Check out the SAVAGE DNA PROJECT at: www.worldfamilies.net/ surnames/s/savage/index.html I have had my DNA typed and am particularly interested in finding someone who is a documented descendant of Ensign Thomas Savage who would be willing to have their DNA typed for comparison to mine. If we have a match it would provide further proof that Ensign Thomas Savage and Thomas Savage, Carpenter, were closely related. Please email me at the address listed at the bottom of this page. |
| Thomas Savage, "The Carpenter," prominent figure in Northampton and Accomack Counties on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, was an early arrival to the shores of Colonial Virginia. He is known to have been a builder of watercraft, a manufacturer of casks and barrels, and a large plantation owner. The name, Savage, is said to be the oldest continuing family name in America. Ensign Thomas Savage is well known in Virginia History. In 1608, at the age of thirteen he was given to Powhatan by Captain Christopher Newport as a hostage to insure friendship with the powerful Powhatan. The "trusty servant" Namotack was given to Newport in exchange for Savage. |
By 1632, when we find our first record of Thomas Savage (100 acre
lease/grant), the Jamestown Colony had expanded across the bay to
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We don't know the age of Thomas, or
the specific year he arrived on the shore of the new world, nor do we
know from where in England he came, or if he was born in Virginia.
His name is not found in the muster of 1624/25, so there are these
possibilities; he arrived between 1625 and 1632, or he was born in the
colony and was, for whatever reason, not included in the muster.
His first land acquisition, 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek, was very
close to the land of another Thomas Savage; one well known in
Virginia history. "Ensign" Thomas Savage arrived at Jamestown in
January, 1607/08 "in the first supply" and some researchers have
speculated that Thomas "The Carpenter" was his son. To date, this
has not been proven and is still a subject of some controversy, but the
evidence that he was, in fact, the son of the Ensign, is growing.
The Carpenter next owned 400 acres on the island protected seaside,
but ultimately settled on 500 acres about ten miles north on
Nassawadox Creek where he had a good, deep water facility for
building watercraft.
Note that each of the three locations were on protected water, which
probably indicates that he had been in the boat building business for
some time.
lease/grant), the Jamestown Colony had expanded across the bay to
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We don't know the age of Thomas, or
the specific year he arrived on the shore of the new world, nor do we
know from where in England he came, or if he was born in Virginia.
His name is not found in the muster of 1624/25, so there are these
possibilities; he arrived between 1625 and 1632, or he was born in the
colony and was, for whatever reason, not included in the muster.
His first land acquisition, 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek, was very
close to the land of another Thomas Savage; one well known in
Virginia history. "Ensign" Thomas Savage arrived at Jamestown in
January, 1607/08 "in the first supply" and some researchers have
speculated that Thomas "The Carpenter" was his son. To date, this
has not been proven and is still a subject of some controversy, but the
evidence that he was, in fact, the son of the Ensign, is growing.
The Carpenter next owned 400 acres on the island protected seaside,
but ultimately settled on 500 acres about ten miles north on
Nassawadox Creek where he had a good, deep water facility for
building watercraft.
Note that each of the three locations were on protected water, which
probably indicates that he had been in the boat building business for
some time.
A skirmish with the Indians near Jamestown
Perhaps the most helpful genealogy historian of the Eastern Shore of
Virginia was Ralph T. Whitelaw. In the passage printed below,
Whitelaw indicates what many have believed, that
Thomas Savage The Carpenter was another son of Ensign Thomas
Savage.
VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE, by Ralph T. Whitelaw, Volume 1,
page 511.
N106 (Parcel 106 in Northampton County)
1646; Patent to Thomas Savage for 500 acres. Some historians have
believed that this Thomas Savage was another son of Ensign Thomas
Savage(N49), but a careful search has revealed nothing to substantiate
that claim. It seems more likely that he is the same Thomas Savage,
carpenter, who received a lease for 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek
in 1633, and that he received this present patent after he had become
established and acquired the means to provide the necessary
headrights.
Whitelaw found the same two court records which I, myself found
(see below) which named son, Thomas as an heir to the Ensign
Thomas Savage estate, but he discounts this with; "the two records
calling him Thomas must have been a careless misuse of the name."
Whitelaw assumed that the court records should have read, John
Savage, not Thomas Savage. There is little question that the two court
records printed below names Thomas Savage as an heir and I believe
it's a rather bold conjecture on the part of Whitelaw to write it off as
"a careless misuse of the name." Also, The Dictionary of National
Biography, by Oxford University Press, says of Ensign Thomas
Savage; "he had two sons, Thomas and John, besides other children
who died young." Researchers of the Ensign Thomas Savage line
imply that Captain John Savage was the sole heir to the estate of
Ensign Thomas. There is a mistake here somewhere - is it with the
court records at two different times, or is it with the Ensign Thomas
researchers? To date I have found no hard evidence that Thomas The
Carpenter did end up with the 9000 acres. He had at least two
properties that he acquired himself; 500 acres and 250 acres. The 500
went to son, Thomas and the 250 acres went to son, John, but I have
found no record of any other large tract. This does not mean that
there were no such records at one time - most of the early records
have not survived.
It's appears to me that Ensign Thomas Savage fathered at least two
sons and It seems unlikely to me that there were no other children
surviving at the time of his death; after all, he was a renowned
adventurer.
COUNTY COURT RECORDS of ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON,
VIRGINIA, 1640-1645, by Susie M. Ames. Published for The Virginia
Historical Society.
February 22, 1639:
"[fol. 17] It is thought Fitt and Accordingly Ordered By this Courte
[that the] Land of Thomas Savage sonne and heire unto Ensigne
Thomas Savage Deceased shall Be surveyed within the space of a
Moneth after the date hereof. And that the survey thereof shall bee
payde for By the Overseers; And Further if in case noe payment shall
bee by them made For the survey thereof, That then there shall be soe
much raysed out of the said Land as shall Fully satisfye and pay For
the same."
September 7, 1640:
"A very greate Quantity of land is graunted unto Thomas Savage
sonne and heire unto Ensigne Thomas Savage [bounded] as followeth
viz. with the Creeke of Accomack on the [South the] greate Bay on
the West Wisoaponso [?] on the North and the on the East
dated the one and twentieth day of December I terrio Caroli Rex."
