Edward Waterhouse’s Declaration of 1622, Is It Historically Valid?
Edward Waterhouse was an English settler who lived in early Virginia. He wrote a Declaration in
1622 which focuses on the massacre of English settlers and the relationship that the settlers and the
Native Americans of Powhatan’s Confederacy had. This paper will argue that Waterhouse’s Declaration
is an accurate representation of the changing relationship between the English settlers and the Native
Americans because the author’s attitude concerning the differences of English Settlers and Native
American societies is valid and consistent with the time period. By examining a variety of historically
important aspects such as the English settlers early struggles, the differences in societies’, the role of
tobacco in the colony’s growth, and the changing image from the “gentle” Native American to the
“savage” this essay will be demonstrate the validity of Waterhouse’s representation.
The English settlers did not have a great beginning to their life in America. They reached Virginia
unprepared for the harsh winters and the conditions that lied ahead for them. When they arrived in
November, they expected to find a “paradise,” where friendly Indians would work for them.1 Surprised
this was not the case, the settlers had to figure out how to survive the winter. Many did not make it
through the first winter of 1607/1608 and their survival was in part due to help by the Native Americans.
Waterhouse writes that before the massacre they were in a time of peace, and that the settlers even
allowed the Native Americans into their homes. “The houses generally set open to the Savages, who
were alwaies friendly entertained at the tables of the English, and commonly lodged in their bedchambers.” 2 This quote by Waterhouse shows that there was no hostility between the Native
Americans and the English. By allowing the Native Americans in their home, Waterhouse is showing that
the relationship that the two groups had was civil. If they were not friendly with each other, Waterhouse
wouldn’t have admitted that they were friendly in the beginning. The ‘good beginning’ is also
1
Lecture, 1/17/12
Edward Waterhouse, "Edward Waterhouse's Declaration, 1622," reprinted in Michael P. Johnson (ed.), Reading
the American Past: Selected Historical Documents, vol. 1 (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002), p. 28
2
showcased in other sources as well. Author Gary Nash, points out that the first impressions and the
beginning of the relationship with the Native Americans was a good one. In his book he quotes a man
named Verrazano (another European explorer) saying, “The natives were graceful of limb, tawny
colored, with black alert eyes, and ‘dressed in birds’ feathers of various colors, and they came toward us
joyfully uttering loud cries of wonderment, and showing us the safest place to beach the boat.” 3 This
quote shows that when the Europeans had arrived to the country, their relationship with the Native
Americans was a good one. This quote is also important because it verifies the validity of Waterhouse’s
description of the relationship in his declaration. Since Verrazano’s statement was similar to the ones
that Waterhouse presents, the Declaration is given legitimacy.
The differences between the English settlers and the Native American societies are an important
aspect to how this paper illustrates the changing relationship. The biggest difference between the two
societies was their idea of land usage. The Native Americans believed that the land was not theirs, that
they were borrowing it to use and sustain life and had no concept of private ownership. 4 In English
society, the people who had land also had wealth and therefore power. Since land equated to more
power, this was the organizing structure to their society. 5 The English thought they could make better
use of the land than the Native Americans. At the end of Waterhouse’s Declaration, the English sought
to take the land from the Native Americans after the massacre. He stated, “ ..So that we, who hitherto
have possession of no more ground then their waste, and our purchase at a valuable consideration to
their owne contentment, gained….”6 This quote shows that the issue of land was debated, and that the
English thought that they could make better use of it. The English obviously coveted the land, since
Waterhouse spoke about taking it so abruptly from the Native Americans. The differences of the
3
Gary B. Nash, Red, White, & Black,(Upper Saddle River: Pearson Hall, 2010), p. 39
Lecture, 1/17/12
5
Gary B. Nash, Red, White, & Black, p. 40
6
Edward Waterhouse, "Edward Waterhouse's Declaration, 1622," reprinted in Michael P. Johnson (ed.), Reading
the American Past: Selected Historical Documents, vol. 1 (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002), p. 30
4
societies and the issues of land that changed the relationship between the settlers and the Native
Americans was represented in that last quote. Therefore Waterhouse’s Declaration is a valid
representation of the changing relationship, since he clearly stated that land became a source of
tension.
