A Valuable Indian Relic - 1875

SCOTT, PAMUNKEY, OPECANCANOUGH, POWHATTAN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 10/13/2017 at 22:04:10

Wednesday, October 13, 1875 - Creston Gazette (Creston, Iowa) Page: 4

A Valuable Indian Relic

There is now in the possession of Dr. Martin P. Scott, 365 North Charles Street, and an exceedingly interesting Indian relic. It consists of a silver shired or crown, oblong in shape, its longer diameter about six inches and its shortest four, the central pieces consisting of a disk slightly convex, and bearing on its outer rim the inscription, “Charles the Second, King of England, Scotland, France, Ireland and Virginia.” On the center are cut the four quartering of the royal house at that time; the lion rampant of England, the fleurs-de-lis of France, the Touch-Me-Knot-Thistle of Scotland, and the harp of Ireland. There is also here in a modest corner a figure supposed to be of tobacco plant, representing Virginia. This coat of arms is encircled by the buckled garter, bearing England’s royal model, “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” Below the central disk is an oblong face with an inscription to the recipient of the present, “The Queen of Pamunkey," while below the center piece is carved a figure of the royal crown. Attached to the back are five rings, by which as a front it was fastened to the turban of the Indian Queen.

In Campbell’s “History of Virginia,” page 95, mention is made of this Queen of Pamunkey, a descendent of Opecancanough, the brother of Powhattan, and an account is given of her refusal to the Committee of Indian Affairs to furnish the desired quota of warriors. In Howe’s “Historical Collections,” page 470, is a notice and engraving of a silver frontlet, which corresponds in many particulars with the one now owned by Dr. Scott. This relic was purchased many years ago by a relative of Dr. Scott from some Indians at Fredericksburg, Va. It has been most carefully preserved by both the Indians and the purchasers, and though bearing undoubted marks of antiquity of at least two hundred years, is without a single marring scratch or indent, and will well repay the antiquarian’s visit and examination. – Baltimore Gazette