Virginia was Ralph T. Whitelaw. In the passage printed below,
Whitelaw indicates what many have believed, that
Thomas Savage The Carpenter was another son of Ensign Thomas
Savage.
VIRGINIA'S EASTERN SHORE, by Ralph T. Whitelaw, Volume 1,
page 511.
N106 (Parcel 106 in Northampton County)
1646; Patent to Thomas Savage for 500 acres. Some historians have
believed that this Thomas Savage was another son of Ensign Thomas
Savage(N49), but a careful search has revealed nothing to substantiate
that claim. It seems more likely that he is the same Thomas Savage,
carpenter, who received a lease for 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek
in 1633, and that he received this present patent after he had become
established and acquired the means to provide the necessary
headrights.
Whitelaw found the same two court records which I, myself found
(see below) which named son, Thomas as an heir to the Ensign
Thomas Savage estate, but he discounts this with; "the two records
calling him Thomas must have been a careless misuse of the name."
Whitelaw assumed that the court records should have read, John
Savage, not Thomas Savage. There is little question that the two court
records printed below names Thomas Savage as an heir and I believe
it's a rather bold conjecture on the part of Whitelaw to write it off as
"a careless misuse of the name." Also, The Dictionary of National
Biography, by Oxford University Press, says of Ensign Thomas
Savage; "he had two sons, Thomas and John, besides other children
who died young." Researchers of the Ensign Thomas Savage line
imply that Captain John Savage was the sole heir to the estate of
Ensign Thomas. There is a mistake here somewhere - is it with the
court records at two different times, or is it with the Ensign Thomas
researchers? To date I have found no hard evidence that Thomas The
Carpenter did end up with the 9000 acres. He had at least two
properties that he acquired himself; 500 acres and 250 acres. The 500
went to son, Thomas and the 250 acres went to son, John, but I have
found no record of any other large tract. This does not mean that
there were no such records at one time - most of the early records
have not survived.
It's appears to me that Ensign Thomas Savage fathered at least two
sons and It seems unlikely to me that there were no other children
surviving at the time of his death; after all, he was a renowned
adventurer.
COUNTY COURT RECORDS of ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON,
VIRGINIA, 1640-1645, by Susie M. Ames. Published for The Virginia
Historical Society.
February 22, 1639:
"[fol. 17] It is thought Fitt and Accordingly Ordered By this Courte
[that the] Land of Thomas Savage sonne and heire unto Ensigne
Thomas Savage Deceased shall Be surveyed within the space of a
Moneth after the date hereof. And that the survey thereof shall bee
payde for By the Overseers; And Further if in case noe payment shall
bee by them made For the survey thereof, That then there shall be soe
much raysed out of the said Land as shall Fully satisfye and pay For
the same."
September 7, 1640:
"A very greate Quantity of land is graunted unto Thomas Savage
sonne and heire unto Ensigne Thomas Savage [bounded] as followeth
viz. with the Creeke of Accomack on the [South the] greate Bay on
the West Wisoaponso [?] on the North and the on the East
dated the one and twentieth day of December I terrio Caroli Rex."
The first firm record we have of Thomas Savage “The Carpenter” is
the land transaction of 1632:
“Thomas Savadge, Carpenter, 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek,
at Accomacke, abutting westerly on the land granted Roger
Saunders, and thence east towards a creek called the Second Creek.
By Harvey, March 14th, 1632. 21 year lease.”
It had been conjectured that “The Carpenter” was the same
Thomas Savage who arrived in 1623 on the ship, Ambrose, as
identified in the Virginia muster of 1625.
In the July-September issue of THE VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST,
Volume #7, No. 3, page 99, in an article entitled; THOMAS
SAVAGE, CARPENTER, OF THE VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE,
Lundie W. Barlow of Richmond, Virginia says the following:
“The story of Ensign Thomas Savage has been told many times, but
scant attention has been given to his contemporary, Thomas
Savage, carpenter, a neighbor and possibly, but not demonstrably,
a kinsman.”
Barlow goes on to include a short history of Ensign Thomas
Savage, and then follows with;
“With this summery of evidence respecting Ensign Thomas Savage
and his immediate descendants as a background, consideration
may now be given to his namesake, Thomas Savage, Carpenter,
and the latter’s progeny for several generations. Thomas Savage
(c1606-c1654) first appears in the Virginia records in 1625 as a
servant of Mr. William Gany of Elizabeth City County. He was
eighteen years of age and had come to the colony about two years
previously. On 14 March 1632/3 he entered into a twenty-one year
lease for 100 acres of land on Old Plantation Creek in present
Northampton County, being designated therein as ‘Thomas
Savage, Carpenter’.”
Barlow then continues with information on Thomas the Carpenter
and two subsequent generations and that information has been
verified by my own research as outlined in my book; SAVAGE IS
MY NAME.
However;
Recent disclosures in the minutes of the Court of Colonial Virginia,
concerning Thomas Savage, servant of William Gany, proves that
this Thomas Savage died by drowning in 1626 (see court record
below). Therefore, the Gany servant could not have been Thomas
Savage the Carpenter as I incorrectly reported in my book.
Another interesting point, as shown in these court documents, is
that the Savage lad who drowned was actually indentured to an
individual other than Gany, but was "rented out" to Gany for a
period of one year.
The text of these disclosures, from the minutes of the Court of
Colonial Virginia, was provided to me by Mr. James W. Petty,
Genealogist, PO Box 893, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, 801-572-4049.
Mr. Petty recently was given the 2005 Mosher Award by the Board
for the Certification of Genealogists, for his research on Colonial
Virginia Headright Records. While doing research on the
"Headright" system Mr. Petty ran across the record of the death,
by drowning, of the Gany servant and thoughtfully notified me of
his finding so that the record could be set straight. I subsequently
printed a correction for my book.
So we see that Thomas Savage, the Gany servant, who arrived in
Virginia in 1623 at age sixteen, on the ship, Ambrose, could not
have been Thomas Savage "The Carpenter." Now we face the
questions:
When did "The Carpenter" arrive? Or was he born in Virginia?
What was his age?
Was he another son of Ensign Thomas Savage?
