Pocahontas and Her Descendants

There are plenty of historical biographies of Pocahontas, a.k.a. Matoaka. However, there is only one that stands as the best guide to her descendants: Pocahontas and Her Descendents by Wyndham Robertson. This short volume contains the “Tree of Pocahontas and Rolfe, as it has grown from them as its root to its seventh season (inclusive) or fruitage.” Biographical sketches accompany some of more “notable products.”

Despite historical misrepresentations, made no more clear by certain movies and media that suggest otherwise, Pocahontas had no extensive relationship with Captain John Smith. She, in fact, married the well-known gentleman, John Rolfe. His historical popularity, though capable of standing on his own accounts, has mainly been thrust into the shadows of obscurity, becoming predominately known as little more that the husband of the famous Indian maid, Pocahontas. The only child of their union was Thomas Rolfe, who’s only child was Jane Rolfe; thus, there ending the Rolfe name in the line of this famous couple.

There are, however, many other names in the seven generations covered in this book. These are mentioned it the rather lengthy , if descriptive, full title for this volume:

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, Eldgride, Ellett, Gerguson, Field, Fleming, Gay, Fordon, Griffin, Grayson, Harrison, Hubard, Lewis, Logan, Marham, Meade, McRae, Murray, Page, Poythress, Randolph, Robertson, Skipwith, Stanard, Tazewell, Walke, West, Whittle, and Others. With Biographical Sketches by Wyndham Robertson, and Illustrative Historical Notes by R. A. Brock

Seven generations carry births in this line into the beginning of the 1800’s. This book was originally published in 1887 and has been reprinted many time, most recently in 2008.

A great companion book to this descendants lists, with one of the best biographies on the life of Matoaka, is Pocahontas by Stuart E. Brown, Jr.

Contents of Pocahontas and Her Descendants

Genealogical deduction of descendants of Pocahontas to the seventh generation inclusive

Notice of Pocahontas

• John Rolfe
• Thomas Rolfe

Descendants of Pocahontas

• In the second degree
• In the third degree
• In the fourth degree
• In the fifth degree
• In the sixth degree
• In the seventh degree

Appendix

Notice of

• John Bolling
• Jane Bolling
• Mary Bolling
• Anne Bolling
• Thomas Bolling and Elizabeth Gay
• John Bolling, Jr.
• Robert Bolling of “Chellow”
• Archibald Bolling
• Elizabeth Randolph, wife of R. K. Meade
• Mary Murray, wife of Col. William Davies
• Elizabeth Bolling, wife of William Robertson
• William Bolling
• Thomas Bolling
• Lenaeus Bolling
• Powhatan Bolling
• Blair Bolling
• Dr. William Tazewell
• John Randolph, of Roanoke
• The Whittle Family
• Rt. Rev. F. M. Whittle, D. D., LL.D
• Thomas Bolling Robertson
• John Robertson
• Wyndham Robertson
• Charles Joseph Cabell
• Jenny Eldridge

A copy of Pocahontas and Her Descendants is attainable from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $21.56.