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When John had to sail back to England
because of injuries from gun powder exploding in his hands, word got to Pocahontas
that he had died from his wounds. She never spoke of him again.
As a result, she moved away from her father
and to another part of the nation, her uncle's tribe. There she stayed
until Captain Argull convinced her uncle and aunt to make Pocahontas come
on board his ship so he could capture her and take her back to Jamestown.
Well, the plan did work and Pocahontas went back with the Captain. She
did not try to escape at all, it was like she wanted to go.
In Jamestown, Pocahontas was well cared for.
She befriended a young man named John Rolfe who later proposed marriage.
Captain Argull was planning to ransom the young princess for food, but
didn't plan for her to marry. He tried to get the ransom, but Powhatan
refused, leaving him with only Pocahontas.
Everyone tried to make the best
of this now permanent situation
and so did Pocahontas. The English taught her their ways and even their
God. Pocahontas learned and was later baptized to a Christian. She was
given the name of Rebecca.
Eventually,
John and Rebecca were married
and had a son named Tomas Rolfe. They lived together on John's Tobacco
farm, about 30 miles away from Jamestown. During the wedding, Powhatan did
not come to see his daughter marry, but sent a cousin instead to see her
off. The English were very pleased to see this marriage because it symbolized
the peace between the Indians and the English.
After
the birth of Tomas, John and Rebecca decided to sail to England.
Soon upon her arrival, Rebecca was presented to Queen Ann and King James as Pocahontas
Princess of the Powhatan Nation's, with the help from Captain John Smith and a
certain discreet letter addressed to the King and Queen. Royalty
didn't pass up this opportunity. They were very taken with
Pocahontas and her
culture. Capt. John Smith never made an appearance.
For the duration of the visit, Rebecca attended many balls and parties
in London, but she seemed home sick. It didn't take long before she became ill with
tuberculosis. John decided that maybe they should return home,
perhaps it would cure her. He and Rebecca got
passage on a ship going to Virginia and after they boarded, Rebecca's illness
became acute. John Smith got word of Pocahontas' state and her
planned departure, so decided to go see her one last time,
unknowingly, Pocahontas still thought he was dead. She was so overcome
by his appearance on the ship, she refused to speak to him at
first. What was actually said during their last private
conversation will never be known. Smith left promptly after.
Later
that night, Pocahontas died in her husband's arms. They hadn't even left port yet. Pocahontas was only 22.
Pocahontas was an important player in America's
history because without her there probably wouldn't have been an America.
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Further Reading
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