If any reader has a clue, no matter how far-fetched it may seem,
please contact me.
the land transaction of 1632:
“Thomas Savadge, Carpenter, 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek,
at Accomacke, abutting westerly on the land granted Roger
Saunders, and thence east towards a creek called the Second Creek.
By Harvey, March 14th, 1632. 21 year lease.”
It had been conjectured that “The Carpenter” was the same
Thomas Savage who arrived in 1623 on the ship, Ambrose, as
identified in the Virginia muster of 1625.
In the July-September issue of THE VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST,
Volume #7, No. 3, page 99, in an article entitled; THOMAS
SAVAGE, CARPENTER, OF THE VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE,
Lundie W. Barlow of Richmond, Virginia says the following:
“The story of Ensign Thomas Savage has been told many times, but
scant attention has been given to his contemporary, Thomas
Savage, carpenter, a neighbor and possibly, but not demonstrably,
a kinsman.”
Barlow goes on to include a short history of Ensign Thomas
Savage, and then follows with;
“With this summery of evidence respecting Ensign Thomas Savage
and his immediate descendants as a background, consideration
may now be given to his namesake, Thomas Savage, Carpenter,
and the latter’s progeny for several generations. Thomas Savage
(c1606-c1654) first appears in the Virginia records in 1625 as a
servant of Mr. William Gany of Elizabeth City County. He was
eighteen years of age and had come to the colony about two years
previously. On 14 March 1632/3 he entered into a twenty-one year
lease for 100 acres of land on Old Plantation Creek in present
Northampton County, being designated therein as ‘Thomas
Savage, Carpenter’.”
Barlow then continues with information on Thomas the Carpenter
and two subsequent generations and that information has been
verified by my own research as outlined in my book; SAVAGE IS
MY NAME.
However;
Recent disclosures in the minutes of the Court of Colonial Virginia,
concerning Thomas Savage, servant of William Gany, proves that
this Thomas Savage died by drowning in 1626 (see court record
below). Therefore, the Gany servant could not have been Thomas
Savage the Carpenter as I incorrectly reported in my book.
Another interesting point, as shown in these court documents, is
that the Savage lad who drowned was actually indentured to an
individual other than Gany, but was "rented out" to Gany for a
period of one year.
The text of these disclosures, from the minutes of the Court of
Colonial Virginia, was provided to me by Mr. James W. Petty,
Genealogist, PO Box 893, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, 801-572-4049.
Mr. Petty recently was given the 2005 Mosher Award by the Board
for the Certification of Genealogists, for his research on Colonial
Virginia Headright Records. While doing research on the
"Headright" system Mr. Petty ran across the record of the death,
by drowning, of the Gany servant and thoughtfully notified me of
his finding so that the record could be set straight. I subsequently
printed a correction for my book.
So we see that Thomas Savage, the Gany servant, who arrived in
Virginia in 1623 at age sixteen, on the ship, Ambrose, could not
have been Thomas Savage "The Carpenter." Now we face the
questions:
When did "The Carpenter" arrive? Or was he born in Virginia?
What was his age?
Was he another son of Ensign Thomas Savage?
If any reader has a clue, no matter how far-fetched it may seem,
please contact me.
| After spending many years tracing my line to Thomas Savage, in 1995 I published a book covering the thirteen generations from he to my grand-children. After the book was completed I continued the search for the antecedents and descendants of this remarkable man. The book is entitled; SAVAGE IS MY NAME A History of Thirteen Generations of a Savage Family in America This book is available for sale. It covers the eleven generations from Thomas Savage, The Carpenter, to myself. My children and grandchildren make the total number of generations equal thirteen. The book is high quality hardback, 308 pages, illustrated and indexed. Price is $29.50 plus $6.50 for packaging and shipping first class, total - $36.00. Media Rate shipping is cheaper, but slower - $33.00. Mail check to; R. Blair Savage 157 Shadowleaf Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28739 |
| Robinson T. Savage and many of his descendants are told about in Evelyn Guard Olsen's book, Indian Blood, a brilliant narrative about life in the Blooming Rose area of Garrett County during the 1800's. Stephen Schlosnagle's bicentennial history of Garrett County contains numerous references to our Savage ancestors. Garrett County Graves would be several pages thinner had Robinson not planted his roots where he did. |
A Shallop Shallops of the time were described as; "of twenty-six feet by the keel with masts, oars and yards". "of four tons". "a sloop rigged craft of about twelve tons". (Capt. John Smith's shallop with which he explored the bay area) |
| Robinson T. Savage was the first school teacher in Western Maryland. He was a friend and neighbor of Meshack Browning. Meshack was a famous pioneer hunter and outdoorsman. His flintlock rifle rests in the Smithsonian. In Meshack's book, Forty-four Years of The Life Of A Hunter, a tome about his many exploits, he tells about he and Robinson being together in the War of 1812. They volunteered, were appointed sergeants and marched off to Baltimore. |
| A quote from the pen of J.C. Wise: "These old carpenters and ship-builders seem to have been constantly occupied and prosperous". |
Thomas The Carpenter had two sons, Thomas, Jr. and John. |
| A century after he was active on the Eastern Shore, Thomas Savage was referred to, in court records as; Thomas Savage The Elder. |
The line from Thomas Savage the Carpenter to
me is as follows:
01. Thomas Savage1 ? - 1654-55
02. Thomas Savage2 1646 - 1721
03. Robinson Savage1 1699 - 1774
04. Robinson Savage2 ? - 1786
05. Robinson T. Savage abt 1769 - 1830's
06. Evan Savage 1797 - after 1849
07. Robert Savage 1819 - 1895
08. Nelson E. Savage abt 1838 - 1916
09. Milton Jackson Savage 1880 - 1960
10. Russell Milton Savage 1901 - 1986
11. Russell Blair Savage 1934 – (That's me!)
Additions and corrections to the information contained herein are welcome. I may be contacted at: R. Blair Savage 157 Shadowleaf Dr. Hendersonville, NC 28739 Ph 828-808-3749 I may be contacted by email at the address following. This address is broken into segments to prevent copying by spam spiders. rbsavage1 followed by; @ followed by; yahoo.com |
This web site went on-line in July of 2005. I will continue to add to it any information that I may find on Thomas Savage, The Carpenter and Ensign Thomas Savage. I also regularly add to the 4000 + names on the Robinson T. Savage web site. The content of this web site is protected by United States copyright law. Content from this and the Robinson T. Savage site may be reproduced by private individuals for the purpose of adding to their personal genealogy data base. Commercial use is prohibited without the written consent of R. Blair Savage. |
Thomas Savage had many craftsmen and
laborers working his shops and
plantation. Some of them were slaves,
some were indentured servants and
undoubtedly some were freemen.
laborers working his shops and
plantation. Some of them were slaves,
some were indentured servants and
undoubtedly some were freemen.
