HONOR THY FATHER & THY MOTHER:Information about John Davis

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John Davis (b. 1784, d. March 16, 1875)

The gravestone of John & Nancy Davis is a 7 foot high obelisk with John's inscription on the south side and Nancy's on the north side near the base.

John Davis was born 1784 in Parish of Tamlaghtfinlagan, County Londonderry, Ireland, and died March 16, 1875 in Scott Township, Lawrence Co., Pennsylvania. He married Agnes Calderwood on Bet. 1817 - 1820 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Calderwood and Isabella Hanson.

Notes for John Davis:
We know from U.S. census records that Great Great Grandfather John Davis came from County Londonderry (Derry), Ireland. He was an Ulster Scot, a member of the Covenanter or Reformed Presbyterian faith. This radical sect of Scots were severely persecuted in their Scottish homeland in the 17th century resulting in the migration of some 30,000 Scots to Ulster in the north of Ireland between 1660 and 1690. These numbers increased following bad harvests with an estimated 10,000 in 1692 alone. These migrants mostly entered Ulster via Londonderry and settled in the west of the province. Thus it is assumed that John Davis's ancestors were among these religious refugees who came to Ireland for religious freedom. Research on the birthplace of John Davis in County Londonderry suggests the Parish of Tamlaght Finlagan near the town of Limavady to be the Irish homeland of the Davis clan. The Townlands of Moys, Walworth and Ballykelly are the current focus of his possible birthplace.

John Davis probably departed Londonderry and arrived at the port of Philadelphia sometime around 1815-16. He would have been 31-32 years of age at that time. Whether he came alone, with siblings or with members of his church is still unknown. Before making the trek across the mountains to western Pennsylvania John Davis married Agnes Calderwood, probably in the Philadelphia area.

Family oral tradition recalls that some of John Davis' children were born in Philadelphia, including my great grandfather John M. Davis. However, census records do not support this view. John Davis, wife and one female child under the age of 5 were recorded in the 1820 U.S. census of Pittsburgh-East Ward, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The same John Davis & family were also listed in the 1830 U.S. census of Pittsburgh-East Ward, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This appears to be our John Davis, though there was a female child that we have not yet been able to identify. It is possible that this child died before the 1840 census and no other record of her exists. All other ages listed in that census match John, his wife Ages, the two sons James C. & John M. and the daughter Isabella H. Davis.

By 1831 John Davis was listed in the property tax records of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. This 1831 tax record shows that he owned 60 acres of land, one horse and two cows. In 1838 he was named a beneficiary in the last will & testament of his father-in-law, John Calderwood. In this will dated June 8, 1838 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania it states: "I will and allow that my son-in-law John Davis and family shall receive the sum of Two hundred dollars."

John Davis, wife, 3 sons (James, John & William) and 2 daughters (Isabella & Matilda) were listed in the 1840 U.S. census of Big Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

An early map of Big Beaver Township in Beaver (now Lawrence) Co., PA confirms that John Davis was granted a land patent of 101 acres in Big Beaver Township, Beaver (now Lawrence) County, Pennsylvania dated April 28, 1847.

John, wife and children are listed in the 1850 & 1860 U. S. census of Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The 1850 census identifies his wife as Agnes. However, the 1860 census identifies his wife as Nancy, which is a Scots-Irish nickname for Agnes. In the 1860 census John was 75 years old. His wife, Nancy, and one child, Jemmah (Jemima), age 19 were living at home with him.

During the years in Big Beaver Township the Davis family were members of the Little Beaver Reformed Presbyterian Church located one mile NW of the borough of New Galilee in Darlington Township, Beaver County. Two daughters, Matilda & Isabella, one grandson, John U. Davis, and Nancy's parents, John & Isabella Calderwood are buried in that pretty country church cemetery.

In September 1863 John & Nancy Davis sold their 107 acres of land in Big Beaver Township to James Mc George of Little Beaver Township for the sum of two thousand dollars. The couple moved to Scott Township northeast of New Castle in Lawrence Country, probably to be closer to their eldest son, James C. Davis.

