Henry Spelman of Jamestown

[1] Despite being a son of the high sheriff of his county, Spelman, owing to the traditional English practice of primogeniture, was left to indenture himself as a laborer to pay his passage to the New World.

[4] Only two weeks after his arrival at the Jamestown Settlement, Spelman went with Captain John Smith on an expedition up the James River to the Indian town called Powhatan (located in the East End portion of the modern-day city of Richmond, Virginia).

[4] In January 1611 to the surprise of Captain Samuel Argall, who was sent to open trade with the Patawomek, he found Spelman living among the natives.

John Smith wrote that "Pokahontas the Kings daughter saved a boy called Henry Spilman that lived many yeeres after, by her meanes, amongst the Patawomekes."

In September 1610, Captain Samuel Argall was on a trading mission and found Spelman living with the Patawomeck, and he was bought back for "sum copper."

With his knowledge of the native language and culture, Spelman continued to help the colonists trade copper for valuable supplies such as corn.

In 1613, Spelman was the interpreter when Chief Japazaws helped Argall abduct Pocahontas, which eventually led to her marriage to John Rolfe and a temporary peace with Powhatan.

Spelman went back to England in 1613, and made several other trips, but returned to Virginia each time to continue to serve as an interpreter, and eventually rising to the rank of captain.

In 1619 Robert Poole, a rival interpreter, accused Spelman of speaking badly about the now Governor Samuel Argall to Opchanacanough, who was the new chief of the Powhatan people.

The records state that "Poole chardgeth him he spake very unreverently and maliciously against this present Governr, wherby the honour and dignity of his place and person, and so of the whole Colonie, might be brought into contempte, by wch meanes what mischiefs might ensue from the Indians by disturbance of the peace or otherwise, may easily be conjectured.

Records state: "this sentence being read to Spelman he, as one that had in him more of the Savage than of the Christian, muttered certain words to himself neither showing any remorse for his offences, nor yet any thankfulness to the Assembly for their so favorable censure.

In the spring of 1623, Spelman volunteered to take a group of 19 men north to the Potomac River, away from the fighting near Jamestown, to barter for corn or other food.

One of the best interpreters in the Land, being furnished with a Barke and six and twentie men, hee was sent to trucke in the River of Patawomek, where he had lived a long time amongst the Salvages.

"[11] Henry Spelman's handwritten manuscript, a Relation of Virginia was written approximately in 1613 though it was "not deemed advisable to publish"[10] yet was later printed privately in 1872 by the Chiswick Press of London.

He also made comparisons to Christianity stating that "they observe no day to worshipe ther god: but uppon necessitye," Spelman and that "they offer Beades and Copper if at any time they want Rayne or have to much".

Their manner of visiting the sick with ye fashion of their burial if they die: Spelman briefly described medical practices, the role of Priests, and the use of items such as rattles and roots in medicine.

The justice and government: In relation to Powhatan law Spelman wrote that he "thought that Infidels wear lawless yet when I saw sum put to death."