At the 1998 Grand Militia Muster at Historic St. Mary's Cittie, the Trading Party represented a trading expedition conducted by Captain Samuel Argall from Jamestown, Virginia in the Fall and Winter of 1610 as described here by William Strachey, Secretary of the Colony:

"Within this river [Potomac], Captain Samuel Argoll in a small river, which the Indians call Oquiho, anno 1610, trading in a bark called the Discovery for corn with the great king of Patawomeck, from him obtained well near 400 bushels of wheat [maize], peas, and beans, beside many kinds of furs for 9 lbs of copper, 4 bunches of beads, 8 dozen of hatchets, five dozen of knives, 4 bunches of bells, one dozen scissors - all not much more worth than 40 shillings English; as also from the king's brother, I-Opassous, king of a place called Pastanzo, [he] recovered an English boy called Henry Spilman, who had lived amongst them one whole year..."

This trade was vital to the survival of the colony since they were at war with the local Powhatan tribes at that time. Ultimately in 1613, the King of Patawomeck assisted Captain Argall in the capture of Pocahontas.

At the Grand Muster, the Trading Party constructed a small wigwam and set up a trading post to demonstrate the Native and Anglo trade products, food ways, etc. The Trading Party won the Ernest Peterkin Award for Best Overall Unit, plus several others for this display.

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Last Updated December 30, 2004

Tom Apple, Webmaster