William "Bottom Billy" Davis

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1810, , Harrison, West Virginia, USA
• Census: 1820, , Harrison, West Virginia, USA

Jesse married Hannah Davis on 11 May 1806 in , Harrison, West Virginia, USA. Hannah (daughter of Joshua Gifford Davis and Content Davis) was born on 7 Aug 1787 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA; died on 24 May 1880 in , Doddridge, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clementine married Nathaniel T Maxwell on 15 Jul 1841 in , Harrison, West Virginia, USA. Nathaniel (son of David Maxwell and Mary Catherine Williams) was born on 21 Aug 1821 in , Harrison, West Virginia, USA; died on 8 May 1862 in , McDowell, West Virginia, USA; was buried in Grafton National Cemetery, Grafton, Taylor, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Clementine married Theodore Egbert Maxfield on 25 Feb 1863 in , , Pennsylvania, USA. Theodore (son of John Maxfield and Maria) was born on 29 Mar 1842 in , Fayette, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1920, Sardis, Harrison, West Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Head
• Residence: 1930, Sardis, Harrison, West Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Head

William married Harriet Elizabeth Plant on 30 Jun 1878 in , Harrison, West Virginia, USA. Harriet was born on 13 Mar 1860 in , , West Virginia, USA; died on 15 Jan 1952 in , Harrison, West Virginia, USA; was buried in Katys Lick, Harrison, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1900, Grant, Doddridge, West Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Wife
• Residence: 1910, Grant, Doddridge, West Virginia, USA; Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Wife

Family/Spouse: George Washington Ford. George (son of Albert H Ford and Rulana Davis) was born on 16 Mar 1857 in , Doddridge, West Virginia, USA; died in 1949. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]