Pocahontas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pocahontas
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Pocahontas depicted in a 1616 portrait engraving by Simon de Passe
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| Born |
Amonute
c. 1596 |
| Died | March 1617 (aged 20–21) |
| Resting place | St George's Church, Gravesend, Gravesham, England |
| Other names | Matoaka, Rebecca Rolfe |
| Known for | Association with Jamestown colony, inclusion in writings by John Smith, and as a Powhatan convert to Christianity |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Thomas Rolfe |
| Parent(s) | Wahunsenacawh (father) |
Pocahontas, born around 1596, was a brave and important Native American woman from the Powhatan people. Her birth name was Amonute, and she was also known as Matoaka. Later, after becoming Christian, she was called Rebecca Rolfe. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the powerful leader of many tribes in what is now Virginia, USA.
Pocahontas is famous for her connections with the early English settlers at Jamestown. In 1613, during a time of conflict, English colonists captured her. While she was with them, she learned about Christianity and was baptized, taking the name Rebecca. In 1614, she married an English tobacco farmer named John Rolfe. They had a son named Thomas Rolfe.
In 1616, Pocahontas traveled to London, England, with her husband. There, she met important people and was seen as a symbol of peace between the Native Americans and the English. She became quite well-known. Sadly, in March 1617, she became very ill and passed away in England, at about 20 or 21 years old. Her story has inspired many books, movies, and works of art, though some parts have been made more romantic over time.
Contents
Who Was Pocahontas?
Her Early Life and Family
Historians believe Pocahontas was born around 1596. When the English explorer John Smith first met her in 1608, he described her as a young girl, about 10 to 13 years old.
Pocahontas was the daughter of Chief Powhatan. He was the powerful leader of many Native American tribes in the Tidewater region of what is now Virginia. Her mother's name is not known for sure. Some traditions say her mother was Chief Powhatan's first wife.
Her Different Names
Pocahontas had several names. Her birth name was Amonute. She was also known as Matoaka. Native American children often had a formal name and a secret name. Matoaka might have been her secret name.
The name "Pocahontas" was actually a nickname. It meant "little playful one." This nickname described her lively personality as a child. She was known to play games with the young boys at the Jamestown settlement. After she became Christian, she took the name Rebecca.
Was Pocahontas a Princess?
In many stories, Pocahontas is called a princess. This is because her father, Chief Powhatan, was a very important leader. The English settlers often called him a "king."
However, in Powhatan culture, leadership was passed down differently. It usually went to the chief's brothers or sisters, and then to their children. So, Pocahontas was not in line to become a chief herself. Still, she was respected as the daughter of a powerful leader.
Meeting the English Settlers
The Story of John Smith
Pocahontas is most famous for her connection with the English explorer John Smith. He arrived in Virginia in 1607 with other settlers. They built a fort called Jamestown. The Native Americans and the English had both friendly and difficult encounters.
In December 1607, Smith was captured by a hunting party led by Chief Powhatan's relative. He was taken to Chief Powhatan's village. In his first writings, Smith did not mention Pocahontas saving him. He said they met later.
Years later, in 1616, Smith wrote a letter to the Queen of England. In this letter, he added a dramatic detail. He claimed that Pocahontas saved his life when her father was about to execute him. He said she put her head on his to protect him. This story became very famous. Some historians believe Smith added this detail to make his story more exciting. Others think it might have been a misunderstanding of a Native American ceremony.
What we do know is that Pocahontas became friends with Smith and the settlers. She often visited Jamestown and played with the children there. She also brought food to the struggling colonists, which helped many of them survive.
However, as the English settlement grew, conflicts started again. In 1609, John Smith returned to England due to an injury. The colonists told the Powhatans that he had died. Pocahontas believed this for a long time.
Her Capture and Conversion
In 1613, during a war between the English and the Powhatan tribes, Pocahontas was captured. An English captain named Samuel Argall tricked her into boarding his ship. He held her for ransom. The English wanted her father to release their prisoners and return stolen tools.
