American Colonial Figure. She was most likely born in Werawocomoco (present day Wicomico, Gloucester County, Virginia) on the north side of the Pamunkey (York) River, about 1595, a daughter of Powhatan, the chief over some forty Algonquin villages that were spread about the shores of the rivers now called the James and the York. Her father named her Meto-aka and later Pocahontas, meaning "Playful little Girl." Her true name, Mato-aka, was only used within her tribe. She likely saw white men for the first time in May 1607, when she was about 12, when Englishmen landed at Jamestown. The first meeting of Pocahontas and John Smith has become a legendary, romanticized story, which was not true, but the two did soon become friends. Relations with the Powhatan continued to be generally friendly for the next year, and she was a frequent visitor to Jamestown. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied tribesmen, bringing food and furs to trade. Pocahontas apparently married a tribesman "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among her people, but her relationship with the Englishmen was not over. When a member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he devised a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, a lesser chief of the Patowomeck, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she "began to be exceeding pensive and discontented." 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 tolls his people had stolen, and some corn. 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 a new settlement, Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. It was here that she was educated in the Christian faith, and took the name Rebecca. She met a successful tobacco planter, John Rolfe in July 1613. She was allowed relative freedom within the settlement, and she began to enjoy her role in the relations between the colony and her people. After almost a year of captivity, Dale took 150 armed men and Pocahontas into Powhatan's territory to obtain her ransom. Attacked, the Englishmen burned many houses, destroyed villages, and killed several of Powhatan's men. Pocahontas was finally sent ashore where she was reunited with two of her brothers, whom she told that she had been treated well and that she was in love with the Englishman, John Rolfe, and wanted to marry him. Powhatan gave his consent to this, and the Englishmen departed, delighted at the prospect of the "peace-making" marriage, although they did not receive the full ransom. Sir Thomas Dale made a voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and, to insure spectacular publicity; he brought with him about a dozen Algonquins, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was a sensation. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and London society. Also in London, she was reunited with Captain John Smith, whom she had not seen for eight years and had believed was dead. After seven months, Rolfe decided to return his family to Virginia. In March 1617 they set sail, but soon Pocahontas and her son fell too ill to continue. It has been suggested smallpox, dysentery, or possibly tuberculosis were responsible. She was taken ashore, and died at Gravesend. She was buried on March 21, 1617 in the high-status location under the chancel of St. George's Church in Gravesend.
American Colonial Figure. She was most likely born in Werawocomoco (present day Wicomico, Gloucester County, Virginia) on the north side of the Pamunkey (York) River, about 1595, a daughter of Powhatan, the chief over some forty Algonquin villages that were spread about the shores of the rivers now called the James and the York. Her father named her Meto-aka and later Pocahontas, meaning "Playful little Girl." Her true name, Mato-aka, was only used within her tribe. She likely saw white men for the first time in May 1607, when she was about 12, when Englishmen landed at Jamestown. The first meeting of Pocahontas and John Smith has become a legendary, romanticized story, which was not true, but the two did soon become friends. Relations with the Powhatan continued to be generally friendly for the next year, and she was a frequent visitor to Jamestown. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied tribesmen, bringing food and furs to trade. Pocahontas apparently married a tribesman "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among her people, but her relationship with the Englishmen was not over. When a member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he devised a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, a lesser chief of the Patowomeck, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she "began to be exceeding pensive and discontented." 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 tolls his people had stolen, and some corn. 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 a new settlement, Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. It was here that she was educated in the Christian faith, and took the name Rebecca. She met a successful tobacco planter, John Rolfe in July 1613. She was allowed relative freedom within the settlement, and she began to enjoy her role in the relations between the colony and her people. After almost a year of captivity, Dale took 150 armed men and Pocahontas into Powhatan's territory to obtain her ransom. Attacked, the Englishmen burned many houses, destroyed villages, and killed several of Powhatan's men. Pocahontas was finally sent ashore where she was reunited with two of her brothers, whom she told that she had been treated well and that she was in love with the Englishman, John Rolfe, and wanted to marry him. Powhatan gave his consent to this, and the Englishmen departed, delighted at the prospect of the "peace-making" marriage, although they did not receive the full ransom. Sir Thomas Dale made a voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and, to insure spectacular publicity; he brought with him about a dozen Algonquins, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was a sensation. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and London society. Also in London, she was reunited with Captain John Smith, whom she had not seen for eight years and had believed was dead. After seven months, Rolfe decided to return his family to Virginia. In March 1617 they set sail, but soon Pocahontas and her son fell too ill to continue. It has been suggested smallpox, dysentery, or possibly tuberculosis were responsible. She was taken ashore, and died at Gravesend. She was buried on March 21, 1617 in the high-status location under the chancel of St. George's Church in Gravesend.
Bio by: K M
Inscription
This Stone commemorates Princess POCAHONTAS of METOAKA Daughter of The mighty American Indian Chief POWHATTAN. Gentle and humane she was the friend of the earliest struggling English Colonists whom she nobly rescued, protected and helped. On her conversion to Christianity in 1613 she received in Baptism the name Rebecca and shortly afterwards became the wife of Thomas ROLFE, a settler in Virginia. She visited England with her husband in 1616, was graciously received by QUEEN ANNE, Wife of JAMES I. In the twenty second year of her Age she died at Gravesend while preparing to revisit her native country and was buried near this spot on March 21st 1617.
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