Person:John Davidson (78)

John Davidson was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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Disambiguation

Not to be confused with John Davidson (1744-1780), son of John Davidson, Sr. and Jane Margaret Legacorry, who married Sarah Gillham. Some researchers have confused the two John Davidson's.

Will

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN

I John Davidson of the county of Maury and state of Tennessee being advanced of age and infirm but of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and following first I wish my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter appointed, my worldly Estate to be divided as follows, to wit, My Negro man Condon I give and bequeath to him and his heirs forever to Ruth Clements Davidson, daughter of Ephriam Edward Davidson I give a Negro boy named Albert to her and her heirs forever to Richard Whiteside son of my daughter, Ruth Clements Davidson Whiteside, I give my Negro boy William to him and his heirs and assigns forever to my beloved wife Francis [sic] I give and bequeath my Negroes Chilsy a woman Randal a Negro boy and a Girl named Gady which three Negroes I will to her and her heirs forever as her right and to be at her disposal, to John G. Davidson, son of my son, Thomas Davidson, Dec'd I give and bequeath a horse worth 80 dollars to B. C. Davidson, son of my son Thomas Davidson I give and bequeath a sorrel cold now claimed by him all ballence [sic] of my property I wish sold by my Executors and one third of which I give and bequeath to my wife to her proper use and behoof forever.

I further wish my Executors to pay over a legacy by me bequeathed to my Children, Grandchildren, and other legal heirs if any not named in this one dollar each as a full distributive share of my Estate I do further nominate and appoint my son, John O. Davidson and my son-in-law, Paris F. Dooley Executors to this my last will and testament.

And having full confidence in their integrity and honesty no Security is required of them as such, and lest a misunderstanding should take place as to the ballence [sic] of my Estate in the hands of my Executors, my will is that after the legacies named in this will is paid the ballence [sic] after paying all my just debts are paid I wish divided equally between the heirs of Thomas Davidson in right of their father, Andrew Neeley and Jane, his wife; Ephraim Edward Davidson; John Osimus Davidson; Paris F. Dooley; and Cynthia, his wife, share and share alike.

I do by this my last will and testament disannul and make void all former wills by me made declaring this and this alone to be my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 15th day of June, 1824.

(Signed) John Davidson

Signed, sealed, and disclosed in presence of

Joseph B. Porter, Jurat

John Mathews, Jurat

Notes

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~markfreeman/davidson.html

21. John3 Davidson (John (Old John) Davidson2 Davison, William1 ) was born 15 Feb 1749/50 in Augusta Co., VA, and died 25 Feb 1825 in Maury Co., TN. He married (1) Ruth Clements 05 Sep 1770 in Augusta Co., VA, daughter of Jacob Clements and Mary Campbell. She was born 04 Jan 1756 in Augusta Co., VA, and died Abt. 1792 in Burke Co., NC. He married (2) Frances Bateman 27 Mar 1793 in Burke Co., NC, daughter of Nathaniel Christopher Bateman. She was born 1773, and died 22 Apr 1832 in Maury Co., TN. Notes for John Davidson: Reece's Chapel Cemetery (From Maury County, Tennessee Cemeteries, Vol. 1, compiled by Fred Lee Hawkins, Jr. pub. 1989) Davidson, John (15 Feb 1750 - 28 Feb 1825) Sacred to the Memory of John Davidson, who in the meridian of his life, zealously espoused the cause of freedom in the memorable struggle of 1776 and after securing Liberty to his posterity, retired and through a long life realized its Blessings in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture....At a good old age yielded to death and was here interred on the 25th of February 1825.

His father resided Chestnut Level, Lancaster Co., PA, and moved to Augusta Co., VA adjacent Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, where the names John Davison and Samuel Davison are listed as original "contributors" to its construction. In 1748 his father resided Iredell Co., NC. In 1807 John, known as "One-Eyed John" and / or "Columbia John" lived near Columbia, Maury Co., TN. 16 Jul 1751 was one incorrectly recorded birthdate, as it is the date of a cousin, John Davidson, son of George Davidson and Margaret Ware.

