Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Leona Marcile (Lee) Latham
Ancestors of Leona Marcile (Lee) Latham
4621.Scent Flower, born June 03, 1517 in Confluence of Dam and Staunton Rivers, Virginia; died Bef. 1617 in Virginia.She was the daughter of 9242. Dashing Stream.
Children of Scent Flower are:
| 2310 | i. | Opechancanough Mangopeesomon Powhatan, born 1550 in Virginia; died 1646 in Jamestown, Virginia; married (1) Cleopatra Powhatan in Virginia.. | ||
| ii. | Oppussunoquonuske Powhatan, born Abt. 1555; died Unknown. | |||
| iii. | Apachamo Kekataugh Powhatan, born Abt. 1557; died Unknown. |
4622.Wahansonacock (Emperor) Powhatan, Chief, born June 17, 1545 in New River, Virginia; died April 1618 in Orapax Indian Village, New Kent-Hanover Line, Virginia.He married 4623. Amopotoiske (Amopotois) Bear Clan.
4623.Amopotoiske (Amopotois) Bear Clan, born in Bear Creek, Appomatox River, Virginia; died Unknown in Amopotuskee, Virginia.
Notes for Wahansonacock (Emperor) Powhatan, Chief:
The following comes from "The Sovereign Amonsoquathe Tribe of Cherokee" web page, http//www.amonsoquath.org.
When Chief Wahunsonacock - or Powhatan - took his last Tsalagi wife, Amopotoiske, who later became the mother of Matoaka (or Pocahontas), as his wife, this put an end to Powhatan fighting with the Cherokee, as this brought unity with the two great nations. Amopotoiske was of the Village of Amonute on Bear Creek, where it flows into the Appomattox River. She was the leader of the Wild Potatoes Clan, also known as the Bear Clan. The Amonsoquath Tribe of Cherokee was from this village, which means, "Village on Bear Creek" or 'The Bear Clan".
SITUATION OF THE PLACE
In the early days of the Colony of Virginia, Werowocomoco, the scene of the romantic (so some say) of the rescue of John Smith by Pocahontas, was, of course, as well known as Jamestown. But, in a few years, the Indians deserted the place, and when Strachey wrote about 1614, the Indian head-war-chief, Powhatan, had retired to a town called Orapaks (also seen as Orapax) at the head of Chickahominy River. The early historians were not over critical as to localities, and after the removal to Orapaks there were no great ruins to preserve the memory of the place where the frail wigwams of Powhatan once stood. So as time went on the ancient site of Werowocomoco on York River fell subject to the sport of tradition and guess work.
Dr. Alexander Brown (wrote, "The Genisis of the United States), does not go into details, the purpose of this article is to inquire into all the facts of the case and to conclusively settle the location of Werowocomoco once and for all. I am of the opinion that Dr. Brown is undoubtedly right in his statement, and that in this he is not only supported by Robert Tindall's map (done in 1618), but by many other facts which he probably had not space to mention in his book.
Poetan, another spelling for Powhatan, was doubtless the real name of Werowocomoco, which in the Indian meant the "Town of the Werowance," or the capital...a descriptive name. The ending, "comoco," meant a meeting "or" assembly, as is shown in the word Matchacomoco...a term applied to a grand council or conference. The town was called "Powhatan" because Powhatan lived there, and under the variousspellings of that word, Poetan, Portan, Porton, Purtan, Purton, the place has come down to us, and still abides with us. Tindall calls it Poetan (1608), Herman calls it Porton (1673), Fry and Jefferson call it Portan (1751), Dr. Madison calls it Portan (1807), and the present coast survey calls it "Purtan".
In York County records (1661) it is called Purton, and in Henning's Statutes (1663), it has the same spelling. Another chart given by Dr. Brown, found in the Spanish archives, and supposed to have been the one sent England in 1608, with Smith's "News from Virginia", tells the same tale. At about eleven miles from West Point and twelve miles from Chickiack, appears on a bay, "Werowocomoco".Below Werowocomoco, on the same side of the river are two towns, Cappahowsack and Cantaunteck. There is at this day a wharf on the north side of York River called Cappahosick (Capahowsack ), evidently marking the old Indian district of that name; and this district, as shown on the charts, lay between Werowocomoco and Timber Neck Creek.
