November 13, 2013
Introduction: In this article—in celebration of November being Native American Heritage Month—Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to find stories about U.S. First Lady Edith Wilson and her connection to her famous Native American ancestor, Pocahontas. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”
When we think of great Native American leaders throughout U.S. history, names like Cochise, Geronimo, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull come to mind. But what about Native American women? Most Americans know the names of only two Native American women: Pocahontas and Sacagawea. Pocahontas, whose mythology was immortalized in a song sung by Peggy Lee and a Disney movie, might be the most familiar Native American woman because she left a sizable number of descendants through her son Thomas Rolfe.
Who can claim that they are apart of the Pocahontas lineage? At least one First Lady, numerous politicians, and even Confederate General Robert E. Lee, to name just a few. It was estimated in the 1980s that Pocahontas’ descendants probably numbered around 250,000. According to genealogist Gary B. Roberts, those who claim this lineage are through the Bolling family line, which are the only known descendants traced beyond the early 18th century.*
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson’s Native American Ancestry
One American whose Pocahontas lineage was well reported was Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, the second wife of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. From the time she became engaged to the president, her family history was a frequent topic in the newspapers.
This 1915 newspaper article provides some information about Edith’s family history. It reports that ever since the engagement was announced “there has been a live inquiry for the correct data.” The article provides that data by tracing Edith’s direct line to Pocahontas and proclaims Edith Bolling Galt the ninth in descent from Pocahontas. [Note: the article erroneously states that Pocahontas married Thomas Rolfe; her husband’s name was John Rolfe, and their son’s name was Thomas.]
In writings about Boiling family history, emphasis was placed that someone with “Indian blood” would now reside in the White House. This announcement about Edith’s lineage was also the catalyst for impromptu history lessons found in newspapers across the country. The short life of Pocahontas has been retold often, and—as with any well-told story—inaccuracies creep in. This old newspaper article provides readers with information and images reportedly of Pocahontas.
The widow Edith Bolling Galt married President Woodrow Wilson in December 1915. Undoubtedly, any presidential wedding results in gifts from a diverse range of well-wishers. The Wilson wedding was no different.
According to this 1916 newspaper article, one item that Woodrow Wilson’s wife received was a Pocahontas statuette presented by the Pocahontas Memorial Association. The article points out that Edith Galt Wilson was related to Pocahontas through her paternal line.
The news article included this picture of the Pocahontas statuette.
The statuette was not the only Pocahontas-related gift that Edith received while in the White House. Other gifts related to her Native American ancestry included dolls and a portrait of her ancestress presented by the heritage membership organization Colonial Dames.
When Edith Wilson visited England in 1918, this Duluth newspaper article heralded the visit of a descendant of Pocahontas—pointing out it was a little over 300 years since her ancestor made a similar trip. The newspaper article claims: “Only one other American woman [Pocahontas] ever has been received in England with the social and official courtesies which will be lavished upon Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.” The news article goes on to trace Edith’s roots to Pocahontas and even to her early Bolling family tree.
Pocahontas Research Resources
Are you a descendant of Pocahontas? You may be interested in the book Pocahontas’ Descendants: A Revision, Enlargement, and Extension of the List as Set Out by Wyndham Robertson in His Book Pocahontas and Her Descendants (1887), by Stuart E. Brown, Jr., Lorraine F. Myers, and Eileen M. Chappel (the Pocahontas Foundation, 1985).
Gary B. Roberts’ article Notable Kin: Some Descendants and Kinsmen of Descendants of Pocahontas: An Excursion into Southern Genealogy on the American Ancestors website has additional sources you may be interested in.
Whether or not you have Native American ancestry, dig into GenealogyBank’s historical newspaper archives to find out more about your ancestors, discovering the stories that help fill in the details on your family tree.
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*Notable Kin: Some Descendants and Kinsmen of Descendants of Pocahontas: An Excursion into Southern Genealogy by Gary B. Roberts. American Ancestors. 1986. http://www.americanancestors.org/an-excursion-into-southern-genealogy/ accessed 11 November 2013.
Dearest Gena Philibert-Ortega,
I hope you can help. For a few generations we’ve been told our Great Grand Mother (many times over) was Pocahontas(Rebecca Rolfe), and Great Grandpa was Thomas Rolfe.
I’ve been researching; not knowing where to start. Then ran into this. I did know it was possible one of our Great Grand Mothers may have been a First Lady of the United States.
Oh, Gena! I can barely breath. Are you able to help my family research this, or give me leads as to what to do next?
Thank you.
Sherrie Peroutka
Whoa sherry p. I am her granddaughter as well. my uncle has the direct lineage. cousins?
ewconv1@gmail.coma
I understand that I am either related to Pocahontas as a g g-grandmother or a half-g-aunt. I am following in the White lintage. Please clarify.
Sarah Elizabeth White Converse
Hello. I’ve looked into the White lineage & we are related to her younger sister “Scent Flower”
I have a lot of very cool ancestry I found including relation to royalty. Feel free to email me @harleygirl@live.com
Sherrie,
Thanks for you comment!
You’ll first want to trace that family line you believe to be descended from Pocahontas starting with you and going backwards. Make sure to gather original records (vital records, etc) that prove each generation. By carefully tracing back each generation you can either prove or disprove your connection.
I provided some resources in the article for continued research but make sure you start your own careful research first and then prove that you are connected to the Bolling line.
Good luck!
Gena
I am an 11th-generation descendant of Pocahontas. My Grandfather was Samuel Monroe Wadsworth Senior.
My daughter, whose last name is Hayworth, found a lineage connection with Edith Wilson. I wonder how to confirm this information.
Camille,
To confirm that information, I would carefully trace back each generation with original records to that connection. You will find several online family trees for Edith Wilson that will provide clues but make sure that you do the research yourself to verify each generation. Good luck with your research–Gena
I’m connected through the Bolling lineage on my father side. Through ancestry DNA and tree match ups and research shows that John Rolfe and Pocahontas are my 11th great-grand parents.
My 6th great-grandfather William Alexander Dandridge married Anne Bolling. Major John Bolling was her father. So that’s my connection to Pocahontas!!
My lineage goes back to John Day, who married Behethlem Bowling.
Could Bowling be related to this family? I know that there were Red Bowlings and White Bowlings.
Some lines include Behethlem in these lines… some do not.
Hi everyone, I don’t know where to start. I was born Judy Bolling. My grandfather was Joseph Green Bowling from NC and changed his last name to Bolling when he moved to Franklin County, VA. He and his wife Anglia lived in Bedford County, VA. The Bolling family say they were kin to Pocahontas. My first marriage was to Robert Edmunds of Danville, VA, and his dad was Edgar Palmer Edmunds. They say they were kin to Pocahontas through the Edmunds of Halifax, Va. My grandmother was Mary Lou Wilson Keesee who said she was kin to President Wilson. I would just like to know how to find out if I may actually be kin to Pocahontas. I am getting older and would like to let my children know. Has anyone heard of Joseph Green Bolling in Bedford, VA?
My greaT grandmot her was, Nancy Pryor Ferguson of the Tennessee Pryors. That family moved from Cumberland County VA to Marion county TN around 1830. I first learned of Capt Nathaniel Pryor while working for the Army out of Ft Lee VA.
Richard L Hyatt.
CWO US army
Retired
I just discovered through Family Search.org that Pocahontas was my 12th great-grandmother on my mom’s side of the family.
Cydni, make sure to verify that information since the FamilySearch tree does have errors. Thanks for posting!
Pocahontas is my 10 great grand aunt her sister Rachel is my 10th great grand mother