| Notes |
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/In-Grateful-Remembrance **
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Twelve Trails West **
- He is listed in the "Register of Qualifying Seventeenth Century Ancestors" by the Jamestown Society (1994)
- Picture of Crawshaw Hall on page 20
- son Joseph became a Major and his brother became a Captain
- Capt. Raleigh Croshaw certainly met Pocahontas in the VA colony circa 1610. Her famous advance warning of a Indian attack likely saved his life
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Winstons of VA **
- also, Rev. William Croshaw 1572-1626 in London (VA Mag of Hist Bio - Vol XXX, p. 274) gives an abstract of the will of Richard Coshaw of London,
dated 4/26/1631, probated 6/3/1631 & 7/4/1632
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Cavaliers & Pioneers **
- Of Kicoughtan, Ancient Planter who hath remained in this country fifteen years complete & performed many worthy services to the colony
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Orig-Lists-Persons-Quality **
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Journals-House-Burgesses-VA-1619 **
- His signature is listed on several letters between 2/1623 and 4/1623 regarding the business of the colony in growing tobacco and conditions for their cattle and the kind of
Governors being sent to the colony
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Travels & Works of Capt John Smith **
- p. CXIX(147) & p. CXXX(148) - abt 1612, mentioned in letter to Capt. Smith from Dr. Simmonds
- p. CXXVIII(156) - 1603, mentioned, with others, Rawleigh Croshaw, p. 84, who, with others of the thirty or forty gentlemen under him, saved Virginia
- p. 129(295) & p. 130(296) - 1608, listed as one of the gentlemen in the second supply, along with laborers and tradesmen
- p. 131(297) - 12/29/1608, listed as a member of Capt. Smith's company in the Discovery barge
- p. 139(305) - 1609, listed among the people who traveled to 'Pamaunke' to trade with King Opechancanough
- p. 143(309) - 1609, listed among those defending the President (of the London Co. maybe?) from an attack by savages
- p. 145(311) - 1609, sent to the fort with a Mr. Foard in one of the barges for provisions
- p. 174(340) - 1612, mentioned in a letter to Capt. Smith from Dr. Simmonds
- p. 184(350) - 1616, letter from Rawly Croshaw to Capt. Smith, praising him for his honorable service to country
- p. 445(73) - 1608, listed as a gentleman in the second supply along with laborers and tradesmen
- p. 448(76) - 1608-09, listed as a member of Capt. Smith's company in the Discovery barge
- p. 456(84) - 1609, listed among the people who traveled to 'Pamaunke' to trade with King Opechanough
- p. 459(87) & p. 460(88) - 1609, listed among those defending the President (of the London Co. maybe?) from an attack by savages
- p. 462(90) - 1609, sent to the fort with a Mr. Ford in one of the barges for provisions
- p.493(121) - 1616, letter from Rawly Croshaw to Capt. Smith, praising him for his honorable service to country
- p. 551(179) - 1620, listed among the names of the Adventurers
- p. 586(214) - 3/1622, his trip to 'Patawomek', where he intended to stay and trade for himself
- p. 590(218), p. 591(219), p. 592(220) & p. 593(221) - his adventures at 'Patawomek' negotiating with Opechancanough - thinking Croshaw was dead,
Capt. Don Hamar came to trade for corn
- p. 596(224) - 1622, Capt. Madyson, not liking so well living among the savages as Capt. Croshaw did, built himself a strong house within the fort
- p. 597(225) - 1622, Capt. Croshaw accompanied 2 savages sent home from Jamestown
- p. 598(226) - 1622, recalling a plot or plan of Croshaw's to overthrow Opechancanough
- p. 600(228), p. 601(229) & p. 602(230) - 1622, Capt. Smith recalling: "had these 300 men been at my disposing, I would have sent first 100 with Capt. Rawley Croshaw
to 'Patawomeck' - & recalling also 'neither myself that first found them, nor Capt. Argall, Croshaw, nor Hamar, never found themselves in fifteen years trials (1608-1623)
& also 'small parties, last amongst them Capt. Croshaw, Hamar & Madyson'
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/VA Mag Hist & Biog-Abs of VA Land Patents **
- Was probably a near relative of Rev. Wm. Crashaw, a prominent member of the Virginia Company, and of his son, the poet.