The wharf is at least sevenmiles above Timber Neck Creek. It was this country of Cappahosic that Powhatan offered to give Smith, "for two great guns and a grindstone". Werowocomoco was above it.
The following comes from Historical Collections of Virginia, Gloucester County:
Page 282 - In the Southern Literary Messenger, Charles Campbell, Esquire, of Petersburg, has an article conclusively proving that it was in this county that Pocahontas rescued Captain Smith. Beneath is an extract from his communication touching this point:
Next to Jamestown, Werowocomoco is perhaps the spot most celebrated in the early chronicles of Virginia. As Jamestown was the seat of the English Settlers, so Werowocomoco was the residence of the great Indian Chief, Powhatan. It was the scene of many interviews and encounters between the settlers and the savages. It wasWerowocomoco that supplies for the colony were frequently obtained; here that Smith once saw suspended on a line between two trees, the scalps of 24 Payanketanks, recently slain; here that Powhatan was crowned by Newport; and here that occurred the most touching scene in the whole colonial drama -- the rescue of Smith by Pocahontas. Werowocomoco is on the York River, in the County of Gloucester. It may surprise some readers to hear, that the rescue of Smith took place on the York, since, in the general neglect of our early history, it seems to have been taken for granted by many that it took place on James River. Smith and Stith, in their histories, put the matter beyond dispute. Smith, Book II, page 117, describes the Pamaunkee (now York) River, as follows:
"Fourteen myles northward from the river Powhatan is the river Pamaunkee, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with catches and small barkes 30 or 40 myles farther. At the ordinary flowing of the salt water, it divideth itselfe into two gallant branches. On the south side inhabit the people of Youghtanund, who have about 60 men for Wares. On the north branch Mattapanient, who have 30 men. Where this river is divided, the country is called Pamaunkee, (now West Point) and nourisheth neare 300 able men. About 25 myles lower, on the north side of this river, is Werowocomoco, where their great king inhabited when I was delivered him prisoner."
Again, Book II, page 142, Smith says:
"At Werowocomoco, on the north side of the river Pamaunkee, (York) was his (Powhatan's) residence when I was delivered him prisoner some 14 myles from James Towne where, for the most part, he was resident."
Stith, as quoted by Burk's History of Virginia, Volume I, page 111, describes its position as follows:
"Werowocomoco lay on the north side of York River, in Gloucester County, nearly opposite to the mouth of Queen's Creek, and about 25 miles below the fork of the river."
Upon a short visit made to that part of Gloucester County a year or two ago, I was satisfied that Shelly, the seat of Mrs. Mann Page, is the famous Werowocomoco. Shelly if on the north bank of the York River, in the county of Gloucester, said to be about 25 miles from West Point at the head of the river, and is nearly opposite the mouth of Queen's Creek, lying somewhat above. It is true the word "nearly" is indefinite, and it might be supposed that Werowocomoco, perhaps, lay a little below the point opposite the mouth of Queen's Creek, instead of a little above. But the marshy, oozy character of the bank of the York below Shelly, rendering it apparently uninhabitable, seems to forbid the supposition. Werowocomoco, then, it may be taken for granted was either at Shelly, or at some point above Shelly. But as Shelly is nearly opposite the mouth of Queen's Creek, it is obvious that the further you proceed up the river, the less appropriate will become the expression "nearly opposite".
Carter's Creek, emptying into the York at Shelly, forms a safe harbor for canoes. Smith, in a passage already quoted, mentions that Werowocomoco is 14 miles from Jamestown. In Book III, page 194, he says that "he went over land to Werowocomoco some 12 miles; there he passed the river of Pamaunkee in a salvage canow." Now, as it was 14 miles from Jamestown to Werowocomoco, and 12 to the point on the southbank of the York where Smith embarked in a canoe, it follows that Werowocomoco was only two miles from that point; and Shelly, I take it, is just about two miles from where it is probably Smith went into the canoe on that occasion.
