Alice Thorpe

Alice married William Davis on 21 Oct 1658 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. William (son of Ichabod Davis and Suzanna Suzy Dolor Dollard) was born on 1 Apr 1617 in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales; died on 9 Dec 1683 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1684, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Residence: 1711, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA

Notes:

It is thought that he is one of four brothers who were members of the aristocratic Panfay Church, a branch of the Baptist church of Swansea. In his will, David Davis of this group included a sermon that was in keeping with the preaching of our Rev. William Davis, but no children are named in the will. Perhaps William was a son not named because he had gone to America. According to tradition and to the work of some Seventh Day Baptist writers, while at Oxford University, Willisam Davis espoused the Quaker religion and at age 21, in the year of 1684 with other followers o f William Penn, sailed for Philadelphia. In 1691 he and 47 other persons, separated from William Penn and became a follower of George Keith. Some five years later, Willaim Davis was Baptized by Rev.Thomas Killingworth and joined the Pennypek Baptist Church near Philadelphia, of which he was made pastor . He was bannished from that church 17 February 1698 for his unorthodox views and subsequently joined Abel Noble and became a Seventh Day Baptist. In vindication of the doctrine for which he was expelled from Peenypek, he published a book entitled, "Jesus the Crucified Man, the Eternal Son of God" William Davis returned to Pennypek late in the year 1699 and organized a Seventh Day Baptist Church as a brranch of the Providence Church. In 1706 he applied for membership to the New Port ,Rhode Island Seventh Day Baptist Church. On Oct.12,1710 William Davis and his wife Elizabeth applied to Westerly,R.I. for membership in that church. They wererecievedinto that church July 14,1711 and he was invited to preach there in 1713. William Davis recieved word of his fathers death and planned to claim his share in the estate. On March 1,1714 he requested a letter to a church in England. He was asked by his friends to remain in America and at the last minute he consented to do so. Soon after May 16,1717 he left Westerly and settled in Pennsylvania, where in 1724 , he suffered severe loss by fire. From his home in Stonington,Connecticut, October 21,1734, William agian requested membership in the Westerly Church, which was granted December 16,1734. so aftera1740 a settlement of Seveth Day Baptists was formed in Monmouth Co., New Jersey near the Manasquan River. Joseph Maxson and his family of Stonington, Ct. had sailed for the mouth of the Manasquan River in the fall of 1742, but due to storms and ice they did not reach their destination until the spring of 1743, having spent the winter on Long Island. The Seventh Day Baptist Church at Shrewsbury, New Jersey was formally organized in 1745 with William Davis as minister. William died late in the same year, 1745.

Born in Glamorganshire, Wales in the year 1663. It is probable that his father was one of four brothers, all of whom were members of the aristocratic Penyfay Church in the county of Glamorgan, a branch of the Baptist church of Swansea. One of these brothers was high sheriff; another, deputy sheriff; a third, recorder of the county of Glamorgan: and the fourth brother, chaplain to the judge in the county town of Cardiff. William Davis was educated at Oxford University, his parents intending that he should become a clergyman. While at Oxford, he became interested in the doctrines of George Fox, the Quaker, and joined that church. He now left the university, and became a public speaker among the Quakers. He soon afterward sailed for America, with a company of Quakers, to join William Penn's Pennsylvania colony. He arrived in America in 1684, and seven years afterward, in 1691, he was one of forty-eight persons who separated from William Penn and became followers of George Keith, who was what may be termed a Baptist-Quaker. Some five years later, he again changed his views, and was baptized by Rev. Thomas Killingworth, the pastor of the Baptist Church in Cohansey (now Roadstown), New Jersey, and soon afterward joined the Pennepek Baptist Church, near Philadelphia, of which he was made pastor.

February 17, 1698, he was banished from the Pennepek Church, on account of his unorthodox views concerning the person of Christ. William Davis maintained that Christ was neither human nor divine, but of a blended nature, like "wine and water in a glass." He at once went to Upper Providence near Philadelphia upon the invitation of Abel Noble, and learned from him the doctrine of the supremacy of the moral law and the binding force in perpetuity of all its precepts, and the consequent inevitable conclusion that the Seventh Day of the week, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, was the Sabbath enjoined upon all Christians. He now joined the Seventh Day Baptist organisation in Pennsylvania. The following year he published a book, entitled "Jesus the Crucified Man, the Eternal Son of God," etc., in vindication of the doctrine for which he was expelled from Pennepek.2 This provoked a spirited reply from Rev. John Watts, pastor of the Pennepek Church in a book entitled "Davis Disabled."" In the latter part of 1699, William Davis returned to Pennepek and there organised a Seventh Day Baptist church from among former Keithians and others in the vicinity, as the first branch of the Providence (Pennsylvania) Church. Thomas Graves gave the church a lot of ground on which they erected a log meeting house. In the year 1700, William Davis baptized six persons in the Pennepek.

