This page was last updated: 03/04/1996.

This page contains stories and folk lore passed down by our ancestors. Much of what is recorded here is presently unconfirmed. I present it here as a vehicle for beginning a dialog with those persons and families who might have a similar claim.

Captain John Smith: When I was about eight years old, I remember my grandmother, whose maiden name was Smith, telling me that we are related to Captain John Smith; you know, the one of Jamestown, VA, and Pocahontas fame. I believe she said that we are his descendants. Well, armed with this trustworthy information (after all if you can't trust your grandmother who can you trust?) I proceeded to boast to my second grade classmates. After a week or so of ridicule I never again brought up the subject until I became interested in genealogy.

I never thought any more about this subject until after a third cousin of mine repeated this claim. Immediately, her mention of this brought back those not so delightful memories of my second grade taunting. Ever since my cousin repeated this "claim to fame" I have wondered how true this story could possibly be. Unfortunately, neither of us remember just exactly how it is that we are supposedly related to John Smith.

The one thing I remember that pleased me so much is that this made me believe that I had Native Indian blood flowing through my veins. I have always been awed by the American Indian and this notion suited me just fine. Back in those days it was my belief that John Smith and Pocahontas married and that I was a later result of this union. But, of course, this was never the case.

What little research I have done about this claim leads me to believe that John was a "ladies man" and played the part very well. I have not uncovered any information that makes me believe that he ever settled down and attempted to raise a family. With his reported lifestyle, I can quickly believe that he "planted" his seeds in many ports and with many women. Perhaps some were Indian.

I cannot completly dismiss this claim because it apparently was very important to our ancestors that we descendants remember this connection. I have located two more distant cousins that remember their elders simply saying that we are of Holland Dutch descent. How this fits into the scheme of things I am not sure. What I have though, is a photo album made about 1851 that has photos in it of people with some prominence in society. This photo album belonged to my great grandaunt.

Any insight into this claim would be greatly appreciated.

I am presently compiling more family folk stories. Please check again later.

Go back.