Stuart Cresswell
2005-10-27 10:02:57 UTC
Pocahontas and her grand-daughter Anne ROLFE
I have been trying to put together some notes on these ancestors and
want to confirm the details and beliefs which we have.
The questions are:
1 Did Thomas ROLFE marry Elizabeth WASHINGTON in England before going to
Virginia?
2 When and where did that marriage take place?
3 Did they have a child Anne?
4 Where and when was Anne baptised?
5 When and where did Anne die?
I have checked some websites and they seem to ignore the fact that
Pocahontas had an English born grand-daughter. It is this fact that I am
trying to confirm.
I know that John ROLFE was baptised at Heacham, Norfolk 6 may 1585 and
married in 1608 (Sarah Hacker, per US sites) in England before setting
out for Virginia in 1608.
He was shipwrecked at Bermuda where a daughter, named Bermuda, was born
(baptised 11 Feb 1609/10) and died. His wife either died there or
shortly after arriving in Virginia in May 1610.
I will not rehearse the business with Capt John SMITH but
Pocahontas (pet name of Matoaka daughter of Wahunascook (?spelling)
Great Chief of the Algonquin Indians she is believed to have been born
about 1595) was held hostage in Jamestown Fort living with Rev Alexander
Whitacker. This was about 1612.
Pocahontas and John ROLFE (a devout and educated Christian) fell in
love; she was baptised a Christian with the name Rebecka and they
married 5 April 1614 at Jamestown.
Thomas ROLFE son of John and Pocahontas was born 30 Jan 1614/15 at
Smiths Plantation, Virginia.
In 1616 John, Pocahontas and Thomas (with at least one of her brothers)
sailed with Sir Thomas Dale for England.
(It was about this time that Capt John SMITH first wrote his account of
his first meeting with Pocahontas)
In March 1616/17, with Pocahontas and Thomas in ill health, they decided
to return to Virginia. However Pocahontas died and is buried (21 Mar
1616/17) at St Georges Church, Gravesend.
John and Thomas carried on, but on reaching Plymouth John decided that
Thomas would not survive the voyage and left him first with Sir Lewis
Stukeley and then with Johns brother Henry a merchant in London (and
also a member of the Virginia Company). So Thomas grew up in England.
In Virginia John married (again) about 1620 Jane daughter of Capt
William Pierce (or Pyers) and they had a daughter Elizabeth born 1620.
He became Recorder and Secretary General to the colony and a member of
the Council and is the only member of the first American Legislature
(the Virginia Assembly of 1619) known to have descendants alive today.
John died in 1622, possibly in the massacre at Henrico. His will was
proved at PCC 21 may 1630 by his father-in-law William Pierce.
So far I dont think anyone disagrees with the story. However here is
where there are blanks on US websites.
In England Thomas ROLFE married Elizabeth WASHINGTON in 1632 and their
daughter Anne was born in 1633. Elizabeth died either in childbirth or
shortly after.
In 1635 Thomas went to Virginia to claim his inheritance, he remarried
(about 1640 to Jane Poythress or Poyers) and never returned to England.
He left his daughter with his cousin Anthony Rolfe, who brought her up
as his own child.
Anne ROLFE married Peter ELWIN of Thurning, Norfolk, (not far from the
home of the Rolfes in Heacham). Peter was born at Thurning in 1623 and
was buried there 7 July 1695. His will was proved 14 Oct 1695.
The ELWINs go back at least to Peter (a very popular name in the family)
of Wiggenhall near Kings Lynn, Norfolk living 1167 and the descent of
many (including me) from Peter ELWIN and Anne ROLFE is well known. They
also held a number of Pocahontas heirlooms including her portrait
(until 1926 and now in National Art Gallery, Washington)
Stuart
I have been trying to put together some notes on these ancestors and
want to confirm the details and beliefs which we have.
The questions are:
1 Did Thomas ROLFE marry Elizabeth WASHINGTON in England before going to
Virginia?
2 When and where did that marriage take place?
3 Did they have a child Anne?
4 Where and when was Anne baptised?
5 When and where did Anne die?
I have checked some websites and they seem to ignore the fact that
Pocahontas had an English born grand-daughter. It is this fact that I am
trying to confirm.
I know that John ROLFE was baptised at Heacham, Norfolk 6 may 1585 and
married in 1608 (Sarah Hacker, per US sites) in England before setting
out for Virginia in 1608.
He was shipwrecked at Bermuda where a daughter, named Bermuda, was born
(baptised 11 Feb 1609/10) and died. His wife either died there or
shortly after arriving in Virginia in May 1610.
I will not rehearse the business with Capt John SMITH but
Pocahontas (pet name of Matoaka daughter of Wahunascook (?spelling)
Great Chief of the Algonquin Indians she is believed to have been born
about 1595) was held hostage in Jamestown Fort living with Rev Alexander
Whitacker. This was about 1612.
Pocahontas and John ROLFE (a devout and educated Christian) fell in
love; she was baptised a Christian with the name Rebecka and they
married 5 April 1614 at Jamestown.
Thomas ROLFE son of John and Pocahontas was born 30 Jan 1614/15 at
Smiths Plantation, Virginia.
In 1616 John, Pocahontas and Thomas (with at least one of her brothers)
sailed with Sir Thomas Dale for England.
(It was about this time that Capt John SMITH first wrote his account of
his first meeting with Pocahontas)
In March 1616/17, with Pocahontas and Thomas in ill health, they decided
to return to Virginia. However Pocahontas died and is buried (21 Mar
1616/17) at St Georges Church, Gravesend.
John and Thomas carried on, but on reaching Plymouth John decided that
Thomas would not survive the voyage and left him first with Sir Lewis
Stukeley and then with Johns brother Henry a merchant in London (and
also a member of the Virginia Company). So Thomas grew up in England.
In Virginia John married (again) about 1620 Jane daughter of Capt
William Pierce (or Pyers) and they had a daughter Elizabeth born 1620.
He became Recorder and Secretary General to the colony and a member of
the Council and is the only member of the first American Legislature
(the Virginia Assembly of 1619) known to have descendants alive today.
John died in 1622, possibly in the massacre at Henrico. His will was
proved at PCC 21 may 1630 by his father-in-law William Pierce.
So far I dont think anyone disagrees with the story. However here is
where there are blanks on US websites.
In England Thomas ROLFE married Elizabeth WASHINGTON in 1632 and their
daughter Anne was born in 1633. Elizabeth died either in childbirth or
shortly after.
In 1635 Thomas went to Virginia to claim his inheritance, he remarried
(about 1640 to Jane Poythress or Poyers) and never returned to England.
He left his daughter with his cousin Anthony Rolfe, who brought her up
as his own child.
Anne ROLFE married Peter ELWIN of Thurning, Norfolk, (not far from the
home of the Rolfes in Heacham). Peter was born at Thurning in 1623 and
was buried there 7 July 1695. His will was proved 14 Oct 1695.
The ELWINs go back at least to Peter (a very popular name in the family)
of Wiggenhall near Kings Lynn, Norfolk living 1167 and the descent of
many (including me) from Peter ELWIN and Anne ROLFE is well known. They
also held a number of Pocahontas heirlooms including her portrait
(until 1926 and now in National Art Gallery, Washington)
Stuart