BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 EROM THE 
 
 SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 Henrg W. Sage 
 
 1S91 
 
 .Mirifs - Z^ms^'f... 
 
Cornell University Library 
 CS71 .R74 1887 
 
 Pocahontas alias Matoaka, and her desce 
 
 Clin 
 
 3 1924 029 771 130 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029771130 
 
j-\,ilook<: (ih RchedkadovijMcr loihc mighty h-incc 
 i n:t}auui tuvijcvoiiriif AilJih^aQhkMiiouvl otilHroivul 
 r.>i»»>crlivf iuiJ baptized iH HieijIinfJitin (nhh (nvi 
 
 THE PRINCESS POCAHONTAS. 
 
POCAHONTAS, 
 
 ALIAS MATOAKA, 
 
 AND HER DESCENDANTS 
 
 THROUGH HER MARRIAGE AT 
 
 Jamestown, Virginia, in April, 1614, 
 
 WITH 
 
 JOHN ROLFE, GENTLEMAN; 
 
 INCLUDING THE NAMES OF 
 
 ALFRIEND, ARCHER, BENTLEY, BERNARD, BLAND, BOLLING, BRANCH, 
 CABELL, CATLETT, CARY, DANDRIDGE, DIXON, DOUGLAS, DUVAL, 
 ELDRIDGE, ELLETT, FERGUSON, FIELD, FLEMING, GAY, GORDON, 
 • GRIFFIN, GRAYSON, HARRISON, HUBARD, LEWIS, LOGAN, MARK- 
 HAM, MEADE, McRAE, MURRAY, PAGE^ POYTHRESS, RAN- 
 DOLPH, ROBERTSON, SKIPWITH, STANARD, TAZEWELL, 
 WALKE, WfiST, WHITTLE, AND OTHERS. 
 
 Biographical Sketches 
 
 BY 
 
 WYNDHAM ROBERTSON, 
 
 AND 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE HISTORICAL NOTES 
 
 BY 
 
 R. A. BROOK. 
 
 J. W. RANDOLPH & ENGLISH, 
 
 publishers and booksellers, 
 
 1302 Main St., Richmond, Va. 
 
 1887. 
 
 9 
 
A. \H\<^ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1887, by 
 
 WYNDHAM ROBERTSON, 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 From the Press of 
 
 JVM. ELLIS JONES, 
 
 Richmond, Va. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I offer to the narrow circle it may interest, as well as I have 
 been able to restore it, the Tree of Pocahontas and Rolfe, as it 
 has grown from them as its root to its seventh season (inclusive) 
 of fruitage. I accompany it with illustrative sketches of some 
 of its notable products, within my reach, in order to relieve the 
 blankness of it, by revealing somethiftg of its inward succulence 
 as well aS its outward form. I have condensed them as much as 
 in my view consisted with my object, knowing how insignificant 
 the whole matter is amid the great surges of the world it is 
 thrown upon. The notice of Pocahontas is exceptionally long 
 for reasons apparent on the face of it, involving, as it does, in- 
 cidentally, the vindication of Captain Smith against the unfriendly 
 strictures of some modern critics, and which all lovers of justice 
 will thank me for introducing. In a few other instances, where 
 undue space may seem to have been accorded, candor, I hope, 
 will set down my departure from brevity from larger opportuni- 
 ties of knowledge rather than to unworthier motives. To this 
 consideration of relieving the book from unnecessary encum- 
 brance I have, with few exceptions, omitted from the Register 
 names barren of progeny, as also, of the almost numberless 
 "pieces justificatifs " obtained by me in aid of my labors. On 
 the other hand, I have to lament the want of the completeness I 
 sought for it as a genealogy, baffled in part by ignorance of the 
 sources to apply to, and in large part, also, by the indifference of 
 many to the object in view. To these causes are owing the many 
 bare and unsightly limbs it exhibits, that disappoint the eye by 
 want of their proper foliage. I hope, however, that these very 
 defects themselves will serve to stimulate many, who will regret 
 to see them, to yet supply these waste places, in some future re- 
 print, with their proper garniture. I submit it as it is, however, 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 with all its defects, as yet the best I could make it, hoping that 
 what I have gathered with much pains may be accepted as an 
 offset for What I have been unable to reach. If, as I have tried 
 to do, I have succeeded in laying a safe foundation whereon 
 others may raise a more complete structure, I shall be content. 
 
 I wish to acknowledge, exceptionally, the courtesy of R. A. 
 Brock, Esq., who has supervised the printing of the book, 
 making additions to the text, and who kindly placed at my dis- 
 posal the illustrated "Boiling Memoirs," as pubhshed and 
 annotated by the late Thomas H. Wynne, and which consti- 
 tutes the basis of this Register ; as, also, to Mr. Alexander 
 Brown, to whose active assistance I am much indebted. 
 
 The Frontispiece is from a photograph taken recently in Eng- 
 land from the original portrait of Pocahontas (London, i6i6-), 
 yielded to my request by its present possessor, Mr. Elwyn, one 
 of the family of Rolfe, now, and from time immemorial, resi- 
 dents of Norfolk County, England. 
 
 The work was executed by one of England's best photogra- 
 phers, and under the personal supervision of Mrs. Herbert 
 Jones — author of " Sandringham," a charming memoir of the 
 many Norfolk families, containing a most graceful and graphic 
 description of the original picture — to whose kind and judicious 
 co-operation in forwarding my views, I wish to express here my 
 warmest acknowledgements. 
 
 The "Pocahontas" found in many " Indian" publications, and 
 a few in oil, while authentic, are from De Passe's almost contem- 
 poraneous engraving from the original and the only one known. 
 Except such, all so-called portraits of her are mere fancies of the 
 artists. The Engraving necessarily inexact, and the copies more 
 so, the only accurate as well as authentic reproduction of that 
 painting ever published in the United States is that of the Frontis- 
 piece of this book. The Sun's work can never be false, man's 
 never true. 
 
 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE GENEALOGY. 
 
 b. — born. d — died. m. — married. 
 
 M. H. B.— Member of the House of Burgesses. 
 
 M. H. D.— Member House of Delegates. 
 
 M. Va. Sen.— Member Virginia Senate. 
 
 M. C. — Member of Congress. 
 
 M. U. S. S.— Member United States Senate. 
 
 J. P. — ^Justice of Peace. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 LETTER FROM REV. PHILIP SLAUGHTER, D. D., 
 
 Historiographer of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. 
 
 I gladly avail myself of the liberty accorded me by the vener- 
 able writer to adorn my little book with the following letter : 
 
 Cedar Mountain, November 13, 1886. 
 Hon. Wyndham Robertson, The Meadows : 
 
 My Dear Sir : I am glad that you have undertaken to 
 delineate the "peerless Pocahontas" according to the truth of 
 hisfory, since after your right hand shall have lost its cunning, 
 no one will be left so competent,, from a thorough acquaintance 
 with the history of Virginia in general, and a special study of 
 this particular subject, to do the work, and whose blood relation 
 to her must naturally qualify them to do it con amore. She 
 deserves commemoration, not only for intrinsic worth and her 
 public services, but also because from her have sprung so many 
 of our best people. 
 
 I have read your manuscript with much interest, and consider 
 it a valuable contribution to our historical literature. I congratu- 
 late you upon having procured from England authentic copies 
 of the only original portrait of her, so that we may see her as 
 she appeared to the eyes of the artist instead of through the 
 medium of the engraved caricatures. The personal notices are 
 of special value and interest. That of the unique John Randolph, 
 of Roanoke, seems to me rather severe, and might be tempered 
 with some lighter shades. I have one of the last (perhaps the 
 very last) letters written by him. It is dated about ten days 
 before his death to his god-daughter, Rebecca Matoaca Robinson. 
 With much that is otherwise, it has gleams of tenderness in it 
 that, to me, are very touching, like the plaintive bleatings of the 
 stricken deer. It gives in sharp contrast the two chief elements 
 of his composite character. The best explanation and apology 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 for him is that his mind often lost its balance. One of the most 
 exquisite reminiscences of my life is having heard his great 
 speech in the Convention of 1829-30. I was so fascinated that 
 I was unconscious of the lapse of time— hours dwindling into 
 moments. I have often been reminded of one of his pithy say- 
 ings in favor of free-hold suffrage — viz : "Mr. President, when 
 we leave the land we shall be at sea." 
 
 I would suggest for your consideration if it would not be well 
 to give a brief history of the portraits of Pocahontas. Your 
 criticism of the hypocritics of our early history is timely, as it 
 may tend to elicit the truth. 
 
 The New York Post had lately a long article on " Arber's Edi- 
 tion " of Smith's Works, well worth reading for the opinion of 
 the reviewers as well as that of Arber, the publisher. 
 
 One of the most accurate and learned books on Colonial Vir- 
 ginia is "Anderson's History of the British Colonial Church." 
 In commenting on the criticism of bur Virginia Burke, who said: 
 "Smith's work is a sort- of epic history or romance in whictf the 
 author recounts, like Ossian, his achievements in like spirit in 
 which he fought." Anderson says : " The greater part of Smith's 
 History is made up of the narratives of his companions, ex- 
 pressed sometimes in grandiloquent terms, but Smith's own 
 language is remarkable for its simplicity." 
 
 I wish you could have included Randolph Fairfax in your per- 
 sonal notices, as he was (considering the brevity of his career), 
 morally and physically, one of the most beautiful branches of 
 this remarkable family tree. But, as you must draw the line 
 somewhere, and you have drawn it at the seventh generation, he 
 is necessarily excluded, and it might seem invidious to some to 
 make him an exception to your general rule. I don't know 
 enough of the subject to revise your genealogical details. My 
 own experience teaches me, however perfect your copy may be, 
 it is impossible for a family to pass through that most formidable 
 of steam-engines, the printing press, without the loss of some 
 member or suffering such dislocations that its own father cannot 
 recognize it. I may venture, however, to say that Colonel 
 Meade had no issue by his first wife, Elizabeth Randolph, of 
 Curie's. Bishop Meade's mother's maiden name was Grymes, 
 and she was the widow of William Randolph. Bishop Meade 
 had no Randolph blood in him, although the types make me say 
 
> PREFACE. Vll 
 
 SO in "Bristol Parish," in spite of my protestations. Wilson 
 Miles Gary, the highest authority on the Randolph family, says 
 that the wife of Anthony Walke was Jane, not Anne, as it is 
 generally rendered. 
 
 This subject has the more interest for me because from her 
 have sprung leading members of the church in every generation, 
 and her blood runs in the veins of many of our clergy and laity, 
 of whom I may signalize the Rev. Henry Page, missionary to 
 Japan, and the present Bishop of Virginia, the Rt. Rev. Francis 
 M. Whittle, p. D. 
 
 Hoping soon to see your book in print, and with best wishes 
 for your weal, here and hereafter, 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 P. Slaughter. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Genealogical deduction of descendants of Pocahontas to the 
 
 seventh generation inclusive i 
 
 Notice of Pocahontas i 
 
 John Rolfe 23 
 
 Thomas Rolfe 19 
 
 Descendants of Pocahontas — • 
 
 In the second degree 31 
 
 In the third degree 31 
 
 In the fourth degree 32 
 
 In the fifth degree 32 
 
 In the sixth degree 35 
 
 In the seventh degree 40 
 
 Appendix — 
 
 Notice of John Boiling 57 
 
 Jane Boiling 57 
 
 Mary Boiling 58 
 
 Anne Boiling 59 
 
 Thomas Boiling and Elizabeth Gay 60 
 
 John Boiling, Jr 61 
 
 Robert Boiling of " Chellow " 61 
 
 Archibald Boiling _. 62 
 
 Elizabeth Randolph, wife of R. K. Meade 63 
 
 Mary Murray, wife of Col. Wm. Davies. 64 
 
 Elizabeth Boiling, wife of William Robertson 65 
 
 William Boiling 67 
 
 Thomas Boiling 68 
 
 Lenaeus Boiling 68 
 
 Powhatan Boiling 68 
 
 Blair Boiling 69 , 
 
 Dr. William Tazewell 70 
 
 John Randolph, of Roanoke 70 
 
 The Whittle Family : 74 
 
 Rt. Rev. F. M. Whittle, D. D., LL.D 75 
 
 Thomas Boiling Robertson 76 
 
 John Robertson 78 
 
 Wyndham Robertson 8i 
 
 Charles Joseph Cabell 84 
 
 Jenny Eldridge 84 
 
Pocahontas and Her Descendants. 
 
 Pocahontas, daughter of. the Indian chief, Powhatan, the mighty 
 Werowance, who ruled over Attanoughkomouck als. Virginia, born 
 about 1595, died 1616, married John Rolfe {b. , d. 1622, first Secre- 
 tary and Recorder-General of Virginia and member of the Council) 
 about the first of April, 1614, and left issue one child only, a son. 
 
 Pocahontas, as her name is in history, and as she was known 
 to the colonists ; Matoaks, reported to have been her family 
 name, or Rebecca, as she was christened, was born about 1595, 
 married in 1614, and died at Gravesend, in England, in 1617. 
 History does not offer, nor has fiction ever depicted a lovelier 
 character. She was her father's "dearest daughter," the idol of 
 her tribe, the admiration of the English, and the very pet, as it 
 were, of Nature herself. Her father was Powhatan, the great 
 Werowance and ruler of all the Indian tribes which, at the advent 
 of the English, inhabited Virginia from the seaboard to the falls 
 of its rivers. He is described as a savage of a grave and majes- 
 tical presence; cruel, yet not pitiless; stern, yet affectionate; 
 despotic, yet beloved; brave, but wary and subtle, and not desti- 
 tute of magnanimity. From him Pocahontas seems to have de- 
 rived all his higher and better attributes without the harsher and 
 less ingenuous ones. Thus esteemed by her own people, with 
 whom she lived to womanhood, as the flower of her tribe, and 
 entitled by the English "The Nonpareilla of Virginia," she passed 
 and repassed, on errands of love and bounty, between Jamestown 
 (as long as Smith remained there) and her woodland home, as 
 free thoughted and unblamed as Una herself; nor, through her 
 years of captivity and married life among the colonists, nor yet 
 
2 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 while sojourning among the blandishments and seductions of the 
 Court of London, was a breath of scandal ever known to touch her 
 name. We see her, in history, but by glimpses indeed, but these 
 are all luminous with moral beauty, and verify one another by a 
 perfect harmony of tint. 
 
 We first see her, a child of eleven or twelve years, interposing 
 herself between Smith and the uplifted club of the executioner, 
 and saving hirn from the death to which the politic foresight of 
 Powhatan had doomed him, braving at once and prevailing over 
 her father's anger, and leaving us in doubt whether most to extol 
 her compassionating tenderness or his generosity. 
 
 After her fir.'st introduction to us at Werowocomico, we next 
 see her, .a guileless child, naked, according to the custom of her 
 tribe, attended by her ''wild train," playing and romping at times 
 in the streets of Jamestown with the children of the colonists ; a 
 spectacle as blameless as amiable, in the light of a true and broad 
 humanity, yet not wholly escaping censure (as where-ever was 
 there purity that did?) from some of the " nice sort," who would 
 apply to it the conventional rules of artificial society, to which it 
 is not amenable, and who themselves alone furnish the indelicacy 
 that scandalizes them. 
 
 Next she is seen as a sort of ambassadress sent, from her father 
 to beg for peace and the restoration of certain captive Indians, 
 which were both accorded, and mainly, it would seem, in recog- 
 nition of some personal but unexplained claim of the artless in- 
 tercessor. 
 
 "Jamestown, as freely frequenting as her father's habitation," 
 she next appears coming to every few days, seemingly with the 
 permission of Powhatan, on errands of mercy, "bringing with 
 her swarthy retinue so much provision to feed us that else we 
 had directly starved"; and still, ''during the time of two or 
 three years, was the instrument, under God, to preserve this 
 colonie from death, famine, and other confusion, which, if, in 
 those times, it had been once dissolved, Virginia might have line 
 [lain,] as it was at our first arrivall, to this day." 
 
 When, after Smith's return to England, the Indians "did spoile 
 and murther all they encountered," we find that, out of a band 
 of thirty, all were slain save one that escaped, and one, a boy, 
 Henry Spelman, "that Pocahontas saved, and who by her 
 means lived many yeres amongst the Potawomekes," serving 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 3 
 
 often afterwards as an interpreter between the colonists and the 
 Indians. 
 
 We next see her coming through the "dark and irksome" 
 night to warn Smith against a planned surprise, and with watery 
 eyes, begging him to escape her father's fury ; whereby the colony 
 Was, it is probable, a second time saved from destruction. What 
 but the love and admiration Smith first inspired her with, and the 
 natural impulse to protect again the life she had already once 
 saved, can sufficiently account for, as this conjecture does, this 
 new intervention ? 
 
 As if her mission were to be ever in place to watch over the 
 safety of this young exposed germ of a future empire, she is now 
 seen hiding from his pursuers, Richard Wyffin, a messenger to 
 Smith (who was then at Pamaunkee), whereby he was enabled 
 to timely advertise the latter of a new attempt on his life, pro 
 jected by Powhatan, which Smith, thus forewarned, took good 
 means to frustrate. 
 
 We now lose any clear sight of her for two years, but she had 
 evidently fled away from the beginning scenes of violence and 
 blood'immediately ensuing on Smith's departure from Virginia, 
 to live with the Potawomekes, where, her retreat at last being 
 discovered, one wilier savage than those he dealt with, Argall, 
 prevailed over the cupidity of their simple-minded king to be- 
 tray her, "reluctant" (as he states) '' into his hands " [April, 
 1613].* 
 
 In honored captivity she now lived a year in the charge 
 of Sir Thomas Dale and the Rev. Alexander Whitaker, than 
 whom two higher or purer men never came to Virginia. Being 
 by them carefully instructed and fashioned to piety and civility, a 
 docile pupil, she now confessed the faith of Jesus Christ (" which 
 thing Sir Thomas Dale had labored a long time to ground in 
 her"), was baptized, and became the wife of "John Rolfe, (April, 
 1614,) an English gentleman," highly esteemed, — adopting his 
 religion, his civilization, and his language. Her marriage had 
 the sanction of her father. It was held mutually as a new pledge 
 of the pacification recently before made between Dale and Pow- 
 
 *" Exceeding pensive and discontented, yet extraordinary courteous 
 usage, by little and little, at length wrought her to patience, and so to 
 Jamestown she was brought." 
 
4 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 hatan, and which it is apparent, her captivity with the English 
 and expressed regard for them, alone rendered possible. It at 
 once allayed distrust, restored intercourse, and revived good-will, 
 so that, in Hamor's quaint language, " the colony was never 
 better." Indeed, as more than once before, her intervention had 
 saved the young settlement from destruction, so now, from her 
 marriage to her death, she may be said to have hovered over it 
 as a brooding dove of peace. 
 
 Finally, at London, we find her provided for as the guest of 
 the Virginia Company, the honored recipient of the marked 
 notice and attention of the Queen and ladies of the Court, and 
 entertained with special and extraordinary " state, festival, and 
 pomp" by the Lord Bishop of London (as described by Pur- 
 chas, who was present), closing, untimely, her pure and beautiful 
 life at Gravesend when about to embark for Virginia, [in a vessel 
 of the Virginia Company specially furnished for her accommo- 
 dation]. 
 
 In one of its Registers at this day is still found this brief 
 record : 
 
 " 1616 — March 21. Rebecca Wrolfe, wyffe of Thomas Wrolfe, 
 gent. A Virginia lady borne, was buried in the chauncel." 
 
 These incidents of her life reveal a character of rare beauty 
 and worth. There is nothing of myth or legend, of the miracu- 
 lous or incredible about them, save to disbelievers in the higher 
 virtues of human nature. Except such of them as could be 
 known to Smith only, they rest on various and unimpugned au- 
 thorities. On the faith of them, the Queen and Court of Eng- 
 land, its highest and best people, and, in an especial manner, the 
 Bishop of London, bestowed on her nwrked and distinguished 
 attentions, inconceivable to have been extended to her, except 
 as the meed of extraordinary virtues, and that in the pcesence 
 and midst of many, who, had the testimonies to them been capa- 
 ble of being disproved, could have readily furnished the means, 
 as some of them were known not to be wanting in the will, to 
 disprove them. And on the like faith in them, History, and 
 Poetry, and Art, have vied with one another in their several ways, 
 in investing her name, from that day to the present, with a halo 
 of surpassing brightness. 
 
 Now, at the end of two centuries and a half, the best known 
 and most dazzling, but hardly most honoring of these incidents — 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 5 • 
 
 Smith's rescue before Powhatan — is impeached by some modern 
 critics as fabulous — most notably by Charles Deane, LL.D., to 
 whose careful and usually candid labors we owe so much, and, in 
 a very different spirit, by the Rev. E. D. Neill, D. D. The 
 latter writer, indeed, seems to have exhausted, in his chapter 
 entitled "Pocahontas and her Companions," all the arts of the 
 suggestio and the suppressio, of innuendo and perversion, not 
 only to throw doubts on much of her hitherto all-accepted his- 
 tory, but even ,to blur her good name ; nor, seemingly, without 
 effect, for a gentleman, whose long avowed dedication of his 
 pen to the sole service of what he esteems to be truth would 
 give almost irresistible weight to his conclusions, when unwarped 
 by prejudice or unbetrayed by false guides (Mr. Dawson, of 
 New York), has allowed himself to accept, and proclaim as true, 
 all adverse criticism anywhere arrived at, or surmised, both in 
 regard to Pocahontas and to Smith. He sums it all up in a few 
 words, yet so concise and comprehensive, that I cite, them for 
 such comment as they seem to call for, and the scope of this 
 little work restricts me to. A proper reply to the more elabo- 
 rate mis-statements of Dr. Neill, has been ably made by W. Wirt 
 Henry, Esq. 
 
 In some strictures he makes on Mr. Stephens's History of the 
 United States, Mr. Da-^son arraigns that gentleman for " repeat- 
 ing the exploded story of Pocahontas rescuing Captain Smith " ; 
 and " the old story of her alliance with Rolfe ; her voyage to 
 England and death there, repeated in the same old form ; and 
 in utter defiance of the undoubted fact of her early lasciviousness, 
 of her marriage to an Indian, her subsequent adultery with John 
 Rolfe, who was another woman's husband, and her ultimate death 
 while the wife, so-called,* of one Thomas Wrothe; both her so- 
 called former husbands being yet living." [Hist. Magazine, 
 N. Y., Sep., 1873.J 
 
 This is surely the most amazing mixture of ignorance and 
 misrepresentation ever seen in print — wholly unaccountable for 
 except on one of the hypotheses I have before suggested. Let 
 us consider it. I will suppose that, at least, " the old story in the 
 old form' ' of the voyage and death of Pocahontas, are not among 
 the matters meant to be included in the sweeping " defiance" of 
 the facts concerning her imputed to Mr. Stephens by this writer. 
 The other points of the indictment (only remarking that I write 
 
6 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 remote from libraries, and from an imperfect armory of authori- 
 ties, but furnishing all that I believe necessary to elucidate these 
 questions) I proceed to notice, in turn, as presented : 
 
 " The exploded Story of Pocahontas rescuing Captain Smith!' 
 
 Necessarily the story of the rescue must have come originally 
 from Smith. All the first published narratives of it are his, or 
 fairly referable to him. These publications are, in the order of 
 dates, His Letter to the Queen, 1616; his General History, 
 1624; Purchas's Pilgrimage, 1626; and his "New England 
 Trials, 1624," where it is referred to. 
 
 Its absence from the " True Relation," 1618, he may or may 
 not be responsible for. That was neither published nor super- 
 vised by him. There are points connected with it never yet, nor 
 probably ever, now, to be cleared up. Its first copies have as 
 many as three different fathers, all spurious or anonymous, and 
 the true publisher still remains unknown. That the body of the 
 book was Smith's ther.e can be no doubt, but just as little that 
 no single passage can be asserted positively to be as he wrote it. 
 It is apparent that it was published for a purpose, and it is avowed 
 that parts of the original MS. were suppressed. 
 