Chief of the Federation of Algonguian Tribes:
Through marriages between noble families of the previous generation, Powhatan had inherited power over 8 tribes. These were the Arrohateck, Appamatuck, Orapaks, Youghtanund, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Werowocomoco, and Kiskiack. In the 30 or so years after Powhatan assumed rule over these tribes he had conquered about 20 more tribes. His title at that point was that of Mamanatowick (often translated by the British as, "Emperor", of the Powhatan confederacy.
Virginia Indians - The Powhatans: Family Life & Customs:
Powhatan men could have more than one wife. A Chief would likely have many wives. It was considered a great honor to a family to have a daughter married to a Chief. The Powhatans traced their families through their mother's side of the family, rather than through the father's side, as the English did. We use the term, matriarchy, to describe this type of society. This meant that when a Chief died his rule went to his next oldest brother by the same mother or to the children of his oldest sister.It also meant that a woman could be a Chief. Chief Powhatan was reported to have more than one hundred wives. (I think that this is one of those exaggerations that you find in the telling of history - although I am sure he had a great many wives during his lifetime). He did not live with all of his wives at one time. He might divorce wives and take new ones, but he had to support all his wives and children. The wife of a Chief could not re-marry when he divorced her.
Info on Winganuske Matatiske...While a great deal is known about her husband (Chief Wahansonacock Powhatan), nothing is known about Winganuske, which has given birth to the theory that she was one of the "Lost Colony", who was taken in by Powhatan. It is true that her daughter, Pocahontas looked different from her relatives, and it is also true that she adapted English customs and the language very quickly...she even enjoyed them.
Note: You will notice that in the first article of this page from the Amonsoquathe Tribe, that they say that Amopotoiske is the mother of Matoaka or Pocahontas and the article above about Winganuske says that she is the mother of Matoaka or Pocahontas..... (???)
My Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Jane (Davis) Latham had at one time mentioned to relatives, something about a Lost Colony in connection with the Indian side of her family...........Her grandson, Arthur (Art) Latham who lives in Kansasdoesn't remember anything more about the Lost Colony. If only we cared more about our family history when we were younger.
More About Amopotoiske (Amopotois) Bear Clan:
Fact 1: Belonged to: Wild Potato Clan
Children of Wahansonacock Powhatan and Amopotoiske Clan are:
| 2311 | i. | Cleopatra Powhatan, born Abt. 1605 in Virginia; died 1644 in Virginia; married Opechancanough Mangopeesomon Powhatan in Virginia. | ||
| ii. | Matoaka (Pocahontas-Rebecca) Powhatan, born September 17, 1595 in Jamestown, Virginia; died March 17, 1617 in Gravesend, England; married (1) Kokum Abt. 1610 in Virginia; died Unknown; married (2) John Rolfe April 05, 1614 in Jamestown, James City County, Virginia; died Unknown. |
| Notes for Matoaka (Pocahontas-Rebecca) Powhatan: The following excerpt s come from "Pocahontas: Fact & Fiction". In October 1609, John Smith was badly injured by a gunpowder explosion and was forced to return to England. When Pocahontas next came to visit the fort, she was told that her friend Smith was dead. Pocahontas apparently married an Indian "Pryvate Captayne", named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac Country among Indians, but her relationship with the Englishmen was not over. The following excerpt comes from the writings of Chief Roy Crazy Horse of the Powhatan Renape Nation, Rankokus Indian Reservation, P.O. Box 225, Rancocas, New Jersey. He writes: "Captain Argall again went up the Potomac and as he returned down river he noticed a herd of Buffallo. Stopping at Pastancie on his return, he received word that Pocahontas was in the region (this was recorded by Captain Ralph Hamor) and at that point he plotted to kidnap her for ransom. He carried out the abduction, drew up the ransom note, and sent it to Powhatan. He stated...I resolved to possess my selfe of her by an stratagem I could use, for the ransoming of so many Englishmen as were prisoners with Powhatan, as also to get such armes and tooles, as he and other Indians had got by murder and stealing from others of our nation, with some quantitie of corn for the Colonies reliefe." The message from Powhatan was: "That he desired me to use his daughter well and bring my ship into his river and there he would give me my demand which being performed, I should deliveer him his daughter, and we shoulde be friends." Pocahontas was transferred from Jamestown to the new community of Henrico and placed