Hannah E. (Phillips) Davis (1743 - 1793)

Born 1743 in Yorktown, Virginia, British Colonies (United States)

Wife of William Alexander Davis UE — married 1771 in Virginia, (British Colonies) U.S.A

Descendants

Died 1793 at about age 50 in Chippewa, Upper Canada (Ontario, Canada)

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Biography

• Hannah E. Phillips (b.ca. 1743- d.1794) was married to William Alexander Davis (1741-1834), a United Empire Loyalist. Residing at a large plantation estate in North Carolina, USA during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1791), Davis was loyal to the UK and gave shelter to British soldiers. Following the British defeat, and after enduring prolonged abuse, Davis and his family were forced to leave their home. In 1792 the decision was made to re-locate to the British colony of Upper Canada where their friend John Graves Simcoe had recently become Lieutenant-Governor. Following stops in Rochester, New York and Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake), Upper Canada, arriving in Chippewa in 1792, after Hannah's death the family eventually settled on 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of land in Saltfleet Township near the brow of the Niagara Escarpment (Mount Albion, Hamilton, Ontario - near Old Mud St. & Red Hill Parkway). It is here that Davis built "Harmony Hall", an elaborate house built to resemble the Davis' plantation home in North Carolina.

• • William ventured off to Virginia where he met and married (1771) Hannah Phillips. They moved to North Carolina where William soon became a wealthy plantation owner with a large tract of land, a beautiful home, large distilleries and breweries and many black slaves.

When the troubles turned into War in 1775, William remained out of the actual fighting although he was a loyal supporter of the King. In 1779, General Cornwallis marched into Carolina with 2,000 soldiers, and in 1781 arrived at the Davis plantation where his men were sheltered and fed.

The British left and soon after the “Rebels” swept in and completely destroyed the plantations. The disheartened Davis Family fled to the Phillips’ home in Yorktown, Virginia. It is believed that Cornwallis retreated to this town also. During the stay, John Graves Simcoe (Queen’s Rangers) was entertained and cared for by the Phillips and Davis families. The war terminated in 1783.

The Davis family, along with Hannah’s ill parents, the Phillips, returned to Orange County, North Carolina and tried to re-establish the plantation. They endured a cruel barrage of abuse from the victorious rebels and the harsh taxes. When the elder Phillips died in 1791 the Davis family decided to seek opportunity and remain under British rule in Canada. Simcoe had been made Lt. Governor of the new Province of Upper Canada. At Niagara, William Davis presented Simcoe with the Due Bills that he had been given by General Cornwallis and Simcoe sent them on to London hoping for approval of a “Crown Grant” for Davis. However, the books for Loyalist claims had been closed in 1790 and since Davis had still been in the colonies until 1792 the application was turned down – too late.

Another setback at this time was that Hannah died and was buried at Chippewa. Simcoe felt compassion for the families and offered “choose as much land as you will”. Davis petitioned to London on June 19, 1793 stating he had arrived from North Carolina and had taken 200 acres in Barton Township for which he asked for a “certificate of location.” In the following year, 1794, he partitioned again and ultimately obtained 2,300 acres in Barton and Saltfleet Townships. The sons and daughters of William, including Elizabeth now a Ghent, received 200 acres each. This may have been part of the 2,300 acres above. Thomas Ghent obtained an additional grant of 300 acres adjacent to the Davis property.

The area of land we are talking about is Glendale Golf Club (Hamilton/Stoney Creek, Ontario) area and top of the escarpment at Mount Albion (Hamilton/Stoney Creek). Mount Albion owes its existence to William Davis and his family. “Harmony House” plantation of the north, a tannery, distillery, an orchard, a herd of Ayrshire cattle and a saw and grist mill on the Albion Creek were some of the accomplishments of this family. Davis also constructed a church “Auld Scotch Kirk” in an attempt to draw settlers to the area. Albion Mills served as a local hub of commerce and services for the rural countryside.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Albion,_Ontario

• • http://uel-hamilton.com/history/our-ancestors/loyalist-profiles/page/7/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74227281/hannah-e_-davis

See also:

• Add sources here.