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The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History

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As listed in my title, I am a Virginia fourth-grade teacher, and my students are expected to study Virginia history. In 2008, the revised VA Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Studies went into effect. These included requiring students to identify and locate the eight state-recognized tribes. This got me to thinking, "Was I teaching an accurate account of Jamestown? Or was I only passing on what the conquerors stated?" As an educator, I feel I am obligated to know the truth, and to present the truth to others. So when I discovered Dr. Linwood and Ms. Daniel's book, I was delighted at the chance to improve my own knowledge.

The Mattaponi tribe calls this a part of their sacred oral tradition. As an amateur historical storyteller, I know how the epic tales were learned and passed on. A student worked with a master of the craft, meticulously memorizing not only the words, but the tone of a tale until it was learned perfectly. Therefore, I believe that this is a true telling of the events in Jamestown. After all, knowing what we know of European settlers, is it so hard to believe that they would resort to violence and trickery to accomplish their means?

The book was well-organized and logical in its arguments. I enjoyed the chronology, the end notes with references, the rich bibliography, and the index to increase my understanding of the events. I was so impressed by the number of source documents that I am interested in perusing several of the books listed in the bibliography, to continue my research.

This is an important book, but it will not be an easy one to take. It will require an open mind, and a willingness to unlearn many of the misconceptions taught in popular culture and "history" books. Thank you, Dr. Linwood and Ms. Daniel for enlightening me. I hope to take the lessons I have learned and apply them in my classroom.

The book tells a "new" story to me from the standpoint of the Powhatan Indians of Virginia. I enjoyed learning of Pocahontas from the viewpoint of her ancestors. This oral history of her life was enlightening. It made me rethink how my English ancestors behaved and how they may not have been as truthful and honest to a trusting Powhatan Indian Chief, Pocahontas's father, to gain successful knowledge about planting and growing crops in the "New World." I also never knew that Pocahontas might have been kidnapped by the settlers. To learn in this book that Pocahontas may have been poisoned in England, where she died, it was very sad.

Great read!

Thanks to Dr. Custalow.

This is a depressing but more realistic view of the short life of Pocahontas. It is not a personalized account, obviously, as no one knows exactly what happened. The fact that her sister and brother-in-law spent time with her, accompanied her to England and returned, pretty much assures us that they knew more than anyone what actually did happen. So the oral history rings true. The book is filled with repetition and almost more about the author and his family than Pocahontas, but if left to just the facts as known, this would be an article or pamphlet and not a book.

A friend let me borrow a copy of this book, and of course I had to buy my own after reading just a few pages. I had no idea that a book on Pocahontas told from the Powhatan viewpoint even existed, but I am so thrilled it does! I have studied Native American history for decades now, and I learned long ago that an American Indian oral history is to be trusted far more than any 'history' written by the people who attempted to subjugate them. This book is very easy to read and contains so much fascinating information -- events are mentioned in this book that make way more sense than the stories about Pocahontas that most of us have grown up hearing. I cannot praise this book enough, and I highly recommend it to anyone who really wants to learn 'the true story of Pocahontas.'

Wow! So many details to think about after reading this book. Even if only half of it were true, it still blows away much of the myth I learned in school about this courageous (although for different reasons that originally thought) young woman named Pocahontas. And so much of it makes sense.

For example, the idea that Pocahontas traveled freely and often to visit the English settlement is taken for granted when reading the typical stories about her. But the book clearly proves that this would be impossible for two reasons: (1) Pocahontas was living 12 miles away from Jamestown and would not travel such a distance as a young girl often and especially in winter and, (2) she would not be allowed to travel there unprotected being she was still a young girl and she was the daughter of the Chief.

Also, the whole incident with Pocahontas supposedly saving Smith from certain death by Chief Wahunsenaca and his men just seems ridiculous now. As stated in the book, Wahunsenaca was in the process of initiating Smith to become a "secular leader or commander" of the English in order to form an alliance between the Powhatan nation and the English. Why then, would Smith have ever claimed he was going to be killed by them when he was about to be made a very important leader instead? One must also wonder why such a brush with death would not have been mentioned by Smith prior to the death of Pocahontas if it really did happen. In addition, the book clearly states that children, including Pocahontas, would not have been permitted to attend any sacred events (where the priests would be present). This would seem reasonable as all societies, even today, still place restrictions on children for admittance to some rituals. So, if Pocahontas were not allowed to attend any sacred events where priests would be present, then it would have been impossible for her to have intervened on Smith's behalf for anything--good or bad.

Reading along futher, I don't doubt Pocahontas experienced many horrible things between the time of her kidnapping and her untimely death in England. As a Christian, I am heart-broken to read all of what she most likely suffered at the hands of the Jamestown colony residents. It is shameful/sinful behavior that many (but not all) of the English people displayed upon arrival in Virginia. I truly hope her acceptance of Christ was sincere and not just to please her captors or Rolfe. It is possible that, since she seems to have hit rock-bottom during this time, her heart became genuinely open to the Gospel and she did not convert due to "brainwashing".

