Thomas Davis (abt. 1840)

Born about 1840 in Oswego, New York, United States

Died [date unknown] in United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Davis is a part of US Black heritage.

Private Thomas Davis served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 18 Mar 1863
Mustered out: 20 Aug 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. D, 54th Massachusetts Inf.

Thomas Davis was born about 1840 in Oswego, New York.^[1] He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

He is described as 5' 7" tall, with a light complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His occupation when he enlisted was sailor.^[1]

Occupations

• 1881, 1888, 1890-1892: Laborer
• 1882: Porter
• 1863: Sailor

Residences

• 1898: 164 Sycamore Street, Buffalo, New York^[2]
• 1897: 164 Sycamore Street, Buffalo, New York^[3]
• 1881-1892^[4]: 164 Sycamore Street, Buffalo, New York
  • In 1881, laborers Edward Brown and Charles Gates, and clerk John Robinson are also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1882, carpenter David Andrews, waiter William H. Dodson, Mrs. Levi Griffin and laundress Mrs. Catherine Hatten are also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1883, whitewashers Samuel Brown and Peter Williams, teamster Benjamin Gilbert, ironfinisher Claude Moyot and Mrs. Sarah Douglass are also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1884, cook Samuel Brown and hostler Benjamin Slaughter are also living at 164 Sycamore, and travel agent Jacob Strauss is living over 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1885, whitewasher Samuel Brown and portress (porter) Mrs. Jane Walls are also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1886, waiter John H. Robeson and whitewasher Samuel Brown are also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1888, peddler John Zimmer is also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1889, coachman John Egbert is also living at 164 Sycamore, and a Mrs. Catharine Davis is living over 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1890, Civil War veteran Virgeil Ayres who served with the 1st Louisiana is also living at 164 Sycamore.
  • In 1891, whitewasher Walter Hensen is also living at 164 Sycamore.
• 1863: Oswego, New York (military enlistment)

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 23 years old, single and working as a sailor when he enlisted on 18 March 1863. He was wounded in action on 18 July 1863 at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner. Mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.^[1][5]

Thomas applied for a military pension on 8 July 1889; it was approved. (Application No. 717048; Certificate No. 479151)^[6]

Available for a fee from the National Archives; digitization has been requested and files are forthcoming.

Research Notes

To help distinguish between the Thomas Davises of Buffalo in the 1880s-1890s, he is not:

• Bookkeeper Thomas H. Davis (1889: Prospect Ave; 1891: 162 Thirteenth)
• Carpenter Thomas J. Davis (1889-1891: 243 Fillmore Avenue)
• Laborer Thomas Davis (1885-1891: 27 Moore)
• Sailor Thomas Davis (1891: 160 Ohio)
• Sailor Thomas Davis (1891: 172 Ohio)

There is a Mrs. Catharine Davis living over 164 Sycamore in 1889; perhaps his widowed mother or a widowed sister-in-law?^[7]

Raymoure-1 04:24, 17 April 2020 (UTC): Possible census match? (likely)

Year: 1880; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: 829; Page: 56A; Enumeration District: 139

Thomas Davis / b. abt. 1840 New York / Black / Laborer / m. Catherine b. abt. 1840 Pennsylvania

Research Done

☑ Military pension at Fold3.com Raymoure-1 00:15, 21 May 2019 (UTC)

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Compiled Military Service Record: Davis, Thomas, 54th Massachusetts Infantry, Compiled Military Service Record. Images available on Fold3.
2. ↑ List of Comrades in military pension files of Private John Saunders a.k.a. William Gibson, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. D
3. ↑ Military pension file for Private George Fisher, Co. D
4. ↑ 1890 US Veterans Schedules; 1881, 1882, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1892 Buffalo, New York city directories
5. ↑ Emilio, Roster p. 354
6. ↑ Military: "U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934"
   The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; NAI Number: T288; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Series Number: T288; Roll: 114
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4654 #1773148 (accessed 11 October 2022)
   Name: Thomas Davis; Unit: D. 54. Mass Infantry; Filing Date: 8 Jul 1889; Place Filed: New York, USA; Relation to Head: Soldier; Roll number: 114.
7. ↑ 1889 Buffalo, New York city directory

• 1890 United States Veteran Schedules for Buffalo, New York as Thomas Davies but Davis in the notes
• 1881, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1889, 1891 Buffalo, New York city directories
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Fold3.com. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900." National Archives Catalog #2588825. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861 - 1942." Free Access Black History Collection Records 5-28 February 2019.