under the care of Reverend Whitaker and Marshall Dale, never to see her husband again. (She was married at the time to an under Chief of the tribe, Koucomo). Instead she was forced to learn the ways of the English religion. She was subjected to it day and night.. "How careful they were to instruct her to Christianity" (they being Dale, Whitaker and Rolfe, the writer being John Smith, in his General Historie)" and how capable and desirous she was thereof." She met a successful tobacco planter named John Rolfe in July 1613. Stith's History in 1747 noted, "She, on her part expressed an eager desire, and great capacity in learning. After she had been tutored for some time, she openly renounced the idolatry of her country." In 1613, John Rolfe forced his affections upon Pocahontas and in the farce of doing his Christian duty, married Pocahontas. Chief Roy Crazy horse states "the only reason John Rolfe marriedPocahontas was lust and greed. He saw the chance to be a wealthy man, which he later became." The following information comes from Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, Burgesses and Other Prominent Persons, page 347. Uttamatomakkin, an Indian who accompanied Pocahontas to England in 1615. He was instructed to number the people in that country, and at first made a notch in a stick for every man he saw, but soon grew tired of the task. The following information comes from "The Will Of John Rolfe", by Jane Carson....Jane Carson, who holds the M.A. degree from the University of Virginia, is Instructor in American History, Necomb College, Tulane University. Her special interest is Colonial Virginia and at present she is engaged in preparing a study of Sir William Berkley, Governor of Virginia. |
| More About Matoaka (Pocahontas-Rebecca) Powhatan: Burial: Unknown, Gravesend, England |
| Notes for John Rolfe: The following comes from, Virginia Will Records, "The Will of John Rolfe", by Jane Carson who holds the M.A. degree from the University of Virginia, is Instructor in American History, Newcomb College, Tulane University. Her special interest is Colonial Virginia and at present she is engaged in preparing a study of Sir William Berkley, Governor of Virginia. Page 861 The Will of John Rolfe Early in the summer of 1609 a fleet of nine ships sailed from Plymouth, bearing to Virginia the Third Supply of settlers and provisions and the first group of government officials under the Company's new charter. The flagship, the Sea-Venture, carried Sir George Somers, Admiral;Sir Thomas Gates, Deputy Governor; William Strachey, Secretary; Captain Christopher Newport, and about 150 emigrants, among whom was a young man in his middle twenties, John Rolfe. Late in July a severe storm scattered the fleet, and the Sea-Venture, seriously damaged, ran aground just off one of the Bermuda. All the passengers were safely brought ashore, where they lived comfortably enough for the next eight months. With tools and timbers salvaged from the wreck, supplemented by lumber cut from the island's trees, they managed to build two small vessels which took them on to Jamestown in the spring. The other ships of the fleet had weathered the storm and gone directly to Virginia, bringing the London plague, yellow fever, and ruined supplies to a colony already burdened with troubles enough. The terrible winter that followed is fittingly called the Starving Time. Thus Virginia's fortunes had reached their lowest point when John Rolfe arrived in May 1610. Jamestown appeared to Sir Thomas Gates "raither as the ruins of some auntient (for)tification then that any people living might now inhabit it. . . the Indians as fast killing without as the famine and pestilence within". Since houses and provisions were inadequate, Gates decided to abandon the Colony. Early in June the four available ships, loaded with all the colonists and supplies, started down the James, bound for Newfoundland; about fifteen miles from Jamestown they were met by a long boat from Lord Delaware's ship anchored at Point Comfort, announcing the timely arrival of the Governor himself with three supply ships and 150 new settlers. Once again the Jamestown experiment was renewed, but the existence of the Page 862 colony remained precarious until some solution could be found for the two most pressing problems: the threat of hostile Indians and the need of some profitable native product to provide economic security. John Rolfe played a leading role in the discovery of a solution to each of these problems. His first three years in Virginia were difficult ones both for him and his fellow colonists. At some time during that period he experimented with the native tobacco and succeeded in producing a leaf more palatable to British taste than that grown in the West Indies. It is generally believed that he perfected a curing process which would prevent injury from the dampness of the sea voyage and the English