In 1702, George Keith, who had returned to England some time before, again came back to Philadelphia as a fullfledged priest of the Church of England, whose "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," but lately organised in London, had sent him as a missionary to the New World. His return was the signal for a fierce struggle between Keith and Evan Evans on the one hand: and on the other, Thomas Killingworth, who besides being the ablest Baptist clergyman in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was also judge of the court at Salem, New Jersey; and William Davis, the pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Pennepek, who strangely enough now united in common defence. William Davis published another edition of his book, with a supplement entitled "George Keith Disabled." Keith was now challenged by Killingworth to a joint debate in public, which resulted in a drawn battle. Evan Evans, who was a former enemy of William Davis, made war upon him with such success that Thomas Graves again joined the Episcopalian Church, and deeded to that church the lot on which stood the meeting house of the Seventh Day Baptists, who had never had a deed for the lot. Deprived of their house of worship the church continued to hold meetings in the houses of the members, but they were badly demoralised and disheartened by their reverses, and little progress was made. In 1706, William Davis applied for membership in the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island, but complaint from his Pennsylvania brethren preceded him, and his request was denied. The cause of his difference with his fellow church members was due to his eccentric ecclesiastical views, similar in a measure to his views already cited touching the person of Christ, and which, however real and fundamental they appeared to him, were in their last analysis, nothing more than mere differences in the definitions of terms. On October 12, 1710, William Davis and Elisabeth Brisley, his wife, applied for membership in the Westerly, afterward the First Hopkinton (Rhode Island) Church, which had been organised some two years previously. His wife was immediately received into membership, but the church deferred final action upon his application. At a church meeting held June 22, 17n, the Westerly Church decided that William Davis had complied with "the rule of Christ," and was therefore eligible to membership in that church. In order, however, to satisfy a group of doubting members, the church presented the case to the Yearly Meeting, at Westerly, July 14, 17n. The Yearly Meeting approved the action of the church, and William Davis became a member of the Westerly Church, in full and regular standing. This action, however, involved the Westerly Church in an embroilment with Rev. William Gibson, of the Newport Church, together with Jonathan Davis and the brethren in Pennsylvania, which was prolonged until as late as the latter part of the year 1713.
William Davis was invited by the Westerly Church to preach, and in the first part of the year 1713 was authorised by the church to administer the ordinance of baptism. On March 1, 1714, William Davis requested a letter of recommendation from the church, in order that he might join one of the Seventh Day Baptist churches in England, whither he expected to remove. The church granted his request. His friends, however, were anxious to prevent his going, and circulated a subscription to raise money to compensate him for whatever financial loss he might sustain in abandoning his contemplated removal to England, the object of which was to claim his share in a large estate left him by the death of his father, in Wales. He persisted, however, to the point of going to Newport, ready to embark upon his voyage. At the last moment, he consented to remain; whereupon numberless troubles ensued, some of which found their way into the courts. These difficulties grew, almost if not quite wholly, out of the subscriptions made to induce William Davis to remain in America. The troubles resulted in correspondence on the part of the Westerly Church, with the churches in Newport (Rhode Island), and in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and London.

Some time during the year 1716, after an ineffectual attempt at reconciliation, the church withdrew its communion from William Davis, with but four dissenting votes. He now decided to leave Westerly, and under date of May 16, 1717, he received a letter signed by twenty-three of his neighbours, testifying to his Christian character, and exonerating him from blame in his litigation and church troubles. This letter became the subject of some spirited correspondence after William Davis had removed to Pennsylvania. After his removal from Westerly back to Pennsylvania, he suffered a severe loss from fire about the year 1724. This loss, Governor Keith, of the colony of Pennsylvania, ordered made good; but through the secret interference of some enemies of William Davis at Westerly, the order was not carried out. The whole matter was now dropped, apparently, for a period of twelve years, when we find William Davis again making his home within the bounds of the Westerly Church, in Rhode Island. Under date of October 21, 1734, from his home in Stonington, Connecticut, he wrote a letter of confession to the church, praying for a reconciliation. To this letter, the church replied, under date of November 19, 1734, desiring explanation upon several points named in the letter written by the church to William Davis. Under date of December 16, 1734, he replied to the communication from the church, whereupon he was requested to attend the next church meeting. There is no record of his restoration to membership in the Westerly Church, further than that his name appears as that of a regular attendant at church. Nevertheless, the reconciliation was undoubtedly effected, greatly to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, and to none, doubtless, more than to William Davis himself.

