Thomas Savage was an ancient planter, married a tobacco bride, and had a son (John) that represented Northampton County, Virginia in the House of Burgesses.

[3] Recorded as a "boy, labouror", Savage traveled with Captain Christopher Newport on the John and Francis with the First Supply mission to Jamestown, arriving with about 100 other settlers in early 1608.

[3] In February 1608, to aid Powhatan-English relations, Savage was "gifted" to Paramount Chief Powhatan in trade for young native page (servant) named Namontack (or "Namotacke"[4]).

Thomas Savage became fluent in the Virginia Algonquian dialect, observed the Powhatan culture, and kept the English informed as to the native relations.

In 1621, Ensign Savage (aged about 27 years) accompanied John Pory on trading expeditions to the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Around the same time period, Savage communicated with the Virginia Company of London that the French were trading fur with the natives in Chesapeake Bay, offering an opportunity to English enterprise.

Around the same time period, Savage came in conflict with George Yeardley and associate Captain William Eppes, and was brought up on legal charges.