Manquin in King William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Headquarters of Opechancanough

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 6, 2009

1. Headquarters of Opechancanough Marker

Inscription. Near here stood the town of Menmend, home of the paramount chief Opechancanough. During Powhatan's reign, Opechancanough was a king of the Pamunkey and a war chief of the Powhatans. He became paramount chief about 1629 when his brother Opitchipam died. Opechancanough organized the attacks of 1622 and 1644 against the English in an attempt to punish them for encroaching on Indian land. He was nearly 100 years old when he was captured after the conflict of 1644. Imprisoned at Jamestown, he was killed when a prison guard shot him in the back. The site of Opechancanough's home on the Pamunkey River has long been called The Island.

Erected 2005 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number OC-30.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1629.

Location. 37° 42.701′ N, 77° 9.027′ W. Marker is in Manquin, Virginia, in King William County. It is on Richmond Tappahannock Highway (U.S. 360) 0.2 miles east of Acquinton Church Road (Virginia Route 618), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Manquin VA 23106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pamunkey Indians In The Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Robert Mush (a few steps from this marker); "Prestley Barn" (approx. 2.2 miles away); "Old Virginia Barn" (approx. 2.2 miles away); Sharon Indian School (approx. 2½ miles away); Rumford Academy (approx. 2½ miles away); Cornwallis's Route (approx. 2.9 miles away); Montville (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manquin.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Henry's Call to Arms (was approx. 2.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Opechancanough. The Powhatan Museum of Indigenous Arts and Culture (Submitted on December 7, 2009.)

Richmond Tappahannock Highway (facing east) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 6, 2009

2. Richmond Tappahannock Highway (facing east)

The Anger of Opechancanough image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lossing et. al

3. The Anger of Opechancanough

Image from Our Country: a household history of the United States by Benson Lossing et al. 1892, Vol. 1, Page 306.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,474 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 7, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on March 20, 2022, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.