Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06


has a weakness for historical romance, II
am always on the lookout for what l call
the Pocahontas strain. 1t isn't very
tangible thing to look for, and perhaps 1t
hasn't any noticeable existence at all, but
like to amuse myself by imagining that
can see it in a profile Of this person or
a trick of the eye in another. and wonder
ing what part of characteristic manners
and bearing may be due to it. A certain
proportion of Indian blood is surely present,
at least in few individuals, in every such
gathering, and it must have its effect, no
matter how many generations of white in
termarriage have diluted ii"
The speaker shared the idea of many
people that large proportion of even
majority of the members of the best fam
lies of Virginia are descendants OF the
Indian princess Pocahontas through her
marriage with John Rolfe in 1913. Few,
however. have any definite information
on the point, unless they happen to have
personal interest in virginian genealogy.
The fact is that there are not nearly so
many descendants of the interesting CO.
lonial couple as might be expected after the
lapse of nine or ten generations. instead
of composing any considerable proportion
of Virginias best stock, the living repre-
sentatives of the line are estimated to
number not more than few thousand,
making liberal allowance for untraced
branches. The only printed compilation OF
the line was published in 1887 by Wyndham
Robertson, a former governor Of Virginia,
under the title of "Pocahontas and Her De-
scendants.' At that time the author emu
merated 256 persons of his own generation.
the seventh from John Rolfe, and gave
the number of their children as about go.
AS Mr.. Robertson an aged man when
this count was made it is safe to assume
that the generation represented by his
grandchildren have by this time advanced
well into the prime of life, while the sue
ceeding, or tenth generation, should have
reached almost their full strength in num-
bers. At the same rate of increase they
would number over 1000, and the total of
the three latest generations gives about
6.3oO. The number still living must be. Of
course, much less.
AS an ancestor. and a proud one Po-
cahontas might well feel some disappoint-
ment at slight progeny after ten de-
grees of descent. The reason is easily
found. however. in the fact that for three
generations the strain was precariously
preserved in the blood of a single de-
scendant. The sole offspring Of the fair
American was Thomas Rolfe. whose only
child. Jane Rolfe. married the American
founder Of the Boiling family, and by him
had an only son, John Boiling. 1t was only
with the marriage of this son that the
spreading of the family tree began, through
his son and three daughters. Thus all the
descendants of Pocahontas are also de-
scendants of John Boiling, her great
grandson.
When quality is considered there be
no doubt that Powhatan's daughter would
view with pride the roll of her descendants.
Certainly she could not find them wanting
on their side in progenital attachment, for
they cherish no other line of ancestry with
such fidelity and satisfaction as they do
the line which leads to her. Yet their
while blood is derived from no mean
sources. as every Virginian can tell you.
Typical Virginians they seem to be and
to have been from the first. 1t would be
difficult. indeed, to point out character
istcs that ever differentiated them from
others of their class. Gov. Robertson gives
his impression Of their quality in the fol-
lowing words, which may or may not be
equally applicable to the main body Of re-
spectacle SlrglnlanS.
"In view of all I have heard, read or
known Of them. 1 think it may be fairly
said that they were more prudent than en-
terprising, more wasteful than liberal.
more amable than censorious, more re-
spected than distinguished, more honest
than able, more patriotic than Indifferent.
more conservative than radical, more pious
than bigoted, and while few fell to the
a few also rose to the height of genius and
virtue
While it is obvious that Pocahontas would
not be able to pick her children from their
mates by this description, nor in any way.
except by the records, there have been in
dividuals from time to time who appear
to illustrate the theory of ''reversion to
type" in that they exhibited traits of char
acter and personal appearance that strongly
suggested an Indian origin. Take, for ex-
ample, this description from Gov. Robert
sons book of Lenaeus Boiling. repre-
sentative of the sixth generation from Po-
cahontas: He was tall. erect. swarthy
with the straight black hair and eyes Of
the Indian and with strong sympathy for
that decaying race" Further description
of his temperament and manner of living
is even more striking in the suggestion of
aboriginal ancestry.
Some of the characteristics Of the most
noted and most eccentric Of all Poca-
hotas' descendants, John Randolph of
Roanoke, are also suggestive. Though he
was only one sixty-fourth redskin the de-
gree Of savagery attributed to him by some
of his intimates was much weightier part
Of his character He was man of genius
one of the best debaters of his day In Con-
gress, and his sense of his personal dignity
was so strong that feeling of tenderness
toward any human being seems to have
been impossible for him. Those who came
in frequent touch with his fierce temper
however much they respected him. could
have little liking for him, and as a result
his last years were passed in the gloom of
loneliness.
During John Randolph's service in Con-
gress he was challenged to the field Of
honor" by another descendant of Poca-
hontas. Thomas Boiling Robertson. who
was then the first representative from the
state of Louisiana. The Virginian refused,
however saying simply that he was not
compelled TO meet any one who chose to