Sources compiled by E.I. See
Firsthand Account /
Primary Source Sample 1

“The Susquehannocks, a people used to waging
war and dangerous above all to the king of Yaocomico,
lays waste to every field during frequent attacks, and
forces the inhabitants to seek other places of settlement
out of fear of this danger. This is the reason we so
quickly obtained a part of this kingdom, with God
opening a path for His …eternal light ... Daily several
[natives] depart and leave us their houses, fields, and
crops. This is indeed similar to a miracle, that the
savage people, only a few days before prepared in arms
[to war] against us, yielded to us easily...”
- Father Andrew White, 1634
Secondhand Account/
Secondary Source Sample 1

“When the first group of English settlers arrived in
Maryland aboard the vessels The Ark and the Dove they were
in need of shelter. Luckily, they met the friendly Yaocomico
Indians who wished to move their tribe further away from
the violent Susquehannock Indians. The Yaocomicos agreed
to live in one half of their established village for one year
while the settlers occupied the other half. After one year the
Yaocomicos moved out of their village and the settlers had
full control of their new home, which they named "St.
Mary's".”
- From The Native Americans of Maryland: Great
Contributors Underappreciated by Amy Kirkley, 1996
archive essay contest winner
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 How were they different?
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Firsthand Account /
Primary Source Sample 2

“The natives are of tall and fine stature, with
naturally dark skin, which they generally make more
shocking by painting it with a specially prepared red oil
in order to keep away the gnats; thus they are more
intent on comfort than on appearance. They also
disfigure their faces with other colors, blue from the
nose upwards, red downwards, or the reverse, in
various and really horrible ways.”
- Father Andrew White, 1634
Secondhand Account/
Secondary Source Sample 2
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“Yaocomaco people were reported to be tanskinned with dark hair. They generally wore clothing of
deerhide…
Pigments from earth or plant products were
sometimes applied to the face and body as insect
repellent and for different ceremonial purposes.”
- Excerpt from Yaocomaco People, Historic St. Mary’s
City
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Firsthand Account /
Primary Source Sample 3

“The character of the people is noble and
cheerful, and they understand well when a matter is
proposed to them…They hasten toward us of their own
accord with a cheerful expression and offer us what
they have obtained by hunting or fishing, sometimes
also cakes and boiled or roasted oysters,…Truly, if once
they should be instructed in Christian precepts…they
will become outstanding observers of virtue and
humanity.”
- Father Andrew White, 1634
Secondhand Account/
Secondary Source Sample 3
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“Early relationships between the colonists and
the Yaocomaco and neighboring tribes were reportedly
good. English leaders, for the most part, wrote of the
natives with respect. Within a few years the Jesuits,
who were among the first colonists, undertook to
convert the native people to Christianity with some
success.”
- Excerpt from Yaocomaco People, Historic St. Mary’s
City
Compare

 How were the two sources the same?
 How were they different?
 What are the advantages of reading both a primary
source and a secondary source on the same topic?