Thomas Davis, Revolutionary Soldier

Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers are my 4^th Great Grandparents. They were born, reared and died in what is now known as Chesterfield County, South Carolina. They were founding families of South Carolina at a time when this country was struggling for its independence. My lineage is through their son Michael Davis, who is my 3^rd Great Grandfather.

Thomas Davis[1] was born on 22 Mar 1760[2] in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He served in the military in 1779 at Revolutionary War. He died on 20 Mar 1845[3] at the age of 84 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Thomas was buried[4] in a family Graveyard in Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers were married in 1787 or 1788[5] in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Nancy Rivers, parents are unknown but some say she was a daughter of William Rivers and Temple Dempsey (unproven). Nancy Rivers was born on 15 Dec 1767 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died on 15 Dec 1853[6] at the age of 86 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers had eleven children:

Samuel Davis (Jan 1789 - 29 Oct 1857); William Davis (1790 1867); Susannah Davis (1792 – abt 1875); Isaac Jacob Davis (18 Aug 1795 - 13 Jun 1877); Hulda Davis (1797-1830); Jonathan Daniel Davis (abt 1800-1839); Elizabeth Rebecca Davis (1801-1873); Sarah Jane Davis (1804 – aft 1870); Michael Davis, (13 Mar 1806 - 26 Apr 1883); Mary "Polly" Davis (25 Jun 1808 - 20 May 1890) and John Calvin Davis ( 14 Dec 1812 - 12 Jul 1865).

THOMAS DAVIS

Pension Application[7]

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Declaration of Thomas Davis in order to obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield District } On this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, personally appeared in open court, before the court of Common Pleas and General sessions, now sitting, Thomas Davis a resident of the State and district aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

That he was born on the 22nd March 1760, in the district and State aforesaid, that his age was set down first in a Prayer Book & afterwards in a Bible both of which were his Fathers that his eldest brother took possession of them after his Father's death, and this deponent does not know what has become of them.

That he entered the Service of the United States under the officers named & served as stated in the following account that he was drafted a short time before Christmas in the year [blank space] and serves as a Private under Capt. Morris Murphy & Maj. Robert Lloyd, that he does not recollect the regiment to which he belonged; that he was marched to a place called the "Long Bluff" on Pee Dee River in the State aforesaid, from there to Sea ............... from there to Had.... Point - and from there to James Island near Charleston from which place he returned home having served in this tour nine weeks. That he was again drafted and marched as a Private under Capt. John Dewitt and Col. George Hicks to Cheraw in the District and State aforesaid where he remained one month & returned home. That he was again drafted as a Private & that on the 8th day of Feb'y (year not recollected) he marched under Capt. Ellerbe & Col. George Hicks cross Black River at ... & crossed Santee at Larrusi Ferry & proceeded to Charleston - That he was in Charleston at the time it was taken by the British under Chiston where he was taken prisoner on the 11th day of May after his march & was discharged and paid on the 19 of same month having served this tour up to the time he was taken prisoner three months & four days.*

That he served two tours, of two weeks each, as one of a scouting party. That he was again drafted and marched as a Private under Captain William Presswood to McCord's Ferry on the Congaree River in the State aforesaid, when Col. Washington took Command - that he returned home from McCord's Ferry having served this tour one month and remained at home two months.

That he was drafted again and served as a Private under Capt' Benton & Maj. Tristam Thomas for one month. That he never received a discharge. He hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any other State.

Thomas X Davis

Sworn to in open Court
the day &
Year above written
Richard Gantt
Presiding Judge
[17 Mar 1836]

We Lewis Ganny [Ganey], a Clergyman residing in the district & State aforesaid and Alfred M. Lowry residing in the same district & State do [blank space] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Davis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be of the age he states, that he is respected and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, and is generally believed, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion & that he is entitled to credit.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Lewis Ganny
Court the day & year above written Alfred M. Lowry
John Craig CCP

And the said do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after ...........the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them, that the said Lewis Ganny {Ganey] who has signed the prescribing certificate is a Clergyman and resident in the said District and State & that Alfred M. Lowry who has also signed the same is a resident in the same district & State & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.

Richard Gantt
presiding Judge

I, John Craig Esquire Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions for Chesterfield District in the State of South Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Davis, for a pension.
In testimony, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.

John Craig, CCP

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[1] Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1927), Pages 54, 55, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 and 127.

[2] Thomas Davis, compiled military record (5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779), Rev. War Pension and Land-Bounty Application Files, (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), Call #766, W-8655. Served as Private in the Revolutionary War; 5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779
(Saffell's Register, pg.292; Stub entries to Indents, Lib. N. No.172; SAR #40464.) Pension application dated 17 March 1836 (W-8655, Rev. War Pension and Land-Bounty application Files, Call #766, NARA). Thomas states that he was born 22 March 1760 in the district and State aforesaid (Chesterfield District, South Carolina).

[3] Family data, John C. Davis Family Bible, Holy Bible, (New York: n.p., 1844); original owned in 2004 by Old Darlington District Genealogy Archives, [address for private use]. DEATH: Recorded in John C. Davis Family Bible obtained by Sherry Welter and Mary Eddins from the Old Darlington District Genealogy Archives, Hartsville, SC. Bible dated New York, 1844. Death recorded as" Thomas Davis died March the 20th 1845, Aged 85 years (exact)." Copies of pages in my possession.

[4] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Thomas Davis; (1788–1844); Memorial # 45431028; Record of the Davis Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 2011.

[5] Thomas Davis, compiled military record (5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779), Rev. War Pension and Land-Bounty Application Files, (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), Call #766, W-8655. Served as Private in the Revolutionary War; 5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779

[6] Family data, John C. Davis Family Bible, Holy Bible, (New York: n.p., 1844); original owned in 2004 by Old Darlington District Genealogy Archives, [address for private use].

[7] Thomas Davis, compiled military record (5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779), Rev. War Pension and Land-Bounty Application Files, (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), Call #766, W-8655. Served as Private in the Revolutionary War; 5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779