The fascinating story of Pocahontas & her connection to Gravesend
Pocahontas, the Native American Princess, is a well-known in popular culture because of the Disney movie that shares her name. But, the real story of Pocahontas is far from the fictional tale portrayed in the movie.
Pocahontas was born Meto-aka in 1595 and was a member of the Powhatan tribe, which lived on the land around the James and York rivers in Virginia.
The arrival of the English in 1607 led to a tumultuous relationship between the two communities, culminating in Pocahontas being taken hostage by the English in 1613. She was later married to an Englishman and taken to England, where she died at the age of 22.
Nearly 25 years ago, I must have been probably the only person who has never been to Gravesend, but knew exactly who Pocahontas was!
When I was at Girl Scouts, we were given special names which were chosen for us by our group leaders. My given name, as you’ve probably already guessed, was Pocahontas and I’ve learned the story of a brave native Indian princess back in 1990.
So, when I found out that Gravesend had a connection with Pocahontas, I wanted to visit straightaway. I’ve visited the church where she was buried, the place where she probably landed and also attended one of the historic lecture in the church when the Pocahontas anniversary was celebrated.
And the best part of my visit was to to talk to a direct descendant of Pocahontas who was visiting from America and was the honoured guest at the lecture.
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Pocahontas’s early life in Virginia
Pocahontas was born in Virginia and her farther was the Chief of the Powhatan tribe.
Pocahontas was actually a childhood nickname meaning ‘playful one’ or ‘little wanton’, given to her because of her lively, mischievous nature. Her formal names within the Powhatan community were Amonute and Matoaka, the latter can be translated as ‘bright stream between the hills’.
The tribe inhabited the land around the James and York rivers, which flow through Virginia and into Chesapeake Bay. The arrival of the English in 1607 threatened the Chief’s rule and led to hostility between the two communities.
Establishing a new English settlement – Jamestown
The English established a new settlement in Virginia and called it Jamestown. This was in the spring of 1607 and before the winter came, the majority of the Englishmen sailed back home to get more supplies. About 105 men were left behind to seek trade opportunities and establish their community in the ‘New World.’ But by the end of that harsh winter during the same year, disease and famine left fewer than 40 alive.
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Pocahontas saves John Smith
John Smith was one of the founders of the Jamestown settlement and encountered Pocahontas during his time there. He was captured by members of the Powhatan tribe in 1607 and brought in front of their Chief.
Pocahontas threw herself between the two at the last second, saving Smith’s life. Following this, Smith was released, and it marked the beginning of a strong alliance between Jamestown and the Powhatan tribe.
Later on Pocahontas meets John Smith when she visits England and he even sends a letter to the king to make sure that Pocahontas is treated well ‘like royalty.’
But, most modern historians doubt that Pocahontas actually saved John Smith’s life. Smith didn’t even mention this story in his journals until many years later, long after Pocahontas had become famous in England and passed away. It is highly likely he invented or embellished it, or it was part of a tribal adoption ritual he misunderstood.
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Pocahontas is taken hostage
In 1613, tensions between the English and the Powhatan tribe reached a boiling point, resulting in the capture and incarceration of eight Englishmen. Samuel Argall, the man in charge of Jamestown, tracked down Pocahontas and took her hostage.
The marriage to John Rolfe
Pocahontas was taken to Jamestown, where she was treated as an honoured guest and met her future husband, John Rolfe, who was 10 years older than her. In order to marry, Pocahontas converted to the Christian faith and was baptised as Rebecca.
John Rolfe ( born 1585 – March 1622) was an English explorer and farmer. He become the first Virginia colonist to successfully grow tobacco as a profitable export crop. He introduced a new sweeter tobacco strain from Trinidad, which became a very lucrative cash crop.
The couple were married on April 5, 1614, by chaplain Richard Buck, probably at Jamestown. For two years they lived at Varina Farms, across the James River from Henricus. Their son Thomas was born in January 1615.
The marriage created a climate of peace between the Jamestown colonists and Powhatan’s tribes; it lasted for eight years and was called the “Peace of Pocahontas”.
In 1615, Ralph Hamor wrote, “Since the wedding we have had friendly commerce and trade not only with Powhatan but also with his subjects round about us.”.
The marriage was controversial in the British court at the time because “a commoner” had “the audacity” to marry a “princess.
