John Thomas Rolfe, Jr

1585 - 1622  (36 years)

• Name	John Thomas Rolfe  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Suffix	Jr
  Birth	6 May 1585	Heacham Hall, Norfolk, England   [3, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Death	20 Mar 1622	Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, United States of America   [3, 6, 7, 8]
  Person ID	I14268	Ancestrees
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

  Father	John Rolfe,   b. 17 Oct 1562, Heacham,norfolk,england d. 29 Nov 1594, Heacham,norfolk,england (Age 32 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Dorothea Mason,   b. 24 Sep 1559, Heacham, Norfolk, England d. 26 Oct 1645, Heacham Hall, Norfolk, England (Age 86 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	24 Sep 1582	England   [9]
  Family ID	F6175	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Amonute Matoaka "Pocahontas" Rebecca, of The Powhatan,   b. Between 17 Sep 1595 and 1598, Werowocomoco Village, On Pamunkey River York River, Virginia, US d. 21 Mar 1617, Gravesend, Kent, England (Age 21 years)
  Marriage	5 Apr 1614	Jamestown, Virginia, American Colonies   [10, 11, 12]
  Children	1. Thomas Rolfe, (Left in "Uncle" Henry Rolfe's care in England when his mother Pocahontas died),   b. Bef Apr 1614, What is now called Smiths Plantation, Virginia d. 16 Apr 1680, Virginia Colony (Age > 66 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F4913	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

• Notes

  John Rolfe was clearly a businessman. From the Powhatten tribes' point of view, he kidnapped the woman we know as "Pocahontas" to hold her as a royal hostage of the colony in their negotiations with the chief. Pocahontas' story is a sad and tragic one. According to an interview by Pocahontas' sister, she had been raped by a Sir Thomas Dale who could be the father of Thomas Rolfe instead of his assumed father John Rolfe. Pocahontas had become so depressed that the English feared for her life. Word was sent to her father. Her eldest sister and her husband were dispatched to visit her. This is when this confidence was given between the sisters. John Rolfe is also known for the one who brought precious tobacco seeds and tobacco to the colonies. Tobacco had been a monopoly of Spain up to that point. It is only conjecture how he came upon seeds as an Englishman. John Rolfe's parentage is unknown as of 2022. The way it had been traced has been disproven by historians. John had 3 wives, one who came with him to Jamestown and died young. He married again after "Pocahontas" died in 1617 of unknown causes on the voyage from England back to Virginia, and one after that. He died when he was around 37 or 38. His date and place of birth could be totally incorrect.

  
  

• Sources

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