Equally sad was Rolfe's handing off of Thomas to his relatives in England and his quick return to Virginia immediately following Pocahontas's death. If, as the book mentions, Thomas was not Rolfe's biological child, but Sir Thomas Dale's instead, that would help to explain his lack of true dedication to "his" son after her death. Furthermore, if he plotted to have Pocahontas murdered, as detailed in the book, of course Rolfe would want to leave England sooner rather than later. These pieces are what seem to be missing out of all of the other accounts of Pocahontas's life.

Upon completion of this book, I can only admire Pocahontas even more for her display of courage and poise on her trip to England than I did before. This is despite all she had experienced up to this point in her young life! She was a remarkable young woman who had her life tragically cut short due to the greed and selfishness of others but in the process, left all of us a true picture of what it means to be great.

This is a very important story that should be read by as many people as possible. It is essential that we recognize the value of oral history--and the other side of history that is presented here. We generally know so little about the native people who interacted with the English settlers of Jamestown--their beliefs, their way of life, and their perspective. We are very fortunate that Dr. Custalow was willing to share the story that he knows with the rest of us, particularly as we turn our attention to Jamestown during this "celebration" year. It is beautifully and evocatively written and well worth your time and thought. I know that reading it has affected me, and increased my understanding of this pivotal time in our nation's history. Thank you for your contribution, Dr. Custalow.

After reading this version of Pocahontas, a lot of things became clearer to me. I could never understand how, when the Natives from the rest of the United States were treated so horribly by the Anglos, that the Natives of Virginia escaped, virtually unscathed, during the time of Powhatan. It was very informative, beautifully written and I am grateful that the truth has been told. My congratulations go out to both Linwood Custalow and Angie Daniels for writing this book. I know that Chief Webster 'Little Eagle' Custalow, from his present vantage point, is very proud of this contribution to history. I only wish that he were here, in person, to tell you this.

Thank you for sharing,

Barbara 'Little Doe' Adkins

Gloucester, Virginia

The authors of this book felt that this was the time to finally tell the true story of Pocahontas, and I completely agree. It's time people, especially Americans, face the truth that has been shrouded in romantic myth for far too long. It may be difficult for some to think of such historical figures as John Smith, John Rolfe and others to be anything but heroes, but it's far more important to the history of this country that the truth be told. The Mattaponi, Pocahontas's tribe, has kept their secret knowledge of the truth to themselves for 400 years. It is with bravery and no doubt a sense of relief that they finally decided to share it with the world. The time for Disney movies and romaticized stories is over: it is now time for the truth.

I was born in Richmond Virginia. My Mother had been a Wave in WWII. In the 1950s and early 60's she would get up in the middle of the night to assist a local doctor who would volenteer his time to go deliver babies at the homes of the residences of the Virginia Mattiponi Reservation.

This gave me an early awarness of the Mattaponi.

I raised my children in the 1980's through 2000 in Gloucester,VA. area where Pocahontus and her Father lived.

I always have a deep love for the Indians of Virginia.

I sadly also witnessed the prejudices of many people towards the Indians that lived on the reservations in Virginia.

The indigenous Elders of the Mayan who's say their Calender states that during these days "Truths will be revealed."

The Mayans calender was not one that followed physical objects but followed the evolution of consciouness.

This book is certaintly that. We need to rewrite much of our Histroy.

The Mattiponi intuitively knew that this was the time to write down the Oral

Histroy of the events of the early settlers of Jamestown and the Pocahontus, Jamestown Settlement and John Smith story.

My sister had sent this book to some of my family for christmas. When I became aware of this book I had to get it!

During the time that I was ordering this book my niece had been researching our ancestry and found that I have the same Grandmother as Pocahontus. (PauPauwiske Scent Flower.) Truths are certainly being revealed!

This is the best book that I have ever read! I highly reccomend it to anyone who wants the true histroy of early Jamestown, John Smith ,Pocahontus and the Virginia Indians during the 1600s.

Truths are certainly being revealed!

History is a rope woven by hundreds and thousands of people. Not movements or great leaders but the needs of people, their dreams, desires, and hates. In other for you to truly understand history, in order for the truth to come out, for the real picture to appear, you need all sides of it to be told. The True Story of Pocahontas is more threads that one needs to weave into the picture. Without these threads, no matter how horrible or how blood stained they may be, our history is not complete.

Due to the tragic nature of the events within the covers of this book I can not suggest it for children. But I would suggest it for anybody interested in World history, Native American history, or the history of Mankind.

I would also suggest The Deadly Politics of Giving: Exchange and Violence at Ajacan, Roanoke, and Jamestown.