The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
String of Wampum Beads [ARK00145]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Small cylindrical, drilled white and purple beads made primarily of clamshell. While the beads certainly acted as money in some instances they were used much more ceremoniously by the North East indiginous tribes of North America as a way of communicating in times of war, marriage, natural disaster etc. White beads signified Peace, Promise, Good intention; purple beads signified Hostility, Sadness and Death; red beads signified War (and was sent to other villages). Bargrave's accompanying label reads: "The native Virginian mony, gould, Silver, pearle, brought over by Mr. Alexander Coocke that being thrust out of his living in Duncaster in Yorkshire by the rebels, went over Chaplaine to Sir Thomas Lungford and at the King's restauration was made minister of Chislet neere Canterbury in Kent, by Archbishop Juxon. The black that is the gold, name forgot, the long white their silver, called Ranoke, the small white theire pearle caled Wapenspake. The wife and daughter of Mr. Cooke gave mee them as a present atnew years time".] (approx early - mid 17th cent)