1614 : 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.
Smith's companions were killed, but he was spared and released,
(according to a 1624 account by Smith) because of the dramatic
intercession of Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's 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 Smith's 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 settlement--the 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.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1614 : Pocahontas marries John Rolfe
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=6858
1951 : Rosenbergs sentenced to die
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4893
1955 : Winston Churchill resigns
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4894
1992 : Abortion rights advocates march on Washington
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4895
#########################################
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.
Smith's companions were killed, but he was spared and released,
(according to a 1624 account by Smith) because of the dramatic
intercession of Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's 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 Smith's 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 settlement--the 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.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1614 : Pocahontas marries John Rolfe
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=6858
1951 : Rosenbergs sentenced to die
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4893
1955 : Winston Churchill resigns
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4894
1992 : Abortion rights advocates march on Washington
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4895
#########################################
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