1791 Land Deed~Benjamin Davis to Rachel Godfrey

Benjamin Davis to Rachel Godfrey

South Carolina} To all whom these presents shall come, or may in anywise Concern I, Benjamin Davis of the County of Liberty in the District of Georgetown and State of South Carolina Send Greeting Know Ye that I the said Benj. Davis for and in consideration of the great love good will and affection which I have and for and to bear to my daughter Rachel Godfrey wife of Richard Godfrey of the County & State aforesaid have given and granted and by these presents do give freely clearly and absolutely give and grant unto my Said Daughter and their lawful Ifsue of her Body three negroes Viz: Jockey Roxanna and Phillis together with all their increases until to have and to hold the said negroes Jockey, Roxana and Phillis together with their increases unto my Said Daughter Rachel Godfrey and her lawful Ifsuse to her and there only proper use and behoof forever but for the Want of Such Ifsuse the said Negroes and their increases must return to my other Children Viz: Ann, David, Joseph, Benjamin William and Henry and their lawful Ifsue of their bodied, and by them to be equally Divided share & Share alike and in farther Testimony whereof I have this day delivered my Said Daughter Rachel Godfrey and put her in possession of Roxana & Phillis in the name of the whole for the above purpose without conditions. In witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & ninety one and in the fourteenth year of American Independence.

Signed Sealed and Delivered}                            Benj. Davis {seal}

In the presence of }

Ann Giles

Abraham Button

State of South Carolina}

Georgetown District}  Before me John Dozer one of the Justices of the Said District personally appeared Ann Dozer formerly Ann Giles who being duly Sworn declareth that She was Present and did see Benj. Davis Sen'r. Sign Seal and deliver the within instrument of Writing to the within names Rachel Godfrey for the uses and purposes therein contained inscribed and that the also Abraham Britton subscribe his name to the Same as a witnefs with her Self. Sworn before me this 27 Day of May 1799. 

John Dozer Ann Dozer

[Register of Deeds; Marion County, SC; DEED BOOK "G", Page 35 and 36, Image 454

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLV-5KSB?i=453&cat=472601]

Benjamin Davis was borne 17 July 1719 in Merion Township, Pennsylvania. Family members left Pennsylvania migrating into Delaware and finally to the Welsh Tract and Marion District of South Carolina. Benjamin arrived in the Cheraw District in 1739. 

On 21 February 1748/1749, William Davis married Rachel Port, daughter of Joseph Port and his wife Ann.  Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port had a family of twelve (12) children. 

When this Deed was executed on 12 April 1791, we can see by the children named that only  7 of their twelve children were named; the other having already passed away. Not named were sons, John, David, James and Francis; daughters, Mary Ann and Margaret.   

Benjamin A. Davis, Sr., died 27 September 1797. Rachel (Port) Davis died between 1800 and 1810. NOTE: Her FindAGrave memorial show that she died in Oct 1823 at the age of of 91. No source is given for this information. Her actual death date is currently unknown. 

Benjamin and Rachel are my 5th Great Grand Uncle and Aunt. 

_______________________

1. Victor Bland Stanley Jr., Marion churches and churchmen, 1735-1935 : a narrative of the Church of England and its successor, the Episcopal Church (N.p.: by The Author, 1938), page 36. I became aware of this book over 35 years ago while serving in the Air Force at Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah.  

2. Land Deed - Benj. Davis to Rachel Godfrey; 12 April 1791; Deed Book #G; Page(s) 35 & 36; Register of Deeds; Marion, Marion, South Carolina; October 2023.

3. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  October 2023); Memorial page for Benjamin Davis; (17 July 1719–27 September 1797); Find a Grave memorial # 59498864, Citing Benjamin Davis Cemetery; Davis Landing, Marion County, South Carolina, USA.

4. National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, The Register Book of Parish Prince Frederick Winyaw (Baltimore, Maryland: William & Wilkins Company, 1916), page 56.

5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Rachel Port Davis (1 Mar 1732- Unknown), Memorial # 59499033.