Thirty Fathers in Thirty Days: Captain James Davis

When it comes to counting back to immigrant ancestors, it really doesn't get any further back, as far as number of generations, or as applicable, than Captain James Davis of Jamestown. He is my 11th Great Grandfather. 

James Davis was born between 1575 and 1580 in Gloucester, England. He was the son of another ship captain, Sir Thomas Davis. He married Rachel Keyes around 1607/1608 per The Adventures of Purse and Person, page 238, her name coming from Patent Book 1, page 17, CP 1, p xxiv.

His death was noted by Hotten as "James Davis, dead at his plantation over the water from James City, February 16, 1623".  Some sources say that his plantation fell under attack by indigenous peoples and he was killed in the confrontation. He was not an old, only in his forties, but the life he lived in those few years was extraordinary, and he was a true founder of America.

James Davis was a mariner, Captain of many ships, a Colonial Governor, an Ancient Planter and original citizen of Jamestown. He was also Captain of Fort Sagadahoc in Maine and among a group of men tasked with settling the region of Virginia that was called New England. He is very well documented and his exploits could fill a book, and have, many in fact, chapters in others, and he was, himself, an author.

James was the son of Sir Thomas Davis, himself a mariner. In 1607, James and his brother, Robert, also a Captain, came to America. The brothers had been part of a group that included a third brother, John Davis, to aid in the settlement at Fort Sagadahoc, at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. James was named Captain of Fort Sagadahoc, and Robert, a Sergeant Major. James was among the leaders and councilors of the new Colony, but spent most of his time sailing back and forth bringing supplies and people. The settlers in Maine had a difficult go of it, and within three years, most of them had returned  to England. The southern colony, named Jamestown, in Virginia, had a much better climate. The men's father, Sir Thomas Davis, would join them there in 1619, arriving on "The Margaret".

Sir John Popham

Sir John Popham (1531-1607) was the Lord Chief Justice of England, and was known as, "The Hangman" in England, because of his tendency to use the gallows for punishment against Highwaymen, or roadside thieves and robbers, despite the rumor that he, himself, had used this method of criminality, himself, to pay his way through college. Popham was the organizer of the company of young professionals and lesser noblemen tasked with founding the Kennebec Colony. He placed his nephew, George, in charge of the group, which included the three young Davis brothers, sons of Sir Thomas.

A book titled "History of Travel into Virginia Britania", Volume Two or the 'Second Book', by William Srtachey gives a detailed account of the endeavor. Popham was set on starting a Colony on the Sagadahoc River, even after earlier efforts had been waylaid by Spanish pirates, so with a second attempt, he had sent two ships and a flyboat, for shallow water exploration, with more than ample provisions, to try again. The two ships were the 'Gift of God' commanded by George Popham, his nephew and Raleigh Gilbert commanded the 'Mary and John' of London, with 120 passengers. They first saw Nova Scotia, and later dropped anchor near a group of islands, where they were met by a small band of Natives who had possession of Spanish ships, and wanted to trade. Nothing to do with James, but interesting. Soon after, the first mention of the Davis brothers is made, when Captain Robert "Davies" and 12 other men rowed to shore into a bay and found razzberries, strawberries, gooseberries and something called 'hurts', which was reckoned to be huckleberries. A group went to shore after they arrived at their destination, and a preacher named Seymour gave a sermon, and a Commission was organized to start the building of a plantation. George Popham was named President and the other men mentioned were Raleigh Gilbert, James Davis, Mr. Seymour, the minister, Richard Davis (Robert?) and a Captain Harlow. There was afterwards a great deal of trade and interaction with the people there, the native tribes. After a while, Robert Davis was sent back to England with reports of their success and all proof of all they found, with letters for Lord Popham, and requests for more supplies. While he was gone, the group fixed up the fort, built trenches and fortifications, 50 houses, a church and a storehouse and a pinnacle was built by carpenters.

