Thomas Dew was a Virginia landowner and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. He settled in the vicinity of the Nansemond River

Nansemond River

The Nansemond River is a tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Nansemond River Bridge crosses the river near its mouth. Both it and the former State Route 125 bridge, demolished in 2008, were once toll bridges. The river begins at the outlet of Lake Meade north of...

 by 1634, and represented Upper Norfolk County

Nansemond County, Virginia

Nansemond County is an extinct county which was located in Virginia Colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, from 1646 until 1972...

 in the General Assembly of 1642. He was elected to the House of Burgesses

House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...

 several times between 1652 and 1656, succeeding his neighbor Edward Major

Edward Major

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Major was a Virginia soldier, landowner and politician.- Life :Major was born in England around 1615. He moved to Virginia in 1635 and became a prominent farmer and militia leader in Nansemond County. He was a Burgess from Upper Norfolk Co...

 as Speaker in the November 1652 session.

In 1656 he was authorized to explore the coast of North Carolina between Cape Hatteras and Cape Fear. Later in life, he became a Quaker.