Totopotomoi Pamunkey (abt. 1616 - 1656)

Born about 1616 in Tsenacomoca, Virginia

Husband of Cockocoske Pamunkey — married 1646 (to 1656) in Accomack, Virginia

Died 1656 at about age 40 in Bloody Run Creek, Virginia

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Disputed Origins

Some trees claim that Totopotomoi was the son of Thomas West, second governor of Virginia, and one of the women who accompanied Pocahontas to England. Others claim that he was the same man as “Toby West” an Englishman who emigrated to Virginia about 1653, engaged in some land transactions, and then vanished from the record leaving no descendants. There is no documentary evidence to support either theory. There is no contemporary record that describes Totopotomoi as anything other than a Wyanoke or Pamunkey Indian.

Biography

Very little is known of Totopotomoi. He was chief of the Wyanoke and about 1649, after the death of Nectowance, he became head of the Pamunkey Indians. The Powhatan Confederacy had largely collapsed by then and he was referred to as “King of the Pamunkey” and not “King of the Indians” as his predecessors were. ^[1] He was married to Cockacoeske. Since the leaders of the Powhatan descended through the maternal line, Totopotomoi and Cockacoeske were probably cousins, both grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) of Powhatan’s sisters, although their parents are unknown. They had no known children together. ^[2] Totopotomoi became a staunch ally of the English and often sided with them in conflicts. About 1656, a tribe known as the “Rickohockan” moved down near the falls of the James River (Virginia). In an attempt to remove them the English Colonists joined by the members of the Pamunkey Tribe under Totopotomoi engaged in what was later known as the Battle of Bloody Run, near present-day Richmond, VA. Colonel Edward Hill was put in command of the Colonial Rangers reinforced by Totopotomoi, with 100 warriors. The English were defeated, and Totopotomoi and many others were killed. ^[3]

Research Notes

The following is unsupported by any documentation and/or pertains to other people:

Thomas/Chief Totopotomoi and Queen Cockacoeske had 6 children:

Charity b. 1644

Susannah b. 1648

Jane b. 1650

Col Nathaniel b. 1652

Joseph b. 1653

Anne b. 1656

He was the son of Thomas West, third Baron de la Warr, and "Rachel" Powhatan. Some researchers refer to Toby West as nephew of Pocahontas while other family trees show his mother as a first cousin of Pocahontas. Some say Rachel's father was the brother of Chief Powhatan while others show Rachel's mother as a sister of Powhatan. It is possible, however, perhaps even likely, that she was a double first cousin of Pocahontas. Toby West married his cousin Cockacoeske, the granddaughter of Pocahontas' sister Cleopatra Powhatan. After his death, Col. John West, the son of Toby's first cousin Gov. John West II, took Cockacoeske as his "Indian wife" or mistress.

Rachel Powhatan accompanied Pocahontas to England where Toby West was conceived and, by some accounts, born. Pocahontas and her entourage resided at Lord de la Warr's country estate, Blackhurst Park, in Sussex while in England. Rachel married or took up with Col. Joseph Croshaw from Virginia either while in England or after her return to Virginia. He was the son of Capt. Raleigh Croshaw, one of the founders of Jamestown, but was in Bermuda and also England.^[4][5]

Two infant baptisms recorded in England for Thomas West, son of Thomas West, one Catholic, one Protestant:

Christening Date: 16 Feb 1616

Christening Place: Rodmell, Sussex, England^[6]

Baptism Date: 20 Apr 1616

Baptism Place: Bath, St Michael, Somerset, England

Sources

1. ↑ Waselko, Wood, Hatley, eds. Powhatan’s Mantle: Indians in the Colonial Southeast. University of Nebraska Press, 2006. p. 245
2. ↑ Encyclopedia Virginia Cockacoeske
3. ↑ Powhatan’s Mantle, p. 245
4. ↑ Shawnee Heritage by Don Greene; DISPUTED
5. ↑ Monteith Family and the Potomac Indians by William Deyo; DISPUTED
6. ↑ Sussex Family History Group. "Online archives: Baptisms at Rodmell St Peter 1610 - 1710". Sussex Family History Group. Accessed 15 Dec 2021.

See also:

• The Powhatan Indians of Virginia: Their Traditional Culture. Rountree, Helen C., University of Oklahoma Press, 1989.
• Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey: Diplomat and Suzeraine. W. Martha W. McCartney.

The following may not be reliable sources:

• Indigenous peoples of the Americas (wikipedia page)
• "A Brief Outline of Recorded History of the Patawomeck Tribe." Deyo, William L., 2000.
• "Monteith Family and the Potomac Indians." Deyo, William L., 1991.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totopotomoi
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bloody_Run_(1656)