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| John Smith was born about 1580 the son of a yeoman farmer of modest means. As a young man he traveled throughout Europe and fought as a soldier in the Netherlands and in Hungary. There he was captured, taken to Turkey and sold into slavery in Russia. He murdered his master, escaped and journeyed back to Hungary to collect a promised reward of money and a coat-of-arms. He returned to England in time to participate in the settlement of Virginia. He was an arrogant and boastful man, often tactless and sometimes brutal. Physically strong and worldly wise, he made an excellent settler. However, his personality, his obvious qualifications and his low social position infuriated many of the colony's leaders and settlers. Despite this, he was named to the first Council in May, 1607. He learned the Indians' language and became the colony's principal Indian trader. During the summer of 1608 he led a 3,000 mile expedition in an open boat to explore and map Chesapeake Bay and its principal rivers. On September 10, 1608 the Council elected him Governor of Virginia for a one-year term. He was an able leader who understood both the Indians and the settlers' needs and the colony prospered. Captain Smith returned to England in October, 1609 following an accidental gunpowder burn and became Virginia's most effective propagandist and historian. His True Relation of Virginia (1608), Map of Virginia (1612) and General History of Virginia (1624) presented the colony as Smith understood it. In 1614 he made a short voyage to New England where he explored and mapped the coast from Cape Cod to Maine. Smith returned to England and never visited Virginia again, never married and never received the recognition he thought he deserved. He died June 21, 1631 an dwas buried in St. Sepulchre's Church in London. |
Pocahontas was the favorite daughter of Powhatan, who ruled the Powhatan Confederacy. She was born about 1595, probably at Werowocomoco 16 miles from Jamestown. Captain John Smith believed she had saved his life twice during the colony's first years. In 1608-1609 she was a frequent and welcome visitor to Jamestown, often bringing gifts of food from her father.
From 1609 to 1613 she was part of Indian society and was not seen by the settlers. In April, 1613 she was captured by the English while she was living on the Potomac River and was brought to Jamestown as a hostage. She soon converted to Christianity and was baptized.
Her marriage to John Rolfe in April, 1614 helped to establish peaceful relations between the Indians and the English. In 1616 she visited England with her husband and infant son, Thomas, and was presented to the Royal Court. While returning to Virginia she died on March 21, 1617 and was buried in St. George's Church in Gravesend, England. Today many Americans claim descent from her through her son and granddaughter.
Pocahontas saves Capt. John Smith |
It is believed that they had two children.
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Jamestown, , Va, America M: Abt 1640 |
Our family are descended from John Smith And Pocahontas? |
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Note: This portion of the record is given to family tradition, but is unproven at this time. Historical record does not show John Smith and Pocahontas to have been romantically involved or to have had a child. However, tradition has it that Peregrine Smith was the son of the famous Capt. John Smith and an Indian maiden, who some feel was Pocahontas. This information is presented here for your interest, but should not be taken as fact. 1 George Smith 1554 - 1596 .. +Alice S. Mil [Rickard?] 1557 - .... 2 John Smith 1579 - 1631 ...... + Wife was Pocahontas * - According to LDS records: (AFN: WG42-V2) ...... * (Matoaka) Pocahontas 1595 - 1617 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ......... 3 Peregrine Smith ~1608 - (Married ~1640) LDS (AFN: WG42-V2) ........... +Mary ~1617 - ............ 4 William Smith 1651 - 1710 .............. +Grace Jermin 1650 - 1710 ............... 5 Mary Lois Smith 1677 - 1745 ................. +John Hiatt 1685 - 1726 .................... 6 William Hiatt 1706 - 1766 ...................... +Alice Lowden 1728 - <1777 ....................... 7 John Hiatt 1749 - 1832 ......................... +Susannah Anderson ~1751 - <1832 ........................... 8 Jesse Hiatt 1777 - 1857 ............................. +Mary (Polly) Proctor 1787 - 1855 ..............................9 William HIATT B: 1 Jul 1821 .................................+ Mary TAYLOR B: 18 Oct 1823 ..................................10 Isaac Samuel HIATT B: 9 Jul 1853 ...................................+ Martha Francis BRYANT B: 22 Dec 1860 ....................................11 Joel Walter HIATT B: 21 May 1884 ....................................+ Clara Matilda KEELE B: 7 Jun 1890 .....................................12 Mildred Evelyn HIATT B: 15 Mar 1912 ......................................+ Herbert White .......................................13 Vonda White ........................................+ Alex Balunsat .........................................14 Audrey Balunsat .........................................14 Craig Balunsat |
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