The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-12
POWHATAN'S
T0MAHAWK
Weapon Of the Famous Indian
Chief Now in Possession Of
& Gentleman i'll Mississippi.
GENERATION TO GENERATION L: ''|::
lVirgii,ian Nov i, South Makes
Effort to Have Relic Placed III
Virginia Historical Society.

Effort to Have Relic placed III
Virginia Historical Society.
fhe following letter giving the history
OF the toinahawk OF the old indian chief.
Powl1atan has recently been received by
Virginia gentleman.
birmingham. Ala. May %, 1901
Dear sir,-fn compliance With your
request. ! will give the history OF the
tomalinwk Of tho old Indian, chief Pow
hatan. which is now. In the possession OF
the family Of the lnte Colonel Samuel
NJ. Meek. who was u distinguished law
yer Of Columbus, Miss. 1t seems strange
how such n relic "of the oldc,i time
should. as II were have drifted 80 far
from Virginia to Mississippi. z propose
III my narrative to give the sointlon OF the
whole matter. Therefore It becomes me
to give you the history Of It's former
owner. the late Colonel William 5tith
Boiling
will give sou MIR. Bolings descent
from Robert Boiling the cmigrant who
came to the colony Of Virginia October
e. 16O He married first, in 1915. Jane
daughter OF Thomas Rolfe. and grand
daughter OF Pocahontas: had ono son,
4 John, the Boiling ancestor OF all who
claim knshp with the Virginia princess.
Pocahontas. Married second time. 1851.
Anne, daughter OF John stith, OF Bruins.
(sometIrnes called Farmingdale). Prince
from = whom Colonel VIM. stiih Boiling
is descended, the subject OF this commu-
nlcation
i. Robert Boiling, the emigrant, married
49,, 4, IN 4 ccfin e
e. Robert Boiling. married Mary Cooke
Issue:
3. Robert Boiling born June H., 1870.
died February "a. Its. Settled at Dol.
llngbrook," Petersburg, Va married sec.
a aaa s j M eosus somas TabS cay
HILL Amelia county. Va. died octo-
her A. 1914, Issue.
4. Thomas Tabb Boiling, born February
q. 1853. married seignora. daughter OF
Sir John Peyton, OF Gloucester county.
S. Colonel william snth Boiling. of CO.
lumbus. Lowndes county, latterly Of
Louisville. Winston county, Miss. Colonel
Boiling was married twice! Ills first
wife wa1 Pocahontas Robertson: married
second time Mrs. Hill, OF Tennessee.
whose maiden name was Dudley. Both
wives were lIneal descendants OF Poca-
hontas. See Robertson's cahontas.)
4 No Issue by either marriage. (See Slaugh-
ter's Bristol ParIsh.)
Mr.. Boiling moved from Virginia to
Tennessce-sone time from 1S2o-40. Re-
moved during the 40 decade to Columbus.
Miss, and later on to Louisville, VIM !.
ston county, Miss where he practiccdf
L his profession as a lawyer during the Sit
tings Of the Circuit Court Of Lowndes
counts. being an old-time friend OF my
wife.s father, the late Daniel Williams.
probate clerk for twenty years OF the
said Lowndes county. He always made
his headquarters at Daniel Wtllamss
house; Is where first became acquainted
with Mr.. Boiling
Being Vlrginian. as we'll as myself.
our tnemc of conversation In great
measure was Virginia, and Virginia fam
lilies. During our talks he Informed me
that he had the veritable tornahawk OF
the old Chief Powhatan. which had been
in possession of his first wife's ancestors
for at least LIS years. CThsse CONVERSE
tons with Mr. B. were about 1s6gp
THE OLD RELIC.
Tho tomahawk Is very unique. The
blade Ia about two inches broad; in the
top or head Is bowl for pipe. The
handle is of curled maple and very dark
from age and has hole leading from
The bowl OF the pipe, Al the end there
is a silver band. also about the mid
die OF the handle. The design Is very
elaborate, The blade Is inlaid with silver.
The workmanship is rather rude. Any
one doubling its antiquity would be az
once convinced that II is what Is claimed,
the veritable tomahawk OF Powha:an,
the old chief.
Mr.. Boiling would often relate incidents
OF traditions in the family. One was
the actions Of the old chief while sit
ting In council deliberating whether there
should aswar or peace II peace was
decided upon would till the bowl OF the
tomahawk with Kinneakenec, take q
Whit and hand It around Q the SUD
chiefs. II on the other hand, war was
decided on. would turn tho blade OF the
person.
HOW COLONEL NEE Kc.AME BY THE
TONlATAWK.
The question now is how came It 70 be
Ia the possession of the late Colonel SAM
uel Al, Meek7 What am now going %
Meek. What am going to relate was
told me in person by Colonel Meek
After the war Colonel Meek IN
his attendance ON the Circuit Court o.
Winston county. Mr. Boiling then belhs
very old and feeble, could not attend 60
unteered his services to his old frlend.
And In consideration, Mr.. Boiling sa'o
~ am very poor mani the war has
rendered me pennlless and cannon give
you a money consideration, freely pre-
sent 70 you this heiri1 Sna OF pneyha 9
sammy 40 en- S"''N' - ro,onaI
tomahawk." The statements OF ColoneI
Meek will verify mine. Some two years
ago whilst in Columbus he requested me
to write my recollectlons OF the said
tomahawk and all information impaired
to me by Mr.. Boiling; that he would
also write down all facts and ne would
have them placed on record IL the a.,
chlyes Of the Chancery Court OF Lowndes
county. Miss; as both OF US had passed
our three score and ten It would be
we'll for us to place our knowledge OF
record as handed down to US by Colonel
Boiling; so far as he knew we were tne
about the said tornahawk. Since my last
interview with Colonel Meek ! have seen
some residents OF Louisville. the county
seat of Winston county. They also 70,
lated to me In substance what colonel
Meek and myself havc related.
SHOULD BE KEPT IN MUSEUM.