Pochantas biography
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Pocahontas
Edited by Debra Michals, PhD | 2015
Among the most famous women in early American history, Pocahontas is credited with having helped the struggling English settlers in Virginia survive in the early 1600s. The explorer John Smith—who claimed Pocahontas saved his life—hailed her as “the instrument to pursurve this colonie from death, famine, and utter confusion.”
Born around 1596, Pocahontas was the daughter of Wahunsenaca (also known as Powhatan), the powerful chief of the Powhatans, a Native American group that inhabited the Chesapeake Bay region. Little is known about her mother. Her given name was Amonute (privately, Matoaka), but she has been remembered by her nickname Pocahontas, meaning “playful one.”
Pocahontas first observed the English when they landed in Jamestown, Virginia in May of 1607. She secured her place in American history when Captain John Smith was captured by Powhatan’s brother Opechancanough that winter. In published accounts, Smith claimed that as he was about to be executed, Pocahontas raced in and lay her head next to his, where it was about to be smashed on some rocks. Historians have debated Smith’s claims and many believe it was simply a tribal ritual, possibly one of adoption since Powhatan thereafter referred to Smith as a
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Pocahontas
(1595-1617)
Who Was Pocahontas?
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Early life
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Not much is known about this memorable woman. What we do know was written by others, as none of her thoughts or feelings were ever recorded. Specifically, her story has been told through written historical accounts and, most recently, through the sacred oral history of the Mattaponi. Most notably, Pocahontas has left an indelible impression that has endured for more than 400 years. And yet, many people who know her name do not know much about her.
The Written History
Pocahontas was born about 1596 and named "Amonute," though she also had a more private name of Matoaka. She was called "Pocahontas" as a nickname, which meant "playful one," because of her frolicsome and curious nature. She was the daughter of Wahunsenaca (Chief Powhatan), the mamanatowick (paramount chief) of the Powhatan Chiefdom. At its height, the Powhatan Chiefdom had a population of about 25,000 and included more than 30 Algonquian speaking tribes - each with its own werowance (chief). The Powhatan Indians called their homeland "Tsenacomoco."
As the daughter of the paramount chief Powhatan, custom dictated that Pocahontas would have accompanied her mother, who would have gone to live in another village, after her birth (Powhatan still cared for them). However, nothing is written by the English abo