James Davis (mariner)
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James Davis (c. 1575 in
Popham Colony
Davis was master of the ship Mary & John which sailed to the New World to the coast of Maine. He is believed to be the author of an account of this voyage entitled, The Relation of a Voyage into New England begun from the Lizard, ye first of June, 1607.[1] He was the commander of the fort built on the Kennebec River, August 19, 1607, by the Sagadahoc New England Colony (the colony was made up of knights and gentlemen from Bristol).[2]
The short-lived colony built its fort and log buildings near present-day
Jamestown Colony
Records suggest that Davis and Virginia made at least one other Atlantic crossing, from England to the more successful
.Virginia survived the storm, and under the command of Davis (accompanied by his wife Rachel), arrived in the Colony on 3 October 1609. A possible brother, Robert, migrated to Virginia with Davis as well. At that time, Davis assumed command of
Virginia become a safe refuge when Indian hostilities erupted. She was also used to go inland to relieve Fort Algernon and attempt trade with the Powhatan confederacy. During this trip, Davis decapitated two Indians and left their mutilated bodies near the fort. On yet another inland foray, he destroyed a Powhatan village, burnt their corn and killed all men, women and children. Davis was soon in command of three forts.
Subsequent career
Mention of Davis continued. He is noted as commanding colonists at Henrico, Virginia in 1616. Most writers concur that Davis left his post in charge of the forts at Coxendale, near the present fort site of Henricus, and sailed for England aboard the ship "Treasurer", commanded by Samuel Argall in 1616. It is noteworthy that John Rolfe and Pocahontas were also aboard. And it is likely that he returned to Virginia in 1617 aboard the "George"; this is suggested by the fact that his son Thomas was deeded land in Virginia some years later for head rights accrued for two indentured servants whose passage he paid for on the 'George' that year.[3][4][5]
Death
The date of Davis' death is uncertain. Some sources believe Davis was among those killed (or wounded) in the
References
- ^ Captain James Davis, 1580 - 1623 Archived 2005-09-30 at the Wayback Machine at davisbeantrees.home.comcast.net
- )
- ^ English Expeditions to Powhatan Country Archived 2012-05-14 at the Wayback Machine, nd. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ^ 1606/1607 Voyage To Virginia., Retrieved on Sept.22, 2008
- ^ Captain James Davis, 1580-1623, The Early Settlement of New England & Virginia Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine by Kerry S. Davis, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
Sources
- Biographies - James Davis (Wash & NoVa Company)
External links
- Maine's First Ship - a project to reconstruct Virginia
- Popham Colony