CAPT. DANIEL DAVIS
Daniel Davis was born at Oxford, Massachusetts October 12, 1742, the eldest child of (Deacon) Daniel and Tamar (Towne) Davis. The family moved to Killingly, Connecticut in the spring of 1752. "Daniel lived in his young manhood on his father's farm in the easterly part of Killingly, and removed soon after coming of age to Thompson Parish, bought land in various quarters, and engaged actively in society and public affairs."[G. Davis] Daniel married Elizabeth Whittemore December 2, 1762. Elizabeth was born in 1740, and was from Killingly.
Daniel and Elizabeth were the parents of eleven children all born near Killingly, Connecticut. (1) Willard, born November 12, 1764; (2) Tamar, born August 23, 1766; (3) Walter, born November 4, 1768 and died September 10, 1772; (4) Elizabeth, born May 21, 1771 and died September 16, 1771; (5) William, born October 30, 1772; (6) Daniel, born November 30, 1774, married twice, Sally Olney (22 Sep 1781-17 Apr 1804) on February 14, 1799 and Olive Foster (21 Jul 1785-22 Jan 1834) on November 14, 1805. He settled at Marietta, Ohio, and died May 30, 1867 at Stockholm, New York; (7) Hezekiah, born September 15, 1776, married Betsey Colman (1784-28 Oct 1838) and settled in Ohio. Hezekiah died March 1816 at the home of his brother, Jesse in Washington Co., Ohio ; (8) Jesse, born July 23, 1778, called Col. Jesse, married Mary Blackmer (d11 Oct 1823) August 15, 1804 in Washington Co., Ohio. Jesse was Colonel of the Militia , and died February 13, 1824. Both Jesse and Mary died in Champaign Co., Ohio; (9) Asa, born September 1780, married Joanna Olney (d10 June 1803) March 25, 1802 and Sally Dille (19 Jul 1785-27 Jan 1841) on July 19, 1785. Asa settled in Washington Co., Ohio. He died May 13, 1834; (10) Lucena, born September 7, 1782; and (11) Elizabeth, born October 15, 1784.
Captain Daniel, as he was referred to during the Revolutionary War and after, was specially efficient during the revolutionary struggle, and was chosen at the very outset to collect subscriptions for the relief of the poor in Boston, and retained throughout in many responsible services, such as engaging men for the army and obtaining for them clothing and other necessaries as they were required; and also providing for the families of those who had entered the service. His patriotism induced him to sacrifice his own property for the public good, advancing money, which was repaid in depreciated currency, till his estate was seriously involved. He entered personally upon the service and was promoted to the rank of a captain, and was ofter called to lead his company into close contact with the enemy.
After the return of peace his attention was turned to the subject of westward emigration, and he joined the honored "Company of Ohio Associates," which, under Gen. Rufus Putnam, transversed the wilderness in the spring of 1788, and began the settlement of Ohio. A tradition widely held among his descendants is that he was the second man ashore when the boat which took the company down the river struck upon Point Harmar, April 7, 1788, and, as he afterward declared, wishing to do something of which his posterity would speak with pride, cut the first tree felled by a settler west of the Ohio River. This tree being a "buckeye", or horse-chestnut, the incident gave to the State the name which it still retains.
In 1789, Capt. Daniel settled at Waterford, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. There he with his eldest two sons participated in the perils of Indian warfare until Wayne's victory in 1794, when he settled down to the peaceful pursuits of life and aided very materially in forming the institutions of the new State. His strong mind and prudent forecast gave him great influence, and he bacame a power for good in the section with which he was identified, helping forward every work which would tend to its elevation and advancement" [G. Davis]
Capt. Daniel died November 4, 1807 and Elizabeth died September 16, 1806, both at Waterford, Washington Co., Ohio.
~Bibliography of Davis Resources~
Biedel, Helen C. Davis Records: Washington County, Ohio--Early Gateway to the West. Helen C. Biedel, nd.
Davis, George L. Samuel Davis of Oxford, Mass., and Joseph Davis, of Dudley, Mass, and Their Descendants. Worcester, MA: Charles Hamilton Press, c1884.
Seaver, J. Montgomery. Davis Family Records. Philadelphia, PA: American Historical-Genealogical Society, nd.
~Heraldry~
Please e-mail me if you wish to share information on the Capt. Daniel Davis Family, or if you would like to link your information to my page.
mndouglas@consolidated.net
Return to Family Roots Page