I've also published a book of 40 short stories, all true. 160 pages, illustrated, soft cover. Price is $10.00 when ordered with my Savage book. |
SAVAGE ANCESTRY Dedicated to Thomas Savage "The Carpenter" and Ensign Thomas Savage The Search for Their Antecedents and Their Descendants |
| The aim of this site is to: 1. Make available information on the continuing effort to determine the relationship of Thomas Savage the Carpenter, who first appears in Colonial Virginia records in 1632, and Ensign Thomas Savage who arrived in 1607/08 with the "First Supply" to Jamestown, and to determine their family history in England. 2. Provide assistance, where possible, to those who believe they may be descended from these two adventurers. |
| SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGe HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY HISTORY SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE |
| A colonial cooper needed skills, intelligence, and strength. They made casks and containers of many specific sizes which included the barrel, firkin, kilderkin, hogshead, butt, tierce, puncheon, rundlet and pipe. They also made pails, churns, tubs, and dippers. These were made of cedar and pine, and were used to hold goods like flour, tobacco, and water. Coopers used broad axes, planes, drawknives, and other tools to make these items. A carpenter was perhaps the most useful colonial tradesman. The carpenter used many different tools, including the saw, broad axe, hammer, awl, mallet, plane, scribe, drawknife, gimlet, and froe. Carpenters built with, oak, locust, tulip, poplar, yellow pine, cypress and juniper. |
By R. Blair Savage
Milton Jackson Savage
Russell Milton Savage
| Updated: 3-3-2009 New information will be printed in red. See the recent insert below concerning Richard Savage. See the new insert below about THE TRUE STORY OF POCAHONTAS. |
| Please click on the Arms/ button above for information on the Savage coat of Arms |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | |
How is it Cozen?
Following is a newly discovered Northampton County Court
record of a deposition of one Francis Pettett wherein Pettett
relates how Thomas Savage the Carpenter went to the home
of Capt. John Savage, son of Ensign Thomas Savage, and
greeted him by calling him, Cousin.
It is important to understand that the term, cousin could
have represented several different relationships in Colonial
Virginia. Nephews, nieces, and other relatives would have
been referred to as, cousin. It appears the term could also
have been used for a half-brother. See definitions below.
June 29, 1646
The deposition of FFrancis Pettett taken in open Court
This deponent saith that about FFebruary last past Thomas
Savage desired this deponent to goe along wth him unto
John Savage and when they came unto the sd John Savage
Asked the sd John Savage saying how is it Cozen And John
Savage replyed saying I am much dampnifyed for want of
my house and my hogd of tobacco. The sd John Savage
(Thomas Savage) replyed saying I think I did you a courtesie
in not comeing, for I should have but eaten upp yor Victualls
the weather being soe vehement cold but I heare you will
have mee to keepe upp my hogs in a penn all the yeare And
the sd John Savage answeared you shall keepe upp yor hoggs
as the rest of yor neighbors doth if they doth you shall or
words to that effect, but further the sd Thomas Savage told
him saying I will come and doe your work by the first of
March you getting timber in readynes and I will pay you yor
hogd of tobacco, And this deponent further saith that about
March last past Tho: Savage being at work about the house
of John Savage came to this deponent and entreated him to
write the agreement betweene him and John Savage, And this
deponent went and could not write it by reason his hand did
shake soe John Savage did write it himselfe And further saith
not.
Juratr in apta Curia FFra: Pettett
============================================================
=====================================================
Definitions:
>Generally, “cousin” refers to a nephew or niece. In the
broadest sense, it could mean any familial relationship,
blood or otherwise, except for first-degree relationships.
Bob’s Genealogy Filing Cabinet II - Colonial Legal Terminology
Answering my inquiry, this source offered; "In that context,
(the above deposition described greeting) the term is used as
a familiarity rather than a legal description. It could mean
almost anything. Since they have the same surname, half-
brother is certainly a possibility".
>In colonial times, it most often meant nephew or niece. In
the broader context, it could also mean any familial
relationship, blood or otherwise,( except father, mother,
brother, sister), or the contemporary meaning of a child of
one's aunt or uncle. MetaGlossary.com
>Middle English cosin, a relative, from Old French, from
Latin c ns br nus, cousin: com-, com- + s br nus, cousin on
the mother's side; see swesor- in Indo-European roots. A
child of one's aunt or uncle. Also called first cousin . A
relative descended from a common ancestor, such as a
grandparent, by two or more steps in a diverging line. A
relative by blood or marriage; a kinsman or kinswoman. The
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition
> The term, cousin, in colonial times, most often meant
nephew or niece.
Bryan L. Mulcahy, Reference Librarian, Ft. Myers-Lee County Library
Following is a newly discovered Northampton County Court
record of a deposition of one Francis Pettett wherein Pettett
relates how Thomas Savage the Carpenter went to the home
of Capt. John Savage, son of Ensign Thomas Savage, and
greeted him by calling him, Cousin.
It is important to understand that the term, cousin could
have represented several different relationships in Colonial
Virginia. Nephews, nieces, and other relatives would have
been referred to as, cousin. It appears the term could also
have been used for a half-brother. See definitions below.
June 29, 1646
The deposition of FFrancis Pettett taken in open Court
This deponent saith that about FFebruary last past Thomas
Savage desired this deponent to goe along wth him unto
John Savage and when they came unto the sd John Savage
Asked the sd John Savage saying how is it Cozen And John
Savage replyed saying I am much dampnifyed for want of
my house and my hogd of tobacco. The sd John Savage
(Thomas Savage) replyed saying I think I did you a courtesie
in not comeing, for I should have but eaten upp yor Victualls
the weather being soe vehement cold but I heare you will
have mee to keepe upp my hogs in a penn all the yeare And
the sd John Savage answeared you shall keepe upp yor hoggs
as the rest of yor neighbors doth if they doth you shall or
words to that effect, but further the sd Thomas Savage told
him saying I will come and doe your work by the first of
March you getting timber in readynes and I will pay you yor
hogd of tobacco, And this deponent further saith that about
March last past Tho: Savage being at work about the house
of John Savage came to this deponent and entreated him to
write the agreement betweene him and John Savage, And this
deponent went and could not write it by reason his hand did
shake soe John Savage did write it himselfe And further saith
not.