The next year when Robert Davis returned from the port of Exeter with a ship full of supplies, guns, tools, books, instruments, food and mail, he found George Popham and some others dead, but the fort in good repair, relationships with the Natives well, and lots of items stored for trade on a return journey. Captain Gilbert found out through letters that his brother was dead back in England, and therefore, he, a younger son, was now entitled to the inheritance. So, the pretty much all loaded up and returned to England, and that was the end of that venture.

“Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of England in the year 1606 procured means and men to possess it.” He sent, among others, Capt. Robert Davis to act as Sergeant-Major and Capt. James Davis to be Captain of the fort. John Davis also is mentioned among the “noble captains” on the expedition.

Author John Bennett Boddie has written several books on Virginia and southern regional history, among them; Historical Southern Families, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, and Southside Virginia Families. There are multiple mentions of James Davis and family in these books.

 After the remaining members of that colony gave up and returned in discouragement to England in 1609, James Davis sailed for the southern Virginia colony where he became one its earliest settlers and one of the “ancient planters.” Boddie says that “his [Capt. James Davis’s] descendants in the South can claim to be the oldest New England family, ante dating the Mayflower by 13 years!”

"6 October 1607, James Davis sailed for England as Captain of the “Mary and John”. His narrative in “Relation” suspends on the 6th of October 1607 and Mr. Thayer concludes from this that it was because James Davis sailed away for England. This vessel arrived in England December 1st after a voyage of 53 days. A plan of Fort St. George at Sagadahoc inscribed “taken out on the 8th of October 1607” was found in later years with the narrative.

The “Gift” also sailed from Sagadahoc Colony to England on 15 Dec 1607 and arrived at Plymouth 7 February 1608. These ships on arriving found that Sir John Popham (President) The Chief Justice, had died 10 Jun 1607, ten days after they had sailed away from England to Northern Virginia.

After these ships had left Sagadahoc, the last one carrying 45 persons who wished to return to England, the settlers who remained Began to build a ship with their limited means in the wintertime in this bleak country and when this ship was finished, they called it the “Virginia” and it seems to have been a staunch trust-worthy vessel."

A group had returned to England to find old Lord Popham dead, and Captain James Davis wrote a book on his travels. The remaining colonists set about building their own boat and called it "Virginia". The entire coast was Virginia to them at this point. Now, the following facts are what I find the most fascinating. Captain James Davis, and the men who had been left behind not only built their own ship, in Maine at Fort Sagadahoc, they sailed the thing back to England on October 17, 1608. They were such good ship builders, that with the tools they had brought to this rough and unsettled land, they built a ship that was not only seaworthy, and made it across the Atlantic once, but James Davis ended up sailing it back again, this time to Jamestown!

In his “Conquest of Virginia, the Second Attempt,” p. 567, Sams says:

The ships of the Third Supply and their Captains were as follows:

“Unite” – Captain Wood – Departed England 8 (18) Jun1609 and arrived Jamestown, Virginia 21 Aug 1609.“Blessing” – Captain Gabriel Archer – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 arrived Jamestown, Virginia 21 Aug 1609.“Lion” – Captain Webb – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 and arrived Jamestown, Virginia 21 Aug 1609.“Falcon” – Captain John Martin – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 and arrived Jamestown, Virginia 21 Aug 1609.“Diamond” – Captains Ratcliffe and King – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 and arrived Jamestown, Virginia Aug 1609.“Swallow” – Captain Moone – Departed England 8 (18)Jun 1609 and arrived Jamestown, Virginia Aug 1609.“Catch” – Master Matthew Fitch – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 and was lost at sea with all aboard.

“Virginia” – Captain James Davis – Departed England 8 (18) Jun 1609 and arrived in Jamestown, Virginia 3 Oct 1609.

“Sea Adventure” – Captain Christopher – With Sir Thomas Gates and Sir James Somers on board with the new Charter of the Virginia, Company, which had been drafted by Sir Francis Bacon and signed by King James I on May 23 1609. This ship wrecked on Bermuda during hurricane. The “Deliverance” and “Patience” were built from the wreck of “Sea Adventure” and these two ships then left Bermuda 20 May 1610 bound for Jamestown, Virginia and arrived there May 1610.

