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John Rolfe 1585–1622

Public Tree Person

What is a Public Tree Person?

A Public Tree Person is an ancestor documented independently by multiple YourRoots tree owners. When several researchers' family histories converge on the same person, we publish a shared page that combines what they've documented.

Why this is a Public Tree Person

Full name consistent across 11 independent trees
Birth year and location consistent across 11 trees
Death year and location consistent across 11 trees

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A Reliability
A
Reliability Score: A
Strong — based on the source tree
Grade scale
  • A 3 criteria (Strong)
  • B 2 criteria (Medium)
  • C 1 criteria (Basic)
Verification checklist
  • Record available
  • Descendant's record available
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11 researchers on YourRoots have John Rolfe in their family trees — each with their own records and documentation. Trace the migration path across 23 generations. If this ancestor is in your tree too, you can compare what you've found and fill in the gaps together.

Last updated: July 22, 2026 · Reliability: A — verified across 11 independent trees, with linked records

Born 6 MAY 1585 · Heacham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England
Died 22 MAR 1622 · Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States
Father John Eustace Johannes Eustacius Rolfe Rolph Sr
Mother Dorothea Sophia Friederike Mason Rolfe Redmayne Redman
Spouse Joane Ann Coles Pierce Rolfe Smith Immigrant Sailed To Jamestown With Parents In 1609
Children Bermuda Rolfe, Elizabeth Pierce Milner, Elizabeth Rolfe, Jane Ka Okee Powhatan Indian, Thomas Rolfe
Siblings Dorothea Rolfe, Edward Rolfe, Eustace Rolfe, Joane Rolfe Rolph, John Rolfe, Mary Rolfe, William Rolfe
Records
American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes … Early Virginia Families Along the … Family Data Collection - Individual … Millennium File Norfolk, England, Extracted Parish Records U.S. and Canada, Passenger and … U.S. and International Marriage Records, … U.S., Library of Congress Photo … Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index Familysearch.org U.S., Find a Grave Index Virginia County Records Surname Index Global, Find a Grave Index … Ancestry.com, <i>U.S. and Canada, Passenger … Citation Text: "John Rolfe's Letter … Citation Text: Letter of John … Citation Text: Wills and Administrations … Details: "John Rolfe (1585 - … Details: Magazine, Pocahontas Bright Stream … Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1609-1610; … Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1621; … Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1635; … Details: Vol. 1", by Jack … FamilySearch Family Tree , <I>Ancestry Family Trees</i> (N.p.: …
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Researchers connected through John Rolfe 1585–1622

and 10 more tree owners connected with John Rolfe 1585–1622

Immediate Family

Biography

In 1585, John Rolfe entered the world in Heacham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England, born to john eustace johannes eustacius rolfe rolph sr and dorothea sophia friederike mason rolfe redmayne redman. John Rolfe married joane ann coles pierce rolfe smith immigrant sailed to jamestown with parents in 1609, pocahontas rebecca matoaka powhatan, pocahontas matoaka amonute of the powhatan, sarah hacker, sarah rolfe, and had children including bermuda rolfe, elizabeth pierce milner, elizabeth rolfe, jane ka okee powhatan indian, thomas rolfe. John Rolfe passed away in 1622 in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States.

Sources

  1. 1
    Record American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)

  2. 2
    Record Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22

  3. 3
    Record Early Virginia Families Along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches. Vol. I

  4. 4
    Record Family Data Collection - Individual Records

  5. 5
    Record Millennium File

  6. 6
    Church Records Norfolk, England, Extracted Parish Records

  7. 7
    Immigration U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

  8. 8
    Marriage Records U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

  9. 9
    Record U.S., Library of Congress Photo Collection, 1840-2000

  10. 10
    Record Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index

  11. 11
    Record Familysearch.org

  12. 12
    Burial Records U.S., Find a Grave Index

  13. 13
    Record Virginia County Records Surname Index

  14. 14
    Burial Records Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and Other Select Burial Locations

  15. 15
    Record Ancestry.com, <i>U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index , 1500s-1900s</i> (N.p.: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc;, n.d.)

  16. 16
    Record Citation Text: "John Rolfe's Letter to Sir Thomas Dale," 1614. (Rolfe explains his reasons for marrying Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas.)

  17. 17
    Record Citation Text: Letter of John Rolfe, 1614 to Governor Dale

  18. 18
    Record Citation Text: Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County, Virginia 1688-1800

  19. 19
    Record Details: "John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) - Find A Grave Memorial." John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) - Find A Grave Memorial. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sep. 2014.. Citation Text: John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) - Find A Grave Memorial

  20. 20
    Record Details: Magazine, Pocahontas Bright Stream Between Two Hills, Marguerite Stuart Quarles, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, Individual, Charles Fleetwood, 895 Oakwood Road, New Freedom, Pennsylvania, USA, 17349, 717 227 124

  21. 21
    Record Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1609-1610; Page Number: 16 Citation Text: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

  22. 22
    Record Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1621; Page Number: 5 Citation Text: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

  23. 23
    Record Details: Place: Virginia; Year: 1635; Page Number: 284 Citation Text: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s - Thomas Rolfe (son of John Rolfe)

  24. 24
    Record Details: Vol. 1", by Jack Stidham., "The Descendants of Timothy Stidham Citation Text: Legacy NFS Source: Captain John Rolfe - death: 22 March 1622; Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States

  25. 25
    Record FamilySearch Family Tree

  26. 26
    Record , <I>Ancestry Family Trees</i> (N.p.: Name: Online publication - Provo, U T, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by A ncestry members.;, n.d.)

Life Timeline

1585
Birth of John Rolfe in Heacham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England
Birth
1585
John Rolfe was christened in Heacham, Norfolk, England
Christening
1612
John Rolfe resided here in Varina Farm, Henrico, Virginia, British Colonial America
Residence
1614
John Rolfe was employed in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, British Colonial America
Occupation
1622
Death of John Rolfe in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States
Death

Oldest Ancestor Line from John Rolfe

This ancestor line traces from Lérida, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain (1000) to Heacham, Norfolk, , England (1585) across 23 generations.

Direct Lineage
generations

Frequently Asked Questions

John Rolfe (1585–1622) was born in Heacham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England and died in Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States. 11 researchers on YourRoots have this ancestor in their family trees, each with their own records. This page combines what they've independently documented and assigns a Reliability Score (A) based on cross-tree validation.
Right now, 11 researchers on YourRoots have John in their trees. They're working independently, so connecting with them is a good way to cross-check your records and find things you might have missed. You can also explore the ancestor migration map that traces 23 generations of this lineage geographically.
It varies by researcher — some have census records, others have marriage certificates, parish registers, or family Bible entries. Scroll up to see exactly what each person has cited.
Use the "Compare Tree" button on any researcher's profile above. You can compare your tree side by side with theirs, see where your records overlap or differ, and collaborate to fill gaps.

Related Records

John Eustace Johannes Eustacius Rolfe Rolph Sr
Father
Dorothea Sophia Friederike Mason Rolfe Redmayne Redman
Mother
Rolfe US Census Records
Browse all census records

John Rolfe's Ancestors

Pedigree chart — 3 generations on record

Self
John Rolfe PTP
1585–1622
Heacham, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, Norfolk, England
Parents
Unknown
Unknown
Grandparents
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

John Rolfe's Descendants

1.
JR
John Rolfe PTP 1585–1622