Juratr in apta Curia FFra: Pettett
============================================================
=====================================================
Definitions:
>Generally, “cousin” refers to a nephew or niece. In the
broadest sense, it could mean any familial relationship,
blood or otherwise, except for first-degree relationships.
Bob’s Genealogy Filing Cabinet II - Colonial Legal Terminology
Answering my inquiry, this source offered; "In that context,
(the above deposition described greeting) the term is used as
a familiarity rather than a legal description. It could mean
almost anything. Since they have the same surname, half-
brother is certainly a possibility".
>In colonial times, it most often meant nephew or niece. In
the broader context, it could also mean any familial
relationship, blood or otherwise,( except father, mother,
brother, sister), or the contemporary meaning of a child of
one's aunt or uncle. MetaGlossary.com
>Middle English cosin, a relative, from Old French, from
Latin c ns br nus, cousin: com-, com- + s br nus, cousin on
the mother's side; see swesor- in Indo-European roots. A
child of one's aunt or uncle. Also called first cousin . A
relative descended from a common ancestor, such as a
grandparent, by two or more steps in a diverging line. A
relative by blood or marriage; a kinsman or kinswoman. The
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition
> The term, cousin, in colonial times, most often meant
nephew or niece.
Bryan L. Mulcahy, Reference Librarian, Ft. Myers-Lee County Library
| Blair’s Library of Colonial Virginia 02-08-2009 01. Virginia’s Eastern Shore Vol. I & II Ralph T. Whitelaw 02. Marriages, Northampton County, Virginia 1660-1854 Jean Mihalyka 03. America’s First Family, The Savages of Virginia Burghard 04. The Ancient And Noble Family Of The Savages Of The Ards G.F.Armstrong 05. We Are The Savages J.C. Savage 06. Wills And Adms of Accomack Co. Va. 1663 – 1800 Stratton Nottingham 07. Savage Kingdom – The True Story of Jamestown Benjamin Wooley 08. Virginia Immigrants And Adventurers 1607 – 1635 Martha W. McCartney 09. Loose Papers and Sundry Court Cases 1628 – 1731 Jean Mihalyka 10. Ye Kingdom Of Accawmacke Jennings Cropper Wise 11. The Peopling of British North America Bernard Bailyn 12. Savage Is My Name R. Blair Savage 13. Accomack Tithables 1663 – 1695 Stratton Nottingham 14. Mother Earth – Land Grants in Virginia W. Stitt Robinson, Jr. 15. One Among the Indians Martha Bennett Stiles 16. Virginia – The First Seventeen Years Charles E. Hatch, Jr. 17. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic in Virginia 1607-09 Susie Ames 18. Northampton Co. Va. Record Bk, Orders, Deeds, Wills, 1654-55 Mackey & Groves 19. Pocahontas's People: The Powhatan Indians of Virginia Rountree 20. The Jamestown Adventure: Accts of the Virginia Colony, 1605-1614 Southern 21. Eastern Shore Indians of Virginia and Maryland Rountree & Davidson 22. Before and After Jamestown: Virginia's Powhatans Rountree & Turner 23. Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough Rountree 24. Jamestowne Ancestors 1607-1699 Davis 25. The Common Law of Colonial America: Nelson 26. A Land As God Made It: Jamestown & The Birth Of America Horn 27. Co. Ct. Records of Accomack-Northampton 1640-1645 Susie Ames 28. Jamestown, the Buried Truth Kelso 29. The Jamestown Colony – Cornerstones of Freedom Sakurai 30. Studies of the Virginia Eastern Shore in the seventeenth century Susie M Ames 31. Who’s Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Savage Jean Fritz 32. The Records of the Va. Co. of London, The Court Book, Vol. 1, 1619/22 Susan M. Kingsbury 33. The Records of the Va. Co. of London - on CD, Vol. 1,2,3,4 Susan M. Kingsbury 34. The Powhatan Indians of Virginia Helen C. Rountree 35. The Eastern Shore of Virginia, 1603-1964 Nora Miller Turman 36. The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History Custalow & Daniel 37. Life of the Powhatan (Native Nations of North America) Sjonger & Kalman 38. Adventures of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1624/5, Vol. I, A-F John Dorman 39. First People: The Early Indians of Virginia" Keith Egloff; 40. Captain John Smith Horn |
| THE TRUE STORY OF POCAHONTAS The Other Side of History Anyone interested in the history of Colonial Virginia must read this book by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star." It tells the true story of Pocohantas as accurately passed down through the generations by way of the sacred oral history of the Mattaponi tribe of the Powantan. Pocohontas was a Mattaponi. Fulcrum Publishing <fulcrumbooks.com> ISNBN 13;978-1-55591-632-9 |
| Who was the father of Thomas Savage the Carpenter? Let’s look at the Contenders: A. His father was an unknown individual living in England. If this were the case, then we should find something in the record that would indicate that the Carpenter traveled to Virginia. If he arrived before 1624 he should have appeared in the muster. If he arrived after 1624 he should appear in a land record by claiming a headright, or as being a headright claimed by another. The 1632 Patent for 100 acres was not granted for headrights. In my view, the wording in the patent implies that he was born in Virginia. For these reasons, I place little credence in this possibility. B: His father was an unknown individual living in Colonial Virginia, but does not appear in the surviving records? This is, of course a possibility. Many records have not survived the ravages of time. However, an amazing amount of the records have survived and nowhere in them have we yet found evidence of another Savage gentleman within the colony who can qualify to be the father of the Carpenter. For this reason, I consider this possibility to be a low probability. C. His father was Richard Savage who arrived in the First Supply with Ensign Thomas Savage? On January 8, 1607/1608 Thomas Savage at age thirteen came to Virginia on the first ship after the initial landing, to supply Jamestown with desperately needed supplies. This voyage of the ship, the John and Francis is generally referred to as; The First Supply. Her Master was Captain Christopher Newport. Also arriving with Thomas Savage was a Richard Savage. There should be little doubt that these two who arrived on the same ship, and were listed next to each other in the un-alphabetized record, were kinsmen. Captain John Smith relates that on the 29th of December, 1608 he, with a company of 43 men set out for Werawocomoco (Powhatan's town). The company consisted of 12 men in the barge, Discovery, 26 men in the Pinnace and five men who Smith sent overland; four Dutchmen and Richard Savage, to build a house for Powhatan. It appears that Richard Savage was either a Carpenter, or in charge of the Dutchmen and the building of the house for Powhatan, as he is identified by name. Smith also relates that later, Edward Boynton and Richard Savage, who had been left with Powhatan, seeing the treachery, (of the Dutchmen) endeavored to escape, but were apprehended by the Indians. I have found in the records no other reference to this Richard Savage. What happened to him? Did he stay with the Indians? Was he killed by them? Did he finally escape? If he were killed in the 1622 Powhantan uprising he should have appeared in the recorded list of those killed. If he survived his stay with the Powhatans, and if at some point returned to the colony, I think he would have appeared in a land record as having been one of the Ancient Planters, or would have been in one of the musters. If he had not survived, one might assume that any son of his would have been adopted by Ensign Thomas Savage who was obviously a close relative. I believe there are enough questions involved to suggest that we not rule out Richard Savage as a possible candidate to be the father of Thomas the Carpenter, however I do not place him high on the list of candidates. D. His father was Ensign Thomas Savage? 