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Aug 31, 2023 · Thomas Rolfe’s story begins with the unlikely relationship between his parents: Powhatan Pocahontas and Englishman John Rolfe. Pocahontas first gained a reputation among the English settlers as a peacemaker after, according to Captain John Smith’s own account, she purportedly saved Smith from execution at the hands of the Powhatan people ...
- Thomas Rolfe’s Native American Lineage: The Story of Pocahontas
- Thomas Rolfe’s Birth and Early Years
- Back to Virginia, His Mother’s Homeland
- Marriage and Family Life
- Significance of Thomas Rolfe’s Life
- His Final Days
- Thomas Rolfe: A Life That Could’Ve Been
Many of us are familiar with the Disney version of Pocahontas. History, however, tells a different story. The Native American version of what happened to Pocahontas stands in stark contrast against the romanticization of Pocahontas’ tale through time. The following overview scratches the surface of what in-depth study of the historical record, lite...
Records suggest that Pocahontas and John Rolfe’s union resulted in only one child, Thomas Rolfe. Several sources indicate Thomas was born in Virginia and named Governor Sir Thomas Dale. The Governor is said to have traveled with the Rolfe family to England around 1616; he was also Pocahontas’ keeper during her captivity. Thomas was just one year ol...
Because there is no documentation chronicling Thomas Rolfe’s travels or activities until 1641, it is assumed that he arrived in Virginia in the mid-1630s. After landing in Virginia, Thomas Rolfe grappled with the two sides of his ancestry — being a plantation owner and part of his mother’s tribe. Around the 1640s, Thomas reportedly received sizable...
In September 1632, Thomas married Elizabeth Washington at St James’s Church in Clerkenwell. A year later, in 1633, they had a daughter named Anne, but soon after, Elizabeth passed away. Later, Thomas married Jane Poythress, Captain Francis Poythress’s daughter, and had another daughter named Jane. To pursue inheritance, Thomas placed Jane in the ca...
Thomas Rolfe’s birth was said to have fostered peace between the Powhatans and the European colonists because he was both European and Native American. Captain Samuel Argall, who captured Pocahontas, noted in a letter preserved in the Virginia Company Records that while the Powhatan chief mourned the loss of his daughter, he was glad that her son w...
Apart from the major life events described here, the bulk of Thomas Rolfe’s life remains unknown. The only final event of Thomas Rolfe’s life that has been documented in the archives took place on September 16, 1658, in the form of a land deal. Various records indicate that Rolfe died in 1680, but contemporary sources assert that the actual day and...
Many historians have speculated on what could have been if Thomas Rolfe’s childhood had been spent between both cultures. Rolfe could have been able to experience the best of both worlds if he had been adequately exposed to the customs and lifestyles of both England and Virginia. He would also have been a proud Virginian native while valuing the op...
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Dec 22, 2021 · He died in 1622. Contributor: Emily Jones Salmon. Early Years. Little is known of Rolfe’s parentage or early life. While historians and genealogists have generally maintained that he was baptized in Heacham, Norfolk County, England, on May 6, 1585, and was the son of John Rolfe and Dorothy (Dorothea) Mason Rolfe, this is unlikely to be true.
Sep 25, 2018 · Rolfe was born on Oct. 17, 1562 to a wealthy family in Heacham, England. His family owned Heacham manor and his father was a successful merchant in Lynn. Not much is known about Rolfe's education or life in England, but in July of 1609, he left for Virginia on the Sea-Venture, the flagship of several vessels carrying settlers and provisions and ...
Mar 21, 2017 · In 1617, the Rolfes set sail for Virginia, but Pochahontas was taken ill and died near Gravesend. Early life.
Mar 6, 2024 · Today, the Rolfe family tree has branched out far and wide. Thomas’ mother, Pocahontas, is the 12th great-grandmother of the famous American actor, Edward Norton. This also makes him a direct descendant of Thomas. He Died In 1680, At The Age Of 65. The tale of Thomas Rolfe’s final chapter is wrapped in mystery.
Nov 7, 2023 · Home » Colonial America. Thomas Rolfe Facts - The Link Between Two Nations. Published: Jul 20, 2019 · Modified: Nov 7, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·. Thomas Rolfe was the only child of Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