 What was never in it, or what being in, this unknown editor 
 esteemed, as he has it, "fit to be private and suppressed," none 
 can ever know. Holding it quite unimportant either way, my 
 conjecture is, that the story was contained in it and suppressed. 
 B3' comparing the two accounts of Smith's reception by Powha- 
 tan — " True Relation" and Smith's General History — it is seen, 
 as it strikes me, that the sudden and awkward transition from 
 the description of the scene in the former, " their heads painted 
 in redde, and with such a grave and majestical countenance, etc; 
 he kindly welcomed me, etc.," needs bridging over, and that this 
 need between a similar point in the description and Powhatan's 
 welcoming him as a friend, after two days' of suspense and ter- 
 rorizing in the latter, is naturally supplied, and consisted, proba- 
 bly, of this very story of the rescue. My conclusion, therefore, is, 
 that this story was in the MS., and of the matters the editor 
 thought fit to suppress ; but, though not printed, was neverthe- 
 less known, so that no surprise seems to have been occasioned 
 by its appearance in the letter to the Queen. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 7 
 
 But in the dark as we are as to what was left out of, or may 
 have been put into, that publication, only with a certainty that it 
 was not an accurate reproduction of Smith's original, it is -alike 
 illogical and unjust to hold Smith responsible for the presence or 
 absence, in it or from it, of any specific passage or fact incon- 
 sistent with his own avowed statements. 
 
 The intimation, which has been thrown out that Smith gave the 
 preference over it, for insertion in his General History, to the nar- 
 ratives of others accompanying the Oxford Map, as allowing 
 easier interpolation of the rescue story, is fully repelled, I think, 
 by the fact that to this original narrative, thus changed, he signed 
 his own initiab, which were not appended to it before. Is it 
 credible, if he meant a fraudulent interpolation, he would have 
 done what would go far to defeat his object? On the contrary, 
 these initials recognized his responsibility for the story he added. 
 But there were obvious reasons for preferring the " Appendix" 
 to the " Relation." It was far better composed— far more com- 
 prehensive — had undergone his own as well as Dr. Symond's 
 careful supervision, and was the work of other hands than his, 
 all of them witnesses and actors in the events they narrated, 
 while the "True Relation" was evidently scribbled off in a 
 hurry, probably in the very hour of the sailing of the ship. His 
 "Map, etc.," of 1612 was confined strictly to a description of 
 the country, and contained none of his personal adventures. 
 
 It would thus appear that the incident of his rescue by Poca- 
 ■ hontas in 1607, was first published by him in 1616, and repeatedly 
 afterwards, and the question arises whether it should be held 
 true, or, to use the language of Mr. Deane, as an " embellishment 
 and afterthought" — that is, false and fabulous. It is not likely 
 now that certainty in regard to it can be attained, and, as little, 
 that unanimity of opinion will be arrived at. So various are 
 men's minds, and their ways of viewing things and actions, that 
 only where there is no room for doubt, can such unanimity be 
 looked for. A large and kindlier way of viewing men's acts and 
 motives, and larger appreciation of the better elements of our 
 nature on the one hand, and a narrower and less trustful one on 
 the other, whether derived from nature or the result of experience 
 of different individuals, varying infinitely in degree, we see every- 
 where around us; and these dispositions, in the' absence of con- 
 clusive proofs, will color or shape opinions on all questions of 
 
O POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 men's conduct we have occasion to pass upon. Although it be 
 true that these tendencies may, on the one hand, lead to the yield- 
 ing a too ready credence to marvels that should be relegated to 
 the domain of myth, it is not less so, that on the other, they 
 generate a hypercritical fastidiousness, which as often rejects, as 
 fa;lse, what is only rare ; and I think it is observable that where 
 this latter tendency exhibits itself in the depreciation of the great 
 and famous, and disparagement of the good, pandering, as it 
 does, to the general vanity, and seeming, by pulling down the 
 high, to lift up the common and the mean, it has a readier accept- 
 ance among men, and is harder, for the same reason, to correct 
 and obliterate, even where shown to be unjust, than when the 
 error is in the opposite direction. 
 
 In this case, on the broadest concession that Smith gave no 
 publicity to the incident in question, anterior to its appearance in 
 his letter to the Queen, I perceive no sufficient warrant to im- 
 peach its truth. When we remember who Smith was, and his 
 career, we seek in' vain for an adequate motive for so paltry a 
 fabrication. Did his own fame require it ? Was not his whole 
 career one of known and proved adventure, exposure and hair- 
 breadth escapes, of deeds of courage and address, and presence 
 of mind, in well known, real occurrences, done in pursuit of lofty 
 aims, attested and vouched by less questionable proofs and wit- 
 nesses than history offers, perhaps, in the case of any other hero 
 of that age whom it holds up to our admiration ? Were not his 
 certain achievements such as, if unperformed, might have widely 
 changed even the history of the world ? - Did not the vigor and 
 address with which he ruled alike the colonists and the savages 
 in their first and trying contact, mark him as one of the born 
 rulers of men and events? What worth to him was the ^c/a^ of figu- 
 ring in so relatively petty an occurrence? And while we may well 
 believe he desired to say all he justly could to commend the 
 forlorn Indian girl, cast amid strangers and strange surroundings, 
 to the favor of the Queen and his countrymen, was there not 
 enough, well vouched and known to numbers, of noble and 
 charitable deeds, done by her to save the colony and other lives 
 besides his, of such rare value, as to render most improbably the 
 supposition he would fabricate a story thus alike unneeded for 
 his own fame or for hers? And under what circumstances? He 
 was at the time in high employment by the Plymouth Company, 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 9 
 
 and expecting advancement. Present in London, and cognizant 
 of the falsehood of the story, if false, were Pocahontas and Rolfe, 
 and Uttapotamoy, an old councillor of Powhatan, and who we 
 may fairly presume was present at the scene related by Smith. 
 Could he venture on a palpable falsehood in the presence of so 
 many who knew the facts, and could so easily blast his name and 
 hopes by exposing it, and who, if they did not, must share the 
 shame of it with him ? And even if we could believe the last 
 hypothesis admissible, supposing there were none present inter- 
 ested to expose him, does it not become simply incredible when 
 we remember there were numbers of persons then in London, 
 inimical to Smith, delinquents, who had smarted under his disci- 
 pline in Virginia, and eager for revenge (amongst them doubt- 
 less Wingfield, his old and bitter enemy), who would have found 
 means to expose the audacious statement if untrue, and who yet, 
 so far as we can see, left it wholly unchallenged ? 
 
 Again. — Was not the fact of the absence of the story from all 
 Smith's previous publications, if it were so, though new to us of 
 to-day, patent to all of that day on the appearance of Smith's 
 letter to the Queen ? and could it have escaped comment and 
 exposure from the hundreds that must have been fam.iliar with 
 them had it possessed any significance, or demanded any expla- 
 nations that could not be and were not readily given ? Must not 
 it especially have been known and observed by Purchas ? and 
 can we suppose its adoption by nim into his history, ("Wing- 
 field himself, and his writings being by him,") unless fully satis- 
 fied of its truth ? Was he so hard run for material that he must 
 press refuted fables knowingly into its pages ? and yet what all 
 the world of that day, as far as we are informed, and with all the 
 lights before them, which we have now, seem to have recognized 
 for true, and all the world since, on the faith of that recognition, 
 have accepted as such, shall we now, at the instance, as I think, 
 of a hasty and somewhat presumptuous, quite possibly preju- 
 diced, criticism, reject and discard as false ? 
 
 Was he not described and praised by the worthiest of those 
 that knew him, and witnessed and shared his labors, as a " God- 
 fearing man," brave, wise and virtuous, and "the freest of all 
 men from the common vices of the time," and of such a man a 
 mere gratuitous fabrication is not predicable or credible except on 
 the clearest proof? However it may be fashipnable, in the prig- 
 
10 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 gish censoriousness of the day, to sneer at him as a romancer, I 
 will risk its sneers in stating it as my belief that no history of 
 travel or adventure of its length can be found freer from incon- 
 sistencies and inaccuracies, capable of being tested, than that of 
 Smith. It stands to day a substantial monument of truth and 
 trustworthiness, so buttressed by witnesses and verified by time, 
 in all the greater wonders and events it records, as to carry our 
 confidence in it also to those lesser ones it chronicles, where we 
 have less conclusive testimony. The petty specks that micro- 
 scopic observers have pointed out in it are all reducible to the 
 tricks of time, memory, and the types, or, of those " optics keen, 
 which see what is not to be seen." Except to such critics, its 
 mass of truth swallows up and assimilates such seeming imper- 
 fections, which, like shadows in water, are due only to an im- 
 perfect light. 
 
 Smith's defenders are not bound to furnish an explanation at 
 this late day, even of a plain discrepancy far less of a merely 
 inferred one. But several might be conjectured in this case more 
 admissible than. a solution that concludes to deliberate falsehood. 
 Might not an incident, that looms up to us, seated in carpeted 
 parlors, as so heroic and romantic in the distance, have hardly 
 cost Smith, in the presence of the great objects he was pursuing — 
 the highest man can aim at, the conversion of the heathen and 
 the founding of a State — of the many like perils he had escaped, 
 and the dangers that then hoyrly* encompassed him, more than a 
 passing thought ? or have given it publicity till the time arrived 
 which would naturally recall it to mind and make the use of it 
 seasonable ? Again, if it had been noticed in his " True Rela- 
 tion," might not a leaf of it been dropped as it passed from hand 
 to hand, as is known to have happened to the celebrated " De 
 Imitatione," under precisely similar circumstances? Or might 
 not its mysterious editor have esteemed it one of the matters " fit 
 to be private," as possibly more calculated to deter emigration 
 (which it may have been his cue to advance), by showing how 
 narrowly Smith escaped death, rather than to further it by show- 
 ing his escape from it ? Or, still more probably than all, might 
 not Smith, fresh from a three weeks' painful imprisonment, in- 
 flicted on a false accusation of aiming to make himself King of 
 Virginia, have thought it wise to suppress the incident of this ten- 
 der intercession for his life by Powhatan's daughter, lest it should 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 11 
 
 receive this preposterous, yet none the less dangerous charge, 
 and again draw him into yet greater trouble than false witness, 
 hate and revenge had already involved him in ? Nor should such 
 a surmise be too hastily dismissed as absurd, when we know, as 
 we do, that Rolfe, years after, incurred the marked displeasure of 
 King James, and was actually " appealed as having committed 
 high treason" for having married Pocahontas. Further, no 
 traditions or earlier histories contradict the story. All historians, 
 Virginian, British and American, except Neill, known to me, have 
 accepted it. It is in harmony with man's higher nature and with 
 internal probabilities, as well as with all the uncontested facts 
 come down to us, both of Powhatan and Pocahontas, and, indeed, 
 it, or some such occurrence, is so necessary to account for the 
 extraordinary love and confidence suddenly shown by Pocahontas 
 towards Smith and the Colony, that if this incident were dis- 
 proved, some other such one would have to be supposed in order 
 to explain them. What is there either wonderful or incredible 
 iri the occurrence? Smith had been a captive with the Indians for 
 weeks. Of various knowledge, familiar with dangers, and full of 
 resource, he knew well how to impress with awe the simple 
 savages he had to deal with for dear life. It is unquestionable 
 that he did so impress them, and that they looked on him as a 
 being of some superior, if not supernatural, order. 
 
 " Sicui Dii," as Strachey quaintly expresses it, was the In- 
 dian's estimate of the white man. Why not this young girl's ? 
 Yet this very imputed ^.uperiority made Smith, their leader, the 
 more dangerous to them. What more natural policy than for their 
 chief to declare forfeit the life that imperilled his and their safety? 
 Or is it at all surprising that a doting father should have yielded 
 to the entreaties of a darling child? What terror was there for 
 her, to render her intercurrence at all incredible, in the uplifted 
 clubs and painted savages which, however frightful to the fancies 
 of the pale-faces, were but playthings to her and the servitors of 
 her will ? The true heroism of the act was not in confronting 
 these, but in the tender compassionateness that led her to risk her 
 father's anger (over which she would seem, however, to have 
 well known her power,) and in the exemplifying of that angelic 
 mercy she so often afterwards displayed as to render the rejection 
 of it in this one instance alike captious and perverse. 
 
 He is but a shallow critic who judges the stories of the past 
 
12 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 by the lights of the present. The realities of to-day would be 
 romance to the men of A. D. 1600, Why not the realities of 
 that day seem romance to this ? What to them would appear 
 more fantastic and incredible than Thought girdling the earth 
 in forty hours, or men transported habitually sixty miles in as 
 many minutes, more than realizing the seven league boots, 
 or the deft feats of Ariel, which were the very creatures of 
 fancy of that day ? Wherefore, may not the, to us, romantic 
 stories of Smith or of Pocahontas, be as true as our more 
 incredible modern achievements would have been to them ? 
 It is absurd to put the printed and published histories of the 
 seventeenth century in the same category with the mythic tra- 
 ditions, or MSS., of the Earlier and the Darker ages. And it 
 seems to me the demand of simple justice to receive such as have 
 long been uncontradicted and not disproved, and are consistent 
 with Nature, as substantially true. And especially should this be 
 so, as in the case of Smith, where the most, if not all the relations 
 received from him, susceptible of proof, have so stood the test, as 
 to have excited both the surprise and admiration of subsequent 
 historians. 
 
 I hardly trust m.yself in closing these observations to allude to 
 the section from which the " new lights" I have commented on 
 mainly come. I fear I may myself be influenced contrary to my 
 wishes by the unworthiness 1 might impute. But the old in- 
 herited quarrels of the Puritan and the Cavalier kept alive, to 
 some extent, in this country by sectional jealousies, have too often 
 led to mutual unwarranted flings and disparagements to render it 
 necessarily unjust to suppose they may have had their influence in 
 sharpening and poisoning the strictures on Smith and Poca- 
 hontas — emanating and actively disseminated, as far as known to 
 me, only from Northern sources — which I have been engaged in 
 examining. The extra and special publication of Neill's chapter 
 on " Pocahontas and her Companions," separate from his gen- 
 eral history, at least shows that my supposition of a spirit at 
 the North ready to welcome the calumnies and misrepresenta- 
 tions of which it is full, is not wholly without warrant. Yet all 
 Northern pens are not thus unjust. 
 
 Drake, a specialist in such investigations, at least as diligent as 
 any, and seemingly entirely conscientious, speaks of " the noble 
 and generous-minded Smith," stating the ground of his praise. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 13 
 
 cites from him his remark, praying "to be excused" if the ac- 
 count of the plague (in his "Description of New England"), 
 being at "second hand, may not be true in all particulars," and 
 accords to him unqualified faith. The remarkable similarity 
 of all the earlier accounts of the Northern Indians, his inquiries 
 had made him acquainted with, with those of Smith of the 
 Southern — strongly corroborating the truth of both — no doubt 
 much, and justly, contributing to his confidence. 
 
 On the whole, the merits ascribed to Pocahontas rest at least 
 on a color of evidence, not contemporaneously contradicted, 
 while the flouts and sneers of late so freely flung on her fame, 
 rest on none, and more probably owe the taint on them to the 
 envy and vulgarity of the sources they flow from, than to the 
 object it is sought to be fastened on. 
 
 I believe, then,' Smith's story of his rescue by Pocahontas. It 
 might be spared, indeed, as I have said, from the coronal of her 
 fame, and yet leave it one of almost unrivalled lustre. Still, as 
 being one of the brightest and best known of the jewels which 
 compose it, and rounding it off" (so to speak) in harmonious 
 completeness, I have thought it should not be yielded up except 
 on clear disproof of her title to it, and not surrendered to the 
 mere inferences only, far short of conclusive, on which it has 
 been demanded, and which seem rather the outgrowth of un- 
 friendly, if not carping, criticism, than demanded by the facts they 
 are deduced from. In giving my reasons for believing it, I have 
 been led into a defence of Smith, which were out of place here, 
 but that though the direct impeachment is of him, the indirect, 
 and obviously no less designed, depreciation is of Pocahontas also. 
 I think both unjust. The little world of us here will pass upon 
 the case, each according to his lights or object. To do so justly 
 and candidly is of more import to us than them. They have 
 dlready passed to judgment elsewhere, where our praise or blame 
 cannot reach. But for us remains judgment as we judge. 
 
 " The old Story of her Alliance with Rolfe " 
 
 If meant to imply that she was not married to him, must be held 
 to be a mere unadulterated calumny, aggravated by branding, 
 alike gratuitously, with falsehood the testimony of Governor 
 Dale, of Secretary Hamor, and the Rev. Alexander Whitaker, 
 than whom are not three more hitherto unimpeached names in 
 
14 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 all history; and further suppose that not to the honored wife, but 
 to the tainted mistress of a mere plain English gentleman, were 
 paid those -extraordinary attentions which, from the highest circles 
 and most distinguished ornaments of English society, both State 
 and Church, she undoubtedly received. 
 
 " The undoubted fact of her Early Lasciviousness." 
 
 Not a scintilla of warrant, so far as I am aware, exists to justify 
 this shameful charge. Strachey's phrase, "wanton young girls" 
 imported at that day no tincture of impurity — nor even now would 
 do so, unless required by the context. I might cite hundreds of 
 proofs, but Shakespeare's "little wanton boys, swimming on 
 bladders," and Bacon's " houseful of children, one or two of the 
 eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons!" where the 
 ascription of an impure meaning would desecrate the text, may 
 suffice for instances without further loading the page. Strachey's 
 further hearsay statement (necessarily, for he did not arrive in 
 Virginia till 1610, leaving it in 1612, and Pocahontas never once 
 visited Jamestown after Smith's departure for England in 1609 
 till she was brought a captive there in 1613), that " Pocahontas, 
 Powhatan's daughter, sometymes resorting to our Fort of the age 
 then of 1 1 or 1 2 yeares,' ' and " throwing somersaults with the boys 
 in the streets," gives as little countenance to the gross charge, for 
 he further relates that up to that age it was the custom among 
 the Indians for their children to go naked; but "after 12 yeares 
 they wear a kind of lethern apron and are very shame-faced to 
 be seen." And these are all the grounds known to me to fur- 
 nish the shadow of support to the accusation. Yet it is on 
 grounds so flimsy and silly, that we find natures gross or mali- 
 cious enough — some perhaps from mere inconsiderateness — to 
 blow their deflowering breath on a character which, from child- 
 hood to the grave, has been perfumed and embalmed for its rare 
 and spotless virtues, by the admiring praise of all that knew her. 
 
 " Her Marriage to an hidian " 
 
 Is a mere blundering reading of Strachey. The passage is : 
 " They (the Indians) often reported to us that Powhatan had 
 then lyving 20 sonnes and 10 daughters * * besides young 
 Pocahonta, a daughter of his, using sometyme to our Fort in 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 15 
 
 tymes past, of the age then of ii or 12 yeares, now married to a 
 private Captain Kocoumsome two yeares since." Strachey was 
 writing his book in England from 1612 to 1618 or 19, as shown 
 by internal proofs (it would be too tedious to introduce here), 
 from notes made by him in 1610-12, when he was in Virginia. 
 There are many instances in it of his comments, at the time he 
 was writing, on transactions which occurred in Virginia. Here, 
 in referring to the statements of the Indians made to him in Vir- 
 ginia respecting Pocahontas, he states, writing it no doubt in 
 1616 (omitting, as was common at that day, the proper paren- 
 thetic marks), that she was married two years since to Cap- 
 tain Kocoum, that is, simply, had married Rolfe two years 
 before, z. e. 161^1, as she really had. " Kocoum, "per se, I admit, 
 is a hard nut to crack, but it is from the same eccentric mint that 
 turned " English " into " Tassantasses " and "Pocahontas" into 
 " Amonate" without any known warrant. Mishearing, miswrit- 
 ing, misprinting or mis-something, undoubtedly, occasioned it, 
 for I hold it for certain that "Rolfe" was aimed at, however 
 widely missed. 
 
 Her charged "Adultery with Rolfe" 
 
 Is but the resultant of the careless blunder just exposed, and 
 may be dismissed with it to the just reprobation so shameful a 
 charge, unsupported, naturally evokes, with the single remark 
 that if, of old, the swift pursuers of a similar delinquency, which 
 seems to have been undenied, were sharply checked in throwing 
 stones at the offender by Christ Himself, there seems no rebuke 
 too strong for those whose too fervid imaginations first 'invent an 
 uncommitted offence and then clamorously demand for it the 
 condemnation of the world. 
 
 "With John Rolfe r 
 
 Alike inexcusable, because alike unsupported, is the similar 
 charge against Rolfe, a man whose character is vouched, as we 
 have seen, by Dale, Hamor and Whitaker, men who knew him, 
 and who held, and were possibly entitled to hold in the world's 
 esteem, as high a place even, as these modern defamers of his, 
 who did not ; but more convincingly still, avouched as to his 
 high and conscientious honor, his piety, purity and intelligence, 
 by his own modest and ingenuous letter to Dale ; and as to his 
 
16 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 most respectable abilities, as well by his letter to the King and 
 Council, as by their appointment of him to the second office of 
 importance in the colony. 
 
 " Who was another womati' s husband, and her ulthnaie death 
 while the wife, so-called, oj one Thomas Wrothe." 
 
 Similar loose and careless blundering characterizes both these 
 statements. "Wrothe," " Wrolfe,'' " Rolfe," are all but different 
 readings, by different eyes, of an old and probably ill-written- 
 entry in the Gravesend Register. While the charge of Rolfe 
 being the husband of Pocahontas, when he was at the same time 
 the husband of another woman, is founded only, so far as I can 
 see, on his brother's application for maintenance of his "Relict 
 and children." What more obviously or reasonably removes 
 the fancied difficulty, than to suppose with Bishop Meade — Poca- 
 hontas having died in 1616, and Rolfe in 1622 — that he had 
 married again, after Pocahontas's death, and left "a relict and 
 children" to be cared for ? 
 
 Some there will always be (whom the light offends), to find a 
 congenial pleasure in seeking to sully the heroic ideals of the 
 past, and dim the splendor that encircles every illustrious name ; 
 and tales of calumny, from whatever motive first fabricated, seem 
 far apter to live, and blur a good name, than the opposite senti- 
 ments of love and admiration are to unduly adorn a bad one. 
 Where they are believed unfounded, it is but due to the dead to 
 confute them, if we can — still more due to the living, which can- 
 not afford to allow the higher exemplars of our race to be un- 
 justly pulled down. 
 
 This, I think, has been attempted towards Pocahontas. But 
 I do not allow myself to believe that one who, though a born 
 barbarian, bore herself according to all known testimony stain- 
 less and beloved in her native woods ; modestly and virtuously 
 when in the care and society of the best English blood that ever 
 came to this country ; faultlessly and lovingly as a wife; and who 
 was received and treated with eminent distinction by the Court, 
 and best people of London, and with such "civilitie" so carried 
 herself in its society, as to both charm and surprise it, up to and 
 in the very moment of her death— shining like a star out of the 
 dark back-ground of her original barbarism, and irradiating her 
 whole career with the ceaseless glow of charitable deeds — such 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 17 
 
 a one, the better and purer world will not lightly cease to regard 
 as the "nonpareil," she was reported to be, of her own tribe, 
 but as an honor, also, to her kind. 
 