1. We have at least three court records which tell us that Thomas the Carpenter was related to Thomas the Ensign. Two of those records tell us that the Carpenter was the son of the Ensign. 2. “In the early colonies, the law of primogeniture was in effect. It is an exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit the father's estate. To ensure that the eldest son inherited, in the event the father died intestate, the eldest son was generally given the same name as his father. The second son was often given the first name of one of his uncles, generally the father's oldest brother.” (From a lecture in 1991 by Marsha Hoffman Rising, Certified Genealogist, Fellow, American Society of Genealogists [currently President,] Contributing Editor, The American Genealogist.) If the above rule was applied by Ensign Thomas Savage, his first born son would have been named, Thomas, as in Thomas the Carpenter. The son, John Savage (Capt.) would have been younger and named for an uncle - and we see from the records that both names, Thomas and John kept repeating in succeeding generations of both the Carpenter and the Captain. 3. The Pettett deposition implies that Thomas the Carpenter and Captain John could have been half-brothers. In either case, since they have the same surname, they must, of course have a very recent, common ancestor. 4. That Thomas the Carpenter and Ensign Thomas were full brothers is unlikely since they have the same given name, which I have read was sometimes done because of the high mortality rate, but I have never personally observed such an actual record. That they were first or second cousins would work, as it would be normal for the above “Cozen” greeting to be used. 5. It appears that neither Thomas the Carpenter, nor any other Thomas Savage ended up with the 9000 acre estate of the Ensign, even though two records specifically name him as the son and heir. In the surviving records, the widow, Hannah Savage, was granted the 9000 acres in 1635 in the name of her son, John Savage who was not of age at that time. It was reissued to John Savage in 1637. In 1639 the court ordered a survey of the same land and in 1640 granted it to Thomas Savage, “the son and heir of Ensign Thomas Savage.” In 1647, John Savage assigns 2900 acres to Argoll Yardley, referring to it as inheritance “from my deceased father Thomas Savidge.” There were obviously records among the missing that would clear up this mystery, but alas, we haven't yet found them. 6. This one is a stretch, but; the 12 year old, Thomas Belson, identified in the 1624/25 muster, as a servant of the Ensign, is the perfect age to be the Carpenter. Was there a mistake made by the census official? It’s interesting that the first name is, Thomas and the last name contains the word, son. This boy would have been born around 1612/13 at which time the Ensign would have been about 18 to 19 with hormones raging and a country full of pretty Indian maidens. The age of 12 seems rather young to have been a servant, but there were “boys” transported from England to serve as apprentices for the Planters and the Belson boy could have been one of those. Many of these old records were copied and re-copied several times and as any researcher who has delved through thousands of old records knows; there were many, many, errors. There may have been a misunderstanding on the part of the census taker as regards the boy’s name, or his status. 7. Another consideration: Is it possible that Ann Savage, who is listed in the 1624 muster with Ensign Thomas Savage, may have been an earlier wife and mother of Thomas; and Hannah, mother of John, who appears years later as the Ensign’s widow, may have been a different person? Of course it’s possible and if that were the case it opens up another interesting group of possibilities. 8. When I was a youngster my mother often told us that we were descended from an “Indian Princess.” It was never an Indian woman, Indian maiden or Indian girl - it was always, Indian Princess. My three sisters remember the “Princess” as being on my Mother’s side of the family (Bucklew) while a brother remembers it being on Dad’s side. One of my nephews also remembers mom telling him that it was dad’s side (Savage). From the time I was a small boy I found this Princess story to be an intriguing thought, but I never put much stock into it. Now that I have reached this point in the search for the answer to the relationship of “The Carpenter” and “The Ensign” this old family legend suddenly leaps out at me. My mother talked a lot about her family while dad talked little about his - mom was more of a story teller, but my dad’s step-mother told my mother many stories about dad’s early life and his family. Regardless of which side of my family the “Princess” was on, it illustrates the point that there was often inter-marriage between the Whites and the Indians. Is it possible that Ensign Thomas Savage may have first been married to an Indian Princess? Although the Ensign’s wife, Ann arrived in 1621 she does not appear in the 1623 census with Ensign Thomas. This indicates that the Ensign married her sometime after the 1623 census and before the 1624-25 census; meaning the Ensign would have been about 27 years old when they were married. I consider it very unlikely that he would have been celibate up to that time. Having lived with the Powhatans for three years and having been in close contact with them thereafter – and having a very close relationship with Powhatan “royalty” it must be obvious that he had many opportunities to woo an Indian maiden. Under English law, the church could not perform a marriage between a British subject and an Indian. It would be more probable that if the Ensign were married to an Indian girl it would have been through an Indian ceremony to a daughter of Powantan or one of his Chiefs. If not Powantan himself, of whom the Ensign was a “loved” and “favored” son, then perhaps to a daughter of the King of the Eastern Shore, Esmy Shichans, who gave the Ensign a signed deed to the huge tract of land which reached from the Chesapeake to the Atlantic. The only other Englishmen to