William Davis was married twice. His first wife was Elisabeth Brisley. By her he had four children; viz., Martha, William, John, and Mary. His second wife was Elisabeth Pavior. By her he had seven children; viz., Thomas, Joseph, Lydia, Edward, James, Elisabeth, and William,—the William by his first wife having died. Soon after the year 1740, a settlement of Seventh Day Baptists was formed in Monmouth County, New Jersey, near the Manasquan River. Perhaps one of the first of this group of settlers was Joseph Maxson, from Stonington, Connecticut. He sailed from Stonington for the mouth of the Manasquan River, in the fall of 1742. His vessel was caught in the ice in Long Island Sound, and he did not reach his destination until the following spring. In the fall of 1744, a party of German Sabbath-keepers, consisting of Israel Eckerling, Samuel Eckerling, Alexander Mack, and Rev. Peter Miller, from Ephrata, Pennsylvania, visited their English-speaking, Sabbath-keeping brethren in Monmouth County, New Jersey. They reported that they found there several Sabbath-keepers, who had come to that place a few years before, from Stonington, Connecticut, and from Westerly, Rhode Island. There were also several members of William Davis's family from Pennsylvania. They found fifteen adults in this group of settlers. Whether William Davis himself had come to Monmouth County, New Jersey, at the time of the visit of this delegation from Ephrata, Pennsylvania, or not, we have no conclusive evidence. At all events, he had come when the group organised itself into a church, at a date not later than 1745. William Davis, however, had come to his new home in New Jersey, but to die among his children, a large number, if not nearly all, of whom had settled here. His death occurred before the close of the year 1745, when he was eighty-two years of age. His life was a tempestuous one. Its close was peaceful and uneventful, however. But his works ceased not with his death. He may fairly be termed the father of the Shrewsbury Church; whence his followers and descendants scattered to the Piscataway and Shiloh churches in New Jersey, and crowded into the wilderness of Western Virginia, and into Ohio, and afterwards still further westward across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Slope. Seventh Day Baptist descendants of William Davis may be found to-day in the states of Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, California, and in all probability, in other states as well.1 The churches of the South-Eastern Association, with the exception of the Salemville Church, at Salemville, Pennsylvania, are composed very largely of the descendants of William Davis; and upon the roll of his posterity are to be found the names of upwards of twenty-five Seventh Day Baptist clergymen.

