Pocahontas
Matoaka, a Powhatan girl, grew up with the name Pocahontas. Pocahontas means “Little Wanton,” a playful, frolicsome little girl. Pocahontas most likely saw white men for the first time in may 1607 when English landed at Jamestown. She first met John Smith when he was taken by her tribe. Days later he was brought to the official residence of Powhatan at Werowocomoco, which is twelve miles from Jamestown. According to his journals, Smith was welcomed by the great chief and offered a feast. Then he was grabbed and forced to stretch out on two large, flat stones. Indians stood over him with clubs as if ready to beat him to death if they were ordered. Suddenly Pocahontas rushed in and took Smith's head in her arms and laid hers upon his to save him from death. She then pulled him to his feet. Powhatan said they were now friends, and he adopted Smith as his son, or a subordinate chief. Pocahontas and Smith soon became friends. Relations with the Indians became more friendly over the year, and Pocahontas was a frequent visitor to Jamestown. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied Indians bringing food and furs to trade for hatchets and trinkets.
Pocahontas apparently married an Indian "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among other Indians but still had a strong relationship with Englishmen. When a resourceful member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he made up a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, lesser chief of the Patowomeck Indians, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she "began to be exceeding pensive and discontented," but she eventually became calmer and even accustomed to her captivity. Argall sent word to Powhatan that he would return his beloved daughter only when the chief had returned to him the English prisoners he held, the arms and tools that the Indians had stolen, and also some corn. After some time Powhatan sent part of the ransom and asked that they treat his daughter well. Argall returned to Jamestown in April 1613 with Pocahontas. She eventually moved to Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. This is where she began her education in the Christian Faith , and met a successful tobacco planter named John Rolfe. Sir Thomas Dale made an important voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and he brought with him about a dozen Algonquian Indians, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was well publicized. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and the rest of the best of London society. Also in London at this time was Captain John Smith, the old friend she had not seen for eight years and whom she believed was dead. According to Smith at their meeting, she was at first too overcome with emotion to speak. After composing herself, Pocahontas talked of old times. At one point she addressed him as "father," and when he objected, she defiantly replied: "Were you not afraid to come into my father's Countrie, and caused feare in him and all of his people and feare you here I should call you father: I tell you I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I will be for ever and ever your Countrieman." That was the last time they saw each other. After seven months Rolfe decided to come home to his family in Virginia. In march 1617 they set sail. It was very apparent that Pocahontas would not make the trip home. She was deathly ill from pneumonia or possibly tuberculoisis. She was taken ashore and lay dying as she comforted her husband, saying "all must die. 'Tis enough that the child liveth." She was buried in a churchyard in Gravesend, Endland.
Resources-
http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=26http://pocahontas.morenus.org/http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html
Pocahontas apparently married an Indian "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among other Indians but still had a strong relationship with Englishmen. When a resourceful member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he made up a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, lesser chief of the Patowomeck Indians, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she "began to be exceeding pensive and discontented," but she eventually became calmer and even accustomed to her captivity. Argall sent word to Powhatan that he would return his beloved daughter only when the chief had returned to him the English prisoners he held, the arms and tools that the Indians had stolen, and also some corn. After some time Powhatan sent part of the ransom and asked that they treat his daughter well. Argall returned to Jamestown in April 1613 with Pocahontas. She eventually moved to Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. This is where she began her education in the Christian Faith , and met a successful tobacco planter named John Rolfe. Sir Thomas Dale made an important voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and he brought with him about a dozen Algonquian Indians, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was well publicized. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and the rest of the best of London society. Also in London at this time was Captain John Smith, the old friend she had not seen for eight years and whom she believed was dead. According to Smith at their meeting, she was at first too overcome with emotion to speak. After composing herself, Pocahontas talked of old times. At one point she addressed him as "father," and when he objected, she defiantly replied: "Were you not afraid to come into my father's Countrie, and caused feare in him and all of his people and feare you here I should call you father: I tell you I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I will be for ever and ever your Countrieman." That was the last time they saw each other. After seven months Rolfe decided to come home to his family in Virginia. In march 1617 they set sail. It was very apparent that Pocahontas would not make the trip home. She was deathly ill from pneumonia or possibly tuberculoisis. She was taken ashore and lay dying as she comforted her husband, saying "all must die. 'Tis enough that the child liveth." She was buried in a churchyard in Gravesend, Endland.
Resources-
http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=26http://pocahontas.morenus.org/http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html