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Facts and Events
James Davis was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Will
- 10 Sep 1827 - James Davis wrote his will on 10 Sep 1827 in Washington County, Virginia. In it he mentioned his sons Jonathan, Nathaniel, Moses and James and his daughter Polly Ewing. He left two sons-in-law, John Corry and George Thompson, $503.33 each. James did not mention a wife.
- Will-Recd 26 Sep 1836 - James Davis's will was proved on 26 Sep 1836 in Washington County, Virginia, on the oaths of James Cummings and John Davis. John Corry, the only surviving executor, posted a bond in the amount of $3,000 on November 28th with Wallace Maxwell as his security.
- Probate Recd 29 May 1838 - Probate records for James Davis was filed in Washington County, Virginia, on 29 May 1838. H. Dixon, the Washington County commissioner assigned to review John Corry's settlement of the James Davis probate noted that John Corry had only been able to collect $1,100 of the estate in either money or property. John had collected various notes due to the estate but the obligons resided out of state and hence John Corry had not been able to collect on them. The one exception was a note for $150 on James Davis Jr. which Nathaniel Davis had received as his legacy. James Davis Jr. also owed the estate 2 additional notes which were held by Mrs. Crider [James Davis' daughter Polly] and which she agreed to take as part of her legacy. The commissioner also noted that when James Davis died on the way to Virginia, Whitley Thompson (son of George Thompson, a legatee) took possession of the money property & a horse & bridle & cash [appears to be $130]. Whitley paid $41 to cover doctors bills, tavern charges and furneral expenses for James. He sold James's horse for $60 and has not yet accounted for the remainder of the monies owed the estate. The commissioner allowed John Corry the full $503.33 left to him by James's will.14
Military Service
- American Revolutionary War Veteran
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. X, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
Davis, James - entered service 1774 in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia; born in Virginia; moved to Missouri in 1827 where granted Pension age 79 in Randolph County in 1832. F-S16751, R755.
Records
- 1782 - Washington County, Virginia; James Davis appeared on tax rolls the first two years they were kept (1782 and 1783) was absent from 1784-1794 and then was again recorded from 1795-1827. James Davis was recorded in the Lower District and was a slave owner.
- 6 Apr 1784 - Rockbridge County, Virginia; James Davis bought 200 acres on the south side of Buffelowe [sic] Creek in Rockbridge County, Virginia from Jonithan Whitly and wife Sarah on April 6th, 1784. James paid 200 pounds for the land which was described as crossing lines with Paul Whitley's old survey
- 4 May 1785 - Rockbridge County, Virginia; James and Rebecca Davis witnessed a deed from James O'Bryans to Jonathin Whitley on May 4th 1785 whereby Jonathin purchased 100 acres in Rockbridge County on a branch of Buffelo Creek (formerly Botetourt County).
- 1 Apr 1791 - Washington County, Virginia; deed from James Davis of Rockbridge Co. VA to Samuel Davis; 108 acres on the headwaters of Beaver Creek; patented to Davis 1 June 1785; DB 1: 211.
- 29 Apr 1791 Washington County, Virginia; deed from James Davis of Rockbridge Co., VA to John Shutter; 150 pds; 210 acres on the headwaters of Beaver Creek in Washington Co. VA; DB 1: 210.
- 1 May 1796 Washington County, Virginia; James Davis witnessed will of James Herrald.
- James Davis is named and appointed co-executor in the York County, South Carolina will of his Father-In-Law, Jonathan Whitley (abt. 1730-bef. 1801), as follows:
- I give and bequeath to my son in law John Mitchell all the remainder of my moveable property one small bay horse to be given to my son in law James Davis and also the Track of land or plantation whereon I now live I give to said John Mitchell and his wife my daughter there natural life and at their death bequeath said Land to my Grandson Jonathan Mitchel.