 I append from the Southern Literary Messenger, Richmond, 
 August, i860, "The marriage of Pocahontas; notes on the date 
 of Pocahontas's marriage and some other incidents of her life." 
 Read before the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society by 
 Wyndham Robertson, Esq. : 
 
 The date of this event, though of little historic importance, 
 yet, as a point of history, as well as for other reasons, is not 
 wholly devoid of some curiosity and interest. Although the 
 most incontestible authorities exist whereby to fix it, it is yet 
 singular that an error in regard to it has been so often repro- 
 duced as to seem, now, almost imbedded in history. Almost all 
 authorities concur in referring ittoAprz/yi6i^. Stith says "it 
 was in the beginning of April, 1613" (page 130); Beverley says, 
 " Pocahontas being thus married in the year 1613" (page 28) ; 
 Howison has " 161 3, early in April ; " Sims (page 335), "Spring 
 ofi6i3;" Hilliard, in Sparks' Biography, " beginning of April, 
 1613 (Volume II, page 371,) and Campbell, so late as the present 
 year (i860), says " early in April, 1613 " (page 109). 
 
 Yet it is demonstrable that it took place about the 5th April, 
 1614. 
 
 These writers doubtless reposed on the authority of Smith. 
 But I will show hereafter that he was probably under no mistake, 
 and only seemed to have been by the (probably accidental) mis- 
 placing of a marginal note. 
 
 About ihe time of her capture there can be no room for mis- 
 take. We have the letter of Captain (Sir Samuel) Argall him- 
 self, its date, June, 1613, in 4 Purchas, page 1764, et seq. It is 
 there stated that he sailed from England "23d July, 1612"; 
 arrived in Virginia "17th September"; visited Smith's Island 
 " beginning of November"; went to Pembrook river " ist De- 
 cember"; returned to Jamestown " ist January" (necessarily 
 1613); "arrived at Point Comfort ist February;" returned to 
 Pembrook river "17th March," thence to Patowameck ; cap- 
 tured " Pokahuntis" by treachery; departed with her " 13th of 
 April" for Jamestown, and delivered her to Governor Gates. 
 
18 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Again departed in his shallop for discovery " the ist of May" ; 
 returned to his ship "May 12th, 1613" (in margin), and was 
 therl, when he wrote, "June, 1613," waiting for a "wind" to 
 go on his "fishing voyage." There is nothing known to me 
 anywhere in conflict with any statement of this letter, but it is 
 entirely in accord with every date and statement come down to 
 us from that period. 
 
 We have, then, the date of Pocahontas' s capture fixed a little 
 before, and her delivery at Jamestown a little after, the thirteenth 
 April, 1613. Of course her marriage to Rolfe could not have 
 occurred //z^ "first," the '"fifth," " the beginning" or ''early' 
 in April, 161 3. 
 
 All agree that she was "long" a prisoner before her mar- 
 riage. 
 
 Let us then follow the accounts of her, and learn how long. 
 The original authorities (and there could be none higher) are 
 Governor Dale and Ralph Ham or, Secretary of the Colony, and 
 the Rev. Mr. Whitaker. Captain Smith but compiles from 
 them. Dale succeeded Gates as Governor in February, or 
 March, 1614, when the latter returned to England (4 Purchas, 
 page 1773 ; Stith, page 132), and in a.letter, under date of " i8th 
 June, 1614," sent to England by Captain Argall, (in 4 Purchas, 
 pages 1768-9,) says " Sir Thomas Gates having embarked him- 
 self for England, * * * I put myself into Captain Argall' s 
 ship * * and went into Pamunkee river, where Powhatan 
 hath his residence * * with me, I carried his daughter, who 
 had been long prisoner with us." After sundry delays, " came 
 one from Powhatan, who told us * * * that his daughter 
 should be my child, and can dwell with me," &c. He then 
 proceeds : 
 
 " Powhatan's daughter I (had) caused to be carefully in- 
 structed in the Christian religion, who, after she had made some 
 good progress therein, was, as she desired, baptized, and is 
 since " (z. e., since her baptism,) "married to an English Gen- 
 tleman," &c. 
 
 The marriage, therefore, was, by this authority, between March 
 and June, 1 614. 
 
 Accordant is Master Whitaker' s letter (the Minister at James- 
 town), dated also " Virginia, 18th July, 1614," ("True Dis- 
 course," page 59; 4 Purchas, page 1768.) " Sir, The Colonie is 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 19 
 
 much better. Sir Thomas Dale, our * ' * Governour, * * 
 hath brought them " (our enemies) "to seeke for Peace of us, 
 which is made. * * But that which is best, one Pocahontas, 
 or Matoa, the daughter of Powhatan, is married to an honest 
 and discreete English gentleman, Master Rolfe, and that after she 
 had openly renounced her country idolatry, professed the faith 
 of Jesus Christ, and was baptized, which thing Sir Thomas Dale 
 had laboured a long time to ground in her." 
 
 Next, and fullest, is the authority of " Ralphe Hamor, the 
 younger, late Secretarie in that Colonic," under Dale ("True Dis- 
 course," pages). Hamor sailed for Virginia, with Sir Thomas 
 Gales, in June, i6og (4 Purchas, page 1734); suffered shipwreck 
 with him on the Bermudas, and arrived out May, 1610 (4 Pur- 
 chas, page 1743) ; accompanied Governor Dale in his expedition 
 to Pamaunkee, March, 1614; was afterwards "'employed to 
 Powhatan," May, 1614, (Dale's letter in 4 Purchas, page 1769,) 
 and returned to England with Argall, June, 1614. His "True 
 Discourse" was written directly after his return to England. 
 (See his address "To the Reader," where he speaks of the 
 Colony as under the command of Governor Gates and Governor 
 Dale " three years and more." Gates took charge of the Colony 
 in August, 161 1.) His account of the capture of Pocahontas is 
 almost absolutely the same with Argall's own, except a little fuller 
 perhaps, and except a trivial variation as to the lapse of time, 
 after her capture, before Powhatan sent in the sev^n Englishmen 
 (and -which, his writing, as he says he does (" To the Reader,") 
 ^'without notes, but in memorie!' sufficiently accounts for ; but 
 which variation only goes still more certainly to fix the marriage 
 after .<4^rz7, 1613.) After stating that a message had been sent 
 to Powhatan to acquaint him with the capture of Pocahontas, he 
 proceeds thus : " He (Powhatan) could not, without long delibe- 
 radon with his council, * * resolve upon anything, and * * 
 we heard nothing of him till three months, after * * he sent 
 us seven of our men, * * and word that whensoever we 
 pleased to deliver his daughter he would give us satisfaction, 
 * * five hundred bushels of corn, and be forever friends with 
 us. * * We returned him answer * * that his daughter 
 was very well and kindly intreated, and so should be however he 
 delt with us, but we could not believe the rest of our arms were 
 stolen or lost, and till he returned them all, we would not by any 
 
20 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 means deliver his daughter. * * This answer, as it seemed, 
 pleased him not very well, for we heard no more from him till in 
 March last, when, with Captain Argall's ship, * * Sir Thomas 
 Dale * * went up into his own river * * and carried with 
 us his daughter," etc. 
 
 Now observe this is written in 1614, just after Hamor's return 
 to England in June of that year. When was that "March last" 
 but (according entirely with the date of Governor Dale's expe- 
 dition, as fixed above by the Governor's own letter) March, 1614 ? 
 
 His account proceeds more circumstantially, and more clearly, 
 than Governor Dale's, but in entire accord with it, and is that of 
 an eye-witness, or as he calls himself, '^Ocular testis" and as it 
 is at once original and entertaining, as well as curious and rare, 
 I give it in full. 
 
 He introduces his " True Discourse " (page 3,) on the " firme 
 Peace that hath been so happily concluded " by " inserting ' ' as 
 "in no whit impertinent" thereto "the indeavors of Captain 
 Argall, " viz : his visit to lapazeus, at Pataomecke, and capture 
 there of Pokahuntus — following it with an account of Governor 
 Dale's expedition to, arrival, and proceedings at Pamaunkee, and 
 continues as follows : 
 
 " Higher up the river we went, and ancored neere unto the 
 chiefest residence Powhatan had, at a town called Matchcot, 
 where were assembled (which we saw) about 400 men, well ap- 
 pointed with their bowes and arrowes to welcome us; here they 
 dared us to come ashoare, a thing which we purposed before, so 
 ashoare we went, our best landing being up a high steepe hill, 
 which might have given the enemy much advantage against us, 
 but it seemed, they as we, were unwilling to begin, and yet would 
 gladly have been at blowes; being landed, as if they had no show 
 of feare, they stirred not from us, but walked up and downe, by 
 and amongst us, the best of them inquiring for our Weroance or 
 King, with whome they would gladly consult to know the occa- 
 sion of our coming thither, whereof when they were informed, 
 they made answer that they were there ready to defend them- 
 selves, if we pleased to assault them, desiring neverthelesse some 
 small time to dispatch two or three men once more to their King, 
 to know his resolution, which if not answerable to our request 
 in the morning if nothing else but blood would then satisfy us, 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 21 
 
 they would fight with us and thereby determine our quarrell, 
 which was but a further delay to procure time to carrie away 
 their provisions, nevertheless we agreed to this their request, as- 
 suring them till the next day by noon, we would not molest, hurt, 
 nor detain any of them, and then before we fought, our Drums 
 and Trumpets should give them warnings, upon which promise 
 of ours, two of Powhatan's sonnes being very desirous to see 
 their sister, who was there present ashoare with us, came unto us, 
 at the sight of whom, and her wellfare, whom they suspected to 
 be worse intreated, though they had often heard the contrary, 
 they much rejoiced, and promised that they would undoubtedly 
 persuade their father to redeem her, and to conclude a firme 
 peace forever with us, and upon this resolution the two brothers 
 with us, retired aboarde, we having first dispatched two Eng- 
 lishmen, Maister John Rolfe and Maister Sparkes to acquaint 
 their Father with the business in hand, the next day being kindly 
 intreated, they returned, not at all admitted Powhatan's presence, 
 but spake with his brother Apachamo, his successor, one who 
 hath already the command of all the people, who likewise prom- 
 ised us his best indeavors to further our just request, and we 
 because the time of the yeere being then Aprill, called us to our 
 business at home to prepare the ground, and set come for our 
 winter's provision, upon these terms departed, giving them re- 
 spite till harvest to resolve what was left for them to doe, with this 
 promise, that if finall agreement were not made betwixt us be- 
 fore that time, we would thither return againe and destroy and 
 take away all their corne, burne all the houses upon the river, 
 leave not a fishing weire standing, nor a canoa in any creeke 
 thereabout, and destroy and kill as many of them as we could. 
 Long before this time a gentleman of approved behaviour and 
 honest carriage, Maister John Rolfe had bin in love with Poca- 
 huntas, and she with him, which thing at the instant that we 
 were in parlee with them, myself made knowne to Sir Thomas 
 Dale by a letter from him, whereby he intreated his advise and 
 furtherance in his love, if so it seemed fit to him for the good of 
 the Plantation, and Pocahuntas herselfe, acquainted her brethren 
 therewith, which resolution Sir Thomas Dale wel approving, was 
 the only cause; he was so milde amongst them, who otherwise 
 would not have departed their river without other conditions. 
 ' ' The bruit of this pretended marriage came soon to Powha- 
 
22 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 tan's knowledge, a thing acceptable to him, as appeared by his 
 sudden consent thereunto, who some ten days after sent an olde 
 oncle of hers, named Opachisco, to give her as his deputy in the 
 church, and two of his sonnes to see the marriage solemnized, 
 which was accordingly done about the fift of April, and ever 
 since we have had friendly commerce and trade, not only with 
 Powhatan himself, but also with his subjects round-about us; so 
 as now I see no reason why the Collonie should not thrive 
 apace. ' ' 
 
 These are the only original sources of correct information in 
 regard to the capture, detention, baptism and marriage of Poca- 
 hontas, known to me, and, I think, conclusively show that she 
 was kidnapped at Patowomeek in April, 1613, was detained 
 " long " in captivity, was taken to Pamaunkee in March, 1614, 
 brought back to Jamestown about ist April, was then baptized, 
 and was married to Rolfe "about the fifth of April," one thou- 
 sand six hundred and fourteen. 
 
 It is, perhaps, of little importance to show how the common 
 mistake originated, but by the Hght afforded by these excerpta, 
 from the original authorities, it is not, I think, difficult. The 
 source of the mistake is probably found in Smith's General His- 
 tory (the edition of 1626 is the one before me), page 113. Smith 
 is reciting from, and abridging, Hamor's "True Discourse." 
 The year of Sir Samuel Argall's arrival out in Virginia, is cor- 
 rectly given, in his margin, 161 2, but he goes on, under the same 
 marginal year, to give an account of Argall's expedition to 
 Patowomeek, and kidnapping of Pocahontas, which, as we have 
 seen above, took place, not in 1612, but in the spring of the 
 following year, 1613. There then follows, in Smith (still re- 
 writing and abridging Hamor's " Discourse,") an account of 
 both Argall's and Dale's expeditions, but without the dates, 
 "April 13," of the former, and " March last," of the latter, which 
 fix the years, and opposite the account of the marriage in Smith, 
 is this marginal note.* Now the marginal dates in this compila- 
 tion from Hamor, have reference to the Treasurership of Sir 
 Thomas Smith, and they are not found in Hamor's work. But 
 the text of the original authorities conclusively shows that the 
 
 * "The marriage of Pocahontas to Master fohn Rolfe, 16 ij. Sir 
 Thomas Smith, Treasurer." 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 23 
 
 date just cited — 1613 — belonged to the commencement of the ac- 
 count of Argall's expedition as given on the previous page of 
 Smith, and was, doubtless, by some accident or inadvertance, 
 printed where we now find it. Seeing the date, 1613, after the 
 marginal notice of Pocahontas' s marriage, and opposite the par- 
 agraph in which is the account of it, with nothing to excite dis- 
 trust of, and, quite possibly, with no means of collating, the 
 original accounts, and thus correcting the error, our earlier his- 
 torians naturally adopted the date thus seemingly given by Smith 
 as that of the marriage, and have been followed by later ones, 
 without examination. 
 
 The omission by Smith (General History, page 115) of the 
 introductory sentence to Hamor's account of the latter's mission 
 in "May" to Powhatan, has served to seemingly separate, and 
 widely disconnect, the date of the latter event from that of the 
 marriage; and, accordingly, all the histories, while they assign 
 (erroneously as before shown) Pocahontas's marriage to 1613, 
 assign, rightly, Hamor's mission to 1614. That sentence is as 
 follows : " I purposely omitted one thing in the Treatisse of our 
 Concluded Peace, wherewith I intend to conclude my. discourse, 
 * * * and this it is." He then proceeds with the account 
 of his visit, as compiled from him in Smith and all the other 
 Histories, and plainly, and' inevitably, connects it with the 
 "Peace" of which he has been treating (page 11 -et seq.), which 
 Peace (the immediate fruit of Pocahontas's marriage) was con- 
 cluded as above shown recently before the dispatches of Gover- 
 nor Dale and Mr. Whitaker, June i8th, 1614. In a word, Ha- 
 mor's Mission was in the May following the April of Pocahontas's 
 marriage, and immediately before the June of Hamor's return to 
 England, 1614. (See " True Discourse," page 37). 
 
 John Rolfe. 
 
 John Rolfe is now mainly remembered as the husband of Poca- 
 hontas, but was undoubtedly one of the Capital Figures of the 
 great epoch — the first permanent English settlement in North 
 America — with which he is so nearly associated. Yet his name 
 remains almost obscured in history (though all the more imper- 
 ishable) in the dazzling and never-lessening brightness of that of 
 his Indian Bride, who ever draws off from' him the eyes of the 
 
/ 
 
 24 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 world, to that rare Flower of the Wilderness, which the gardens 
 of civilization hardly rival, and that scion of Nature's nobility, 
 than which the long-descended genealogies of Heraldry offer 
 nothing nobler. But if she doth thus draw off from him the sym- 
 pathetic regards of all lovers of the good and beautiful, yet do 
 they still often revert, with admiring respect, to one who was 
 quick to see, as he was assiduous to cultivate, the rare worth of 
 the Indian maid, and who, having turned her from Heathendom, 
 boldly faced the prejudices of race, and with the approval of his 
 Government — in the presence of the Governor— of his own coun- 
 trymen, and of her rude kinsmen of the Forest— in the sight of 
 all men— in the first Christian church erected in the Dominion of 
 Virginia by the ministration of one of the first in time, and not 
 the last in worth, of the pioneers of Christianity in the New 
 World, the Rev. Mr. Whitaker— made her his wife. There are 
 many forms of heroism, and this is one of them. Not secredy, 
 not shame-facedly, but openly, and avowing and recording the 
 high, pure, and loving motives and feelings which actuated him 
 "to sweepe," as he says, "and make cleane the path wherein I 
 walke, from all suspicions and doubts," so that neither present 
 nor after times might justly " taxe or taunt" with "sinister res- 
 pects alluring him thereunto," he united himself with that noble 
 savage in Christian wedlock. 
 
 Quaint, and- quite unfashionably made up, Rolfe's letter to the 
 Governor, detailing "the grounds and principall agitations which 
 thus should provoke me to be in love," and asking his approba- 
 tion, carries with it irresistible internal evidence as well of the 
 scrupulous probity of his principles, as of the singular candor 
 and disinterestedness of his nature, and the heroism of his char- 
 acter. It maybe found at large by the curious, in the "True 
 Discourse of the present Estate of Virginia," "written by Raphe 
 Hamor, the younger, late Secretary in that Colony" (London, 
 1615), himself an illustrious cotemporary and friend of Rolfe. 
 An extract or two may suff.ce here : 
 
 " Let therefore this, my well advised protestation, which here 
 I make betweene God and my own conscience, be a sufficient wit- 
 ness, at the dreadfull day of judgment (when the secret of all 
 men's harts shall be opened), to condemne me herein, if my 
 chiefest intent and purpose be not, to strive with all my power of 
 body and minde, in the undertaking of so mightie a matter, no 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 25 
 
 way led (so farre forth as. man's weakeness may permit) with the 
 unbridled desire of carnall affection : but for the good of this 
 plantation, for the honour of our countrie, for the glory of God, 
 for my owne salvation, and for the converting to the true knowl- 
 edge of God and Jesus Christ, an unbeleeving creature, namely, 
 Pocahontas. To whom my hartie and best thoughts are, and 
 have a long time bin so entangled and inthralled in so intricate a 
 laborinth, that I was even awearied to unwinde myselfe there- 
 out." 
 
 He attests further, ' ' Serena mea conscientia, the cleereness of 
 my conscience, clean from the filth of impurity, quo est instar 
 muri ahensi, which is, unto me, as a brasen wall " ; " Nor," adds 
 he, " am I in so desperate an estate, that I regard not what be- 
 commeth of mee ; nor am I out of hope but one day to see my 
 country, nor so void of friends, nor mean in birth, but there to 
 obtain a mach to my great content. ' ' 
 
 But if testimony of his high merit, from a less interested 
 source than his own letters, however intrinsically convincing, were 
 yet wanted, it is abundantly furnished. As by that "noble 
 Knight," Sir Thomas Dale, "a man of great knowledge in Divi- 
 nity, and of a good conscience in all his doings," the wisest and 
 most pious of the earlier Governors of Virginia — (who raised 
 her out of almost the depth of despair, to the " most assured 
 hopes"; placed her peace with the Indians on the firmest basis, 
 and, in great part, through Rolfe's marriage to Pocahontas; and 
 left her in a state of prosperity theretofore unexampled)— who 
 describes Rolfe, in a few strong words, as '' an English gentleman 
 of good understanding" — by the reverend and devoted Master 
 Whitaker (sometimes styled the "Apostle of Virginia,") who 
 speaks of him as "an honest and discreete English gentleman," 
 and by Hamor, who describes him as " a gentleman worthie of 
 much commendation," with much, besides, to the same effect. 
 
 But his title to the highest respectability and consequence in 
 connection with the settlement of Virginia is further shown, and 
 put beyond question, by a historic letter of his to the King, writ- 
 ten by him when in London with his wife, Anno 1617, under the 
 name of a Report of the Condition of the Colony when he left it, 
 but containing besides numerous suggestions to his Majesty of 
 such modifications of the Government of Virginia as he deemed 
 calculated to advance and confirm its prosperity. How highly 
 
26 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 these were esteemed, may be well inferred from the fact that the 
 place of "Secretary and Recorder- General of Virginia" was 
 then first instituted for, and filled by him. At a later period, he 
 was a member of the Governor's Council, which is the latest 
 notice of him I have met with. Dying in 1622, he left a will, of 
 record, and which is still extant. 
 
 In a memoir designed especially to pay due honor to his name, 
 the fact that he was the first of the English Colonists to plant 
 tobacco, would seem such a one as should by no means be over- 
 looked, and the rather that the historical credit of first introduc- 
 ing its culture has been incorrectly asserted for Governor Yeardly 
 by reason of his having, some years later, Anno 1616, recom- 
 mended the raising of it ; and it deserves remark that Yeardly 
 was then residing at Bermuda Hundred, opposite Henrico, where 
 Rolfe lived. Looking to the rapid rise and finally vast dimensions 
 of the trade in it, the man who first' applied European skill and 
 energy to the culture of it, would seem, at least, not less worthy 
 to be remembered in history than he who first set a conspicuous 
 example of the use of it. Yet, while all the world knows, from 
 a hundred sources, that Raleigh enjoys the latter distinction, few 
 are aware that to Rolfe belongs the former. Yet Hamor, almost 
 the earliest in point of time, and the second of none in point of 
 authority, of the annahsts of Virginia (having for his theme the 
 planting of tobacco), signalizes the fact alluded to, and shows his 
 sense of the importance of it, in the following remarkable words : 
 "I may not forget the gentleman, worthie of much commenda- 
 tions, which first tooke the pains to make triall thereof, his name 
 Mr. John Rolfe, Anno Domini 161 2, partly for the love he hath a 
 long time borne to it, and partly to raise commoditie to the ad- 
 venturers in whose behalf, I witness and vouchsafe my testimony 
 in beliefe that during the time of his aboade there, which draweth 
 near upon six yeares, no man has labored to his power, by good 
 example there, and worthy encouragement into England by his 
 letters than he hath done," It may be truly said, doubtless, that 
 some one else would have set the example if he had not, and not 
 less truly that some one else would, doubtless, have discovered 
 America if Columbus had not. But, I think, we may not, justly, 
 therefore, derogate from the merit of the men who are, actually, 
 the first to open new paths to their kind, of wealth and power. 
 When we consider that tobacco was to Virginia what gold was to 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 27 
 
 Australia — that which alone of their products overbalanced by its 
 rich returns all the disadvantages, dangers and ennui of a new 
 settlement, and served still to revive anew hope, fortitude and 
 energy in the breasts of the disappointed and discontented colo- 
 nistsi— when we recollect that the colony more than once was re- 
 duced to absolute despair, and on the point of being abandoned 
 — may we not safelv refer to this new subject of industry, a saving 
 power over its destinies, and justly concede to him who led the 
 way in apprehending and proving its value, a niche among the 
 benefactors of their race, and, with Smith and Dale, among the 
 true founders of Virginia? 
 
 The name Rolfe is Danish, which, softened by the clime, be- 
 came "Rollo" in Normandy. It first occurs in history about 
 A. D. 600, when Rolf Krake was King of Denmark. [It is 
 worth the parenthesis to repeat, from a Scandinavian writer, that 
 " The graces of his person are said to have equalled those of 
 his mind, and his stature and strength to have been so extraor- 
 dinary that he was surnamed Krake, an old Danish word ex- 
 pressive of those qualities."] It was brought to England in the 
 person of Rolfe, or Rollo, who accompanied one of the first (I 
 believe the first, but have mislaid my reference) Vykings who 
 overran England. Without seeing reason to claim, or to dis- 
 claim, for John Rolfe descent either from the King or the Count, 
 we think he may very fairly be presumed to have sprung from 
 some Danish family (not "a mean one" as he states) of that 
 name, one of the many of that race, who remained permanently 
 in England after the Danish conquest. 
 
