1705 Meherrin Reservation

In 1705 the Colonial Government of Virginia established the second reservation in what is now North Carolina, for Meherrins who were living at Meherrin Neck (Maney’s Neck).

(Mcllwaine 1912a:98):

A streight line shall be run up the middle of the neck between Meherrin river and the Nottoway river from the mouthes of ye said rivers so far as will include between that line and the Meherrin River so much land as will be equal in quantity to a circle three miles round their town.

April 28, 1705

Three-mile round reservation to be set out for Meherrin between the Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers.] “Resolved That The Bounds of The Maherin Indians Land be Laid out as Followed! (viz.) a Streight Lie Shall be Run up The Middle of The Neck between Maherin River and Nottoway River from The Mouths of the Said Rivers so far as will Include between that Line and Maherin River So much Land as will be Equal in Quantity to a Circle of Three Miles Round Their Town.
Resolved That Provision be made That when any Englishman Shall Do any Injury to an Indian upon Complaint made to the next Magistrate he shall Send a Warrant for the person Complained against and if he finds The matter within his Cognizance he shall do the Indian The Same Right that should be Done to an Englishman….”

Virginia Journals of House of Burgesses, 1702-1712: 98. April 28, 1705

April 28, 1705

Three-mile round reservation to be set out for Meherrin between the Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers.

“And for the better concealing of it, it is ordered that the Cleric of the Council do not issue the Order of Council 31st May to the Surveyor of Nansemond for laying out the Maherin Indians’ land till Mr. Minge be ready to go out with him to take the aforesaid observation, that the people of North Carolina may have no other suspicion than that those surveyors are only going about the laying the Maherin Indians’ land.”

May 31, 1705

Sessional Papers 
“Ordered that the Surveyor of Nansemond County do withall convenient speed lay out & survey the land oppoitioned for the use of the Maherin Indians by an Act passed the last session of the Assembly Entitled an Act concerning the Nansiatico & other Indians according to the directions of the said Act.”

British Public Record Office, Colonial Office 412/27, Sessional Papers 1704>1705; Virginia Colonial Records Project: SR 1475 (1604)/11: Reel #87, p. 51vo. May 31,1705.

June 26, 1705

British Public Record Office, Colonial Office 412/27, Sessional Papers 1704-1705; Virginia Colonial Records Project: SR 1475 (1604)/11: Reel #87, p. 51 vo. June 26,1705

“Resolved That The Bounds of The Maherin Indians Land be laid out as Followed,  a Straight Line Shall be Run up The Middle of The Neck between Maherin River and Nottoway River from The Mouths of the Said Rivers so far as will Include between that Line and Maherin River So much Land as will be Equal in Quantity to a Circle of Three Miles Round Their Town.
Resolved That Provision be made That when any Englishman Shall Do any Injury to an Indian upon Complaint made to the next Magistrate he shall Send a Warrant for the person Complained against and if he finds The matter within his Cognizance he shall do the Indian The Same Right that should be Done to an Englishman….”

Virginia Journals of House of Burgesses, 1702-1712: 98. April 28, 1705