When the Spanish first explored The Carolina's, they came across the Eastern Siouan people whom later Virginian colonists referred to as the Ysa, or Yesah. They farmed corn, beans and squash and hunted wild game -- deer, turkey, and other small animals were on the menu. Fish were plentiful. The Spanish stayed a short while and left, as they found no gold or silver. But they left behind diseases -- especially small pox -- that were deadly to people who had never seen then, and therefore had no immunity.
These Yesah people were contacted next by the English in Virginia. They came and stayed.. The peopple still contracted European diseases and died. The English also enslaved some of the people to work on their farms growing tobacco and Corn. The English came with many items the Native peoples couldn't produce. To purchase these items, the English traded them for animal hides. Native peoples soon were in debt to the English. They were told if you help us enclave your neighbors, your debt will be forgiven. And so it was, some tribes helped the English enslave their neighbors, and this had their debt forgiven. By about 1710 the tribes were tired of this arraingement and some rebelled
Now the Virginia Siouan tribes had been enslaved by and large before this time, leaving just a few hundred who all became known as Saponi. The Second Plantation treaty of 1677 and 1681 addendum named several tribes what the English called the "Tributary Tribes." The Saponi and Monacan (also a Yesah people) both signed this treaty. Virginia Governor Spotswood moved these people to Fort Christanna in southeastern Virginia and rebelled.
South Carolina had taken the approach previously mentioned. They had a few tribes help them enslave others. The Tuscarora were first to tire of this arraingement and rebelled. As was their custom, the traders asked the other bands of the Esaw (In south Carolina, English spoke of the Yesah as the Esaw) to help them subdue the Tuscarora. These people along with the Yamassee helped the English fight the Tuscarora Rebellion. The Tuscarora were ruthlessly destroyed. Sirvivors were enslaved. The South Carolinians then turned on their allies, and killed and enslaved most of the Eastern Siouans. Survivors were never afterwards referred to as "Esaw" or "Yesah". By 1720 they no longer existed. The Saponi who were lucky enough to have lived n Virginia where South Carolina couldn't touch them, were spared. But of the 20 or so bands that had lived in the Carolina's, most disappeared from history. Two band were left -- the Cheraw and Pedee. The Catawba, being further inland, were hardly touched. Thus they became the major remaining band. From henceforth the Yesah or Esaw people would become know by the name of their largest remaining band -- the Catawba.
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