climate, thus giving to Virginia a sound basis for economic prosperity. His celebrated marriage to Pocahontas in April 1614, was followed by eight years of peace with all the Virginia Indians. "Ever since (the marriage)", wrote Secretary Hamor, "we have had friendly commerce and trade not only with Powhatan himselfe, but also with his subjects round about us, so as now I see no reason why the Collonie should not thrive apace." The freedom from Indian warfare and from anxious preparations for defence afforded greater opportunity for building up the colony, and general confidence in the success of the Virginia experiment may be dated from this Indian peace. When Rolfe and his wife visited England in 1616, the enthusiastic reception accorded Pocahontas as "the Lady Rebecca" served as favorable publicity for Virginia as well. Rolfe's Relation, written for King James and Sir Robert Rich while the author was in England, presented an optimistic picture which further boosted the spirits of the King and Company. He wrote: "Our people yearely plant and reape quietly, and travel in the woods a fowling and a hunting as freely and securely from fear of danger or treacheries as in England. The great blessings of God have followed this peace, and it, next under him, hath bredd our plentie--everyie man sitting under his fig tree in safety, gathering and reaping the fruits of their labours with much joy and comfort." After his return to Virginia, Rolfe held prominent positions in the colony. He had succeeded Hamor as Secretary in 1614 and in 1617 held the office of Recorder General as well; he was a member of the Council from 1619 until his death in 1622. He is believed to have been a victim of the massacre (Notes at bottom of page: Ralph Hamor, A True Discourse of the Present estate of Virginia (London,1615), quoted in Mary Newton Stanard, The Story of Virginia's First Century (Philadelphia, 1928), p. 119. John Rolfe, A True Relation of the State of Virginia at the Time When Sir Thomas Dale Left it in May,1616 in The Southern Literary Messenger, V (June, 1839), 402-3. Page 863 of that year, but the fact that he was ill in 1621, when he made his Will, casts some doubt on the truth of the tradition. Rolfe was married three times. His first wife accompanied him on the trip to Virginia, where she died soon after their arrival. The only child of this marriage was a daughter, Bermuda, who was christened on the island for which she was named, and appears to have died there. His second wife, Pocahontas, died in England at Gravesend, while they waited for a favorable wind to take the ship back to Virginia. Rolfe's only son, Thomas, was her child. His third wife, Jane, survived him, and their daughter, Elizabeth, wasliving with them in Virginia when Rolfe made his Will. Although John Rolfe has long been a subject of great interest to Virginia genealogists and historians, a significant figure about whom little is known, his Will has been published only in abstract. The reason may well be attributed to the fact that it contains no evidence to support the traditions pointed to find no reference to lands in Bermuda Hundred, for tradition tells that he owned a plantation about fifteen miles below Richmond at Varina. Here he is supposed to have lived with his Indian bride and to have raised his first crop of improved tobacco; and the fact of the severity of the massacre of 1622 in that region forms the chief basis for the conclusion that he was killed by the Powhatan Indians. But in spite of its omissions, the document is an important addition to the scanty source materials from which his role in history is written. The Will was drawn in Jamestown March 10, 1621, and probated in London May 21, 1630. The original copy probably remained in the hands of his executor and has disappeared. But two copies are still in London, where they may be examined today. The probate copy (PCC 1630) bears a notation showing careful comparison with the original and two signatures attesting the accuracy of this copy. The registered copy (49Scroope) is a duplicate of the probate in every detail except for variations in spelling (ie for y, tion for con and the like), less frequent capitalization and fewer marks of punctuation. Photostats of both are in the Manuscript Division of the University of Virginia Library. It is the probate copy which is here transcribed. Page 864 In the name of God Amen: The Tenth day of March Anno dni 1621 and in the yeare of the Raigne of Soveraigne Lorde James by the grace of god Kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Faith &c That is to say of England France and Ireland the Nyneteenth And of Scotland the lvth I John Rolfe of James Citty in Virginia Esquire beinge sicke in body, but of perfecte minde and memory (laude and prayse be given to Almightie god therefore) doe make and ordaine this my laste and finall Will and Testament in forme followeinge that