Person:John Davis (195)

“Bradford censuses 1800-1810, 1820-1850 as John Washington. John Davis, son of Isaac, was b. 14 Aug 1774 [HistMerrCo201]; he was still alive for the 1850 census in Bradford, called John Washington, 80 years old and and a pauper {livingwith Albert Bartlett and his family who were providing for him and several other paupers.}. he m. in Henniker9 Feb 1797 Sally Ward [HennVR:494]; she was probably the daughter of Ephraim Ward. On 25 Jun 1818 he was a Bradford resident when he and his eight children changed their surname to Washington. Six years later, on 15 Jun 1824, three of the them legally changed their the name back to Davis. All ofthe children eventually reverted to Davis. Eight children’s names were also found in the History of Merrimack Co., pg 2000, however several of them differed and it seems likely that neither source named all of the children.”(P.127)

“{The 1820 census showed ten children in the same home and nine are shown below. For the 1800 census in Bradford, John’s householdshowed one girl and one boy under ten and; byby the 1810 census he had three more boys under ten and one more girl under ten. The 1820 census showed three more sons under ten and one more daughter under ten. The birth order of the children is not certain. A support agreement dated 14 Jul 1821 was executed by Marden Seavey of Warner to maintain John Washington and his wife Sally for the rest of their natural lives [HillsDeeds132:412]. The connection between them is not yet clear.}(p.128)

1. ↑ Sherry Gould and Kathy Beals. Vol. II of Bradford Town History, Early Families of Bradford, New Hampshire. (Bradford Historical Society).