Nathaniel Davis

b. 4 July 1753, d. 1838
FatherNathaniel Davis d. bef 15 Oct 1765
MotherSarah (?)
  Research Notes for Nathaniel: some deed records may not be for this Nathaniel. 
Birth4 Jul 1753 Nathaniel Davis was born on 4 Jul 1753 in Augusta County, Virginia.1 
Research  John and Nathaniel were in the county bef 1772 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). 
Residence1772  Gordon Aronhime's notes: Nathaniel Davis, bros of John. Home was near that of his brother but he sold this land and moved to the confluence of the Watauga and Holston Rivers on the Sullivan-Washington Tenn Co lines, where he was living in 1787; Sources: Fincastle Co. Plat bk A, 48, 255; Sullivan Co., TN DB 2, 429, 436.2 
Milit-Beg1 May 1776  Washington County, Virginia;
entered service as a spy under Capt. John Davis (his brother) and Col. Robert Craig. The Indians (Shawnee and Cherokee) were especially bothersome for several years after the Battle of the Big Kanawha; in 1775 it was especially bad and the frontier inhabitants built forts: Flat Lick fort, Blackmore's fort and the Rye Cove fort were some. Each company appt 1 or more spies - was a spy until August.1 
MilitaryApr 1777  Appt to spy down the North Fork of the Holston and towards Clinch mtn and usually was out 2-3 days and then rept back to Blackamore's Ft; spied through Oct; then the following Spring through Sept; was known as a good spy; ran many risks and discovered many dangers.1 
MigrationWinter 1779  Sullivan County, North Carolina (now Tennessee);
settled near the mouth of the Watauga.1 
Research1780  Accd to Summers "Annals SW VA" the following were at Kings Mtn: Capt John Davis, Nathaniel Davis, Ensign Robert Davis, Samuel Davis, Col. William Davis.3 
Militarybetween Sep 1780 and Oct 1780  Between the 5th and 10th; was drafted for 3 mos under Capt. Geo Warfield and served in the reg of Col. Isaac Shelby; object was against Col. Ferguson who was marching a detachment through NC and SC. They met on Doe River at the foot of Yellow Mtn and then marched to Kings Mtn and fought a battle on 7 or 8 Oct. 1780; returned home 27 or 28 Oct.1 
  Tennessee did not exist as a state until 1796. It was originally part of North Carolina. In 1784 settlers on the frontier of present day East Tennessee [then the counties of Washington, Sullivan and Greene] broke away in an attempt to form an independent state. They called it Franklin. It only lasted 4 years, failing in 1788 at which time these counties again were considered part of North Carolina, along with several additional counties formed from the original 3. North Carolina maintained some governmental structure in this region even during the years Franklin was active. In 1790 North Carolina ceded its western lands to the federal government but the eastern counties remained part of North Carolina until 1796. 
Migration  Tennessee;
after a few years in Sullivan Co. NC he moved to Tennessee and lived there 39 years [not clear; does it mean he lived in Sullivan Co. NC a few years and then settled in Washington Co. TN??].1 
Research10 Nov 1784  Sullivan County, North Carolina (now Tennessee);
grant from State of North Carolina to Nathaniel Davis; 200 acres on the north bank of the Holston River in Sullivan Co. opposite the mouth of Watagah [sic], above the head of a small spring, including a small island; 10 pounds for each 100 ac4 
Research13 Sep 1790  Sullivan County, North Carolina (now Tennessee);
deed from Nathaniel Spu [sic] Davis of Sullivan Co., North Carolina to John Spurgin; 16 pds; 8 acres where Nathaniel formerly lived including the island near the mouth of the Watagua;

Note lack of dower release. Does this indicate Nathaniel was not married or was a dower release not required by NC/TN at that time?

Was the "Spu" after "Nathaniel" an error or a middle name? it appears that way in the deed book5 
Research23 May 1797  Sullivan County, Tennessee;
deed of warranty from Nathaniel Davis of Washington Co. [TN implied but not stated] to Charles Helton of Sullivan Co; $500; 200 acres in Sullivan Co. where Davis formerly lived. north bank of the Holston River, opposite the mouth of Watauga, reserving for Davis a small island

Note: No dower release; what was the law in TN at the time?6 
  This deed seems to establish that Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel, was in Washington Co., TN after selling his land in Sullivan Co., TN. 
Research10 Apr 1798  Washington County, Virginia;
Henry McMillan and Mary of Hawkin County, TN to Nathaniel Davis of Washington Co., TN 200 acres on the E. fork of Beaver Creek a branch of the Holston in Washington County VIRGINIA, $500; wit: John Davis, James Davis, John Corry7 
Research19 Aug 1799  Nathaniel Davis of Washington Co. TN and Robert Anderson of Knox Co., TN, as tenants in common purchase from Walter and Amelia Alvis of Orange Co., NC 2 tracts of land in Knox Co., TN (within Henderson & Co. Grant survey), on waters of the Clinch, each lot = 5,375 acres, (Amelia rec'd as sole heir of William Johnston), $6,000; Source: Deed Bk E: 322 [Lynn found in Maryville, TN courthouse but that is/was Blount Co.?]. 
Research20 Oct 1800  Washington County, Virginia;
deed from Nathaniel Davis of Washington County, Tennessee to Benjamin Spyker; 225 pds; 200 acres on Beaver Creek in Washington Co., VA; DB 2: 352 
Migrationcirca 1831  Caldwell County, Kentucky;
migrated abt 1830-1831 (no specific yr given in pension applic).1 
Milit-Pens29 May 1833  Caldwell County, Kentucky;
applied for pension.1 
Milit-Pens14 Nov 1833  Kentucky pension roll at $40 year based on service in the company of Capt. Davis in the regiment of Col. Craig in the Virginia line for 1 year.1 
Death1838 Nathaniel probably died in 1838 as the last pension payment recorded for him was in September 1838 in Kentucky. 
Research1912  Manilla, Iowa;
Winfield S. Moore, attorney at law, wrote the commisioner of pensions requesting info on Nathaniel Davis - asked for family data8 
Research1927  Charlottesville, Virginia;
Jennie (Mrs. J.C.) Grayson wrote the bureau of pensions asking for the pension recd of Nathaniel Davis, born in Albermarle Co., Virginia, wife Susannah G___sby (may not even be a "G") Davis. She states that Nathaniel went from VA to TN to KY. Her letter was filed in the pension folder of Nathaniel (bros to John, Samuel and James). However, we know that he was born in Augusta County as he states his place of birth in his own pension declaration. Mrs. Grayson's letter appears to be another case of mixed up Nathaniels, but we need to look and see if she applied for DAR membership and then confirm or disprove her line of descendancy.8 

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See also Any Davis
Nathaniel's Revolutionary War pension application.
Last Edited15 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S1293] Nathaniel Davis personal statement, dated 29 May 1833 at Caldwell Co., Kentucky; Nathaniel Davis Revolutionary War Pension Application File; RG 15; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, roll 755).
  2. [S955] Gordon Aronhime, "The 1772 Cummings Petition - Location of the Homes of the Signers", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #16 & 17: 11.
  3. [S726] Lewis Preston Summers, Annals of Southwest Virginia, part 2:1379.
  4. [S1398] Shelby Edwards, Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 1-2, p. 89, citing Deed Book 2: 429.
  5. [S1398] Shelby Edwards, Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 1-2, p. 91, citing Deed Book 2: 436.
  6. [S1401] Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 4: 771.
  7. [S1400] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 2: 110. Deed was rec'd 21 Aug. 1798.
  8. [S1293] Nathaniel Davis Revolutionary War Pension Application File; RG 15; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, roll 755).