be granted such a great honor was Governor Sir George Yardley. Whitelaw says; “and at the same time through (Thomas) Savage presented Governor Sir George Yardley with an equally-large acreage immediately to the north of Savage.” A child born to a couple who were not married in a way recognized by the civil authorities was considered illegitimate. Under common law, if the parents later married one another, the child was legitimatized, but it had to be a legal marriage. An illegitimate child, even if acknowledged, could not inherit from the father. If Thomas Savage the Carpenter was the son of an Indian girl, he could not, under the rule of primogeniture, if there were no will, inherit the estate of Ensign Thomas Savage. In THE COMMON LAW IN COLONIAL AMERICA, William E. Nelson states: Virginia courts held -------//------- and that “one of the half blood cannot inherit.” In the excellent book, EASTERN SHORE INDIANS of Virginia and Maryland, Helen C. Rountree and Thomas E. Davidson speak to the subject of affairs between the English and the Indians; there were interethnic visits that ripened into intimacy. The native people involved were of both sexes, but the representation of social status is uneven. Liaisons appear in the records only when some Englishman was wronged. English males, as well as Indian men and non-servant Indian women, owned themselves and therefore had considerable latitude in conducting affairs (among the native people, any resulting children stayed with the mother). It therefore becomes entirely feasible that Ensign Thomas Savage could have had a child with an Indian girl and whether or not they were married the child could have been with the mother, or the mother’s family at the time of the 1623/24 and 1624/25 censuses. 9. No record of any kind can be found which sheds light on an early 1600’s arrival of any Thomas Savage on the Eastern Shore of Virginia other than the Ensign. There was Thomas Savage, the Gany servant, in Elizabeth City County, across the bay, who arrived in 1623 and died by drowning in 1626. There is also a record of a Thomas Savidge arriving in Colonial Virginia as a headright for a Henry Peaseley, who was granted 700 acres on Mobjack Bay across the Chesapeake, in 1650 for the transportation of himself and 13 others, including this Thomas Savidge. If this Thomas Savidge was our Carpenter it means that Peaseley was not granted his Patent until 18 years after the Carpenter appears in the record for his 100 acre grant in 1632. The 1650 Thomas Savidge, as a headright for Peaseley, would not have been entitled to any land grant until after he served his indenture and even then it would be highly unlikely unless it were pre-negotiated as a part of the indenture agreement. Even then it certainly would not have equaled 100 acres. I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of early colonial land grants and have never found one which names a Thomas Savage as a headright, other than the 1650 grant mentioned above. 10. The 100 acre patent granted to Thomas the Carpenter in 1632 was not designated as being based on two headrights. To me, the wording in the document strongly infers that the grant was given for a reason that was not particularly common. A 100 acre “Dividend” grant was due to each Ancient Planter, i.e. a person who by 1616 had arrived in the colony by his own adventure and dwelt in the colony for three years, or as I have found in the 1636 Nathaniel Clark record mentioned above, was the heir apparent of an Ancient Planter. I believe this may be evidence that Thomas the Carpenter was the son of a deceased Ancient Planter and was granted a dividend of 100 acres on Old Plantation Creek, a prime location. A dividend that may never have been claimed by the Ensign. 11. To give a brief understanding of the potential of a romantic relationship between Ensign Thomas Savage and an Indian maiden, I would like to quote a few passages from the works of James L. Axtell, noted professor of history at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. One of Professor Axtell’s key interests is American Indian history: Indians fascinated the Europeans with their nakedness and sexual behavior. In European eyes a direct relation existed between such tempting nudity and the Indians' libidinous behavior in which people took to sexual exploration early in their teens, and found nothing shameful about their bodies or their amorous potential; they were certainly strangers to the concept of "fornification". Ensign Thomas Savage lived with the Powhatans from the age of 13 to the age of 16-17. When he returned to live in the colony he continued to have close ties with the Indians. He was the first white man to settle on the Eastern Shore where he had developed such good relations with the Accomacks that, even as a very young man he was accepted into their councils. When Capt. John Martin visited the Eastern Shore in April 1610, he found Thomas Savage already a power among the red men (He would have been age 15-16 at the time). Indians were typically seen as young, wild, passionate, and alluring in which some English succumbed to their aroused passions. With some Europeans, "going native" was not for sexual attraction but a cultural attraction. ---------------//----------------It was the Indians' more primitive existence that tempted them toward a change of life. Many New Englanders "went Native" because, as two adult converts acknowledged, they enjoyed "the most perfect freedom, the ease of living, [and] the absence of those cares and corroding solicitudes which so often prevail with us." Intermarriage and sexual relations tended to be in the patriarchal colonial societies as Indian women felt free to move in with European traders, hunters, and soldiers English traders spent much or all of the year in Indian villages where, for the sake of ingratiating themselves with their customers, they adopted their dress, technology, language, protocol, and other customs, especially sexual ones. Far more common were accounts of these traders' ready acceptance of native mores. Perhaps because the traders were among the few Englishmen to intermarry with the Indians, early observers- often other traders- dwelt in loving detail on these cross-cultural unions. 