THE SHREWSBURY CHURCH Just what attracted these Seventh Day Baptists who settled in Mon 3 x vll mouth County to New Jersey is uncertain Some of their number were shipbuilders and found occupation in that business Tradition has it that there was a Seventh Day Baptist shipbuilders yard on the banks of the Manasquan River owned by the Maxsons Others appear to have engaged in the manufacture of salt a business which thrived at the mouth of the Manasquan and up the coast as far as the mouth of the Shark River Still others engaged in farming and possibly some were sailors owning their own boats and carrying salt garden vegetables and farm products to New York City The first settlements were at the mouths of the Manasquan and Shark rivers respectively Gradually they extended inward from the shore until they reached as far as Squan kum and Lower Squankum south of the Manasquan River From there they extended northward as far as Deal which was situated between the present seaside resorts of Long Branch and Elberon At a somewhat later date there was a settlement at Clay Pit Creek an arm of the Navesink or North Shrewsbury River near the present village of Navesink Clay Pit Creek then as now was in the town of Middletown The other Seventh Day Baptist settlements were all at that time in the town of Shrewsbury That part of Monmouth County is now embraced in the towns of Wall Howell Neptune tune and Ocean besides the lower part of the present town of Shrewsbury It may be observed in passing that at the time of which we write Monmouth County embraced the whole of the present counties of Ocean and Monmouth and that then the entire county was divided into the two towns of Shrewsbury and Middletown The present county of Monmouth contains sixteen towns and Ocean County eleven A little less than four miles from the ocean on the banks of a little brook which in dry weather contains no running water a group of these people built a little village which for the lack of a better name we shall call Squan 1 In fact there is some evidence that Squan was the name by which the village was actually known although it was full two and a half miles from the Squan River contracted from Manasquan to Squan in much the same way that the cacophonous contraction phone is obtained from telephone 2 The little brook on which was situated the village of Squan was known as the South Branch of Little Brushy Neck now Cranberry Bog which in turn forms what was known then as now as the Great Branch The Great Branch in its turn empties into what is now called Wreck Pond which opens into the sea through Sea Girt inlet a little more than half way from the mouth of the Shark River to the mouth of the Manasquan River Great Branch is very similar to a number of other branches along the coast near by among which are Long Branch and Branchport Creek Some six or eight miles north of the mouth of Great Branch are the well known seaside summer resorts of Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.These first members came from Stonington in New England This is a list of their names that came and settled as a church W1ll1am Davis an aged minister of the gospel and formerly an elder of a church of Christ in Pennsylvania but sometime from Stonington aforesaid Joseph Maxson a ministering brother in the church aforesaid John Davis a ministering brother in said church Thomas Babcock a member Thomas Davis a member William Brand Junr a member and Joseph Davis a member These are the brethren there and the sisters were El1sabeth Davis wife of William Davis the Elder Beth1ah Maxson Joseph Maxson's wife El1sabeth Davis John Davis's wife Ruth Babcock Thomas Babcock's wife Beth1ah Davis Thomas Davis's wife El1sabeth Brand Mary Stillman Judith Davis wife of James Davis Elisabeth Dav1s Junr alias Maxson These are the sisters These persons with others have from their first settling in place endeavoured to uphold the public worship of God at places on the Sabbath Day with the help of the ministering amongst them by joining in prayer reading the Scriptures and expounding the Word of God one to another The persons above named being in the above noted circumstances there had been discourse at some times of the need of choosing appointing persons to the work of the public ministry amongst them that they might be capable of administering the holy amongst themselves and to such as may be found willing to join themselves to the Lord considering it to be their duty so to do In October the eighth sic month 1745 Elisabeth Davis widow went to sojourn with her son Joseph in Pennsylvania and Davis and his family went thither also in March following in 1746 It will be observed from the foregoing that the exact of the organisation of the Shrewsbury Church is unknown Certain it is however that it was organised long before end of the year 1745 for we find William Davis whom in preceding chapter we have styled the father of the church and who was one of its constituent members had died the close of that year 1745 is generally accepted however the year of the organisation of the church.

New source:

The first pastor was Eld William Davis who had lately come from the church in western Rhode Island He lived only a few months after the organization of the church After the death of Eld Davis his son John Davis was chosen He had had thirty years experience in church work in Rhode Island having served as clerk and as stated above had been called to serve as elder but declined He was sent to Rhode Island and was ordained in the house where the Ministers Monument now stands July 23 1746 His service as pastor lasted until his death eight years later From the death of Eld John Davis for a period of twenty years the church had no pastor During this time the church was aided some by the ministration of Seventh day Baptist ministers in the colony In 1774 Jacob Davis the grandson of the first pastor was chosen pastor He served the church while it remained in New Jersey and moved with it to its new home.


boricuad
boricuad originally shared this to Davis-McFadden
15 Feb 2014 story
Taken from: A History of the Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia: Including the ... By Corliss Fitz Randolph Second source: Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America, Volume 2 By Albert N. Rogers
.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Brisley. Elizabeth was born in 1665 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 2 May 1706 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Elizabeth Pavior on 6 Jun 1700 in , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Elizabeth was born in 1680 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA; died in 1760 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John accompanied his parents to Westerly, Rhode Island about the year 1710, where he was admitted to membership in the Westerly Seventh Day Baptist Church June 22,1713. The Westerly Church called John Davis to ordanination as a gospel minister Nov.9,1743, a request which he declined. Soon after he moved his family to Shrewbury,New Jersey where he joined his father and other relatives in organizing the Shrewsbury Church. After the death of his father, the Shrewsbury Church called him to ordination June 19,1746. He sailed to Westerly for the ceremony where he was ordained by Rev. Joseph Maxson, assisted by Rev. John Maxson and Deacon Clarke. John Davis had been a deacon of the Westerly Church for thirty years previous. The first record book of the Shrewsbury church was purchsed by Rev. John Davis and presented to the church Dec.26,1752, for which he was paid from the church funds. This was the same book which the migran group carried to Virginia with them in 1789. These wer the people who were th costituent members of the Shrewsbury Seventh Day Baptist Church: William Davis,Minister and wife Elisabeth John Maxson &wife Bethia John Davis and his wife Elisabeth Thomas Babcock and his wife Ruth Thomas Davis and his wife Bethia William Brand,Jr. and his wife Elisabeth Joseph Davis Elisabeth Mary Stillman Elisabeth Davis,Jr.(alias) Maxson Judith Davis wife of James Davis
from "Davis" The Settler of Salem, West Virginia