- When the massacre of 1622 occurred he was on a trading cruise in the Potomac, and at once challengen Opechancanough or any of his men to fight him naked,
but the offer was not accepted.
- He spent much of his time among the Indians, and was intimately acquainted with their habits and customs.
- From his first arrial, when he became a friend of John Smith, he took an active part in the business and defence of the colony
- He was one of the authors of complimentary verses prefixed to Smith's General History, and the latter seems to have had a high opinion of his knowledge of
Indians and Indian warfare
- He was married, and probably had issue, as Richard and Joseph Croshaw (only a variation of the name Crashaw) were prominent men in the adjoining county
of York during the first fifty or sixty years of the colony. They and their families will be treated of under subsequent patents to them.
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Cradle of Republic **
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Orig-List-Persons-Quality **
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Social Life in VA in 17 Century **
- was probably a close kinsman of the poet of the same name
- in a footnote - from VA Mag of Hist and Biog, Vol I, p. 86 - Croshaw is always spelt with the o in records, but the name was really Crashaw
- Croshaw listed among those families granted the term 'gentlemen', for those that filled the most important place in the Colony
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/VA Mag Hist & Biog-The Randolph Manuscript **
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/VA Mag Hist & Biog-VA Gleanings in England **
- **** On the last page is stated - "It is hoped that farther investigation may connect the VA Crashaws with the merchant, the divine and the poet" ****
- ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Marston Parish **
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Found at findagrave.com on 10/11/2025
Capt Raleigh Croshaw VVeteran
Birth: 1570 Lancashire, England
Death: 22 Nov 1624 (aged 53-54) York County, Virginia, USA
Burial: Burial Details Unknown
Memorial #: 83478344
Bio:
Capt. Raleigh Croshaw Esq. and 2nd wife Ursula (born in York Co., VA in 1576) by whom he fathered Maj. Joseph Croshaw at Burton Parish, York Co., VA.
(Note: English settlers did not arrive in Jamestown until 1707. Raleigh Croshaw lived in Elizabeth Cittie in the 1634/24 Muster, and York County did not exist until long after he was dead, so it is unlikely that any of his three presumed sons could have been born there (Joseph, Richard, Noah). There is no actual evidence of who his first, or 2nd wife if he had one, could have been. Ursula is a made up name from an old myth, as is the myth that she could have been Native American. The Jamestowne Society, and NA Tribal Historians, do not accept or recognize any wife for him. There is also no evidence of any of his presumed sons living in Virginia until they began to acquire land by patents, Joseph in 1637, and Richard in 1645. Because approvals of patent applications could take several years, Joseph and Richard Croshaw could have arrived about 1634 and 1641 respectively. Joseph Croshaw was an attorney per several later York County court proceedings, and so was apparently well educated in the Law in England before he came to Virginia. There is, in fact NO evidence that Raleigh married at all, and it is only supposed and assumed (as so stated in the historical record) that Joseph, Richard and Noah could have been his sons. It is also very possible that they were sons of a different man, and all born and educated in England. This is somewhat supported by the very suspicious fact that the Raleigh given name never appears in any generation of his supposed descendants, while English naming traditions almost dictated that there should have been one in nearly every generation. Also, because, while Raleigh was quite prominent in his time, and many of his exploits are well documented by his contemporaries, but his contemporaries make absolutely no mention of any wife or children in any of those accounts. )
"Croshaw is believed to be from the Crashaw family of Crawshawbooth, Lancashire, England. He arrived in Jamestown, Virginia on the "Mary & Margrett", with the Second Supply in September 1608. His lst wife came over on the "Bona Nova" in 1620 but, as she is not mentioned in 1623 Census, she was likely dead by 1623. He was a member of the Virginia Company of London in 1609 and was still listed as an adventurer in the Company in 1618 and 1620. He was one of the authors of the complimentary verses prefixed to "The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles" (1624) of John Smith of Jamestown.
