The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-10
THE ORIGINAL PORTRAIT OF POCAHOSTis.
The Story Of Her Love, Marriage with
yohn-or Thomas -Rolfs, and 'isif 70 ana
Death in EnRIaud; Her Shell Earnings
and Vase OF Native Virginia Pottery ~
Scandinavian " Described.
10 The Editor of the Dispatch :


Scandinavian" Described.
TO the Editor of The Dispatch:
Busy as am. cannot forbear Offering
your many readers-who never weary OF
details OF the life and services OF the
gentIe Pocahontas, the great beneiacifess
OF infant Virginia. relishablc moroccan
which ! extract from n clever and highly
engaging little book Of which am lll-t IN
receipt through the consideration OF Mr..
Henry Stevens. Trafalgar Square. Lon
don: sqndringham, Past and Present,
with Some Historic Memorials OF the Nor
folk Coast. BY Mrs. Herbert Jones, Lon
don. 1897 About Sandringham, now
the county-seat Of The Prince OF wales
under whose patronage the book Is Is
sued). cluster many appealing associations
by reason OF historic ownership ana occu-
patton, since it was the residence OF tiic
Earl Rivers. the friend and patron OF CaX-
ton, 10 the more recent occupants, Lazy
Blessington, Count D'Orsay, and Lady
Cowper: and the Virginian reader VIII be
pleasantly confronted, constantly and un-
expcctedly, with novel and suggestive
points.
Submitting the extract, | am, faithfully
yours. Il. "A. BROCK
"The marriage OF the Princess Poca'
hontas with the Engishman commonly
called John Rolfc took place in 1913, when
she was eighteen years old. IL was an ALI
ance intended TO promote the peace OF the
colony and the friendly relations between
the English and the Indians, and it supplies
a link. which let no man put asunder, be-
tween her native land and Norfolk, the
Rolfe family having lived for centuries at
Heacham. a little village standing on the
coast between IIunstanton and WOlieltOn.
The story Of PocahOntas is well known
in America, where il has formed the
basis OF more than one romance.
and has become freside legend;
and her fame has extended TO Eng
land, which she adopted rs her country,
and where she found her grave. The ear
lier portion OF POcahontas's history, so far
as il can be ascertained. is connected with
the period OF Captain John Smiths resi-
dence i'm Jamestown. He was the hero OF
her youthful fancy; she served him. and
tie English generally, with devotion and
skill: and TO her constant assiduity i'm pro-
yiding supplies OF food, the struggling
colony may almost be said to have owed
its existence. strong natural bcneYo-
lence shone i'm her character; she POSSESS
ed courage, docility, and an innate refine
ment. But Captain Smith had left the col
ony for England, and POcahOntas had re-
treated 10 the banks Of the Potomac river
before the events occurred which linked
her TO the Norfolk family. The husband
of Pocahontas- who was the first emigiant
to whom It occurred TO grow tobacco for
the European market. and who sur
rounded the Iog-huts Of jamestown
with the brOad-leave- and rOSc-cOlOr-
ed blossoms OF that captivating
plant-was the grandson Of Eustace Rolfe,
OF Heacham, who died in 1893. and Is
buried in Heacham church. The Virginian
colonist had a brother, Henry, called in
the Rolfc family genealogy, "Oi Nor
ford "a spot III Norfolk. where. as ATTEST
ed by It's registers. one Of the family had
settled. Henry remained in England. but,
as will be seen. the brothers were brought
again into relation later on. The descend
ants OF Henry Rolfe are readily traced.
The Role family has spread into various
parts OF Norfolk one branch settled nj
huntington. near Aylsham. others at Nor
wich and Lynn. The husband OF Poca-
inal oil portrait OF his wife. i called
E. Thoras," and IS also thus named in the
register oi her burial. but. on the cOntem-
pOrary print Of DE PaSae, he is called
John"
4 year or two after John Role had gone
out 10 Virginia with Sir Thomas Dale, Po-
cahontas was brought forcibly 10 James
town a. a hostage for the prisoners aud
Il. Las h.p faf ii
a mutual attachment was formed between
Rolfc and herself, and 10 gain The red mans
daughter the lover wrote to his friend, the
Governor OF Virginia, for leave to marry
'this poor heather woman."' They were
married, with the further concurrence Of
.'lhe Emperor Powhatan," her father. in
the wooden church OF Jamestown. an edi-
flee lined and scented With cedar, and fra
GRAVITY hung with the lustrOus trailcrs Of
Virginia. The Princess POcahOntas had
previously been baptized, and had been
given the additional name OF Rebecca. TO
her gentle and imprcSsiOnable nature the
Christian faith had readily approved itself,
and she gladly acceptedit. Sir Thomas Dale,
who did much for the promotion OF Chris
tian practice in the colony. took an interest
in the gaining Of "this sOulc," and relates
that she dwell "ciyilly and lovingly with
her husband" who is described as can
honest gentleman, and Of good behaviour"
This tOwardly couple went TO England
three years after their marriage, where
PocahOnias was welcomed by the aston~h-
ed relatives Of her husband. received with
much pomp by the Bishop OF London, and
presented 10 King James /. and the Queen
Anne Of Denmark. For some little time
after her arrival in England Pocahontas
appeared TO relish the charms Of the Court,
the drama, and polite society; but the eli
mate, and especially the smoke and FOG of
London, affected and weakened her health
Perhaps some vague longings for her own
country, and shock she received from an
unlooked-ior meeting with Captain John
Smith, whom she had believed to be dead,
assisted 10 steal away her strength.
With her husband and her "dusky,
supple-sinewed little son she went 10
Gravesend TO embark from thence 10 Viz
ginia; but on arriving at that port her ILL
ness increased. She was lifted on TO the
deck of the outward-bound vessel. which
was on the eve OF sailing; but the eager
hope was 10 be frustrated; her hour had
come. She met il with fortitndc. and,
during the sudden close Of her fitness.
oiunSc IL thc plact was 10 ule IN. aSplrcd
in soul to the heaven in which she had
learned to believe. Pocahontas died on
board the vessel just nine months
after the time Of her first landing
in England. She who had hoped for
tomb IN the trackless forest OF her own
land was inappropriately consigned TO the
chancel OF mouldy old cbdrch i'm Grave
send, and underwent cremation; for that
church was burned TO the ground a hun
dred years later. Although, however, the
church and many houses surrounding il
disappeared in the conllagration, the regis
tiers OF births, marriages. and burias were
saved, and in one OF these registers NAV
be seen at thus day the brief record Of the
Indian girls early fate: