[1] Dowse was born in England, but migrated to the American colonies, becoming one of the "ancient planters".
Brown states in his "First Republic in America," that, in 1619, "the City of Henricus included Henrico (Farrar's Island), extending thence on both sides of James River to the westward, the pale run by Dale between the said river and the Appomattox River being the line on the South Side."
Henrico having been selected as the site for a college and university, the first college in America, ten thousand acres (40 km²) were set by, as agreed, and the limits of the corporation were extended from the Falls of the James on the Popham side to what is now called Farrar's Island.
Dowse played a tabor (instrument) and danced to lure the natives from cover.
The English destroyed the Indians' village in retaliation for the massacre.