Croshaw and his wife had at least two sons, possibly three:[1Joseph Croshaw lst married ? 2.Widow Finch; 3. Widow Anne Hodges; 4. Widow Margaret Tucker; 5. Widow Mary Bromfieldson Noah Croshaw (1614-1665), married Elinor ________&Richard Croshaw (1618-1667), married Elizabeth _________
Raleigh Croshaw was the local official in the Elizabeth City area. This settlement later became known as the Middle Plantation and later Williamsburg, Virginia. His sons were among the first to take advantage of this new settlement. 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, Virginia.
"Croshaw was member of a group with Captain John Smith in January 1609, who while attempting to trade for corn with the Indians at Opechancanough's village were almost overcome by surprise. This attack was thwarted in part by Raleigh Croshaw's quick reactions. Raleigh Croshaw then made a night trip back to Jamestown which helped to avoid further treachery. He appears to have been a very skilled Indian fighter."
"At the time of the massacre in March 1622, he was on a trading cruise on the Potomac. According to Captain John Smith's General History, Croshaw challenged the chief Opchanacanough or any of his warriors to fight him naked (without armor), 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.
Raleigh Croshaw accompanied Claiborne on his explorations and, with just a few men, successfully defended a remote trading outpost up on the Potomac River in the 1622 attack. Captain Raleigh Croshaw was in the Potomac River trading in a small bark, commanded by Captain Spilman. There an Indian stole aboard and told them of the massacre, (1622) and that Opchanacanough had been practicing with his King and Country to betray them, which they refused to do, but that the Indians of Werowocomoco had undertaken it. Captain Spilman went there, but the Indians after seeing that his men were so vigilant and well armed, suspected that they had been discovered, therefore, to delude him, they gave him such good deas in trade, that his vessel was soon nearly overloaded."
About 1623 a patent was issued to "Captain Raleigh Croshaw, Gentleman, of Kiccoughtan, "An Ancient Planter who hath remained in this country 15 years complete and performed many a worthy service to the Colony," for 500 acres (2 km²) 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 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. The Corporation of Elizabeth City states that "Captain Raleigh Croshaw planted by Patent 500 acres (2 km²) between Fox Hill and the Pamunkey River to establish Elizabeth City." Captain Raleigh Croshaw was last referred to on November 22, 1624. On December 27, 1624, Captain Francis West was instructed to take an inventory of his estate.
By 1637 the York County settlers had already begun to breach their own palisade and move into Indian land on the other side. The area between Queens Creek and Ware Creek was called the "Indian Fields." It was a series of vast communal fields the Indians used for planting corn. Again, it was Joseph Croshaw and Richard Croshaw who were the first to move into the area. In 1637 and 1638, they each patented a few thousand acres about where the Camp Peary government center is located today. They controlled most of the land in that area for the next 20-25 years.
Family Members
Spouse
Unity Daniels Crowshaw 1576-1624 ?? Don't think so ??
Children
Major Joseph Croshaw 1610-1667
Maintained by: JAG (51423829)
Originally Created by: Kaaren Crail Vining (11705756)
Added: 2012-01-15T13:14:40.000Z
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83478344/raleigh-croshaw
Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83478344/raleigh-croshaw: accessed October 11, 2025), memorial page for Capt Raleigh Croshaw (1570-22 Nov 1624), Find a Grave Memorial ID 83478344; Maintained by JAG (contributor 51423829).
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Steve Butler and Suzanne Hibbs Family History
1578 - Bef 1624 (< 46 years)
[1] 