 From a time lost in the mists of the Past, the Rolfes have 
 resided in the County of Norfolk, where still, on their ancestral 
 possessions, still many reside. From that county and stock John 
 Rolfe emigrated to Virginia. 
 
 When I add that so much of further merit was Rolfe' s, as to 
 have left a worthy son (noticed below), I have finished the brief 
 memoir intended, quantum valeat, to aid in rescuing his name 
 from its too obscure place in history, and said enough, I trust, 
 to vindicate the justness of the remark with which I set out, that 
 John Rolfe was riot -merely the husband of Pocahontas, but, in 
 truth, one of the capital characters of his time. 
 
 • 
 
 Since writing the above, I have met with an interesting article 
 
28 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 on the Rolfe's, contributed to a Northern magazine ("Wide 
 Awake," November, 1886,) by Mrs. Raymond Brathwayte, an 
 English lady, which goes to corroborate my own \de.aX prof;-nosis 
 of the family, and enables me to add some authentic and in- 
 teresting facts respecting them. They are first mentioned in 
 Domesday Book (eleventh century).. Of this special branch 
 there is a record of them as owners of Heacham, in Norfolk, 
 where they still live, as far back as 1560, and the first entry on 
 it is of the marriage of Eustace Rolfe and Joanna (Jener), the 
 grandparents of John Rolfe. I append the registry as given by 
 Mrs. Brathwayte : * 
 
 1560. Married Eiistacius Rolfe and Joanna Jener, 27th May. 
 
 1562. Baptized John, filius Eustacius Rolfe, 17th October. 
 
 1582. Married Johannes Rolfe and Dorothea Mason, 24th September. 
 
 1585. Baptized Eustacius and John, 7i& Johannes Rolfe, 6th May. 
 
 1585. Buried Eustacius, _;5/za.y Johannes Rolfe, 2d June. 
 
 1591. Baptism Edwardus.^/f/za.? Johannes Rolfe, 22d February. 
 
 1593. Buried Eustacius Rolfe, June. 
 
 1594. Buried Johannes Rolfe, ist December. 
 
 1594. Married Robertus Redmayn and Dorothea Rolfe, gth March. 
 1625. Died Robertus Redmayn. 
 
 We learn from this that John was a twin, born 6th May, 1585, 
 and son of John Rolfe and Dorothea Mason. Agreeing with 
 Mrs. Brathwayte, to use her words, that it will be "interesting to 
 know the character of the father of him who has been himself 
 described as an honest and well reputed gentleman," I cite 
 her extracts from " the inscription on brass belonging to his 
 
 * Rolfe is the same name, or most probably of the same origin, as 
 Ralfe, Ralph, Ralph, and other variations. According to Camden 
 [Remaines Concerning Britaint, page 85, edition 4to., 1637) it is con- 
 tracted from Radulph, and like Rodulph signified " Helpe-Councill." 
 'QmxV.^ (General Armoury, edition 1847,) gives us the armorial bearings 
 of Rolfe of Heacham Hall, County Norfolk, as borne by S. C. E. 
 Neville Rolfe, of Heacham Hall, Esq., who took the name and arms of 
 Rolfe by royal license, 19th April, 1837, on coming into the possession 
 of the property of the late Edward Rolfe, of Heacham Hall, Esq. 
 Quarterly, first and fourth, gyronny of eight, or and az. on a chief sa.- 
 three amulets, ar. ; second and third, gu. five mascles in fesse ar. 
 within a bordure ar. Crests— ¥\xA, a lion's head erased ; second, on 
 a mount a cresceilt, therefrom issuant a rose slipped. — New England 
 Historical Genealogical Register, April, i84g, page 14c). R. A. B. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 29 
 
 tomb." "It is in Latin. Translated, it runs to this effect: that 
 he profited his own family much while he remained in life ; he 
 wished all his neighbors and relations, through himself, to be of 
 greater worth by helping the poorer with his means. Nothing " 
 could be more amiable than he. The reproaches of many he 
 bore, gently bore, without offence of mind." His death oc- 
 curred very suddenly, in the November of the year following 
 that of his father. In the inscription it is hkened "to the 
 extinguishment of a volume of flame by a mass of water, for he 
 was of healthy strength, and when dying had not completed 
 many years (32). His death caused grief to many, but it fared 
 very nobly with him, whom a consciousness of a life well spent, 
 and a record of many good deeds, does not suffer to perish." 
 From the same source we learn that he had to do with the mer- 
 chant service: "By trading as a merchant, he increased his 
 family estate with the export and import of things which Eng- 
 land either abounded with or wanted ; he afforded very great 
 service, since, in these matters, he devoted his care and energy." 
 
 W. R. 
 First in Descent. 
 
 I. Thomas Rolfe, 6. 1615 ; d. 16—; m. "Jane Poythress;" left issue 
 one child only, a daughter. 
 
 Thomas Rolfe was taken charge of, soon after the death of his 
 mother, by his uncle, Henry Rolfe, of London, where, and by 
 whom, he was brought up to manhood. Shortly after, he de- 
 cided to return to Virginia, where he was born, and did so in 
 1640. There is little doubt but that he settled there on his patri- 
 monial property, "Varina," near Henricopolis, sixteen miles 
 below Richmond. One, of the two only incidents of his life of 
 which we have any record, strongly confirms this supposition. 
 Both of these incidents are much to his honor, and corroborate 
 the description of him given by the historian Stith, as having 
 been a man of ".Fortune and Distinction in the colony." One we 
 give, for its quaintness, in the form in which it is recorded. In 
 Hening's Statute at Large, Volume I, page 327, we find (Act 2), 
 after reciting that the " maintaineing of thefforts, &c., are thought 
 to be of great consequence, in point of honour and security of the 
 colony, and yet of too great burthen of the inhabitants," it is 
 " enacted that the said fortes, with the propriety of a competent 
 
30 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 quantity of land, be granted to particular undertakers," &c. , and 
 proceeds as follows : " And be it further enacted and granted 
 that Left. Thomas Rolfe shall have and enjoy for himselfe and 
 ' his heires forever ffort James als Chickahominy fort, with foure 
 hundred acres of land adjoyning to the same, with all houses and 
 edifices belonging to the said forte, and all boats and ammunition 
 at present belonging to the said ffort: provided that the said 
 Leift. Rolfe [doe keepe and maintaine sixe men upon the place 
 duringe the terme and time of three yeares, for which tyrae he, 
 the said Leift. Rolfe, for himselfe and the said sixe men, are 
 exempted from publique taxes." (Henricopolis was but a short 
 distance from the Chickahominy.) The reposing in him a trust 
 of such importance at that time by the government, and re- 
 quiring no small resources to execute it sufiEciently, attest that he 
 was a man possessing substantial means, brave, loyal, and pos- 
 sessing the public confidence. The other incident recorded of 
 him is the granting him by the Governor, on his petition, of per- 
 mission to visit his Indian kinsfolk, showing that the manhood, 
 generosity, humanity and superiority to vulgar prejudice or cen- 
 sure, which so pre-eminently distinguished his father, were not 
 dishonored or wanting in his son. 
 
 I adopt "Jane Povthress" (not Poyers),* whom he is 
 stated in the " Boiling Memoirs" to have married in England : 
 I. Because no such name as "Poyers" is anywhere known, so far 
 as I am advised. 2. Because the family of Poythress was already 
 settled in Virginia, and in the immediate neighborhood of Rolfe's 
 residence at Henricopolis (but a few miles below, and on the 
 opposite side of the river)— Francis Poythress appearing as a 
 member of the House of Burgesses, A. D. 1644, for Charles City 
 (then includ ng both sides of James river at those points). 3. 
 Because there is no reference or tradition known of Rolfe having 
 brought a wife with him from England. And 4. Because in a 
 work, " Sandringham," concerning the families of Norfolk, Eng- 
 land, and amongst them the Rolfes, the eminent author, Mrs. 
 Herbert Jones, states that Thomas Rolfe came to Virginia when 
 about 20 or 25, and married there . W. R. 
 
 ■* Poyers or Pyers, o'ne of the forms of spelling the modern Pierce or 
 Peirce. The third wife of John Rolfe was Jane, daughter of Lieutenant 
 William Poyers, Pyers or Peirce, of Jamestown, Virginia. R. A. B. 
 
POCAHOJSTTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 31 
 
 Second in Descent. 
 
 2. Jane Rolfe, b. ; d. 1676; m. 1675 Col. Robert Boiling ; b. 1646 ; 
 
 d. 1709, and left issue one child only, a son. 
 
 Robert Boiling, the first of the name in Virginia, was the son 
 of John and Mary Boiling, of All Hallows, Barkin Parish, Tower 
 street, London. John was of the Boilings of Boiling Hall, near 
 Bradford, England, who trace back their descent to RoberfBol- 
 ling, Esquire, who, in the reign of Edward IV, owned that beau- 
 tiful seat, and who, dying in 1485, was buried in the family vault 
 in Bradford church. His coat of arms is affixed on his tomb, 
 and being the only one in the church, he was presumably the 
 builder or chief benefactor of it. The Robert of this notice came 
 to Virginia in 1660, when not yet fifteen years of age— seems to 
 have early attained to fortune and prominence — and at twenty- 
 nine, married Jane Rolfe. She dying, he married Miss Anne, 
 daughter of Drury Stith. He lived and died at " Kippax," a fine 
 seat on James river, below Petersburg, now in ruins ; but his 
 remains were removed thence by a great-grandson (by his second 
 marriage) in 1858, to a mausoleum, erected by the latter in 
 Blandford Cemetery. I find no further special notice of Jane 
 Rolfe. 
 
 Third in Descent. 
 
 3. John BoLLiNG, of "Cobbs" (Colonel), b. 1676; d. 1729 (Member of 
 
 the House of Burgesses); m. Mary Kennon, daughter of Dr. Ken- 
 non, of " Conjuror's Neck " (Member of the House of Burgesses), 
 and left issue, one son and five daughters. 
 
 Colonel John Boiling settled, lived and died at " Cobbs," on the 
 Appomattox, below Petersburg. He engaged in commerce, and 
 while conducting an "extensive and gainful trade" with his 
 countrymen, and a yet larger one with the Indians (equally his 
 countrymen), "partook freely at the same time of all the pleasures 
 of society, for which his gay and lively spirit eminently adapted 
 him. Being once, in England, at a feast given him by a kinsman, 
 a Yo'rkshire lady, hearing him talk, exclaimed in Yorkshire dia- 
 lect, " Oh, mine Got, you no hear dat man, and he talk English 
 as well as we." " Yes, faith madam, and I hope much better, or 
 I would not talk at all," was his hasty, and not overgallant, reply: 
 " whereat all did laugh merrily." 
 
32 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Fourth in Descent. 
 
 John Boiling (Major), M. H. B., J. P., b. 170O; d. Sept. 
 6, 1757; »2.,Aug. I, 1728, Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. 
 Archibald Blair, and nieceof the Commissary James 
 Blair, D. D., founder of William and Mary College, 
 and left issue. [The " Cobbs " family Bible states 
 
 that Eliz'h (Blair) Boiling m. 2dly Bland, and 
 
 rf. April 22, 1775. R. A. B.] (See Notice A). .. . 
 
 4. Jane Boiling, b. 1703 ; d. 1766; m. Col. Richard Ran- 
 dolph, of " Curies " ; b. 1690; d. 1748 (M. H. B. and 
 Treasurer of Virginia). (See Notice B) 
 
 Mary Boiling, *. 1711; d. ; m. Col. John Flem 
 
 ing, of " Mount Pleasant" (M. H. B. and Treasu 
 rer) ; b. 1697 ; d. Nov. 7, 1766, son of Charles Flem 
 ing, and grandson of Sir Thos. Fleming, son of 
 Sir Johr) Fleming, ist Earl of Wigton, Scotland 
 (See Notice C) 
 
 4. Elizabeth Boiling, b. 1709; m. Dr. William Gay 
 
 4. Martha Boiling, b. 1713; d. Oct. 23, 1749; m., 1727 
 Thomas Eldridge ; d. Dec. 4, 1754 
 
 4. Anne Boiling, b. 
 (See Notice D).. 
 
 - ; d. ; m. James Murray. 
 
 Fifth in Descent. 
 Of John Boiling's (4) Children. 
 
 5. Thomas Boiling, b. July 7, 
 J. P., Chesterfield county; 
 (See Notice E) 
 
 1735; d. Aug. 7, 1804; 
 m. Ehzabeth Gay (5). 
 
 5. John Boiling, of "Chestnut Grove,'' b. June 24, 1737 ; 
 d. 179- ; m. Martha Jefl^erson, sister of President 
 Jefferson. (See Notice F) 
 
 5. Robert Boiling (Col), of "Chellowe," b. Aug. 17 
 1738; d. 1769; M. H. B. ; m. ist, Mary Burton, 2d. 
 Susan Watson. (See Notice G) 
 
 Mary Bolhng, b. July 16, 1744; d. ; tn. 1761 ; 
 
 Richard Bland, of Jordan's, b. 1730-1766 (Member 
 H. of B., Continental Congress, and ot the Revolu- 
 tionary Convention of 1774 and 1775), son of the 
 great Richard of Revolutionary fame 
 
 5. Sarah Boiling, 6. June 16, 1748; m. John Tazewell 
 of Williamsburg (Judge of the General Court, and 
 
 19 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 2 
 
 3 " 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 33 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Clerk of the Revolutionary Conventions of 1775 
 and 1776). [Brother of Henry, father of Littleton 
 Waller Tazewell, Governor of Virginia, U. S. Sena- 
 tor, etc. R. A. B.] 
 
 Archibald Boiling, b. March 20, 1750 ; d. ; m. ist, 
 
 Sarah Cary, 1770, 2d, Feb., 1774, Jane Randolph (6), 
 3d, Widow Byrd, 1797, 4th, Widow Clark, 1802. 
 (See Notice H) 
 
 c,. Anne Boiling, b. Feb. 7, 1752 ; m. William Dand ridge 
 
 0/ the Children of Jane Boiling (4) wife of Richard 
 Randolph. 
 
 .5. Richard Randolph, M. H. B., m. Nancy Meade. 
 
 5. Brett Randolph; b. 1732 ; d. 1759 ; m. Mary Scott in 
 England, where he lived and died 
 
 -3. John Randolph m. Frances Bland, b. 1752 ; d, 1788 
 daughter of Richard Bland, of " Cawson's" 
 
 5. Mary Randolph, b. \T2.'] ; d. 1781 ; m. Archibald Cary, 
 of " Amphthill," b. 1721 ; d. 1787, (Speaker H. of B., 
 Member Convention of 1766, Speaker State Sen 
 ate) 
 
 :5. Jane Randolph m. Col. Anthony Walke, of " Fair- 
 field," Princess Anne county, M. H. B., son of 
 Anthony and Anne Lee (Armistead) Walke, second 
 in descent from Anthony Voelke, or Walke, from 
 Holland 
 
 5. Elizabeth Randolph m. Richard Kidder Meade, Aide 
 to General Washington. (See Notice I) 
 
 Of the Children of Mary Boiling (4) wife of Col. 
 John Fleming. 
 
 Thomas Fleming, Captain in Colonel William Byrd's 
 Second Virginia regiment in 1758, Colonel Ninth 
 Virginia regiment in the Revolutionary war; m. 
 Randolph. Killed in battle of Princeton, Janu- 
 ary 12, 1777 
 
 5. John Fleming, Major in the Revolutionary army. 
 Killed at battle of White Plains ; unmarried 
 
 5. William Fleming, b. July 6, 1736; d. February 15 
 1824; M. H. B. from Cumberland county; Mem- 
 
 Sona 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
34 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 i Chil- 
 'dren. 
 
 . Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 ber of Virginia Conventions of 1776 and 1788, and 
 on the Independence Committee of the first; 
 County Lieutenant of Powhatan county, 1776; 
 Member of the House of Delegates of the Old 
 Congress; of the General Court of Virginia, No- 
 vember 25, 1780; of the Court of Appeals, Decem- 
 ber 24, 1788; President of the Court. 1 820-1 824 ; 
 m. Elizabeth Champe, daughter of Colonel John 
 Charape, of King George county, Virginia 
 
 5. Charles, Captain, Seventh Virginia Regiment, and 
 Lieutenant-Colonel in the State Line., 
 
 5. Mary Fleming w. William Bernard. 
 5. Caroline Fleming m. James Deane. . 
 
 0/ the Children of Elizabeth Boiling (4) wife of Dr. 
 William Gay. 
 
 5. William Gay m. ist, Frances Trent, 2d, Judith Scott. 
 
 5. Elizabeth Gay m. Thomas Boiling (5) 
 
 5. Mary Gay m. Neil Buchanan, of Ettrick Banks M 
 Association, 1770 
 
 Of the Children of Martha Boiling (4) wife of Thomas 
 ^ Eldridge. 
 
 5. Jenny Eldridge b. circa, 1740 
 
 5. Rolfe Eldridge of " Subpoena," i. December 29, 1744 
 Clerk of Buckingham ; m. Susan Everard Walker. 
 
 5. Mary Eldridge b. March nth, 174^, w.Thos. Branch. 
 
 5. Judith Eldridge b. March 11, 174! ; w. James Ferguson 
 
 5. Martha Eldridge m. John Harris of England 
 
 10 
 I 
 
 13 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Of the Children of Anne Boiling (4) wife of fames 
 Murray. 
 
 5. William Murray, b. May d, 1752 ; d. 1815 ; m. Re- 
 becca Boiling (6) 
 
 5. John Murray, b. 1744 ; d. ; m. Susan Yates 
 
 5. Anne Murray, 6. August 30, 1746; m. Neil Buchanan . 
 
 5. Margaret, or Peggy Murray, b. February 8, 1748 ; m. 
 Thomas Gordon 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 35 
 
 5. Mary Murray, i. 1754; of. 1823; m. ist, Alexander 
 Gordon, 2d, Col. William Davies. (See Notice J).. 
 
 5. James Murray, b. 1743 ; d. ; vz. Martha Ward. . . 
 
 Sixth in Descent. 
 
 Of Thomas Boiling's (5) Children. 
 
 6. Elizabeth Boiling, b. 1760 ; d. ; m. William Rob 
 
 ertson, b. 1750; d. 1829; Member Council of State. 
 (See Notice K) 
 
 6. Rebecca Boiling m. William Murray (5). 
 
 6. William Boiling (Col. and M. H. D.) m. Mary Ran 
 dolph (6). (See Notice L) 
 
 6. Thomas and Mary, deaf mutes, never married. (See 
 Notice M) 
 
 0/ John Boiling's (5) Children. 
 
 6. Martha Boiling m. Field Archer 
 
 6. John Boiling m. Kennon 
 
 6. Edward Boiling, b. ; d. 1835 ; m. Dolly Payne 
 
 6. Archibald Boiling m. Catharine Payne 
 
 6. Mary Boiling m. Edward Archer 
 
 6. Robert Boiling m. Jane Payne 
 
 0/ Robert Boiling's (6) Children. 
 
 6. Mary Burton Boiling, b. 1764 ; d. August 3, 1787 ; m., 
 November 4, 1781, Robert Boiling, b. March 3, 
 1759, of Petersburg, of the Stith Boilings 
 
 6. Pocahontas Rebecca Boiling m. Col. Joseph Cabell 
 1782 
 
 6. Elizabeth Blair Boiling m. Major Thomas West 
 M. H. D 
 
 6. Linnaeus Boiling, b. 1773 ; d. 1836, M. H. D. ; m. Mary 
 Markham. (See Notice N.) 
 
 6 Powhatan, b. 1767; d. 1802. (See Notice O.). 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 13 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 4 
 8 
 I 
 2 
 
36 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Of Archibald Boiling's (5) Children. 
 
 6. Sarah Boiling m. 1792, Joseph Cabell Megginson, b. 
 1771 ; d. 1811 
 
 6. Anne Everard Boiling m. 1st, Sheppard Duval, 2d, 
 Col. Jo. Cabell in 1804 
 
 6. Elizabeth Meade Boiling, b. 
 Archibald Robertson (7) 
 
 ■ ; d. 1823 ; tn. 1801 
 
 6. Blair Boiling, b. 1792 ; d. ; Captain State Guard ; 
 
 m. 1st, M. A. Webster 1824, 2d, Penelope Storrs 
 1827. (See Notice P) 
 
 Of Mary Boiling's (5) Children, wife of Richard Bland. 
 
 6. Richard Bland, 6. 1762; d. 1806; m. Susanna, daughter 
 of Ro. Poythress, 4th in descent from Francis Poy 
 thress, who came to Va. circa 1636 
 
 6. Ann P. Bland, b. 1765; d. ■ 
 2d, Peter Woodlief . . • . 
 
 ; m ist, John Morrison 
 
 Of Sarah Boiling'' s (5) Children, wife of John Tazewell. 
 
 6. Elizabeth Tazewell m. Samuel Griffin, M. D., M. of 
 Congress 1789 to 1795 
 
 6. Littleton Tazewell m. Catharine Nevison nee Boush 
 
 6. William Tazewell, M. D., 1^. - — ; d. 1840; w. Mary 
 Page Tanner. (See Notice Q) 
 
 Of Anne Boiling's (5) Children, wife of William 
 Dandridge. 
 
 6. John Dandridge w. Underwood. 
 
 6. William Dandridge m. . . . . 
 
 6. Nathaniel West Dandridge, m. Martha H. Fontaine 
 (niece of Patrick Henry) 
 
 6. Ann Dandridge m. Frederick James 
 
 6. Jane Butler Dandridge m. Rev. Jos. D. Logan 
 
 Of Richard Randolph' s (5) Children. 
 
 6. Richard Randolph, Officer of Cavalry, Revolutionary 
 War, m. Maria Beverley 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 6. David Meade Randolph, b. 1760; d. 1830; Officer of 
 Cavalry, Revolutionary War ; U. S. Marshal for Vir- 
 ginia ; m. Molly Randolph (7) 
 
 6. Brett Randolph m. Lucy Beverley 
 
 6. Ryland Randolph m. Elizabeth Frayzer 
 
 6. Susanna Randolph m. Benjamin Harrison, of " Berke- 
 ley," M. Non-Importation Association, 1770 
 
 6. Jane Randolph m., 1774, Archibald Boiling (5) 
 
 6. Ann Randolph fn. Brett Randolph, Jr. (6) 
 
 6. Elizabeth Randolph fn. David Meade 
 
 6. Mary Randolph m. William Boiling (6) Colonel Cav- 
 alry, war of 1812, M. H. D 
 
 6. Sarah Randolph m. William Mewburn 
 
 Of Brett Randolph's (5) Children. 
 
 6. Henry Randolph, m. Oct. 7, 1758, Lucy Ward, daughter 
 of Seth and Mary (Goode) Ward 
 
 6. Susanna Randolph m., 1783, Dr. Charles Douglass 
 (England) b. 1752; d. Heir presumptive of the Earl 
 of Morton 
 
 6. Brett Randolph, b. 1760; d. 
 dolph (6) 
 
 ■ ; m. Anne Ran- 
 
 Of John Randolph's (5) Children. 
 
 6. Richard Randolph, b. 1770 ; d. 1796 ; m. Judith, daugh- 
 ter of Thos. Mann Randolph, of " Tuckahoe " 
 
 6. John Randolph (of Roanoke), b. -i-iTi ; d. 1833 ; Mem- 
 ber of Congress and Minister to Russia. (See 
 Notice R) 
 
 Of Mary" Randolph's (5) Children, wife of Archibald 
 Cary. 
 
