SAVAGE ANCESTRY Dedicated to Thomas Savage "The Carpenter" and Ensign Thomas Savage of Colonial Jamestown, Virginia The Search for Their Antecedents and Their Descendants |
SAVAGE DNA PROJECT I have had my DNA typed and posted on the Savage DNA web site. If you are interested in comparing your DNA to my own, click on the link below. Unfortunately there recently seems to have been little effort to manage the site, but a new administrator has been added, so hopefully we'll see some improvement. To compare your DNA to mine you will need to know my "S" code number. Email me your code and I will give you mine. |
Ensign Thomas Savage is well known in Virginia History. Arriving in Jamestown in 1608, thought to be the age of thirteen, he was given to Powhatan by Captain Christopher Newport as a hostage to insure friendship with the powerful Powhatan. In 1619 Ensign Savage settled in Accomack as the first white settler on the Eastern Shore. The Ensign is said to have given us the oldest continuing family name in America. Thomas Savage, "The Carpenter," prominent figure in Northampton and Accomack Counties on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, first appears in the records in 1632. He is known to have been a builder of watercraft and homes, was a manufacturer of casks and barrels, and at his death, owned at least two properties totaling 750 acres. |
A skirmish with the Indians near Jamestown
| I am convinced that the 12 year old boy, identified in the 1624/25 muster (census), as Thomas Belson, a servant of the Ensign, is in fact, Thomas Savage the Carpenter. While common thought is that Belson was a surname, I believe that it was a family name and was used to differentiate him from his father. The reported age of 12 is probably incorrect. Anyone who has ever examined old census records knows they were notorious for having gross errors on ages. Young Thomas would have been closer to 9 or 10. Many of these old records were hand copied and re-copied several times and as any researcher who has delved through old census 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 and his age. I have not been able to locate another person with the name, Belson during these early years of the colony. Of the 51 Eastern Shore people appearing in the census of 1624/25, this young boy is the only individual who is not identified by either; “born in Virginia” or by the giving of a date of arrival and the name of the ship on which he arrived. Of those 51 people: Forty-eight are identified by ship and date of arrival. Two are identified as being “born in Virginia”. Only one, the so-called, Thomas Belson, has no date of arrival, ship name, or “born in Virginia” label. To illustrate the above I include here an excerpt from the muster listing those residents of the Eastern Shore. This is a copy from page 11 of THE EASTERN SHORE of VIRGINIA 1603-1964 by Nora Miller Turman and appears alphabetically instead of in the original order. I have a complete copy of the actual 1624/25 muster, so I am certain of the accuracy of what I include here. William Andrews, age 25, in the Treasurer, 1617 John Askume, age 22, in the Charles, 1624 John Baker, age 20, in the Ann, 1623 Thomas Belson, age 12 William Bibble, age 22, in the Swan, 1620 James Blackborne, age 20, in the Sampson, 1619 Margaret Hodgskins, born in Virginia Why was the “Belson” boy treated differently than the other fifty residents? Why was he the only one who had no information given as to how or when he arrived in Virginia? Why is the listing of this boy unique? Did the census taker mistake the boy for a servant because he appeared to be Native American? |
SAVAGE IS MY NAME After spending many years tracing my line to Thomas Savage the Carpenter, 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
quality hardback, 308 pages, illustrated and indexed. Price is $29.50 plus $4.50 for packaging and Media Rate shipping, total - $34.00. Mail check to: R. Blair Savage 157 Shadowleaf Drive 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. The book, 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 The Carpenter 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 internet spiders. rbsavage1 followed by; @ followed by; yahoo.com |
This web site went on-line in July of 2005. I will continue to add any information that I may find on Thomas Savage the Carpenter and Ensign Thomas Savage. I also regularly add to the several thousand names on the Robinson T. Savage web site. |
Thomas Savage the Carpenter had many craftsmen and laborers working his shops and plantation. Some of them were slaves, some were indentured servants and undoubtedly some were freemen. |
| 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 histories. 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
