Oholasc Explained

Ohalasc (1570s – 1620s) was a Native American woman who served as Weroansqua (female chief) of the Quiyoughcohannock tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy. She has also been referred to as "Queen of the Quiyoughcohannock" and "Queen Ohalasc."

Life

Ohalasc was one of the many wives of Chief Powhatan, and they had at least one child together, Tahacoope, in the 1590s.^{[1] [2]}

In the early 1600s, she was named as the new Weroansqua (female chief) and regent of the Quiyoughcohannock tribe, succeeding Pepiscumah (who had been deposed by Chief Powhatan).^{[3] [4] [5]} The tribe was located across several villages along the James River east of the Weanock. At the time of Ohalasc's reign, the tribe had approximately 200 tribal members (including approximately 60 warriors).^[6]

She was succeeded as chief of the tribe by her son, Tahacoope.

Notes and References

1. Book: Hazard, Blanche Evans . Indians and Pioneers: An Historical Reader for the Young . 1897 . Morse Company . en.
2. Book: Macleod, William Christie . The Origin of the State Reconsidered in the Light of the Data of Aboriginal North America . 1924 . University of Pennsylvania. 1924. . en.
3. Book: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner . The Cradle of the Republic: Jamestown and James River . 1906 . Hermitage Press, Incorporated . en.
4. Book: Becker, C.J. . The Dream of America . 2006 . 978-0-595-38107-4 . en.
5. Book: Kelso, William M. . Jamestown Archaeology: Remains To Be Seen . 2023-12-05 . Taylor & Francis . 978-1-003-82528-9 . en.
6. Barbour . Philip L. . 1980 . The Riddle of the Powhatan "Black Boyes" . The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography . 88 . 2 . 148–154 . 4248384 . 0042-6636.