 6. Anne Cary w«. Thomas Mann Randolph, of Tuckahoe. 
 
 6. Jane Cary m. Thomas Isham Randolph, of Dun- 
 geness 
 
 6. Elizabeth Cary m. Robert Kincaid . 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
38 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 6. Mary Cary m. Carter Page, son of Governor John 
 Page, Major of Cavalry, Revolutionary War 
 
 Of Jane Randolph's (5) Children, wife of Anthony 
 Walke. 
 
 6. Rev. Anthony Walke, Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 M. Virginia Convention 1788; m. ist, Ann McClena- 
 han, 2d, Mrs. Anne Fisher nie , 3d, . 
 
 Of Thomas Fleming's (5) Children. 
 6. Mary Fleming m. Warner Lewis, of " Warner Hall." 
 6. Sukey Fleming m. Addison Lewis 
 
 Of William Fleming's {5) Children. 
 
 8. Lucy Fleming »2. John Markham. They went West, 
 and left issue 
 
 6. Mary Boiling Fleming m. Capt. Beverley Chew Stan- 
 ard, of Spotsylvania county 
 
 Of Mary Fleming's (5) Children., wife of William, 
 Bernard. 
 
 6. Daniel Bernard m.. 
 
 Branch. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Of Caroline Fleming's (5) Children, wife of Jam.es 
 Deane. 
 
 Of William. Gay's (5) Children, who married Frances 
 Trent and Judith Scott. 
 
 6. William Gay (T.) m. Lucy Harrison Coupland ( grand 
 daughter of Benjamin Harrison, Signer of the 
 Declaration of Independence) 
 
 6. Elizabeth Gay (T.), b. 1772 ; d. ■ 
 ley 
 
 m. Efford Bent- 
 
 6. Thomas Boiling Gay (S.J m. Eliza R. Archer 
 
 6. Niel B. Gay (S.) (M. H. D.) m. Martha Talley 
 
 6. Mary B. Gay (S.), 6. 1794 ; d. 1879 ! '"• Gideon A 
 Strange, M. H. D • 
 
 6. Edward Scott Gay, Capt. State Guard, m. Catharine 
 N. Tazewell (7) 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 39 
 
 6. Ann H. Gay (S.) m. Charles H. Scott. 
 
 .6. Charles S. Gay (S.) m. Margaret Erskine, daughter 
 of Erskine, M. H. D 
 
 6. Sally Gay (S.) m. James B. Ferguson (6), M. H. D. . . 
 
 Of Elizabeth Gay's (5) Children, wife of Thomas Boil- 
 ing (5). 
 [See Thomas Boiling's (5) children.] 
 
 Of Martha Eldridge's (5) Chidren, wife of John Harris. 
 
 6. Pamela, i. 1749; m. 1765 Rev. Christopher McRae, 
 Protestant Episcopal Church ; issue. For account 
 of him see Meade's Old Churches and Families of 
 Virginia, ii., 35-38 
 
 Of Rolfe Eldridge's (5) Children, who m. Susanna 
 Everard Walker. 
 
 6. Rolfe Eldridge (Clerk of Buckingham) m,. Mary 
 Moseley 
 
 6. Susan Eldridge m. 
 
 ■ Webber. 
 
 6. Thomas Eldridge m.. Mary Ayres 
 
 6. Courtney Tucker Eldridge m. John Williams. 
 
 Of the Children of Mary Eldridge (5), wife of Thomas 
 Branch. 
 
 6 Boiling Branch m. Rebecca Graves. 
 6. Matthew Branch m. Martha Cox — 
 
 Of Judith Eldridge's (5) Children, wife of James 
 Ferguson. 
 
 6. James B. Ferguson m. ist, Jane Boiling (widow of 
 Robt Boiling (6)3, b. Payne, 2d, Sally Gay (6) 
 
 Of James Murray's (5) Children, who m. Martha Ward. 
 
 6. Mary Murray m. Edmund Harrison, M. Senate Va.. . 
 
 Of John Murray's (6) Children, who married Susan 
 Yates. 
 
 6. Elizabeth Murray m. Edward Yates. 
 6. Anne Murray ni. Jesse Brown 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
40 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 6. Sukey Murray m. Theodore Bland RufBn. 
 
 6. James Murray m. 
 
 6. Peggy Murray m. Elam 
 
 Of Mary Murray's (5) Children, wife of, isi, Alex. 
 Gordon, 2d, Col. Wm. Davies. 
 
 6. Peggy Gordon m. ist, William Knox, d. 1809, 2d, Griel 
 Green, a prominent lawyer of Mecklenburg county 
 
 6. Mary Ann Davies m., 1804, Fortescue Whittle, a fel- 
 low-exile with Emmet. (See Notice S) 
 
 Chil- 
 dren 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Of Peggy Murray's (5) Children, wife of Thos. Gordon 
 
 6. Ann (or Nancy) Gordon m. Henry Embry Coleman, 
 M. Va. Sen 
 
 Of Anne Murray's (5) Children, wife of Neil Buchanan 
 6. Buchanan m. Cross 
 
 Of William Murray's (5) Children, who married Re- 
 becca Boiling (6.) 
 
 6. Anne Murray m. Thomas Robinson, an eminent 
 physician and scholar, a refugee about i8oo from 
 the Irish troubles which drove Thos. Addis Emmet 
 and others into exile. Settled in Petersburg, where 
 he died 
 
 6. Mary Murray m. George Skipwith 
 
 6. William Murray d. 1866 ; m. Rebecca Skelton. 
 
 Seventh in Descent. 
 Of Rev. Anthony Walke's (6) sons. 
 
 7. Edwin Walke 1 
 
 \ by first marriage 
 
 7. David Meade Walke 
 
 7. John N. Walke, by second marriage 
 
 Of Elizabeth Boiling's (6) Children, wife of William 
 Robertson. 
 
 7. Archibald Robertson, b. 1772 ; d. 1861 ; m. Elizabeth 
 M. Boiling 
 
 3 
 
 t 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 41 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 7. Thomas Boiling Robertson, b. 1773; d. 1828, Sec'y 
 of Territory, ist M. C. , Attorney-General, Governor, 
 U. S. Judge, of Louisiana ; m. Lelia Skipwith. (See 
 Notice T) 
 
 7. William Robertson, M. H. D., m. Christina Williams. 
 
 7. John Robertson, 6. 1787; d. Julys, 1873; Attorney- 
 General, M. C, Chancellor, (Virginia) ; m. Anne 
 Trent. (See Notice U) 
 
 7. Anne Robertson m. Dr. Henry Skipwith, 1813. 
 
 7. Jane Gay Robertson, b. ; d. ; in. John H, 
 
 Bernard (M. Senate of Va^ 
 
 7. Wyndham Robertson, b. 1803, M. H. D., M. Council 
 of State, Governor of Virginia, 1836 ; m. Mary F. T. 
 Smith. (See Notice V) 
 
 0/ Rebecca Boiling' s(S) Children, wife of Wm. Murray 
 
 [See William Murray's (5) children.] 
 
 Of the Children of William Boiling (6), who married 
 Mary Randolph (6). 
 
 7. Ann Meade Boiling, m.]as. K. Weisiger 
 
 7. William Albert Boiling, deaf mute, m. Eliza Christian. 
 
 7. Thomas Boiling, b. 1807; m. Louisa daughter of 
 Richard Morris of Hanover, M. Va. Con. 1829-30. . 
 
 7. Jane Rolfe Boiling, m. Robert Skipwith (7) ^ . . 
 
 Of the Children of Martha Boiling (6) wife of Field 
 Archer. 
 
 7. Powhatan Archer m. Walthall 
 
 7. Martha Archer m. ist, John Boiling, 2d, Berry.. 
 
 7. Ellen Archer m. Berry 
 
 7. Mary Archer m. Edward Covington 
 
 7. Lucy Archer m. Archer 
 
 Of John Balling's (6) Children, who married 
 
 Kennon. 
 
 7. Evelina Boiling m. Alexander Garrett, Clerk of Albe 
 marie county 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 I 
 J 2 
 
42 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 7-. Susan Boiling m.Joha Scott. 
 
 0/ Edward Boiling's f6) Children, who married Dolly 
 Payne 
 
 7. Powhatan Boiling m. Payne 
 
 Of Archibald Boiling's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Archibald Boiling, b. ; d. i860 ; m. Anne E. Wig- 
 
 ginton 
 
 7. Edward Boiling, b. ; d. 1855 ; m. Ann Cralle 
 
 7. Alexander Boiling, b. ; d. 1878 ; m. Susan Gray. 
 
 Of Mary Boiling's (6) Children, wife of Edward 
 Archer. 
 
 7. Peter Jeflferson Archer tn. ist, M. Michaux, 2d, Lucy 
 Gilliam, issue 
 
 Of the Children of Mary Burton Boiling (6), ist wife 
 of Robert Boiling, of Petersburg. 
 
 7. Mary Burton Augusta Boiling m. John Monro Ban- 
 nister, (Battersea) 
 
 Chil- 
 dren 
 
 Of Pocahontas Rebecca Boiling's (6) Children, wife of 
 Col. foseph Cabell. 
 
 7. Sophonisba E. Cabell, b. 1784; d 1857; m. 1809, 
 Robert H. Grayson, son of U. S. Senator William 
 Grayson 
 
 7. Sarah Boiling Cabell, b. 1786; d. 
 Elisha Meredith 
 
 ■; m., 1805, 
 
 7. Charles J. Cabell, b. 1789; d. 1810; unmarried. "A 
 notable man in his day." (See Notice W) 
 
 7. Edward Blair Cabell, b. 1791 ; d. 1850; m., 1812, Har- 
 riet Forbes Monroe, a niece of President Monroe. . 
 
 7. Benjamin William S. Cabell, Senate of Virginia, b. 
 1793 ; d 1862 ; m., 1816, Sarah Eppes Doswell 
 
 7. Mary P. Cabell, b. 1798; d. 1821 ; m., i8i8, Peyton 
 Doswell, d. 1820 
 
 , Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 43 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Of Anne Everard Boiling's (6) Children, who married 
 ist, Sheppard Duval, 2d, Col. Joseph Cabell. 
 
 7. Samuel Sheppard Duval 
 
 7. Archibald Boiling Duval 
 
 7. Jane Randolph. Cabell, b. 1805 ; d. 1833 ; m., 1824, 
 Philip T. Allen • ■ • 
 
 7. John B. Cabell, b. 1808 ; d. ; m. ist, 1830, Mary 
 
 C. Wardlaw ; d. 1835 
 
 2d, 1839, Martha, daughter of Captain John Posey. 
 
 7. Elizabeth Robertson Cabell, b. 1809 ; d. 1852 ; m. ist, 
 
 1826, James B. Paulett 
 
 2d, 1834, Archibald Dixon, U. S Senator 
 
 7. Robert Boiling Cabell, b. 1812 ; d. ; m. ist, 1833, 
 
 Anne E. Herndon ; d. 1834 
 
 2d, 1835, Eleanor Hart 
 
 7. George W. Cabell, b. 1814 ; d. ; m., 1837, Mary R. 
 
 Williams 
 
 7. Mary Ann Hopkins Cabell, b. 1824; m., 1845, Dr. E 
 L. Willard (California) ; issue 
 
 Of Elizabeth Blair Boiling's (6) Children, wife of Th 
 West. 
 
 7. m. James S. Jones. . . . 
 
 7. m. Dr. Joel W. Flood. 
 
 Of Linncsus Boiling's (6) Children, who married Mary 
 Markham. 
 
 7. Mary Boiling m. Dr. James Cobbs, brother of Bishop 
 N. H. Cobbs, Protestant Episcopal Church 
 
 7. Susan Boiling b. ; d. 1849; m. Robert T. Hubard, 
 
 M. H. D. ; lawyer 
 
 7. Philip A. Boiling, M. H. D. and Judge of Circuit 
 Court, m. Mary Eppes 
 
 7. Robert Boiling' m. ist, Sarah Hobson, 2d, Mary 
 Watkins, 3d, Martha Brackett 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
44 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Of Sarah Boiling's (6) Children, who married Joseph 
 Cabell Megginson. 
 
 7. William C. Megginson. b. 1794; d. 1847; m., 1821, 
 Amanda M. Bocock, sister of Thomas S. Bococlc 
 M. C. and Speaker H. of Rep's 
 
 7. Elizabeth C. Megginson, b. 1796 ; d ; m. William 
 
 Berkeley 
 
 7. Archibald Boiling Megginson, i. 1798; a'. 1851; m 
 ist, 1824, Ann R. White ; 2d, 1833, Elizabeth Roberts. 
 
 7. Joseph C. Megginson, M. H. D. Va., Judge in Texas, 
 b. 1800; d. 1858; m., 1826, Almira Montgomery... 
 
 7. Samuel B. Megginson, b. 1802 ; m., 1828, Mary A. 
 Johnston 
 
 7. Jane Randolph Megginson, b. 1804 ; d. 
 Nathaniel Powell 
 
 ■ ; tn. Dr, 
 
 7. John R. Megginson, 5. 1806; d. 1875; m., 1835, Mary 
 R. Dunn 
 
 7. Benjamin C. Megginson, b. 1809 ; m., 1837, Fannv 
 Blain '. 
 
 Of Elizabeth Meade Boiling's (6) Children, wife of 
 Archibald Robertson (7). 
 
 7. Elizabeth Jane, b. 1802 ; d. 1822 ; unmarried 
 
 7. Rebecca, b. I803 ; rf. 1823 
 
 7. Pocahontas Anne, b. 1805; d. 1838; m. Boiling. 
 
 7. Virginia B. Robertson, b. 1807 ; d. 1836 ; m. Colonel 
 Ralph Graves 
 
 Of Blair Boiling's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Archibald Boiling m. February, 1852, Eliza Trueheart 
 Armistead 
 
 7. John Boiling m. ist, October, 1855, Maria Page 
 Armistead, 2d, Julia B. Tinsley 
 
 7. Mary Susan Boiling m. August, 1851, ist, Gervas 
 Storrs Burton, 2d, Dr. J. C. Macon 
 
 7. Paulina Boiling (?) 
 
 Chil 
 dren. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 . 3 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 45 
 
 Of Richard Bland's (6) Children, who married Susan 
 Poythress. 
 
 7. Richard Bland m. 1st, 
 
 7. John Boiling Bland ni. ist, 
 Reed, 3d, E. Cargill 
 
 -, 2d, — '- Ledbetter. 
 — Eppes, 2d, Rachel 
 
 7. Sarah Bland m. Thomas Bott 
 
 7. Theodorick Bland m. Mary Harrison. 
 7. Mary Bland m. Elgin RusselK 
 
 Of the Children of Anna P. Bland (6) wife of, ist, I. 
 Morrison, 2d, P. Woodlief. 
 
 7. Hannah Woodlief in. Dr. Hardaway 
 
 7. Anna Woodlief m. Jeffrey 
 
 7. EHzabeth Woodlief >«. Dr. Shadrach Alfriend. 
 
 Of Littleton Tazewell's (6) Children, who married 
 Catharine Nevison. 
 
 7. Sarah Boiling Tazewell m. William O. Goode, M. C. 
 Of Wtn. Tazewell's (6) Children, who m. Page Tattner. 
 7. Willianna Blair Tazewell ". 
 
 V. Catharine Nevison Tazewell m. ist, E. Ambler, 2d, 
 Capt. Ed. S. Gay (6), Va. State Guard 
 
 7. Henrietta Watkins Tazewell m. C. I. Fox, Agent 
 Associated Press •,•••• 
 
 7. Mary Louisa Tazewell m. Dr. J. B. Southall 
 
 7. Sally Boiling Tazewell m. Dr. George Fitzgerald . . . 
 
 7. Martha Jefferson Tazewell m., after her sister's death. 
 Dr. J. B. Southall 
 
 7. Jane Rebecca Tazewell 
 
 7. Nancy Rosalie Tazewell m. Andrew L. Ellett. 
 7. Isabella Tazewell 
 
 Of fohn Dandridge's (6) Children, who m. 
 
 Underwood. 
 
 7. Boiling Dandridge m. » 
 
 Chil- 
 dren 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
46 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Of Nathaniel West Dandridge's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Charles F. Dandridge m. ■ McGhee 
 
 7. William F. Dandridge m. Stith 
 
 7. Anna Dandridge m. W. Hereford 
 
 7. Martha Dandridge ni. R. Bolton 
 
 7. Nathaniel West Dandridge »«. H. Wylie 
 
 7. Rosalie Dandridge m. W. D. Bradford 
 
 OfWilliam Dandridge's (6) Children, who m. Stith 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Of Anne Dandridge's (6) Children, who married F. 
 James. 
 
 7. m. Utz, Fincastle.. 
 
 Of the Children of Jane Butler Dandridge (6) and 
 Rev. Jos. D. Logan. 
 
 7. James W. Logan m. S. W. Strother 
 
 Of Richard Randolph' s (5) Children, who married 
 
 7. Robert B. Randolph (Lieut U. S. Navy) m. Maria 
 Beverly 
 
 7. Wm. Randolph, Mid. U. S. Navy (on board Chesa- 
 peake when taken — lost in the Wasp) 
 
 7. Maria B. Randolph m. Philip Duval 
 
 Of David Meade Randolph's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Wm. B. Randolph m. Sarah Lingan 
 
 Of Brett Randolph' s (6) Children, who m. Lucy Beverley. 
 
 7. Edward Randolph (Capt. U.S. A.) m. Bland Beverly. 
 
 7. Carter Beverley Randolph (Ass't Surgeon U. S. N) m. 
 Anne Tayloe Farrar {b. Beverly) 
 
 7. Victor Moreau Randolph (Capt. U. S. N. and C. S. N.) 
 m. Augusta Cranberry 
 
 7. Franklin Randolph m. Ann Corbin of "The Reeds " I 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 47 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 7. Theodric Randolph m. Brand. 
 
 Of Ryland Randolph's (6) Children, who married 
 Elizabeth Frazier. 
 
 - m. 
 m. - 
 
 Of Susan Randolph's (6) Children, wife of Benj'n 
 Harrison, of " Berkeley" 
 
 7. Benjamin Harrison m. rst, Mercer, 2d, Page 
 
 Of fane Randolph's (6) Children, wife of Archibald 
 Boiling (5). 
 
 [See Archibald Boiling's (5) children.] 
 
 Of Ann Randolph's (6) Children, wife of Brett Ran 
 dolph,fr. (6). 
 
 7. Kidder Randolph m. Betsey Montague 
 
 7. Howard Randolph m. Meade (Kentucky). 
 
 7. Anne Randolph m. Joseph Michaux 
 
 7. Susan Randolph m. Frank Watkins 
 
 7. Brett, and Patrick, twins 
 
 Of Elizabeth Randolph's (6) Children, wife of David 
 Meade. 
 
 7. JohnE. Meade, b. 179-; d. 1854; m. Rebecca Beverley.. 
 
 7. Charlotte Meade, b. 179- ; m. Dr. J. Y. Stockdell 
 
 7. Rebecca Meade, b. 180- ; m. James Lea 
 
 Of Mary Randolph's (6) Children, wife of William 
 Boiling (6). 
 
 [See Wm. Boiling's (6) children.] 
 
 Of Henry Randolph's (6) Children, who married Lucy 
 Ward. 
 
 7. Henry Randolph, of "Warwick," b. 17S4; d. October 
 26, 1840; m. ist, Caroline Matilda, daughter of 
 Major Smith, of Manchester, Virginia ; d. Sept 
 25, 1808, without issue, 2d, Eliza Griffin Norman, of 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
48 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 a Henrico family from Pennsylvania and of the So 
 ciety of Friends, 3d, Mrs. Perry, a descendant of 
 Thomas Tinsley, planter, who emigrated to Vir 
 ginia from Yorkshire, England, near the close of 
 the seventeenth century 
 
 7. Mary Randolph m. ist, Geo. Thornton, 2d, James 
 Maury 
 
 7. Brett Randolph. 
 
 Catharine Cochrane Randolph, b. 1797 ; d. Dec. 12, 
 1852 ; m Josiah Bartlett Abbott, of ' High Meadow," 
 Henrico county, b. in Connecticut June i, 1793; d. 
 Sept. 23, 1849 
 
 7. Susan Frances Randolph m. Alex'r Lawson Botts, b 
 1800 (M. Council of State) and brother of Hon, 
 John Minor Botts 
 
 Of Susanna Randolph's (6) Children, wife of Dr. 
 Douglass. 
 
 7. Susan Mary Ann Douglas, b. 1785; m. ist, Wallace, 
 2d, 1808, Capt. John Tucker, of Island of Bermuda 
 
 twins; b. 1789.. 
 
 7. Charles Brett Douglass 
 
 7. Archibald Aberdeen Douglass ; 
 
 7. Heartly Douglass, b 1786 
 
 7. Eliza Randolph Douglass, b. 1791 
 
 Of Brett Randolph's (6) Children. 
 
 [See Anne Randolph's (6) children.] 
 
 Of Richard Randolph's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Tudor 
 
 7. St. George, a deaf mute 
 
 ; Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Of Anne Cary's (6) Children, wife of Thos. Mann 
 Randolph, of Tuckahoe. 
 
 7. Mary Randolph m. David Meade Randolph (6) 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 49 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 7. Elizabeth Randolph m. Robt. Pleasants, of" Four-mile 
 Run," 4th in descent from John Pleasants from 
 Norwich, England, in 1665, in his 25th year 
 
 7. Thos. Mann Randolph, of ' Edge Hill," b. 1764 ; d. 
 1836 {Governor of Virginia. M. H. of R.) ; m. Martha 
 (daughter of President) Jefferson 
 
 7 Wm. Randolph m. Lucy (daughter of Gov. Beverley) 
 Randolph 
 
 7. Judith Randolph m. Richard Randolph, of " Bizarre " 
 (6.) • 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 7. Ann Carv Randolph m. Gouverneur Morris (N. York), 
 Minister to France 1792-1794 
 
 7. Jane Randolph vt. Thos. Esten Randolph 
 
 7. John Randolph, M. D., »«. Judith Lewis 
 
 7. Harriet Randolph m. Rich'd S. Hackley, Consul at 
 Cadiz 
 
 7. Virginia Randolph m. Wilson J. Gary 
 
 Of Jane Gary's (6) Children, wife of Thos. Isham Ran- 
 dolph. 
 
 7. Archibald Gary Randolph m. Lucy Burwell, of "Carter 
 Hall" 
 
 7. Thos. Randolph (twin of Isham) m. ist, Mary Skip 
 with, 2d, Catharine Lawrence. Killed in the bat- 
 tle of Tippecanoe 
 
 7. Isham Randolph (twin of Thomas) m. Ann R. Coup- 
 land 
 
 7. Mary Randolph m. Randolph Harrison, of " Clifton." 
 
 Of Elizabeth Gary's (6) Children,wife of Robt. Kincaid. 
 7. Mary J. Kincaid m. Charles Irving 
 
 Of Mary Gary's (6) Children, wife of Garter Page. 
 7. John Gary Pa.gem. Mary A. Trent 
 
 7. Henry Page m. — - Deane 
 
 7. Mann Page, M. D., w. Jane Walker 
 
 7 Mary Page lost her life in the burning of the Rich- 
 mond Theatre, Dec. 26, 1811) 
 
 13 
 
50 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Of Anthony Walke's (6) Childreti. 
 
 7. Anthony Walke m. ist, Jane Ritson, 2d, Ann Living- 
 ston 
 
 7. Edwin Walke m. Sarah Massenburg. 
 7. Susan M. Walke m. Chas. H. Shield. 
 
 .Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 7. John N. Walke m. 1st, Land, 2d, Anna M. 
 
 Baylor '. 
 
 7. Jane E. Walke m. Richard Watson. 
 
 Of the Children of Mary Fleming (5), 2d wife of 
 Warner Lewis. 
 
 7. Julia Lewis m. Thomas Throckmorton, of Williams- 
 burg, Va 
 
 7. John Lewis tn. Eleanor Lewis (his cousin). 
 
 Of the Children of Sukey Fleming (6) who married 
 Addison Lewis. 
 
