James Davis

b. late 1752 to 1755, d. 1836
FatherNathaniel Davis1 d. bef 15 Oct 1765
MotherSarah (?)
BirthCircalate 1752 to 1755 James Davis was born in Virginia in late 1752 to 1755. ( James was 79 on 30 Oct. 1832 and 80 on 20 May 1833 according to various affadavits in his pension file. However, in a chancery court deposition in Wythe County dated 25 Nov. 1815 he stated that he was about 60 years old).2,3 
Research  Washington County, Virginia;
4 Davis brothers were present at an early date: Nathaniel, John, James and Samuel - per writings attributed to Gov. David Campbell in Early Settlers of Washington Co., part of Historical Sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and Kindred Families by Mgt Pilcher (Nashville: Marshall and Bruce Co., 1911). He also states that 4 Davis brothers were present at an early date: Nathaniel, John, James and Samuel.

Note: David Campbell served as governor of VA from 1837-1840. He was born in Washington County in 1779 and was a merchant in Abingdon for many years. He died in 1859 (Wikipedia.org citing the Dictionary of VA Biography). Gov. Campbell was a nephew of Col. Arthur Campbell, under whom several of the Davis brothers served during the Revolutionary War (online genealogies of the Campbell family; Davis Rev. War pension applications). 
Militarybetween Jun 1774 and Nov 1774  Washington County, Virginia;
entered service as a spy under Ensign John Davis, Lt. Wm Mallory, Capt. Roger Craig, Maj. James Montgomery and Col. Arthur Campbell; marched through Washington Co.4 
ResidenceJun 1774  Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.4
 
