The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-19
pocAHoNrAs, rERcENrENARY.

Three hundred wears have passed
since an Indian woman, known and
loved by all the children Of this coun-
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 Ia
Ware chronicled that ut 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 cody 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"
Here the Thomas" Is, Of course. a
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. It bears
out the legend that this was a true
love marriage and that it SO continued
is known. There has never been any
happiness and that Of her husband.
John Rolfe wrote in document that
was recently discovered In the manu-
script collection at Bodleian library
at oxford:
Lett therefore this my well adj
vised protestacion, which here / make
betweene God and my owne conscience
be q sufficient wytnes, at the dreadful
Day of Judgement when the secrets
of all mems hartea shall be opened) to
condemne me herein VI my chiefe in
tent & purpose be not to stryve with
all my power Of boldly and mynde in
the undertakings Of soc weighy
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
", Pocahontas-to whom my hart and
best thoughts are and have byn
lonEe time so intangled & inthralled
in soc intricate a laborinth, that was
even awearied to unwynde my SEINE
thereout."
During March and April of this
year the library OF congress is paying
national tribute to this American
princess by holding an exhibition OF
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 a picturesque. romantic and
lovabI0 figure.
Her descendants in this country
have also been Known, to fame. Her
one son, Thomas Rolfe, 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 Roles second
daughter married Colonel Robert
So that March 81, 1917. is a date
that the school children should now
write in the back OF their histories or
the United States and after 1T the
words. "Pocahontas died at Graves
end, in England. and is buried in 81.
Georges church there"
Not until three years after this
event did the Pilgrim Fathers leave
Holland for Plymouth.