CHAPTER XI 
JOHN DAVIS 
A substantial yeoman in the days of the great 
Queen possessed a small freehold called Sandridge on the 
banks of the Dart, in the parish of Stoke Gabriel. This 
yeoman had two sons, John Davis the future Arctic 
navigator, and his brother Edward, the former born in 
1550. The Dart, in this part of its course, widens out, 
and has all the appearance of a lake surrounded by 
wooded hills, the leafy boughs touching the water at 
high tide. The view is closed in by the richly wooded 
heights of Greenway Court, which was the home of 
Humphrey and Adrian Gilbert and their half brother 
Walter Raleigh. All these boys were fast friends. The 
Gilbert and Davis boys often met, and made excursions 
together. Young Davis also had other friends. A mile 
beyond the neighbouring village of Dittisham was the 
manor house of Bozomzele, where dwelt Sir John Fulford, 
his wife, Lady Dorothy, daughter of the Earl of Bath, 
and several children about the same age as young Davis. 
Here he was always welcome, and one of his Bozomzele 
playfellows, Faith Fulford, later became his wife. 
John Davis was not in the same social position as 
his life-long friends Adrian Gilbert and Walter Raleigh 
or the Fulfords, but he certainly received a classical 
education, probably at Totnes grammar school. He 
went to sea at an early age and was away from home for 
about 14 years. He returned, at the age of 28, an 
experienced seaman, skilled in the scientific branch of 
his profession, and recognised as a captain of known 
valour and conduct, in whom merchants were willing to 
repose trust and confidence. He had succeeded to the 
property at Sandridge, and on September 29th, 1582, he 
married Faith Fulford. 
