Captain John Smith & Pocahantas - 1608

Hi kids -
It's grandpa with another letter. This time I want you to go back in time; the 16th and early 17th century. The new world of the American continent was like outer space to people of the time. So enjoy a true story of adventure and daring. To go where no one has gone before (at least from Europe at the time). Enjoy the read and learn alittle about the character of people that make true history. Grandpa.

Captain John Smith & Pocahontas 1608

This is a story of one of history’s amazing encounters. I have always been fascinated by the lives of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. Smith was a 26 year old English adventurer and explorer, while, Pocahontas was an 11 year old Indian girl. Yet, these two people helped make Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English colony in America.

How It Was – 1600

People born today in the 21th century have been gifted into a world of amazing technology. What if you had been born in the year 1600. All you would have is animal skins, rags for cloths, moccasins maybe a sword and musket. At night you probably rubbed sticks to get fire and heat. You had to find a lake or creek for water. How about food? Guess what, you would have to learn to hunt, to remove animal intestines and to skin the animal before eating it. There was no electricity, phones, computers, piped water, showers, glass windows, sanitation or medical dental knowledge. No cars, no schools, no roads, no super markets. Those things would not appear for another 300 years. I always found this interesting - half of all children died before they were six years of age; and, people did not wear underwear. Most people died before reaching 50 years of age. So, 400 years later, you have been born into a world of amazing technology. Knowing history, you should also realize how lucky you are. Do you think you could live as early americans had too? Think about that as you read this letter.

Back to the Story

The Jamestown colony had to learn survival skills from the Indians. John Smith understood this and ordered the colonist to remain friendly with the Indians. Their lives depended on help from the Indians.

Smith - Early years

Smith was born in 1580 to a farming family in England. He left home at age 16 to become a soldier, traveling to France to fight the Spanish. After his return to England, he taught himself wilderness survival techniques, and later worked on a merchant ship. When 20 years old, he went to Hungary to fight with the Christian forces against the Turks, where he was promoted to captain.

Two years later, he was captured and enslaved by the Turks. He was taken in chains to what is now Istanbul Turkey. One night Smith killed the guards and escaped. Now 25 years old, and, after traveling widely in North Africa and Europe, he returned to England.

Back in England, a restless Smith became involved with the Virginia Company, which sought to colonize Virginia. In December of 1606, three small ships carrying 104 settlers, including Smith (now 26 years old), left England, bound for Virginia.

During the trip, Smith was arrested for mutiny. According to Smith, the captains of the ships were jealous of his military and naval experience and resented his rural upbringing. He was accused of plotting to seize power for himself. He spent most of the voyage in irons and was nearly hanged.

Prior to departure, the owners of the Virginia Company had selected 7 voyagers to govern the colony. They put the names of the chosen in a sealed box, which was not to be opened until arrival in Virginia. Upon landfall, 4 months later, the colonists opened the box and discovered that Smith’s name was among the chosen leaders. Smith was allowed to take up a position on the council — but he remained disliked.

John Smith – Jamestown 1607

Early on, Jamestown was plagued by several problems: drought, harsh winters, swamps, famine, thirst, disease and skirmishes with the natives. Smith knew the other leaders had no knowledge or experience in how to fight for survival. After 5 months in Jamestown, Smith convinced the council members to remove the president and appoint John Ratcliff as the new president. Ratcliff was a friend of John Smith. Ratcliff then appointed Smith as chief merchant and tasked with trading with the natives for food. Smith conducted expeditions throughout the region.

Enter Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas 1607

On one of Smith’s expeditions in early December, Smith and his party were ambushed on the Chickahominy River by a large Powhatan hunting party. Smith was the sole survivor. Smith was taken to the chief’s village. At the time, 30 Powhatan Indian tribes (25,000 Indians) dominated the area around Jamestown.

What happened next is unclear. The popular story is that the natives were ready to bash his brains out, when Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan’s 11-year-old daughter, threw herself on top of Smith and shielded him from death (See picture below).

In a letter written soon after the event, Smith described feasting and conversing with Chief Powhatan. Most historians believe that the Powhatan people conducted an adoption ceremony, welcoming Smith as a son into their tribe. After 4 weeks in the chief’s village, Smith returned to Jamestown on friendly terms with the Powhatan people. They continued contact, and, Pocahontas often visited Jamestown with food. Though she and Smith were friends, it is not known if they were ever romantically involved.

John Smith as President- Pocahontas Brings Food – 1608

Smith became president of the Jamestown colony, but, the settlement continued to suffer. An accidental fire destroyed much of the town, and hunger, disease, and Indian attacks continued. During this time, Pocahontas, accompanied by other women, often came to Jamestown as an emissary of her father. The Indian women brought food to help the hard-pressed settlers. These women befriended the settlers and became acquainted with English ways.