Quoted from a DAR submission: "John Davidson received a grant of land in Tennessee for his service as private, North Carolina Line. He was born in Rowan County, N. C. [note: not necessarily so] ; died in Maury County, Tenn."

On September 16, 1820 the Tennessee General Assembly reaffirmed John Davison's grant of 5,000 acres (Maury County Deed Book H, Entry 455.) Another entry (Book J) made three weeks after the above reads in part: ". . . the same John Davidson, for the natural love and affection which he hath and doth bear unto his son John Osimus Davisdson, and more especially for an din consideration of the sum of five shillings, does give 800 acres on Little Tombigby Creek and part of the same John Davidson's 5000 acre survey. Witnesses, Vincent Ridley and E. E. Davidson." [Note: Vincent Ridley is also an uncle to Mark Freeman though his mom; John Osimus Davidson is a grandather on his father's line.]

Old John Davidson (I) had already apportioned his land among his children: 466 acres to Whiteside when he married Ruth Malinda Clements Davidson; 900 acres to Ephriam Edward Davidson, 800 to John Osimus Davidson, plus 200 more to be administered for his stepmother, Francis Bateman (Benenoir, daughter of Revolutionary War soldier, Nathaniel Bateman); 400 to Paris Dooley, plus slaves for Cynthia, his daughter by Fanny Bateman; 120 acres to John Martin, husband of Mary.

On October 22, 1822 old John executed this deed:

. . . for natural love and affection, said John Davidson, hath and beareth unto the said Paris F. Dooley and also for the better maintenance, support, and livelihood of said Paris F. Dooley . . . 400 acres . . .

In December, 1822: For natural love and affection I bear for my son, John Osimus Davidson, I give the tract of land on which I now reside, containing 200 acres (reserving to myself the occupancy and entire benefit of said premises during my natural life) and also a comfortable residence to my beloved wife, Fanny Davidson, if she survives me, during her widowhood, to be secure from molestation or disturbance of any kind from the said John Osimus Davidson . . .

This man has been described with both of the descriptions "One-Eyed John" [by a cousin] and "Columbia John". The subject here is likely "Columbia John," having lived and died in Columbia, Maury Co., TN.

The story about a John D. Davidson marrying Nancy Brevard and being killed by Indians in 1781 is not about my ancestor. That other family is in my file, but the facts are in dispute. That John D. Davidson was probably born about 1750-1751. Robert Stephens Hand attributes a birth date of 1744 to this John, based on a Tinkling Spring baptism of John, son of John Davidson and Jane on 24 Nov 1744 by Rev. John Craig. That man was the son of another John and Jane which is quite a coincidence, and is listed in this file as John Davidson II.

Notes for Ruth Clements: 13 Jan 1788 is one reported death date, but two children were born after that date and before her husband's next known marriage in 1793.

Notes for Frances Bateman: Her father, either Nathaniel Bateman or Christopher Bateman, was said to have been a veteran of the Revolution.

Children of John Davidson and Ruth Clements are:

+ 66 i. Mary4 Davidson, born 1772.

+ 67 ii. Jane Davidson, born 1774; died 1844 in Maury Co., TN.

+ 68 iii. Thomas Irwin Davidson, born 16 May 1776 in Rowan Co., NC; died 04 Jan 1824.

69 iv. Lydia Davidson, born 1783. She married (1) [Unknown] Carter. She married (2) [Unknown] Williams.

+ 70 v. Ephraim Edward Davidson, born 12 Feb 1785 in Burke Co., NC; died 22 Sep 1850 in College Hill, Lafayette, MS.

+ 71 vi. John Osimus Davidson, born 29 Jan 1790 in prob. Buncombe Co., NC; died 02 Dec 1856 in College Hill, Lafayette, MS.

+ 72 vii. Ruth Malinda Davidson, born 1792; died 1847.

Child of John Davidson and Frances Bateman is:

+ 73 i. Cynthia Eliza4 Davidson, born 16 Mar 1794 in Burke Co., NC; died 1862 in Panola Co., MS.

1. ↑ Mark and Carolyn Freeman Genealogy Web Page, (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/8415/Index.html ), e-mail: markfreemn@@aol.com.