Militarybetween Apr 1775 and Jul 1776  Sergeant in company of Capt. Isaac Shelby; James Shelby Lt; reg. Arthur Campbell; Maj. James Montgomery; brigade of Evan Shelby; was living in or near Abingdon; marched against the Tories in Washington Co., TN (then a part of NC) and marched through Sullivan Co. TN; the Tories surrendered - this in the Spring of 1776 - July was in the battle of the Middle Fork of the Holston where he killed 1 Indian.4 
Military1 Oct 1776  North Carolina (now Tennessee);
Cherokee campaign under Col. Christian; destroyed the Cherokee towns on Little Tennessee River.4 
MilitaryFall 1776-Fall 1780  Guarded the frontiers of Russell and Lee counties as a sergeant or spy (under same officers).4 
Military1780  Campbell and Sevier's campaign as orderly sergeant - crossed the Little Tennessee R. opposite an Indian village called T__. Indians fled; burned towns except Chota; took 35 Indian prisoners.4 
MilitarySpring 1781  Discharged at Abingdon.4 
Tax1782  Washington County, Virginia;
James appeared on tax rolls the first two years they were kept (1782 and 1783) was absent from 1784-1794 and then was again recorded from 1795-1827. James was recorded in the Lower District and was a slave owner.5 
Land-Buy6 Apr 1784  Rockbridge County, Virginia;
James Davis bought 200 acres on the south side of Buffelowe [sic] Creek in Rockbridge County, Virginia from Jonithan Whitly and wife Sarah on April 6th, 1784. James paid 200 pounds for the land which was described as crossing lines with Paul Whitley's old survey.6 
Witnessed4 May 1785  Rockbridge County, Virginia;
James and Rebecca Davis witnessed a deed from James O'Bryans to Jonathin Whitley on May 4th 1785 whereby Jonathin purchased 100 acres in Rockbridge County on a branch of Buffelo Creek (formerly Botetourt County).7 
Research1 Apr 1791  Washington County, Virginia;
deed from James Davis of Rockbridge Co. VA to Samuel Davis; 108 acres on the headwaters of Beaver Creek; patented to Davis 1 June 1785; DB 1: 211. 
Research29 Apr 1791  Washington County, Virginia;
deed from James Davis of Rockbridge Co., VA to John Shutter; 150 pds; 210 acres on the headwaters of Beaver Creek in Washington Co. VA; DB 1: 210. 
Witnessed1 May 1796  Washington County, Virginia;
witnessed will of James Herrald.8 
Tax1815  James Davis was listed under a special tax assesment taken for the year 1815. He was assessed for a farm on Herralds Creek containing 427 acres. The dwelling house on the property was two stories tall and measured 24ft by 24ft. There was also a mill and two outhouses. In addition James owned 1 male and 3 female slaves. His total assesment reached $3,747.50.9 
Land-Gift15 Nov 1817  Washington County, Virginia;
James sold the land on which he was living to his son James Davis Jr. on Nov. 15, 1817 for $1. The survey included abt 350 acres after deducting a portion already gifed to son Moses. The land was described as on Harrolds Creek, a branch of the North Fork of the Holston River in Rich Valley. However James Sr. and Rebecca retained a life interest in the land. The deed stipulated that James Jr. could take immediate possession of part of the tract west of the creek. A portion of the land referred to as "buckeye hollow" was to be put to meadow at their mutual expense; both men were also to maintain an existing saw mill.10 
Land-Gift21 Aug 1819  Washington County, Virginia;
James and Rebeckah, wife, for $1 sold 50 acres on Cannoe Branch (waters of the North Fork of the Holston River) to Moses Davis. Land patented to James Davis 20 Apr 1809 from Jonathan Whitleys land now in possession of sd James and Rebeckah.11 [appears was also a second tract] 
Land-Sell10 Sep 1824  Washington County, Virginia;
James Davis Sr. sold James Davis Jr. several surveys totalling 445 acres for $41. The land was on both sides of Harrolls Creek, a south branch of the North Fork of the Holston River. One survey was for 197 acres patented to James Sr. on 1 Dec. 1800 and the scond survey for 180 acres was patented to James Sr. on 1 Sept. 1821. The transfer also included a survey patented to Jonathan Whitley on 25 Jul 1787 which was later conveyed to James Sr.12 
  James's grandson, William Ewing, born abt 1820 in Washington Co. is purported to say: "Samuel was a school teacher. He married Mary (Polly) Davis, daughter of James Davis of Washington County, Virginia, probably at the old Davis home 4 miles from Abingdon, on the road between there and Russell County, where the only sister, Mrs. Oliver Hughes, of this Samuel Ewing lived. Grandfather Davis was an Irish Presbyterian (probably Scotch-Irish) and was in the Revolutionary War. He was well off; having perhaps 20 slaves. He sold out and moved to Platt or Marion County, Missouri"; Source: Clan Ewing of Scotland by E.W.R. Ewing. 
Will10 Sep 1827  James wrote his will on 10 Sep 1827 in Washington County, Virginia. In it he mentioned his sons Jonathan, Nathaniel, Moses and James and his daughter Polly Ewing. He left two sons-in-law, John Corry and George Thompson, $503.33 each. James did not mention a wife.13 
Migration1827 After writing his will James left Virginia and settled in Randolph County, Missouri.4 
Milit-Pens18 Sep 1833 On Oct. 30, 1832 while living in Randolph County James applied for a Revolutionary War pension. He was placed on the Missouri pension rolls at the rate of $120 per year on 18 Sep 1833.4 
Land-Sellbetween 1832 and 1835  Randolph County, Missouri;
James sold several parcels of land before he left Randolph County. Some of the tracts were sold to James Davis Jr. 
ResearchSep 1835  Missouri;
last Rev. War pension payment was made Sept 1835 in Missouri 
Death1836 James probably died in 1836. At the time of his death he was traveling from Missouri back to Virginia in the company of his grandson, Whitley Thompson. It is not known exactly where James died or where he is buried.14 
Will-Recd26 Sep 1836 James's will was proved on 26 Sep 1836 in Washington County, Virginia, on the oaths of James Cummings and John Davis. John Corry, the only surviving executor, posted a bond in the amount of $3,000 on November 28th with Wallace Maxwell as his security.13 
Probate Recd29 May 1838 Probate records for James Davis was filed in Washington County, Virginia, on 29 May 1838. H. Dixon, the Washington County commissioner assigned to review John Corry's settlement of the James Davis probate noted that John Corry had only been able to collect $1,100 of the estate in either money or property. John had collected various notes due to the estate but the obligons resided out of state and hence John Corry had not been able to collect on them. The one exception was a note for $150 on James Davis Jr. which Nathaniel Davis had received as his legacy. James Davis Jr. also owed the estate 2 additional notes which were held by Mrs. Crider [James Davis' daughter Polly] and which she agreed to take as part of her legacy. The commissioner also noted that when James Davis died on the way to Virginia, Whitley Thompson (son of George Thompson, a legatee) took possession of the money property & a horse & bridle & cash [appears to be $130]. Whitley paid $41 to cover doctors bills, tavern charges and furneral expenses for James. He sold James's horse for $60 and has not yet accounted for the remainder of the monies owed the estate. The commissioner allowed John Corry the full $503.33 left to him by James's will.14 
Research1929  Senator Harry Hawes of Missouri (1869-1947) wrote a letter to the pension board in 1929 requesting info on pension claim S16751 (James Davis). A brief summary of his service was typed and returned to the senator. The letter from the pension dept also stated that James did not state if he was married and that his burial place was not given. A card in James's file states that Harry Hawes's letter was in case Bennet Tilley 17151. On further research it appears that Bennet Tilley was on a list of 1840 Rev. War pensioners for the state of Missouri (google on Bennet Tilley). He was living in Liberty, Macon Co. and was 89 years old. Why was Harry Hawes inquiring about James Davis? What was the connection? Need to look at Bennet Tilley's file on Natl. Archives microfilm M-804 and see what Sen. Hawes's letter said. 

