Pocahontas was born approximately 1595, the daughter of Wahunsunacawh, Chief Powhatan. Her real name was Matoaka (or Matoika) and she was also known as Amonute. The Name Pocahontas was a nickname that means “little wanton” in the Powhatan language.
In May 1607 Captain John Smith described her as “a child of tenne years old.” She befriended Captain Smith and the Jamestown colony when the colonists were in fear of starvation, “every once in four or five days, Pocahontas with her attendants brought him (Smith) so much provision that saved many of their lives that else for all this had starved with hunger.” It is also believed that she saved Smith’s life by begging for her father’s mercy. Captain Smith was injured from a gun powder explosion and returned to England for medical care. The English settlers told the natives that Smith was dead.
Pocahontas was tricked into captivity by the English. They intended to hold her ransom for the release of some English settlers, tools and weapons that were stolen by the Powhatans. Chief Powhatan returned the settlers but not all of the weapons and tools. Afterwards, there was a “long stand-off during which the English kept Pocahontas captive.”
While captive for a year at Henricus, a minister taught Pocahontas about Christianity and helped her improve her English. She was baptized and took the Christian name “Rebecca.” She later rebuked her father for valuing her “less than old swords, pieces, or axes,” and told the Powhatans she preferred to live with the English.
She met John Rolfe, they fell in love and he requested permission from the governor to marry her thinking it would save her soul. They were married April 5, 1614 and lived for two years on Rolfe’s plantation, Varina Farms located across the river from Jamestown in Henricus. Their son Thomas Rolfe was born January 30, 1615.
This marriage created peace between Powhatans tribes and the Jamestown colonists for several years. After having a hard time trying to persuade new colonists to come to Jamestown, the Virginia Colony’s sponsors used Pocahontas as a symbol to show how the natives could be colonized and they sent the Rolfes and eleven other Powhatans to England. John Smith learned of her visit and she learned he was still alive. He encouraged Queen Anne to give her every courtesy and treat her with royal respect so that England might not lose the chance to rightly have a Kingdom by her means.” The Rolfes stayed seven months in England and were entertained at a variety of social gatherings and Pocahontas was even presented to King James. On a ship bound for Virginia, she became gravely ill before the ship had left the River Thames. She was taken ashore and died on March 21, 1617 in Gravesend, Kent, England.
Today, Pocahontas is considered a symbol of peace and a woman of influence. She only lived for 22 years, yet has many descendants through her son, Thomas.
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