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Pocahontas journey to England
In 1616, Pocahontas and her new family were put on a ship headed for England, where she was presented to the English as proof of the benefits of colonisation and to promote the Virginia colony’s success in “civilizing” the “savage” New World.
She arrived with her husband John Rolfe and their son at the port of Plymouth on June 12, 1616, along with eleven other Powhatans, including a holy man named Tomocomo. They traveled to London by a horse driven coach.
For some time, Pocahontas and Rolfe resided in the London suburb of Brentford, Middlesex, as well as at the Rolfe family home in Heacham Hall in Norfolk. The Rolfe family residence, Heacham Hall, unfortunately burned down in 1941 and there is nothing visible on the site today.
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Social life in Londong & Pocahontas meets the King
During her time in England, Pocahontas attended many social events. On January 5, 1617, she and Tomocomo were presented to King James at the old Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace during a performance of Ben Jonson’s masque The Vision of Delight.
According to John Smith, neither Pocahontas nor Tomocomo realized they had met the King until it was explained to them afterwards. This was because the king didn’t wear his finery or crown jewels on this occasion and apparently looked like a regular nobleman.
The London Company portrayed Pocahontas as a princess to the English public, although she did not hold that status in Powhatan culture. She was presented as such because she was the daughter of an important chief.
In London, Pocahontas was a regular face in the court of King James 1st. and seems to have been treated with respect and hospitality, being offered a good seats at various gatherings and entertained lavishly by people like Bishop John King.
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Pocahontas arrival at Gravesend
In March 1617, after spending nine months in England, Rolfe and Pocahontas wanted to return to Virginia. They had to delay their departure because of bad weather but eventually they started their journey from London. However, they had only reached Gravesend on the River Thames when Pocahontas became extremely ill.
She was brought ashore, but unfortunately, she died from unknown causes. The speculated causes of her death include pneumonia, smallpox, tuberculosis, dysentery, and poisoning.
She might have contracted an illness that her immune system wasn’t used to, but she has been living in England for nearly a year so she was probably used to some mild ailments.
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Pocahontas son Thomas life after her death
The Pocahontas and Rolfes’ young son Thomas was also sick and his father was worried that he might be too ill to survive the voyage across the sea. John Rolfe needed to return to Virginia, so he left his son with his brother Henry Rolfe, who became his guardian.
The plan was for Thomas to return to Virginia once he recovered, but unfortunately, John Rolfe would never see his son again. Thomas did eventually regain his health, but remained in England during his childhood. Thomas eventually returned to Virginia where he married Jane Poythress.
Pocahontas’s funeral was held on March 21, 1617 in the parish of St George’s Church, Gravesend. Her grave is thought to be under the church’s chancel, though that church burned down in 1727 and the exact site is now unknown.
John Rolfe returned back to Virginia and two years after Pocahontas death, he married Jane Pierce and they had a daughter named Elizabeth. John may have lost his life in the 1622 Native American massacre near Jamestown.
Gravesend Parish Burial Register
When I was researching Pocahontas story I also came across the record of her death in the Gravesend parish burial register on 21 March 1617. The curate of the time made a frantic, uncorrectable mistake when recording her final resting place. The entry reads: ‘Rebecca Wrolfe, wyffe of Thomas Rolfe gent. A Virginian lady borne, was buried in ye chancell.’ Not only did he misspell her married surname, but he accidentally recorded her husband’s name as Thomas, which was actually the name of her infant son.
Pocahontas bronze statue & the church of St.George’s
Since 1958 Pocahontas has been commemorated in Gravesend by a bronze statue, a replica of a 1907 sculpture in Jamestown by the American artist William Ordway Partridge. You can find the statue in front of the St.George’s Church.
If you step inside St George’s Church, you will find two stunning stained-glass windows in the nave, installed in 1914 by the Society of Colonial Dames of America. One window shows the Old Testament figure of Ruth and the other Rebecca, the Christian name Pocahontas took at her baptism.
If you look closely at the borders of the glass and you can spot intricate painting of native American plants, including Virginia creeper and dogwood.
The church also treasures a replica chalice and paten (communion vessels) gifted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1958 to honour the original 1607 Jamestown settlers.
This blog post was originally published on 20 January 2024 and last updated on 6 June 2026
