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At the time of the founding of England's Jamestown Colony in 1607, the Nansemond Indians lived in several villages along both sides of the Nansemond River (originally spelled "Nansamund"), in what is today the city of Suffolk, Norfolk County, Virginia (originally called "New Norfolk County"). The historical significance of the area is evidenced by the fact that "Wahunsonacock", (who the settlers commonly referred to as Chief Powhatan), the Indian tribes' "werowance" (chief), lived near Dumpling Island on Indian Creek (originally called "Dumpling Island Creek") off the western branch of the Nansemond River. At that time, the Indians referred to the area as "Chuckatuck"; it was the English who named it after the tribe who lived there. The native tribes had been battling amongst themselves for many years before the English arrived to settle in the region.

The name "Powhatan" refers to the Algonquian-speaking tribes of the Virginia tidewater or coastal plain. By 1607, many of the villages in the area had been brought under one rule by the powerful Chief Wahunsonacock, to form the Powhatan empire. This paramount chief came from the town of Powhatan, near the falls of the James River and he used his hometown name to refer to himself and his chiefdom of over 30 tribes. At the time of English contact the native Tidewater population numbered around 14,000. There were hundreds of settled towns and satellite villages built near the Chesapeake Bay or in the inlets and rivers which flow into it. Each tribe was lead by it's own chief who paid tribute to Powhatan. The towns and villages were placed along sites that allowed a commanding view of the water and the people (especially enemies), traveling on it. Waterways were the central avenues of transportation for the natives; they provided the necessary water for farming, and were a major source of their food. Because of the abundant source of fish, oysters, clams and waterfowl, the Powhatans did not have to move around as much as tribes further inland or to the north. Over the centuries they settled into agricultural communities, growing corn and other vegetables to supplement the fishing, hunting and foraging of plants for their food and medicines. The Powhatan Nation included aapproximately 1,200 warriors, at least 300 of those being accomplished bowmen.

The Powhatans, like other coastal Algonquian tribes, did not use fertilizer on their fields, so after a few years, each native family would move both the fields and their homes to a newly-cleared site nearby. Gradually, over a couple of decades, a whole native village would be relocated. The abandoned fields could be used again later by anyone who wanted them, but there was an understanding that this land remained in the stewardship of the tribe. This concept that unused and open land was a source of food and materials for all to share (at least among non-enemies) was quite different than the European idea of land ownership. The English assumed that any tract of unoccupied land was available to be claimed, which they did quite readily. They then railed against the Powhatans for "trespassing on private property". Increasing numbers of Europeans poured into the Nansemond River area due to it's rich farmland, plus the fact that the Colony's new government was granting land patents of 50 acres per each new settler that people transported to the region. Ownership of this prime, fertile land was an incentive for enterprising seamen to make arrangements with English citizens to provide transportation for them to emigrate to the English Colony of Jamestown.

Instead of offering any form of negotiation to the Powhatan tribes, the early English settlers instead raided the Nansemond villages, in some cases burning their homes and fields. In one instance, they not only destroyed the entire native town of Paspahegh, but also killed every Indian resident, including women and children. This heinous act violated the most basic rule of warfare for the Powhatans, and their attacks on the English settlers became much more brutal. The situation continued to escalate, culminating in April, 1613, with an English colonist's capture of  Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of Chief Powhatan,  She was taken to Jamestown where she remained a hostage for about a year. The young Indian Princess became a favorite of the Jamestown settlers, especially among the colony's men. She used her time in captivity to learn the English language, as well as the customs and culture of these new inhabitants to her people's lands. In the tradition of native tribes, European monarchs, and ruling families throughout history, the Indian princess married a prominent leader of the Jamestown colony, her tutor, John Rolfe. The marriage secured a temporary peaceful alliance between the two warring cultures. Pocahontas, with her husband, John Rolfe, sailed to England where she was embraced by the nobility and leaders of the aristocratic nation.

After the death of Pocahontas in England, and the return of John Rolfe and other colonial leaders in May 1617, the peaceful relations between the natives and settlers came to an end . The news of her death, combined with disease throughout the region, poor harvests, and the growing demand for tobacco lands, caused hostilities to resume. When Chief Powhatan died soon after in 1618, the mantle of power passed officially to his brother Opitchapam. However, it was a second brother, Opechancanough, who held the real authority. Opechancanough led a major raid on English settlements in March 1622, He assumed the English would react to such a brutal attack in Indian fashion and totally withdraw from the area. Instead the colonists sent for reinforcements and they counter-attacked the Powhatans. 

After a decade of intermittent warfare, the English colony had now grown to about 8,000, while the Powhatan population had fallen to less than 5,000, including women, children, and the elderly. Additionally, the natives were no longer as closely united, experiencing devastating diseases and the displacement of tribes as the English pushed further inland seeking more land for their cash crop, tobacco. Chief Opechancanough launched another fierce raid against the English colonists in April 1644. His warriors killed hundreds of settlers, but the English were so numerous by then they were able to retaliate quickly. After two years of brutal raids, the Powhatans were unable to hold the English off and Opechancanough was captured and taken to Jamestown. Now a proud old man of eighty, the chief refused to admit defeat, much less, sign a treaty. While still a prisoner, he was shot in the back by an English guard. With the chief's death, the mighty, unified Powhatan chiefdom came to an end.

The remaining tribal members were forced to relocate their reservation and tribal lands countless times over the next century. They finally relinquished their last remaining reservation lands during 1791/1792.

Today, most of the remaining Nansemond Indians still live in the Chesapeake/Suffolk area. The proud tribal members  continue to hold monthly meetings at the Indiana United Methodist Church, founded in 1850, originally as a mission for the tribe. The church is adjacent to the site of the early tribal schools, situated on land which was donated by a tribal ancestor. The Nansemond tribe, one of the few remaining descendant tribes from Powhatan's paramount chiefdom, now has a population of approximately 300 members. They currently have plans to build both a tribal center/museum and a living history area on their remaining ancestral lands along the Nansemond River, in the historic Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia.