After reviewing various posts, and numerous variations on ancestry trees, I am relying upon some primary documents, as mentioned in these stories, some of which have their source mentioned. A will by Capt. John Rolfe is most important, where he leaves property to his daughter Elizabeth, and wife Jane...so he states their names, and that they outlived him.
I quote from Ancestry's stories...(you can just skim them until you get to the will which is highlighted.)
I quote from Ancestry's stories...(you can just skim them until you get to the will which is highlighted.)
Capt. JOHN ROLFE
John Rolfe the son of John and Dorothea Rolfe married in England and sailed for Virginia in May 1609. The ship in which he came was wrecked on the Bermudas and here a daughter was born, who was named Bermuda and christened Feb. 11, 1609-10. They reached Virginia in May 1610 and Rolfe's wife and child had either died at the Bermudas or only lived a short time after reaching Virginia.
He became a prominent member of the Colony and is said to have been the first person to sugest the cultivation of tobacco. Early in April 1614 his celebrated marriage with Pocahontas took place. Though evidently greatly attached to her, he had wrestling in spirit (he had much of the Puritanism so prevalent in the eastern counties of England) before he could make up his mind to marry one of the heathen birth.
He wrote to Governor Dale: "Nor am I out of hope but one day to see my countrie, nor so void of friends, nor mean of birth, but there to obtain a match to my great content", but love was stronger than his fears. The curious and interesting letter referred to is most accessible in Meade's "Old Churches & Families of Virginia", I. 126-129.
In 1616 Rolfe and Pocahontas went to England and her reception there and the interest she excited are well known.
They were about to set sail for Virgnia, on their return, when Pocahontas died at Gravesend and was buried in the Church there March 21, 1616-17. Some confusion has been caused by John Rolfe's name appearing on the register as "Thomas Wrolfe;" but this is no doubt to be accounted for by the fact that he was a stranger only at Gravesend to embark, and that the clerk or rector made a mistake in the name. The Virginia Society of Colonal dames will at an early date erect a memorial to Pocahontas in Gravesend Church.
He tried to bring his infant son Thomas with him to Virginnia; but when the ship touched at Plymouth it was obvious that the child could not stand the voyage, and he was left there with Sir Lewis Stukeley, until he could be transferred to the care of his uncle Henry Rolfe of London.
On his return to Virginia, Rolfe wrote a letter to Sir Edwin Sandys dated Jamestown, June 8, 1617 in which he speaks of his grief at the death of Pocahontas and explains why he had to leave his son. This letter was printed in this Magazie X 134-138.
In the year 1617 Rolfe was appointed Recorder and Secretary General of the Colony, and in 1619 was a member of the Council. As a member of this body he sat in the first Amerian legislature, the Virginia Assembly of 1619, and is the only member of that Assembly who is known to have descendants living at the present day. He married in or before 1620 Jane, daughter of Captain William Pierce (also of the Virginia Council) and had a daughter Elizabeth born 1620. John Rolfe died in 1622 and it is probable that he was killed in the great Indian Massacre of that year. In addition to the letters referred to Rolfe was the author of a "relation" of events in Virginia. Smith, Hamor and all of the early writers speak of him as an honest and worthy gentleman.
His will has been published (in abstract) in Waters' "Gleanings" and is as follows:
John Rolfe, of James City in Virginnia, Esq., dated 10 March 1621, proved May 21, 1630 [in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury] by William Pyers [Pierce], Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children of very tender age. A parcel of land in the Country or Continent of Virginia, to son Thomas Rolfe and his heirs, failing his issue to my daughter Elizabeth; [The land here bequeathed was no doubt the "Smiths Fort" tract], next to my right heirs. Land on Mulberry Island Virginia, to my wife Jane, during her natural life then to daughter Elizabeth. To my servant Robert Davies twenty pounds. Witnesses: Temperance Yeardley, Richard Buck, John Cartwright, Robert Davys and John Millard.
He became a prominent member of the Colony and is said to have been the first person to sugest the cultivation of tobacco. Early in April 1614 his celebrated marriage with Pocahontas took place. Though evidently greatly attached to her, he had wrestling in spirit (he had much of the Puritanism so prevalent in the eastern counties of England) before he could make up his mind to marry one of the heathen birth.
He wrote to Governor Dale: "Nor am I out of hope but one day to see my countrie, nor so void of friends, nor mean of birth, but there to obtain a match to my great content", but love was stronger than his fears. The curious and interesting letter referred to is most accessible in Meade's "Old Churches & Families of Virginia", I. 126-129.
In 1616 Rolfe and Pocahontas went to England and her reception there and the interest she excited are well known.
They were about to set sail for Virgnia, on their return, when Pocahontas died at Gravesend and was buried in the Church there March 21, 1616-17. Some confusion has been caused by John Rolfe's name appearing on the register as "Thomas Wrolfe;" but this is no doubt to be accounted for by the fact that he was a stranger only at Gravesend to embark, and that the clerk or rector made a mistake in the name. The Virginia Society of Colonal dames will at an early date erect a memorial to Pocahontas in Gravesend Church.
He tried to bring his infant son Thomas with him to Virginnia; but when the ship touched at Plymouth it was obvious that the child could not stand the voyage, and he was left there with Sir Lewis Stukeley, until he could be transferred to the care of his uncle Henry Rolfe of London.
On his return to Virginia, Rolfe wrote a letter to Sir Edwin Sandys dated Jamestown, June 8, 1617 in which he speaks of his grief at the death of Pocahontas and explains why he had to leave his son. This letter was printed in this Magazie X 134-138.
In the year 1617 Rolfe was appointed Recorder and Secretary General of the Colony, and in 1619 was a member of the Council. As a member of this body he sat in the first Amerian legislature, the Virginia Assembly of 1619, and is the only member of that Assembly who is known to have descendants living at the present day. He married in or before 1620 Jane, daughter of Captain William Pierce (also of the Virginia Council) and had a daughter Elizabeth born 1620. John Rolfe died in 1622 and it is probable that he was killed in the great Indian Massacre of that year. In addition to the letters referred to Rolfe was the author of a "relation" of events in Virginia. Smith, Hamor and all of the early writers speak of him as an honest and worthy gentleman.
His will has been published (in abstract) in Waters' "Gleanings" and is as follows:
John Rolfe, of James City in Virginnia, Esq., dated 10 March 1621, proved May 21, 1630 [in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury] by William Pyers [Pierce], Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children of very tender age. A parcel of land in the Country or Continent of Virginia, to son Thomas Rolfe and his heirs, failing his issue to my daughter Elizabeth; [The land here bequeathed was no doubt the "Smiths Fort" tract], next to my right heirs. Land on Mulberry Island Virginia, to my wife Jane, during her natural life then to daughter Elizabeth. To my servant Robert Davies twenty pounds. Witnesses: Temperance Yeardley, Richard Buck, John Cartwright, Robert Davys and John Millard.
[The source seems to be a Magazine, since it mentioned it in one of the paragraphs regarding a letter. I'm sorry that whoever copied it into Ancestry didn't give details of the source she got it from.]
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| Baptism of Pocahontas |
Another undocumented story is also pertinent...
Dubious Pocahontas Descendants
Every now and then, for whatever reason, someone decides that they want to be a Pocahontas descendant. They have a legitimate ancestor of unknown parents on the one hand, and a Pocahontas descendant with a similar family name on the other hand. Perhaps impelled by a family legend, they just assume a connection and now their family tree goes back that much farther. They might even create a "missing" ancestor to fill a generation gap. Then they publish it, and afterwards, others researching the legitimate ancestor find his bogus pedigree and add it to their own family tree. Over time, enough cross-citations accumulate that it looks like a solid fact. But it's not a fact, just a false hope.
Every now and then, for whatever reason, someone decides that they want to be a Pocahontas descendant. They have a legitimate ancestor of unknown parents on the one hand, and a Pocahontas descendant with a similar family name on the other hand. Perhaps impelled by a family legend, they just assume a connection and now their family tree goes back that much farther. They might even create a "missing" ancestor to fill a generation gap. Then they publish it, and afterwards, others researching the legitimate ancestor find his bogus pedigree and add it to their own family tree. Over time, enough cross-citations accumulate that it looks like a solid fact. But it's not a fact, just a false hope.
A list of dubious Pocahontas descendants, in chronological order:
- Jane Rolfe, sister of Thomas Rolfe and daughter of Pocahontas. No such person. Pocahontas had one son, Thomas Rolfe, and no daughters. The only Jane Rolfe was the daughter of Thomas. John Rolfe did have a couple of daughters by other wives. His first wife bore him Bermuda Rolfe, who died in infancy. His third wife bore him Elizabeth Rolfe; knowledge of Elizabeth after the age of four was lost with the destruction of early Henrico County records. Neither daughter was a Pocahontas descendant – it was John Rolfe's second wife who was Pocahontas.
------------------------ Notes below that do have some sources given...I'm so happy!
Upon Rolfe's return to Virginia, he assumed more prominence in the colony. He became a councilor and sat as a member of the House of Burgesses. He married again to Jane Pierce, daughter of a colonist. He continued his efforts to improve the quality and quantity of Virginia tobacco. In 1617 tobacco exports to England totaled 20,000 pounds. The next year shipment more than doubled. Twelve years later, one and a half million pounds were exported. The first great American enterprise had been established.
"John Rolfe died sometime in 1622. Although a third of the colony was killed in the Indian uprising of that year, it is not known how Rolfe died. In a life that held much personal tragedy, he had given the colony its economic base." (This article appeared on the web and is copyrighted in 1997, 1998 by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.)
The following work is so kindly given me by Nancy Jamerson Weiland, 619 First Street, Lynchburg, Va. 24504, 804-846-4156, Lunan1@aol.com and is on her Web page on the Internet. She has spent years compiling the data, and is very kind to share it.
John Rolfe (Source: Wyndham Robertson, Pocahontas and Her Descendants, (1887), page 1.) was born 6 May 1585 in Heacham, Norfolk, England (Source: William G. & Mary Newton Stanard, The Colonial Virginia Register, (Albany, NY, Joel Munsell's Sons., Publishers, 1902), page 28.), and died 22 March 1621/22 in James City Co., VA (Source: Genealogies of Virginia Families from VA Magazine of History & Biography).
"John Rolfe died sometime in 1622. Although a third of the colony was killed in the Indian uprising of that year, it is not known how Rolfe died. In a life that held much personal tragedy, he had given the colony its economic base." (This article appeared on the web and is copyrighted in 1997, 1998 by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.)
The following work is so kindly given me by Nancy Jamerson Weiland, 619 First Street, Lynchburg, Va. 24504, 804-846-4156, Lunan1@aol.com and is on her Web page on the Internet. She has spent years compiling the data, and is very kind to share it.
John Rolfe (Source: Wyndham Robertson, Pocahontas and Her Descendants, (1887), page 1.) was born 6 May 1585 in Heacham, Norfolk, England (Source: William G. & Mary Newton Stanard, The Colonial Virginia Register, (Albany, NY, Joel Munsell's Sons., Publishers, 1902), page 28.), and died 22 March 1621/22 in James City Co., VA (Source: Genealogies of Virginia Families from VA Magazine of History & Biography).
He married (1) Sarah Hacker (Source: LDS Ancestral File, 19 April 1996.) 1608 in England (Source: (1) Virginia Historical Society, "VA Magazine of History & Biography," Vol. 1 page 446-447., (2) LDS Ancestral File.). He married (2) Pocahontas 24 April 1614 in Jamestown, VA. He married (3) Jane Pierce (Source: Wyndham Robertson, Pocahontas and Her Descendants, (1887), page 3.) 1619 in James City Co., VA (Source: John B. Boddie, Colonial Surry, (The Dietz Press, 1948).), daughter of William Pierce and Joane ??? "Colonial Surry": It is known known when John Rolfe first began to cultivate land in Surry. His heirs were holding 400 acres of planted land in Surry in 1626.
He came over in the "Sea Venture" [from England] in 1610 and soon after his arrival he industriously began to cultivate tobacco. Rolfe was Secretary and Recorder for the colony from 1614 to 1619. He married Pocahontas in 1614, who died in 1616. In 1614-1619 Rolfe was Secretary of State for Virginia and in 1619 he sat in the First General Assembly of VA as a member of the Council. About 1619 Rolfe married Jane, daughter of Capt. Wm. Pierce and had a daughter, Elizabeth, born 1620. He sat in Council, January 21, 1620, July 24, 1621 and November 30, 1621. This was his last appearance there, for notwithstanding his former marriage to the daughter of Chief Powhatan, he is said to have fallen under the tomahawk of the Indians in the Great Massacre of March 22, 1622, however, wording of his will indicates he was not well and it is more likely he died a natural death. His will was probated in England by Capt. Pierce, with a copy filed in Surry County more than a century later.
His home was Smith's Fort Plantation, Jamestown (Source: Edna Mae Selden, Virginia Families.)
From Leona, op. cit. John Rolfe's will has been published (in abstract) in Waters' "Gleanings" and is as follows: John Rolfe, of James City in Virginia, Esg., dated 10 March 1621, proved May 21, 1630 (in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury) by William Pyers (Pierce), Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children of very tender age. A parcel of land in the Country of Tappahannah between two creeks over against James City in the Country or Continent of Virginia, to son Thomas Rolfe and his heirs, failing his issue to my daughter Elizabeth; (The land here bequethed was no doubt the "Smiths Fort" tract), next to my right heirs. Land on Mulberry Island Virginia, to my wife Jane, during her natural life then to daughter Elizabeth. To my servant Robert Davies twenty pounds. Witness: Temperance Yeardley, Richard Buck, John Cartwright, Robert Davys and John Milwarde.
Also we have <bchumney@hotmail.com> on the Rolfe GenForum Site:
"Therefore I do Comend and Comitte them vnto the tuition of my deerely beloved friend and father in Lawe Leivetenant William Pyers (spelled in other contemporary records Pierce, Perce, Peirce) gent vpon whose love and favor in this behalfe I doe with greate Confidence depend" [Extract from the will of John Rolfe]
"Item as toucheinge and concerneing all and singuler such personall estate, goodes, Chattles, Cattles and househouldstuffe as god hathe Lent me (my debts and funerall charges beinge deducted and payed) my will and desire is that the [sic] shall or may be equally and proportionately shared distributed and devided into three equall and indifferent partes and porcons vnto betwene and amonges Joane my said wife, Thomas my sonne, and Elizabeth my daughter, and that each of them, shall or may have, hold, and enioy one full and Entire thirde parte of and in the said goods Chattles, Cattles and householdstuffe severally to their severall vses and behoofes for ever;" [Extract of the will of John Rolfe]
"John Rolfe, of James City Virginia, Esq., dated 10 March 1621, proved May Prerogative Court of Canterbury] by William Pyers [Spelled in other contemporary records Pierce, Perce, Peirce], Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children [Thomas and Elizabeth] of very tender age." [Abstract of the will of John Rolfe] (A Photostat of both the probate copy (PCC 1630) which bears a notation showing careful comparison with the original and two signatures attesting the accuracy of this copy, and the registered copy (49 Scroope), which is a duplicate of the probate in every detail except for variations in spelling, less frequent capitalizabtion and fewer marks of punctuation, are in the Manuscript Division of the University of Virginia Library.)
"In January, 1624, he [William Pierce] owned land on Jamestown Island and was living on Rolfe's lands near Mulberry Island, where thirty of his company were stationed." [Carson, Jane. Will of John Rolfe, p. 864.]
His home was Smith's Fort Plantation, Jamestown (Source: Edna Mae Selden, Virginia Families.)
From Leona, op. cit. John Rolfe's will has been published (in abstract) in Waters' "Gleanings" and is as follows: John Rolfe, of James City in Virginia, Esg., dated 10 March 1621, proved May 21, 1630 (in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury) by William Pyers (Pierce), Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children of very tender age. A parcel of land in the Country of Tappahannah between two creeks over against James City in the Country or Continent of Virginia, to son Thomas Rolfe and his heirs, failing his issue to my daughter Elizabeth; (The land here bequethed was no doubt the "Smiths Fort" tract), next to my right heirs. Land on Mulberry Island Virginia, to my wife Jane, during her natural life then to daughter Elizabeth. To my servant Robert Davies twenty pounds. Witness: Temperance Yeardley, Richard Buck, John Cartwright, Robert Davys and John Milwarde.
Also we have <bchumney@hotmail.com> on the Rolfe GenForum Site:
"Therefore I do Comend and Comitte them vnto the tuition of my deerely beloved friend and father in Lawe Leivetenant William Pyers (spelled in other contemporary records Pierce, Perce, Peirce) gent vpon whose love and favor in this behalfe I doe with greate Confidence depend" [Extract from the will of John Rolfe]
"Item as toucheinge and concerneing all and singuler such personall estate, goodes, Chattles, Cattles and househouldstuffe as god hathe Lent me (my debts and funerall charges beinge deducted and payed) my will and desire is that the [sic] shall or may be equally and proportionately shared distributed and devided into three equall and indifferent partes and porcons vnto betwene and amonges Joane my said wife, Thomas my sonne, and Elizabeth my daughter, and that each of them, shall or may have, hold, and enioy one full and Entire thirde parte of and in the said goods Chattles, Cattles and householdstuffe severally to their severall vses and behoofes for ever;" [Extract of the will of John Rolfe]
"John Rolfe, of James City Virginia, Esq., dated 10 March 1621, proved May Prerogative Court of Canterbury] by William Pyers [Spelled in other contemporary records Pierce, Perce, Peirce], Father-in-law William Pyers, gentleman, to have charge of the two small children [Thomas and Elizabeth] of very tender age." [Abstract of the will of John Rolfe] (A Photostat of both the probate copy (PCC 1630) which bears a notation showing careful comparison with the original and two signatures attesting the accuracy of this copy, and the registered copy (49 Scroope), which is a duplicate of the probate in every detail except for variations in spelling, less frequent capitalizabtion and fewer marks of punctuation, are in the Manuscript Division of the University of Virginia Library.)
"In January, 1624, he [William Pierce] owned land on Jamestown Island and was living on Rolfe's lands near Mulberry Island, where thirty of his company were stationed." [Carson, Jane. Will of John Rolfe, p. 864.]
--------------------------------
Conclusions:
So he fathered Thomas Rolfe (1615-1675), Pochohontas Rolfe's son, and Elizabeth Pierce Rolfe, (1620-1645) Jane Pierce Rolfe's daughter They were both given guardianship should Jane Rolfe die before they came of age, according to John Rolfe's will. Since he died in 1622, his son Thomas would have been 7, and Elizabeth, his daughter would have been 2. They were raised by his widow, Jane Pierce Rolfe who lived until 1635.
More tomorrow, which hopefully will tie the Rolfe family into my own George Rogers family Tree. It has to do with Thomas Rolfe's daughter marrying Col. Robert Bolling, and having one child before dying. Then Col. Robert Bolling married again and their children became my ancestors. I do hope this isn't as confusing to you as it has been to me, particularly because of the "invented" people added to various of these families!
So he fathered Thomas Rolfe (1615-1675), Pochohontas Rolfe's son, and Elizabeth Pierce Rolfe, (1620-1645) Jane Pierce Rolfe's daughter They were both given guardianship should Jane Rolfe die before they came of age, according to John Rolfe's will. Since he died in 1622, his son Thomas would have been 7, and Elizabeth, his daughter would have been 2. They were raised by his widow, Jane Pierce Rolfe who lived until 1635.
More tomorrow, which hopefully will tie the Rolfe family into my own George Rogers family Tree. It has to do with Thomas Rolfe's daughter marrying Col. Robert Bolling, and having one child before dying. Then Col. Robert Bolling married again and their children became my ancestors. I do hope this isn't as confusing to you as it has been to me, particularly because of the "invented" people added to various of these families!
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