Mattapony
Encyclopedia
Mattapony (ˌmætəpəˈnaɪ) was a former hundred in Worcester County, Maryland
.
in 1742, Somerset County
(erected in 1666) was, like other colonial counties, divided into "hundreds", including Mattapony. Following American independence, Maryland's hundreds were converted into election districts, and Mattapony became the Sandy Hill, later the Stockton, election district.
on the west and northwest, Corker's Creek on the northeast, Chincoteague Bay
on the east, and Accomack County, Virginia
on the south. During the colonial period, Mattapony Hundred was divided by the creation of Pitts Creek Hundred out of its western third.
Towns and villages in the hundred included present-day Girdletree
, Rabbit Knaw, Big Mill (also known as Welbourne), Goodwill
(formerly known as Davis Cross Roads), Klej Grange
(named Lindseyville until 1878), Stockton
(known as Sandy Hill until 1872), and Pocomoke City
(known as Stevens Landing or Stevens Ferry, then as Newtown until 1888). Three main roads traversed Mattapony: the seaside post road
from Delaware
ran via Snow Hill
through Girdletree and Stockton into Virginia
(current Maryland Route 12
follows its approximate path), a road from Mattapony Landing on the Pocomoke River
to Stockton via Klej Grange, and another from Snow Hill to Pocomoke City via Klej Grange and Goodwill.
Indians in Maryland and Virginia. As early as 1639, a "Mattapony Path" was known in St. Mary's County--it led to Mataponi Creek, a tributary of the Patuxent River
. "Place Names of Maryland" states that the Algonquin meaning of "matta" was "joined," or "junction," and "apo" was "water," "current," or "expanse of water," i.e., "meeting of waters at a sand spit". Mayre states in the Maryland Historical Magazine, in an article entitled "Sea Coast of Maryland":
Not restricted to Worcester County, at least two properties on the neighboring Eastern Shore of Virginia
were also called "Mattapony". Likewise, the Mattaponi River
in Virginia
, called after the tribe of the same name
, joins with the Pamunkey
to form the York River
, and, as noted above, Mataponi Creek flows into the Patuxent River
in Prince George's County, Maryland
.
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
History
Before the erection of Worcester CountyWorcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in 1742, Somerset County
Somerset County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*53.5% White*42.3% Black*0.3% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.5% Other races*3.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
(erected in 1666) was, like other colonial counties, divided into "hundreds", including Mattapony. Following American independence, Maryland's hundreds were converted into election districts, and Mattapony became the Sandy Hill, later the Stockton, election district.
Geography
Mattapony Hundred's original borders were the Pocomoke RiverPocomoke River
The Pocomoke River stretches approximately from southern Delaware through southeastern Maryland in the United States. At its mouth, the river is essentially an arm of Chesapeake Bay, whereas the upper river flows through a series of relatively inaccessible wetlands called the Great Cypress Swamp,...
on the west and northwest, Corker's Creek on the northeast, Chincoteague Bay
Chincoteague Bay
Chincoteague Bay is a lagoon between the Atlantic barrier islands of Assateague and Chincoteague and the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland and northern Accomack County, Virginia...
on the east, and Accomack County, Virginia
Accomack County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
on the south. During the colonial period, Mattapony Hundred was divided by the creation of Pitts Creek Hundred out of its western third.
Towns and villages in the hundred included present-day Girdletree
Girdletree, Maryland
Girdletree is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Girdletree is located at ....
, Rabbit Knaw, Big Mill (also known as Welbourne), Goodwill
Goodwill, Maryland
Goodwill is a small unincorporated community 5 miles east of Pocomoke City in Worcester County, Maryland, located at . Originally called Davis Crossroads, or simply Crossroads, Goodwill grew at the crossing of the roads leading from Mattapony Landing on the Pocomoke River down into Virginia, and...
(formerly known as Davis Cross Roads), Klej Grange
Klej Grange, Maryland
Klej Grange is a small unincorporated community 3 miles northwest of Stockton in Worcester County, Maryland. It is located at the intersection of Klej Grange, Betheden Church, and Ward Roads.-Origin of name:...
(named Lindseyville until 1878), Stockton
Stockton, Maryland
Stockton is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census.-History:...
(known as Sandy Hill until 1872), and Pocomoke City
Pocomoke City, Maryland
Pocomoke City, dubbed "the friendliest town on the Eastern Shore", is a city in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Although renamed in a burst of civic enthusiasm in 1878, the city is regularly referred to by its inhabitants simply as Pocomoke...
(known as Stevens Landing or Stevens Ferry, then as Newtown until 1888). Three main roads traversed Mattapony: the seaside post road
Post road
For other uses, see Post Road .A post road is a road designated for the transportation of postal mail. In past centuries only major towns had a post house, and the roads used by post riders or mail coaches to carry mail among them were particularly important ones or, due to the special attention...
from Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
ran via Snow Hill
Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worcester County.-History:...
through Girdletree and Stockton into Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(current Maryland Route 12
Maryland Route 12
Maryland Route 12 is a state highway on the Eastern Shore in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from the Virginia border south of Stockton, Worcester County, where it continues into Virginia as State Route 679, north to Main Street in the city of Salisbury in Wicomico County...
follows its approximate path), a road from Mattapony Landing on the Pocomoke River
Pocomoke River
The Pocomoke River stretches approximately from southern Delaware through southeastern Maryland in the United States. At its mouth, the river is essentially an arm of Chesapeake Bay, whereas the upper river flows through a series of relatively inaccessible wetlands called the Great Cypress Swamp,...
to Stockton via Klej Grange, and another from Snow Hill to Pocomoke City via Klej Grange and Goodwill.
Name
"Mattapony" was one of the most widely used place-names of the AlgonquianAlgonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
Indians in Maryland and Virginia. As early as 1639, a "Mattapony Path" was known in St. Mary's County--it led to Mataponi Creek, a tributary of the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
. "Place Names of Maryland" states that the Algonquin meaning of "matta" was "joined," or "junction," and "apo" was "water," "current," or "expanse of water," i.e., "meeting of waters at a sand spit". Mayre states in the Maryland Historical Magazine, in an article entitled "Sea Coast of Maryland":
In the interest of accuracy it should be admitted that this place-name may refer to Mattapony inlet, as the heads of these inlets seem to have been close to one another.
Not restricted to Worcester County, at least two properties on the neighboring Eastern Shore of Virginia
Eastern Shore of Virginia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Its population was 45,553 as of 2010...
were also called "Mattapony". Likewise, the Mattaponi River
Mattaponi River
The Mattaponi River is a tributary of the York River estuary in eastern Virginia in the United States.It rises as four streams in Spotsylvania County, each of which is given a shorter piece of the Mattaponi's name:...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, called after the tribe of the same name
Mattaponi
The Mattaponi tribe is one of only two Virginia Indian tribes in the Commonwealth of Virginia that owns reservation land. The larger Mattaponi Indian Tribe lives in King William County on reservation lands that stretch along the borders of the Mattaponi River, near West Point, Virginia.The...
, joins with the Pamunkey
Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River is a tributary of the York River, about long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. Via the York River it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.-Course:...
to form the York River
York River (Virginia)
The York River is a navigable estuary, approximately long, in eastern Virginia in the United States. It ranges in width from at its head to near its mouth on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. Its watershed drains an area including portions of 17 counties of the coastal plain of Virginia north...
, and, as noted above, Mataponi Creek flows into the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
.