Jonathan Davis (bef. 1749 - 1780)

Husband of Hannah (Parks) Davis — married Jul 1777 in Rowan County, North Carolina, USA

Descendants

Died Oct 1780 after age 31 in Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: L Adcox [send private message]

Biography

Jonathan Davis was known in Rowan County, North Carolina by the name of Schoolmaster Davis. He was an “active businessman, well qualified as an English scholar for any ordinary business and society."

Jonathan was a soldier of the Continental line in the Revolutionary War. He first volunteered for a three-month campaign in 1777, as a private in Capt. James Smith's Company against the British at Cross Creek under Col. Locke.

He returned home from War "about harvest time that year", and shortly thereafter married 28 year old Hannah Parks. The following year, their first child Augustus was born.

Hannah was pregnant with their 2nd child when Jonathan returned to War. Their friend, Benjamin Brown, remembered Jonathan saying, "Congress had promised the Army a big bounty and great things", and that Jonathan had planned to "fight the enemy till the war was over." It was April of 1780 when he reentered the War as First Lieutenant. He died several months later at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Jonathan’s wife, Hannah, had thought for many years that he was killed in the Battle of Camden. However, after learning that battle was fought in August, she amended her statement, saying she knew it was October when he was killed. Their 2nd child was born that same month. Their son later said, " I had a piece of an old letter that was in the hand writing of my father dated near Cowpens South Carolina 5th of October 1780."

Hannah stated that she, "in company with Jonathan Davis's mother visited the Battle ground, a few days after the action, and all that they could hear of Jonathan Davis was that he was seen to fall in the Battle to rise no more -- killed". Their son also stated, "my Mother visited both places (Camden & Kings Mountain) in search of relations in company with other Whig ladies of that day".

Hannah never remarried. She and her 2 sons moved to White County, Tennessee sometime between 1790 and 1807. One of her sons may have already been married at the time they moved. Years later, she was living in the household of her youngest son when she filed for her widow’s pension. She died the following year at age 91.

[Much of the above information was summarized from the pension application and related pension documents. ]

Sources

• Pension Documents of Jonathan Davis, and other notes collected by L. Adcox

Birth / Death

Birth: unknown

Birthplace: unknown

Note: It would be typical for Jonathan to be older than his wife, Hannah, who was born 1749.

Death: October 1780. Date obtained from Pension records.

Place of death: Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, from Pension records.

Wife

HANNAH PARKS

Hannah's Birth: 10 Feb 1749. Date obtained from Pension records.

Hannah's Birthplace: unknown

Hannah's Death: November 2, 1840. Date obtained from Pension records.

Hannah's Place of death: assumed White County, Tennessee.

Note: Several months before Hannah died, she was living with son Jonathan on 1840 census in White County.)

Marriage

Marriage date: about July 1, 1777. Date from Pension records.

Marriage place: assumed Rowan County, North Carolina. Implied from Pension records.

Note: Pension records say he was living in Rowan County, North Carolina when he entered the Army.)

Note: Pension records say he returned home to North Carolina in 1777.

Children

Augustus Parks Davis, born November 10, 1778

Jonathan C. Davis, born October 28, 1780

Children's names and birthdates, obtained from Pension records.

Children's birthplace assumed to be Rowan County, North Carolina. Implied from Pension records.

Note: pension records say father was living in Rowan County, North Carolina when he entered the Army.

Census

1780 Census: Rowan County, North Carolina

Name: Jonathan Davis

Gender: M (Male)

Residence Year: 1780

Household Remarks: "Capt. Mooris' District"

Original Import

• WikiTree profile Davis-6890 created through the import of Dennis Carr.ged on Aug 12, 2011 by X X. See the Changes page for the details of edits by X and others.