The "Apostle of Virginia."
Rector of Henrico County.
Author of "Good News From Virginia" (London, 1613), the first book written in English on American soil and first book written in Virginia.
He Baptized Pocahontas in 1613 and performed her marriage in Virginia April 5, 1614 to sir John Rolfe.
Some erroneous accounts claimed his father Rev. William Whitaker performed the marriage in England when Pocahontas traveled to London in 1616, but William Whitaker had died in 1595.
A painting of the baptism of Pocahontas hangs in the rotunda of the U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C.
He drowned while crossing the James River in September 1617 (many accounts say 1616).
Brass memorial plaque on the wall of Saint Paul's Church:
"To The Glory of God and In Grateful Memory
REVEREND ALEXANDER WHITTAKER
OF
Cambridge University, England,
Rector of Henrico Parish,
1611-1617
A consecrated, faithful,
Zealous missionary of the
Church of England,
Who devoted his life to upbuilding the founders of Virginia in the Christian religion, and to the conversion of the Indians. He instructed, baptized and married Pocahontas. He was accidentally drowned in James River in 1617.
This tablet erected by the congregation of St. John's Church, 1907."
Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 15, 1955, p. F3 (149): "The gentle, earnest minister was drowned in the James River in the Spring of 1617. At least he was spared the tragedy of the massacre of March 22, 1622, which ended the high hopes of Henricopolis."
Henricus Historical Park: "Publick Days & Godspeed from Jamestown Settlement": Sunday, September 23-24, 2017: "The 400th anniversary of the death of Rev. Alexander Whitaker will be commemorated."
The "Apostle of Virginia."
Rector of Henrico County.
Author of "Good News From Virginia" (London, 1613), the first book written in English on American soil and first book written in Virginia.
He Baptized Pocahontas in 1613 and performed her marriage in Virginia April 5, 1614 to sir John Rolfe.
Some erroneous accounts claimed his father Rev. William Whitaker performed the marriage in England when Pocahontas traveled to London in 1616, but William Whitaker had died in 1595.
A painting of the baptism of Pocahontas hangs in the rotunda of the U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C.
He drowned while crossing the James River in September 1617 (many accounts say 1616).
Brass memorial plaque on the wall of Saint Paul's Church:
"To The Glory of God and In Grateful Memory
REVEREND ALEXANDER WHITTAKER
OF
Cambridge University, England,
Rector of Henrico Parish,
1611-1617
A consecrated, faithful,
Zealous missionary of the
Church of England,
Who devoted his life to upbuilding the founders of Virginia in the Christian religion, and to the conversion of the Indians. He instructed, baptized and married Pocahontas. He was accidentally drowned in James River in 1617.
This tablet erected by the congregation of St. John's Church, 1907."
Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 15, 1955, p. F3 (149): "The gentle, earnest minister was drowned in the James River in the Spring of 1617. At least he was spared the tragedy of the massacre of March 22, 1622, which ended the high hopes of Henricopolis."
Henricus Historical Park: "Publick Days & Godspeed from Jamestown Settlement": Sunday, September 23-24, 2017: "The 400th anniversary of the death of Rev. Alexander Whitaker will be commemorated."
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