John married Elizabeth Maxson on 25 Aug 1715. Elizabeth (daughter of John Maxson and Judith Clarke) was born on 7 Nov 1695 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died in Apr 1751 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: James Davis , Sr.
Sex: M
Birth: 1720 in Chester Co., PA
Death: 26 JUN 1778 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., NJ
Occupation: Ship's Carpenter
Event: Killed 26 JUN 1778 By stray bullet during battle of Monmouth, NJ
Event: Owned Shipyard at mouth of Manasquan River
Event: Political Whig

Father: WILLIAM DAVIS , Reverend, Immigrant b: 1663 in Llanstephen, Radnor Co., South Wales c: 14 JUN 1663
Mother: Elizabeth Pavior b: ABT 1680 in Of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, NJ

Marriage 1 Judith Maxson b: 17 SEP 1720 in Westerly, Washington Co., RI
Married: 1 JAN 1740 in Westerly, Washington Co., RI

Children
Joseph Davis , Elder b: ABT 1739 in Westerly, Washington Co., RI
James Davis , Jr. b: 1742
Jacob Davis , Rev.(Chaplain) Sr. b: 1748 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., NJ
William "Bottom Billy" Davis b: 11 MAR 1754 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., NJ
Content Havens Davis b: 27 FEB 1758 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., NJ
Hannah Davis b: ABT 1760
Thomas Davis b: ABT 1762 in Monmouth Co., NJ


Died:
James Davis, had owned a shipyard at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and sided with the British. Son William guided the British fleet through Hell Gate Channel into New York City at the time of its capture. However, after his shipyard was burned, James became a loyal supporter of the Colonists until he was killed by a "stray British bullet as he rode out to watch the Battle of Monmouth" (NJ), near Shrewsbury. According to tradition his horse carried him back to his home.

James married Judith Maxson on 10 Jan 1740 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. Judith (daughter of Joseph Maxson, jr and Bethiah Maxson) was born on 17 Sep 1720 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 14 May 1773 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Tacy Crandall on 8 Dec 1737 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA. Tacy (daughter of John Crandall and Mary Yeomans) was born in 1721 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA; died on 1 Jun 1795 in , Monongalia, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1789, , Washington, Pennsylvania, USA
• Residence: 1792, , Harrison, West Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1820, , Shelby, Ohio, USA

Notes:

William was among those who migrated westward. His father, James Davis, had owned a shipyard at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and sided with the British. William guided the British fleet through Hell Gate Channel into New York City at the time of its capture. However, after his shipyard was burned, his father, James, became a loyal supporter of the Colonists until James was killed with a "stray British bullet as he rode out to watch the Battle of Monmouth" (NJ), near Shrewsbury. According to tradition his horse carried him back to his home. William, too, switched his allegiance and fought with the Americans. William was among the early settlers of Salem VA where he bought all of the bottom land east of Salem, thus picking up the designation of "Bottom Billy" to distinguish him from the other William Davises of the area.

According to tradition, at the time of the Revolutionary War, William worked in his father's shipyard. They had been Loyalists until their shipyard was burned, William having guided the British Fleet through Hell Gate Channel into New York City at the time of its capture. After the loss of the shipyard, William took his wife and children to her parents home and joined the Army of the Colonists and fought for the American cause.

William migrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania in 1789 and to Harrison county Virginia in 1792 (Pension record). He bought all the bottom land east of Salem, where Bristol is now located and from that acquired the name Bottom Billy. He was at one time Sheriff of Harrison county, Virginia (West Virginia). About 1832 or 1833 he and his wife and several of their children migrated to Clark county Ohio. It is believed that she died in Clark county in 1834 and he in Clark or Shelby county in 1834 or 1840.

Escaping the devastation and horrors that came with the Revolutionary War, in 1789, the extended DAVIS family (which included the MAXSON, BABCOCK, and THORPE families) left New Jersey as part of the congregation of Shrewsbury Seventh Day Baptist Church.

No place had suffered the ravages of war as much as Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Davis family was no exception to loss. As farmers, shipbuilders, and proprietors of salt producing businesses, their boats carried salt and farm products to New York City from their settlements near the mouths of the Manasquan and Shark Rivers near Shrewsbury(23). Some Davises were Loyalists at the beginning of the war until their businesses were burned by the British; these, then, joined the Revolutionaries. Another theory regarding what caused the sudden uprooting of this Shrewsbury congregation was developed by Richard Brandstetter of Shrewsbury, New Jersey(24), who felt these Sabbatarians felt restricted by the Blue Laws of the state. He discovered petitions they had submitted to the state of New Jersey in 1786-87, requesting that they be exempt from the Blue Law and be allowed to work on Sunday, which, for Sabbatarians, was the first day of their work week. Otherwise, they had to refrain from doing any work for two full days. Their petition was denied, and two years later, the entire church pulled up stakes!