 7. Susan Lewis m.. William Byrd, of " Westover" (?). 
 
 Of the Children of John Markham, who married 
 Lucy Fleming. 
 
 7. Descendants in the West 
 
 Of the Children of Beverley C. Stanard, who married 
 Mary Boiling Fleming. 
 
 7. Eliza J. F. Stanard m. Samuel O. Eggleston 
 
 7. John C. Stanard m. Sarah T. Thurston 
 
 7. Julia A. V. Stanard m. Dr. A. L. Wooldridge 
 
 Of the Children of Daniel Bernard (6), who^ married 
 Branch. 
 
 7. Cyrus Bernard (Mid.. U.S. Navy) prisoner of war at 
 Algiers, killed in a duel at Havana, May 15, 1821 . . . 
 
 7. Christopher Bernard, Sergeant of Richmond volun- 
 teers (war of 1812), grandfather of the late Cyrus A. 
 Branch, M. Va. S. and prominent lawyer of James 
 City county ; m. ; left issue 
 
 ; Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 51 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Of Thomas Boiling Gay's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Ellen Gay m. Jacob Skein 
 
 7. Delia Gay 
 
 7. William Gay m. Jackson 
 
 7. Eliza S. Gay > 
 
 7. Powhatan A. Gay 
 
 7. Virginia F. Gay < 
 
 7. Bollins Gay.C. S. A., died at Camp Douglass Ap'l, 1865 
 
 Of the Children of Elizabeth Gay (6), wife of Edward 
 Bentley. 
 
 7. Eliza Gay Bentley m. Daniel Harris 
 
 7. Wm. Field Bentley m. Sarah Dupree 
 
 7. Fanny Trent Bentley m. Wm. Houston 
 
 7. EfFord Boiling Bentley m. Lucy W. Chamberlayne, 
 daughter of Professor Lewis W.Chamberlayne, M. D, 
 
 7. John Gay Bentley w. Judith Thompson 
 
 7. Maria Buchanan Bentley m. Daniel B. Friend . 
 
 7. Alex'r Willis Bentley, M. D., m. Peters. . 
 
 7. Lavinia Bentley m. William Roper 
 
 Of William Gay's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Peterfield Gay, M. D., m. Christian 
 
 7. B. Franklin Gay m. Baptist 
 
 Of Neil B. Gay's (6) Children. 
 
 7. William Gay m. Sarah Bruce 
 
 7. Neil B. Gay m. Mary Bunn 
 
 7. Martha Gay m. Perkins 
 
 7. Pocahontas V 
 
 7. Ann Caroline 
 
 Sons 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
52 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 I 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 Sons 
 
 I 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Of Sally Gay's (6) Children, wife of James B. Fer- 
 guson (6). 
 
 7 Tndith Crav Fersruson W2 T A Carr 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 7. James B. Ferguson m. Emma C, daughter of Colonel 
 John Henry, and granddaughter of Patrick Henry, 
 the Orator 
 
 7 Mary Francis Ferguson 
 
 
 7. William Gay Ferguson m. Margaret Bryce, nie 
 Pickett 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 
 Of Edward S. Gay's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Matoaca Gay, a distinguished society writer, under 
 the noin de plume of " Bric-a-Brac " 
 
 
 7. Louisa Gay w. Robert C. White .' 
 
 
 
 
 7. Edwd. S Gay m. Sarah Ewell 
 
 
 
 
 7. Caroline Gay m. Charles P. Winston ; d. January 1, 
 ■1887 
 
 
 
 
 7. Minnie W. Gay 
 
 
 
 
 Of Mary B. Gay's (6) Children, wife of Gideon A. 
 Strange. 
 
 7. William Gay Strange 
 
 
 
 
 Of Charles S Gay's (6) Children. 
 7. Charles Wyndham Gay, C. S. A., killed in battle 
 
 
 
 
 7. Henry Erskine Gay 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Frances B. Gay w. 1875, R. H. Catlett; issue 
 
 
 
 
 7. Lizzie E. Gay 
 
 
 
 
 7. William Gay 
 
 
 
 
 7. Agatha Estell Gay 
 
 
 
 
 7. Caroline Scott Gay m. W. M. Allen 
 
 
 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 53 
 
 Of Rolfe Eldridge's (6) Children, who married Mary 
 Moseley. 
 
 7. Susanna Eldridge m. Dr. James Austin.. 
 7. Lucy Eldridge m. Rev. James Fitzgerald. 
 7. Elizabeth Eldridge m. B. Austin 
 
 7. Delia Eldridge fn. Robert Kincaid Irving, M. Sen. 
 Va., Clerk of Buckingham county ; issue 
 
 7. William Eldridge tn. Nixon 
 
 7. Mildred Kidder Eldridge m. Wm. M. Cabell 
 
 7. Benjamin Eldridge m. Eliz. Perkins 
 
 7. John Eldridge m. Sarah Moseley 
 
 7. Frances Eldridge m. Samuel A. Glover ; issue . 
 
 Of the Children of Susan Eldridge (6), who married 
 Webber. 
 
 7. Thomas »/. Mary Ayres 
 
 7. Courtney T. Eldridge m.]no. Williams. 
 
 Of Boiling Branch's (6) Children, who married Rebecca 
 Graves. 
 
 7. Mary Susan Branch m John F. Wiley, M. Council of 
 State and Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia 
 
 7. William Branch m. 
 
 7. Sally Branch m. Captain Edw'd Gregg 
 
 Of Matthew Branch's {,(>) Children, who married Martha 
 Cox. 
 
 7. Polly Branch m. Thomas May 
 
 Of James B. Ferguson's (6) Children, who married ist, 
 Jane Boiling, born Payne, zd, Saliy Gay (6). 
 
 7. Jane Elvira Ferguson m. Peachy R. Grattan, Reporter 
 of the Court of Appeals 
 
 [For his other children see Sally Gay's (6) children.] 
 
 C'"'-, Sons 
 dren. 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
54 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Of Elizabeth Murray's (6) Children, wife of Edward 
 Yates. 
 
 7. Mary Yates m. William Hamlin 
 7. Elizabeth Yates 
 
 Of Margaret, or Nancy Murray's (6) Children, wife of 
 Thomas Gordon. 
 
 7. Nancy rn. Henry Embry Coleman, Virginia Senate ; 
 issue 
 
 Of Peggy Gordon s (6) Children, wife of ist, William 
 Knox, 2d, Grief Green. 
 
 7. Mary Ann Knox m,. Dr. Thomas Goode. 
 
 7. Sophia Knox m.. John Buford 
 
 7. JohnF.O. Knox, M. H. of D. of Va 
 
 7. Henry Green 
 
 Of Mary Ann Davies' Children (6), wife of Fortescue 
 Whittle. 
 
 7. Wm. Conway Whittle, Commander U. S. N., after- 
 wards Commodore C. S. N., m. Elizabeth Sinclair, 
 daughter of Com. W. Sinclair, U. S N 
 
 7. Fortescue Whittle . 
 
 7. James M. Whittle, M. Va. Convention 1850; Sen. Va. 
 m. ist, Mary Coles, 2d, Cornelia L. Skipwith (7) 
 
 7. Conway D. Whittle m. Gilberta Sinclair, daughter of 
 Com. W. Sinclair, U S. N 
 
 7. John S. Whittle, Surgeon U. S. N. ; m. ist, Jane Pat- 
 terson, 2d, Anne Southgate 
 
 7. Lewis Neale Whittle m. Sarah M. Powers. 
 
 Stephen Decatur Whittle, Secretary in Virginia State 
 Convention i849-'5o,w. Nannie daughter of Ge6rge 
 Taylor, and grand-daughter of the far-famed John 
 Taylor of " Hazlewood," Caroline county, Vir- 
 ginia; United States Senator; author of various 
 able works on Agriculture, Political Economy, etc., 
 under the nom de plume of " Arator" 
 
 Chil- Sons 
 dren 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER .DESCENDANTS. 
 
 55 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 7. Francis McNeece Whittle, Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, m. Emily Fairfax. 
 (See Notice S) 
 
 7. Powhatan Boiling Whittle, Colonel C. S. Army 
 
 Of Buchanan's (6) Children, wife of Cross. 
 
 7. Cross m. Robert Yuillee ; left issue 
 
 Of Anne Murray's (6) Children, wife of Dr. Thomas 
 Robinson. 
 
 7. William Murray Robinson, a rarely accomplished 
 amateur in Art and Literature, b. 1807 ; d. 1878 ; m. 
 Sarah A. Mills ; issue 
 
 7. Robert Emmett Robinson, M. D., b. ; d. 1865; 
 
 m. 1st. Adeline Dewees, of Philadelphia, 2d, In 
 diana Henley, 3d, Virginia E. Stainback 
 
 7. Powhatan Robinson m. Anne Eason. 
 
 Of Mary Murray's (6) Children, wife of George Skip- 
 with. 
 
 7. Robert Skipwith m. ist, Jane Rolfe Boiling (7), 2d, 
 Ehz. Boiling 
 
 7. William M. Skipwith 
 
 7. George N. Skipwith, M. D., m. Maria L. Brooks 
 
 7 Cornelia Lptte Skipwith m. James M. Whittle (7).. . . 
 
 7. Thomas BoUing Skipwith, b. ; d. 1873 ; m. 
 
 Emma Darrieux 
 
 Of William Murray's (6) Children. 
 
 7. Rebecca B. Murray 
 
 7. Matoaca Murray m.C. L. Gififord, Newark, N. J. 
 
 7. Nannie S. Murray m. Dr. J. B. Wiley (8) 
 
 7. Louisa S. Murray 
 
 7. Mary Murray • ■ • 
 
 7. Cornelia S. Murray 
 
 7. Gay Bernard Murray m. Lewis E. Rawlins 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
56 
 
 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 Chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 I 
 
 Of Ann GQrdon's (6) Children, wife of Henry E. ColeA 
 
 7. Elizabeth Ann Coleman m. Charles Baskerville 
 
 7. Mary Margaret Coleman m. Richard Logan (Member 
 Senate Virginia) 
 
 7. John Coleman tn. ist, Elizabeth Clark, 2d, Mary 
 Love 
 
 7. Thomas Gordon Coleman (Member House Dele- 
 gates) m. Anne Clarke 
 
 7. Henrietta Maria Coleman m. Rev. John Clarke. 
 
 7. Henry E Coleman (Member House Delegates) m. 
 Mary Turner 
 
 7. Ethelbert Algernon Coleman, M. D., m. ist, Elizabeth 
 Sims, 2d, Fanny Ragsdale 
 
 7. Sarah Coleman m. David Chalmers (Member House 
 Delegates) 
 
 7. Charles Coleman m. ist, Sarah Eaton, 2d, Alice 
 Sydnor 
 
 7. fane C. Coleman m Charles E. Hamilton. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 NOTICE A. 
 
 Major John Rolling * inherited his father's love of pleasure 
 and his business qualifications, but without his appetence for 
 trade. His energy and sagacity showed theinselves in long, and 
 in those days perilous, journe}'s through a wilderness country, and 
 the judicious choice of valuable, unappropriated lands, with which 
 he afterwards richly endowed his large family. He was " fond of 
 fine Horses, Hounds, Hunting, Fishing, Fowling, Feasting and 
 Dancing, yet doted on his wife and children," was of an even 
 temperance in all things as well as of an admirable vein of humor 
 — public-spirited, hospitable and popular. He was " County- 
 Lieutenant " of Chesterfield, an office of much dignity and im- 
 portance in those days, and as such commanded the militia, and 
 presided over its Courts He, also, for thirty years, represented 
 his county in the House of Burgesses, living (as Wynne has it) 
 " in a style of elegance and profusion not inferior to the Barons 
 of England, and dispensing a hospitality which more than half 
 a century of sub-division, exhaustion and decay has not entirely 
 effaced from the memory" or divorced from the practice, of 
 many of his numerous descendants. 
 
 NOTICE B. 
 
 Jane Bolling* was the mother of John Randolph, the 
 father of the celebrated John, of Roanoke, and her husband of 
 that stock, which Wynne says " may be pronounced the most 
 distinguished in the History of the Colony and the Common- 
 wealth of Virginia;" a judgment which none will dissent from on 
 
58 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 learning that Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall were of it. 
 They are too conspicuous in all the histories of Virginia to de- 
 mand here any but the most cursory liotice. The patriarch of 
 the family was William Randolph, who came from Yorkshire, in 
 England, to Virginia in 1660. He was soon enabled to buy the 
 magnificent property of "Turkey Island," thirty miles above 
 Jamestown, where he permanendy settled. He married Mary 
 Isham, daughter of Henry and Katharine Isham, of the family of 
 Ishams of Northamptonshire, England, who bore him many chil- 
 dren, but his worldly fortunes kept full pace with his progeny, 
 aH of whom he settled around him on fine estates, and left 
 rich. They, too, were distinguished for energy, talents and 
 success, and achieved, with still expanding families, still enlarg- 
 ing possessions. The Randolphs have filled, for a long course 
 of years, some or others of the very highest political trusts — 
 Colonial, State and Federal. Numbers, and free living, at 
 length supervened on wealth, so that at the en^ of a century 
 "none of the name," says Bishop Meade, "owns a rood of those 
 immense tracts of land on which their fathers once lived." 
 But the prestige of the name long survived its fortunes, so that 
 when an ambitious' mother was once twitted for marrying her 
 daughter to a poor Randolph, she sharply answered, that " an 
 ounce of Randolph was worth a pound of gold." And many 
 still live who maintain the credit and distinction of the name. 
 
 NOTICE C. 
 
 Mary Bolling' we know of only as introducing into her 
 family that of the Flemings. I learn from one of them that 
 they were of Flemish descent, one of whom, a man of high rank, 
 is said to have settled in Scotland in the reign of David I. But 
 the. propositus to whom it can be clearly traced was Sir Malcolm 
 Fleming, Sheriff of Dumbarton under Alexander III. From him 
 Sir Thomas, the progenitor of the Virginia family, second son 
 of the first Earl of Wigton, traces his descent through a line of 
 singularly distingu.shed ancestors, successively occupying the 
 most prominent positions. They were friends of the Bruce, and 
 favorites of successive kings, as well as it seems of the people of 
 Scodand also, forming the most illustrious connections, and at- 
 taining finally to the rank and title of Earls of Wigton. Of the 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 59 
 
 founder of the Virginia branch (Sir Thomas, who emigrated in 
 1616), Colonel John Fleming, who married Mary Boiling, was a 
 grandson. Many of the name in Virginia have done honor to 
 their lineage. A Miss Fleming of this family (citing from their 
 genealogy kindly communicated by one of the descendants) 
 married Thomas Randolph, of Tuckahoe. A Tarleton Fleming 
 married Mary, daughter of Edmund and Judith (Randolph) 
 Berkeley, of "Barn Elms." Anne,'* grand-daughter of Sir 
 Thomas," married John Payne, an English gentleman of wealth 
 and education, who settled in the county of Goochland. 
 They had issue: i. John," who married Mary, daughter of 
 William and Lucy (Winston) Coles, and had issue, i. Walter"; 
 2. William Temple; 3. Isaac, who all died unmarried; 4. Dorothea, 
 who married ist, John Todd, a lawyer of Philadelphia, and 2d, 
 James Madison, President of the United States ; 5. Lucy " mar- 
 ried 1st, George Steptoe Washington, nephew of General Wash- 
 ington, 2d, Thomas Todd, Justice Supreme Court of the United 
 States; 6. Anne, married Richard Cutts, Member of Congress 
 from Maine. Her grand -daughter, Adele," married ist. United 
 States Senator Stephen A. Douglas, 2d, General Robert Wil- 
 liams, United States Army ; 7. Mary " married J. G. Jackson, 
 Member of Congress from Virginia, a cousin of General T. J. 
 (Stonewall) Jackson, Confederate States Army; 8. John, married 
 Clarissa Willard and went to Kentucky. 
 
 NOTICE D. 
 
 Anne Bolling * lived to a great age and was of the large ' 
 stature, high courage, and awe-inspiring bearing of her great 
 Indian progenitor, Powhatan, as the following tradition of her well 
 attests. Sojourning with a kinswoman, whose house was being 
 riPed by Tarleton 's soldiers, she said, " Betsy, can you sit still and 
 allow yourself to be plundered this way " ? then going up to the 
 commander of the party with arms akimbo, she thus accosted 
 him: "Take off your drunken gang, sir, this minute, or I will fetch 
 a squad from Tarleton will teach you how to behave in a gende- 
 man's house." "Come, boys," said the officer, "let's be off, 
 this woman's tongue is sharper than Tarleton' s sword ;" and off 
 they went at once faster than they came. Her husband, James 
 Murray, was of the ancient family and Clan of that name, of 
 
60 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 which the Dukes of Athol were the chiefs. Chief-Justice Mans- 
 field was among its distinguished members. They had fallen 
 into decay about his time, as Lord Campbell's Life of him shows. 
 The habits of the family in Virginia were not such as to build up 
 their fortunes anew. Eminendy free from all vices, they sym- 
 pathized with all who suffered, were unbounded in their liberahty 
 and lavishly hospitable. The son of James — William — was, from 
 a distinguished stateliness, yet engaging simplicity of carriage, 
 lovingly called the "old Duke." In his family I was as at a 
 second home, and surely if there ever was one over which the 
 Spirits of Benevolence, Hospitality, Loving-kindness and Unsel- 
 fishness poured unstinted their sweet influences, it was this. 
 
 NOTICE E. 
 
 Thomas Bolling^ and Elizabeth Gay.* — These, my grand- 
 parents, were first cousins, and reputed the one over-frugal, the 
 other over-proud, and though both somewhat unsociable, yet 
 pleasant and cordial to visitors, very hospitable and much res- 
 pected. He rode abroad in a single-seated, single-horse chair, 
 with a hatless, shoeless blackamoor on the bars behind, with 
 bare legs and feet dangling below, while she traveled in state, in 
 her English-built chariot and four, with coachman and postiHon 
 and footman in bright yellow liveries. My grandfather I never 
 saw, but when yet an urchin I recall my grandmother, then 
 very old, in a Queen Elizabeth's ruff, sitting upright and stately 
 as a queen in her ample, high-backed arm-chair, (behind which 
 stood always her waiting maid), an object of awe and wonder to 
 my unaccustomed eyes. They mingled little with the world, but 
 led domestic lives; he, trimming his cedars into fanciful shapes, 
 and overlooking his farms, and she, holding her little state amid 
 her house-maidens, and superintending their work. He studied 
 law under the distinguished Robert Carter Nicholas but made no 
 use of his acquisition except as a magistrate of his county. 
 Having mentioned Mr. Nicholas, I may not omit to recall, to 
 his honor, the words used by him, when, from incompatibility 
 with a seat in the House of Burgesses, he resigned to that body 
 the treasurership he had held for ten years: " I leave the office of 
 Treasurer," he said, "with clean hands, certainly with empty 
 ones," — which his known simple habits, and large bounty made 
 at once famous. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 61 
 
 I add from " Bristol Parish " (an interesting mine of old Church 
 and Family records by the Rev. Philip Slaughter), " Thomas Boi- 
 ling had several children who were deaf and dumb. He sent 
 his eldest, John, to Edinburg in 1771, and put him under the care 
 ot Thomas Braidwood, the famous and most successful teacher 
 of speech to deaf mutes then, or perhaps eyer, known. The 
 others, Thomas and Mar)-, followed in 1775, and they all re- 
 mained at Braidwood's Institute during the American Revolution, 
 returning to ' Cobbs ' in 1783. John died soon after his re- 
 turn." 
 
 NOTICE F. 
 
 John Bolling " was a man of great stature, of many good 
 qualities, but long of very dissipated habits. Devoting his time 
 to hunting, racing, and all manner of idle amusements and indul- 
 gences, but, above all, to hard drink, he came to be called, con- 
 temptuously, "the old Indian" ; for the Indians, drugged by the 
 Circe cup of the insidious white man — as wliere have they not 
 been? — were falling before its delirating effects faster than even 
 before their arms, and now, transformed from their original nature, 
 debauched and degraded, their very name had become in the 
 mouths of their undoers a by-word and reproach. But for the 
 white man there seems, happily, to be a possible stopping point 
 in his downward career, denied to the immodifiable Indian, and 
 this gentleman furnished an instance of it. Marrying, in middle 
 age, a lady of great refinement and beauty (the sister of Presi- 
 dent Jefferson), her gentle ministerings and sweet influence are 
 said to have won him away from his unworthier attachments, 
 and now reformed, his later years, prolonged to the patriarchial 
 term of three score and ten, appear to have been gilded once 
 more with the respect and consideration of all around him. 
 
 NOTICE G. 
 
 Robert Bolling,* of " Chellow," was "a lover of wisdom, and 
 esteemed it more precious than rubies." He was educated at 
 Wakefield, in England, by the celebrated Dr. Clarke. He was 
 learned in many languages, and wrote the " Memoirs of the Bol- 
 ling Family" in the French tongue, a translation of which, by 
 John Robertson, was edited and printed by T. H. Wynne, Rich- 
 mond, 1869. He was fond of Music and Poetry, and of the juice 
 
62 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 of the grape, but not to excess, and planted, and wrote verses 
 about, vineyards, and named a son Lenaeus, after the heathen 
 God of Wine. He was of a domestic turn and affectionate dis- 
 position, and losing early his first wife, "his soul mourned its 
 lost companion in tones sad as the voice of the turtle bereaved 
 of its mate." I extract from his Lament, as a specimen of his 
 poetic faculty and loving nature, as well as because characteristic 
 of the prevalent taste of the day, a few lines : " Alas ! these lofty 
 groves, feathered warblers, limpid rivulets, their scaly people and 
 painted margins delight not me. With my beloved, departed are 
 their charms; her finger showeth not their beauties; her lips of 
 roses move no longer in their praise." He was patriotic, but 
 unambitious, and such estimation was he held in, that the popu- 
 larity which he would not seek, followed him, and though refus- 
 ing to be a candidate, or engage in the canvass, or even leave 
 his home on election day, he yet received every vote given in 
 his county for the ,House of Burgesses, which, going in good 
 health to attend on in Williamsburg, he sickened a few days 
 after, and died, untimely, in the thirty-second year of his age. 
 
 NOTICE H. 
 
 Archibald Bolling.^ — I cite from " Opuscula," a little 
 work of Judge John Robertson : 
 
 " He was of ordinary stature, but great round the body, and 
 loved the ease of a private life, and esteemed book learning of 
 little value. 
 
 " And he read no book but the Scriptures, for in them he said 
 was eternal life, the one thing needful, and all books that taught 
 the same were useless,^ and other knowledge was foolishness, and 
 led men into error and sin. 
 
 " And he read his Bible, and had prayer for his household 
 morning and night, and had a set of little Blackamoor singers 
 to sing hymns with him as in the days of David, and after 
 prayers he played on the viol. 
 
 " And when rebuked by Pharisees he reproved them in turn, 
 telling them that King David, the man after God's own heart, 
 and all Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instru- 
 ments, and danced before Him with all their might. 
 
 " He was married four times, and told his last wife if she should 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 63 
 
 die before him he would marry again, for it was God's own 
 proverb, that it was not good man should be alone, and it was a 
 point of conscience with him to fulfil the Scriptures. 
 
 " Like unto the old patriarch, Jacob, he was a plain man, and 
 when first married he lived in a log cabin at Buffalo Lick, now 
 'iMount Athos,' in Campbell county, and afterwards in an hum- 
 ble dwelling in Buckingham. 
 
 " He was frugal, but hospitable and kind to all, especially to 
 the poor, and he took no thought of filthy lucre, and despised all 
 trade and traffic, for in his spirit was no covetousness nor guile. 
 
