Surname Saturday - Thomas Davis, 4th Great Grand Father

Thomas Davis¹ was born on 22 Mar 1760 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He served in the Revolutionary War.²  In Oct 1832, Thomas signed an affidavit for Richard Graves stating that he served with Richard in the Revolutionary War (S-8598). He died on 20 Mar 1845 at the age of 84 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.³ He was buried in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. A Memorial for Thomas can be viewed at www.findagrave.com.⁴  He owned 300 acres on Thompson Creek.   

Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers were married in 1787 or 1788 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Nancy Rivers was born on 15 Dec 1767 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died on 15 Dec 1853 at the age of 86 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. A Memorial for Nancy can be viewed at www.findagrave.com. Nancy was buried in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers had the following children:

          i. Samuel Davis, born Jan 1789, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

         ii. William Davis, born 1790, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Julia Thurman, abt 1814, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 1867, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

        iii. Susannah Davis, born 1792, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married John H. Wadsworth, 1820, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died abt 1875, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        iv. Isaac Jacob Davis, born 18 Aug 1795, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Sara; died 13 Jun 1877, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

         v. Hulda Davis was born in 1797 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died in 1830 at the age of 33 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

        vi. Jonathan Daniel Davis, born abt 1800, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Sarah LNU in 1818, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 1839, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

       vii. Elizabeth Rebecca Davis, born 1801, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Lewis Boatwright, 1818, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 1873, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

      viii. Sarah Jane Davis, born 1804, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Jesse Freeman, abt 1828, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died aft 1870, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

        ix. Michael Davis, born 13 Mar 1806, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Hulda Rivers, 1832, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 26 Apr 1883, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

         x. Mary "Polly" Davis was born on 25 Jun 1808 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{5 6} She died on 20 May 1890 at the age of 81 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried at Zoar UMC Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. A Memorial for Polly can be viewed at www.findagrave.com.

        xi. John Calvin Davis, born 14 Dec 1812, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Charlotte Hurst, 31 Jan 1836, Darlington County, South Carolina; died 12 Jul 1865, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

 Thomas & Nancy are my fourth great grandparents. My line is through their son, Michael Davis.

Note:

Thomas 's third daughter - Elizabeth Rebecca Davis- is misidentified in many unsourced genealogies and family histories as Margaret Elizabeth Davis. This mistake was first made in 1927 by Harry Alexander Davis in his book "The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania," page 55. It has been copied and spread around since that time without any references. There are two land deeds related to the sale of Lewis Boatwright estate lands on file in the Chesterfield County Courthouse. Elizabeth Rebecca states and signs her name as Elizabeth Rebecca Boatwright to relinquishes her rights of dower. [Chesterfield County, SC, Register of Deeds, Book #1, Page 280 & Book 1, page 47 & 48].

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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. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 94, Line 1, Dwelling/Family 1/1, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217. 1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217; Image: 191; Family History Library Film: 805217; Page 94, Line 1, Dwelling/Family 1/1. Michael DAVIS, Farmer, age 54, born SC; Hulda DAVIS, Wife, age 45, born SC; William DAVIS, Son, age 26, born SC; Sarah DAVIS, Daughter, age 21, born SC; Thomas DAVIS, Son, age 20, born SC; Charles DAVIS, Son, age 18, born SC; Elisha DAVIS, Son, age 12, born SC; Jane DAVIS, Daughter, age 10, born SC; Mary Eliza DAVIS, Daughter, age 07, born SC. Film #0805217. Living with Michael & Hulda is Mary DAVIS, age 50 [Michael's sister].

      6. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page 316B, Line 28, Dwelling 129, Family 129, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225. 1880 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: 1225; Family History Film: 1255225; Enumeration District: 5; Page 316B, Line 28, Dwelling 129, Family 129; Michael DAVIS, age 74, born SC; Hulda DAVIS, Wife, age 64, born SC; Polly DAVIS, Sister, age 71, born SC and Hauly RIVERS, Other, age 66, born SC.