Photograph description: Standing back row L-R: Joseph Beverly Hunter, Preston Edward Hunter, Mrs. Emma Jane (Chavis) Hunter, and Mrs. Alonzaday (Hunter) Reynolds.
Sitting front row L-R: Mrs. Nancy Ann (Weaver) Hunter, and her husband Peter Hunter.
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Meherrin people are closely related to the Tuscaroras and Nottoways. We were once one people, sharing the same language.

Meherrin Core Surnames:
Archer, Bizzell/ Bissell, Boone, Brown, Collins, Flood, Hall, Hunter, Lassiter, Lewis, Manley, Melton, Pugh, Reid, Reynolds, Robbins, Simmons, Smith, Weaver

Other Meherrin Surnames: Cale, Cumbo, Baker, Butler, Chavis, Jordan, Keene, Lang, Luton, Mitchell, Nickens, Pierce, Sears, Turner, Webb

Many of our families can be traced back to individuals who lived on Tuscarora Indian Woods Reservation, and were documented in land leases made in 1766 and 1777. Some families can be traced back to other neighboring tribes in Virginia.

In 1761, Meherrins were incorporated into the Tuscarora Nation. As the community disbanded and relocated, our community moved back to the area of Meherrin Town.

The Tuscarora, Meherrin, & Nottoway "North Carolina Iroquois League"

Tuscarora language expert Blair Rudes documented that the Tuscarora, Meherrin, and Nottoway comprised a North Carolina Iroquois League. (Rudes, Blair A. Cowinchahawkon/ Akawęč?á:ka:?: The Meherrin in the Nineteenth Century. Algonquin and Iroquoian Linguistics. 6 (3) PAGES 32-34. London, Ontario).

Further evidence of this alliance can be found below in 1650 (Tuscarora man recorded in Meherrin Village), 1711 (a Meherrin was recorded as a judge in John Lawson's trial with the Tuscarora, as well as aiding the Tuscarora in the war), 1757 (Tuscaroras protecting Meherrins) and 1802 (Meherrins travelled north with the Tuscarora to join the Iroquois Confederacy).

Oral History, Archaeological Evidence & Historical Timeline

At and before the time of contact with European colonists, Meherrins lived in several towns, along the present-day North Carolina/ Virginia border. Below, as Meherrins are listed in various geographic locations, keep in mind that this does not confine us to one place.

We had multiple towns and villages and even multiple reservations, inhabited at the same time throughout this timeline. Meherrins were living simultaneously in different towns across different counties, and even different states- what is now North Carolina and Virgina at once.

Meherrins occupied these territories, reservations, and towns during overlapping periods. The sequence does not show a general migration, but the diaspora of the Meherrin people. Today, the Meherrin Nation remains at and around Meherrin Town identified in 1795.

It is likely that the group of Meherrin who resided with the Tuscarora in 1781, were the one's who moved north with them to New York and Ontario. Each of the dates on this map are explained in detail throughout the timeline.

Meherrins are an Iroquois nation. We share allegiances, culture, traditions, and language with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) and were even taken under the protection of the Confederacy in the nineteenth century. The Meherrins shared the same spoken language with the Tuscaora.

This language, Skaru:re, is very closely related to Mohawk and other Iroqouis languages. There is no major archaeological distinction between Meherrin artifacts and those of the Tuscarora and other Haudenosaunee. Iroquois people had uniquely Iroquois longhouses, pottery styles and burials.

Our oral history and archelogical evidence places our ancestors in what is now North Carolina and Virgina at least 1,200 years ago. This was about the time that the ancestors of the Meherrin, Tuscarora, and Nottoway diverged from the core Proto-Iroquois group, also the common ancestors of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Conestoga.

The history of the Kauwets'a:ka - the Meherrin People, is unique- from our migration to what is now North Carolina/ Virginia, in ancient times to the ongoing struggle for soverignty and tribal identity. We are a proud people and have endured much to be in existence today. We owe this to our ancestors and are thankful for all they've done- Yekwarihuwatathe Ekwehewe disne Kauwets'a:ka! This is our story:

While viewing this timeline keep in mind that throughout history, the Meherrin Nation has been referred to by many names, such as the name we call ourselves, what our neighbors called us, and disambiguations.

Some examples include: Kauwets'a:ka, Kauwetsaka, Kauwetseka, Akawěñtc'ākā', Akawenchaka, Akawetsaka, Mangoak, Mangaog, Maharim, Maherin, Maherine, Mahering, Maherrin, Maherring, Maherron, Meherine, Meherins, Meheron, Meherries, Meherrin, Meherring, Meherrins, Meherron, Menchserink, Menderink, Mendoerink, Mendwrink, Menherring, Menheyricks, Meterries (Hodge, Frederick Webb. Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico . University of Michigan . 1910. p 33)_

Source for Maherrin history: https://meherrinnation.org/13201.html