John ROLFE

Abt 1585 - 1622  (37 years)

• Name	John ROLFE  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Birth	Abt 1585	Heacham Hall, Norfolk, England   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Death	Mar 1622	Jamestown, James, Virginia, United States   [3]
  Person ID	I15405	Ancestrees
  Last Modified	30 Sep 2024

  
  

  Family	Matoaka "Pocahontas" Rebecca,   b. 17 Sep 1595, 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   [5, 6]
  Children	1. Thomas ROLFE,   b. 30 Jan 1615, Smiths Plantation, Virginia d. 1675, VA (Age 59 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F5246	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Sep 2024

  
  

• 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

  [S1235] Ancestry.com, Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Place:Provo, UT, USA;), 1,61266::0. [S11] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;), Ancestry Family Tree, 1,1030::0. [S858] Ancestry.com, Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-2015, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Date:2014 Place:Provo, UT, USA;), 1,9289::0. [S2820] Ancestry.com, A brief visit with the old folks, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc Date:2004 Place:Provo, UT;), 1,25056::0. [S1235] Ancestry.com, Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Place:Provo, UT, USA;), Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M84.0099, 1,61266::0. [S1276] Greene, Don, Shawnee Heritage Book IV, (Name: Lulu Date:2014;), Shawne Heritage Book IV.