Amonute, or Matoaka, was born in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1596. Her playful nature earned her the nickname ‘Pocahontas,’ which means ‘the playful one’.
This is her story.
Table of Contents
Pocahontas’ Birth and Family Background
Pocahontas’ father, Wahunsenaca, was the Mamanatowick (leader) of a network of tributary tribes in the Tsenacommacah ( modern-day Tidewater region of Virginia).
When Wahunsenaca first came to power, he initially controlled only six tribes. But by the 17th century, he’d gained control of over 30 tribes by using various diplomatic and military strategies.
Now, it was the tradition of the time that each new tribe would select a woman to temporarily marry the chief. The chief and the woman would remain ‘married’ until a child was born. Once a healthy child was born, the woman would return to her people. She was always welcomed with honor as she was now the mother of the chief’s child. This tradition ensured that a strong blood alliance was formed between the chief and the tribes.
Amonute (Pocahontas) was one of the many children born out of such marriages. It is generally believed that Amonute was born in Werowocomoco village located on the north bank of York River. It’s also claimed that she may have been born in her mother’s village, which was located between Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers. This also explains one of her names, ‘Matoaka’, which most probably translates to a flower between two streams.
While the English records do not name Amonute’s mother, the native resources mention that she was a member of the Mattaponi Tribe. This tribe was one of the six that Wahunsenaca controlled at the start. According to many native sources, she was also called Pocahontas and was Wahunsenaca’s first wife. She had joined him before he became a leader. And so we can assume that their union was based on mutual affection, rather than a political gain. Unfortunately, she died shortly after giving birth to Amonute.
There is a different view of Pocahontas’ mother, written by Bill Deyo, a genealogist. He writes that Amonute’s mother was named ‘Winganuske‘, and she was one of the 12 wives of the chief Wahunsenaca. He believes that Amonute’s mother did not die in childbirth.
Later, some Englishmen would write that they believed that she was her father’s favourite. Many historians believe that there is no way the English would have known who the chief’s favourite child was, if he had any, and that they made this up because they believed Amonute was in their favour and wanted to paint her in a positive light.
Why We’ll Never Know Pocahontas’ Full Story
It can be said that Pocahontas’ life was the story of interaction between people of two nations: Her native Powhatan people and the English settlers who came to live in the Jamestown colony of Virginia.
The story of her life differs based on who you ask. Her own Powhatan people’s tale is quite different from the Disney storybook version of the English. Although it should be mentioned that while there’s obvious bias in the English version of events, most of the Powhatan version of the story has been passed down through generations orally. And how much of the story was lost and/or adapted through the generations is not known.
And so, we may never get the actual story of her life.
Books to Read To Understand Pocahontas’ Full Story
- The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History by Dr. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow and Angela L. Daniel “Silver Star”.
- Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Start of a New Nation by David A. Price