52 Cousins~John H. Davis

Today blog post will feature my cousin, John H. Davis. But first a word of caution.  There are many on-line trees at Ancestry, FamilySearch and individually featured websites. Many of these trees contain errors. Please do you own research. The tree posted in this illustration contains errors.

First, in the image, the mother of John H. Davis is not Rebecca Jane Willis. Rebecca Jane Willis may have married a David Davis, but it WAS NOT, David Davis Jr. son of David Davis, Sr. and Jane Miles. David Davis, Jr. served in the Revolutionary War. His Revolutionary War Record (W6962) clearly states that he married Jane Sloan on 26 February 1788. 

This particular tree and many others say that David Davis died in 1838. His wife, Jane Sloan made the following statement:  "She further declares that she was married to the aforesaid David Davis sometime in the year 1788 and that her husband the said David Davis died on the 17th of September 1832.  That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January 1794 viz. at the time above stated.  Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written."

 S/ William Barnett, JP     S/ Jane Davis, X her mark 

https://revwarapps.org/w6962.pdf 

John H. Davis was born about 1803, a son of David Davis, Jr.  and Jane Sloan. He was the last born of five children. His siblings were a brother and 3 sisters. The specific tree that the snippet is a part of has David Davis and Rebecca Jane Willis with 17 children one of which is John Harvey Davis. Beware! Do your own research!      

John H. Davis may have the middle name “Harvey” but I have not found a document that shows him to be John Harvey Davis.

John H. Davis was born about 1803. No exact birth date has been found for John H. Davis. His birth year is based on the 1850-1880 Censuses.  The Revolutionary War record for his father David Davis, Jr. (W6962) contains family Bible entries, but John H. Davis is not mentioned.  

Bible entries

Eliza Sloan Davis was born May 31 1787

Silas Davies was born April 6 1792 

Jane Davies was Born September 13 1795 

Polly Davies Was Born June 16 1797 

Jane Sloan was Born March 15 1768   

another entry

"I David Davies & Jane Sloan was Married February 26th A. Domini 1788 

Elizt Sloan Davis was born May 31st A. Domini 1789 

Silas Davis was Born Aprel 6th 1793 

Jean Davis was born September 13 1795 

Polly Davies was born June 16, 1797  

[NOTE: Conflicting dates] 

Why John H. Davis is not mentioned is unknown. He is mentioned in his father Will. 

"To my son John I divide that part of my land, lying on the West side of the hollow below his fields, crossing the Creek a little above, the lock ford to Joseph Ewarts line." 

John H. Davis, a farmer, married Nancy Deweese about 1826. 

John H. Davis and Nancy Deweese had the following children:

i.      David Franklin Davis was born on 28 Nov 1827. He died on 21 May 1916 at the age of 88 in Huntersville R F D, Mecklenburg, North Carolina. [Note: I have seen his middle name listed as Frank & Franklin.]

ii. Martha Davis was born about 1830.

iii. Jane Elizabeth Davis was born in 1832. She died 25 Jan 1892 in Huntersville R F D, Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

iv. Charles H. Davis was born in 1833.

v Jonathan A. Davis, born 13 Mar 1834, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; married Elizabeth Monteith; died 24 Dec 1918, Concord, Iredell, North Carolina.

vi. Nancy Annis Davis was born about 1836.

vii. Silas Davis was born about 1840.

viii. Mary C. Davis was born about 1842.

ix. Rachel Isabelle Davis, born 8 Jul 1841, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; married Samuel A. Douglas, 29 Nov 1872, Mecklenburg; died 11 May 1911.

x. William Merchant Davis, born 10 Mar 1843, Mecklenburg County; married Henrietta Loudema Melchor, 24 Feb 1897, Iredell County, North Carolina; married Laura Annette Stevenson, 6 Jan 1876, Iredell County, North Carolina; died 30 Dec 1927, Rowan County, North Carolina.

 

Most of the online trees including the one I took the image snippet from and used above say that John H. Davis died in 1838 in Georgia. Again, beware of what you are copying or accepting as research. There are 3 land deeds in Mecklenburg County whereby John H. Davis for love and affection is giving land to his children namely Jane Elizabeth Davis, Rachel Isabelle Douglass and William M. Davis. (Deed Book 54 & 57).   

I have not found a death date, but I can say John H. Davis died after 14 August 1886. 

John H. Davis is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed. 

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1. David Davis, WILL BOOK: Last Will Book "G"; page 106; Probate Office, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

2. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, John H. Davis Administrator of David Davis Estate; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: Online August 2024); David Davis (1833).

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, population schedule, Western Division, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Page:#102 (Stamped); Line:#34, Dwelling:#949; Family:#1012, Household of John DAVIS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online August 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 906.

4. 1870 Census, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, population schedule, Deweese, Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Page:#150B (Stamped); Line:#26, Dwelling:#249; Family:#249, Household of John H. DAVIS; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online August 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 1148.

5. 1880 U. S. Census, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, population schedule, Deweese, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 111, Page:#421A (Stamped) Line:#4, Dwelling:#NL; Family:#NL, Household of Jno. H. DAVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: online August 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 972.

