Nicholas Daw was a boat captain born in about 1660. After settling in North Carolina, he had several disagreements with the American Indians that lived in the area, including the Machapunga, or Bear River Indians. He became one of the first town commissioners of Bath when it was incorporated in 1705. By 1715 Daw had moved from Bath to Hyde Precinct, relinquishing his position as town commissioner. Genealogical records suggest he died in 1716.