Pocahontas and John Smith The Facts Pocahontas 1595

Pocahontas and John Smith The Facts

Pocahontas 1595: Pocahontas was born in coastal Virginia Birth name was Matoaka means “first-born daughter”

Pocahontas Earned the nickname “Pocahontas” Means “lively, frolicking young girl”

Pocahontas Her father was Powhatan (“Waterfall”) Her mother was just one of over 100 wives

Pocahontas Powhatan ruled over the Algonquian Nation of tribes 28 member tribes

Pocahontas’s mother was a member of the Chickahominy tribe (member of Algonquians)

Pocahontas Algonquians were members of a confederation united by language (Algonquian is the name of their language)

Pocahontas 1607: John Smith arrives in the New World with the Virginia Company Jamestown is founded

Pocahontas = 12 years old John Smith = 27 -28 years old

Pocahontas December 1607: John Smith was out exploring. Got captured by the Chickahominy

Pocahontas Taken to Powhatan Told it was a “welcoming feast”

Pocahontas Stretched out, tied to flat rocks Set for execution by beating/clubbing Pocahontas dives onto him to save his life

Pocahontas He paints himself to be the survivor of an execution attempt, saved by the love of a young girl.

Pocahontas Was this an adoption ceremony? We only have John Smith’s words of the event. If actually adoption ceremony, maybe she was playing role

Pocahontas After this, whatever the truth, a friendship developed between Pocahontas and John Smith Not romantic!

Pocahontas visited Jamestown regularly She initiated trade Brought them food

Pocahontas Settlers get greedy, want more. Hostilities increase Pocahontas visits less often

Pocahontas During her extended absence, JS was injured in a gunpowder explosion He had to return to England for medical care Settlers told Pocahontas that he died

Pocahontas 1610: Pocahontas was arranged to marry Kocoum (warrior) Never happened Captain Argall kidnapped her Held on ship as prisoner

Pocahontas Captain Argall kidnapped Pocahontas. Held on ship as prisoner

Pocahontas He held her as blackmail Demanded ransom: English prisoners Guns Corn

Pocahontas Powhatan sent part of the ransom to appease them. Kept her safe.

Pocahontas Many rescue attempts April 1613: Argall moved Pocahontas to Henrico Settlement (south) Led by Sir Thomas Dale

Pocahontas learned about Christianity Practiced? Renounced?

Pocahontas Met John Rolfe Wealthy tobacco planter

Pocahontas After 1 year of captivity, T. Dale took Pocahontas (and troops) to meet with Powhatan

Pocahontas Demanded the ransom in full Powhatan paid

Pocahontas Dale did not release Pocahontas Huge battle. Fighting, burning, killing on both sides Pocahontas taken to live as prisoner on ship

Pocahontas After everything calmed down, Pocahontas was brought ashore Met with Powhatan

Pocahontas Told Powhatan that she wanted to marry John Rolfe Powhatan agreed Believed it would bring peace Rolfe hesitated Said he would if she got baptized

Pocahontas was baptized & became “Lady Rebecca” Means “Peace-Maker”

Pocahontas April 15, 1614: Marriage Pocahontas = 19 J. Rolfe = 29

Pocahontas Brought about “The Peace of Pocahontas” no fighting for 8 years

Pocahontas 1616: Sir Thomas Dale returned to England Brought along Pocahontas, J. Rolfe, their son (Thomas), & other natives

Pocahontas Introduced to King James I Reunited with John Smith She thought he was dead

Pocahontas March 1617: Set sail back to Virginia Not having European immunities, Pocahontas had gotten very ill Knew she would not make the journey

Pocahontas Returned to port Died at the age of 22 Buried in England . . . ship only made it as far as Gravesend, Kent