 " And he suffered his mighty forests to stand untouched by the 
 axe, and his fruitful fields to grow up in briers and thorns. 
 
 " He was kindly affectioned to all men, especially to his own 
 kin, and these he visited yearly at their distant abodes. 
 
 " All his labors were labors of love and charity, in striving to 
 follow the example of Him who went about doing good, his only 
 care being to lay up treasures in Heaven, and he died as he had 
 lived, with a conscience void of offence toward God and toward 
 man. 
 
 " And all the days of Archibald Boiling were about seventy and 
 
 nine years." 
 
 NOTICE I. 
 
 Elizabeth Randolph,'^ who married Richard Kidder 
 Meade. — Bishop Meade reports R. Kidder Meade as in the 
 habit of saying that " General Hamilton did General Washing- 
 ton's head work, and he his field work." I dare say they did, 
 but it was Washington's work they both did still. He was with 
 Washington in all the great battles of the Revolution. To him 
 was committed the superintendence of the execution of Major 
 Andre, of which he always spoke with much feeling, saying he 
 "could not forbear shedding tears at the execution of so vir- 
 tuous and admirable a person, though he approved the order for 
 it." By his first wife he had several childreh, but neither she 
 nOr they lived long. He married a second time Mrs. Mary, the 
 widow qf William Randolph of " Chatsworth," the mother of the 
 distinguished Bishop Meade, whose "Old Churches, etc., of 
 Virginia" displays the fervor alike of his piety and his patriotism, 
 and as a mine of rare and valuable biographical and theological 
 research, must have, for Virginians at least, an ever-increasing 
 interest. 
 
64 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 NOTICE J. 
 
 Mary Murray, * wife of Colonel William Davies. — I am 
 indebted to J. M. Whittle, Esq., for the following interesting con- 
 tribution : " My mother, Mary Ann Davies, was a daughter of 
 Colonel William Davies, a son of the Rev. Samuel Davies, a 
 minister in the Presbyterian church, who resided in Hanover 
 county, Virginia, and was a distinguished pulpit orator. Rev. 
 Mr. Davies was a native of Delaware, and was called to Hanover 
 when very young, where he passed all his time till called to the 
 presidency of Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1759. He was 
 a very active patriot in the French and Indian war in 1756, and his 
 eloquent efforts to raise troops for the war, and encourage the fading 
 hopes of the people, will appear from his sermons, republished in 
 1844, and his life by Wm. Henry Foote, D D. His sermon, 20th 
 July, 1755, on the defeat of Braddock, and one in August of the 
 same year in aid of recruits in Captain Overton's company in 
 Hanover, are the most striking. He succeeded Rev. Jonathan 
 Edwards, the renowned religious metaphysician, in the presidency 
 of the college, who had recently succeeded the Dr. Burr, father 
 of Aaron Burr, so notorious. Dr. Davies died in 1761. His 
 son, William Davies, my mother's father, was graduated at 
 Princeton, and for some time afterwards taught in the college. 
 Richard Stockton (signer of the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence), a distinguished lawyer of Princeton, became his guar- 
 dian, and with him he studied the law. About the breaking 
 out of the Revolutionary war he returned to Virginia, and set- 
 tled in Blandford to practice it. His mother was a Virginia 
 woman, a Miss Holt, and raised, I believe, near or in Williams- 
 burg. He went north' with General Washington, and was 
 engaged in some of his leading battles, and was made a Colonel. 
 He continued in the army all the war. The particulars of his 
 service I do not know, but he was much trusted and esteemed 
 by General Washington, who appointed him Collector at Norfolk, 
 in which office he remained until the election of Mr. Jefferson. 
 In a compilation of loose and interesting historic scraps by Dr. 
 William P. Palmer, of Richmond, lately made, will be seen a 
 good deal of him. He is the Colonel William Davies therein 
 mentioned. Many letters from General Washington to him, and 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 65 
 
 from our most distinguished men in Virginia and elsewhere, were 
 among his papers in my father's house, which were often men- 
 tioned within my recollection, but were destroyed in a disastrous 
 fire in March, 1821. After the .Revolution he was appointed to 
 settle the account between Virginia and the other States, which 
 kept him for several years at New York and Philadelphia, the 
 first capitals after the formation of the Federal Constitution. 
 From the hbrary he left, and the traces through my mother's 
 musical and other school-books of his hand-writing, as well as my 
 knowledge of jhis estimation by Governor Tazewell, Judge Mar- 
 shall, Major Gibbon, Colonel Gamble, Colonel Carrington, George 
 Keith Taylor, etc., etc., his highly cultivated mind and taster are ' 
 learned. He married Mary, then the young widow of Alex- 
 ander Gordon, a Scotch merchant of Petersburg, Virginia, who 
 had been Mary Murray, a daughter of James Murray and his 
 wife Ann, who was daughter of John Boiling and Mary V. Ken- 
 non, his wife." 
 
 NOTICE K. 
 
 Elizabeth Bolling, ° wife of William Robertson.— I 
 quote from the " Opuscula," of Judge John Robertson : 
 
 "William Robertson, who married Elizabeth Boiling, was 
 tall, well-shaped and well-faVored, of a cheerful nature but 
 serious countenance, and much given to meditation on the wis- 
 dom and works of God. 
 
 " He had a generous, humane, and affectionate heart, and 
 when fallen from the height of abundance into poverty, was yet 
 ready to share with those more needy, the pittance that was left. 
 
 " The heaviest afflictions he bore with resignation and firm- 
 ness, never doubting the final justice and mercy of Heaven. 
 
 "He believed the whole duty of man was that summed up 
 by the prophet Micah — ' Do justly, love mercy, and walk hum- 
 bly before thy God.' 
 
 " On a seal of pebble, brought by him from the loved land of 
 bis fathers, transparent as glass, was engraved his family device, 
 viz : a dove and a serpent, the symbols of innocence and wisdom, 
 with the motto — ' Virtutis Gloria Merces.' 
 
 " And this motto and the precept of the prophet were lamps 
 unto his feet and lights unto his path. 
 
 " When no longer able to enjoy the beautiful of nature or the 
 
bb POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 pleasures of life, and weary of his long journey, he gladly received 
 the proffered arm of man's best friend, unterrified at the thought 
 of entering into the dark valley and the shadow that separates 
 Time from Eternity, nay, hopefully assured of enjoying beyond 
 it the glorious reward he had ever endeavored to deserve by 
 exemplary virtues. 
 
 " He lived seventy-nine years, and was buried, as was his wife, 
 afterwards, at about the same age, in the family burying-ground 
 at ' Cobbs.' 
 
 " Alas 1 alas ! that ancient family mansion, ' Cobbs ' ; that old 
 seat of hospitality and mirth ; for it hath become a ruin and a 
 desolation." 
 
 My father was first a merchant in Petersburg, but though 
 frugal and industrious, seems to have had no aptitude for trade, 
 and his ventures in merchandizing and afterwards mining, all 
 failing, he found himself, now past middle life, reduced to poverty. 
 He then studied law and had just commenced to practice, when 
 an offer from Richmond of an humble place in the Virginia 
 Bank, but assuring him a living, led him to that city. He was 
 soon advanced to be Clerk of the Council of State, and afterwards^ 
 and long, was a Member of that body. His gentle, yet firm and 
 upright carriage in life won and kept him many good friends, 
 among whom I may name Mr. Monroe and Governor Page. 
 
 My mother was the fitting partner of such a man, living but 
 for him, her children, and the social circle, of which she was a 
 cherished member. 
 
 As my father grafted a new, and not mean, stock on the 
 Boilings, I may be pardoned for straying a little aside to make 
 a brief allusion to it It was that of the Robertsons of Strowan.* 
 His relationship to them, how near or remote I do not know, 
 he was made acquainted with by an Uncle, Arthur, then 
 (1766) Chamberlain of the city of Glasgow, to whom he was 
 sent from Virginia at sixteen, to attend the schools there, and 
 with whom he spent two years. Afterwards, also, he visited 
 
 * These Robertsons are, now, from comparatively recent discovery of 
 old documents, believed to be lineally descended from Duncan, King 
 of Scotland. Those who are curious to know on what grounds, I 
 refer to Brown's "History of the Highlands" and a work not long 
 since published by direction of Queen Victoria, called (I think) the 
 " Clans of Scotland." 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 67 
 
 him on becoming of age. The heroic devotion to the Stuarts of 
 the celebrated Alexander Robertson, with the splendid and 
 varied qualities which accompanied and adorned it, "honor, he- 
 roism, humanity, poetry, learning, and wit," preserved in the 
 "Baron of Bradwardine" of Scott's immortal romance, though 
 they led to the forfeiture of all the territorial possessions of his 
 family, yet secured forever the glory of his name. The great 
 Historian and Divine, William Robertson, Lord Brougham, 
 Patrick Henry, and Mr. Gladstone, all of the stock of Struan, 
 also illustrate its record, and have added, by broader services to 
 their kind and on a higher theatre, new claims on the public 
 gratitude and estimation, to those established by their illustrious 
 progenitor. 
 
 NOTICE L. 
 
 William Bolling." — This gentleman inherited and settled at 
 " Cobbs," but afterwards removed to his fine estate, on James 
 river in Goochland county, " Boiling Hall." He was of a retir- 
 ing disposition but much respected. He established, while at 
 "Cobbs," the first institution for the education of the Deaf and 
 Dumb seated in America, which, the prospectus states " has been 
 established at Cobbs, near Petersburg, Virginia and is conducted 
 by Mr. J. Braidwood, a descendant of the late Thomas and John 
 Braidwood, of Edinburg and London." It came to an unlucky 
 end, unfortunately, after an experiment of several years, but 
 through no want of proficiency in the Professor. Mr. Braid- 
 wood fell into bad habits, contracted large debts with the 
 merchants of Petersburg, and suddenly fled to the North. 
 In 1818 he returned to Richmond, friendless, penniless, and 
 almost naked, and applied to Colonel William Boiling for aid. 
 Mr. Boiling associated Braidwood with the Rev. Mr. Kilpatrick, 
 then living in Manchester, and put his son,, William A. Boiling, 
 •under his care. There were six or seven pupils. Braidwood 
 demeaned himself well for some months, but then again became 
 so dissipated that Mr. Kilpatrick was forced to dissolve all con- 
 nection with "^him. Braidwood finally fell to be bar-keeper in a 
 tavern, where he died, a victim to the botde, in 1819 or 1820. 
 Colonel Boiling was public-spirited and patriotic, often repre- 
 senting his County in the Legislature, and winning his commis- 
 sion in the war of 181 2. 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 NOTICE M. 
 
 Thomas Bolling.' — I cite from " Bristol Parish " — " Thomas 
 was a miracle of accomplishments. His articulation became so 
 good that his family and friends understood him in conversation 
 and in reading aloud. He died in the sixty-seventh year of his 
 age at ' Gayment' (the residence of his niece, Mrs. J. H. Bernard), 
 in Caroline county. The late Judge Robertson (his nephew), in 
 an obituary printed in the Richmond Enquirer, February i8, 
 1836, said of him: ' He composed and wrote in a peculiar, clear, 
 and graphic style, and attained an artificial faculty of speech 
 almost equal to natural. His grace of manner, vivacity and 
 power of imitation, made him the wonder and admiration of 
 strangers and the delight of friends and relatives.' " 
 
 NOTICE N. 
 
 Len^us Bolling' imbibed all the spirit of William and 
 Mary, was brave, generous, pubHc-spirited, studious of learning! 
 temperate, upright, cheerful, saving, but not sordid, and a lover 
 of truth. Health was denied him for much public usefulness. 
 A single session of the Legislature would prostrate him — to 
 return at each decade again to be disabled. His leading maxim 
 was Burke's, "manly, moral and regulated liberty," to which 
 deeming restricted suffrage to be essential, he vehemently op- 
 posed the successfully projected removal of the freehold qualifi- 
 cation of voters, which had been handed down to us in Virginia 
 by our fathers from 1699. He was tall, erect, swarthy, with the 
 straight black hair and eyes of the Indian, and with strong 
 sympathies for that decaying race. 
 
 NOTICE O. 
 
 Powhatan Bolling » was also educated at William and Mary 
 College, but was a man rather of action than speculation, of fine 
 physique, and of strong passions, fearless and honorable, and 
 somewhat eccentric, both in dress and conduct. His dress was 
 uniformly for years '• a scarlet coat, white waistcoat, blue pan- 
 taloons, and a three-cornered cocked hat." It was not safe to 
 remark on this fanciful get-up. One of the erratic feats tra- 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 69 
 
 dition tells of his half-tamed and insubordinate nature, is of his 
 pursuing a wagoner who had trespassed on a forbidden road, 
 and on his refusing to halt to shoot dead the horse under him- 
 His gun now empty, and the wagoner clambering quickly back 
 into his wagon for the well-understood rifle, Mr. Boiling retreated, 
 but not quick enough, and the splendid thorough-bred he was 
 riding received the deadly load intended for its rider. He was 
 at some distance from his house, and the time lost in returning to 
 it and obtaining a remount, had enabled his adversary to baffle 
 pursuit. His hasty temper involved him in several duels. He 
 was a skilled and ardent musician, and his violin, made in Ger- 
 many in 1646, was recently and is probably still extant. He 
 was an opponent of John Randolph for a seat in Congress, 
 waging no mean or unequal contest even with that redoubtable 
 champion, having been beaten by but five votes. 
 
 NOTICE P. 
 
 Blair Bolling" would have been a hero with the oppor- 
 tunity. He had all the daring, devotion and fearlessness to make 
 one. Once, about 1823 or 1824, returning with him on a coast- 
 ing vessel from a visit we had made together to New York, he 
 gave signal evidence of his courage. It had been reported at 
 New York that a piratical vessel had been observed hovering 
 about our coasts. As we were nearing Cape Henry a suspicious 
 looking craft, and very erratic in her motions, was seen some 
 miles off our starboard bow. After some quite unintelligible 
 gyrations she bore right down on us. Our captain turned pale 
 with fear, and the whole of the little crew was totally demoral- 
 ized. This was no doubt the reported pirate. The captain, as 
 she neared us, distinctly saw through his glass, he said, a cannon 
 on her deck, and men crouching beside her bulwarks. One 
 solitary rusty old musket was our whole armament. All but 
 Boiling counselled and prepared to surrender. He loaded the 
 musket, and despite the Captain's decision declared his pur- 
 pose, if he stood alone, to kill the first man that touched our 
 deck. The pirate luffed up quite close to us, and when we were 
 expecting every moment a shot from her, hailed and begged us 
 to give him his reckoning, as he had quite lost it, and did not 
 know where he was! But Boiling had never changed color or 
 
70 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. , 
 
 purpose, sitting ready with his old musket at the taffrail. His 
 after career as Captain of the "State Guard" (in his day a 
 turbulent and refractory band) furnished many practical proofs 
 of the dauntless spirit he then exhibited. He was a stern disciplin- 
 arian, exacting from those he commanded that strict performance 
 of duty he imposed on himself, but just and forgiving. He was 
 of tall stature, of fine presence, and high character. 
 
 NOTICE Q. 
 
 Dr. William Tazewell. — I am indebted to one of his chil- 
 dren for a brief, notice of his father. " He was prosecuting his 
 studies at the University of Edinburgh, when he was so heavily 
 threatened with consumption that the Faculty ordered him to the 
 south of France. When he arrived at Paris, my father having 
 sold his patrimony to give himself an education, had spent his 
 last sou for a cup. of beer and a roll. He at once applied to 
 Chief-Justice Marshall, then our Envoy there. Mr. Marshall 
 asked him if he could speak French. He replied, ' Hke a 
 native.' 'Then you will answer exactly for Secretary of the 
 
 American Minister (Mr. ), for he understands so little 
 
 French that he has to say ' Ponney moi a fork,' or ' Donney moi 
 some beef So my father became the-Secretary of the American 
 Minister, and his interpreter. It was during the Directory that 
 my father was there. He attended the Botanical Lectures of the 
 celebrated Cuvier, which he used to deliver at the Botanical 
 Garden, a mile from Paris. 
 
 " My grandfather, Judge John Tazewell, was of Norman des- 
 cent. His ancestors were Knights in the reign of William the 
 Conqueror. Some of his brothers were Prebends of Canterbury. 
 He died about thirty-three years of age of consumption." 
 
 NOTICE R. 
 
 John Randolph.* — He was a LusiiS Natures — one of those 
 eccentric meteors, she, at times, casts athwart the skies, to at 
 once dazzle and perplex the beholder. He stood alone of his 
 race and kind ; alone in the blinding brightness of his intellect, 
 and in his seeming almost total destitution of heart. It seems 
 doubtful if he ever loved a human being with natural affection — 
 save only his Mother, and his love for her appeared so intense as 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 71 
 
 to border on the supernatural. Even she whom he sought for 
 his Bride, at almost the supreme moment when he was to bind 
 her to his side forever, fled terrified from his embrace. On the 
 instant, he angrily mounted his horse and never saw her again. 
 The cause of their falling out, though dimly surmised in men's 
 thoughts and whisperings, yet never disclosed, lies buried with 
 them. 
 
 His delight, more particularly, perhaps, from that notable hour, 
 appears to have been to annoy and disconcert even his satel- 
 lites and friends by his arrogance and contumely, and crush his 
 enemies under his bitter scorn— indeed all whom he touched in 
 his orbit : friend or foe, good or bad, weak or strong, alike — 
 and to witness their writhings or discomfiture. Let one illus- 
 tration suffice. His truest friend, and one of the highest of men 
 (Judge William Leigh), sat with him at his fireside conversing, 
 when Mr. Randolph allowed himself to offensively contradict 
 him. Though late in the night, Judge Leigh— Mr. Randolph 
 making no apology — requested him to order his horse, as he 
 would not sleep under the roof of a man who had insulted 
 him. Mr. Randolph rose and went out, apparently to fulfil 
 his request. Instead, "the horse had escaped from the stable" 
 (having been turned out by his order), Judge Leigh had 
 no alternative but stay. Mr. Randolph the next morning 
 lavished every attention on him, but offered no other atone- 
 ment. Thus he dealt with his best and most prized friend. 
 He was the impersonation of opposition and aggressiveness, 
 though when he chose, which was rarely, nothing could ex- 
 ceed the elegance, refinement and charm of his manners. 
 He stood by what is, hating innovation, because what is 
 stands always in opposition to change and progress. He spared 
 none, except such as he must needs have, at times, to help his 
 ends, or minister to his ease, and these felt well paid for their 
 • complaisance by the regal smile which saved them from his 
 spleen. With rare exceptions he sought to pull everybody down 
 who stood in his way or opposed his views. Avarice alone 
 (never more painfully displayed than in connection with the 
 Russian Mission), divided with hate and scorn for his kind, the 
 sombre empire of his bosom. He lay usually in his lonely lair, 
 avoiding and avoided by men, and was hardly less alone in 
 crowds than in his hermitage at Roanoke ; but he let Ambition 
 
72 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 and the love of power and money prevail over his misanthropy 
 so far as needful to secure the gratification of these engrossing 
 aims. The victims of his eccentricities were innumerable, but 
 none of them so wretched as himself, or so deserving to be pitied. 
 Doubtless some secret grief, or eating worm, seamed the smooth 
 face of his boyhood, untimely, with wrinkles and destroyed its 
 purple bloom, preyed on the gentler traits of his original nature 
 and left his worser powers unbalanced (at times there is good 
 reason to believe indeed, wholly unhinged) to enjoy their carnival; 
 the very withering or want of those moral elements, imparting an 
 unnatural splendor and power to his intellect, and adding Titanic 
 force to his thence unchecked sinister impulses. I am reminded, 
 while I write, of a deer I once had. Of rare beauty, at once, 
 and strength, he ruled imperiously over his subjects. He grew 
 ill, became morose and dangerous, and more and more an object 
 of terror and awe to all he approached. The herd quickly fell 
 off to right and left as he took his way through them, and every 
 one kept clear of him. At length, the hand that reared him was 
 the only one whose caresses he would permit. A hidden disease 
 was telling on him, and one of his antlers fell from his head. 
 I missed him for a day or two, then went to seek him. At the 
 bottom of a basin-like depression of the park, I found him, ter- 
 ribly emaciated, with head reverted, licking his flank. He had 
 licked the hair off clean from a space the size of a man's hand, 
 and still seemed trying to reach the source of his agony — and so 
 died. I think I see in this case the explanation and atoning plea 
 for the strange and almost unnatural fierceness that came over Mr. 
 Randolph's spirit. Let blame fall lightly, then, on one whom 
 nature or fate thus dealt with in so hard a measure. His proper 
 wretchedness might soften even his worst foe or his sorest victim, 
 as far exceeding any that he inflicted. Let the bolt which human 
 censure, ignorant of cause, and hence unfit to wield, might be 
 tempted to hurl at him, be caught, timely, by that pity we all 
 need, and leave him to be judged, where alone causes and con- 
 sequences can be seen together, and unerring justice meted out. 
 His Oratory was unique, and well nigh irresistible. 
 
 I was present in 1829, when he delivered almost the last words, 
 I believe, he ever spoke in a public capacity. He rose slowly 
 and stood, tall, graceful and composed, before his peers — a 
 brilliant assemblage, the Virginia Convention of '29, over which 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 73 
 
 Madison and Marshall, surrounded by many lesser but shining 
 lights, yet shed their setting glories. The question was on a 
 clause providing for future amendments to the Constitution. 
 He spoke more as an Augur, declaring the evils to come out 
 of the provision he was examining, than as a Statesman discuss- 
 ing them. He used little action, as though stirred rather than 
 contorted, by the "present Deity." His voice was clear, far- 
 reaching through the hall — not sweet, but with something that 
 took captive every ear, like a trumpet heard afar off at night. 
 His eyes glittered with their wonted brightness, nor did his fate- 
 ful fore-finger forget that day its office. He denounced the clause 
 he was assailing as carrying a condemnation with it of the instru- 
 ment that contained it as a death-warrant on its brow, and cov- 
 ered it, and withered it, with his burning scorn. The Assembly 
 yielded, as under the spell of a magician, a compliance that cost 
 much trouble to the people when twenty years afterwards they 
 wished to amend the instrument, and which a wiser firmness 
 would have saved them from. 
 
 Mr. Randolph filled a large space in his country's eye from 
 the dawn of his manhood to his most sorrowful death; but though 
 always felt in her councils, he never swayed them. His life was 
 one of wasted opportunities, and resultless energies. 
 
 No monument remains of good effected by him for his kind. 
 Where, in a conspicuous instance — the emancipation of his 
 slaves — he may be believed to have sought to raise one, he but 
 aggravated the suffering he intended to relieve. He dazzled, but 
 did not warm, and no fruits ripened in his rays. He passed — 
 drawing our gaze of wonder as he vfent, but leaving only a 
 troubled memory when he vanished 
 
 RESUME. 
 
 In surveying the above two parent, and largely determining, 
 as well as more easily estirnated, Groups — 'the Fifth and Sixth 
 from the savage form of life — we may fitly pause a moment to 
 denote generally their leading characteristics as derived through 
 tradition, and all that is known of them. In disposition, they 
 seem to have been mild, but firm ; brave, but not aggressive; 
 unambitious, but public spirited ; affectionate with one another, 
 and just to all. In habits, fond of pleasures, but rarely given to 
 
74 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 excess, and more commonly inclined to social and literary pur- 
 suits than hard work and enterprise, and hence constantly decay- 
 ing in fortune. In talents, usually respectable, and sometimes 
 superior, rarely deficient. In character, upright and unre- 
 proached. They formed in general that intelligent and virtuous 
 Middle Class which everywhere forms the main pillar and stay of 
 society and government. The Murrays, the Boilings, the Gays, 
 the Eldridges, and their descendants, may more abundantly sup- 
 port this statement, though hardly more strikingly than other 
 branches of the stock. 
 
