Saturday, April 30, 2016

Andrew White




July 5, 1640
Fr. Andrew  White. S. J.
Baptizes the Indian King
A. Alonzo & Mary E. Hayden

This 1960s stained glass window representing Father Andrew White, SJ. baptizing the Tayac of the Piscataway, Chitomachon (Kittamaquund), can be seen in St. Ignatius Church on Chapel Point in Port Tobacco Maryland.

"Andrew White (1579 – December 27, 1656) was an English Jesuit missionary who was involved in the founding of the Maryland colony. He was a chronicler of the early colony, and his writings are a primary source on the land, the Native Americans of the area, and the Jesuit mission in North America. For his efforts in converting and educating the native population, he is frequently referred to as the 'Apostle of Maryland.' He is considered a forefather of Georgetown University, and is memorialized in the name of its White-Gravenor building, a central location of offices and classrooms on the university's campus." -- Wikipedia

"Kittamaquund was an important Piscataway warrior and the younger brother of a man named Wannas.  Wannas served as the Piscataway's head chieftain, or Tayac, when Governor Leonard Calvert arrived in 1634.  'Tayac' is the Piscataway word meaning 'Emperor' or 'ruler of all the chiefs.'  The Piscataway Tayac ruled over 130 miles of native territory and villages on the both shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Kittamaquund and his followers saw that Wannas mistrusted the English. They believed that Wannas might lead the Piscataway to war against the colonists.  Kittamaquund killed his brother in 1634, and became Tayac in his place.  As Tayac, Kittamaquund led his people to peaceful ties with the Marylanders.  Some of the Piscataway were angry that Kittamaquund had killed Wannas, but Kittamaquund also had friends among his people.  They thought their new Tayac was wise. They also wanted the benefits of English fur trade and military protection from their enemies, the Susquehannocks." -- Archives of Maryland
The Maryland State Archives has this charcoal drawing by Edwin Tunis of the Baptism of Kittamaquund.



 

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