Taptico. Thanks for making this!! I grew up in the Richmond, VA area as well. Very informative, thanks again. :)