Pocahontas- an American Indian Princess

Pocahontas - The first ambassador for the American Indians

Earlier this year I was asked to create a replica of the Cameo Brooch that was presented to Pocahontas while she was in London in 1616. The Pocahontas cameo brooch was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in a special ceremony at the South Portico of the State Capitol building in Richmond, Virginia on May 3rd, 2007.

This ceremony was to mark the 400 year anniversary of the arrival of Captain John Smith and the colonists at Jamestown. This was the first permanent English settlement in North America.

I have learned so much from this fascinating project about the importance of Pocahontas to both Indian and American history that I have been inspired to create this lens to share my knowledge.

The Story of Pocahontas

Princess Matoaka, also called Amonute was born in 1595. She was a daughter of Wahunsunacock, also known as Chief Powhatan, who ruled an area encompassing almost all of the neighboring tribes in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

'Pocahontas' was a childhood nickname referring to her frolicsome nature; in the Powhatan language it meant "little wanton". In her last days she went by the name Rebecca Rolfe.

Many believe that she saved the life of Captain John Smith from being killed by her father. Later she warned the English colonists at Jamestown of a planned Indian ambush. She also helped in the dealings between the colonists and her father, Chief Powhatan.

The life of Pocahontas has formed the basis of many legends. Her story became the source of much romantic myth making in the centuries following her death and is very important in American history. On the other hand, Americans of European descent regard Pocahontas as a savior of their own race and a fore-mother of the United States.

Pocahontas visits London, England

In April of 1614 Pocahontas married John Rolfe in Jamestown's church. They had a child together called Thomas Rolfe. The family travelled to London, England in 1616 as part of a tour to promote the Jamestown colony and encourage more families to move to Virginia.

Pocahontas, while in London, missed meeting the famed William Shakespeare, due to his death just a few weeks earlier, but she did attend a performance of his The Tempest at the Globe Theatre.

Royalty met royalty when she was presented at court to King James I and Queen Anne. But it was in the midst of all this royal excitement, and dampness and London smog, that the situation changed, and for the worst.

Pocahontas' health suddenly began to change and worsen. She was moved to an estate in the country. It was there that a friend she had believed was dead and lost to her came to visit. It was the last time that Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, whatever their previous relationship had been or had not been, would ever meet.

In 1617, Pocahontas' husband, John Rolfe, received an appointment as secretary of the Virginia Colony. Soon they would return home to America. In March, the Rolfe family boarded the ship that would carry them back to Virginia.

Ironically, the captain of this transport was none other than Captain Argall, the man who had once captured Pocahontas and held her prisoner. But soon Pocahontas was beyond any mortal means that could hold her prisoner or treat her either as royalty or as a savage.

While their ship still lay at anchor in the Thames River, Pocahontas became very ill. It was not long until the little girl who had helped the Virginia colonists, then grew to be the wife of one of them, was dead.

Far from her beloved land in America, Pocahontas was buried on March 21, 1617. Her grave, is at a Church in Gravesend, Essex.

Indian life in the time of Pocahontas

Watercolors by the Artist John White

This watercolor by John White of an Indian village dates from the time of Pocahontas.

John White has left a valuable record of the way of life of the Indian tribes in America. White sailed with the first expedition to colonize Roanoke, Virginia in 1585. He was made Governor of the second colony at Roanoke in 1587.

Over the two years that he was there he made many maps and drawings of the area. His drawings and watercolors of the Powhatan Indians give a valuable insight into the early life of Pocahontas.

These drawings are selected from the collection of his work displayed in the British Museum. More of his images can be viewed at the Virtual Jamestown Museum.

John White Watercolors of Virginian Indians

These pictures were painted from real life in the time of Pocahontas

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The gift that Pocahontas gave the King and Queen of England

According to Legend Pocahontas may have given this, her fathers, ceremonial cloak or mantle, to King James I and Queen Anne when she met them at the Royal court, London, England in 1616.

There are other accounts from the period, that Captain John Smith returned with this to England. Or Chief Powhatan may have given it to Captain Christopher Newport in 1608, who then sailed with it to England.

I like to think that Pocahontas herself gave this to the King and Queen. She certainly would not have arrived in London without suitable gifts with her to present to Royalty.

Her father, Chief Powhatan wore this cloak, made from four deer hides sewn together with deer sinew, during ceremonial occasions.

The original is at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University in England. A reproduction can be seen at the Jamestown Museum, Virginia, USA.

