Evening star., 1942-03-29

Pocahontas lives in history as one
of America S earliest heroines, al
though authorities find it difficult to
separate truth from fiction in her
life story
1t is plain, nevertheless, that
marriage of the Indian princess to
John Rolfe provided protection
against the savages for eight years
and that this immunity during a
critical period aided greatly in estab-
fishing the Jamestown colony on a
firm basis This alone was con-
tribution substantial enough to win
her a place in the pages of history.
It is interesting but unimportant
that the saga of Pocahontas has
been enbellished with brave and
romantic incidents about which his
torians have been arguing for years.
There is no disagreement, how
ever. about the fact that John Rolfe
and Pocahontas had a son. Although
born in England Thomas Rolfe
ultimately settled in Virginia, where
many of his descendants live today.
Among the many prominent Vlr-
ginia families who trace their
ancestry to the son of Pocahontas
are the John Randolphs, the Guys,
the Robertsons, the Elbridges and
the Bollings.
Detained at jamestown.
Pocahontas fell into the hands Of
the English in the spring of 1913,
was taken to Jamestown and held
there as a hostage for colonists who
had been captured by her father,
Chief PoWhatan. The prisoner, then
about 10, was treated with consid-
Grafton. Sir Thomas Dale, acting
Governor, was impressed with her
gentleness and intelligence. Pow
hatan's daughter I caused to be
carefully instructed in Christian re-
ligion," he states, who after she
had made some good progress there
in, renounced publicly her country
idolatry and was baptised."
While Pocahontas was being de-
tanned at jamestown John Rolfe
fell in love with her and wrote to
Gov. Dale asking permission to
marry her. He was not ignorant,
he stated, of the inconvenience
which might arise from such mar
riage and he recognized the strange
ness of being lin love with one
whose educatio hath bin rude, her
manners barbarous, her generation
accursed."
Dale gave his consent for the
marriage, as he believed it would
win the friendship of the Indians.
Chief Powhatan also approved and
sent a brother and two of his sons
to represent him at the wedding,
which was held in the church at
jamestown in April, 1914. The mar
riage was regarded by both the
colonists and the Indians as a guar
anty of peace between the two races.
Later John Rolfe himself wrote:
THE great blessings of God have
followed this peace and it hath
bredd our plentie."
Dies at Gravesend.
Pocahontas went to England with
her husband in 1916. She also
was accompanied by a brother-in-
law and several Indian maidens.
In London she was received with
consideration due princess, en-
tertained by the Bishop OF London
and presented to the King and
Queen. Early in 1917 she and her
husband intended to return to Vlr-
ginia and went to GraveSend to
embark. There Pocahontas became
Ill and died. She was buried in
the chancel of Gravesend Church.
Among Pocahontas legends the
most famous is the tale about her
saving the life of Capt. John Smith,
who is said to have been captured
by Indians and condemned to die
under the war club. Just as the SEN
tence was about to be carried out,
1ocahontas is alleged to have thrown