The Tale of Pocahontas

In December 1607, barely six months after arriving at Jamestown with the 1 st English colonists, Captain John Smith was captured by warriors of Powhatan, the supreme chief of about fourteen thousand Algonquian people who inhabited the coastal plain of present-day Virginia. In December 1607, barely six months after arriving at Jamestown with the 1 st English colonists, Captain John Smith was captured by warriors of Powhatan, the supreme chief of about fourteen thousand Algonquian people who inhabited the coastal plain of present-day Virginia.

According to Smith, Powhatan “feasted him after their best barbarous manner… two great stones were brought before Powhatan: than as many [Indians] as could layd hands on [Smith], dragged him to [the stones], and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs, to beate out his braines.” According to Smith, Powhatan “feasted him after their best barbarous manner… two great stones were brought before Powhatan: than as many [Indians] as could layd hands on [Smith], dragged him to [the stones], and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs, to beate out his braines.”

At that moment, Pocahontas, Powhatan’s eleven-year-old daughter, rushed forward and “got [Smith’s] head in her armes, and laid her owne upon his to save him from death.” Pocahontas, Smith wrote, “hazarded the beating out of her owne braines to save mine, and … so prevailed with her father, that I was safely conducted [back] to James towne.” At that moment, Pocahontas, Powhatan’s eleven-year-old daughter, rushed forward and “got [Smith’s] head in her armes, and laid her owne upon his to save him from death.” Pocahontas, Smith wrote, “hazarded the beating out of her owne braines to save mine, and … so prevailed with her father, that I was safely conducted [back] to James towne.”

This romantic story of an Indian maiden rescuing a white soldier and saving Jamestown, and ultimately English colonization of North America, has been celebrated in the writing of American history since 1624, when Smith published his Generall Historie of Virginia. This romantic story of an Indian maiden rescuing a white soldier and saving Jamestown, and ultimately English colonization of North America, has been celebrated in the writing of American history since 1624, when Smith published his Generall Historie of Virginia.

Historians believe that this episode happened more or less as Smith described it. But Smith did not understand why Pocahontas acted as she did. Many have claimed that her love for Smith caused her to rebel against her father’s authority. Pocahontas left no document that explains her motives; most likely, she could not write. Historians believe that this episode happened more or less as Smith described it. But Smith did not understand why Pocahontas acted as she did. Many have claimed that her love for Smith caused her to rebel against her father’s authority. Pocahontas left no document that explains her motives; most likely, she could not write.

Everything known about her comes from the pen of Smith or other Englishmen. When their writings are considered in the context of what is known about the Algonquian society Pocahontas was born into, her actions appear in an entirely different light. Everything known about her comes from the pen of Smith or other Englishmen. When their writings are considered in the context of what is known about the Algonquian society Pocahontas was born into, her actions appear in an entirely different light. Motion Picture: The New World

Most likely, when Pocahontas intervened to save Smith, she was a participant in an Algonquian ceremony. What Smith interpreted as Pocahontas’s saving him from certain death was instead a ceremonial reenactment of Powhatan’s willingness to incorporate Smith into Powhatan’ empire. Most likely, when Pocahontas intervened to save Smith, she was a participant in an Algonquian ceremony. What Smith interpreted as Pocahontas’s saving him from certain death was instead a ceremonial reenactment of Powhatan’s willingness to incorporate Smith into Powhatan’ empire.

The ceremony displayed Powhatan’s power of life or death and his willingness to give protection to those who acknowledged his supremacy, in this case, the new visitors in Jamestown. The ceremony displayed Powhatan’s power of life or death and his willingness to give protection to those who acknowledged his supremacy, in this case, the new visitors in Jamestown.

Pocahontas was probably acting out Smith’s new status as an adopted member of Powhatan’s extended family. Rather than a rebellious, love- struck girl, Pocahontas was almost certainly a dutiful daughter playing the part assigned for her by her father and her culture. Pocahontas was probably acting out Smith’s new status as an adopted member of Powhatan’s extended family. Rather than a rebellious, love- struck girl, Pocahontas was almost certainly a dutiful daughter playing the part assigned for her by her father and her culture.

Pocahontas frequently visited the English settlement and often brought gifts of food from her father. Powhatan routinely attached his sons and daughters to subordinate tribes as an expression of his protection and his dominance. Pocahontas frequently visited the English settlement and often brought gifts of food from her father. Powhatan routinely attached his sons and daughters to subordinate tribes as an expression of his protection and his dominance. ttp://

It appears that Pocahontas’s attachment to the English colonists grew out Powhatan’s attempt to treat the tribe of white strangers at Jamestown as he did other tribes in his empire, an attempt that failed. It appears that Pocahontas’s attachment to the English colonists grew out Powhatan’s attempt to treat the tribe of white strangers at Jamestown as he did other tribes in his empire, an attempt that failed.

In 1613, after relations between Powhatan and the English colonists had deteriorated into bloody conflict, the colonists captured Pocahontas and held her hostage at Jamestown. In 1613, after relations between Powhatan and the English colonists had deteriorated into bloody conflict, the colonists captured Pocahontas and held her hostage at Jamestown.

Within a year, she converted to Christianity and married one of the colonists, a widower named John Rolfe. After giving birth to a son named Thomas, Pocahontas, her husband, and the new baby sailed for England in the spring of Within a year, she converted to Christianity and married one of the colonists, a widower named John Rolfe. After giving birth to a son named Thomas, Pocahontas, her husband, and the new baby sailed for England in the spring of

There, publicists of the Virginia colony dressed her as a proper Englishwomen and even arranged for here to go to a ball attended by the king and queen. There, publicists of the Virginia colony dressed her as a proper Englishwomen and even arranged for here to go to a ball attended by the king and queen.

Pocahontas died in England in Her son, Thomas, returned to Virginia, and by the time of the American Revolution, his descendants numbered in the hundreds. The New America, Thomas encountered was no longer dominated by Native Americans. Pocahontas died in England in Her son, Thomas, returned to Virginia, and by the time of the American Revolution, his descendants numbered in the hundreds. The New America, Thomas encountered was no longer dominated by Native Americans. Portrait of Pocahontas & her son Thomas.

Old Flames ? According to Captain Smith’s writing, he once again visited Pocahontas when he learned of her arrival in England. According to Captain Smith’s writing, he once again visited Pocahontas when he learned of her arrival in England. The Legend Continues…….

My daughter Austin visiting Disney World in 2002.