Pocahontas

Pocahontas actually had three names over the course of her life. The Powhatan name given to her at birth was "Matoax" or "Little Snow Feather." Her public name was "Pocahontas" which means "Little Wanton" or "Girl who likes to frolic and play." Whites initially speculated that 'Pocahontas' meant "Bright Stream Between Two Hills." The name "Pocahontas" may, in fact, have been a term of affection that was given to several of Powhatan's daughters (Powhatan is said to have had several wives and many children). Pocahontas's third name, Rebecca, was given to her when she received a Christian baptism.

The Powhatans practiced a polytheistic religion. Their most powerful deity was Okeus who was thought to be responsible for all evil. The Powhatans believed that Okeus had to be appeased in order to prevent misfortune for their people. They therefore sacrificed one child to him annually. The Powhatans also believed in a less powerful god, Ahone, who was beneficent and did not require sacrifices, but to whom all Powhatans paid homage.

The Powhatans believed that they had been created by a giant hare who kept them in a large bag. A group of old women attacked the hare until he decided to release his prisoners allowing them to inhabit the earth.

Many historians doubt Smith's romantic story of being rescued by the ten-year-old Pocahontas. Smith's story seems doubtful because he published it the same year that Pocahontas traveled to England and became an important celebrity (1616), years after Smith's own return to England. In addition, Smith is known to have told similar stories about his experiences in other parts of the world. He claimed, for example, that a beautiful Turkish Princess had saved his life when he was a captive in Hungary.

While visiting England, Pocahontas was accused of living in sin because she was married both to John Rolfe and an Indian named Kocoum, whom she supposedly married in 1610. It is not known whether this accusation was truthful or created by an enemy of Pocahontas.

Pocahontas's husband, John Rolfe, returned to Jamestown after her death but left their son, Thomas, in England to receive an education. When he was 20 years of age, Thomas moved to the English colonies in America, where he became an important member of the community.

People
Arrival of English in Jamestown
Bacon's Rebellion

Events
Powhatan
John Smith
John Rolfe
King James I
Queen Anne