| Notes |
- Also known as Matoaka and Rebecca.
Pocahontas, Indian name Matoaka (1595?-1617), American Indian princess,
daughter of Powhatan, ruling chief and founder of the Powhatan confederacy of
Algonquian Indian tribes; born in Virginia. According to a legend, in 1608 she
saved the life of Captain John Smith by holding his head in her arms as he was
about to be clubbed to death by her father's warriors. Many historians doubt
the story, which is not found in Smith's detailed personal narrative written at
the time. The story first appeared in Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia
(1624). In 1612 Pocahontas was captured by the English, taken to Jamestown, and
baptized Rebecca. In 1614 she married John Rolfe, one of the colonists, with
the blessings of both the governor and her father. Eight years of peace between
the Indians and the English followed the marriage. In 1616 Pocahontas went to
England, where she met the king and queen and was received with royal honor.
She died on the eve of her return to Virginia and was buried in the chapel of
the parish church in Gravesend, England. She and her husband had one son
Thomas, from whom many prominent Virginians claim descent.
Biographic entry: B1510
"Pocahontas," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation.
PocahontasCopyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation
Pocahontas, the daughter of Native American Chief Powhatan, converted to
Christianity in 1612, was baptized, fell in love with Jamestown colonist John
Rolfe, and one year later married Rolfe. When she sailed to London with her
husband, the English thought of her as an Indian princess. While waiting to
sail back to America, she became ill with smallpox and died.
Culver Pictures, Inc.
"Pocahontas," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1993 Microsoft Corporation.
Copyright (c) 1993 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation
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1595 - 1616 (21 years)