Resource Sheet U2-16
Pocahantas
Pocahontas contributed a great deal to the history of Jamestown and early America. She had a long lasting relationship with the Jamestown settlers and eventually married a colonist and traveled to England to promote interest in the colony. Pocahontas deserves recognition for her many contributions to the success of Jamestown.
Pocahontas was born approximately in 1595. She was the daughter of Powhatan, the leader of the Powhatan Indians located in Virginia. Pocahontas first enters the historical record in 1607, shortly after the settlers arrived at Jamestown. In late December 1607, Captain John Smith led a small group of colonists on a trip outside the fort in search of food. The group ran across an Indian hunting party led by Powhatan's brother. The Indians quickly overtook the settlers, killing everyone except Smith. Smith was taken back to the Indian village as a prisoner. There he met Pocahontas whom he described as "a child of tenne years old which in feature, countenance and proportion much exceedeth any of the rest of her people." Smith was released by Powhatan and returned to Jamestown in January 1608.
Pocahontas started to learn English. In 1608, she made frequent trips to Jamestown, delivering messages from Powhatan and arranging for the exchange of food and supplies. She spoke to Smith on many occasions, although her relationship with him was cut short by his return to England after a gunpowder accident. Pocahontas sympathized with the desperate conditions of the colonists and tried to help by providing corn and fish.
In 1613, English settlers led by Captain Samuel Argall, kidnapped her. She was taken in order to trade her for English prisoners and weapons held by Powhatan. Although Powhatan returned the English prisoners and supplied some corn, he did not agree to return the stolen weapons. Pocahontas remained with the colonists. The governor, Sir Thomas Dale, placed her in the care of a minister. She began religious instruction and eventually converted to Christianity in 1614, taking the name Rebecca.
During her captivity, Pocahontas met John Rolfe. Rolfe was an important settler, having introduced Caribbean tobacco into the colony. He fell in love with Pocahontas and the couple married on April 5, 1614. Pocahontas' uncle and two of her brothers came to the wedding. Pocahontas adapted well to the English language and culture. She gave birth to a son named Thomas. The Virginia Company recognized Pocahontas's contributions to the colony that same year and they awarded her an annual income.
Excerpted and Adapted from:
Pocahontas, Virtual Jamestown, Virginia Center for Digital History, University of Virginia (
2006-07U2-1