Pocahontas Biography

Pocahontas was a Native American woman and the daughter of the Powhatan. The exact birth year of Pocahontas is unknown. Powhatan was the leader of a group of about 30 tribes who spoke Algonquian and monitored the petty chiefdoms known as Tsenacommacah. There were many doubts about the identity of her mother. Researchers still don’t know the name, origin, or exactness of her mother. However, some researchers say that her mother’s name was also Pocahontas. Pocahontas' story became one of the most exciting and popular stories among Americans in the 19th century. Many movies have also been created based on the Pocahontas Biography.

Pocahontas was not her actual birth name. At the time of her birth, his father had given the name Amonute. As she grew up, her father gave him a new name, “Matoaka,” which means beauty. Her relatives or people at the tribe used “Pocahontas” as a nickname for her, which meant the “playful one.” At the ceremony, when she was turning 14 years of age, she chose to keep Pocahontas as her original name.

Relation with John Smith 

In the early 1600s, groups of British explorers went to Jamestown. One of the explorers was John smith. He wrote all his experience in a book which is one of the popular books mentioning the name of Pocahontas. He mentioned that he was on the verge of execution when Matoaka came and begged for her life. The stories by John Smith romanticize the relationship between Pocahontas and state that she was deeply in love with him.

The majority of modern researchers believe that John Smith did not give accurate details in the book. There are many reasons to think so. According to the historians, Pocahontas would have been only 8-10 years old, and John Smith was 27 years old at that time. Another reason is that the Children were not allowed near the execution site due to the brutal environment. This brings doubt about the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas in Pocahontas Biography.

John Smith has also mentioned in his writings that the colonists in Jamestown were starving. Pocahontas bought food for them and helped them for their survival. However, historians say that he and his acquaintances went on to rob the tribal villages, which is one of the reasons for his execution trial. In late 1609, John Smith went to England and died there due to some disease.

It is said that Pocahontas married Kocoum, who was a warrior in the tribal group. He was the brother of one of the tribal leaders, Japasaw. This marriage ended when the English attacked the tribes and kept Pocahontas captive.

Life in Captivity

A war took place between the Powhatan tribal groups and the English people. It is popularly known as the Anglo-Powhatan war. They were furious, and the tribal people captured many English prisoners.

Pocahontas was 16 years old at that time and gave birth to her first baby. She remained in the care of women after giving birth. At this time, Captain Samuel Argall came up with a plan to release the English prisoners. He abducted Pocahontas with her child and demanded the release of the English prisoners in exchange for her. 

Many English prisoners had died or could not be released due to some other reasons. Therefore, Pocahontas remained in the captivity of the English people. Soon she was forced to board the ship to leave the place. Historians believe that she was captive for around one year. The English people demanded Pocahontas change to Christianity. Alexander Whitaker was a minister who instructed Pocahontas into Christianity. They gave her a bible to improve her English. Moreover, they also changed her name to Rebecca. 

Another war took place between the English and Powhatan men in 1614. Pocahontas was still in the captivity of the English and changed to Christianity. The English people sent her in the hope that Pocahontas works as the peace-maker and ends the war. Many researchers say that she said to Powhatan that she wanted to live with the English. However, historians also speculate that she said so to end the war.

Marriage to John Rolfe

In 1614, Pocahontas married John Relfe and became Pocahontas John Rolfe. However, she had to undergo baptism before marrying him. The English did not even allow her to keep her chosen name. “Rebecca” was her new name after baptism at church.

John Rolfe was a tobacco trader and farmer. He opened a big farm in Jamestown, Virginia. This employed many colonists. John Rolfe wrote a letter to the governor expressing his love for Pocahontas. However, there is a different view to this part of Pocahontas' story. This may seem like love marriage, but some researchers tell a very different and cruel story. They say that Pocahontas was sexually assaulted by some people during her captivity on the ship and became pregnant. This could have affected the signing of the peace of treaty between Powhatan and the colonists. Therefore, John Rolfe married her to cover up the whole event. 

On 30th January 1615, Pocahontas John Rolfe, more commonly known as Rebecca Rolfe, gave birth to Thomas Rolfe. Even though he was not the biological son of John Rolfe, he introduced him as his son. Ralph Hamor stated in his articles that the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe maintained peace for some years.

Life of Pocahontas with the English People

After marrying John Rolfe, Pocahontas had to learn to dress up and talk like the English people. Even after so much torture by the people, she managed to behave well. Simultaneously, the natives or tribal people were seen as non-humans who did not have a soul. Pocahontas represented herself well and showed the qualities taught by the tribe. She was polite to the English people and represented the natives at its best. This made the people believe that the natives also had souls. Pocahontas became very famous as she was the symbol of religious Conversion. She was forced to dress up like the English women and tie her hair up in English style.

She became a household name, and everyone liked her. Many women were curious about her. People often referred to her as the ‘’Indian princess”. The engraving made in 1616 referred to her as – Matoaka, alias Rebecca, daughter of the most powerful chief in Powhatan, Virginia. Many rich people invited her and John Rolfe to their dinner parties.

Moreover, many artists made her portraits in English Dress-up and traditional European clothing. This further increased the curiosity about – who was Pocahontas. They all wanted to see and talk to Pocahontas. Meanwhile, John Rolfe also loved the popularity and credits he gained after marrying her. 

Death

The famous Pocahontas works and articles give the idea about the tragic story of Pocahontas death.

John Rolfe lived with Pocahontas in England. He had a tobacco factory in Virginia. John Rolfe managed the shipments of his products from England. The ships passed back and forth between Virginia and England several times. As Pocahontas got to know this, she begged John Rolfe to visit her family once. John Rolfe was afraid that she might reveal the truth to people as she got better at speaking English. Therefore, he promised to fulfil her wish.

In 1617, Pocahontas and John boarded the ship to go to Virginia. Pocahontas was excited to see her family after so long. She was desperate to meet them after such a long term of torture. Unfortunately, on the ship, Pocahontas contracted a severe illness. Due to lack of proper treatment of the severity of illness, she died on the boat itself. Many historians assume that she died due to pneumonia or tuberculosis. The English people were immune to it, but natives might not have developed immunity to such illness.

Pocahontas may have died young, but Pocahontas’ works and diplomatic behaviour helped her stand out among the English people. She created a good image of the native people among the English people. She managed to withstand all the torture and still behaved politely towards the English people. She represented the skills and manners of her tribe at its best. She will forever live in the memories as the symbol of Conversion and the “Indian princess.”