- 1815 - James Davis was listed under a special tax assesment taken for the year 1815. He was assessed for a farm on Herralds Creek containing 427 acres. The dwelling house on the property was two stories tall and measured 24ft by 24ft. There was also a mill and two outhouses. In addition James owned 1 male and 3 female slaves. His total assesment reached $3,747.50.
- 15 Nov 1817 Washington County, Virginia; James Davis sold the land on which he was living to his son James Davis Jr. on Nov. 15, 1817 for $1. The survey included abt 350 acres after deducting a portion already gifed to son Moses. The land was described as on Harrolds Creek, a branch of the North Fork of the Holston River in Rich Valley. However James Sr. and Rebecca retained a life interest in the land. The deed stipulated that James Jr. could take immediate possession of part of the tract west of the creek. A portion of the land referred to as "buckeye hollow" was to be put to meadow at their mutual expense; both men were also to maintain an existing saw mill.
- 21 Aug 1819 Washington County, Virginia; James and Rebeckah, wife, for $1 sold 50 acres on Cannoe Branch (waters of the North Fork of the Holston River) to Moses Davis. Land patented to James Davis 20 Apr 1809 from Jonathan Whitleys land now in possession of sd James and Rebeckah.
- 10 Sep 1824 Washington County, Virginia; James Davis Sr. sold James Davis Jr. several surveys totalling 445 acres for $41. The land was on both sides of Harrolls Creek, a south branch of the North Fork of the Holston River. One survey was for 197 acres patented to James Sr. on 1 Dec. 1800 and the scond survey for 180 acres was patented to James Sr. on 1 Sept. 1821. The transfer also included a survey patented to Jonathan Whitley on 25 Jul 1787 which was later conveyed to James Sr.
- 18 Sep 1833 - On Oct. 30, 1832 while living in Randolph County, James Davis applied for a Revolutionary War pension. He was placed on the Missouri pension rolls at the rate of $120 per year on 18 Sep 1833.
References
- Powell, Diana. Rambling Roots Website.
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of James Davis S16751 VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris.
State of Missouri } County of Randolph } sct On this 30th day of October in the year of Our Lord 1832, personally appeared before the Circuit Court of the County of Randolph & State of Missouri now sitting James Davis Sen’r, a resident of Prarie Township in the County of Randolph & State of Missouri, aged seventy ni[edge of page] years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 –
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers – Ensign John Davis Lietenant Wm. Willoby [William Willoughby] Captain Robert Craig – Major James Montgomery – Colonel Arthur Campbell. The said James Davis Senr entered the service under the said officers, a Spy Commissioned by the Governor of Virginia [Royal Governor Lord Dunmore] in the service of the United States [sic], in the first part of the month of June in the year of 1774 and left it in the last part of November in the year aforesaid receiving 4 months pay for his services – That He resided in the Town of Abingdon Washington County [formed in 1776 from Fincastle and Montgomery counties] – State of Virginia – that he was a volunteer in the service aforesaid – that he was in no battle in this period – that he marched thro’ Washington County only in the State aforesaid. That he entered the Service again in the year of 1775, first day of Aprile in said year with the command of Sergeant in a company commanded by Captain Isaac Shelby of which company James Shelby was Lietenant – regiment perhaps of the number of thirty – Commanded by Colonel Arthur Campbell under whom James Montgomery held the command of Major – which said regiment belonged to the brigade of Gen. Evan Shelby of the Virginia line of Continentals [sic: militia]. That he resided in or near the Town of Abingdon in the County & State aforesaid. That he knew Col. Wm Campbell [William Campbell] a regular officer in the U. States service with himself at the period afd. – That he marched a gainst the tories in Washington County Tennessee then a part of N. Carolina – he marched thro’ Sullivan County in the State of Tennessee afd. in going to said Sullivan County [“(Washington Co.)” interlined above] – in no battle – the tories surrendered & were sent home on parole – this last occurrence was in the Spring of 1776 – was confined to the frontiers of Washington County till the middle of July in said year when he was in the battle of the middle fork Holstein river [probably Battle of Long Island on Holston River, 20 Jun 1776] in which he killed to his own knowledge one Indian – then about the first of October 1776 he went into the Cherokee Campaign in