The Washington herald., 1909-08-25
INDIAN PRINCESS
OFFSPRING TRACED
Western Woman Claims De-
scent from POcahOntaS.
USES A JOHN SMITH RING
Mrs. Turfey, Of Spokane, Says smith
Gave Topaz Ring TO Indian Maid,
which Passed Down from Child TO
Chfld-Name of Prominent VLr-
ginians AdOrn Family Tree.
- o be wasAlnstoa HenIa.

Special 20 The Washington Herald.
Spokane, Wash. Aug 24-Mrs. F. J.
Turfey. a pioneer OF the inland empire,
living in Spokane. who has every evidence
70 indicate that she IS a direct descendant
Of Pocahontas. an Indian princess. TO
whom Capt John Smith owed his life, is
legally tracing her inheritance. including
a topaz-set ring presented by the Aus
trian government 20 Capt. Smith TO
prove her claim 10 the treasure The ring
is about to pass from her possession to
one Of the foremost museums in Amer
lea
To prove her heritage and connection
with the Incian princess and Andrew
Jackson. Mrs. Turfey has sworn to her
lineage from Chief Powhatan down 10
the last generation and holds the ring,
which it is said Capt NTH gave to the
Indian girl who saved his life. Through
her steps IN this direction she permit
ted her story to become known. She
said in part as follows.
POcahOntas' one Son.
when Pocahontas married John Rolfe
there was born to them son named
Thomas. Thomas married. and his only
child was a daughter, Tho married a
man named Boiling. The family had
born TO them a daughter named Eliza
beth and from this daughter trace my
direct descent. which reaches into the
seventh generation.
IN 1890 the Gay brothers came from
England. Their names were William.
Thomas. and Henry. William settled in
jamestown. and Henry and Thomas I'm
New England. William Gays grandson,
Dr. William Gay. married three times.
The third union was with the Belle Of
Richmond Elizabeth Boiling, a fourth
generation descendant from Pocahontas
This was In 1870.
"Dr. William Cay had three children
by his third wife. Thomas, Charles. and
William. Thomas married Eliza Archy
and they had born 20 them eight chill
dren, William. Ellen. Powhatan. Thomas
b. Della Eliza. Virginia. and Henry.
Only the two older married Ellen mar
ried a man named Jacob Skeen. and they
have two children living somewhere in
Kentucky
Ring Given Her by Father.
William Gay married a second cousin.
Cassandra Desdemona jackson. a second
cousin OF Andrew Jackson, and they had
born to them four daughters. Lydia.
Page. Fannie. and Lucy. The daughter
Fanny married California man named
l. Il Turfey on Dece-b S, 1873. They
moved 60 Spokane County in 1879
The Fanny Gay who married Mr.. Tur-
FEY IS none other than myself. and the
topaz ring presented to Pocahontas by
John Smith. after having been handed
down from generation TO generation. has
fallen into my hands through my father.
William Gay
Prom personal memoirs and letters I
have in my possession from my uncle l
have every reason 20 believe that the
claim IS genuine; and while there may be
little Indian blood In my veins now,
am direct descendant Of Pocahontas. or
even Powhatan, If you please"
According 10 history. Pocahontas died
shortly after marrying John Rolfe and
the only child born 10 them was a son.
Thomas R2lfe, who later married. and
his only child was a daughter, from
whom some Of the leading fam
ilies Of Virginia trace their origin.
Among these are the Bollings. Heming-
ways, Murrays Gays. Eldridges. and
Randolphs.