John Davis was dismissed from the Little Beaver Reformed Presbyterian congregation in 1864. He and his wife, Nancy, were admitted as Communicants to Slippery Rock Reformed Presbyterian Church on September 10, 1864. Slippery Rock RP Church was renamed Rose Point RP Church in the 1880's.

In the 1870 census of Scott Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, John Davis was 84 years old, a farmer. His birthplace was listed as County Derry, Ireland. Edward Chesney, their nephew, age 50, whose occupation is listed as Laborer was living with them.

John Davis' son-in-law, the Rev. James Buck, a Reformed Presbyterian minister of the Gospel, died on October 13, 1870 at the Davis home according to an obituary from the Lawrence Guardian newspaper, New Castle, PA.

John & Nancy Davis became members of the New Castle Reformed Presbyterian Chruch in 1871. On page 157 of The History of Lawrence County Pennsylvania, 1770 - 1877, by S.W. and P.A. Durant we find this piece of information: "The Reformed Presbyterian Church of New Castle was organized in February, 1871, with forty-one members..... Among the prominent members were ..... John Davis, ..... Mrs. Nancy Davis...."

Last Will and Testament of John Davis

Be it known I, John Davis of Scott Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking any former ones. First I direct that the notes I hold on following persons be given up and cancelled without collection Viz – one on my son Jas C. Davis for $150.00, One of my son in law John Cook for $130.00 and three on my son Wm. B. Davis one for $100.00, one for $67.00 and one for $33.00. As to the note I hold on my son John M. Davis, for $500.00 he shall have a gift of a credit of $300.00 and if he supports and maintains my wife Nancy Davis for one year hereafter, the balance of it shall be cancelled and given up to him in full or he shall receive credit on balance of said note after allowing the gift of $300.00 in proportion if he support my wife a less time than one year hereafter.
I give in cash from proceeds of my estate including money coming to me from my son Jas. C. Davis on judgment Bond as follows Viz. To my daughter Isabella Cook: One hundred dollars ($100). To my son Wm. B. Davis: Five hundred dollars. To my daughter Jemima Martin: Two hundred dollars $200: To my grand son Robert Buck One hundred dollars and to my grand son Edwin Buck One hundred dollars. I do further provide that in case any of the notes before mentioned should be revoked hereafter, that the said new notes shall be treated as to the collection and cancellation same as the old ones.
The residue of my estate I give and devise to my son Jas. C. Davis and my grand son Robert Buck equally share and share alike.
Further I do hereby appoint my son Jas. C. Davis Executor of this my last will and testament.
Further my son Wm. B. Davis is to have his money as before mentioned out of the first that comes into the hands of my executor. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27 August AD 1874.
John Davis (seal)

Signed, sealed and executed in presence of
us who in person of said John Davis and in
presence of each other and at his request
signed this as attestors and witnesses of his
last will and testament.
J.P. Leslie
J.J. Sampson

This will was probated March 27, 1875.
[Lawrence County Courthouse Will Book #2, page 686]

John and Nancy Davis lie at rest in the cemetery behind the Rose Point Reformed Presbyterian Church which is located a few miles east of of the town of New Castle, PA.

More About John Davis:
Burial: March 1875, Rose Point Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Slippery Rock Twp., Lawrence Co., Pennsylvania.

More About John Davis and Agnes Calderwood:
Marriage: Bet. 1817 - 1820, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Children of John Davis and Agnes Calderwood are:

+James Calderwood Davis, b. August 13, 1823, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (probably), d. June 14, 1897, Scott Township, Lawrence Co., Pennsylvania.
+John M. Davis, b. October 1825, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (probably), d. November 11, 1904, Sterling, Rice County, Kansas.
+Isabella Hanson Davis, b. 1828, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (probably), d. 1890, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
+William Blackwood Davis, b. October 03, 1833, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, d. March 24, 1904, Vancouver, Clark County, Washington.
+Matilda Jane Davis, b. November 05, 1838, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, d. April 02, 1874, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.
+Jemima Elizabeth Davis, b. May 25, 1841, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, d. February 03, 1904, Crawfordsville, Washington County, Iowa.