then N. Carolina, but now Tennessee, in wich said Campaign he was under Col. [William] Christian – the detachment he was with destroyed the towns of the Cherokees [Tellico, Settico, Chilhowee, and Big Island towns], which were situated on little Tennessee river – and the Indians sued for peace – from the fall of 1776 till the fall of 1780, under the same field officers, he was engaged in guarding the frontiers of Russell & Lee Counties [then Washington County] either with the command of Sergeant or as a spy the whole time – in the year of 1780 he was in Campbell & Seviers [John Sevier’s] Campaign acting as orderly sergeant during the said Campaign – Crossed Litt. Tennessee river opposite an Indian village called Toker on said river [sic: Toqua on Little Tennessee River] – the Indians fled – [22-26 Dec] their towns were all burned up except their town called Chota where they held their councils – took 35 prisoners of the Indians, men women & boys – then a detachment of 50 men went about 49 miles to a river called Hiwassee with two Indian Towns on it 12 miles apart – one of which was called Chesterway [sic: Chestowee] – The Indians fled in their cano[edge of paper] & otherwise on the approach of the army – That he never left the service of the U States from 1775 till the Spring of 1781 – was all his time during his service from his first entering it till he left it either a Spy or held the office of Sergeant. That he was a volunteer during the whole time he served in the Contineltal (militia) army of the line of virginia – and received his discharge at the Town of Abingdon in the state of Virginia aforesaid – And That he has no documentary evidence of his service & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service – that he has lost his dischare – that he has lived in the state of Virginia where he was born till the year of 1827 when he removed to the State of Missouri & shortly after to the County of Randolph afd. – he was living when he entered the service in the State of Virginia – he received his discharge from the service given by Capt. Craig aforesaid – That he served thirteen months as a spy & all the other time as a Sergeant. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
(Signed) James Davis senor
(1st page of the Amendment) In addition to his original declaration to which this is attached, the applicant for a pension under the act of the 7th June 1832, James Davis, senr further states deposeth & says that on his first tour of duty as stated in said declaration he was an Indian Spy the whole tour & served five months in said tour before he left the actual service & in the field the whole tour – And in his second tour as therein mentioned he further deposeth and saith that he held & exercised the rank & office of sergeant for the whole of said 2d tour, which was of fifteen & a half months in length – that he was in the field the whole of said tour – and in his third tour of duty as therein mentioned he the said Jas. Davis, senr. further deposeth & saith that he held the rank & office of a sergeant in said service for the whole of said third tour during the whole of the time thereof – but at times was chosen by the [illegible word] he was with for one of their spies, and that on this third tour he served in the field for the full period & term of four years – And on his third tour he the said Jas. Davis Senr further deposeth & saith the he served for the full term & period of four months & for all which said time he bore the rank & office of a Sergeant. The said Jas. Davis senr. further deposeth & saith that the reason he has not produced the affidavit of a clergyman as to his age credibility and his being reputed to have been a soldier of the revolution &c. is in part that as the original directions did not make it indispensable, he thought the certificate of a representative of the State legislature & of the Sheriff of the county sufficient whose certificates he had to his original declaration – and as a further reason why he did not obtain the certificate of a clergyman he deposeth & saith that he is a new comer to the County & as there was no Clergyman in his immediate neighbourhood of any denomination & as there was none in the County of his own sect (old side Presbyterian) he had not an opportunity to become very well acquainted with one – and as a further reason because all the clergymen who were at court when the certificate was produced had gone home or out of the way before there was an opportunity to produce them to the court – as in his original declaration he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State – (signed) James Davis senr.
http://revwarapps.org/s16751.pdf
- ↑ Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
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