by Jessica D

Created on: May 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2010

Although Pocahontas' life did not resemble that of the widely popular Disney movie, her life still remained filled with heart and experience. She was able to cross cultures locally and continentally.

Pocahontas lead a kind hearted life from the start. As the daughter to chief Wahunsunacock of the Powhatan, she was technically a princess. However within the tribe, it is debatable that the title of princess gave her any special status. When she traveled to England Pocahontas was treated as a king's daughter for the English population acknowledged her title.

Pocahontas' original name was Matoaka and Amonute. Pocahontas was the nickname given to her for her adventuresome childhood antics. As Pocahontas' father had several wives Pocahontas had more than fifteen siblings. It was common for the mothers to not partake in the raising of the children, so Pocahontas was raised within her father's household.

At the young age of 10 Pocahontas threw herself against John Smith's captured body in order to spare his life. As her father was chief, John Smith was allowed to return to Jamestown. This incident sparked a friendship between Pocahontas and the Jamestown colonists. Pocahontas would visit and play games with the children of the settlement. Sometimes Pocahontas would bring the colonists food in order to prevent their starvation as a beginning colony.

Pocahontas was rumored to rescue John Smith when she heard rumors that her tribe was planning on killing them. Sometime after this incident, Smith was returned to England due to a gun injury.

Pocahontas found herself at another tribe, the Patawomecks where she was captured by the English. They intended to use her for ransom in order make the Chief return captured colonists and guns, but the Chief did not return enough guns so Pocahontas was in captivity a year. While in captivity, Pocahontas learned Christianity and English and was baptized with the name Rebecca.

When the colonists and tribe discussed the capture, Pocahontas was maddened by her father's inability to give the colonists their guns back to get her back to safety. This was then she decided to live with the English.
During her stay with the English, Pocahontas met John Rolfe. John Rolfe's wife had died so he spent most of his time with his Tobacco crop. John Rolfe was madly in love with Pocahontas and so they were married. Thomas Rolfe was born to the doting couple the January after their wedding (April).

As England was having trouble getting people to travel to the colonies, it was decided that Pocahontas would be used for advertising. So Pocahontas, John, Thomas, and a handful of tribal men relocated to England.

In England Pocahontas was reunited with John Smith and exposed to the luxuries of English court and high society. Pocahontas died from an illness on her return journey to Virginia. The illness is still unknown.

Pocahontas had a fulfilling life filled with adventure. She was able to cross borders geographically and culturally. Many legends have sparked from her lively endeavors in the early makings of America.

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