5 April 1614 A.D. JAMESTOWN, VA: Pocahontas Becomes Mrs. Robert Rolfe
5 April 1614 A.D. JAMESTOWN, VA: Pocahontas Becomes Mrs. Robert Rolfe
Graves, Dan. “Pocahontas
Entered a Marriage of Races.” Christianity.com.
Apr 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/pocahontas-entered-a-marriage-of-races-11630062.html. Accessed 1 Apr 2015.
On this day, April 5, 1614 a marriage of two races took place. From the
Algonquin Indians came Princess Matoaka, known as Rebecca since her baptism. On
the English side was John Rolfe, a tobacco planter and gentleman. The bride's
two brothers and an uncle stood up for her. The wedding took place in
Jamestown, Virginia and initiated a period of friendly relations between
Indians and colonists.
The story behind the marriage is more complicated. Matoaka, or
Pocahontas, "Princess," the daughter of chief Powhatan, befriended
the invaders of her land. Through her, it was said, the Jamestown settlers
obtained food until they acquired the means to survive on their own. She was
about ten at the time. John Smith later claimed that Pocahontas saved him from
having his brains clubbed out during his captivity with the Indians, but the
story was probably concocted to tickle the ears of the English who made over
Pocahontas -- then Lady Rebecca Rolfe -- when she visited England.
In 1613, Captain Samuel Argall seized the Indian princess in a raid,
planning to exchange her for British prisoners held by the Indians. Taken to
Henrico, Virginia she was instructed in Christianity and baptized. The following year, with her father's permission, she
married John Rolfe. Rolfe himself wrestled with his conscience whether or not
he should marry the girl, but decided to do so, hoping to convert her,
"which I beseech God to grant, for His dear Son Christ Jesus' sake."
Whatever the facts regarding Pocahontas, American legend has falsified
her story. She is often visualized as a free spirit (perhaps because she was
reported by the settlers as turning cartwheels naked when she was a young
girl). A popular animated film about her perpetrated many distortions.
Pocahontas is shown singing, for example. In actuality, she would have
chanted or droned. She sings of tolerance, a concept developed only painfully
in Christian societies. The cartoon shows Pocahontas running the hills alone
with a man. Even a chief's daughter would have ground corn and worked hides.
Leisure for women and girls (except among the noble classes) was almost
non-existent until two centuries ago. Pocahontas is shown at peace with nature.
Although Indian animism contained elements placating nature, peace it had not.
In one version, Pocahontas is given a pet raccoon. A raccoon would not have
been a cuddly pet but would have been destined for the pot.
Popular accounts, in short, impress a residue of semi-Christian ideals
upon a pseudo-historical event. Christ changed the world so drastically for
women and animals that, even in imagination, we cannot remove the features
contributed by faith.
Bibliography:
Focus on the Family
Newsletter. (Citation lost).
Lossing, Benson J. Eminent Americans. New York: Mason
Bros, 1857.
"Pocahontas." Dictionary of American Biography. New
York : Scribner, 1958 - 1964.
Rolfe, John. "Letter of John Rolfe, 1614" in Narratives
of Early Virginia 1606 - 1625. New York: Scribner's sons, 1907; p.
239ff.
Sheehan, Bernard W. "Pocahontas." Encyclopedia of American
Biography. Editor John A. Garraty. New York: Harper and Row, 1974.
Smith, Captain John. "Generall Historie of Virginia, book IV"
in Narratives of Early Virginia 1606 - 1625. New York:
Scribner's sons, 1907; p. 326ff.
Various encyclopedia and Internet articles.
Last updated April, 2007.
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