The kidnapping of Pocahontas took place on April 13, 1613.  At this time the colonists and the Powhatan Indians were enemies.  Chief Powhatan, the father of Pocahontas had English prisoners and their weapons.  Captain Samuel Argall from the English ship, the Treasurer, wanted Chief Powhatan to return the prisoners, weapons and give him a big share of corn.  Captain Argall heard that Pocahontas was visiting the Patowomeck Indians on the Potomac.  He saw this as his chance to get the English prisoners back.  He would capture Pocahontas and exchange her for the prisoners.

Captain Argall went to see Iopassus of the Patowomeck Indians.  Captain Argall told Iopassus that if he didn’t help capture Pocahontas they would no longer be brothers or friends.  Iopassus was afraid if he helped kidnap Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan would make war on the Patowomecks.  But Captain Argall promised that the English would protect the Patowomecks from any Powhatan warriors.  Iopassus talked to his brother, the chief of the Patowomecks and they decided to help kidnap Pocahontas.  They thought it would weaken Powhatan’s power.

The wife of Iopassus convinced Pocahontas to go on a tour of the ship the Treasurer.  Pocahontas suspected a trap but Iopassus’ wife begged so much that Pocahontas just had to go.  After the tour they ate supper on the ship and then spent the night in the gunroom.  The next morning Iopassus and his wife got a small copper kettle for helping capture Pocahontas and then they left the ship.  That’s when Pocahontas realized she was kidnapped!

Captain Argall told Chief Powhatan to give him the English prisoners, weapons and corn in exchange for Pocahontas.  Chief Powhatan only gave back seven men and seven broken guns.  Captain Argall said that he wouldn’t return Pocahontas unless he got more men, more guns and a share of corn.  Pocahontas was mad at her father.  She didn’t understand why he wouldn’t make the trade.  While she was captured Pocahontas was treated nicely and learned how to be a normal English woman.  She wore tight dresses and shoes and was taught to walk with smaller steps and to stop sprinting.  Pocahontas also learned about religion and became the first American to convert to Christianity.  She met John Rolfe and fell in love.  Pocahontas and John Rolfe got married on April 5, 1614.  Their marriage brought peace to the Indians and the English and was called the Peace of Pocahontas.

Bibliography:
Horn, James.  (2005).  A Land As God Made It.  New York, NY:  Basic Books.
Krull, Kathleen.  (2007).  Pocahontas, Princess of the New World.  New York, NY:  Walker
      Publishing Company, Inc.

Rountree, Helen C.  (2005).  Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough.  Charlottesville, VA:
      University of Virginia Press.

Woolley, Benjamin.  (2007).  Savage Kingdom.  New York, NY:  HarperCollins Publishers.