Smith installed a policy of rigid discipline, strengthened defenses, and encouraged farming with his order that all must work or face starvation. Smith had settlers dig the first well inside the fort (archaeologists have found that well). Smith ordered the repair of many buildings and the expansion of the fort into a five-sided structure, which archaeologists have also traced. (See picture below)

Smith’s strong leadership helped the colony survive and grow, but, also made him enemies within the fort. He was 29 years old when one night, as he slept in a boat on the river, Smith was badly injured by a mysterious gunpowder explosion. That month he returned to England for treatment, and, never set foot in Virginia again. The colonist told Pocahontas that John Smith had died in England.

His Later Life

Though he would not again go to Virginia, 5 years later and now 34 years old, he returned to the New World in a successful voyage to the Maine and Massachusetts coastal areas. Smith named this region New England. He would make two more attempts to return to the New England coast, but, the first attempt failed due to a major storm which dismasted his ship. In the second attempt, he was captured by French pirates off the Azores. Smith escaped after weeks of captivity and made his way back to England. He spent the rest of his life writing books until his death in 1631 at age 51. Note: modern medicine would have saved him.

Back to Pocahontas – 1614

Pocahontas believed that Captain John Smith had died in England. So Pocahontas, now 18 years old, married the English planter John Rolfe in Jamestown. Two years later, Pocahontas, her young son and husband traveled to England, their expenses paid by the Virginia Company of London.

Pocahontas had been in England only a few months, when one day, Smith visited her. He wrote that she was so overcome with emotion that she could not speak and turned away from him. Upon regaining her composure, Pocahontas reprimanded Smith for the manner in which he had treated her father and her people. She reminded him how Chief Powhatan had adopted him as a son.

Pocahontas Last Days – 1617 After a year in England, Pocahontas, her husband and son set sail back to Virginia. But they had hardly made progress when she became gravely ill, and, was taken ashore at Gravesend, England. It’s uncertain what disease struck her down. Some speculate it was tuberculosis, pneumonia, dysentery or smallpox; others believe she was poisoned. Note: Today’s modern medicine would have saved her.

Pocahontas was buried at St. George’s church in Gravesend England. She was only 21 years old. Her husband returned to Virginia, but, her son Thomas remained with relatives in England. He returned almost two decades later at age 20 to claim inheritances from his father and grandfather, and, became a successful tobacco farmer.

Chief Powhatan was devastated upon learning of his daughter’s death. He died about a year later, and, relations between the Powhatan and Virginia colonists declined rapidly.

Much of Pocahontas’ life has been romanticized in movies and books. But historical accounts show she lived a brief yet significant life. She was instrumental to maintaining relations between her father and the Jamestown colonists, and, is believed to be the first Powhatan Indian to convert to Christianity. She is remembered as a courageous, strong woman who left an indelible impression on colonial America. 400 years later people still know her name, although, few of them know the facts of her life.

What are the Lessons Learned?

First the founders of Jamestown were all Christian. They may have been flawed Christians, but, they were all nevertheless Christian. The Indian natives helped the colonist survive. Without their help Jamestown would have starved to death. Smith was the right man with the knowledge needed to survive; and, the strong leader required to control the 104 settlers of Jamestown. It is interesting to note that the Virginia Company had selected John Smith to sit on the Jamestown governing 7 member council. Why? Because they knew he had the strong survival and leadership skills needed. Note: Jamestown was to be governed by a council of men, not one man.

Chief Powhatan was a gifted wise chief himself, and, realized he could not stop the future growth of the colony. The natives would be overwhelmed by England’s technology. He also realized the destiny of his daughter Pocahontas was also tied to the destiny of the colony. She became a Christian, delivering food and learned the English language; and, became a very intellectually smart and skilled young woman. Both her and her father should be considered among the many early founders of the United States, along with Captain John Smith.

The hardy colonists, both men and women, may not have realized at the time, but, they had started a process which ended in the creation of the United States 170 years later, in 1776. Think of yourself as a hardy colonist, and, acquire the knowledge to survive and be a leader. 400 years from now history may consider you a colonist.

Last words from Grandpa

We are a Christian Nation, and, as proof think about this. After Christopher Columbus (1492) discovered our continent, every settlement established was a Christian settlement. That includes anywhere in North America, (the U.S. and Canada), both East coast and West coast. The first 3 settlements in North America were:

St. Augustine, Florida (1565), a Spanish settlement. 31 years before Pocahontas was born.

Jamestown, Virginia (1606), an English settlement. Pocahontas was 10 years old at the time.

Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts (1620), another English settlement. The Pilgrims landed 3 years after Pocahontas’s death.

Post Script
Note In both Virginia (1606) and Massachusetts (1620), the colonists survived with assistance from Native Americans. The West coast would not have Spanish settlements for another 100 years.

Also read letter 2 – “A Brief History of William Penn”. Founder of Pennsylvania, 1681. Your Grandfather Don