Hannah Davidson (1757 - 1841)

Born 12 Jul 1757 in Sussex, Delaware

Ancestors

Wife of James W. (McMehen) McMechen — married about 1778 in West Virginia

Descendants

Died 12 Jan 1841 at age 83 in Eugene Township, Vermillion, Indiana, United States

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Biography

The Davidsons of Fayette county, PA from whom spring the Davidsons of Morgantown, WV descend from the ancient Scotch family of Davidson, who trace to Malcolm, chief of the clan Dhaividh or Davidson. The chief of the clan are descendants from its chief David, second son of King David I, of Scotland, who on the accession of his brother to the throne of Scotland, took the leadership of part of the clan of Chaltan and thereupon assumed the name of Mac Dhai or Davidson. From Scotland a branch settled in Ireland and from that country came several of the early western PA settlers bearing the name Davidson.^[1]

A PIONEER WOMAN OF THE OHIO RIVER
a story of Rachel (MacMechen) Wells
d/o James MacMechen & Hannah Davidson

In 1780 James MacMechen and his bride HANNAH DAVIDSON, together with a company of other emigrants came from Morgantown, Virginia in large mountain wagons across the country to Ft Henry, now the town of Wheeling. Ft Henry was a mere trading post and Fort but the most important settlement after Ft Pitt on the upper Ohio. At Ft Henry the young pioneer secured keel-boats to take his household goods, farming utensils and cattle down the river to the section, or as they called it "tract of land", which he had taken up from the government. this land was situated opposite Sun Fish creek, where is now the town of Washington, Ohio

The county was in its primeval condition, with the forest extending to the river bank abounding in wild aminals while in the distance hovered the ever-dreaded Indians. There was no neighbors nearer than Grave Creek, 18 miles up the river. As Mr MacMechen was desirous to have near neighbors both for protection and company he gave to a friend 100 acres so he would come and live on the land. He came and soon others took up land near but there did not seem to be a sufficient number of them to be much protection against the Indians who were trying to drive the settlers back from the river.

The work of clearing the land, planting and harvesting of crops and watching for the Indians kept the men busily occupied. While the women, with the meagerest of house-hold furniture and conveniences, cooked, spun, sewed and looked after the wants of the rapidly expanding families. As the number of settlers increased the Indians became more aggressive. At the first sign of warning the men were accustomed to leave their work and go to drive them back. If the Indians were coming in great numbers the women would bury the silver, brass and pewter pots, embark with the children in their canoes or dug-outs and paddle to Grave Creek where they would wait for further news. If it was still of a threatening nature they with the few families living at Grave Creek would go on to Ft Henry.

During the summer in either the year of 1796 or 7, the Indians were unusually war-like and Mr MacMechen was away from home the greater part of the time. His wife took her family to the fort seven times in that one year. There were seven chldren in the family, the oldest one Rachel, a girl of 15. The mother did the paddling while Rachel held the baby in her arms and looked after the younger children. The trip was a long and dangerous one. She didn't know at what moment the Indians might appear on the bank. Upon their return home she would often find the cabin burned and the crops destroyed. In those years the cabin had to be rebuilt six times. They began again with only the utensils they had buried and the supplies they brought with them on their return from the fort. But the pioneers had unfailing courage and cheerfulness and soon the cabin was rebuilt and the farm work was going on as usual.

Hannah Married James McMechen in 1780 they were present at time of reading of Lewis Davidson Will.in 1793 Hannah was born abt 1757 Sussex Co, DE. and migrated to Fayette Co PA with her parents in 1767. Hannah (Davidson) McMechen was a most unusual women, saved her family from Indian massacre by paddling a canoe 20 miles with three little girls. While she made her slaves drive the cattle through the country in an effort to divert the attention of the Indians from the river, one of the Negroes,being captured. Three times the Indians burned her home down.

Last WILL and Testament July 28,1840. The will of Hannah McMechen names grandchilden William, Fleming, Sally, Hannah Jane, Findley and James Davidson. Her daughter Orphah Davidson named administrator. She also names a son George Arthur of Licking County, Ohio.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Genealogical & Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia under the editorial supervision of Bernard L. Butcher Volume II pgs 1167 & 1168
2. ↑ Vermillion Co. will book 1, p 82

• Genealogical & Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia under the editorial supervision of Bernard L. Butcher Volume II pgs 1167 & 1168

• SOURCE: Book by Harbaugh: Birth Mother Elizabeth Claypoole(Conwell)Davidson. She is mentioned in the WILL of Lewis Davidson as Hanna (McMeekin)[McMechen]do bequeath one Ewe & Lamb.

• Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 115 : 1915. Source Information North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

• Birth: 1757; Sussex, Delaware, United States . Sources: p. 113. Includes index. Samuel Williamson emigrated in 1733 from Northern Ireland settling in Pennsylvania. The family later lived in Ohio,, Indiana,West Virginia, USA and elsewhere. Includes the Skiles, Thompson family

• WILLIAMSON FAMILY OF CUMBERLAND County, PENNSYVANIA: WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania, USA: OHIO, West Virginia, United States of USA [PROVEN], Bell, Raymond Martin Miller, Edna Marian, Decorah, Iowa, USA: Anundsen Publishing; 1986;, Page number: p. 90

• Geneanet Community Trees Index. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data: Geneanet Community Trees Index. Paris, France: Geneanet. https://gw.geneanet.org/pattaylor1?n=davidson&oc=&p=hannah