Peter "the Captain" Hayes

A sea captain, Peter Hayes was hired by the Dutch to sail between the port of Texel Island, Holland and Greenland where the Netherlands had a colony. He made his home in Edam, not far from Amsterdam. In 1630 the Dutch West India Company ordered Captain Hayes to conduct a party of emigrants with their supplies to a small Caribbean island called Tortugas. He sailed his merchant ship,"Walvis" from Texel Island on December 20, 1630. After touching at Tortugas, he proceeded north to Virginia. His destination was the South River of Delaware, known today as Delaware Bay. The Walvis returned home safely and Captain Peter Hayes terminated him work with his Dutch employers. Evidently he decided to make his home in the new world where he had found many Cheshire families living on the south side of the James River in Virginia. The Virginia Land Office records show that he purchased 350 acres of land from George Hardy before 1636. This plantation was located on Pagan Point Creek, today known as Jones Creek.

Captain Peter Hayes, Sea Captain, the third son of John Hayes and Elizabeth Starkey, was born in Great Budworth Parish in Cheshire England about 1571. ( will of John Hayes, Chester Consistory Court, 1597). According to the laws of primogeniture, Peter did not inherit, but was given an education, and at the proper age was apprenticed to his cousin Edward Hayes of Liverpool, who owned a ship called "The Golden Hind". (Quinn, Hist. Soc. Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol. III. p.25 et seq).

After completing his nautical apprenticeship, Peter Hayes married Mrs Margareta (Davyes) Hewes, a young widow living in Heston Parish, Middlesex; the date. 18 September, 1591. Her maiden name was (Davyes). (London Genealogy Society, Great Index).

In the year 1603, James VI of Scotland became James I of England. History says that he was totally unprepared to conduct the foreign affairs of Briton.

The king's sale of the nation's fighting ships left the merchant marine at the mercy of the privateers of France and Spain, as well as the Mediterranean pirates. A severe economic depression followed, resulting in unemployment for hundreds of sailors. Holland was quick to capitalize on the English misfortune and it was said that soon, there were more English sailors manning Dutch ships than Dutchmen. (Bruce, Economic Hist. of Virginia in the XVII Cent., p. 56 published 1895, MacMillan.)

Peter Hayes, now a sea Capitan, was hired by the Dutch to sail between the port on Texel Island and Greenland, where the Netherlands had a colony. He made his home in Edam, not far from Amsterdam. (de Vires, Original Narrative of Early American History, vol 7, Scribner.)

It was during James's reign, 1603-1625, that the Pilgrims and other dissenter groups sailed to America--determined to found a society in the New World. In 1630 the Dutch West India Company ordered Capitan Peter Hayes to conduct a party of emigrants, with their supplies, to a small Caribbean island called Tortugas. He sailed the merchant ship "Walvis" from Texel on December 20, 1630. After touching at Tortugas he preceded to Virginia. His destination was the South River of Delaware, known today as Delaware Bay. Here the patrons of the West India Company planned to establish a whale-fishing station and a new Netherlands colony.

The "Walvis" returned home safely and Captain Peter Hayes terminated his work with the Dutch employers. Evidently he decided to make his home in the new world, where he had found many Cheshire families living on the south side of the James River in Virginia.

The Virginia Land Office records (Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, p 67, 2nd. edition) show that he purchased 350 acres of land from George Hardy before 1636. This plantation was located on Pagan Point Creek, today known as Jones Creek. Peter must have arrived several years before 1636 since the registry was always delayed.

The final reference we have to Peter Hayes is found in the Minutes of the Virginia Assembly, 1641: a petition presented requesting that "divers poore men" who have "long inhabited here" and are now grown "decreped and impotent" be relived from usual taxes. Among the five was the name of "Peter Hayes". The request was granted, church tites excepted. The (Virginia Historical Society) has a photo print of this decree.

Research has failed to find a will left by Captain Peter Hayes.

Source: Historical Southern Families, Vol. XXIV

Children of PETER HAYES and MARGARETA DAVYES are:

	i. 	  	PETER3 HAYES, JR., b. 1600, Cheshire, England; d. 1669, Isle of Wright Co. VA.

ii. ANN HAYES1, d. Unknown.