Pocahontas real life
In his writings, Rolfe said that he loved Pocahontas but also recognized that a marriage alliance between Britain and Virginia tribes would be helpful. The details of their relationship are not clear. During that visit Pocahontas told her sister that she had been raped.ĭuring her time at Jamestown, a British farmer named John Rolfe took an interest in her. The Mattaponi say at one point the English settlers permitted her sister to visit her. At some point during her imprisonment, Pocahontas was declared a Christian and her British captors gave her a new name: Rebecca. They kept her for a year at the settlement of Jamestown. In 1613, the English took Pocahontas and imprisoned her because they thought it would help influence negotiations with her father. The book also says that the English murdered the older Kocoum. They had a child called Little Kocoum, who was raised among the Mattaponi. It says Matoakoa married a young Potowomac fighter named Kocoum when she was about 14. Linwood’s book, The True Story of Pocahontas, the Other Side of History reports about Mattaponi oral history. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow was a member of the Mattaponi tribe, an ally of Wahunsenaca’s. Little is known of Pocahontas’ childhood. Tradition has said that her father also called her “Pocahontas.” This has several possible meanings, including “ wanton” to “ mischievous.” The name suggests she had a lively personality.
Courtesy John Carter Brown University, Brown University. Pocahontas, from a 1616 engraving believed to be the work of Simon van de Passe.