Pocahontas was born around 1595 in what is now Virginia. She was the daughter of Wahunsenacawh, the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, and his wife, Matoaka.
Pocahontas was a member of the Powhatan tribe, which was a group of about 30 Algonquian-speaking tribes that lived in what is now Virginia.
Also Read: Famous Native Americans in American History
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Pocahontas was a curious and adventurous child. She often went on long walks in the woods, and she loved to learn about the plants and animals that she found there.
She was also a skilled negotiator, and she often played a key role in resolving disputes between the Powhatan and the English colonists.
Also Read: 10 Facts about Colonial America
In 1607, a group of English colonists arrived in Virginia. The Powhatans were initially hostile to the colonists, but Pocahontas helped to broker a peace treaty between the two groups. She also became close friends with John Smith, one of the leaders of the Jamestown colony.
In 1612, Kocoum, Pocahontas's first husband, was killed by the English colonists. Pocahontas was devastated, but she soon married John Rolfe, an English colonist. Rolfe was a kind and gentle man, and he treated Pocahontas with respect. They had a son together, Thomas Rolfe, who was born in 1615.
In 1616, Pocahontas and her son traveled to England. They were received by King James I, and they were treated as honored guests. Pocahontas became a celebrity in England, and she was often featured in plays and poems.
Pocahontas died in 1617 at the age of 22. She is buried in Gravesend, England. Her story has been told and retold many times, and she has become a symbol of peace and understanding between cultures.
Family Overview
Pocahontas came from royalty. At the time of Jamestown's founding, her father was one of the most powerful leaders in the area.
Her mother was one of the many wives of her father, which meant she had numerous brothers and sisters. She was also a daughter of Native American royalty.
She married and converted to Christianity, which was a significant difference from her prior religion. She and her husband had one son together, which secured an alliance between the two nations.
Also Read: Famous Colonists of Colonial America
Unfortunately, her life was cut short, and she would not have any other children before her death.
However, she is one of the earliest known lines of Native American and English blood
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Wahunsenaca Powhatan (1545 - 1618) - The Native American leader, commonly known as "Powhatan," was the head of a confederation of six tribes located in Tsenacomoco, now comprising southeastern Virginia. Other Algonquian-speaking tribes to the north, east, and south were also loosely connected. He was born in the middle of the 17th century, possibly as early as 1540.
Matoaka (Unknown) - She was Pocahontas's mother. She was the daughter of another Powhatan chief, and she was known for her beauty and her intelligence. She was also a skilled diplomat, and she played a key role in the early interactions between the Powhatan and the English colonists.
Spouse:
Kocoum: He was Pocahontas's first husband. He was a Powhatan warrior, and he was killed by the English colonists in 1612.
John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) - He became a wealthy tobacco farmer in Jamestown, and Pocahontas was his second wife. The two were married for a short time until her death. They had one son.
Children:
Thomas Rolfe (1615 - 1681) - He was the only son of Pocahontas and would marry and have a daughter. His daughter would build his line that many would descend from.
She possibly had a daughter in 1612 in her first marriage.
Siblings:
She would have had many siblings, and while some are named, the records are questionable.