Tradewinds Time Capsule: The King of the Yeopims sells to Durant

                                                                 

 

On August 4, 1661, a man named Cisketando, the king of the Yeopims, sold a tract of land on the Perquimans River to Durant. The Yeopims were a Native American tribe that lived in what is now known as North Carolina.

One year later, on March 1, 1661/62, Durant obtained a second deed for a piece of land from Kilcocanen, the king of the Yeopims. This land was located on a point that projected into Albemarle (now known as Roanoke) Sound and was situated between Perquimans River and Little River (then known as Katotine River).

It is still being determined precisely why Cisketando and Kilcocanen decided to sell these tracts of land to Durant. It is possible that they saw it as an opportunity to gain some financial benefit from the sale. It is also possible that they were interested in establishing a trade relationship with Durant and saw the sale of land as a way to develop that relationship.

It is important to note that these land transactions took place when European colonization of the Americas was just beginning. Many Native American tribes were hesitant to sell their land to European settlers, as they were often unfamiliar with land ownership and did not understand the long-term consequences of such a sale.

Despite this, some Native American tribes did choose to sell land to European settlers, and it is possible that the Yeopims saw the sale of these tracts as a way to establish a more peaceful relationship with the Europeans who were beginning to settle in their region.

Cisketando and Kilcocanen were under pressure from other European settlers to sell their land, as many Europeans were eager to acquire as much land as possible in the New World.

Regardless of the reasons behind the sale, these land transactions significantly impacted the Yeopims and the region in which they lived. The sale of these tracts likely contributed to the eventual displacement of the Yeopims from their traditional lands and the loss of their sovereignty.

As European settlers began establishing settlements in the region, the Yeopims were likely forced to adapt to a new way of life. They may have been forced to assimilate into European culture. The loss of their land and the subsequent changes to their way of life likely had a significant impact on the Yeopims and their descendants.

In conclusion, the sale of the tracts of land on the Perquimans River and Albemarle Sound to Durant by Cisketando and Kilcocanen played a significant role in the history of the Yeopims and the region in which they lived. While the exact motivations behind the sale are unclear, the consequences of these transactions certainly had a lasting impact on the Yeopims and their way of life.