Sams quotes first from the writers belonging to the Smith faction as follows: (p. 688)

 ‘The day before the ships departed, C. Davies arrived in a small pinnance with some sixteen proper men more.’ To these were added a company from James Town, under the command of Captain Ratcliffe, to inhabit Point Comfort. Martin and Master West having lost their boats, and near half their men amongst savages, were returned to James Town. For the savages no sooner understood of Captain’s Smith’s loss, but they all revolted, and did murder and spoil all they could encounter. Nor were we all constrained to leave only of that which Smith had only for his own company for the rest had consumed their proportions.”

James Davis escaped harm from Powatan's attacks due to being sent to Fort Algernon. He escaped "the Starving Time", in the winter of 1609-1610, by being enroute for more supplies. We are fortunate for his sailing skills keeping him safe, and therefore, we Davis descendants' existence. 

 Captain Percy’s account of this in his “True Relation” is as follows (Tyler’s Magazine, Vol. III, p. 266):

“I sent Captain Ratcliffe to Powhatan to secure victals and corne by way of commerce and trade, but Powhatan, the sly old king at a fitting time surprised Captain Ratcliffe whom he caused to be bound to a tree naked with a fire afore him and by women his flesh was scraped from his bones, with muscel shells and before his face thrown into the fire wherefrom he miserably perished.”

Captain Ratcliffe, who was held in more esteem by Smith and others, did not fare so well.

Captain Percy’s account continues:

“Upon wch defeate I sentt Capte James Davis to Algernowe foarte to comanwnd there in Capts. Ratliefes place and Capte West I sent to Potoamack with aboutt thirty sixe men to trade for maize and grayne where he in short tyme loaded his pinesse sufficyently yett used some harshe and crewell dealinge by cutteinge of two of the savages heads and other extermetyes and [when they left they came by] comeinge by Algernowns foarte Capteine Davis did call unto them acquaintinge them with our Great wants [they were starving] exhortinge them to make all the speded they cowlde to Releve us upon wch reporte Capte: Weste by the persuasive or rather by the inforcement of his company hoisted upp Sayles and shaped their course directly for England and lefte us in that extreme misery and wante.”

 The violence between the Colonists and the native populations went both ways. The Virginia Colonists became discouraged. Only 60 men were left out of 500, and they decided to embark for England, Captain Davis again commanded his old ship the Virginia, but thing then took an unexpected turn.

Percy’s account of this proposed return is as follows (p. 270):

“Then all of us embarking ourselves, Sir Thomas Gates in the “Deliverance” with his company, Sir George Somers in the “Patience”, Percy in the Discoverie (Discovery), and Captain James Davis in the “Virginia.” All of us sailing down the river with full intent to have proceeded upon our voyage for England when suddenly we spied a boat making toward us wherein we found Captain Bruster sent from my Lorde La Ware (Lord Deleware) who was come unto us with many gentlemen of quality, and three hundred men besides great store of victewles municyon and other privisions whereupon all returned to Jamestown.”

So a party of four ships, the Patience, the Discovery, the Deliverance and the Virginia, with James at command, are headed down the James River and giving up on Jamestown, on their way home to England when lo and behold, here comes Captain Bruster (Brewster) with three hundred men, many of them "gentlemen of quality", mostly younger sons of landholding, wealthier families and skilled craftsmen, food and supplies. Had they missed each other, would Jamestown have suffered the same fate and the Maine experiment?

The next adventure for Captain James was leading a show of force against the natives. On page 273, Percy recounts:

“Their sayleigne some two myles down the River I sent Capt. Davis A shoare with moste of my Sowldiers, myselfe being wearyed before and for my owne part, but an easie foote man was Capt: Davis. At his landeinge, he was approached by some Indyans who spared nott to send their arrowes Amongste our men but within A shorte Tyme he putt them to flighte and landed withoutt further opposity on marcheinge About fowrtene myles into the country cutt downe their corne, burned their howses, Temples and Idolles and amongste the reste A Spacyous Temple cleane and neattly keptt A thinge strange and seldome sene amongste the Indyans in those partes. So havinge performed all the spoyle he cowulde Retourned aboarde to me ageine and then we sayled downe the River to James Towne."

