Pocahontas

Pocahontas is known for heroically saving John Smith from the Powhatan. While many people believe she

was involved, nobody is exactly sure what happened. Pocahontas is remembered because of her heroism and her marriage to John Rolfe. But how else did

Pocahontas influence America?

This image shows the Powhatan tribe fighting John Smith and the settlers. In late 1607, the Powhatan tribe took Smith prisoner briefly, but soon released him.

Unknown. (1629). How they took him prisoner in the Oaze, 1607. Library of Congress: America's Library, Meet Amazing Americans.

New England Chromo. Lith. Co. (c1870). Pocahontas saving the life of Capt. John Smith / NewEngland Chromo. Lith. Co. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Popular Graphic Arts.

In a book written almost 10 years later, Smith said that Pocahontas convinced Chief Powhatan, her father, to release him. Many historians have questioned his story, but they have never been able to discover exactly why he was released. One thing historians do know, however, is that Smith’s release began a short period of good relations between the Powhatan tribe and the English settlers.

Here, John Smith describes his capture and release from the Powhatan. He says that Pocahontas convinced her father to spare his life and release him. He also says the Powhatan tribe saved the settlers from starvation, saying, “had not the Savages fed us, we directly had starv’d.” Smith’s account is one of the only written documents from this time period about his release. Historians don’t know of any Powhatan documents that might describe this event.

Beverley, R. (1772). The history of Virginia, in four parts. I. The history of the first settlement of Virginia, and the government thereof, to the year 1706. II. The natural productions and conveniences of the country, suited to trade and improvement. III. The native Indians, their religion, laws, and customs, in war and peace. IV. The present state of the country, as to the polity of the government, and the improvements of the land, the 10th of June 1720. (page 27). Library of Congress: American Memory, The Capital and the Bay: Narratives of Washington and the Chesapeake Bay Region, 1600-1925.

This print shows Pocahontas in 1616 dressed entirely in English clothes. Around this very “English” portrait is the name “Rebecca,” the Christian name given to her after her marriage to John Rolfe.

Holland, C. (1624). Pocahontas. (Bust). . Library of Congress: Research Centers, Prints & Photographs Reading Room.

This image of Pocahontas shows her in very English dress and specifically mentions that she had been “converted and baptized in the Christian faith.”

Unknown. (c1900-1920). Portrait of Pocahontas, from painting by Wm. Sheppard. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Detroit Publishing Company Collection.