This book was put together with information from Davis and other family members from all over the United States. I first learned about Matthew from a family Bible my grandmother, Jessie Vee Guy Davis left to us. A notation in the cover page simply stated - " Matthew Davis, born 1736 - served in Revolutionary War."
When I was living in Connecticut in 1988, I had the opportunity to visit the Library in Fairfield, which had a roomfull of Revolutionary War records and books. In my research, I found only 3 Matthew Davis' that served in that War, and was stunned to find that one of them was born in 1736 ! According to these records, he had served in the North Carolina Volunteers.
It wasn't until 1992, when I contacted a distant cousin, Norman Davis, of Preston, Mississippi, that I was able to positively verify that this was the Matthew mentioned in my Grandmother's Bible. Norman had done a great deal of research of his ancestors, and through a lady in Alabama, had traced our family back to Matthew. I further learned from Norman that Matthew had fought under George Washington in a battle called " The Massacre of the Meadows" in 1754. George Washington's Autobiography mentions this battle, in an area where the City of Pittsburg now stands, and mentions a rescue mission involving the North Carolina Volunteers.
Working with other family members, I have been able to verify Matthew's wife's name, and birthdate.
In 1996, I travelled to Raleigh, NC, and visited the Genealogy Library there. I found more references to Matthew, including a deed to property in what is now Warren County, NC. I travelled to Warrenton, and was able to view the actual deed, dated 1752, and see Matthew's signature in the margin.
I hope you enjoy this information about our distant ancestor as much as I have, and will feel the sense of pride that I do when you read about him.
