Col. John Bolling

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6710

Notes:

Birth:
Kippax Plantation

Col. married Mary Kennon 29 Dec 1697, Henrico, Virginia, USA. Mary was born 29 Jun 1679, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died 29 Jun 1727, Henrico, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

1. Jane Bolling was born 1696, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died 4 Mar 1766, Henrico, Virginia, USA.
2. Maj. John A Bolling, II was born 20 Jan 1699, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA; died 6 Sep 1757, Henrico, Virginia, USA.
3. Elizabeth Bolling was born 17 Dec 1709, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died 24 Jul 1766, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA.
4. M. Bolling
5. A. Bolling
6. M. Bolling

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6235

Col. married Jane Rolfe 1675, Petersburg, Fauquier, Virginia, USA. Jane (daughter of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress) was born 10 Oct 1650, Varina, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died 26 Jan 1676, Charles City, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6711

Notes:

Died:
Did not die in childbirth, but not very long after.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6237

Thomas married Jane Poythress 1650, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, USA. Jane (daughter of Capt Francis Poythress and Alice Payton) was born 10 Oct 1634, Jamestown, James, Virginia, USA; died 1676, Charles City, Charles City, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6238

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6239

John married Pocahontas 5 Apr 1614, Jamestown, James, Virginia, USA. (daughter of Powhatan and Winanuske) was born 15 Sep 1595, Werowocomoco; died 21 Mar 1617, Gravesend, Kent, England. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Matoaka
• Also Known As: Rebecca Rolfe
• Reference Number: 6240

Notes:

In 1995, Roy Disney decided to release an animated movie about a Powhatan woman known as "Pocahontas". In answer to a complaint by the Powhatan Nation, he claims the film is "responsible, accurate, and respectful."

We of the Powhatan Nation disagree. The film distorts history beyond recognition. Our offers to assist Disney with cultural and historical accuracy were rejected. Our efforts urging him to reconsider his misguided mission were spurred.

"Pocahontas" was a nickname, meaning "the naughty one" or "spoiled child". Her real name was Matoaka. The legend is that she saved a heroic John Smith from being clubbed to death by her father in 1607 - she would have been about 10 or 11 at the time. The truth is that Smith's fellow colonists described him as an abrasive, ambitious, self-promoting mercenary soldier.

Of all of Powhatan's children, only "Pocahontas" is known, primarily because she became the hero of Euro-Americans as the "good Indian", one who saved the life of a white man. Not only is the "good Indian/bad Indian theme" inevitably given new life by Disney, but the history, as recorded by the English themselves, is badly falsified in the name of "entertainment".

The truth of the matter is that the first time John Smith told the story about this rescue was 17 years after it happened, and it was but one of three reported by the pretentious Smith that he was saved from death by a prominent woman.

Yet in an account Smith wrote after his winter stay with Powhatan's people, he never mentioned such an incident. In fact, the starving adventurer reported he had been kept comfortable and treated in a friendly fashion as an honored guest of Powhatan and Powhatan's brothers. Most scholars think the "Pocahontas incident" would have been highly unlikely, especially since it was part of a longer account used as justification to wage war on Powhatan's Nation.

Euro-Americans must ask themselves why it has been so important to elevate Smith's fibbing to status as a national myth worthy of being recycled again by Disney. Disney even improves upon it by changing Pocahontas from a little girl into a young woman.

The true Pocahontas story has a sad ending. In 1612, at the age of 17, Pocahontas was treacherously taken prisoner by the English while she was on a social visit, and was held hostage at Jamestown for over a year.

During her captivity, a 28-year-old widower named John Rolfe took a "special interest" in the attractive young prisoner. As a condition of her release, she agreed to marry Rolfe, who the world can thank for commercializing tobacco. Thus, in April 1614, Matoaka, also known as "Pocahontas", daughter of Chief Powhatan, became "Rebecca Rolfe". Shortly after, they had a son, whom they named Thomas Rolfe. The descendants of Pocahontas and John Rolfe were known as the "Red Rolfes."

Two years later on the spring of 1616, Rolfe took her to England where the Virginia Company of London used her in their propaganda campaign to support the colony. She was wined and dined and taken to theaters. It was recorded that on one occasion when she encountered John Smith (who was also in London at the time), she was so furious with him that she turned her back to him, hid her face, and went off by herself for several hours. Later, in a second encounter, she called him a liar and showed him the door.

Rolfe, his young wife, and their son set off for Virginia in March of 1617, but "Rebecca" had to be taken off the ship at Gravesend. She died there on March 21, 1617, at the age of 21. She was buried at Gravesend, but the grave was destroyed in a reconstruction of the church. It was only after her death and her fame in London society that Smith found it convenient to invent the yarn that she had rescued him.

History tells the rest. Chief Powhatan died the following spring of 1618. The people of Smith and Rolfe turned upon the people who had shared their resources with them and had shown them friendship. During Pocahontas' generation, Powhatan's people were decimated and dispersed and their lands were taken over. A clear pattern had been set which would soon spread across the American continent.

Chief Roy Crazy Horse

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6243
• Arrival: 1639, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Died:
Age: 47

Capt married Alice Payton 1630, Virginia, USA. Alice was born 1610, London, London, England; died 1675, Charles City, Charles City, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6244