Pocahontas (1595/1596 – 1617) (W8:D2)
Have you ever written in a journal or kept a record of your early years? Has your mom or dad written down their early memories of you in a journal? Well, the indigenous people throughout the Americas did not. Most of their history and culture was passed down in storytelling, put to memory by one of their tribal members. Because of this, much of Pocahontas’s birth and early years is unknown. For the Europeans, on the other hand, many were illiterate, while others were journal keepers and great writers. Most of the stories they have were written down in journals, and that is how we have the history of those people today. Because of these writings, much of Pocahontas’s later history is well known
around the world - not just in the United States, but all of America and England, where she spent her last few years. And in every journal, she was seen as a savior to the colonists.
When she was born, her father, Chief Wahunsenacawh (also known by the name of his tribe Powhatan), was already in charge of an alliance with 30 Algonquian-speaking nations. Her mother was the first wife of the Chief, but not much else is known. This is because, according to their culture, once one of the Chief’s wives gave birth, she was to be returned to her nation, and play little to no place in the child’s life. She was then supported until she could be married again. Another possibility is that she died during childbirth. Pocahontas’s mother was not well known among the Europeans, so no record was kept. Pocahontas was not her given name, but a nickname that means “little wanton” or “playful one.” She is said to have played, at a young age, with the boys of Jamestown, teaching them how to cartwheel.
Her brother, Opechancanough, was a great warrior and frequently led hunting expeditions. On one of these expeditions, he came upon Captain John Smith, and others accompanying his expedition inland. Opechancanough and others attacked the English expedition and killed everyone except John Smith; they had other plans for him. He was to be their trophy. He was led in parade style through the villages as Opechancanough’s prisoner, and led to the Powhatan capital of Werowocomoco. When they were done parading him around, they were to execute him in public fashion. Smith reported in his general history that “[they] laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs to beat out [my] brains, Pocahontas, the King's dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms, and laid her own upon his to save him from death: whereat the Emperor was contented he should live.”
The Powhatans began to deeply respect the settlers, and considered John Smith a friend to the tribe. Relations were getting better - thanks to Pocahontas’s intervention. During a trading expedition, an explosion occurred, and John Smith was severely burnt. For this reason, he returned to England, for better medicine and care. The settlers reported to the tribe that he had died from the explosion and Pocahontas was devastated.
The settlers continued to farm more land, and this made the Powhatan very agitated. This began the First Anglo-Powhatan War, in 1609. Henry Spelman lived among a small group within the Powhatan, called Patawomecks, and they were not always loyal to the larger tribe. The Patawomecks wanted better trading status and an alliance with the English, so they captured Pocahontas, who was visiting their village, by leading her onto Captain Argall’s ship and holding her there. Argall requested that the Powhatan release their English prisoners, in return for Pocahontas. The Powhatan returned the people but not the weapons they took in battle.
While in English custody, she stayed in Henricus (land owned by Sir Thomas Dale). This is where she was taught to read and write in English. She was taught through the small amount of books they possessed in the new world, including the family Bible. It was also here that she was introduced to Christianity. In 1614, conflict arose between the settlers and the Powhatans and Pocahontas’s father came to settle the argument. She came out and rebuked him, saying “that if her father had loved her, he would not value her less than old swords, pieces, or axes; wherefore she would still dwell with the Englishmen who loved her,” speaking of the English family she lived with. Her father relented, for she was no longer in captivity, but came and went freely. With her father’s blessing, she also asked to be baptized as a Christian and took the Christian name “Rebecca.”
During her time with the English, she met John Rolfe - a wealthy planter in Jamestown, who lost his wife and child on his travels from England, shipwrecked in Bermuda, and then found his way back up to Jamestown. He had just started planting a Bermuda strain of tobacco, and was reaping the wealth from his crops. Pocahontas fell in love and with her father’s consent, married John Rolfe. To do this, he also needed permission from the Governor and wrote of the great benefits to the colony if they married. The Governor gave his blessing, as well, and they were married on April 5, 1614. Their son was born in January 1615. This marriage promoted peace between the two people, and they began to trade freely and work together for the common good of the people.
Much like the Spanish, one of the goals of the English was to teach Christianity and convert the indigenous people. Pocahontas was a great example, and few others joined her. To show the Crown that this was possible, they invited Pocahontas and John Rolfe to return to England and be presented to the royal court. This was to show the crown that there was hope of converting the “savage” people (meaning those who were uncivilized, uneducated, and even pagan). June 12, 1616, Pocahontas set out on a very new adventure, with her husband and child, 10 others Christian converts from the Powhatan tribe, and Pocahontas’s guardian, the medicine-man Tomocomo, who promised to keep her safe during their travels. Captain John Smith was living in London during the time Pocahontas was in Plymouth. He wrote to Queen Anne about all she had done for him, and asked that she be treated well.
Pocahontas and Tomocomo were entertained at frequent banquets and met so many people, that when they met King James, he was so unattractive and acted like all other guests, that they didn’t know who they met, until it was clarified to them after the meeting. She was not a princess, but the London company showed her around as if she were American royalty and presented her father as the greatest ruler of the Powhatan Empire. During her trip she was treated with very high regard and respect and even during Christian Masque, her seat was that of royalty. Her meeting with London’s Bishop was reported similarly, "Reverend Patron, the L. Bishop of London, Doctor King, entertained her with festival state and pomp beyond what I have seen in his great hospitality afforded to other ladies."
While in England, she met many influential people, including the Indian who would later be known as Squanto (who would save the Puritans, near Plymouth, in the Americas). But none were more memorable to Pocahontas than when John Smith met with her in England at a social gathering. Remember that she was told that he was dead. At first, she could not meet with him due to her surprise and tears. They met hours later, and he was overjoyed that she spoke English and was so well-educated. According to Smith’s record, the Chief knew he wasn’t dead, but asked Tomocomo to find him.
In March 1617, Rolfe and Pocahontas boarded a ship for Virginia, but before they hit the ocean, Pocahontas fell severely ill. She was taken ashore and died. No one knows why she died, except that it was a European illness that was not native to the indigenous people. Her last words were “all must die, but tis enough that her child liveth.” She is now buried at St. George’s Church, Gravesend, England. She will always be known as the woman that brought two nations together. Her strength and love for life would bring peace, and strengthen the respect of the people from which she came.
Activity: Saving from Death and a Reunion – Many people have died too early in the past. Who, in history, would you have liked to have saved from death?
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Many have died in the past for a good cause. What good do you think came from this person after they had died? You must come up with one idea.
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If you could bring one person back from history, who would you like to meet? Why?
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