The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-06
pocAHoNTAs, rERcENTENARY.

Infe6 nunureO wears nave pdSSSu
since an Indian woman. known and
loved by all the children of this eoun-
try today, Pocahontas, whose name
means "A Sparkling Stream Between
Two Hills" died at Gravesend in Eng
land, just as she was about to take
passage for America. Her malady is
not known nor any of the details Of
her last days. except that Lord de la
Ware chronicled that 1T pleased God
at Gravesend to take this young lady
to his mercie, where she had not more
sorrow for her unexpected death than
joy to the beholders to heare and see
her make so religious and godly an
end" She was laid beneath the chancel
of st. Georges church at Gravesend
and the church register. under date OF
March 81. records:
Here Rebecca Wrolf, wyffe OF
Thomas Wrolf, gent, a Virginia lady
borne, was buried in the chaunsell,
1917 ;.
mistake for John"
A most interesting document is the
declaration of John Rolfe, contain
ing his request for the governors per-
mission to marry Pocahontas. 1t bears
out the legend that this was true
love marriage and that it so continued
is known. There has never been any
evidence contrary to the belief in her
happiness and that Of her husband.
John Rolfe wrote in a document that
was recently discovered in the manu-
script collection at Bodleian library
at Oxford:
Lett therefore this my we'll adj
vised protestacion, which here make
betweene God and my owne conscience
be a sufficient wytnes, at the dreadful
Day of Judgement (when the secrets
Of all mems hartes shall be opened) to
condemne me herein yf my chiefe in
tent & purpose be not to stryve with
all my power Of boldly and mynde in
the undertakings of soc weighy a
matter (noe waye leade soc farr foorth
as mans weakness may permytt, with
the unbridled desire of carmel affec-
tion) for the goode of the plantation,
the honoure Of cure countryee, for the
glorye of God for myne owne sal
vacion, and for the convertinge to the
true knowledge of God and Jesus
Christ an unbelieving creature, name
ly, Pocahontas-to whom my hart and
best thoughts are and have byn a
longe time so intangled & inthralled
in soc intricate a laborinth, that I was
even awearied to unwynde my seine
thereout." So ~
During March and April of this
year the library of congress is paying
national tribute to this American
pTlICGSS ny 1AOA0AAS Gn CAAA1ASAOh ~
pictures, books and writings relating
to her. All the old letters and manu-
script records many OF which have
only recently come to light, show that
she was picturesque. romantic and
lovable figure.
Her descendants in this country
have also been known, to fame. Her
one son, Thomas Rofe, was educated
by the English Rolfes and at the age
of 10 returned to Virginia and settled
on his fathers estates. He also inner
tied lands from his grandfather, Pow
haitian. From his marriage. with Jane
Poythress sprang men and women
well known in Virginia and beyond.
John Randolph of Roanoke was one
of these. The wife Of President Will
son, who was born Edith Boiling, is
the most prominent living descendant
of Pocahontas. Thomas Rolfes second
daughter married Colonel Robert
Boiling.
So that March q, 1917, is a. date
that the school children should now
write in the back Of their histories of
the United States and after it the
words. "Pocahontas died at Graves
end, in England, and is buried in st.
Georges church there"
Not until three years after this
event did the Pilgrim Fathers leave
Holland for Plymouth.