PRIMARY DOCUMENT

Letter (with Enclosure) from Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau (July 7, 1820)

CONTEXT

In this letter to linguist Peter S. Du Ponceau written on July 7, 1820, Thomas Jefferson shares a vocabulary of the Nottoway language. This was the first written compilation of the language, compiled in March 1820 by Professor John Wood from the College of William and Mary. Wood created the list based on conversations with Edith “Edy” Turner (also known as Wané Roonseraw), chief of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe.

Author: Thomas Jefferson
    Transcription Source: “Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau, 7 July 1820,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-16-02-0060-0001.

    FULL TEXT

    Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau (July 7, 1820)

    Dr Sir                                                                                                                                       Monticello July 7. 20.

    I have lately had an opportunity of procuring a copy of a Vocabulary of the Nottoway tribe of Indians. these with the Pamunkies and Mattaponies were component parts of the great Powhatan confederacy which covered all the lower part of this state, and probably spoke the general language of the Powhatans. this vocabulary was taken by mr John Wood formerly professor of mathematics in Wm & Mary college. I do not know whether vocabularies of these tribes or of some of them might not have been among those I formerly sent you. in that case this may still be of service by collating their orthographies. I tender you constant assurances of my friendship & respect.

    Th: Jefferson

    Enclosure: Edy Turner’s Vocabulary of the Nottoway Language (March 4, 1820)

    Vocabulary of the language of the Nottoway Tribe of Indians, obtained from an old Indian Woman of the name of Edie Turner, the 4th of March 1820.

    Nouns.
    Of the Universe

    1. The sun

    2. The Moon

    3. The Stars

    4. The Clouds

    5. Thunder

    6. Lightning

    7. Air

    8. God

    9. Devil

    10. Rain

    11. Snow

    12. Ice

    13. Fire

    14. Water

    15. A River

    16. A great River

    17. The Ocean

    18. A Mountain

    19. The Woods

    20. Rocks

    21. Light

    22. Darkness

    23. A Swamp

    24. Sand

    25. Gold or Copper

    26. Silver

    27. Iron

    28. Heaven

    Aheeta

    Tethrāke

    Deeshū

    Uraseque

    Hahenū

    Towatgeheterise

    Yautatch

    Quakerhuntè

    Otkum

    Yountoutch

    Kankaus

    Owees

    Auteur

    Auwa

    Joke

    Onoschioke

    Owan-Fetchota

    Yenun-Tenuntè

    Ora-racoon

    Oruntag

    Youhanhū

    Asuntā

    Reenu

    Oter

    Geekquan

    Wanee

    Owena

    Quakeruntika.

    Of the Human Species.

    1. Man

    2. An old man

    3. A young man

    4. A boy

    5. A woman

    6. An old woman

    7. A young woman

    8. Death

    9. A dead body

    10. The head

    11. Marriage

    12. A husband

    13. A wife

    14. A son

    15. A daughter

    16. A King

    17. The belly

    18. My belly

    19. Your belly

    20. The hand or fingers

    21. My hand

    22. Your hand

    23. The right hand

    24. The left hand

    25. The thigh

    26. The knee

    27. The leg

    28. The foot

    29. The hair

    30. The eyes

    31. The mouth

    32. The ears

    33. The tongue

    34. The teeth

    35. The neck

    36. The nose

    37. The lips

    38. The chin

    39. The toes

    40. Blood

    41. Skin

    42. Flesh

    43. Nails

    44. Heart

    45. The cheeks

    46. The breath

    47. The Eye-brows

    48. A shoemaker

    Enihā

    Akuhor

    Aquatio

    Aqueianha

    Ekening

    Aquasquari

    Chewasrisha

    Anseehe

    Wahehun

    Setarakē

    Gotyāg

    Gotyakum

    Dekes

    Wakatonta

    Eruhā

    Tirer

    Unkē

    Setunke

    Getunke

    Nunke

    Sesnunke

    Gesnunke

    Panunkee

    Matapanunkee

    Otitchag

    Sunsheke

    Franseke

    Saseeke

    Howerac

    Unkoharac

    Eskaharant

    Suntunke

    Darsunke

    Otosag

    Steereke

    Oteusag

    Oarāg

    Ochag

    Seeke

    Gātkūm

    Ohonag

    Skeshunke

    Yetunke

    Sunke

    Ekunsquare

    Untures

    Eskarunke

    Yuntaquaankum.