is to say: Firste and principally I doe Commend my soule into the hands of Almightye god my maker and Redeemer, assuredly trusteinge in the meritts of JesusChriste my Lorde and onely Savior, to have full and ample remission of all my sinnes, Angells and archaungells and blessed Sts and electe of that Eternall kingdome: And att the discretion of my executor hereafter named in such decent and Comely manner as vnto my said Executor shalbe thoughte fitte: item whereas Almightye god hath bestowed vpon me two small children of vey tender age for whose bringingvppe and education in the faith and true feare on the same god I knowe myselfe obliged to be zealously careful. Therefore I do Commend and Comitte them vnto the tuition of my deerely beloved friend and father in Lawe Levetenant William Pyers (Pierce) gent vpon whose love and favor in this behalfe I doe with greate Confidence depend: And for their better meanes of Sustentacon and educacon, I doe hereby devise and ordaine, that my said Father in Lawe shall and may have, hold, receiue, take, order and dispose of all and all Manner such estate and estates, as vnto them shall discend and come, and of Right belonge and appertaine durreing the time oftheir minority. Item whereas by certaine Letters Pattents vender the Comon or generall Seale of the Kings Mats Councell for Virginia, heretofore made and granted to me and my heyres, I ame and stande lawfully seysed of, a certaine parcell or quantity of Land situate in the Countrye of Toppahannah between the two Creeks over againste James Citty in the Contynent or Countrye of Virginia: My will and desire is, and I doe hereby devise and ordaine that the said Land or grounde, and all and singuler profits Comodityes emoluents, Rights, Royaltyes, Jurisdiccons and hereditaments what soever thereunto belongeinge or in anywise appertayneinge, shall be and shall and may remaine and be vnto my sonne Thomas, and to the heyres of his bodye lawfully begotten And I doe hereby give grante and Confirme the same premisses vnto my said sonne accordingly by these presents: And for defalte of such yssue to the vse and behoofe of Elizabeth my daughter, and to the heyres of her body lawfully to be begotten, and for defalte of such yssue, to the vse and behoofe of the Right heyres of the said John Rolfe for ever: Item my will is that if my said sonne shall happen to espouse and marry any wife, by and with the consent of my said father in Lawe within the time of his minority, and before such time as he shall accomplishe the age of one and Twenty yeares, That then vpon such espousall or marryage (by and with such consent as aforesaid) my said sonne shall or may Enter into and von the premisses and every parte thereof and receiue, perceive and enjoy the Rents issues Revenues, and profits thereof and therevy comeinge from thenceforth to his and their owne proper vse and behoffe for ever, And in case my said sonne shall happen to dye and departe this present life on this side and before such time as he shall or may accomplishe the full age of one and Twenty yeares, or be espoused and maryed as aforesaid: Then my said daughter vpon her Accomplishment of the full age of one and Twenty yeares or vpon her espousall and marriage with consent of my said father in Lawe shall or may lawfully Enter into and vpon the premisses, and receive perceive and enjoy the Rents issues revenues and profits thereof or thereby comeinge growing or arising from thenceforth to her owne proper vse and behoofe for ever: Item whereas by certaine others Letters P(Patent) heretofore sufficiently passed and made there is given granted and confirmed vnto me and my heryes amonge others, a certaine quantity or Porco of Land or grounde with the appurtenances situate lyeinge and beinge neare Mulberry Land in the Country or Continent of Virginia I doe give bequeath and dispose the same as followethvizt to the vse and behoofe of Joane my wife dureinge the tearme of her or I sic naturall Life, and from and after her decease to the vse and behoofe (of) Elizabeth for ever Item as toucheinge and concerneing alland singuler such personall estate, goodes, Chattles, Cattles and household stuffe as god hathe Lent me (my debts and funeral charges beinge deducted and payed) my will and desire is that the shall or may be equally and proportionately shared distributed and devided into three equall and indifferent partes and porcons vntobetwene and amonges Joane my said wife, Thomas my sonne, and Elizabeth my daughter, and that each of them shall or may have, hold, and enjoy one full and Entire thirde parte of and in the said goods Chattles, Cattles and household stuffe severally to their several vases and behoofes for ever; Provided alwayes that if eyther of my said Children shall happen to dy or departe this present life, before such their espousalls and marriage with such consent as aforesaid, Then my will and Desire is that |