English records show Pocahontas was living in the Patawomecks' village when she was kidnapped. Though Pocahontas' father was the "paramount chief" of the united Algonquian tribes, each tribe also had their own chief. The English conspired with the Patawomecks' chief to capture Pocahontas. The Mattaponi, another related tribe, now believe the chief went along with the plan to save the rest of his people from danger.

According to the National Park Service, after her kidnapping, Pocahontas was taken to Jamestown, then Henrico, near modern Richmond. Her father immediately began cooperating with the English to pay a ransom, but she wasn't released, and according to Mattaponi oral tradition, the English purposefully sabotaged the negotiations. They also continually told her that her father didn't love her. In the meantime, she learned English and was taught about Christianity. She converted in 1614 and was renamed Rebecca — her third or fourth name, since she was also called Matoaka and was possibly born Amonute. Shortly thereafter, she married Rolfe.

The Mattaponi say Rolfe married her so the Native Americans would help him with his tobacco crops (via National Park Service). Writing to the governor of Virginia, Rolfe himself said he wanted to marry her "for the good of this plantation, for the honour of our countrie, for the glory of God, for my owne salvation, and for the converting to the true knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, an unbeleeving creature" (via Encyclopedia Virginia).

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