Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-22
Reaoilg
From the Home Journal.
MARRIAGE OF POCAHONTAS.
YBrSsoN III ]. LOSING.

During the lovely Indian summer time, in the
autumn Of lG0S, there was marriage on the
banks of the Powhattan where the English had
laid the cornerstone Of the great fabric Of An
glo Saxon Empire in the New World. 1t was
celebrated in the second church which the Eng
lish settlers had erected there. Like thcir first,
which fire had devoured the previous winter, II
was rude structure, whose roof rested upon
rough pine columns, fresh from the virgin forest:
and whose adornings were little indebted to the
hand of art The officiating priest was "good
Master Hunter" who had lost all his books by
the conlagratlon. History, poetry, and song
have kept dutifu silence respecting that first
English marriage in America, because John
Laydon and Anna Burrows were common peo-
pie. The bridegroom was carpenter, among
the first adventures who ascendcd the Pow
hatan, then named James in honor Of q bad
king; and the bride was waiting-maid to
"Mistress Forrest" wife Of Thomas Forrest,
gentleman. These were the first white women
ever seen at the jamestown settlement.
Almost five years later, there was another
marriage at Old Jamestown, in honor Of which
history, poetry, and song have been employed.
The bridegroom was Master John Rolf, an
honest gentleman, and Of good behavior" from
the realm of England; and the bride was a
princess royal, named Matoa, or PocallontaS, the
wcll-beloved daughter Of the Emperor of the
great Powhatan conledcracy, on the Virginia
peninsula The officiating priest was Master
Alexander Whitaker, noble apostle OF Chris
tianity, who went to Virginia for the cure Of
souls. Sir Thomas Dale, then Governor OF the
colony, thus briefly tells his masters Of the Com
pany in London, the story Of Pocahontas: " Pow
hatan's daughter | caused to be carefully in
structed in the Christian religion, who, after
she had made good progress therein, renounced
publicly her country's idolatry, openly confessed
her Christian faith, was, as she desired, bap-
tized, and is since married to an English gentle
man of good understanding (as by his letter
unto me, containing the reason Of his marriage
of her. you may perceive another knot to bind
this peace the stronger. Her father and friends
gave appreciation to it, and her uncle gave her
to him in the church. She lives cvilly and
lovingly with him, and, trust, will increase Ill
goodness. as the knowledge of Co: increased in
her. She will 20 to England with me, and,
were it but the gaining Of this one soul, will
think my time, toll, and present stay, well
spent"
would know more of the Princess and her mar
riaee aud curiosity may here lie gratliied to the
extent of the revelations OF recorded history.
The finger Of special Providence, pointing
down the vista of ages, is seen in the character
and acts of Pocahontas. She was the daughter
OF a pagan king who had never heard OF Jesus
of Nazareth, yet her heart was ovcriowlng with
the cardinal virtues of u Christian life.
nShe was landscape Of mild earth,
Where all was harmony, and calm quiet,
Luxurs mt budtline."-BYRoS.
When Captain Smith, tue boldest and the
best of the early adventurcrS i'll Virginia: peIe-
trated the dense forest, he was made n prisoner
was conducted in triumph from village to vii
lace. until hestoodi i'll the presence of Powhatan,
the supreme ruler, and was condemned to die
Upon the barren sand
A single captive stood;
Around him came with bow and brand,
The red men of the wood
Like him of old his doom he hears,
Rock-bouud on oceans rim:
The cbeftan's daughter knclt in tears,
And brcathcd prayer for him.
Above hisdead in air
The savage war-club swung:
The frantic girl, in wild despair
Her arms around him flung.
Thcn shook the warriors OF the Shade,
Like leaves OH aspen limb
Subdued by that heroic maid
Who breathed prayer for him.
"Unbind him!" grasped the Chief
He kissed away her tears of grief,
And set the captive free.