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Is there anyone who can connect me to more info on Nottoway traditions, ceremony, language or symbols? I am a Nottoway from the Step family. I have a few connections already and some other info like 120-140 words in the language. If you have any info you can e-mail me at nottoway_warrior7@yahoo.com
To my knowledge, very little was recorded about Nottoway culture, altho’ some of that language was written down, probably what you already have…
Helen Rountree’s “Termination and Dispersal of the Nottoway”, seems to be a fairly comprehensive summery of the history.
That and a few articles on Bill Lamb, often referred to as “last of the Nottoways”, who lived near Courtland, Va and died in the 1960’s, as I recall…
Wish I could help more, except to note that their culture was PROBABLY similar to the Meherrin and Tuscarora of nearby NC. All seem to have been Iroquoian speakers…..
Just to note, Bill Lamb was certainly not “the last of the Nottoways” As late as 1870, a number of families are listed as Indian in the Southampton Co. Census
I heard the stories about Bill Lamb and some others of the tribe know his son. I’m trying to help the reorganizing and it’s not easy. We need more to base things on. Color symbolism, ceremony, customs, and more language if we can get it. The list of words I have doesn’t even have a greeting or a word for thanks. We might have to borrow from a close language as long as that’s accepted by the neighboring tribe we use it from.
You may find that a linguist could determine the consistent differences between Nottoway and a close language, and from that “Nottoway-cize” some of the words you all need to borrow. And, of course, studying their pronunciations will be a lot closer than a contemporary southern accent!
Just as a note, the four Indian failies counted as such (unless I missed someone) where those of Edwin Turner, Alex Scholar, Sam Turner, and Morefield Hurst, listed as Black w Indian wife and kids. Probably many more descendants counted as M or B, including head of household Alex Scholar (M) w Indian wife and kids.
Thanks for the ideas on the language. I was thinking of something like that. And on the families I have discovered a lot more families like my moms…Step, Skippers and others. Finding more as I go.
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