After selling their lands and a fairly new church building, four months later they embarked on their long journey, following an Indian trail westward in order to reach "Virginey" to begin life anew. The aforementioned Jesse Davis (Absolom's father), Bottom Billy, Joshua, Greenbrier Billy and his son, Peter Davis, were among these war-weary Monmouth County families. Most were ancestors of mine. The church group left New Jersey in two waves; the first in 1789, and the second group trickled in somewhere between 1792 and 1807.

The church record, carried from New Jersey to West Virginia, stated that the first migrant group which set out from Shrewsbury on September 6, 1789, was comprised of "Elder Jacob Davis with his famely (sic), William Davis, Senior, John Davis, Ephraim Maxson, Thomas Badcock, and Zebulon Maxson and Benjamin Thorp, with all their famelys(25)" (sic).

The remainder of the 1789 group departed on September 13th of the same year: "Simeon Maxson, William Davis, Juner and William Maxson with all their famelys" (sic). These were likely among them:

T. William DAVIS, Sr. (s/o John & Eliz. Maxson Davis) and his wife Tacy CRANDALL Davis. All of their children migrated with the first group except Nathan Davis<26>, who came later. William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis (27)(s/o T.Wm & Tacy) and his wife, Elizabeth JOHNSTON Davis (and likely children, Mary, Peter, Benjamin, David)

Jacob Davis, Rev. (s/o James Sr. son of William Davis of Wales) and his wife, Mary (Davis) Davis (d/o William & Tacy).

John Davis, Rev.(28)(s/o Wm. & Tacy) and his wife, Marvel Maxson Davis, and daughters, Amy and Jane. Ephraim MAXSON and his wife Elizabeth (Davis) Maxson (d/o William & Tacy) and possibly children Amy, Sally, Prudence, Jesse, Piety, Charity. Ephraim died in 1795.

Thomas BABCOCK(29) and his wife Martha (Davis) BABCOCK (d/o William & Tacy) (Thomas was a nephew of William & Tacy, the son of Thos. Sr. & Judith Davis Babcock.)

Zebulon MAXSON. Jr., Rev.(30) (s/o Experience Davis Maxson - T. Wm. Davis Sr.'s sister) nephew of T. William Davis; Zebulon later married Mary, d/o Nathan Davis

Benjamin THORP and his wife Elizabeth (Maxson) THORP (sister of Zebulon, above)

Simeon MAXSON and his wife Mary Babcock Maxson (step-daughter of Judith Davis Babcock who was a sister to T. William Davis, Sr.)

William "Bottom Billy" Davis (son of James Sr.) and his wife, Elizabeth (HAVENS) Davis, and possibly eight children, James, John, Jonathan, Joel, David, George Anna, and Jesse.

Rev. Jacob Davis (son of James Sr.) and his wife, Mary (Davis) Davis (d/o Wm. & Tacy)

James Davis Jr.(32) (s/o James, son of William Davis of Wales) and his wife, Rebecca (BRAND) Davis(33) It is believed that it was their son, Joseph Davis, who was received into New Salem Church in 1794.

The Indian trail took the New Jersey pioneers to southwestern Pennsylvania, where they may have either camped for almost two years near the residence of Samuel FITZ RANDOLPH and/or just across the Virginia border in Monongalia County at White Day Creek (between Morgantown & Fairmont, WV). While in Pennsylvania, Rev. Jacob Davis helped found the Woodbridgetown Seventh Day Baptist Church.

During the time the New Jersey settlers lived in White Day Creek, the eldest of the group died in July of 1791 - ancestor Thomas William Davis, Sr. (1719-1791), son of John and grandson of immigrant William of Wales. Soon after this, the group, unhappy with the land they had purchased, decided to move on to Harrison County, after being a deed by Samuel Fitz Randolph to settle on land he owned at the headwaters of the Monongahela.

Arriving in the spring of 1792, the settlers built a blockhouse (fort) and community of log houses they called New Salem - now known as Salem, West Virginia. Isaac Fitz Randolph, grandson of William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis, said there "were about forty families who established the town(34)". Later, Samuel Fitz Randolph, whose family married into the Davis family, joined the settlers and helped charter the village.

