Thomas Savage

Thomas Savage ( – ) was an English adventurer to the Virginia colony. At age thirteen he emigrated to the New World, and soon after lived with Powhatan (Native American leader) as a cultural emissary from 1608 to 1610. Savage became a Tidewater Algonquian interpreter for the English. Savage settled on the Eastern Shore of Virginia where he interacted with native leader Debedeavon. Thomas Savage was an ancient planter, married a tobacco bride, and had a son (John) that represented Northampton County, Virginia in the House of Burgesses.

Young Virginia adventurer (1608–1610) Thomas Savage (sometimes written as "Salvage" or "Savadge") was probably born in Cheshire, England, in 1594. Recorded as a "boy, labouror", Savage traveled with Captain Christopher Newport on the John and Francis with the First Supply mission to Jamestown, arriving with about 100 other settlers in early 1608. ). Thomas Savage resided in Werowocomoco, while Namontack served as emissary abroad in England with Captain Newport. Namontack would attempt to return to Virginia on the fated Sea Venture supply mission, but would be killed in Bermuda ( 1610).

Thomas Savage became fluent in the Virginia Algonquian dialect, observed the Powhatan culture, and kept the English informed as to the native relations. Savage interacted with Pocahontas, who was about the same age. In August 1609, Henry Spelman of Jamestown (aged fourteen) accompanied Thomas Savage to also be an emissary. By 1619, Savage lived at Martin's Brandon plantation. Likely during the on-and-off Anglo-Powhatan Wars, he was given a rank of Ensign.

In 1621, Ensign Savage (aged about 27 years) accompanied John Pory on trading expeditions to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He developed a special relationship with Accomack and Occohannock people, notably leader Debedeavon. Around the same time period, Savage communicated with the Virginia Company of London that the French were trading fur with the natives in Chesapeake Bay, offering an opportunity to English enterprise. Debedeavon eventually gifted Savage of land on the Eastern Shore, called Savage's Neck. Debedeavon warned Savage of a plot to poison Englishmen by Opechancanough, which Savage reported to Royal Governor Francis Wyatt, but the warning was ignored. who arrived on the Seaflower as a "tobacco bride". The couple had a son, John, around 1624. Thomas Savage became wealthy by trading, specifically fur trading. By early 1625, Savage was recorded as possessing a house, a barn, a boat, and two servants. In , Thomas Savage (now an ancient planter) owned Savage's Choice, a plantation.

Around the same time period, Savage came in conflict with George Yeardley and associate Captain William Eppes, and was brought up on legal charges.