12. Ensign Thomas Savage was a trader. In the 1624-25 muster he is listed as having a storehouse in which he obviously stored his goods of trade. John Pory tells us; He (Debadevon) told us also Opechancanough had employed Onianimo to kill Salvage; because he brought the trade from him to the Easterne Shore. As a trader it would make perfect sense for the Ensign to take an Indian wife. This would give him much greater access to the various Powhatan tribes. There is little doubt that John Rolph married Pocahontas for political reasons, not for love. Along the same lines, Sir Thomas Dale plotted to obtain another of Powhatan’s daughters to help insure the peace. To accomplish this, on May 15, 1614 Ralph Hamor, Secretary of the Colony, visited Powhatan as Dale’s emissary. Hamor writes; It pleased Sir Thomas Dale to employ myself, and an English boy for my Interpreter one Thomas Salvage (who had lived three years with Powhatan, and speaks the language naturally, one whom Powhatan much affected)upon a message unto him, which was to deal with him, if by any means I might procure a daughter of his, who (Pochahantas being already in our possession) is generally reported to be his delight, and darling, and surely he esteems her as his own soul ) for surer pledge of peace. --------------//---------------- I departed the fifteenth of May early in the morning with the English Boy ----------//----------- Powhatan himself attending at the landing place to welcome us. His first salutation was to the Boy, whom he very well remembered ----------//----------- Now speak on (said Powhatan) and myself by my interpreter thus begun. Sir Thomas Dale your Brother, the principal commander of the English men, sends you greeting of love and peace, on his part inviolable, and hath in testimony thereof (by me sent you a worthy present, vid, two large pieces of copper, five strings of white and blue beads, five wooden combs, ten fish- hooks , and a pair of knives, all which I delivered him, one thing after another, that he might have time to view each particular: He willed me also to certify you, that when you pleased to send men, he would give you a great grinding stone: my message and gift hitherto pleased him, I proceeded thus. The fame of the exquisite perfection of your youngest daughter, being famous through all your territories, had come to the hearing of your Brother Sir Thomas Dale , who for this purpose had addressed me hi-, to entreat you by that brotherly friendship you make profession of, to permit her (with me) to return unto him, partly for the desire which himself has , and partly for the desire her sister has to see her of whom, if fame has not been prodigal , as like enough it has not, your brother (by your favor ) would gladly make his nearest companion, wife and bedfellow (many times he would have interrupted my speech, which I entreated him to hear out, and then if he pleased to return me answer ) and the reason hereof is, because being now friendly and firmly united together, and made one people (as he supposeth and believes ) in the band of love, he would make a natural union between us, principally because himself has taken resolution to dwell in your country so long as he lived , and would therefore not only have the firmest assurance he may, of perpetual friendship from you, but also hereby bind himself thereunto. As one can readily deduce from Dale’s attempt, he felt a marriage between himself (who, by the way had a wife in England) and a Powhatan girl would greatly affect a more favorable relationship with the Powhatans. Clearly, such a union between an English trader and a Powhatan maiden would also affect better trading terms. So again; it would have been a wise and natural move on the part of Ensign Thomas Savage to take an Indian wife, even in the remotest possibility that he would have had no amorous objectives. Powhatan’s reply to Hamor; I desire no firmer assurance of his friendship, then his promise which he has already made unto me: from me, he has a pledge, one of my daughters, which so long as she lives shall be sufficient, when she dies he shall have another child of mine, but she yet lives: I hold it not a brotherly part of your King, to desire to bereave me of two of my children at once; further give him to understand, that if he had no pledge at all he should not need to distrust any injury from me, or any under my subjection, there have been too many of his and my men killed, and by my occasion there shall never be more, I which have power to perform it, have said it: no not though I should have just occasion offered, for I am now old , and would gladly end my days in peace, so as if the English offer me injury, my country is large enough, I will remove myself farther from you. Thus much I hope will satisfy my brother. Now because yourselves are weary, and I sleepy, we will thus end the discourse of this business. |
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Robinson T. Savage, early pioneer of Western Maryland, present day Garrett County was my great, great, great, great, grand-father. I have constructed a chart of the descendants of Robinson T. Savage which lists over 4000 individuals. This chart may be accessed at the link below |
A great, great, grand-son of Thomas Savage was Robinson T. Savage |
| Thomas Savage the Carpenter built boats. A Shallop was typical of the kind of boats built by his crew. |
| Savage Ancestry - Savage History - Savage Genealogy - Savage Family - Savage Lore - Savage Legend - Savage Traces - Savage Honor Savage Women - Savage Roots - Savage Lineage - Savage Adventure - Savage Pioneers - Savage Hero's - Savage Men - Savage Arms |
Jamestown Plaque dedicated to Ensign Thomas Savage
THOMAS SAVAGE GENTLEMAN AND ENSIGN THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA HOSTAGE TO POWHATAN 1508, HIS LOYALTY AND FEARLESSNESS ENDEARED HIM TO THE GREAT KING WHO TREATED HIM AS HIS SON WHILE HE RENDERED INVALUABLE AID TO THE COLONY AS INTERPRETER. GREATLY LOVED BY DEBEDEAVON, THE LAUGHING KING OF THE ACCAWMACKES. HE WAS GIVEN A TRACT OF 9000 ACRES OF LAND KNOWN AS SAVAGE'S NECK. HE OBTAINED FOOD FOR THE STARVING COLONY AT JAMESTOWN THROUGH HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE KINDLY EASTERN SHORE INDIANS. A RELATION OF HIS VOYAGES ON THE GREAT BAY IN SEARCH OF THE TRADE FOR THE ENGLISH WAS READ BEFORE THE LONDON COMPANY AT A COURT HELD JULY 19TH 1621. JOHN PORY, SECRETARY OF THE COLONY SAYS, "HE WITH MUCH HONESTIE AND GOOD SUCCESSES, SERVED THE PUBLIQUE WITHOUT ANY PUBLIQUE RECOMPENSE, YET HAD AN ARROW SHOT THROUGH HIS BODY IN THEIR SERVICE. |
| 17th-century European engraving depicts Powhatan receiving Ralph Hamor, secretary of the Virginia colony, and interpreter Thomas Savage in 1614 at the chief’s new capital of Matchcot on the Pamunkey River. . In the text to the left see Hamor's reference to this meeting . Hamor further relates: I had Thomas Slauage with me, for my interpreter; with him and two Saluages, for guides; I went from the Bermuda in the morning, and came to Matchot the next night, where the King (Powhatan) lay upon the River of Pamaunke; his entertainment was strange to me, the boy (Thomas Savage) he knew well and told him; My child, I gave you leave, being my boy, to goe see your friends, and these foure yeares I have not seene you, nor heard of my owne man Namontack. |
Ensign Thomas Savage was an "adopted brother" to Pocahontas and lived in everyday association with her for three years. |
| Theodore De Bry wood cut of Colonial artist John White's first-hand, water color depiction of the Virginia/North Carolina Indian. |
| This European painting of the wedding of Pocohantas and John Rolfe is said to include Ensign Thomas Savage |
| My Mom Violet Lois Bucklew Savage |
| My Mom's Mom Samantha Florence Stevenson Bucklew |