In my translation, he had sent James with most of his soldiers, as he (Percy), was weary and James was a good footman. When he landed a band of Indians approached, who did not shoot arrows at the party of men, but later, he sent them on their way, somehow, and came ashore. The men marched 14 miles into the interior, and laid waste to the tribes crops of corn, set their homes on fire, their 'temples and idols', and made note of an impressive and spacious temple of the kind they had not seen before among the tribes. Then, having done all the damage and collecting the spoils that they could, they sailed back down the river to Jamestown.

The next time there is any mention of Captain James Davis is from an event on Mary 2, 1611. Sir Thomas Dale had arrived, and James was at that time in command of Fort Algernon. There were two other forts, called Henry and Charles, that had been abandoned. Each sat at the end of a cape bearing their names. Dale ordered James to take possession of the two abandoned forts and put him in command of all three of them.

Two months later, on June 27th of the same year, a couple of Spanish ships turn up and drop anchor out near Fort Algernon. Now, in my early imagination, I always thought these folks had been rather isolated, strangers in a strange land, but that wasn't quite so. Not only was the land already quite populated and full of human activity, but there were also other European governments sailing about. The Spanish had been exploring the land and setting up colonies long before England, and you also had the French and the Dutch ships out and about. 

The Spanish sent a party out to talk to Captain Davis and asked for his surrender. They 'requested it' says Brown on page 152. Having that Davis spunk and spirit I saw in my grandfather Davis, his ancestor my GGGGGGGGGreat Grandfather said, "Hell to the Naw". Well, what he actually said, according to Captain George Percy, and recounted by Brown was, "Go to the Devil". Same difference.

When the Spaniards made their way to the fort, James Davis and his men lay in wait on the shore prepared to ambush them. He captured their leader, a man named Diego Malina and a few of his men. He attempted to bargain back and forth with them for a while, or 'parlay'. In the end, he let some of them, with an English pilot, go, under the condition that they make their way to Jamestown. Instead, when he got on board the Spanish hoisted their sails and took off, leaving poor Diego and their buddies with the English.

The last days of James Davis were spent more peacefully, between 1612 and 1623, were his "Ancient Planter" Days. He and Rachel settled in with their children on a plantation "over the water from James City", in an area east of Gray's Creek, in what is now Surry County, Virginia. He had started at Fort Algernon and Point Comfort and later moved to Henrico and Coxendale. His property appears to have been on the lower side of James River and east of Grays Creek. This was an area that people had removed to after a March 1622 Indian attack at Henrico. James had been placed in command of Henrico in 1616 and is described in a 1633 patent as 'formerly of Henrico'. He died on February 16, 1623, in what was probably an Indian raid. His widow, Rachel Keyes Davis is also described as an Ancient Planter. She and their son, Thomas, later received the headright and entitlements. 

 James and Rachel Keyes Davis had at least three sons: Thomas, Nathaniel and John. Thomas seems to have been the oldest, named for his grandfather, as the oldest sons inherited the property at that time. There may have been daughters, but they are unknown. We descend through Thomas. His story continues the Davis line. 

Citations
1. Emigrants by Hotten, p. 236.
2. 17th Century Isle of Wight County, VA, by John Bennett Boddie, 1938, Chapter XXIII, Captain James Davis of New England and Virginia; pp. 434-49.
5. True Relation by Captain George Percy, written circa 1607, Tyler’s Magazine, Vol. III.
6. Conquest of Virginia, the Second Attempt, by Sams.
7. The Relation of a voyage unto New England begun from the Lizard, ye first of June 1607 by Captain James Davis, The Georges Society Publication, Vol. IV.
8. Some Southern Colonial Families, III, David A. Avant (Tallahassee, Florida, 1989), pp. 205-52.

Below from True Relation by Captain George Percy