Tobacco was an extremely important part in the colony’s growth and also a time when the
tension rose between the Native Americans and the settlers. John Rolfe first planted it in 1612 as an
experimental crop and it proved to be successful. 7 The tobacco boom was in the year 1618/1619, and
the growing of the plant exploded from 2000 pounds to 1.5 million pounds by 1630. 8 As the tobacco
demand grew, the English settlers needed more land to produce their important cash crop. The settlers
started to encroach on Native American land. The new leader of Powhatan’s Confederacy,
Opechancanough , was very against this intrusion by the English settlers. 9 He did not want the English to
take their land or spread any more diseases to the Native American people. 10 The need for land caused
the relationship between the English and Native Americans to be strained. Waterhouse’s Declaration
shows how tense the relationship was when he talked about retrieving the land after the massacre. He
said, “Now their cleared grounds in all their villages (which are situate in the fruitfullest places of the
land) shall be inhabited by us, whereas heretofore the grubbing of woods was the greatest labor.”11 In
this quote Waterhouse showed his excitement for taking the land from the Native Americans. If the
settlers could have taken the land at any time, Waterhouse would not have been so joyous when the
settlers finally obtained it. Waterhouse clearly depicted the strained relationship when he stated his
happiness for acquiring the land that contributed to the tension between Powhatan’s Confederacy and
7
Gary B. Nash, Red, White & Black, p. 50
Lecture, 1/19/12
9
Gary B. Nash, Red, White and Black, p. 58
10
Ibid p. 58
11
Edward Waterhouse, "Edward Waterhouse's Declaration, 1622, p. 30
8
the English settlers. Hence, the Declaration is an accurate depiction of the changing relationship
between the settlers and the Native Americans.
The rising need for land played a significant role in the relationship of the Native Americans and
the English settlers, and this source of tension led to the changing image of the Native Americans from
“gentle Indian,” to ‘’savage Indian.”12Waterhouse proclaimed at the end of his document that the Native
Americans were friends at one point and then, as he describes the massacre they become “savages.” He
said, “ Fiftly, Because the Indians, who before were used as friends, may now most justly be compelled
to servitude and drudgery, and supply the roome of men that labour….”13 Here Waterhouse started by
depicting the Native Americans as friends, or gentle “Indians,” and then changes his attitude toward
them saying that they should be compelled to servitude. This change in attitude can be directly related
to the change in relationship between the Native Americans and the settlers. The relationship was then
changed from friends, allies, or traders to untrusting, unworthy, savages. It is understandable in the
sense that the relationship with one another became hostile, then weak, and finally non-existent. The
changing image of Native Americans is also noted in the book, Red, White, &Black. Here, the author
wrote that the early colonists thought that the Indians were a gentle people who would be receptive to
them and trade with them. 14 However, he then goes on to argue that a counter image of the Native
Americans began to surface and that the, “..negative view feature a savage, hostile, beastlike person..”15
This information supports the claim that Waterhouse’s Declaration is a valid representation of the
changing relationship between the Native Americans and the English settlers.
Waterhouse’s Declaration is a valid representation of the changing relationship of the Native
Americans and the English settlers. He accurately portrayed the changing relationship from the start of
12
Lecture, 1/17/12
Edward Waterhouse, "Edward Waterhouse's Declaration, 1622,” p. 30
14
Gary B. Nash, Red, White, & Black, p. 38
15
Gary B. Nash, Red, White,& Black, p. 40
13
relationship when the settlers had just started in Virginia until the end of the relationship when the
attitude of Native Americans changed to “savages.” Waterhouse described how friendly the of a
relationship that the two societies’ had with one another when the English first settled. He then went on
and showed that the differences in societies or land make the relationship more hostile. Waterhouse
also talked about the tobacco boom which escalated the strained relationship between Powhatan’s
Confederacy and the English settlers. Finally, the Declaration shows how the friendly relationship with
the Native Americans had changed and they had then become “savages.” The Declaration showed the
changing relationship accurately. Therefore, Waterhouse’s Declaration is historically valid.