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June 2015 Newsletter


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Are You Related to Pocahontas & John Rolfe?

If you are related to Pocahontas and John Rolfe, you'll want to read this recent article from Popular Archaeology: Archaeologists rebuild 1608 church where Pocahontas was married.


Credit: Popular Archaeology

The June 2015 issue of Popular Archaeology has this interesting article that archeologists have found the original site of the church in Jamestown, Virginia, where Pocahontas and John Rolfe were married 401 years ago, on 5 April 1614.

Archeologists are rebuilding a replica of the church on the site. Here is a companion Youtube video showing how this rebuilding is being done: Experimental archaeology: bringing Jamestown's early church to life.

In 1616 the Rolfes traveled to England and stayed for 10 months. In March 1617 they set sail to return to Virginia, but as the ship was heading down the river Thames Pocahontas (then renamed Rebecca Rolfe) took sick. She was taken ashore in Gravesend, England, where she died. She was buried there on 21 March 1617 in Saint George's Church cemetery.


Photo: statue of Pocahontas in Saint George's Church, Gravesend, Kent, England. Source: Wikipedia.

According to Wikipedia:

"Pocahontas and Rolfe had one child, Thomas Rolfe, who was born in 1615 before his parents left for England. Through this son, Pocahontas has many living descendants.

"Two of Pocahontas's descendants have become First Lady of the United States, both First Lady Edith Wilson and First Lady Nancy Reagan."


Photo: First Lady Edith Wilson. Source: Wikipedia.

Photo: First Lady Nancy Reagan. Source: Wikipedia.

Did you know?

Pocahontas was known by many different names during her lifetime. She was a Powhatan Native American and it was common for Powhatan Indians to have several names. Pocahontas's other Powhatan names included Matoaka and Amonute. She also changed her name to Rebecca upon converting to Christianity.