Person Page

     Elizabeth Davis was born after 1770.² She was the daughter of Capt. Richard Davis.¹

     Rezin Davis was born. He was the son of Capt. Richard Davis.¹

     William Davis was born. He was the son of Capt. Richard Davis.¹

     Amos Davis was born on 25 January 1753.¹ He was the son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson. Amos Davis died circa 1808 in Washington County, Maryland. Records of Washington County show administration on estate in 1808, but not distribution.
     

Amos, his father and brothers served in the Revolutionary War. Their names are found in many of the old records, letters and orders of the period. To read some of these, click on the icon. He and members of his family "made brilliant and distinguished records in the Revolutionary War" in which Amos was made a Captain.² He appeared on the census of 1790 at Washington County, Maryland. The Census of his family shows that the family consisted of 1 male over 16 years of age, one under 16, 5 females, no slaves.³

     Rezin Davis was born on 29 April 1752.^1,2 He was the son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson. Rezin Davis married Eleanor circa 1770.³ Rezin Davis died on 17 March 1800 in Washington County, Maryland, at age 47 years, 10 months and 17 days.
     

Rezin, his father and brothers served in the Revolutionary War. Their names are found in many of the old records, letters and orders of the period. To read some of these, click on the icon. He and members of his family "made brilliant and distinguished records in the Revolutionary War" in which Rezin was made a Captain.^4,5 He appeared on the census of 1790 at Maryland, which shows the family consisted of 1 male over 16, 3 under 16, 1 female and 8 slaves.⁶ Will recorded in Washington County, Md.: "In churchyard of St. John's Episcopalean Church, Hagarstown, Md. resides Mr. Rezin Davis b. April 29, 1753, died March 17, 1800 -- wife Eleanor b. April 5, 1757, d. March 28, 1815."⁷

     Eleanor was born on 5 April 1757.² She married Rezin Davis, son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson, circa 1770.³ Eleanor died on 28 March 1815 in Washington County, Maryland, at age 57 years, 11 months and 23 days. "In churchyard of St. John's Episcopalean Church, Hagarstown, Md. resides Mr. Rezin Davis b. April 29, 1753, died March 17, 1800 -- wife Eleanor b. April 5, 1757, d. March 28, 1815."⁴

     Darius Davis was born circa 1747.¹ He was the son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson.

     Dennis Davis was born circa 1748.¹ He was the son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson.
     

Dennis' father and brothers served in the Revolutionary War, though it appears that Dennis was "exempted from marching," which may have been due to his age, which I calculate to have been around 10 at the beginning of the war. Their names are found in many of the old records, letters and orders of the period. To read some of these, click on the icon. Dennis' family "made brilliant and distinguished records in the Revolutionary War."² Dennis Davis appeared on the census of 1790 at Washington County, Maryland. Census shows family consisted of 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16, 2 females and 1 slave.³

     Isaac Davis was born in 1783 in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.¹ He was the son of Col. Richard Davis and Sophia Simpson. Isaac Davis married Kezia Askew, daughter of Joshua Askew and Elizabeth Askew, in 1805/6 in the home of her parents, Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland.¹ Isaac Davis died in 1850 in Elm Grove, Ohio County, West Virginia, at age 67 years.
     After their marriage, they returned to Hagarstown, Maryland, and later removed to Elm Grove, West Virginia, where Isaac died.¹

A tombstone in the churchyard of the Old Stone Church in Elm Grove, West Virginia notes: "Isaac Davis died 1850 aged 67 yrs."¹

* * * * *

Letters from Family Records, mostly regarding "Black Bill"

Rozina writes that "Richard Carter Davis often spoke of Black Bill who took care of him in his boyhood" and Sarah Carter "is mentioned in her grandfather, Richard Carter's will, dated 1782 and bequeathed nego boy William or Bill. In 1796, on returning to Maryland from Kentucky, her husband [Sarah's husband Albinus I believe is who Rozina means] in a certificate to the Tax Collector of Washington County, MD lists "Negroe Bill, aged about 19 years, which would make him about 5 years old at death of Richard Carter" [Sarah's father]. This certificate can be seen with Albinus' records.

It appears that James Oliver and Rozina Davis, obviously were researching Black Bill, and following is a bit of correspondence they received concerning Bill, among other things.

From letter of Mrs. Amanda Davis written in 1923 when she was over 90 years of age to James Oliver Davis (great grandson of Albinus Davis):

"Isaac Davis had neither brothers or sisters. He was has mother's only child.

Your great grandfather Albinus and a brother Isaac was born and raised at Hagarstown, Maryland. Isaac was a hatter by trade. He went to Baltimore a young man. Visited at my grandfather Askew's home, married my mother's oldest sister, Kezia Askew, brought her to Hagarstown, then I think they, the two, Albinus and Isaac decided to come to Virginia. Your great grandfather brought several slaves. Isaac brought one man and one woman. Albinus' slaves to be freed at his death --- Well, the slaves scattered out. Bill, I think was a small boy. Freedom was not so much to him. He often came back to the old place. Later he came back and made his home with them and after your grandfather died, he staid with your grandmother. Helped her raise the family. He never had any name but Black Bill, Mrs. D's colored man. He died at her home and she gave him a decent burial. Our folks and Askews did not bring any slaves with them. My aunt Kezia and Uncle Isaac, he was half brother to your great grandfather, they had a large family: Albert G. oldest, Hanson, Joshua, then seven girls, I know Albinus was oldest -- your great grandfather. He was dead before I was old enough to mind. Uncle Isaac and Aunt Kezia was living till I was grown."

From a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stewart [Elizabeth Jane Davis], daughter of Cephas Davis:

I can't tell you how old Black Bill was and don't remember the date of his death but it must have been in the early 50's, I was quite small, could not have been more than 10 or 11 years old. You wanted to know when the slaves were freed and by whom. Albinus Davis freed them before he died. I don't know why he freed them but Black Bill would never leave father and after Father's death he staid with Mother until his death.

NOTE: It turns out that Bill's name was William Tutely and he was born in about 1777 -- this was discovered as he was enumerated with the family on the census of 1850 -- see Albinus' daughter-in-law Elizabeth Davis or grandson Richard Carter Davis. (KSD 18 October 2006).²

     Sophia Simpson was born circa 1723/24. She was the daughter of Amos Simpson.¹ Sophia Simpson married Col. Richard Davis, son of Richard Davis and Ruth Warfield, on 26 March 1746 in Christ Church, Queen Caroline Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.² Sophia Simpson died after 1765.