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.
