THE LEAVITTS IN AMERICA
CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER LEVETT
The first of our family to reach America is thought to have been Captain Christopher Levett, sent to New England by the King in 1623 to survey the coast of Maine and Massachusetts and establish new settlements. His grand design was to establish a city at some eligible spot along the New England coast, to be named York after the metropolitan city in England, and to found there, in all pomp and circumstance, a full theocratic establishment with influence over all New England.
Captain Levett, and Robert Gorges, son of the Governor General of New England, started settlements at various places on the coast of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, but were obstinately resisted by the sturdy fishermen along the coast, and they all returned to England in the spring of 1624. His report to the Council for New England was printed in 1628 and recounted the details of his 1623 expedition. It also reflected his growing dissatisfaction with the glowing reports of former explorers, for example he states:
"Nor will the deare come when they are called, or stand still and looke on a man, until he shoots them, nor the fish leape into the kettle". His report told of landing on the Isle of Shoals, his comment being: "Upon these islands I neither could see one good timber tree, or so much good ground as to make a garden." He then crossed to the mainland where one Mr Thompson had built a plantation. He stayed with Thompson about one month while waiting for his men to arrive from England. His party then traveled up the Maine coast, exploring the rivers and harbors, and meeting the inhabitants, mostly Indians who were usually friendly and, much to his surprise, spoke some English, which they had learned from the fishermen.
After building the first house at Casco Bay, Maine he returned to England for his family. No doubt something prevented him from a second voyage until 1629, when he gave deed of his property to a man named Cleaves. Christopher is mentioned as having gone aboard the ship Arabella, to greet Governor Winthrop in 1630. Christopher died at sea in 1631.
The first Leavitts (now spelled with an "a") to settle in America were John, believed to be a nephew of Christopher Levett, who arrived in the Bay Colony about 1628, and Thomas, who arrived in the Exeter-Hampton area of New Hampshire about 1637. The difference in spelling of last names is not relevant. During his time in Massachusetts, Deacon John's last name was variously spelled Levit, Levitt, Leavit, Leavitt, Levyt, Levet and Levett. It seems that clerks only settled on Leavitt after John settled in Hingham.
The relationship between our two progenitors John and Thomas has long been a mystery, thought to be close cousins. It appears John is descended from the Levetts of Yorkshire and Thomas is descended from the Levetts of Melton England. In 2009 we discovered through our Leavitt DNA testing of descendants that there appears to be absolutely no connection between the two families. Our two families have intermingled throughout New England over the centuries and even our founder Emily was descended from both lines. In that way many Leavitt's are descended of both Thomas and John, and so we continue research on both branches.
Captain Levett, and Robert Gorges, son of the Governor General of New England, started settlements at various places on the coast of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, but were obstinately resisted by the sturdy fishermen along the coast, and they all returned to England in the spring of 1624. His report to the Council for New England was printed in 1628 and recounted the details of his 1623 expedition. It also reflected his growing dissatisfaction with the glowing reports of former explorers, for example he states:
"Nor will the deare come when they are called, or stand still and looke on a man, until he shoots them, nor the fish leape into the kettle". His report told of landing on the Isle of Shoals, his comment being: "Upon these islands I neither could see one good timber tree, or so much good ground as to make a garden." He then crossed to the mainland where one Mr Thompson had built a plantation. He stayed with Thompson about one month while waiting for his men to arrive from England. His party then traveled up the Maine coast, exploring the rivers and harbors, and meeting the inhabitants, mostly Indians who were usually friendly and, much to his surprise, spoke some English, which they had learned from the fishermen.
After building the first house at Casco Bay, Maine he returned to England for his family. No doubt something prevented him from a second voyage until 1629, when he gave deed of his property to a man named Cleaves. Christopher is mentioned as having gone aboard the ship Arabella, to greet Governor Winthrop in 1630. Christopher died at sea in 1631.
The first Leavitts (now spelled with an "a") to settle in America were John, believed to be a nephew of Christopher Levett, who arrived in the Bay Colony about 1628, and Thomas, who arrived in the Exeter-Hampton area of New Hampshire about 1637. The difference in spelling of last names is not relevant. During his time in Massachusetts, Deacon John's last name was variously spelled Levit, Levitt, Leavit, Leavitt, Levyt, Levet and Levett. It seems that clerks only settled on Leavitt after John settled in Hingham.
The relationship between our two progenitors John and Thomas has long been a mystery, thought to be close cousins. It appears John is descended from the Levetts of Yorkshire and Thomas is descended from the Levetts of Melton England. In 2009 we discovered through our Leavitt DNA testing of descendants that there appears to be absolutely no connection between the two families. Our two families have intermingled throughout New England over the centuries and even our founder Emily was descended from both lines. In that way many Leavitt's are descended of both Thomas and John, and so we continue research on both branches.
A Voyage into New England - begun in 1623 and ended in 1624
The following list of places along the coast of Maine were mentioned by Capt. Levett in his writings, their locations numbered on the map below. None of the towns labeled on this current map existed at the time of Capt. Levett.
The following list of places along the coast of Maine were mentioned by Capt. Levett in his writings, their locations numbered on the map below. None of the towns labeled on this current map existed at the time of Capt. Levett.
|
1. Isles of Shoals and the Pannaway Plantation
Arrived in the the Autumn of 1623, and stayed with David Thompson for a month, waiting for his crew. Explored the “Pascattaway” River. 2. “Aquamenticus” (York River) 3. “Cape Porpus” (Cape Porpoise) 4. A harbor called “Sawco” Explored by foot until reaching the Saco River. Returned for their small boats in order to cross. 5. On foot, came across another impassable river east, the Nonesuch and Scarborough Rivers 6. Cape Elizabeth Mentioned by name when Capt Levett was measuring distances 7. “Quack” or Quacke Indian name for the area of Portland, which Capt. Levett named York |
8. “Levett's River” (Fore River)
Named this newly discovered river for himself 9. the Presumpscot River Unnamed in book, Levett and crew stopped at the falls, where he met local tribes 10. “Cascoe” Bay 11. “Sagadahock” Bay 12. “Capemanwagan” Unknown location east of Sagadahoc, said to be in area of Cape Newagen, in Southport. 13. “Pemoquid” and “Monhiggon” (Monhegan) Levett mentioned that the lands here already were granted, so went no further, returning to his settlement called York. |
Read more about Christopher Levett:
A Voyage into New England:
https://archive.org/details/voyageintoneweng00leve
Christopher Levett of York by James Phinney Baxter (1893)
https://archive.org/details/christopherleve00levegoog
A Voyage into New England:
https://archive.org/details/voyageintoneweng00leve
Christopher Levett of York by James Phinney Baxter (1893)
https://archive.org/details/christopherleve00levegoog