6. Land Deed - John H. Davis to my daughter Jane Elizabeth Davis; 14 August 1886; Deed Book #54; Page(s) 507; Register of Deeds; Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; September 2024.

7. Land Deed - John H. Davis to my daughter Rachel Douglass; 14 August 1886; Deed Book # 55; page(s)93.

8. Land Deed - John H. Davis to my son William M. Davis; 14 August 1886; Deed Book # 54; page(s)508.

52 Cousins~David Davis, Revolutionary War Veteran, Estate Settlement

David Davis, Jr., borne about 1758, a son of the Rev. David David, Sr. and his wife Jane Miles.  He was borne in Marion, Craven County, South Carolina. An early (1927) family history of the family claims that David ran away from home and went to live with his brother in North Carolina. That brother would be John Davis, Sr. and if our birth dates are somewhat accurate it would mean that David left home in 1770 and traveled to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina as a 12 year old lad.

I don’t know if this story is true or not but I do doubt it. One thing is certain, David Davis has been a difficult challenge to research but I do have a few clues to share. 

First, David married Jane Sloan on 26 February 1788 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. In her own words from page 61 of the Rev. War Pension File “She (Jane Davis) was married to the said David Davis, some time in the year of Seventeen hundred and Eighty Eight and that her husband the aforesaid David Davis died on 17 day of Sept. 1832. She declared that her maiden name was Jane Slone—before her marriage to said David Davis & was married in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina before the date 1794.”

David served in the Revolutionary War (W-6962) and his widow, Jane, received a pension after the War. Within the Revolutionary War (W-6962) Pension file there are mention of children twice and also his wife Jane. 

Silas Davis, aged fifty eight years

Three first oldest children [indecipherable word or words or perhaps a figure] he is the ages of David Davis & Jane Davis three first children to wit Elizabeth Stone Davis, Silas Davis and Jane Davis the last mentioned age on said Record being his mother's own age and that the said record has always been kept in the said family and that it is the original and genuine family Record of the ages of the Children of the said David Davis and Jane Davis.  Sworn to and subscribed this eighth day of October 1851.   

In the Pension record, dated 8 October 1851, Jane (Sloan) Davis identified only 5 children as children of the family of David and Jane (Sloan) Davis: 

1. Eliza Sloan Davis was born may 31 1787

2. Silas Davies was born April 6 1792 

3. Jane Davies was Born September 13 1795 

4. Polly Davies Was Born June 16 1797 

5. Jane Sloan was Born March 15 1768  

One of the 5 children was brought into the marriage by the wife and Mother, Jane (Sloan) Davis. 

Another document that we look to was an AGREEMENT amoung the Heirs-at-Law of David Davis.  

Page 114 110

State of North Carolina}

Mecklenburg County} Known all men by these presents that we the undersigned heirs and Legatees of David Davis decd doth agree to and with the administrator of said Estate to make & have made an amicable division of the unwilled part of the property which David Davis died in possession of - Witnesseth that we do each one for himself and herself bind ourselves our heirs Executors Administrators & assigns to release and acquitt John Davis Administrator of the Estate of David Davis decd of any further charge whatsoever, Witness our hands & Seals this 1st day of April 1833. 

Signed, Sealed &                         Elizabeth S. Davis {seal}

delivered in the presence of         Silas Davis {seal}

Auste Beard                                 Wm Barnett {seal}

                                                     Jane Davis Burnett {seal}

William Ferrel                             Hiram Barnett {seal}

                                                     Mary Davis Barnett {seal}

                                                     John H. Davis {seal}

                                                     Thomas G. Barnett {seal}

State of North Carolina} 

Mecklenburg County} August Sessions 1833 

I certify that the execution of the within instrument of writing was

duly proven in open Court by the Subscribing witnefses and

recorder and ordered to be register.

                                                  B. Bates C. C. C.

Registered November 11th 1833                      

Charlotte No. Ca.                         Wm B. Alexander Rege

                                           - - - - By A. M. Ginn A. D. R.

In this agreement dated 1 April 1833 the following Davis children were named:

1. Elizabeth S. Davis

2. Silas Davis

3. Jane Davis Barnett 

4. John H. Davis 

Polly Davis and Jane Sloan were not named in the agreement.  The Mary Davis Barnett (heir) is Unknown.  

Online trees shows this couple with 8-10 children and with a marriage date of 31 May 1787 that quite possible. But, I have found no other documents other than the 1833 agreements, the Davis Book and the 1851 Pension file that names any of the children. The David/Davis book mentored at the beginning shows David with 5 sons, no daughters.  

David Davis, Jr, died 17 September 1832 according to his Revolutionary War Pension file. 

The exact date of Jane (Sloan) Davis death is unknown. We  know from letters within the pension file that she was alive and fighting for a pension due her for her husband’s service in the Revolutionary War in Dece3mber 1852.

David Davis is my 3th Great Grand Uncle. His children are my 1st Cousins 5 Times Removed.

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1. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9983-NDX8

2. Ancestry, "Revolutionary War Pension" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed January 2024), entry for David Davis, Pvt;; America.

3. Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis family (Davies and David) in Wales and America :: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: Lancaster Press Inc, 1927; reprint, Lancaster, PA.