Pocahontas marries John Rolfe
Pocahontas daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Indian confederacy marries English tobacco planter John Rolfe in Jamestown Virginia.The marriage ensured peace between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Indians for several years.In May 1607 about 100 English colonists settled along the James River in Virginia to found Jamestown the first permanent English settlement in America.The settlers fared badly because of famine disease and Indian attacks but were aided by 27-year-old English adventurer John Smith who directed survival efforts and mapped the area.
While exploring the Chickahominy River in December 1607 Smith and two colonists were captured by Powhatan warriors.At the time the Powhatan confederacy consisted of around 30 Tidewater-area tribes led by Chief Wahunsonacock known as Chief Powhatan to the English.Smiths companions were killed but he was spared and released (according to a 1624 account by Smith) because of the dramatic intercession of Pocahontas Chief Powhatans 13-year-old daughter.
Her real name was Matoaka and Pocahontas was a pet name that has been translated variously as playful one and my favorite daughter.In 1608 Smith became president of the Jamestown colony but the settlement continued to suffer.An accidental fire destroyed much of the town and hunger disease and Indian attacks continued.During this time Pocahontas often came to Jamestown as an emissary of her father sometimes bearing gifts of food to help the hard-pressed settlers.
She befriended the settlers and became acquainted with English ways.In 1609 Smith was injured from a fire in his gunpowder bag and was forced to return to England.After Smiths departure relations with the Powhatan deteriorated and many settlers died from famine and disease in the winter of 1609-10.Jamestown was about to be abandoned by its inhabitants when Baron De La Warr (also known as Delaware) arrived in June 1610 with new supplies and rebuilt the settlementthe Delaware River and the colony of Delaware were later named after him.
John Rolfe also arrived in Jamestown in 1610 and two years later cultivated the first tobacco there introducing a successful source of livelihood that would have far-reaching importance for Virginia.In the spring of 1613 English Captain Samuel Argall took Pocahontas hostage hoping to use her to negotiate a permanent peace with her father.Brought to Jamestown she was put under the custody of Sir Thomas Gates the marshal of Virginia.Gates treated her as a guest rather than a prisoner and encouraged her to learn English customs.
She converted to Christianity and was baptized Lady Rebecca.Powhatan eventually agreed to the terms for her release but by then she had fallen in love with John Rolfe who was about 10 years her senior.On April 5 1614 Pocahontas and John Rolfe married with the blessing of Chief Powhatan and the governor of Virginia.Their marriage brought a peace between the English colonists and the Powhatans and in 1615 Pocahontas gave birth to their first child Thomas.
In 1616 the couple sailed to England.The so-called Indian Princess proved popular with the English gentry and she was presented at the court of King James I.In March 1617 Pocahontas and Rolfe prepared to sail back to Virginia.
However the day before they were to leave Pocahontas died probably of smallpox and was buried at the parish church of St.George in Gravesend England.John Rolfe returned to Virginia and was killed in an Indian massacre in 1622.After an education in England their son Thomas Rolfe returned to Virginia and became a prominent citizen.
John Smith returned to the New World in 1614 to explore the New England coast.On another voyage of exploration in 1614 he was captured by pirates but escaped after three months of captivity.He then returned to England where he died in 1631.
