1
JOHN ROLFE
John Rolfe stepped into history in May 1609. That was when he boarded the Sea Venture,
bound for Virginia. The Sea Venture was the flagship of a nine-ship convoy of five hundred
new settlers. By July, the ships had reached the West Indies. A hurricane struck them there.
The Sea Venture ran aground on a reef off the Bermudas. The entire company of one
hundred and fifty reached shore safely in the ship’s boats. The colonists found Bermuda to
be a hospitable place with sufficient food. In the following months, they built two smaller
ships from cedar trees and salvage. By May 1610, the two ships, aptly named the Patience
and the Deliverance, were ready. The ships reached the Chesapeake Bay after ten days’
sailing. While in Bermuda, John Rolfe’s wife had given birth to a daughter. She was
christened “Bermuda.” The child died there. Rolfe’s wife also died, probably soon after they
reached Virginia.
2
Investors founded the Virginia Company. It had financed and sponsored the English colony
founded at Jamestown in May 1607. The company expected the colonists to start industrial
enterprises in Virginia that would return profits to the company. The colonists in Virginia
tried a number of different enterprises. They included silk-making, glassmaking, lumber,
sassafras, pitch and tar, and soap ashes. None met with financial success. It was John
Rolfe’s experiments with tobacco that developed the first profitable export.
3
The Spaniards found the natives in the West Indies using the tobacco plant. They took seed
to Europe. Its use soon spread to other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Sir Walter
Raleigh is often credited with the introduction of tobacco to England. While in reality he may
not have been responsible for its introduction, Raleigh did play an important role in the
spread of tobacco use among the English. Spain and Portugal monopolized the European
tobacco trade. England imported all its tobacco from Spain. The English colonists that did
not like the type of tobacco the Virginia Indians grew. They preferred the fragrant sort that
Spanish colonists were producing in the Caribbean. The colonists were selling it in large
quantities and at high prices to London merchants.
4
Ralph Hamor, then Secretary of Virginia, credits John Rolfe with the experiment of planting
the first tobacco seeds that he obtained from somewhere in the Caribbean, possibly from
Trinidad:
I may not forget the gentleman, worthie of much commendations, which first took
the pains to make triall therof. His name Mr. John Rolfe, Anno Domini 1612, partly
for he hath a long time borne unto it, and partly to raise commodity to the
adventurers…
5
Rolfe gave some tobacco from his crop to friends “to make a triall of.” They agreed that the
new leaf had “smoked pleasant, sweete and strong.” The remainder of the crop was
shipped to England. There it compared favorably with the “Spanish” leaf.
6
At the same time Rolfe was experimenting with tobacco, Pocahontas, daughter of Chief
Powhatan, was kidnapped. She was brought to Jamestown to be traded for English
prisoners and weapons that Powhatan held. The exchange never took place. Pocahontas
was taken to the settlement at Henrico. There she learned English. She converted to
Christianity. She was baptized and christened “Rebecca”.
7
It was about this time that she presumably came to the attention of John Rolfe. Rolfe was a
pious man who agonized for many weeks over the decision to marry a heathen. He
composed a long, laborious letter to Governor Dale asking for permission to marry
Pocahontas. The letter reflected Rolfe’s dilemma. The tone suggests it was intended mainly
for official records, but at some points Rolfe bared his true feelings. “It is Pocahontas,” he
wrote, “to whom my hearty and best thoughts are, and have been a long time so
entangled, and enthralled in so intricate a labyrinth that I [could not] unwind myself
thereout.” The wedding took place in the spring of 1614. It resulted in peace with the
Indians long enough for the settlers to develop and expand their colony and plant
themselves permanently in the new land.
8
In 1616, Rolfe took his wife and infant son, Thomas, to England. Pocahontas died at
Gravesend seven months later, just before returning to Virginia. A saddened John Rolfe left
his young son in the care of a guardian in England and returned to his adopted home. Upon
his return to Virginia, he assumed more prominence in the colony. He became councilor and
sat as a member of the House of Burgesses. He married again to Jane Pearce, daughter of
a colonist. He continued his efforts to improve the quality and quantity of Virginia tobacco.
In 1617, tobacco exports to England totaled twenty thousands pounds. The next year
shipments more than doubled. Twelve years later, one and a half million pounds were
exported. The first great American enterprise had been established.
9
John Rolfe died sometime in 1622. Although one-third of the colony was killed in the Indian
uprising of that year, it is not known how Rolfe died. In a life that held much personal
tragedy, Rolfe gave the colony its economic base. His contributions allowed the English
settlements to become permanent, thus solidifying the English presence in America and
making possible the first steps toward the creation of the future United States.
1. Why was the Sea Venture unable to reach Virginia?
A
B
C
D
Pirates attacked it in the West Indies.
It landed and stayed in Bermuda.
A surprise hurricane ran it aground.
It was used to build two smaller boats.
2. Which is a fact about John Rolfe’s daughter?
A
B
C
D
She
She
She
She
was born in Virginia.
died in Virginia.
was born in Bermuda.
was named Patience.
3. The Virginia Company at first hoped that Virginia would profit with- A
B
C
D
cotton
tobacco
corn
industrial goods
4. Which question is not answered in paragraph 3?
A
B
C
D
Who made tobacco popular in England?
Where did Rolfe get his tobacco seeds?
Which countries at first monopolized the tobacco trade?
Where did Spanish colonists grow tobacco?
5. Which two were not positions held by John Rolfe?
tobacco merchant
secretary of Virginia
member of the House of Burgesses
governor of Virginia
entrepreneur
6. Which would be the best synonym for the word pious as it appears in
paragraph 7?
A vain
B conceited
C enthralled
D humble
Read the following sequence chart.
John Rolfe boards the Sea Venture Rolfe settles in to colonial life in Virginia. __________ 7. Which event best completes the sequence of events?
A
B
C
D
Rolfe marries Jane Pearce in Virginia.
Rolfe marries Pocahontas and brings her to England.
Tobacco export shipments double in size.
Rolfe’s first wife and daughter die.
Rolfe returns to Virginia after Pocahontas’s death. 8. The author included paragraph 7 in order to- A
B
C
D
show John Rolfe’s letter-writing abilities and vocabulary
explain the peace between the Powhatans and the colonists
exemplify John Rolfe’s character through his emotions
introduce Governor Dale and Pocahontas to the reader
9. The prefix in the word monopolized means- A
B
C
D
money
together
one, single
not
10. Which of the following best expresses the summary of the passage?
A Although encountering some tragedy in his life, John Rolfe contributed to the
success of the Virginia colony, as well as tobacco as a cash crop.
B John Rolfe married three women in his lifetime while holding important positions
in the Virginia government.
C Rolfe’s most important contribution to history was his peaceful resolution of
conflict between the Powhatans and the settlers.
D John Rolfe’s experiments with tobacco earned him a commendation from Ralph
Hamor and helped spread tobacco use through England.
11. Why was Pocahontas kidnapped?
A
B
C
D
to
to
to
to
exchange her for food and gold the English had
force her to learn English and serve Rolfe
convince Rolfe to give up his tobacco crop
exchange for English prisoners and Powhatan weapons
12. Why was Rolfe’s marriage to Pocahontas important?
A
B
C
D
It resulted in peace with the Powhatans.
It helped Rolfe understand the Powhatans.
The marriage allowed Pocahontas to learn English.
Rolfe and Pocahontas had a child together.
13. The reader can infer that Pocahontas changed her name because- A
B
C
D
Captors forced her to use that name.
She wanted to fit in with English culture.
She wanted to spy on the English colony.
She was angry with her tribe.