David Cohen Nassy (born 1612), was a professional colonizer who started Jewish colonies in the Caribbean. He had several nicknames, Cristovão de Távora (his christian name) and José Nunes da Fonseca (his tradename).
He fled to Amsterdam (Netherlands) because of the Inquisition in Portugal. He married Ribca (Maria) Drago and they had 12 children. David lived in Amsterdam and was authorized in 1662 by Abraham aCohen to go to Cayenne (French Guiana). In 1664 he went to Cayenne with a great number of Jews, but was refused to set up volksplantingen in Cayenne. David and his Jews travelled to Surinam and they settled at Jodensavanne on the Surinam river.
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