The Lion, the Wizard and the Princess

A view of Syon House in the 18th century by Canaletto.

It’s surprising enough to find a grand ducal house set in acres of rolling parkland a bare nine miles from Piccadilly Circus and only a stone's throw from Heathrow Airport, but that’s not the only surprise in store when one visits Syon House. Owned by the 12^th Duke of Northumberland, it has been in his family for generations and frequently played an important part in English history. One very interesting guest to the house was Pocahontas, the famous Powhatan princess. In 1616, she spent about a year living nearby, in what was then the small town of Brentford (now part of London), and it’s believed that she often visited Syon.

The Percy Lion, the emblem of the Northumberland family.

At the time of her visits, the member of the Northumberland family who owned Syon was the 9^th Earl, Henry Percy, known as “the Wizard Earl” for his interests in astronomy and other fledgling sciences. (Nothing to do with Harry Potter!) He was unlucky enough to have a distant relative, Thomas Percy, who was one of the plotters who tried to kill James I in the Gunpowder Plot. Thomas was shot attempting to escape, and Henry, even though he had nothing to do with the plot, remained under suspicion for many years and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. As an aristocrat, however, he was able to live quite comfortably and enjoyed the company of his great friend, Sir Walter Raleigh, who was also held in the Tower.

Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland.

The connection with America and Pocahontas came about through another relation, George, who left England (perhaps to avoid being dragged into the repercussions of the Gunpowder Plot) and founded Jamestown in Virginia. Captain John Smith took part in the expedition and this led to the legend, celebrated in the famous Disney film, that John Smith and Pocahontas fell in love. In fact, she was probably a very young child at the time, and many historians have debunked the idea, claiming that there’s far more evidence that the relationship was one of father and daughter. She was, apparently, a delightful and very bright child. 

Pocahontas with her father at the time of John Smith's visit - unknown artist.

Pocahontas did, however, end up marrying an Englishman. His name was John Rolfe and he was a Norfolk farmer who had travelled to America in the hope of learning the secrets of tobacco farming. The English were keen to grow the valuable commodity at home and make more profit from the sale of it than they could when it had to be shipped from America.

Pocahontas, now Mrs Rebecca Rolfe, wearing Jacobean dress and a pair of silver earrings made for her by the 9th Earl. Artist unknown.

Under Rolfe’s influence, Pocahontas eventually converted to Christianity and changed her name to Rebecca Rolfe. What an extraordinary experience it must have been for her, not only to have a different name and religion but also to be brought to London by her new husband, a city so different from the unspoiled wilderness she was used to.

Sadly, she had no immunity to the diseases that were rife in London and fell ill, probably with tuberculosis. The move to Brentford and Syon was intended to benefit her health, but it ultimately failed. John Rolfe decided they should return to her homeland, but whilst waiting at Gravesend for their ship to sail, Pocahontas died, leaving Rolfe a widower with their young son, Thomas, to care for. She was only twenty-one. A tragic end for a brave and adventurous young woman.