Whitaker, Jabez, styled in the old records "Captain Whitaker," was probably a brother of the Rev. Alexander Whitaker, the early minister, as the father of that good divine had by his second wife, a posthumous son named Jabez. Capt. Whitaker was a member of the house of burgesses in Mar., 1623-24, and of the council in 1626. In the last named year he was living in Elizabeth City county. He married before 1619, a daughter of Sir John Bourchier, a member of the Virginia Company and uncle of the regicide of that name. Our councillor's name appears several times in the proceedings of the Virginia Company. On Jan 23, 1620, "Mr. Treasurer signified (that) having received notice of the good carriage of some persons in Virginia (he) was especially to recommend unto them one Mr. Jabez Whitaker, Lieutenant of the Company's men, who had given good account of the trust reposed in him," and in July, 1621, it was reported that "Mr. Whitaker had obeyed the Company's order in building a guest house (at Kicotan) and had also begun to plant vines, corn, etc.; it was therefore ordered as a reward, that two boys should be sent him, and that the reward of tobacco allowed by the Governor of Virginia should be confirmed."
