I respectfully disagree with Gina.

My take:

As a preface to it all one must take into consideration Virginia’s exquisite taste in mythology. Also, the seminal text on the Pocahontas matter (considering that Jane Poythress and Pocahontas are somewhat joined at the hip genealogically/academically) was written by a guy with an ax to grind. Author and ex-Gov. of Virginia Wyndham Robertson (like many then and now) wanted to prove descent from Pocahontas. One must whimsically reflect that the Virginians of the time, who otherwise would have thought that descent from an Indian was to be kept in the closet, rushed to queue up for descendancy once Pocahontas was deemed “royalty.” Anyway, so much for the sociology of the issue.

Here is the version adopted with mild reluctance by most qualified Virginia historians/genealogists (mainly because in some instances they don’t have a better version I suppose).

Jane Poythress, daughter of Francis Poythress (1609- about 1651) and Mary (Sloman?) m. Thomas Rolfe who was the son of John Rolfe & Pocahontas.

They left issue one child only: Jane Rolfe, sometimes colloquially referred to as Jane, Junior…….whose mother Jane may have even died in childbirth as her “stated” death date is close enough to daughter Jane’s birth date to suggest that possibility.

This “second Jane) i. e., Jane Rolfe 2 ; b._____ d. 1676; m. Col. Robert Bolling (1646-1709 and left one child, a son: John Bolling of “Cobb’s” (1676-1729). John Bolling m. Mary Kennon and had a houseful of children, providing the world with a horde of anxious (and legit) Pocahontas descendants to this day. The descendants of this union are in shorthand known in VA genealogy as “the red Bollings.”

Meanwhile, father Col. Robert Bolling m. 2 Ann Stith and also had his own houseful of children. These Bollings are known as “the while Bollings.”

There is no approbation or racism attached to the terms of red vs. white……it was/is (seemingly to me) just a handy way of keeping them straight.

Reference: Pocahontas & Her Descendants, Wyndham Robertson. This little relatively inexpensive book is easily available and a copy will be in almost any library of any size. One must remember however that this “history” is subject to controversy at the drop of a hat.

You say that you are researching Jane Poythress. If it’s Jane Poythress 2 it’s likely you may find a lot. If it’s Jane Poythress 1 I wish you luck. Her very existence seems to be called into question by many and others dispute the marriage to Thomas Rolfe.

In any case she is quite a mystery lady and if you find out anything on her I’d be very appreciative if you would share it.

Best,

John M. Poythress

I am related to the Rolfe family but because the surname IS Rolfe it must be before the birth of John Rolfe. Do you have any information on the ancestors of John Rolfe from his parents back? My grandmother insisted she was a relative of John til the day she died.
Kathleen Peterson