Rev. Jacob Davis, who had served as a chaplain in the Revolution(35>, was the first minister at the New Salem settlement, but upon returning to the Woodbridgetown church on a missionary trip in 1793, he met his death(36).

Just west of Salem, in 1807, West Union was founded by one of the New Jersey Davises. Capt. Nathan Davis, later a Harrison County sheriff (1843-44), and his brothers, William and Joseph, purchased all the land upon which the town was built. The name of the town was changed from Lewisport to West Union with the establishment of Doddridge County in 1845; the first county court was held at the residence of Nathan Davis, now the site of the Doddridge County Courthouse(37). 23. Sojourners Day, Clarksburg Telegram, Dorothy Davis, 1989. 24. See "Genealogist's Answer to Fantasy Baseball" by Sharon Bramhall, HCGS 2007

25. Davis - Settlers of Salem, WV, Susie Davis Nicholson, quoting the original church record.

26. Rev. War soldier. Wife-Ann Gifford. Believed to be in WV by 1795.

27. Rev. War soldier. Due to Indian attacks, he moved his family to Greenbrier Run. A community center in Salem is named for him.

28.Rev. War soldier. Married 2nd Margaret Kelso. Buried Broad Run Baptist Cemetery, Lewis County WV.

29. Thomas Babcock, with Samuel & Jacob Davis, moved to Greene Co. Ohio in 1806.

30. Zebulon was a 7th Day Bapt. minister, basket & broom maker. His father, Zebulon Maxson, Sr., deeded the land upon which Shrewsbury 7th Day Baptist was built.

31. Died in Shelby Co., Ohio; some children went to Garwin, Iowa,br> 32. Trustee for newly chartered town of New Salem, (W) VA, 1794. Appraiser for estate of his brother Jacob Davis in New Salem (W)Va. 1793.

33. It is not certain if James and Rebecca (Brand) Davis came with the first or second group to Salem.

34. Davis, The Settlers of Salem, West Virginia, Susie Davis Nicholson 35. Obid,br>. 36. Obid 37. Obid

William Davis, S16097, NJ Line, sol was b 11 Mar 1754 in Middletown Twnshp in Monmouth Cty NJ & sol lived in Shrewsbury Twshp in Monmouth Cty NJ at enl & sol moved from there to Washington Cty PA for 2 1/2 yrs then moved to Harrison Cty VA for 38 yrs then moved to Champaign Cty OH & a few mths later he moved to Clark Cty OH & sol appl there 4 Oct 1832 a res of Pike Twnshp OH, sol m a daughter of John Havens (she wasn't named), a son James Davis was b 1 Apr 1774 & he stated in 1833 in Clark Cty OH that he & his mother lived with her father John Havens in Shrewsbury Twnshp NJ while his father was a prisoner of the British, the son James & his father William srv together in 1794 under Capt Bogard & Col Wm. Lowther, another son of sol was Jonathan Davis who testified in 1834 in Champaign Cty OH, the following were mentioned but no relationship to sol was stated, to wit: in 1833 Joseph Davis was a witt in Clinton Cty OH, in 1834 Phenias Davis knew of sol's srv, in 1834 Lebe S. Davis was aged about 48, Silvester Davis was aged about 40, Gideon Davis was aged about 31, Reuben Davis was aged about 30 & Calvin Davis was aged about 26 & they testified for sol in Clark Cty OH. [Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files; Abstracted by Virgil D. White; Vol. 1, Pg. 913]

According to tradition, at the time of the Revolutionary War, William worked in his father's shipyard. They had been Royalists until their shipyard was burned, William having guided the British fleet through Hell Gate Channel into New York City at the time of its capture. After the loss of the shipyard, William took his wife and children to her parents' home and joined the Army of the Co Colonists and fought for the American Cause. (Viola Trainer Manu). William migrated to Washington Co. Pennsylvania 1789 and to Harrison County Virginia 1792 (Pension Record). He bought all the bottom land east of Salem, where Bristol is now located and from that acquired the name Bottom Billy. He was at one time Sheriff of Harrison County, Virginia (West Virginia). About 1832 or 1833 he and his wife and several of their children migrated to Clark County, Ohio. It is believed that she died in Clark County, 1834, and he died in Clark or Shelby County, 1834 or 1840.[Davis--The Settlers of Salem, West Virginia; Susie Davis Nicholson]

