The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-07
VOL. XIV.---NO. |.

Dale, the Governor of the colony. as
means of extorting still better conditions.
which he was explaining to Powhatan.
when it was suggested to him by Mr.. John
Rolfe-a person apparently of some ambi-
ton and few scruples, who thought, to
judge from the narrative written by Ralph
Hamor, Secretary to the colony, that by his
marriage with Powhatans daughter, "onc
OF rude education, manners barbarous
and cursed generation" he could advance
the good and honor of the plantation"
and who, from his subsequent proceedings.
entertained an idea that he might through
her put IN formidable claim to the lands
over which her father lunted-that the
best way to secure Powhatan would be
to marry his daughter to himself Sir John
Dale seems to have thought this a rather
noble act of self-sacrifce, and Powhatan,
who had just sold Pocahontas' sister for
two bushels of beads, entirely consented to
the marriage, and sent witnesses to see the
ceremony, which, it appears, greatly scan
dallzed the English, whether because Rolfe
was already married, or because they dis
liked such unions, cannot now be made
out Nor can it be ascertained whether
any legal marriage ever took place, though
Pocahontas was undoubtedly represented
in Europe as Rolfe's wife. At all events.
it appears to have struck him and Others
that the "Virginian Princess" could be
used with effect to induce the British Court
to advance more money to the plantation,
and she was sent with the Governor, Sir
Thomas Dale, to England in the following
year, where she created no small sensation.
1t was the interest of the settlers to exalt
her dignity, and they did it so effectually
that, although sometimes described as "the
woman Pocahontas," the Privy Council
held meeting to discuss whether Rolfe
ought not to be tried for high treason in
marrying her, and Simon de Fasse, the ar
tist wrote under her portrait. "Matoaks
abs Rebecka Cher native and Christian
names) daughter to the mighty Prince
Powhatan, Emperor of Acknowledgement
ais Virginia" The picture represents
thoroughly Indian woman, with high
cheekbones, gloomy face, and lanky hair.
some thirty years of age-she was only
eighteen-who never could have been
beautiful according to English ideas of
beauty, dressed in a high felt hat, such as
is now worn in North Italy, and a broad
white ruff. She appears to have remained
in England but few months and was re-
turning home when she died at Gravesend,
on 21st May, 1916 and was buried in the
chancel of the Gravesend Church, as SIRE.
becca Wrothe," wife of "Thomas Wroth-
gent, Virginia lady borne" No trace
whatever Of her conversation or her charac-
ter can be recovered, nor is there any evil
dence that she was regarded in any other
light than a converted Tasmanian or Maori
would now be, that is, as a subject of some
inte!lectal curiosity, but little admiration
Her husband John Rolfe, returned to Vir-
ginia, and was appointed Secretary to the
colony, and apparently made grand spring
at Powhatan's territory, for the Virginia
Company in 1918 sharply rebuked him FORE
porting that the natives were reserving the
country for his own child, (which we do
suppose to be device of your own to some
special advantage for yourself" They had
habit of speaking plainly in those days,
especially to servants. Pocahontas had
one son by Rolfe, who returned to Virginia
and seems to have been recognized by the
Indians as a connection, and it was through
this son that the Indian blood entered the
Virginia planting families. An esteemed
and industrious mechanic" uamed Kan
dolph, settled on James river, and his son
Richard married Miss Jane Boiling, great
granddaughter Of Pocahontas and became
the grandfather of John Randolph Of Roam
oke, the well-known Virginian, who, it is
said, considered this descent the proudest
among his endless claims to the reverence
of his countrymen. The whole story, we
fear, is essentially unromantic and com
mon place; but there is little harm done
10y telling it. The human mind is 50 con-
stltuted that it can actually read the story
of Thermopyl,e, and in defiance of figures
given by the very historian whom it trusts,
belieTc that the pass was defended by
three hundred men only; and so it will
read Mr.. Neills collection of facts, and
believe, nevertheless, in. Captain Smiths
rubbishy romance about the naked little
savage who played cart wheels in Lord
Delaware's fort; and it may be, after all
wiser to believe both in Thermopyle IL al
Pocah0ntas.