Coree
Encyclopedia
The Coree were a very small Native American
tribe, who once occupied a coastal area of southeastern North Carolina
in the area now covered by Carteret
and Craven
counties. Early 20th-century scholars were unsure of what language they spoke, but the coastal areas were mostly populated by Carolina Algonquian peoples.
colonists until 1701, by which time their population had already been reduced to as few as 125 members, likely due to epidemic
s of infectious disease
and warfare. In the early 18th century, the Coree and several other Algonquian tribes were allied with the Iroquoian Tuscarora
against the colonists. In 1711, they participated in the Tuscarora War
, trying to drive out the English settlers. The Native Americans were unsuccessful and suffered many fatalities.
By 1715, some Coree merged with the remaining members of the nearby Algonquian Machapunga
and settled in their single village of Mattamuskeet in present-day Hyde County
. This was on the shore of Lake Mattamuskeet
. Other Coree remained in Carteret county (especially in isolated areas such as Indian Beach
, Atlantic Beach
, Harkers Island
- formerly known as Craney Island, Core Creek, and swamp lands). Descendants gradually married and assimilated into the European-American and African-American populations.
Although in the 20th century, some people claim individual descent from the historical Coree, no revival of the tribe has been accomplished. Some observers believe that current attempts to claim Coree descent are by people who were among what anthropologists called "tri-racial isolates", often of majority European and African descent.
speculated that the Coree were related to the Iroquoian Cherokee
, but he did not have convincing evidence. According to limited colonial reports, they spoke a language that did not appear to be mutually intelligible with any of the three major language stocks: Carolina Algonquian, Iroquoian Tuscarora, or the Waccamaw Siouan
(earlier called the Woccon tribe). This lack of mutual intelligibility was documented by John Lawson in 1709.
On the other hand, the Coree occupied territory that was historically mostly that of Carolina Algonquians, which suggests they were affiliated with these peoples. The name Coree may be the singular form of the Carolina Algonquian
name Cwareuuoc.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe, who once occupied a coastal area of southeastern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the area now covered by Carteret
Carteret County, North Carolina
Carteret County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 66,469. Its county seat is Beaufort. Most of the county is part of the Crystal Coast....
and Craven
Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The estimated population in 2006 was 94,875. Its county seat is New Bern.Craven County is part of the New Bern, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
counties. Early 20th-century scholars were unsure of what language they spoke, but the coastal areas were mostly populated by Carolina Algonquian peoples.
History
The Coree were not described by EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
colonists until 1701, by which time their population had already been reduced to as few as 125 members, likely due to epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
s of infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
and warfare. In the early 18th century, the Coree and several other Algonquian tribes were allied with the Iroquoian Tuscarora
Tuscarora (tribe)
The Tuscarora are a Native American people of the Iroquoian-language family, with members in New York, Canada, and North Carolina...
against the colonists. In 1711, they participated in the Tuscarora War
Tuscarora War
The Tuscarora War was fought in North Carolina during the autumn of 1711 until 11 February 1715 between the British, Dutch, and German settlers and the Tuscarora Native Americans. A treaty was signed in 1715....
, trying to drive out the English settlers. The Native Americans were unsuccessful and suffered many fatalities.
By 1715, some Coree merged with the remaining members of the nearby Algonquian Machapunga
Machapunga
The Machapunga were a very small Native American tribe of Algonquian descent, one of a number in the territory of North Carolina, probably related to the Algonquian of the Powhatan Confederacy in present-day Virginia, who had migrated south. They have now disappeared as a separate tribe...
and settled in their single village of Mattamuskeet in present-day Hyde County
Hyde County, North Carolina
-National protected areas:* Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge * Cape Hatteras National Seashore * Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge* Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge * Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
. This was on the shore of Lake Mattamuskeet
Lake Mattamuskeet
Lake Mattamuskeet is the largest natural lake in North Carolina. It is a shallow coastal lake, averaging 2-3 feet in depth, and stretches long and wide. Lake Mattamuskeet lies on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula....
. Other Coree remained in Carteret county (especially in isolated areas such as Indian Beach
Indian Beach, North Carolina
Indian Beach is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 93 in 2009.-Geography:Indian Beach is located at ....
, Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2008, there were 1,815 people, 971 households, and 498 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 4,728 housing units at an average density of 2,206.0 per square mile...
, Harkers Island
Harkers Island, North Carolina
Harkers Island is a census-designated place in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population of Harkers Island was 1,623 at the 2007 census. Harkers Island is unincorporated and receives most public services, including law enforcement and public education, from Carteret County....
- formerly known as Craney Island, Core Creek, and swamp lands). Descendants gradually married and assimilated into the European-American and African-American populations.
Although in the 20th century, some people claim individual descent from the historical Coree, no revival of the tribe has been accomplished. Some observers believe that current attempts to claim Coree descent are by people who were among what anthropologists called "tri-racial isolates", often of majority European and African descent.
Language
The ethnographer James MooneyJames Mooney
James Mooney was an American ethnographer who lived for several years among the Cherokee. He did major studies of Southeastern Indians, as well as those on the Great Plains...
speculated that the Coree were related to the Iroquoian Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, but he did not have convincing evidence. According to limited colonial reports, they spoke a language that did not appear to be mutually intelligible with any of the three major language stocks: Carolina Algonquian, Iroquoian Tuscarora, or the Waccamaw Siouan
Waccamaw Siouan
Waccamaw Siouan Indians are one of eight state-recognized Native American tribal nations in North Carolina. Formerly Siouan-speaking, they are located predominantly in the southeastern North Carolina counties of Bladen and Columbus. They adopted this name in 1948. Their communities are St...
(earlier called the Woccon tribe). This lack of mutual intelligibility was documented by John Lawson in 1709.
On the other hand, the Coree occupied territory that was historically mostly that of Carolina Algonquians, which suggests they were affiliated with these peoples. The name Coree may be the singular form of the Carolina Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
name Cwareuuoc.