Pocahontas was held at an English settlement called Henricus. She stayed there for about a year. During this time, she was treated well by the colonists. A minister named Alexander Whitaker taught her about Christianity. She also improved her English language skills. She decided to become a Christian and was baptized, taking the name Rebecca.
In 1614, Pocahontas spoke with her father, Chief Powhatan. She told him she preferred to live with the English, who treated her kindly.
Her Marriage to John Rolfe
While at Henricus, Pocahontas met John Rolfe. He was an English farmer who grew tobacco. Rolfe was a religious man. He wanted to marry Pocahontas, who had already become Christian and taken the name Rebecca. He believed this marriage would help bring peace.
Pocahontas and John Rolfe were married on April 5, 1614. Their wedding likely took place at Jamestown. They lived together and had a son, Thomas Rolfe, who was born in January 1615.
Their marriage was very important. It helped create a period of peace between the English settlers and Chief Powhatan's tribes. This peace lasted for eight years and was known as the "Peace of Pocahontas."
Journey to England
The London Company, which funded the Jamestown colony, wanted to show that Native Americans could become Christian and live peacefully with the English. So, in 1616, Pocahontas and John Rolfe traveled to London, England. They were accompanied by other Powhatan people.
When they arrived, Pocahontas learned that John Smith was still alive. He was living in London. Smith wrote to Queen Anne of Denmark, asking her to treat Pocahontas with respect. He said she was a "King's daughter" and an important visitor.
Pocahontas was welcomed in English society. She attended social events and even met King James at a special performance. The English presented her as a "princess" because her father was a powerful chief. This helped encourage more people to invest in the Virginia colony.
Pocahontas and Smith met again in London. She reminded him of the kindness she had shown him in Virginia. She also called him "father," a sign of respect.
Her Final Days
In March 1617, Pocahontas, John Rolfe, and their son Thomas were preparing to sail back to Virginia. However, Pocahontas became very ill shortly after their ship left London. She was taken ashore in Gravesend, England, where she passed away. She was only about 20 or 21 years old.
The exact cause of her death is unknown. Some historians think she might have died from diseases common at the time, like pneumonia or smallpox. She was buried at St George's Church, Gravesend. The church was later rebuilt, so the exact location of her grave is now lost. A statue of Pocahontas stands outside the church today to honor her memory.
Pocahontas's Lasting Legacy
Family and Descendants
Pocahontas and John Rolfe had one son, Thomas Rolfe, born in 1615. Thomas later married and had a daughter named Jane. Jane also married and had children.
Many people today can trace their family history back to Pocahontas and John Rolfe. These include members of important families in Virginia and even famous people like former First Lady Edith Wilson and actor Edward Norton.
How She is Remembered Today
Pocahontas has been honored in many ways. In 1907, she was the first Native American to appear on a U.S. postage stamp. In 2000, she was recognized as one of the Virginia Women in History. Her tribe, the Pamunkey Native tribe, is still active today and was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 2015.
In Books and Movies
Pocahontas's story has been told in many books, plays, and movies. The 1995 Disney animated film Pocahontas is one of the most well-known adaptations. This film, like many other stories, often adds romantic details that are not supported by historical records.
Other Tributes
- Lake Matoaka, a lake in Virginia, is named after one of her Native American names.
- Several ships have been named after her, including the USS Princess Matoika and the USS Pocahontas (ID-3044).
- A passenger train, The Pocahontas, once ran from Virginia to Ohio.
- Even a minor planet, 4487 Pocahontas, is named in her honor.
Images for kids
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Pocahontas commemorative postage stamp of 1907
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Statue in Jamestown, Virginia
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Likeness of Pocahontas on the seal of Henrico County, Virginia
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A painting of Pocahontas in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC
See also
In Spanish: Pocahontas para niños
- La Malinche – a Native American woman who helped Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
- Mary Kittamaquund – daughter of a Piscataway chief in colonial Maryland.
- The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History