Tomocomo facts for kids
Uttamatomakkin, often called Tomocomo, was a wise Powhatan spiritual leader. He traveled with the famous Pocahontas to London, England, in 1616.
We don't know much about Tomocomo's early life. It seems he met Captain John Smith when Smith was in Virginia. Smith later said they "renewed their acquaintance" in London. Tomocomo's wife, Matachanna, was Pocahontas's half-sister.
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Why Tomocomo Went to England
Chief Powhatan, a powerful leader, trusted Tomocomo a lot. He asked Tomocomo to go with Pocahontas to England for two important reasons.
Counting the English People
First, Chief Powhatan wanted Tomocomo to count how many people lived in England. When they arrived in Plymouth, Tomocomo picked up a stick. He planned to make a mark on the stick for each person he saw. But he quickly got "weary of that task" because there were so many people!
Finding Out About John Smith
Second, Chief Powhatan wanted to know if Captain John Smith was still alive. The Powhatan people had been told Smith was dead. However, Pocahontas had told Smith that "your countrymen lie too much," meaning the English often told lies. So, Tomocomo was sent to find out the truth.
Meeting Samuel Purchas
In London, Tomocomo met Samuel Purchas. Purchas was a writer who collected many travel stories. He often saw Tomocomo at the home of his friend, Doctor Goldstone. Purchas wrote that he saw Tomocomo "sing and dance" and heard him talk about his home country and his beliefs.
Purchas believed the Powhatan people worshipped evil spirits. He tried to convince Tomocomo to become a Christian. But Tomocomo said he was too old to learn new ways.
Meeting the King
Pocahontas and Tomocomo never had a formal meeting with King James. However, on January 5, 1617, they were brought before the King. This happened at the Banqueting House in Whitehall Palace. They were there to see a play called The Vision of Delight by Ben Jonson.
According to John Smith, neither Pocahontas nor Tomocomo realized they had met the King until someone explained it to them later. Tomocomo was disappointed that the King did not give him a gift. He told Smith, "You gave Powhatan a white dog, which Powhatan fed as himself, but your King gave me nothing, and I am better than your white dog."
Returning Home
Tomocomo returned to Virginia in March 1617 with Samuel Argall and John Rolfe. When he got back, he reportedly spoke strongly "against England, English people," and against Thomas Dale, the governor of Jamestown. The English colonists disagreed with his claims in front of the Powhatan leaders. It seems Tomocomo may have lost some respect after this.
Chief Powhatan died the next year. His successor, Opechancanough, began planning a large attack on the settlers in 1622. We don't know anything more about Tomocomo's life after this time.
Media
Tomocomo has been shown in several movies and TV shows:
- Paul O'Connor voiced him in the 1994 Pocahontas episode of Animated Hero Classics.
- He was voiced by Brad Garrett in Disney's 1998 movie Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. In that film, he stayed in London with John Rolfe's maid, Mrs. Jenkins.
- In the 2005 film The New World, Tomocomo is played by Raoul Trujillo. However, in this movie, Pocahontas travels to England with her uncle Opechancanough instead of Tomocomo.
