Raleigh Crowshaw, Jamestown Settler, Skilled Indian Fighter. Our 9th Great Grandfather (Williamson Line)

Wes Studi as Powatans war chief and brother, Opechancanough in New World

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
I'm hoping you are all having a wonderful Easter. I hope you had the chance to read the post I made on Friday concerning the new discovery I made firmly connecting our Williamson line to the Cuthbert Williamson family of Virginia, which originated from Kent, England. Breaching that research wall was one of the goals I've had for the past three years.

Now that our roots are established, I can continue down those Williamson family lines and introduce you to more people in the branches of our family tree. This Easter Sunday I'd like to introduce you to our 9th Great Grandfather (my generation) Raleigh Crowshaw. I begin with our Relationship Chart:

Relationship Chart

Raleigh Crowshaw (1570 - 1628)

is your 9th great grandfather

Joseph Croshaw (1610 - 1667)

Son of Raleigh

Mary Croshaw (1632 - 1687)

Daughter of Joseph

John White (1661 - 1743)

Son of Mary

John White (1697 - 1782)

Son of John

Susanna White (1754 - 1840)

Daughter of John

Mathew Williamson (1810 - )

Son of Susanna

George Matthew Williamson (1834 - 1928)

Son of Mathew

William Jonathan Williamson (1858 - 1934)

Son of George Matthew

Charles Williamson (1909 - 1966)

Son of William Jonathan

Charles Williamson (1936 - )

Son of Charles

Captain Raleigh Croshaw arrived in Jamestown with the Second Supply in September 1608. It is thought that he may be related to the Crashaw family of Crashaw, Lancashire. He was a member of the Virginia Company of London in 1609 and was still listed as an adventurer in the Company in both 1618 and 1620.

He was mentioned as being a member of the group with Captain John Smith in January 1609 who, while attempting to trade for corn with the Indians at Opechancanough's village, was almost overcome by surprise. This attack was thwarted in part by Croshaw's quick reaction. Croshaw then made a night trip back to Jamestown which helped to avoid further treachery.
He appears to have been a skilled Indian fighter.

At the time of the massacre of March 1622 he was on a trading cruise on the Potomac. According to Captain John Smith's General History, Croshaw challenged the chief Opechancanough or any of his warriors to fight him naked, an offer that was not accepted. When Captain John Smith published his General History in 1624, one of the verses in Volume III of the book had been written by Croshaw -- and in his writing, John Smith implies a high opinion of Croshaw's knowledge of Indians and their way of making war.

About 1623 a patent was issued to...

"Captain Rawleigh Crawshaw, Gent., of Kiccoughtan, An Ancient Planter who hath remained in this country 15 years complete and performed many worthy services to the Colony,"

for 500 acres by Old Point Comfort. This was based on his transporting himself, his servant and his wife in addition to adventuring 25 pounds sterling in the Company. By the following year he was a burgess for Elizabeth City. In March of 1624 he was issued a commission to trade with the Indians for corn. On this voyage he purchased a "great canoe" for 10,000 blue beads.

Captain Croshaw was last referred to on 22 November 1624, and then on 27 December 1624 Captain Francis West was instructed to take an inventory of his estate. The name of his wife does not appear, and as neither the census of 1624 nor the muster of 1625 mentions them it seems probable that the wife and children returned to England.

Captain Croshaw appears to have had three sons, Joseph, Noah(possible name), and Richard. While Joseph may have been educated in England, both Joseph and Richard are mentioned many times in the records. Joseph appears to have led a more public life, having been a member of the House of Burgesses from York as well as having served as a justice and as sheriff for York County.

Simply,
Victor