    Of Animals

    1. A Cow

    2. A dog

    3. A cat

    4. A hog

    5. A boar

    6. A deer

    7. A mouse

    8. A rat

    9. A bull frog

    10. Fish

    11. A Shad or Herring

    12. An Eel

    13. A crab

    14. A snake

    15. A bird

    16. A turkey

    17. A Hen

    18. A Fox

    19. A Wolf

    20. A Squirrel

    21. A Rabbit

    22. A house-fly

    23. A Bee

    24. A Shell

    25. A Deer-skin

    26. A Wing

    27. A Feather

    28. Wool

    29. The tail

    30. Horns

    Tosherung

    Cheer

    Tose

    Waskarrow

    Garhusung

    Aquia

    Rosquenna

    Oyentu

    Drakon

    Kaintu

    Rohan

    Kunte

    Sosune

    Antatum

    Cheeta

    Kunum

    Tawrettig

    Skeyu

    Huse

    Osarst

    Querū

    Dēēsrere

    Ronuquam

    Odorsag

    Aquia-ohonag

    Ohuwistāg

    Awonkrāg

    Ostoharag

    Orwisag

    Osherāg

    The Vegetable Kingdom

    1. A Tree

    2. A Pine

    3. A red oak

    4. A Cypress

    5. Grass

    6. Firewood

    7. Ashes

    8. Bread

    9. Potatoes

    10. Peaches

    11. Cherries

    12. Apples

    13. Strawberries

    14. Briars

    15. A leaf

    Geree

    Ohotee

    Coree

    Rasso

    Oherag

    Gotateru

    Oquag

    Gotateru

    Anton

    Rashēē

    Ratung

    Quaharrag

    Weesrunt

    Oster

    Oharrak

    Division of Time

    1. A year

    2. The new year

    3. The new moon

    4. Spring

    5. Summer

    6. Autumn

    7. Winter

    8. Morning

    9. Day-time

    10. Mid-day

    11. Evening

    12. Night-time

    Wokenhu

    Unksawa-Wokenhu

    Dotratung

    Shantaroswache

    Genheke

    Basheke

    Goshera

    Suntetung

    Antyeke

    Anteneekal

    Gensake

    Asunta

    Domestic Articles

    1. A House

    2. The house of some individual

    3. A door

    4. A chimney

    5. A Knife

    6. A Stick

    7. A Gun

    8. A Bed

    9. Milk

    10. Spirits

    11. Clothes

    12. Smoke

    13. Shoes

    14. Stockings

    15. Leather

    16. Linen

    17. Fat meat

    18. A Fiddle

    19. A Fiddle

    20. A Bottle

    21. Paper

    Onushag

    Weynushag

    Ototorag

    Odeshag

    Osakenta

    Ocherura

    Ata

    Sattaak

    Canu

    Anuqua

    Aquast

    Okyer

    Otagwāg

    Orisrāg

    Totierhiā

    Nikanrārā

    Oskaharag

    Oharag

    Eruskarintita

    Chewak

    Orirag

    Adjectives.

    1. White

    2. Black

    3. Red

    4. Green

    5. Long

    6. Short

    7. Great

    8. Little

    9. Deep

    10. Sharp

    11. Round

    12. Smooth

    13. Rough

    14. Hard

    15. Strong

    16. Weak

    17. Dry

    18. Wet

    19. Ugly

    20. Beautifull

    21. Good

    22. Bad

    23. Hot

    24. Cold

    25. Angry

    26. Happy

    27. Unhappy

    28. Old

    29. Young

    Owheryakun

    Gahuntee

    Ganuntquare

    Sekatequantain

    Ewis

    Newisha

    Tatchanawihiē

    Newisha

    Tatchanuwiras

    Watchoka

    Tatowenonte

    Chuwatee

    Genuaquast

    Wokoste

    Wakoste

    Genuheha

    Yourha

    Yaorā

    Yesaxa

    Yesaquast

    Waquast

    Wassa

    Tariha

    Watorae

    Thatcharore

    Thatchanunte

    Dodoitchewakeraksa

    Onahahe

    Osae

    Numerals

    1. One

    2. Two

    3. Three

    4. Four

    5. Five

    6. Six

    7. Seven

    8. Eight

    9. Nine

    10. Ten

    11. Eleven

    12. Twelve

    13. Thirteen

    14. Fourteen

    15. Fifteen

    16. Sixteen

    17. Seventeen

    18. Eighteen

    19. Nineteen

    20. Twenty

    21. Thirty

    22. Forty

    23. Fifty

    24. Sixty

    25. Seventy

    26. Eighty

    27. Ninety

    28. A Hundred

    29. A Thousand

    Unte

    Dekanee

    Arsa

    Hentag

    Whisk

    Oyag

    Ohatag

    Dekra

    Deheerunk

    Washa

    Unteskahr

    Dekaneskahr

    Arsaskahr

    Hentagskahr

    Whiskahr

    Oyagskahr

    Ohatagskahr

    Dekraskahr

    Deheerunkskahr

    Dewartha-Unteskahr

    Arseneewarsa

    Hentagneewarsa

    Wiskaneewarsa

    Oyagneewarsa

    Getaganeewarsa

    Dekraneewarsa

    Deheerunkneewarsa

    Kaharsthree

    Unteyoasthree.

    Verbs.

    1. To walk

    2. To ride

    3. To fly

    4. To swim

    5. To drink

    6. To eat

    7. To throw

    8. To cry

    9. To sleep

    10. To fight

    11. To wound

    12. To kill

    13. To hear

    14. To see

    15. To smell

    16. To touch

    17. To speak

    18. To hunt

    19. To fish

    20. To love

    21. To hate

    22. To pray

    23. To stab

    24. To cut

    25. To break

    26. To drown

    27. To hang

    28. To strike

    29. To shoot

    30. To listen

    31. To wash

    32. To run

    33. To leap

    Jā

    Unksatā

    Getya

    Orerunte

    Ararher

    Untchore

    Esungwisatae

    Tehesuhand

    Kentus

    Wauntrehu

    Yahterund

    Untatreeyou

    Thrahunta

    Waskehee

    Saharantoo

    Swarore

    Wasweke

    Kunun

    Watchunund

    Tatchadanuste

    Dotautche

    Duntanharu

    Untequaru

    Untatren

    Wayetcherorag

    Untoreesweg

    Waharee

    Untateuheerug

    Untatehag

    Satuntatag

    Gakuhar

    Sarioka

    Deuntirasrag.

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    CITE THIS ENTRY
    APA Citation:
    Jefferson, Thomas. Letter (with Enclosure) from Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau (July 7, 1820). (2024, August 21). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/letter-with-enclosure-from-thomas-jefferson-to-peter-s-du-ponceau-july-7-1820.
    MLA Citation:
    Jefferson, Thomas. "Letter (with Enclosure) from Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau (July 7, 1820)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (21 Aug. 2024). Web. 25 Aug. 2026
    Last updated: 2024, August 21
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