Gravesend

Pocahontas Statue at Gravesend

Pocahontas was the first ever Native American to visit England - and Europe of course.  She was the daughter of Powhatan, the Chief of the Powhatan confederacy of Indian Tribes.  In 1607 a group of English settlers landed in what is now known at Virginia.  The legend says that she saved their leader Captain John Smith from the immediate death of the Indian raiding party which descended on the English settlers.  her father had the Captain spread out on the ground ready for execution:  she is thought to have thrown herself on the Captain to shield him from the blows of the tomahawks wielded by the furious Indians.

This is now legend: Walt Disney has of course done his own interpretation of the incident.  What is true is that after Captain John Smith returned to England she was captured by the English settlers and made a hostage in an attempt to secure "good behaviour" from the Powhatan tribes.  She was forcibly converted to Christianity.  She eventually married one of the colonists,  John Rolfe,  who had fallen in love with her - and she with him.  She was baptized with the name "Rebecca", and sailed with John Rolfe to England with their baby son,  Thomas.  She was received into London society and met Queen Anne, among others, and had her portrait painted by famous artists. 

Statue of Pocahontas the native First American who married an English settler John Rolfe and who died and was buried in St George's Church Gravesend - photo by SW

Later she was preparing to set sail for Virginia with her husband when she contracted tuberculosis and died in March 1617 before the ship set sail.  She was buried in the Parish Churchyard of St George's. 

A statue to her memory is in the churchyard of St. George's Church.

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