Last update on this page: 01-07-2012
| Please click on the "Arms" button in the navigation bar for information on the Savage coat of Arms |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | |
| THE TRUE STORY OF POCAHONTAS The Other Side of History Anyone interested in the history of Colonial Virginia may want to read this book by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star." It tells the story of Pocohantas as 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 |
To return to the
top of the page
Click on Home
top of the page
Click on Home
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 at least 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 |
Thomas Savage the Carpenter? This question is vigorously explored in my new book; Savage Is My Name - Part II SAVAGE IS MY NAME - PART II A Study of the Relationship of Thomas Savage the Carpenter & Ensign Thomas Savage of Virginia's Eastern Shore 1607 - 1655 This follow-up to my original book, SAVAGE IS MY NAME is also high quality hardback, 130 pages, illustrated. Price is $20.00 plus packaging and shipping: First Class; $5.00 - Total - $25.00 Media Rate; $3.50 - Total - $23.50. both books is $46.00 plus $5.00 for packaging and Media Rate shipping; total - $51.00 Mail check to: R. Blair Savage 157 Shadowleaf Drive Hendersonville, NC 28739 |
| Caution: If you are new to genealogy research, you need to be aware that there is an extreme amount of rubbish information posted on the Internet. Before using any information found on-line one should make sure it is documented. In my own searching, of this most valuable medium, I have found scores of documents relating to the lives of Ensign Thomas Savage and Thomas Savage the Carpenter which are highly questionable and many that are unquestionably incorrect. I have found no person, or source, on the Internet or anywhere else, who cites an actual record which identifies the parents of Ensign Thomas Savage, or the location in England from where he came. If anyone has such hard evidence I would sincerely appreciate your sharing it with those of us who have spent many years in search of it. |
1. A Genealogical History of The Savage Family In Ulster – George Francis Savage-Armstrong 2. A Land As God Made It: Jamestown & The Birth Of America - James Horn 3. Abstracts of Wills, Adm. Of Northampton Co. VA. 1632-1802 - James Handley Marshall 4. Accomack Co. VA. Court Order Abstracts Vol. 1-10: 1663-1710 - JoAnn Riley McKey (On CD) 5. Accomack Tithables 1663 – 1695 - Stratton Nottingham 6. Adventures of Purse and Person, 1607-1624/5, Vol. IV, R-Z - John Frederick Dorman 7. Adventures of Purse and Person, Va. 1607-1624/5, Vol. I, A-F - John Frederick Dorman 8. America’s First Family, The Savages of Virginia – Burghard 9. Anne Orthwoods’s Bastard – John Pagan 10. A True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia ---- by Ralph Hamor the Younger, Late Secretarie -- 1615 11. A True Relation of The State of Virginia Left by Sir Thomas Dale Knight in May Last 1616 – John Rolfe 12. Before and After Jamestown: Virginia's Powhatans - Rountree & Turner 13. County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton 1640-1645 - Susie Ames 14. Directories of Accomack & Northampton Landowners - 1815 Roger G. Ward 15. Eastern Shore Indians of Virginia and Maryland - Rountree & Davidson 16. First People: The Early Indians of Virginia - Egloff & Woodward 17. Formation Of A Society On Virginia’s Eastern Shore 1615 – 1655 – James R. Perry 18. Jamestown, the Buried Truth - Kelso 19. Jamestowne Ancestors 1607-1699 - Davis 20. Life of the Powhatan (Native Nations of North America) - Sjonger & Kalman 21. Loose Papers and Sundry Court Cases 1628 – 1731 - Jean Mihalyka 22. Marriages, Northampton County, Virginia 1660-1854 - Jean Mihalyka 23. Mother Earth – Land Grants in Virginia - W. Stitt Robinson, Jr. 24. Northampton Co. Va. Record Book, Ord, Deeds, Wills, 1654-55 - Mackey & Groves 25. One Among the Indians - Martha Bennett Stiles 26. Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough - Rountree 27. Pocahontas's People: The Powhatan Indians of Virginia - Helen C. Rountree 28. Powhatan’s Mantle - Wood, Waselkov, Hatley 29. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic in Virginia 1607-09 - Susie Ames 30. Records of the Va. Co. of London, Court Book, Vol. 1, 1619-22 - Susan M. Kingsbury 31. Savage Is My Name - R. Blair Savage 32. Savage Kingdom –The True Story of Jamestown – Benjamin Wooley 33. Studies of the Virginia Eastern Shore in the 17th century - Susie M. Ames 34. The Ancient And Noble Family Of The Savages Of The Ards – George Francis Savage-Armstrong 35. The Common Law of Colonial America - Nelson 36. The Eastern Shore of Virginia, 1603-1964 - Nora Miller Turman 37. The Genesis of the United States: A Narrative of the Movement in England, 1605-1616, ------ Alexander Brown, 1891 38. The Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia - William Strachey 39. The Jamestown Adventure: Accts of the Va. Colony, 1605-1614 - Ed Southern 40. The Jamestown Colony – Cornerstones of Freedom – Sakurai 41. The Jamestown Project - Karen Kupperma 42. The Peopling of British North America - Bernard Bailyn 43. The Powhatan Indians of Virginia - Helen C. Rountree 44. The Records of the Va. Co. of London, Vol. 1,2,3,4 (on CD) - Susan M. Kingsbury 45. The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History - Custalow & Daniel 46. Virginia Court Records in Southwestern Pennsylvania – Boyd Crumrine 47. Virginia – The First Seventeen Years - Charles E. Hatch, Jr. 48. Virginia ‘Publick’ Claims, Accomack & Northampton, 1780-83 -- Abercrombie & Slatten 49. Virginia Immigrants And Adventurers 1607 – 1635 - Martha W. McCartney 50. Virginia’s Eastern Shore (in two volumes) - Ralph T. Whitelaw 51. We Are The Savages - J.C. Savage 52. Who’s Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Savage - Jean Fritz 53. Wills And Adms of Accomack Co. Va. 1663 – 1800 - Stratton Nottingham 54. Ye Kingdom Of Accawmacke - Jennings Cropper Wise |
| My Personal Library of Colonial Virginia |
I've also published a book of short stories, 40 in all and all true. It's 160 pages, illustrated, soft cover. Retail price is $13.95, but when ordered with either of my Savage books the price is $10.00. |
Go to >>>>>
 |
| Here are some important links to genealogy on Virginia's Eastern Shore. |
To explore these pages please use these navigation buttons:
| Audio control >>>>> |
See information below on the new book; SAVAGE IS MY NAME - Part II.
Thank you for visiting my web site - please check for updates periodically . |
Correction to SAVAGE IS MY NAME - PART II. Nancy Garrett, descendant of Ensign Thomas Savage and very knowledgeable Eastern Shore Genealogist questioned my statement on page 24 that males aged 14 or more could serve on juries. A thorough review of my resources indicates that Nancy is correct. At fourteen a child could act as a witness, but the age of majority, twenty-one, was necessary to serve on the jury. |
| Books in as-new condition may be returned within 30 days for a refund of the purchase price if you are not completely satisfied. |
| Not that anyone gives a hoot, but a few years ago I had a computer crash and my counter was wiped out. For the correct current number please add 12000 to the figure shown. RBS |
| Hits |
The Savages intermarried with the Friends, Fikes, Casteels and many other pioneer families of Garrett County, Maryland; Preston County, West Virginia to the west and Fayette County, Pennsylvania to the north. |
| Was the girl depicted below the wife, or lover of Ensign Thomas Savage, and was she the mother of Thomas Savage the Carpenter? |
Is the drawing of the woman above a likeness of the mother of Thomas Savage the Carpenter? I have reason to believe that it is. I believe she was also a daughter of Powhatan and a sister, or half-sister of Pocahontas. I believe this girl was given to Ensign Thomas Savage by Paramount Chief, Powhatan, and that she and Ensign Thomas were the parents of Thomas Savage the Carpenter. She is believed to have committed suicide before 1620. At this time I do not; repeat; do not, have documentation of this. The document that gives us solid proof has eluded me, but I continue the search. What I print here is theory, based on evidence, but evidence that would not stand-up to good genealogy standards of proof, and should not be considered as fact. I include it here because it is a part of evidence found during recent research and I find it of extreme interest. After much deliberation and even though I risk losing some creditability, I decided to share it here. There is documentation that an Ann/Hannah was a wife of Ensign Thomas Savage and that they had at least one child, John. I believe that the Ensign married Ann/Hannah after the native girl died. |
| All material on this site is protected through Copyright by R. Blair Savage and is made available for private use only. Any commercial use or for-profit publication in any form is forbidden without the written consent of R. Blair Savage at 157 Shadowleaf Dr. Hendersonville, NC 28739. |
For those who regularly follow this page, I will
continue to update it as I find new information. For
those who visit here for the first time, the
documentation of this search is available in the two
books featured below.
continue to update it as I find new information. For
those who visit here for the first time, the
documentation of this search is available in the two
books featured below.
