Nacogdoche
Encyclopedia
The Nacogdoche are a Native American
tribe from eastern Texas.
branch of the Caddo Confederacy and closely allied with the Lower Nasoni
. They historically lived between the Angelina
and the Sabine River
s in Texas. The Gentleman of Elvas, a member of Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition, wrote about the tribe, as did Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691.
In 1716, Francisco monks accompanying Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón founded the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches Mission
to serve the Nacogdoche as well as neighboring tribes. In 1750, a Nacogdoche chief, Chacaiauchia, threatened to kill the presiding father at the mission, Father Calahorray Sanz, and demanded that all other Spaniards leave Nacogdoches territory. This threat was not fulfilled. The mission remained until in 1773, with brief dormant periods due to fear of French attack.
The governor of Texas visited the Nacogdoche in 1752. Their primary village, Nevantin, was located near present day Nacogdoches, Texas
, named for the tribe. Four mounds surrounded the site of Nevantin, until research times.
While Spanish colonizers claimed Nacogdoche land, the tribe traded freely with the French. French traders provided firearms, ammunition, metal-bladed knives, cloth, vermilion dye, and other sundries in exchange for horses, prepared animal hides, bear's fat, beans, corn, and Apache
slaves.
By 1800, European diseases and warfare had greatly reduced the population of the tribe. The survivors joined other Hasinai tribes.
Ultimately, they were forced to relocate to the Wichita Reservation
in Indian Territory
in the 19th century. Today they are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe from eastern Texas.
History
The Nacogdoche were part of the HasinaiHasinai
The Hasinai Confederacy was a large confederation of Caddo-speaking Native Americans located between the Sabine and Trinity rivers in eastern Texas...
branch of the Caddo Confederacy and closely allied with the Lower Nasoni
Nasoni
The Nasoni are a Native American tribe from eastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas.-History:The Nasoni were divided into two bands. The Upper Nasoni, who lived along the Red River in the southwestern corner of Arkansas. They were affiliated with the Kadohadacho branch of the Caddo Confederacy...
. They historically lived between the Angelina
Angelina River
The Angelina River is formed by the junction of Barnhardt and Shawnee creeks three miles northwest of Laneville in southwest central Rusk County, Texas ....
and the Sabine River
Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)
The Sabine River is a river, long, in the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. In its lower course, it forms part of the boundary between the two states and empties into Sabine Lake, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. The river formed part of the United States-Mexican international boundary during...
s in Texas. The Gentleman of Elvas, a member of Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition, wrote about the tribe, as did Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691.
In 1716, Francisco monks accompanying Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón founded the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches Mission
Spanish missions in Texas
The Spanish Missions in Texas comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier land. The missions...
to serve the Nacogdoche as well as neighboring tribes. In 1750, a Nacogdoche chief, Chacaiauchia, threatened to kill the presiding father at the mission, Father Calahorray Sanz, and demanded that all other Spaniards leave Nacogdoches territory. This threat was not fulfilled. The mission remained until in 1773, with brief dormant periods due to fear of French attack.
The governor of Texas visited the Nacogdoche in 1752. Their primary village, Nevantin, was located near present day Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
, named for the tribe. Four mounds surrounded the site of Nevantin, until research times.
While Spanish colonizers claimed Nacogdoche land, the tribe traded freely with the French. French traders provided firearms, ammunition, metal-bladed knives, cloth, vermilion dye, and other sundries in exchange for horses, prepared animal hides, bear's fat, beans, corn, and Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
slaves.
By 1800, European diseases and warfare had greatly reduced the population of the tribe. The survivors joined other Hasinai tribes.
Ultimately, they were forced to relocate to the Wichita Reservation
Wichita (tribe)
The Wichita people are indigenous inhabitants of North America, who traditionally spoke the Wichita language, a Caddoan language. They have lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas...
in Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
in the 19th century. Today they are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
Synonymy
The tribe is also known as the Nazadachotzi, Nacadocheeto, Nacodissy, Nacodochito, Nagodoche, Nasahossoz, Naugdoche, Nocodosh, and Neticatzi.External links
- Nacogdoche Indians, from Handbook of Texas Online
- Nacogdoche Indian Tribe History, from Access Genealogy