The Roots of the Pre-Davis Family
in Colonial America
James River near Big Island, VA
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
The Davis family's rich and complex history is deeply rooted in the early days of America's formation, with a lineage that interlaces Native American and European ancestry. The story begins in the mid-17th century when a Scottish settler named Hughes arrived in James City (now Jamestown), Virginia, seeking new opportunities in the New World. It was here that Hughes's path crossed with Nickette, the daughter of Chief Openchoncancaugh, a prominent leader of the Powhatan Confederacy and the younger brother of the famous Chief Powhatan, whose daughter was Pocahontas.
Openchoncancaugh was known for his fierce opposition to English encroachment on Native American lands and his strategic efforts to resist colonization. In 1622, he orchestrated the Indian Massacre, a devastating attack that claimed the lives of around 347 colonists, nearly a third of the English population in Virginia at the time. This event marked a significant moment of Native American resistance and set the stage for the complex interactions between the two cultures in the decades to come.
Despite the turbulent times, Hughes and Nickette's union symbolized the complex web of relationships between Native Americans and European settlers in colonial Virginia. Nickette's tribal affiliation has been a subject of some debate among historians and genealogists. While some accounts suggest she may have been associated with the Monacan tribe, a Siouan-speaking group in the Piedmont region of Virginia, the more widely accepted view is that Nickette was part of the Powhatan Confederacy, given her direct relationship with Chief Openchoncancaugh.
Nathaniel Davis
​The Emigrant Ancestor of the Davis Family
Born in Wales around 1650, Nathaniel Davis left his homeland for the promise of fortune and freedom in the New World. He settled near Big Island, Virginia, along the James River, a lifeline for trade and agriculture. In 1680, Nathaniel married Elizabeth Hughes, whose father was a Scottish settler and whose mother, Nickette, was a Powhatan woman. Their union represented a meeting of cultures—European, Powhatan, and the emerging colonial American identity.​​​
Nathaniel Davis
Born abt 1650 Died abt 1710
Married: Elizabeth Hughes
in 1680
Nathaniel quickly earned a reputation as a trader for his fair dealings with the Monacan Indians, exchanging European goods for furs. He soon became know as "Trader Davis". His success allowed him to claim fertile lands from Blackwater Creek to Balcony Falls, where he and Elizabeth built a large home. Together, they raised four children—one son, Robert, and three daughters—instilling values of hard work, respect for the land, and cultural understanding.
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Colonial Virginia during their time was rugged and unpredictable. Tobacco farming drove the economy, while cultural and social tensions shaped everyday life. Yet Nathaniel and Elizabeth thrived, blending their diverse traditions to build a family legacy. Descendants of this early union would include two governors of Virginia and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy.
Nathaniel Davis laid the foundation for the Davis family's legacy in Virginia, but it was his son, Robert Davis, who would carry that legacy forward. Raised along the banks of the James River, Robert inherited not only his father's land and wealth but also his entrepreneurial spirit and strong ties to the community. As the next generation stepped into a changing colonial world, Robert Davis would play a pivotal role in expanding the family's influence and securing their place in history.