In 1621 , the English colonists had spread along the peninsula from what had been their settlement on Plantation Creek . In 1621 , Thomas Savage and Debedeavon warned the visiting Governor George Yeardley that Powhaton 's tribe was plotting for a general uprising against Jamestown and the other colonists . The Governor was incredulous , but went to all the plantations and held musters despite Opechancanough 's denial of any conspiracy . Those steps , however , led to sufficient defense that the colony was not annihilated in the Indian massacre of 1622 . Moreover , Lady Elizabeth Dale , widow of Thomas Dale , left the western shore which was suffering from an epidemic ( foul distemper ) , with 20 people including 8 boys who thus survived the massacres on her plantation under Debedeavon 's benevolent protection , so by 1623 about 80 settlers lived on the eastern shore . Debedeavon favored Savage and gave him a large tract of land that is still today known as " Savage 's Neck "
Indian massacre of 1622
Indian massacre of 1622
Debedeavon