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See also Any Davis
Pension application for James
Wythe Co. court case between Mary Davis and certain of her stepchildren (James Davis testified; see p. 37)
James's will
James's settlement dated 1838 (includes statement that he died on the way to Virginia)
View the 1836 migration route from Abingdon to Randolph County as recorded by Nancy (Craig) Mitchell Bovell. James probably followed the same route during his travels between the 2 locations.
Who else migrated to Randolph County? See the Missouri map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).

Family
Children
  • Jonathan Davis13
  • Polly Davis13
  • Sarah Davis+ ( - between 1840 and 1850)
  • Nathaniel Davis13
  • Rebecca Davis
  • Moses Davis13 ( - before 28 Nov 1836)
  • James Davis13
Last Edited15 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S1295] James Davis deposition in case of Mary Davis vs Russell et al; Wythe Co. Virginia Superior Ct. Chancery Pleas Records 2: 37. James states that John Davis [deceased spouse of plaintiff] was his brother.
  2. [S1292] James Davis personal statement, dated 30 Oct. 1832 at Randolph Co., Missouri; James Davis Revolutionary War Pension Application File; RG 15; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, roll 755). James stated that he was 79 years old and that he was born in Virginia.
  3. [S1295] James Davis deposition in case of Mary Davis vs Russell et al; Wythe Co. Virginia Superior Ct. Chancery Pleas Records 2: 37.
  4. [S1292] James Davis personal statement, dated 30 Oct. 1832 at Randolph Co., Missouri; James Davis Revolutionary War Pension Application File; RG 15; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, roll 755).
  5. [S1249] Washington Co., Virginia Tax Records 1782-1805.
  6. [S1396] Marie A. Morisset, Abstracts of Rockbridge County, VA Vol. 1, Deed Book A, 1778-1788, p. 45, citing Deed Bk A: 426. The deed was witnessed by Malcolm Allen and Gorge Poag and recorded 6 Apr. 1784.
  7. [S1396] Marie A. Morisset, Abstracts of Rockbridge County, VA Vol. 1, Deed Book A, 1778-1788, p. 54, citing Deed Bk A: 527. The deed was witnessed by George Taylor in addition to James and Rebecka Davis. It was recorded 2 Aug. 1785.
  8. [S726] Lewis Preston Summers, Annals of Southwest Virginia, part 2:1351. Will of James Herrald. His estate to his children Robert, Mary & James. Exec. John Davis & Rbt. Herrald. Wit: John Davis, James Davis, John Moffett. Probated Oct. 18, 1796.
  9. [S2384] Mary Kegley, Southwest Virginia Tax Assessments, p. 104.
  10. [S1988] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 6: 427.
  11. [S2210] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 9, 1825-1829, p. 19, abstracted from Washington Co. VA Deed Bk 9:83.
  12. [S2210] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 9, 1825-1829, p. 19, abstracted from Washington Co. VA Deed Bk 9:85.
  13. [S695] James Davis will (recorded 1836), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 7: 122. Will was dated 10 Sept. 1827 with Moses Davis, John Corry and Robert Davis as executors. It was witnessed by James Cummings, George Clark and John Davis. On Nov. 28, 1836, John Corry, as the only surviving executor, posted bond of $3,000.
  14. [S695] James Davis settlement (1836), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 7: 358.