St. Mary’s Parish will celebrate the 375th anniversary of the founding of the Piscataway Catholic Community, on Sunday, July 5th, 2015. The community’s history dates to the Baptism of the Piscataway Chief Kittamaquund by Fr. Andrew White, S.J., on July 5th, 1640. This event occurred in what would become the territory of the Parish, the only Parish that bears the name of the tribe. The Parish recently commissioned and mounted a 17-foot high painting of this historic event, which graces the main church.
The July 5th event will include a visit from the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, and a Native American Indian Festival.
Event Time: Noon to 5pm
Event Location: Main church & main soccer field, St. Mary’s of Piscataway Catholic Church, 13401 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD 20735
Event Contact: 301-292-0527
For more information:
Contact: Bill Keimig, Director of Religious Education; Head of Committee for the 375th Anniversary Celebration, St. Mary’s of Piscataway Catholic Church
Further reading:
Piscataway Indians: The Catholic Encyclopedia
Kittamaquund, Tayac of the Piscataway (d. 1641): Archives of Maryland
Daughters of Princess Mary Kittamaquund
Margaret Brent (ca. 1601-ca. 1671): Maryland History Leaflet No. 1
Piscataway Timeline
1550 Piscataway Tayac governed c. 7,000 people between Potomac and Patuxent Rivers
1608 John Smith explored the Potomac River; Piscataway welcomed him with kindness
1622 Powhatan Indians attacked at least 31 Virginia settlements along the James River
1623 Virginia colonists attacked Moyaone, killing many and burning houses and corn
1634 Piscataway Tayac Wannas permitted Leonard Calvert to establish St Mary’s City
1640 Piscataway Tayac Kittamaquund was baptized by Jesuit Father Andrew White
1644 Wahocasso succeeded as Tayac, who was succeeded by Uttapoingassenem in 1658, who was succeeded by Wannasapapin in 1662, who was succeeded by Nattowasso (son of Wahocasso—breaking the tradition of matrilineal succession) in 1663
1666 Facing increasing encroachments by European settlers, the Piscataway petitioned the Maryland council, saying: “We can flee no further. Let us know where to live, and how to be secured for the future from the hogs and cattle.”
1695 Maryland Governor Francis Nicholson “advised the council to find a way of depriving Indians beyond Mattawoman Creek of their lands, in order to ‘occasion a greater quantity of Tobacco to be made.’”
1697 Piscataway Tayac Ochotomaquath and about 400 others fled to northern Virginia; then they allied with the Iroquois in 1701 and moved to Pennsylvania.
1699 Maryland colonists estimated Piscataway military strength at 80-90 warriors
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