Chanco or Chauco was an American Indian emissary between Opechancanough, chief of the Pamunkeys tribe, to and from Jamestown, Virginia. He is the subject of a semi-historical story about the warning of an English settler before an attack. A Sioux in traditional dress including war bonnet, circa 1908. ... Opechancanough or Opchanacanough was a chief of the Powhatan tribe, becoming chief after his older brother, Wahunsonacock, died. ... Jamestown was established in 1607, on the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now located. ...

Chief Opechancanough planned a coordinated surprise attack against the Tidewater settlements on 22 March 1622 – during the assault, approximately 350 settlers, or one-fourth of the English population, died. The Tidewater region of Virginia is the southeastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia, centered on Hampton Roads. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (82nd in Leap years). ... Events January 1 - In the Gregorian calendar, January 1 is declared as the first day of the year, instead of March 25. ...

As the story goes, Chanco, a Christian convert in the employ of Richard Pace, was assigned by his chief, Opechancanough, to kill Pace and his family in the Jamestown uprising of 1622. Chanco couldn't bear to take Pace's life so, risking his own, he warned Pace of the pending slaughter. As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... Events January 1 - In the Gregorian calendar, January 1 is declared as the first day of the year, instead of March 25. ...

Pace had situated his family along with others on the south side of the James River, opposite and upstream some distance from the Jamestown fort. Although he had to navigate down a tall, steep embankment and row a canoe some two miles downstream, he did so after securing his family and his neighbors. Chanco will long be remembered as the Indian lad who helped save Jamestown. The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547. ... Jamestown was established in 1607, on the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now located. ...

For the next ten years, the conflict between the settlers and the Indians, dragged on.

Evidently, Mr. Pace did not reveal Chanco's heroic deed to the Indians, for the vicious king surely would have put him to a slow and painful death. Chanco's own brother took part in the massacre, yet even he was unaware of Chanco's warning. For some years following that dreadful Good Friday, Chanco continued to take messages from Opechancanough to the Governor and the Council and from those officials to Chief Opechancanough. We read from a letter dated 4 April 1623, from the Governor and Council to the Company (in London), "The great king sends Chanco ( a person that revealed the plot to divers the day of the massacre & so served them)". Good Friday is a holy day celebrated by Christians on the Friday before Easter or Pascha. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... Events August 6 - Pope Urban VIII is elected to the Papacy. ...

"Chanco" is also the name of a retreat center on the banks of the James River which is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

External link

http://members4.boardhost.com/pamunkey/msg/330.html