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Pocahontas 1596-1617
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Pocahontas
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Pocahontas means Little Wanton.
Pocahontas had several Indian names, she was also called Matoaka
or Amonute. Pocahontas' father was Chief Powhatan.
In 1607, chief Powhatan might or might not have taken John Smith,
a man from the Jamestown Colony in Virginia, prisoner. The story
goes that as John was prepared for execution by Powhatan, Pocahontas
intervened and thus rescued John Smith's life. Now, remember
that this story was related by John Smith himself.
Pocahontas visited the settlers regularly. In 1609, she
apparently warned the settlers of an ambush.
In 1613 and with the help of Japazeus, a Native American of
the Patawomeck tribe, Sir Samuel Argall took Pocahontas
prisoner. His plan was to give Powhatan his daughter back in
exchange for some English prisoners Powhatan had taken as well as
weapons and food that had disappeared from the colony.
Powhatan
released seven prisoners but no stolen goods were presented. Not
enough to give the kid back, decided Argall, and shipped Pocahontas
from Jamestown to Henricus.
Pocahontas was declared a Christian and renamed Rebecca. John
Rolfe fancied her, they got married in 1614, and Pocahontas
became the mother of a son, Thomas. Pocahontas' previous
marriage to fellow Native American Kocoum was forgotten.
Sir Thomas Dale, Governor of Virginia, and agents of the Virginia
Company thought this union would make an excellent promotion packet
for
King James I. And so it did.
In 1616, the family was sailed to
England and entertained at royal festivals. Getting ready for their
trip back to the Colonies, Pocahontas all of a sudden didn't feel so
well and died while still in England.
Dutiful husband John Rolfe buried her
at Gravesend and took the next sail back to Virginia, leaving young Thomas in
England.
Thomas grew up and 18 years later he
went to Virginia himself where he made plenty of money in tobacco.
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