| Honorific Prefix: | Captain |
| Birth Date: | before 1587 |
| Birth Place: | St Endellion, Cornwall, Kingdom of England |
| Death Place: | unknown |
| Other Names: | Behethland |
| Occupation: | Sea captain, adventurer |
| Known For: | Virginia colonist |
Captain Robert Beheathland (or Behethland, born before 1587 -) in St Endellion, Cornwall, England, was an English gentleman who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 aboard one of the three founding ships, likely the Susan Constant.[1] He is noteworthy as the only original 1607 Jamestown colonist having documented descendants living today.[2]
Capt. Beheathland is listed among the 104 colonists on the Virginia Company of London's manifest. He is included in Captain John Smith's list of 100 "Planters" (gentlemen) in his book The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles, and mentioned as accompanying John Smith on a visit to Powhatan, the local indigenous leader.[3]
Early colonist: His presence in 1607 makes him one of the first permanent English settlers in North America.
Social standing: "Gentleman" status suggests he belonged to a wealthier class and may have contributed financially or provided leadership in the settlement's early days.
Trade potential: Some sources suggest he brought sheet copper to trade with Indigenous people.
In Jan 1608, after arrival of the First Supply, Capts. Smith and Christopher Newport took a group of about twenty men, one of them Robert Beheathland, and went to the village of Powhatan for a visit.[4] Later in the year, on 29 December 1608, Capt. Smith undertook a journey up the Pamunkey River for another visit with Powhatan. Robert Beheathland traveled in the Discovery barge with Capt. Smith; other gentlemen, soldiers, and sailors followed in a pinnace.[5] On the way back, they stopped at the house of King Opechancanough; Capt. Smith took with him a group of about fifteen, including Beheathland. When they were threatened with capture, Powell and Beheathland guarded the door while Capt. Smith seized the King by the long lock of his hair and held him hostage as they escaped.[6]
Robert was an Ancient Planter, and thus received 100 acres of land for being present before the arrival of Sir Thomas Dale.[7]
Robert married Mary (unknown) and had at least three children:[8] The surname of his wife, Mary, is not known. Some claim she was Mary Nicholson but there is no documentation to support that. The widow, Mary Beheathland, married second, Lieut. Thomas Flint of Warwick County, Virginia.[9] Documented children are:
Robert's brother Anthony died in May 1615. Robert and his brother George sued Anthony's widow Ursula for their interests in the estate. In 1618 the judge ordered the widow to pay 80 pounds divided among Anthony's relatives.
By 1620 Robert was in England, petitioning the Royal Council of England for a qualified governor for Virginia.[10]
Robert died 1627. His widow Mary married Lieutenant Tomas Flint of Elizabeth City, when her name appeared in court records in regard to land she had inherited.[11] [12]
Robert Beheathland is significant for being one of the founding figures of Jamestown and contributing to the establishment of the first successful English colony in North America. He also is notable for having descendants living today, possibly the only one of the original 1607 colonists with that distinction. This makes him a historical link to the founding of America.