Manteo (Croatan)

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Manteo was a Native American Croatan who was essential to English/Native American communications during Sir Walter Raleigh's early voyages to and explorations of the New World. The relationship that Manteo shared with the English serves as an early example of positive racial and cultural relations in America and also serves as a unique example of race relations within the context of Western Civilization. Manteo was a trusted friend, teacher, and guide to the English settlers while remaining loyal to his native people during early American history, when English and Native American relations were highly unstable. Manteo is one of the foremost examples of positive race relations in early American history.

Manteo was useful to the English people in several ways. He served as a guide and translator to the English. Manteo and the English people were able to learn about each other's language and culture. Manteo at times was also a mediating figure between the English people and the Native Americans. Because of his status among the English people and because he was in peaceful communication with them, Manteo was often seen as a traitor[1] because natives perceieved Manteo as disloyal to them.

Although Manteo is the best example of relations between the English and the Indians, there were other Native Americans who were friendly toward the English as well. Wanchese[2] and other Native Americans such as Towaye[3][4] both shared relationships with Manteo and the English people.

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[edit] Travels

In 1584, Manteo and Wanchese accompanied some of the Englishmen back to their native land in order for the English people to report both the conditions of the New World that they had explored and what the usefulness of the territory might be to the English[5] [6] Manteo, Wanchese, and the English went back to the New World in 1585. Records indicate that Manteo and Wanchese also went on a voyage from the New World to England sometime later in the same decade. Following the voyage, Manteo, Wanchese, and the English returned to Roanoke. [7] It is speculated that Sir Walter Raleigh chose to have Manteo accompany him on his journey to England in order to better acquaint him with certain elements of English culture; specifically, so that he would be able to improve his skills in the English language and so that he might gain a deeper understanding of the Anglican Christian faith. [8][9]

[edit] Disputes

Manteo was involved in several nighttime attacks which took place in 1587.[10][11] The Native Americans had informed the English that some of their men were killed. To seek revenge, the English attempted to plot an attack on the party who they believed was responsible for the English deaths, the Roanokes. However, the English actually killed several of the Croatan people, who they mistook to be the killers. These attacks even involved Manteo's mother, who was leader of the Croatan natives.[12] As a mediator between the English and the Native Americans, and due to his loyalty to the English people, Manteo was caught in the middle, between the two opposing sides, the English and the natives. Manteo had mixed feelings regarding the nature of these attacks and was able to understand the points of views of both sides.[13]

[edit] Religion

Manteo holds a notable distinction, as he is recognized as being the first Native American who became an Anglican Christian. [14] Manteo was likely converted to Anglican Christianity by Sir Walter Ralegh. It is theorized by some, however, that this was a political maneuver that Sir Walter Ralegh hoped would further Manteo’s role in working with the English. Some Indians, upon converting to Christianity, were asked to take new names as a result of their conversions. When Manteo was baptized, however, he retained his given Native American name.[15] It is likely that Manteo assisted in helping the English convert other Native Americans to Christianity as well. [16]

[edit] Death

There is little information about Manteo's life following the abandonment of the settlement and after Sir Walter Raleigh set sail back for England. The circumstances and details surrounding Manteo's death remain a mystery. Some believe that Manteo left with the other colonists, likely destined for Croatan, after they abandoned their settlement.[17][18]

[edit] In American Culture

The town of Manteo, North Carolina is named for Manteo.[19]

[edit] Bibliography

  • Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000.
  • Mancall, Peter C. Hakluyt's Promise: An Elizabethan’s Obsession for an English America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007.
  • Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 341-376.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 204.
  2. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 346-348.
  3. ^ Mancall, Peter C. Hakluyt’s Promise: An Elizabethan's Obsession for an English America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. 179.
  4. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 352, 357.
  5. ^ Mancall, Peter C. Hakluyt’s Promise: An Elizabethan's Obsession for an English America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. 159.
  6. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 346-347.
  7. ^ Mancall, Peter C. Hakluyt's Promise: An Elizabethan's Obsession for an English America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. 179.
  8. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 373.
  9. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 79.
  10. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 188.
  11. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 354-355.
  12. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 188.
  13. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 188.
  14. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Raleigh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 355.
  15. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 190.
  16. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. “Sir Walter Ralegh’s Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618.” The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 351.
  17. ^ Vaughan, Alden T. "Sir Walter Ralegh's Indian Interpreters, 1584-1618." The William and Mary Quarterly 59.2 (2002): 357.
  18. ^ Kupperman, Karen Ordahl. Indians and English: Facing Off in Early America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000. 188.
  19. ^ "Manteo & Roanoke Island On the Croatan & Roanoke Sounds." Outer Banks of North Carolina. 8 April 2008. <http://www.outerbanks.com/manteo/>.