Biography:
Sketches of Pioneers. William Davis. William Davis is supposed to have been born in New Jersey, and came to Harrison County some time after the war of the Revolution. He settled in the Bottom land between Salem and Bristol. Was a large owner of lands, removed to Ohio and died there some time in the thirties. He always signed his name William Davis 'Bottom' to distinguish him from two or three other William Davis' who lived in the neighborhood. Tradition says that he had been a sailor and that during the Revolution he was loyal to the King and that he piloted the British fleet through the Hell Gate Channel, under the command of Lord Howe, at the time New York was captured in 1776, and for his services on that occasion he received a large bag of gold. After the close of the war and upon his return home, he found it a little unpleasant for persons of his political opinions, and emigrated to the western country as it was then called, where some of his relatives had come before. Deeds executed by him show that he lived in this county as late as 1825. His father resided near the Battlefield of Brandy Wine, and rode out from home, on a white horse, to see the battle, and the color of his horse attracting attention, he was fired on and killed. [History of Harrison County, WV, by Henry Haymond, pg. 369]

Story:
William was a ship carpenter. One day he went into a ship yard looking for work. The boss said to him " Can you make a pin?" He says "I can try." The boss gave him a new hand ax and a piece of timber for a pin and led him to the "hack block" which proved to be a large stone. He finished his pin without touching the block with the edge of his ax greatly to the surprise of the boss, and raising his ax high into the air, struck a tremendous blow into the face of the rock as though he took it for an ordinary hack block into which he was accustomed to stick his ax after finishing a job. "Thad will do", says the boss. " I will give you $30 a month." He worked here but a short time, shortly after being a sailor on the high seas. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War he was a Tory and joined the British Army. It is said that he ran the first British gunboat through Longg Island Sound to New York. The following story is told as related by him. "one day while consulting with the British Officers, concerning the strength of the Colonists, it began to thunder and not a cloud in sight, we took a spy-glass and discovered a small black cloud not larger than a man's hand rising in the west. It kept getting lsrger until we could see it with the naked eye. It came up and settled over the vessellying at anchor nearby and a flash of lightning struck her magazine which blew up completely destroting the vessel." He believed it was an act of providence, which convinced him that he was fighting on the wrong side. He deserted the British and joined the American forces. After the close of the war and about 1789 0r 90 he moved from Shrewsbury NJ to Harrison county Viirginia and settled on a treact of land near the moouth of Cherry Camy Run. The viilllage of Cherry Camy was afterward built on this farm. He built the first mill in that vicinity. The foregoing is an illustration of the sterling worth and character of the man. He had strong likes and dislikes and was ready to fight for that which he believed was right. The following historical facts prove his patriotism and courage in fighting for his country when comvinced that the then present authority was in the wrong. William Davis of Monmouth County, New Jersey, Private in the detachment of Monmouth County NJ Militia enlisted at Monmouth, July, 1776, served one month as guide. Private under Lieut. Colonel Auke Wykoff's third regiment for one month. Served as private in Capt. Dennis' Co. 3rd Reg. Monmouth county militia. While enroute to Philadelphia, PA he was taken prisoner by the British and was confined to New York for two months. He was private in Capt. Stephen Fleming's Co. 3rd Reg. one month. Was engaged in the battle of Sandy Hook, NJ. He furnished as a substitute in the same company, Joseph Bishop. While serving as private in Capt. John Dennis; company, 2nd Reg, Monmouth County Militia he was shot in the breast in an engagement at Somerset Courthouse. He resided in Clarke County, Ohio, 1832 to 1834. The wound in his breast was from a rifle ball, which was removed, leaving a large scar for the remainder of his life. James Davis, the oldest son of William, appeared before the President at Springfield, Ohio, where he lived, June 28th, 1833, and testified that he was a son of William Davis and was born April 1, 1774, that he remembered well when his father left home, and that he and his mother went to live with her father, John Havens of Shrewsbury, NJ and he remembered distinctly when his father returned home from captivity, when he was five or six years old and that afterward he went away again to serve in the Militia.William Davis 1663-1745 And Descendants Compiled by Thomas Clayton Davis as published in The Alfred Sun, Alfred, NY, 1945-1948]

William married Elizabeth Anna Havens in 1773 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of John Havens and Anna Davis) was born in 1754 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA; died in 1834 in Clark, Shelby, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Content married Jesse Havens in 1777. Jesse (son of John Havens and Anna Davis) was born in 1753 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA; died on 28 Mar 1814 in Valparaiso, Chile. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Content married Joshua Gifford Davis in 1785 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA. Joshua (son of Nathan Davis and Annie Gifford) was born on 12 Mar 1764 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA; died on 27 Jul 1839 in Salem, Doddridge, West Virginia, USA; was buried in Salem, Doddridge, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]