Behind the Names: The William Passport Wallet

At Grit Mercantile, we name our products to honor ancestors, family and friends who have displayed true grit in their lives.

Grit: courage and determination despite difficulty. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Without further ado, we present the story of William.

The William Passport Wallet is named in honor of Garret's 11th great grandfather, William Capps Sr., who traveled on the ill-fated Sea Venture in 1609 and 1610. Originally bound for Jamestown, Virginia, which had been founded for two years at the time of his journey, the ship was separated from the rest of her fleet by a hurricane. As she began to accumulate water, William and approximately 150 passengers found land and settled on the island of Bermuda. Among these passengers was John Rolfe, who would marry Pocahontas nearly five years later. After nine months, he sailed to Virginia and settled at Kecoughtan, where he owned land and later qualified as an Ancient Planter under Governor Yeardley. There, Capps Point, eventually called Little England, was patented by him in 1634. 

Yet, he didn't stop. In 1619, William became a member of the First House of Burgesses, representing Kecoughtan with Captain William Tucker. Eight years later, William Capps was appointed a member of the Council of the Crown upon recommendation of Governor Yeardley. In this position, he contributed to the Supreme Court and assisted with executive and legislative tasks. Despite this, he risked it all and defied the Governor, leaving Virginia to return with a letter of instructions to the Council from King Charles I. Within his nearly 60 years of life, William was quite the world traveler for his time, finding home where he went and contributing to history, ultimately demonstrating his resilience and passion for changing the world in his uncommon grit.

Shop the William Digital Pattern here.

Shop the William Acrylic Template Set here.