John Smith
John Smith was born in England in 1580. From an early age, John wanted a life filled with adventure. So, at the age of 16, he became a soldier and experienced a great deal of war throughout Europe and other places. John rose in rank but was eventually captured and forced into slavery. He was able to escape and made his way back to England.
Once back in England, John joined the Virginia Company’s expedition to Virginia. John ran into some trouble during the voyage to Virginia. He was accused of attempting mutiny and became a prisoner on the ship. He was soon released, however, because once the group reached land, a sealed box from the Virginia Company was opened, revealing that John Smith was one of the seven men chosen to be leaders of the colony.
Once in Virginia, John Smith met and dined with the nearby Powhatan Indians. John visited many Powhatan villages and became very knowledgeable about the Powhatan people. John learned the language of the Powhatan and was able to communicate with them. This made it easier for him to trade with the Indians for desperately needed food. When John was finally brought before the great Chief Powhatan, he met Pocahontas. Smith believed that Pocahontas saved him from being killed by the Powhatan, but historians believe Pocahontas was simply participating in a ceremony and John misunderstood.
Jamestown was almost wiped out by 1608. Only 38 of the original colonists were still alive. The men spent their time looking for gold and arguing with one another instead of planting crops and building shelters. John became the president of the council. He enforced the rule, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”
John helped the people at Jamestown to survive. Jamestown eventually became a profitable colony because of the leadership of John Smith and the leaders who came after him.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was one of many children of the great Chief Powhatan. She was born in 1596 and was given the secret name of Matoaka. Her nickname was Pocahontas, which means “playful one.” She enjoyed playing and having fun with her brothers, sisters, and other children in her village.
As a young child, Pocahontas lived in her mother’s village. She slept in a simple, rounded house, which always had a fire burning in the middle. Pocahontas, like other Powhatan children, spent her days playing and helping the adults with their work. She learned by watching and listening because the Powhatan people had no written language. Some of her jobs included gathering firewood, preparing meals, planting crops, gathering nuts and berries, making pots, and making clothing from animal skins.
At the age of eight, Pocahontas moved to her father’s house. She participated in daily chores with her stepmothers and half-sisters. Pocahontas first met John Smith in 1607 when he was brought before her father. After a feast, Powhatan men laid John Smith’s head on two rocks but Pocahontas laid her head upon his to save him from death. Today, this is believed to have been a Powhatan ceremony. However, John Smith believed Pocahontas saved him from death. After this experience, John Smith and Pocahontas became friends. She even warned him of an Indian plot to take his life.
Several years later, after John Smith left Jamestown, some Englishmen kidnapped Pocahontas and held her for ransom. Chief Powhatan made peace with the settlers but Pocahontas continued to live with the
English and learn about their way of life. She was baptized and began to live a Christian life.
Pocahontas married John Rolfe in 1614. Pocahontas, John Rolfe, and their young son, Thomas, sailed for England in 1616 in an effort to raise money for the Virginia colony. She never returned to Virginia, unfortunately, because she became ill in England and passed away.
John Rolfe
John Rolfe’s exact date of birth is not known. He stepped into history in 1609 when he began his voyage to Virginia.
Once in Virginia, Rolfe began to experiment with different types of tobacco. He used tobacco seeds that he brought to Virginia from the Caribbean Island region. This particular type and blend of tobacco became very popular in England and sold well.
While in Virginia, Rolfe began to notice the young Indian princess, Pocahontas. She had come to live with the English and had been baptized and converted to Christianity. John Rolfe and Pocahontas were married in 1614. This helped bring about a time of peace between the Powhatan Indians and the Jamestown settlers.
In 1616, John Rolfe took Pocahontas and their young son, Thomas, to England to raise money for the Virginia colony. While in England, Pocahontas became ill and passed away. She is buried in
England. John Rolfe left Thomas in England
with a trusted guardian and returned to Virginia. He continued to work hard to improve and expand tobacco farming in Virginia. His work paid
off! Tobacco became a major export. John Rolfe’s success with tobacco is what eventually allowed Jamestown to become a profitable colony.