A Different John Davis?

Samuel Davis of Carolina granted Power of Attorney to Nicholas Cobb on 23 July 1667. Then, on 22 April 1668, he “with the consent of” his wife, Ann, assigned John Davis 100 acres patented by Samuel Davis on 14 October 1640.

Samuel and Ann Davis to John Davis

Situated on a branch

…that issueth from the Pagan Bay Creek being Between two parcells of Land mentioned in one pattent of Mr. Nathaniel Lloyds, one parcell Contayning Six hundred acres and the other Two hundred & fifty which said One hundred acres doth begin att the parcell of Six hundred acres of Land and Running north west fifty pole by the Branch side to the parcell of Two hundred & fifty acres runing south west for length Between the two parcells…

Samuel, “of Carolina in the province of Albemarle, sonne & heir of Samll Davis decd.,” and Ann sold a further 100 acres to John Bond on 12 May 1668. This tract had been granted to Thomas Edghill in 1637 and assigned to William Strange on 2 March 1639. Strange then assigned it “to my sd. father” on 11 June 1642.

According to a deposition given by Henry White in Pasquotank Precinct in North Carolina, Samuel and Ann had migrated to Carolina in about 1660. He also says Samuel had been apprenticed to White’s father, another Henry White, for a time previous to the move. The elder Henry had been a cooper.

Henry White deposition

Remember, I said I couldn’t decide whether or not the John Davis who married the widow Bruce and the John Davis who married Mary Green were the same man. This is part of the reason. And it’s easy to see why, with the pattern of Samuels and Johns in our line. Plus, this is the area where we’d find the likes of Francis Hobbs and Thomas Tooke. Many researchers believe that our John, who died in 1714, was the son of Samuel Davis, Sr., and the brother of Samuel of Carolina. Mostly, this is because this deed does not mention any form of consideration. However, it does not actually say John was related to the Samuels. To add to the confusion, we have the Paule of London, sailing into Jamestown in 1635.

The Paule of London

Local legend says that three brothers named Davis settled in Isle of Wight County, Virginia very early in its history. They arrived at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony from London, England on 6 July 1635, aboard the ship Paule, the master of which was Mr. Leonard Betts. Samuel and his two brothers, John and Richard, were part of a group of 115 persons from the town of Gravesend, in county Kent, England which carried with them a “certificate from the Minister of Gravesend of their Conformitie to the Church of England.” His name on the ship’s manifest is spelled “Samvell Davies” and his age is shown as 24 years. Also listed on the manifest were “John Davies”, age 23; and “Richard Davies”, age 20 (Descendants of Samuel Davis I (1610-1667) of Isle of Wight County, VA by Richard Dietz, p. 1).

Also arriving aboard the Paule was William Strange. This is according to Peter Coldham Wilson’s The Complete Book of Emigrants: 1607-1660, p. 154-55. However, take a look at the passenger list as provided by Coldham, I’m not so sure the three Davises were together.

Peter Wilson Coldham, The Complete Book of Emigrants: 1607-1666, p. 154-55

Notice the distance between them. And how the Wilson family and John and Margaret Hind(e) are grouped together.

At some point before 13 October 1642, Samuel Davis assigned 400 acres in Rappahannock to John Benton. On that date, Benton was issued a patent for 1250 acres. His transportees included Samuel Davis, his wife Eliza, Samuel Davis, Jr., and John Davis.

John Benton transportees

Some argue that Eliza was Benton’s daughter, others that she was Elizabeth Hobbs. Remember Francis Hobbs transporting Elizabeth Davis? Regardless, it’s easy to see why all of this causes massive headaches to all researchers who stumble over Grandpa Thomas!

So, what do y’all think? Was our John Davis (c. 1643-1714) the man who married the Widow Bruce? Or did that honor go to John Davis, son of Samuel? And who married the sister of Francis Hobbs?

Oh, by the way. If you take another look at the list of passengers, you’ll notice a twenty-one-year-old Thomas Greene. That’s who I’ll discuss next time.

Crossed Lines

Don’t you find it fascinating when your lines cross before they, well, cross? Check this out: a sale of land patented by James Massengill, my potential 8th great-grandfather, to Samuel Davis, my 6th great-granduncle. My maternal grandfather descended from James on his mother’s side. Possibly twice. Probably. The Massengill family is tricky. Due to record loss, it’s difficult to figure out how many generations there were, and how they fit together. Samuel Davis is from his father’s side. My great-grandparents didn’t get married until about 1904.

From Isle of Wight County Deed Book 5, p. 45 (Note: I’ve modernized the capitalization. Honestly, it’s not only easier to read that way, but easier to type.):

This Indenture made the twentieth day of Octo: Anno Dom: one thousand seven hundred and thirty six Between Edward Jones of Isle Wight County of the one part & Samuel Davis Gent: of the same county of the other part Witnesseth that the said Edward Jones for and in consideration of the sum of eighty pounds currt: money of Virginia to him in hand paid at or before the ensealing & delivery of these presents the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge & thereof doth acquit & discharge the said Samuel Davis his heirs and assigns for ever Hath given granted bargain’d sold alien’d released and confirm’d unto the said Samuel Davis his heirs & assigns forever two separate parcels or tracts of land scituate lying & being on the north side of Maherin River in the County afores:d (viz) the first being a pattent of two hundred & sixty five acres granted by the Honourable Hugh Drysdale Lieut: Governour of Virginia to James Massingall bearing dated the fifth day of Septemb: one thousand seven hundred & twenty three & by the said James Massingal sold to the above Edward Jones by deeds of lease & release bearing date the twenty first and twenty sixth days of March one thousand seven hundred & twenty six & being bounded as in the said pattent & lease is specified the other being a pattent of one hundred & eighty acres granted to the said Edward Jones by the Honourable William Gooch Esq: his Majestys Liut: Governour of Virginia bearing date the twenty eighth day of September one thousand seven hundred & thirty being bounded as is in the said pattent specified the whole being four hundred & fourty five acres….

Edward Jones sold Samuel Davis land patented by James Massingall

The witnesses were Nicholas Bourden and George Washington. No, not that George Washington. He would have been only 4 years old!

Here’s the original patent to James Massingall.