The Biographical Dictionary of America/Argall, Sir Samuel

ARGALL, Sir Samuel, deputy governor of Virginia, was born in England in 1572. He came to America as early as 1609 on a trading and fishing expedition. The following year he conducted Lord Delaware to Virginia, and while in America established trade with the Indians. In 1612 his abduction of Pocahontas occurred. This has been erroneously looked upon as one of Argall's many acts of treachery and baseness. Powhatan, the Indian chief and father of Pocahontas, held in captivity a number of Englishmen whom Argall proposed to liberate by securing Pocahontas as a means of exchange. He went to her uncle, Pastancy, who, in consideration of a copper kettle, agreed to assist him in beguiling the young Indian girl to Argall's ship. The stratagem succeeded, and the English prisoners were released. Pocahontas was well treated, and declared her wish to "dwell with the English, who loved her best." In the latter part of 1613 he went with a vessel of fourteen guns, — under order of the new governor of Virginia, Sir Thomas Dale, — to reduce the French settlements of Mount Desert off the coast of Maine, St. Croix, and Port Royal, N. S., and in June, 1614, having accomplished his purpose, he took his French prisoners to England. In May, 1617, he returned to America with the appointment of deputy-governor of Virginia, and during his two years in this office he made himself exceedingly unpopular by his arrogance and greed. He was recalled in April, 1619, and died in England in 1639.