 Burk, the Historian of Virginia (cited by Bishop Meade), 
 writing, in 1804, of what he calls " this remnant of the imperial 
 family of Virginia, which long ran in a single person, now in- 
 creased and branched out into a numerous progeny," says : 
 " The virtues of mildness and humanity, so eminently dis- 
 tinguished in Pocahontas, remain in the nature of an inheritance 
 to her posterity. There is scarcely a scion from this stock which 
 has not been in the highest degree amiable and respectable," 
 and adds that he is " acquainted with several members of this 
 family who are intelligent, and even eloquent, and if fortune 
 keep pace with their merits, should not despair of attaining a 
 conspicuous and even exalted station in the Commonwealth." 
 In the after career of several of those he alluded to, most con- 
 spicuously in John Randolph, this prediction was fully verified. 
 
 NOTICE S. 
 
 The Whittles. — Tire American head of this family, For- 
 tescue, came to Virginia about 1799 or 1800, a young man, 
 who had been engaged in the Irish troubles in which Robert 
 Emmett was beheaded, and which banished Thomas Addis Em- 
 mett and other eminent men to this country. Mr. Whittle was a 
 Protestant. He settled in Norfolk and went into business with 
 an elder brother there, Conway, who had emigrated to Virginia 
 soon after the Peace of 1783. His son, William Conway, entered 
 the United States Navy and remained in it till the Secession war, 
 when he resigned and was made a Commodore in the Confede- 
 rate service. He was engaged in the naval part of the Mexican 
 war (in which he was wounded), and in the Confederate service 
 rendered much desultory service on York river, along the Missis- 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 75 
 
 sippi and its tributaries and commanded the naval forces at New 
 Orleans when it fell. 
 
 Other members of this family have won and still live to enjoy 
 merited distinction. The author of the foregoing note stands 
 second to no one at the Virginia bar. Stephen Decatur was 
 Secretary of the State Convention of 1850, and William Conway, 
 Jr., Confederate States Navy, while yet a youth, shared all the 
 dangers and all the honors of the cruise of the Shenandoah. 
 
 RT. REV. F. M. WHITTLE, D. D., LL D. 
 
 Of the immediate subject of this notice I am indebted to the 
 Rev. John J. Lloyd, St. Thomas' Church, Abingdon, for the 
 following sketch : 
 
 Rt. Rev. Francis McNeece Whittle, D. D., LL.D., fifth Bishop 
 of the Diocese of Virginia, was born in Mecklenburg county, 
 Virginia, July 7th, 1823. 
 
 His father, Fortescue Whittle, Esq., of County Antrim, Ire- 
 land, settled in Norfolk, Va., early in present century. 
 
 His mother was Mary Davies, grand-daughter of Rev. Samuel 
 Davies, President of Princeton College, and daughter of Colonel 
 William Davies of the Revolutionary army, aid to General Wash- 
 ington, and appointed by him collector of Norfolk, Va. 
 
 Mrs. Whittle's mother was Mary Murray, of Chesterfield 
 county. 
 
 Bishop Whittle graduated at the Theological Seminary of 
 Virginia in the summer of 1847; was ordered Deacon in St. 
 Paul's Church, Alexandria, Va., July 16, the same year, and 
 was ordained Priest in St. John's, Charleston, Va. (.now West 
 Virginia), October 8th, 1848, by Bishop William Meade. He 
 was successively Rector of Kanawha Parish, Kanawha county, 
 Virginia (1847-49) ; St. James' -Northam Parish, Goochland 
 county, Virginia (1849-52); Grace, Berryville, Va. (1852-57) ; 
 St. Paul's, Louisville, Kentucky (i857-'68). 
 
 At the Council of the Diocese of Virginia, held 1867, he was 
 elected Assistant Bishop of Virginia, and was consecrated in St. 
 Paul's; Alexandria, April 30, 1868, by Bishops Johns of Virginia, 
 Lee of Delaware, and Bedell of Ohio. 
 
 He received the degree of D. D. from the Theological Semi- 
 
76 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 nary of Ohio, 1867, and that of LL.D. from the College of 
 William and Mary. 
 
 He became Bishop April 5, 1876. In 1877 the Diocese was 
 divided, the State, known as West Virginia, being erected into a 
 separate Diocese. 
 
 He married. May 15, 1848, Emily Cary, daughter of Wilson 
 Miles Cary Fairfax, and Lucy A. Griffith, his wife, and who was 
 great-grand-daughter of Rev. Bryan, Lord Fairfax, Rector of 
 Falls Church Parish, Virginia, and of Rev. David Griffith, 
 D. D., Chaplain and Surgeon in the Army of the Revolution, 
 and the first Bishop elect of Virginia. 
 
 NOTICE T. 
 
 Thomas BolLing Robertson ' was educated at William and 
 Mary, and commenced the practice of law at Petersburg. There 
 he was intimate with John Thomson, who, as " Curtius,'' disputing, 
 passibus eqnis, with John Marshall, already renowned, achieved, 
 at twenty-four, a celebrity that no one before or since in Virginia 
 so early attained. For his death, immediately ensuing, he 
 expressed his grief in very touching verses. There, too, he 
 became acquainted with Burk, the Historian, who was much 
 attached to him, and who, dying soon after, bequeathed his 
 only son, Junius, afterwards a Judge in Louisiana ('twas all 
 he left besides his book) to his care. 
 
 In 1807, he received from Mr. Jefferson the appointment of 
 Secretary to the new Territory of Louisiana from which time he 
 resided in that State. He was the first Representative of the 
 State in the Congress of the United States, and served with dis- 
 tinction and acceptability to his constituents in that body for 
 several sessions, then retiring from impaired health and increas- 
 ing distaste for Congressional life. He was an efficient supporter 
 of the administration of Mr. Madison, who divided with Mr. 
 Lowndes (his ideal Statesman) his highest admiration and con- 
 fidence. Late in life, he said that of all the public men he had 
 known, these two he considered the purest and most disinter- 
 ested. Mr. Clay he ranked for his ambition only a step below 
 them. While in Congress, Mr. Randolph (John) made some 
 offensive reflection on a vote he had given in favor of a duty on 
 sugar (his general views being anti-tariff), and refusing to 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 77 
 
 apologize, my brother challenged him. The challenge was 
 declined on the ground, as assigned by himself, that he did not 
 hold himself bound to meet such demands whensoever any 
 gentleman chose to feel himself aggrieved. 
 
 My brother soon afterwards paid a short visit to Paris. As a 
 member of the American Congress, at that period but rare visi- 
 tants to Europe, he was treated with much consideration. He 
 was present in the Hall of the Deputies at the silting at which 
 Bonaparte, calm, and apparently confident in the invincibility of 
 his Eagles, took leave of the Deputies on his fateful departure for 
 Waterloo. He remained in Paris during the Hundred Days, saw 
 rolled into the city the captured cannon, announcing a great vic- 
 tory for the French, followed instantly after by Bonaparte in per- 
 son, flying from his mighty disaster; and again saw him, now 
 when he came before the same Body in his despair to abdicate 
 Empire, and, as it proved, even personal liberty forever, as calm 
 and as self collected as, when going, he left them in the flush of 
 his hopes. A graphic account of the "Events in Paris" was 
 given by Mr. Robertson in letters to his family, written while they 
 were transpiring, which were published first in the Richmond 
 Enquirer, and afterwards by Carey, of Philadelphia, in book 
 form and went through several editions. His Congressional career 
 ended, he was soon after elected Governor of Louisiana. Serv- 
 ing his constitutional term, he resumed the practice of law in 
 New Orleans, and was soon made Attorney-General, and shortly 
 after appointed United States District Judge for Louisiana. His 
 health now greatly broken {dulcis reminiscitur Argos), he came 
 to Virginia in the hope of restoring it amid the scenes and 
 friends of his youth, and in the society of his aged parents 
 (from all which neither time nor distance had ever for a moment 
 estranged his affections), but died as he had lived, honorably 
 poor, at the White Sulphur Springs, where the tomb erected over 
 him by his widow still marks his last resting place. He was a 
 man of extensive information and enlarged views, of clear mind, 
 of elevated aims, of simple tastes, a lover of flowers and plants 
 and versed in their lore, of spodess integrity, of warm affections, 
 and of immovable firmness ; but a gentle nature was so blended 
 in him, with decision of character mirrored in a face of rare 
 beauty, that he was as generally beloved, as he was universally 
 respected. Among those who honored him with their warm 
 
/8 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 friendship, and possessed his, were Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Clay, 
 General Zachary Taylor and Lieutenant General Scott— a friend- 
 ship which, could thty speak, none would be so ready as them- 
 selves to acknowledge, was as honoring to them as to him. 
 When years after his death the writer was casually introduced to 
 General, then President Taylor, the latter observing some like- 
 ness, and inquiring the relationship, embraced him as a brother, 
 and opened himself to him on the delicate topics that then 
 engaged him as he might have done to a tried friend. Such 
 friendships, more than office, eulogies, or monuments, best attest 
 worth. 
 
 NOTICE U. 
 
 John Robertson.' — The subject of this notice was for many 
 years of his life in the service of the State, either as a member 
 of the House of Representatives of the United States, or as 
 Circuit Judge or as Attorney-General of the State. In all these 
 public capacities his many good qualities, his boldness, his frank- 
 ness, his generosity, and his high sense of honor, together with his 
 ingenuity and ability of intellect, earned him the respect and affec- 
 tion of all who knew him well. His mind was marked both by- 
 ingenuity and ability, and following its operations fully and fear- 
 lessly, as he was wont to do, he was sometimes led to conclu- 
 sions which were regarded as extreme, as he was apt to express 
 them without fear upon any singularity of opinion, or from any 
 deviation of common sentiment. Of this last he was less in awe 
 than any public man of my acquaintance. He thought freely, 
 spoke boldly, and suffered neither fear, favor nor affection to 
 seduce him from what he believed to be truth. Had truth in- 
 deed been lying at the bottom of a deep well, he is one of the 
 few I have known who I believe to be capable of jumping after 
 it to preserve and display it. In doing this, he cared for no pre- 
 judices which he might provoke, and shrunk from no denunci- 
 ations he might stir up, but fearlessly followed the germs he was 
 pursuing, without regard for the difficulties into which it might 
 lead him. 
 
 The friend who has written these few lines did not concur with 
 Judge Robertson in all his opinions, but he never failed to admire 
 the spirit in which they were conceived and expressed. If any 
 man in his course through life has earned for himself the epi- 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 79 
 
 graph of " honest and true" on his memorial slab, surely that 
 man was Judge John Robertson. 
 
 R. M. T. Hunter. 
 
 To the foregoing tribute of its eminent author, who knew the 
 subject of it almost alone by political association, I add a few 
 other traits and incidents of Judge Robertson's character and 
 career. 
 
 He was born at " Belfield," his father's residence, below Peters- 
 burg, and came with the family to Richmond about 1803. There 
 he spent his life, except his college years at Williamsburg, and 
 his closing ones at his country home, " Mount Athos," near Lynch- 
 burg. Adopting the profession of Law he soon won distinction, 
 and was made Attorney- General of the State in 188 — . He was 
 learned, laborious, and conscientious- in the discharge of every 
 duty. No wealth, position, or influence, could qualify his zeal or 
 daunt his efforts, or baffle them when exerted in the cause of 
 right. When engaged in such a cause, whether as Advocate or 
 Judge, none felt solicitude about the result, for all knew there 
 was no art nor ability could deceive his vigilance, or corrupt 
 his fidelity, or bias or betray his judgment, or elude his pursuit. 
 
 In politics he was a doctrinal Democrat of the Jefferson 
 school, but never a thrall to party. He was a ready, stinging, 
 and aggressive debater. In his canvass for Congress, his arraign- 
 ment of Jackson was so sharp that the latter's admirers sought 
 to silence him by persistent shouts of " Hurrah for Jackson ! " 
 " I beg pardon, my friends," said he, in the first lull of the clamor, 
 "for having said there was no argument in defence of Jackson's 
 conduct I could not answer. There is one — it is ' Hurrah for Jack- 
 son !' " He was little troubled afterwards by interruptions, and car- 
 ried his election. In Congress his abilities were highly estimated. 
 By his friends he was called a stickler for the Constitution, so 
 strict was his loyalty to it; and an illustrative story was invented 
 on him by his witty and waggish friend, Waddy Thompson, of 
 South Carolina, that once being in Washington, and supposed 
 about to die, he begged him as his last request not to allow him 
 to be buried at public expense, for he thought it would be clearly 
 unconstitutional. 
 
 In our late civil embroilment, though not one more sternly 
 than he demanded immunity for his State from interference with 
 
80 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 her domestic system, yet was he known to so earnestly deprecate 
 violent measures, as long as honorably avoidable, that he was 
 sent by Virginia to her sister States of the South to urge forbear- 
 ance, while ex-President Tyler was dispatched on a similar mis- 
 sion to President Buchanan. Failing of success, they both dedi- 
 cated their closing years to the defence, in the high posts assigned 
 them, of the invaded rights and territory of their State and the 
 South. Among other evidenoes of his devotion may be mentioned 
 his giving his town residence to the Cause as a soldier's hospital. 
 
 His mind was always aglow with activity, seeking recreation 
 from severer labors only in roaming over, and lovingly cultivating, 
 the fields of Literature. While those labors denied him its heaviest 
 harvests, yet his tragedy of " Riego, the Spanish Martyr," his 
 principal oblation at the shrine of letters; his " Opuscula " teem- 
 ing with the finest specimens of satire as of praise, and of feHci- 
 tous portraiture; his Scholarly address at the opening of the 
 Athenaeum at Richmond, etc., evidence by their breadth of 
 thought, richness of imagery and beauty of diction, that, in spite 
 of the drawbacks alluded to, he attained a very high order of lite- 
 rary achievement. I cite a few lines of his " Riego," which, though 
 I know that such mere shreds can do no justice to the work, may 
 yet serve to show that my praise of it is not wholly undeserved. 
 
 Riego speaks to Diaz, a youth, of General Washington : 
 
 " Why name that name 
 Unknown to Heraldry, though brighter ne'er 
 Was blazoned on the Rolls of Fame— which echoes 
 In terror from the Palace dome, but carries 
 Joy to the Cotter's roof! His brow severe. 
 Of native dignity, no jeweled crown 
 E'er tarnished, but, instead, the civic oak. 
 Mingled with laurel boughs, his temples bound. 
 As by one soul inspired, the undaunted Gaul 
 And spotless Chief breasted the storm, nor ceased 
 Their toils till they had won a nation's Liberty; 
 The world's esteem, the approving smile of Heaven. 
 Freedom's unsceptred son, his Country's Saviour, 
 Now dwells in bliss ; his glory freshening in 
 The stream of Time, and still while that stream flows, 
 Shall his loved memory be hymned in praise.'' 
 
 His own private traits were such as to attach, by their sympa- 
 thetic tenderness, those he loved and valued to him with hooks 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 81 
 
 of Steel, but he looked severely on the bad, the hypocritical and 
 the proud, and was not beloved by such. Nothing so awoke 
 him to eiiTort as oppression and fraud, and while knave and 
 spoiler shrank from the swoop of his talons, the widow and the 
 orphan nestled in safety under his protecting wing. Shortly be- 
 fore his death, when past four score, he wrote of himself this 
 
 " Pre-Obituary." 
 
 "When my long pilgrimage is over, I desire no invited com- 
 pany nor services beyond those of laying me in my last bed. 
 Let those who may happen to be present — my household friends, 
 kind neighbors and faithful servants — perform for me that service; 
 nor let them sorrow oy.er me, who has had his share of the bless- 
 ings as well as the sufferings no mortal can escape, and who, 
 though repenting the many aberrations of a frail nature, has 
 never felt the pangs of a guilty conscience, and is not left as one 
 without hope." 
 
 NOTICE V. 
 
 Wyndham Robertson.' Save as the compiler of this little 
 work, rendering it perhaps a duty to his readers, this Notice 
 would have been spared. . I will limit it mainly to points that 
 more or less tend to inspire confidence in the trustworthiness, 
 or, at least, good faith of my compilation. I finished an imper- 
 fect education (but the best always which the res angusta of my 
 parents, pinching even their own frugal housekeeping for the 
 purpose, would admit of) by two interrupted sessions at William 
 and Mary under the brilliant presidency of Dr. John Augustine 
 Smith. That gentleman's flashing and suggestive lectures waked 
 to new life the dormant faculties of his pupils, and taught to them, 
 too, the independent and fearless use of them, which he practiced 
 himself. It was a lesson which, aglow with the fresh excitement, 
 his classes were swift to apply, in clamorous disputation, as soon 
 as they issued from the lecture room. 
 
 I was admitted to the bar in 1824. In 1827 I made a short 
 visit to London and Paris. In 1830 I was made a Councillor of 
 State. On the occasion of the French Revolution, in the same 
 year, I was called on to give utterance to the enthusiasm of the 
 city of Richmond by a public address at the capitol. Processions 
 and parades, flags, banners, bands of music and cannon, further 
 testified to the warm sympathy of the out-poured crowds of its 
 
82 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 citizens. Sharing the fervor of the hour, I was fortunate in inter- 
 preting the general feeling and in winning that favor and confi- 
 dence of the City, which, often experienced, was never withdrawn 
 during my long residence in it — al*ays a source to me of, I hope 
 a legitimate, pride, and which I trust I shall be pardoned for 
 alluding to. 
 
 In 1833 I "^^^ again elected to the Council of State, now re- 
 duced from eight to three members. 
 
 In 1834, at the first meeting of the James River and Kanawha 
 Company, I proposed, in lieu of the projected canal, a measure 
 that looked to a railroad connection in lieu of by canal between 
 Richmond and the Great West. Although, from the fear of 
 hazarding a crude and unproven system against a sure and 
 tried one, it was decisively defeated, it had the distinguished 
 sanction of such men as Dr. Brockenborough, Judge Nicholas, 
 Moncure Robinson and Judge Robertson. The supreme com- 
 mercial advantages to Richmond and Virginia that would have 
 been secured to them by opening her Western Railroad connec- 
 tions in advance of all others, and which other States hastened 
 to appropriate, need not be dwelt on. • 
 
 On the 31st of March, 1836, becoming Lieutenant-Governor, 
 Governor Tazewell resigned his office on the same day into my 
 hands for the remaining year of his term. It was unmarked ex- 
 cept by the rapid spread of abolitionism, to which I called the 
 attention of the Legislature, and recommended that Commis- 
 sioners should be sent to the Northern States, appealing to them 
 to unite in measures to arrest, and, if possible, compose, the 
 threatened troubles. Biit the recommendation was not acted on. 
 
 The Legislature elect being largely Democratic, the Whigs 
 declined contesting the Executive Offices in 1837-8. Imme- 
 diately after I was elected to the Legislature from the city 
 of Richmond, and was, continued in it, until I removed to 
 the country in 1841. Returning to Richmond in 1858, in 
 the midst of the troubles that soon resulted in our late war, 
 my old constituents again demanded my services, and con- 
 tinued to require them to the close of the contest. A friend to 
 peace and the Union, I actively opposed the overtures of South 
 CaroHna in 1859 for a Southern Convention, as, in my opinion, 
 calculated only to still more imperil them. After that State and 
 others had seceded, I still urged a refusal on the part of Virginia 
 to follow them, and reported (as the organ of a committee), the 
 
POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 83 
 
 day it met, 7th January, 1861, the resolution known as the Anti- 
 Coercion Resolution, in effect rejecting secession, but declaring 
 if coercion were employed by the Federal Government against 
 the seceded States, Virginia would fight with the South. The 
 resolution was adopted with much unanimity, and the State now 
 addressed itself to measures of reconcilement, all of which I 
 advocated, and some proposed. All failed, and soon Mr. Lin- 
 coln's Proclamation of war, presenting the contingency she had 
 provided lor, Virginia stood upon her defence. In this, and all 
 after measures in aid of the war, I fully concurred. And now, 
 after twenty years' experience of yet unripened results, I have 
 no regrets, nor repent a single act of my State, or myself, in 
 these unhappy affairs — welcoming the end of slavery, but still 
 believing it would have been reached without the horrors of war. 
 
 In 1863 a Bill "to fix prices of food," &c., was proposed, 
 which, believing to be fraught with the direst mischief, I earnesdy 
 opposed and contributed to defeat. 
 
 In 1864 some hundreds of my. constituents assembled and 
 passed a resolution demanding of their- representatives to support 
 a similar bill or resign. I had no difficulty in refusing to a com- 
 mittee their peremptory demand of a compliance with their 
 resolutions, but finding afterwards that all my colleagues had 
 yielded to it, and left apparently in the position of misrepresenting 
 my constituents, and stripped of influence, I resigned in a note 
 to the House, and at once left my seat. Immediately after, that 
 body did me the honor unanimously to request the withdrawal of 
 my resignation till the wishes of my constituents could be better 
 ascertained, and sent a committee to me to convey their wishes. 
 I, of course, acceded to the request. A formal poll was held in 
 the city by order of the Council, and my views sustained by 
 my constituents, as afterwards by the House. 
 
 Since the close of the war, bowing to the arbitrament of the 
 sword as final between States, and deprecating the restoration 
 of slavery, now abolished, as earnestly as I had opposed the 
 abolition of it, I have been wholly withdrawn from active 
 politics, except indeed in heartily co operating in every proposed 
 measure for healing and reconcilement between the Slates, and 
 for the redintegration of Virginia, and have found gratifying 
 occupation in part in preparing this compilation, and also a 
 " Vindication of the course of Virginia throughout the Slave 
 Controversy," probably soon to be published. 
 
84 POCAHONTAS AND HER DESCENDANTS. 
 
 NOTICE W. 
 Charles Joseph CABELL/born 1789. He graduated at Wil- 
 liam and Mary. Read law under Governor William H. Cabell 
 and William Wirt. Mr. Wirt pronounced him the greatest man 
 of his age in Virginia. He emigrated to New Orleans, and in a 
 
 few months took rank with Philip R. Grymes, Holmes, and 
 
 Edward Livingston — so said Governor Thomas Balling Robert- 
 son. He was three times called to the field (so called) of honor: 
 First, with General Ben. Jones, then of Amelia, afterwards of 
 Alabama ; second, with Dr. Upshaw, at New Orleans, but who 
 went from King and Queen, Va. ; third, with a Mr. Nicholson, 
 of New Orleans, a nephew of Lawyer Abner L. Duncan, who 
 instigated the deed. He died of yellow fever on the 23d of No- 
 vember, 1810, in the city of New Orleans, aged only twenty-one 
 years. ■ — From Notes of the late Getieral Ben. IV. S. Cabell. 
 
 RESUME. 
 The Pocahontas Stock.— In view of all I have heard, read 
 or known of them, I think it may be fairly said that they were 
 more prudent than enterprising, more wasteful than liberal, more 
 amiable than censorious, more respected than distinguished, 
 more honest than able, more patriotic than indifferent, more 
 conservative than radical, more pious than bigoted, and while a 
 few^fell to the depths of worthlessness, but none to crime, a few 
 also rose to the height of genius and virtue. 
 
 ADDBNDUNI. 
 
 Of Jenny Eldridge, * known to my boyhood by everybody 
 as " Old Cousin Jenny," and to whose active inquisitions owes 
 much, I am enabled by a recent communication to say that she 
 was a family celebrity, distinguished for her alertness of body 
 and mind — a bright wit, a fine memory, and especially for devo- 
 tion to her Indian blood, and all its lore and tradition. It was 
 said of her that she could call the name and kinship of every 
 descendant of Pocahontas. She was the chief store-house, there- 
 fore, and authority of her day of everything known concerning 
 her family in the minutest particulars before and during her 
 time. To her is due the preserved knowledge of the head- 
 spring of many of its branches, which else had been irrecover- 
 ably lost.