Elizabeth Peke Davis

Elizabeth Peke Davis or sometimes Betty Davis (1803–1860) was a Hawaiian Kingdom high chiefess, being the hapa haole daughter of Isaac Davis, the Welsh advisor of Kamehameha I, who helped him unify the island in 1810. She was the wife of George Prince Kaumualii, also known as Humehume. Early life Betty was born on February 12, 1803 or December 24, 1803, at Waimea, Hawaii Island. Her 45-year-old father, Isaac Davis from Milford Haven, Wales, known as Aikake by Hawaiians, was one of Kamehameha's closest friends and advisors. He was treated like nobility due to his service. He was given the title High Chief, and owned vast tracts of land. Her mother was the chiefess Kalukuna, a relative of Kamehameha I, and her father's second wife. She was given the name of Elizabeth and often referred to as Betty or Peke, the Hawaiian version of Betty. She was the youngest sister of Sarah "Kale" Kaniaulono Davis and George Hueu Davis. Tragedy would strike her father in 1810. Aikake was poisoned by the chiefs who disliked the peaceful capitulation of the Kingdom of Kauai, under King Kaumualii, into a vassal state of King Kamehameha. After his death, his close companion, John Young, looked after Betty and her brother and sister. Two of them were living with him in 1807, and after Davis's murder Young continued to raise them along with his own five children James, her future-brother-in-law; Fanny, mother of Emma Rooke; Grace, hānai (foster) mother of Emma; John, future premier or kuhina nui; and Jane, mother of Peter Kaeo and Albert Kunuiakea, at his homestead at Kawaihae. In his will, dated 1834, Young divided his lands equally between all his and Davis's children. Marriages Betty married twice. Her first marriage was to Humehume, known as George Prince Kaumualii, the son of King Kaumualii and a commoner. George was five years her senior and a veteran of the War of 1812. Due to her mother-in-law's status, George was not in line to follow the father as King or even vassal king of Kauai. George was well educated, having been to New England for an education. Soon after arriving on The Thaddeus, he met and married Peke Davis. He called her his "rib". They sailed to Kauai to reunite with King Kaumualii. After the death of his father, Kauai was unstable. Many chiefs did not want to follow the new government under King Kamehameha. During the Rebellion of 1824, Humehume and others lost to the forces of Kamehameha.