When the English settlers arrived and settled Jamestown, Powhatan at times ordered attacks against the white men and at other times negotiated trades with them. It seems at times he viewed them as allies, but also was somewhat wary of them as enemies. John Smith represented the English during these times, and He and Powhatan seemed to play a little bit of a cat and mouse game to gauge each other's skills and capabilities. It was during this time that John Smith reported that he was almost executed by Chief Powhatan when the chief's daughter and our 13th great Aunt, Pocohantas rescued John Smith and caused the chief to spare his life.
Around the year 1609 John Smith left the settlement and returned to England. During this time Chief Powhatan grew scared of the English. He invited many of the settlers to come do some trading, but as they arrived he ordered his men to attack them and they killed most of the white settlers that had come to trade. He then ordered his men to attack any of the settlers that left their fort in Jamestown to also be attacked. The settlers did not have much food and really struggled through this period with nearly 80% of them dying. Jamestown would have been completely lost if not for a ship with food and reinforcements that arrived in 1610. At this time the settlers gained more strength and more numbers and began their own attacks on the natives. In 1613 Chief Powhatans daughter Aunt Pocohantas was taken captive by the English. In effort to get her back Chief Powhatan released some English prisoners, but he could not meet all of the demands of the settlers and so Pocohantas remained in captivity. She eventually converted to Christianity and drew the romantic interest of her English teacher, and colonist John Rolfe. Powhatan consented to let his daughter marry John Rolfe which resulted in a peaceful period again between the Powhatan people and the English settlers. The peace between the two peoples lasted the rest of Chief Powhatan's life.
Shortly after Chief Powhatan died in the Spring of 1618 his younger brother, Opitchapam took control of the tribes. However, most of the tribes and decided instead to follow the youngest brother, Opechancanough, was more intent on going to war and attacking the English. This eventually led to the Powhatan's demise and the continual growth of the English. Chief Opechancanough was our 12th great grandfather and had married Chief Powhatan's daughter, and Pocohantas's sister. Her name was Paupauwiske Morning Scent Flower Mangopeesomom. Their daughter married Major Joseph Raleigh Croshaw, and their daughter married Colonel John West who was the son of the third governor of Virginia also named John West. These men were also our grandparents and come from royal lines in England that travel back to Knights, Barons, Ladies, and Dukes. Including Elizabeth Somerset who was one of Anne Boleyns's ladies in waiting and testified against her to get her locked in the Tower of London. Anyway some interesting history for y'all. The land that the West's owned in Virginia is now the city of West Point, Virginia which holds a crab festival in the first weekend of October that I believe we should all attend because crab is delicious.
John Smith said of Chief Powhatan "...their Emperor proudly [lay] upon a bedstead a foot high upon ten or twelve mats, richly hung with many chains of great pearls about his neck, and covered with a great covering of Rahaughcums [raccoon skins]. At his head sat a woman, at his feet another, on each side, sitting upon a mat upon the ground, were ranged his chief men on each side [of] the fire, ten in a rank, and behind them as many young women, each a great chain of white beads over their shoulders, their heads painted in red, and [he] with such a grave a majestical countenance as drove me into admiration to see such state in a naked savage." and described him as such "tall, well-proportioned man with a sower looke, his head somewhat gray, his beard so thinne that it seemeth none at all, his age neare sixtie, of a very able and hardy body, to endure any labor."
Now she was known as Rebecca Rolfe