The Pocahontas Earrings

These shell earrings were worn by Pocahontas

A pair of mussel shell earrings set in silver and believed to be among the only surviving possessions of legendary American Indian princess Pocahontas on display at a London museum in their first public showing since 1907.

Each earring is formed of a double mussel-shell, the rare white kind found on the eastern shore of the Berings Strait. They are set in silver rims, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and are worth approximately $500,000.

Bly Straube, curator of the Jamestown Rediscovery project, said "The earrings on display at Museum in Docklands are most likely to have been crafted during Pocahontas' sojourn amongst the well heeled of London's court society. In 1866 a new bride of the Rolfe family was presented with them, and told that they were handed down through the generations and had been Pocahontas' earrings."

Shells were often worn by Native American nobility, yet this pair has silver rims with steel point inlays, which suggests they were set in England. However, we do know that while imprisoned in the Tower of London the Earl of Northumberland repaired some earrings for Pocahontas.

The earrings were handed down through the Rolfe family and now belong to the Association for Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

The earrings were sent from Virginia for the exhibition at the Museum of Docklands marking the upcoming 400th anniversary of the first permanent British settlement in America at Jamestown, Va., which was founded in 1607.

They were on display in London until July 10, 2005 and were then returned to Virginia for the 2006 opening of the new Settlement Museum at Jamestown.

The Pocahontas Cameo Brooch

This is the cameo that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II

The Pocahontas Cameo brooch. This image of Pocahontas was carved from layered agate and set in a frame of Palladium, with natural seed pearl detail.

I was asked to create a replica of the antique cameo brooch that was presented to Pocahontas by King James I in London in 1616. This brooch is in the collection of the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation Museum in Virginia, USA.

This cameo carved by Gareth Eckley was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in a special ceremony in Richmond, Virginia on May 3rd, 2007.

This photo was taken outside with the Pocahontas cameo brooch resting on an Owl feather. All of my Portrait cameo carvings are so alive when worn outside. The combination of movement and changing light really brings out the amazing reality of the portraits.

This cameo is now in Queen Elizabeth's royal collection in Buckingham Palace, London, UK.

Gareth Eckley's Pocahontas cameo is presented to Queen Elizabeth II

Richmond, Virginia - May 3rd, 2007

William Miles, chief of the Pamunkey nation, presents the Queen with a replica of the Pocahontas cameo brooch. The original brooch was presented to Pocahontas in London over 400 years ago. It is believed to have been carved with her likeness.

This important occasion was to honor the role of Pocahontas in the very survival of John Smith and his settlement at Jamestown.

This ceremony was part of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Colony. The first permanent settlement of the British in North America.

Photos of the Pocahontas Cameo

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Pocahontas- an American Indian Princess

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Pocahontas - The first ambassador for the American Indians

Explore related pages

The Story of Pocahontas

Pocahontas visits London, England

Indian life in the time of Pocahontas

Watercolors by the Artist John White

John White Watercolors of Virginian Indians

These pictures were painted from real life in the time of Pocahontas

The gift that Pocahontas gave the King and Queen of England

The Pocahontas Earrings

These shell earrings were worn by Pocahontas

The Pocahontas Cameo Brooch

This is the cameo that was presented to Queen Elizabeth II

Gareth Eckley's Pocahontas cameo is presented to Queen Elizabeth II

Richmond, Virginia - May 3rd, 2007

Photos of the Pocahontas Cameo

11 facts about Pocahontas that may surprise you

#1

Her true name was not Pocahontas

#2

She was only 7 when she first met Captain John Smith

#3

She may not have saved the life of John Smith

#4

Pocahontas and John Smith were never lovers

#5

She was kidnapped and held for ransom on a ship

#6

Pocahontas was baptized and converted to Chritianity

#7

She changed her name to Rebecca and married John Rolfe

#8

She travelled to London and met the King and Queen

#9

She was given a cameo brooch by King James and Queen Anne

#10

She is buried in Gravesend, England.

#11

Her Statue is on top of the Capitol State Senate building

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Biography and Movies of Pocahontas in DVD

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Books on Pocahontas

Great Links about Pocahontas

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Portraits in stone cameo artists blog

Blog from the Cameo Artist who created the Pocahontas Cameo

My connection with the Jamestown Colonists

A family from our cottage (Pwll-Wrach) on the farm moved to Virginia in 1630

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