Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1941-09-11
Page Sever

later in London to give her honor.
One would like to omit that chap
ter OF her life, when she was taken
On board the English ship as pris-
oner. She was held as hostage
until her father would return cer-
tain white prisoners and stolen
property which the red men had
taken. And now, as if her life had
not been full enough already of adj
venture, or misadventure, she was
to enter still further into romance,
and marriage, to member Of the
white race
John Rolfe, one of the colonists,
had met the dusky princess many
times, and had fallen deeply in love
with her. He was so-called gen.
tleman, prosperous tobacco plant
er, for tobacco had rapidly become
a source Of wealth to incipient Vir-
ginia. He was known as the Secre-
tary or Recorder General of the coll
ony. In letter to Governor Dale
he thus expressed himself: my
heart and best thoughts are. and
have been for long time, so en-
tangled and enthralled in so intri-
cate a labyrinth, that I was even
awearied to unwind myself there
| out" Here is the old, old story.
very modern indeed, expressed in
| the quaint language of the time.
James, King of English, who au-
| thorized the King James Version Of
the Bible, now interferred. He
| thought it was treason for subject
of the crown to aspire to marry a
princess of another nation But the
governor was more practical, and
saw in the coming marriage pos
sible way to cement the two races.
Powhatan approved for the same
reason. So Governor Dale wrote
go ahead, it will cement the two
nations together" And SO it did,
peace followed as long as Powhatan
lived. He died in 1913.
In 1922 the whites were massa-
cred, and only eight of the eighty
settlements remained. The whites
in turn in 1914, almost wiped out
the Indian race in that locality.
AS it was, the wedding came of.
Rev. Richard Buck the recorded
minister, the date April, 1914 Pow
hatan sent Opecancano and two 9TH
ers to witness the ceremony. All
went merry as marriage bell.
Role wrote, From that time peace
was observed Without her help
the colony could not have been
kept alive" One is reminded of the
adroit way, in which the white peo-
pie took California from the Mexi-
cans, as cleverly expressed by the
Mexicans themselves. ''They first
married California, and then stole
it."
More wonderful still, Pocahontas
became a devout Christian. She was
eager for instruction, and quick to
understand. We walked among the
ruins of the old church at James,
town, where she was baptized. In
the baptismal records, she was bap-
tized Bebecca, although / think the
Indian name is more musical or
melodious The old baptismal font
is DltSeINcu dl w Oo
will remember the old town was re-
stored to its primitive beauty, by
John D. Rockefeller, jr.
Much pain was taken by the
young husband and his friends to
make the Indian bride lady and
Christian, and she became both.
Her manners became polished, but
she retained her natural and happy
spirit. The last chapter of this
beautiful life tells of her visit to
in 1916. She accompanied
her husband and Governor Dale.
Her brother-in-law and some Indian
maidens went with her. She was
presented in the Royal Court OF
King James first. Great interest
and curiosity prevailed. "She car
ried her demeanor like the daugh-
ter of a king. Always devoted to
the highest ideals, she showed
poise, disinterested and kindly SER
vice, purity of life and nobility OF
SOUL
The Bishop of London entertain
cd the Lady Rebecca in his palatial
mansion She died at Gravesend,
England, in 1917, the record simply
saying ga lady of Virginia, borne
here, was buried within the chaun-
SELL" street in London, named
for her, is still known as ''La Belle
Savage" "It was the joy of all to
behold and see and hear her make
10 religious and godly an end.
Her little boy, Thomas Rolfe, half
indian, a year old at the time of his
death, settled in Virginia.
A number of Virginia families are
proud to be remembered among the
| understand the
Iuys, Hemingways, John RAN
!olphs, Bollings, Robertsons and
Ildridges are descended from Poca-
lontas. Mrs Edith Boiling Gait
wife of Woodrow Wilson,
S a descendent To the many tour
SITS who throng this historical set
lement, of great interest is the
to Captain John Smith,
nd of still greater interest the one
@ Pocahontas-How H. Scott.