Davenport Homestead

"I trust you now know that this place has become something of great significance. A community to serve as an example of what this would-be nation could become."

―Achilles expressing his sentiments on the Davenport Homestead, in a letter to Connor.

Homestead

The Davenport Homestead was a small but thriving community based on the grounds of Davenport Manor, near Rockport, Massachusetts. During the 18th century, it served as a base of operations for the Colonial Assassins. The manor and lands were originally owned by the Mentor Achilles Davenport, and were passed onto his apprentice Ratonhnhaké:ton after Achilles' death.

History

Early expansion

"This lovely little collection of buildings was the headquarters of the original Assassin Order of the Colonies- a modest Masyaf, if you will."

―Shaun Hastings' database entry for the Davenport Homestead.

Achilles Davenport rose to the rank of Mentor in 1746, and spent his time both recruiting and expanding the Assassin Brotherhood into the Frontier. The Homestead served as a base for the Assassins and a home for Achilles' wife Abigail, and his young son Connor.

However, this time of prosperity did not last. Once Haytham Kenway, the Grand Master of the Colonial Templar Order established his own base of operations in Boston, the Assassins were hunted down and executed. The Assassins also suffered heavy casualities during the French and Indian War; by 1763, the Brotherhood was scattered.

Faced with the deaths of his Brotherhood, wife, and son – both of whom died of typhoid fever – Achilles lost the will to fight the Templars. He remained in isolation at the Homestead for the next six years, letting it fall into disrepair.

Arrival of Ratonhnhaké:ton

Achilles yelling at Ratonhnhaké:ton to leave

In 1769, Ratonhnhaké:ton of the Kanien'kehá:ka tribe was instructed by Juno to seek the Assassins, so he traveled to the Davenport Homestead. A depressed Achilles angrily refused multiple times, but relented and took Ratonhnhaké:ton on as his apprentice after seeing him fight off a group of colonial mercenaries who had come to kill the Assassin Mentor.

Achilles then spent years teaching Ratonhnhaké:ton the ways of the Assassin Order, and gave him the name of "Connor" to honor his own son's memory, and to let Ratonhnhaké:ton blend in with the colonists.

Over the years, Connor and Achilles worked together to improve the Homestead by inviting craftsman, farmers, and merchants to live on the lands near to the manor and encourage trade. In time, the Homestead expanded and evolved into a small, tight-knit community.

The Homestead residents gathering to fight off Quincent's attack on Ellen's home

At its peak, the Homestead included a mill, a carpenter, farmers, hunters, miners, tailors, a doctor, a blacksmith, a church and an inn. The Homestead also held a small dock for the Assassins' ship, the Aquila, which was overseen by first mate and Assassin Robert Faulkner.

For the residents, the Homestead was seen as a second chance, as many had lost their homes and professions due to attacks from mercenaries or the British Army. During some instances, the Homestead came under attack when these groups sought retribution several times, but Connor always made sure his friends were safe.

The Homestead residents at Achilles' funeral

In 1781, Achilles' health began to decline, and he passed away peacefully inside the manor. In a final letter to Connor, Achilles left him the Homestead.

Achilles expressed his hope that Connor would understand that the Homestead had blossomed into a thriving community that could serve as an example of what a united America could become. Connor then buried Achilles next to his wife and son on the hilltop nearby, which overlooked the sea, as fellow Homestead residents paid their respects.

Later in 1783, Connor returned to the graves of the Davenport family to bury an amulet in Connor Davenport's resting place, thinking it would be one of the most obscure locations that anyone would look for it; for some reason, the Homestead vanished from historical records during the early 19th century. In December 2012, Desmond Miles, Connor's descendant, returned to the grave and dug up the amulet, before using it to access the inner chambers of the Grand Temple.

Layout

The Homestead referred to a large forested area on the east coast of Massachusetts, north of Boston. Two rivers cut through the land, one near the northern part of the property, and one through the middle of the region.

As more people began to move on the Homestead, the land became more settled. Parts of the forest were cleared to make way for new homes and shops, and more roads were established to connect the manor, port, and residents together.

A primary pathway linked together Ellen, David, Oliver, Lance, Lyle and Godfrey and Terry's businesses with Timothy's church, the Davenport Manor and the Aquila's docking port. Warren's farm, Norris' mine and Myriam's hunting cabin were located on the outskirts of the Homestead.

Several animals could also be hunted at the Homestead, including fox, elk, deer, beavers, raccoon, wolves, and hares.

Mansion

The manor's secret room

The central hub of the Homestead was the Davenport Manor, where Achilles and Connor resided. The manor overlooked a small cove where ships could dock and it also had stables nearby.

The first floor contained a kitchen, dining room, a reading room, and Achilles' bedroom. The second floor hosted Connor's bedroom, a gallery room of paintings and trophies (as well as a copy of Common Sense), another room storing books and letters, and a display room for the inventions that had been crafted for Connor after he had found their recipes.

The basement, which could be accessed by pulling a candelabra behind the staircase, stored Assassin outfits, weapons and a board of information on the Templars.

Gallery

Concept artResidentsScreenshots

• The Davenport Homestead manor
  The Davenport Homestead manor
• Entrance to the Homestead manor
  Entrance to the Homestead manor
• 
  Civilians in the Homestead
• The Homestead flag
  The Homestead flag

• 
  Achilles Davenport
• 
  Ratonhnhaké:ton
• 
  Robert Faulkner
• 
  Godfrey
• 
  Catherine
• 
  Terry
• 
  Diana
• 
  Warren
• 
  Prudence
• 
  Myriam
• 
  Maurice
• 
  Oliver
• 
  Corrine
• 
  Lance O'Donnell
• 
  Lyle White
• 
  David Walston
• 
  Ellen
• 
  Timothy

• 
  The lumberers' home
• 
  Lance's house
• 
  Norris's mine
• 
  The Mile's End inn
• 
  The Mile's End interior
• 
  The inn's Bowls field
• 
  The church
• 
  Church interior
• 
  Ellen unveiling the Homestead's flag