I am only going to discuss my lineage and not anything about religion and God. That would be a topic for another day. I love both topics, but want to share with you some interesting things I have found about my lineage. I feel like a mutt with so many ancestors from so many places., mainly from Europe. Today I’d like to go over one lineage line that I never knew about.
I just recently was told of this information about me, that I have direct lineage to Pocahontas and the Sister of Pocahontas. This stuck with me and made me think about it a lot it and then do the research to see how true or not this is. I found out that yes it’s true because of some very interesting events. First off, I really do feel so sad about the tragic event of war and all that happened during that time period. The true story of Pocahontas is very sad and awful of which I will not get into today. I do however think it’s just so very, very cool that I have some Native American blood in me, even if a small amount. I love Native American crafts and way of life. I have learned how to make coil pots, arrowheads, bow and arrows, and to even start fires with sticks. If you have known me over the years, you’ll have seen me wear my leather clothing out in the deserts of Arizona or when I was young in California. I’ve been learning and taking part in as much as I can about Native American culture. Now I can proudly say I actually have some ties to this great land.
Me when i was much younger blowing on a fire. (Photographer - I don’t know, but I added the filter)
So here is my line and I won’t put dates, etc just names to make this easy and no living names.
Pocahontas direct line
Me - My dad - Florence Bertha Burgess - Sarah Bertha Rynearson - Sarah Elizabeth Alexander - Randolph Alexander - Angus Alexander - Randolph Alexander - Jesse Alexander - Anguish Alexander - Priscilla Frances Ashton - Grace Meese - Mary Wahanganoche - Unknown Pettus - Ka Okee Powhatan - Pocahontas Matoaka Rebecca Powhatan
Sister of Pocahontas direct line
Me - My dad - Florence Bertha Burgess - Sarah Bertha Rynearson - Sarah Elizabeth Alexander - Randolph Alexander - Angus Alexander - Randolph Alexander - Jesse Alexander - Anguish Alexander - Priscilla Frances Ashton - Grace Meese - Mary Wahanganoche - Chief Wahanganoche - Sister of Pocahontas
So from what I have found out through some research (and correct me if I’m wrong) Chief Wahanganoche was married to Unknown Pettus who was the daughter of Ka Okee who was the daughter of Pocahontas. Yes he married his cousins daughter.
So Chief Wahanganoche also was the son of I-Oppasus, commonly called Japasaw by the English, who was married to the Sister of Pocahontas. You can read about it from the Patawomeck tribal geneology or another article here.
This is how I’m related to both of them. Very interesting. I never knew I had any Native American blood in me. I live in Arizona and have studied different Native American crafts from around here, but now I’d like to see if I can start making some crafts geared towards my family line that if I am right would be part of the Patawomech tribe. I do not live in Virginia and do not qualify for Tribal status, but I know at heart I’m just as much part of the tribe as any other direct lineage member there. I’m just excited to find all this out. It touches me because I like having Native American blood in me even if it’s a very small amount. Also that it’s coming from the line of Pocahontas and her Sister is a bonus. The history, although tragic, is now part of my story. I don’t know why, but I feel this has changed me is a special way. Knowledge and knowing who you are is so very important. I hope we can all do some digging into genealogy and find out something interesting about your own family history. I know you’d be surprised about what you can find. I know there is so much more to discover. It can be hard at times to do the research, but it can be very rewarding to read about the stories of our decedents.
So there you have it. Can I now claim some of my art as Native American? I don’t know, but I feel to some degree I can.
Me when I was young teaching how to make coil pots
I don’t know who the photographer was, but I added the filter.