John Davis (1758 - 1841)

Born 12 Dec 1758 in Augusta, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Mourning (Guffey) Davis — married about 1789 in Amhurst, Virginia

Descendants

Died 30 Sep 1841 at age 82 in Clinton, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

John Davis, Jr. was born December 12, 1758 in Augusta Co., VA. He was also a Revolutionary War veteran. He enlisted in the 7th VA Regiment at the beginning of the year in 1776 at Botetourt County, VA. He served under Captain Thomas Posey. He initially served 10 months and became so ill, his brother Thomas came to visit him at Williamsburg. During his visit, Thomas agreed to replace his brother John until his health improved. Thomas not only finished out what remained of his brother's two year term, but he also reenlisted for three more years. After being furloughed, John regained his health and twelve months after his first enlistment was out, he reenlisted in Botetourt Co., during the winter, shortly before The Battle of Little York under Captain Smith, for three more years. Nine months later he was wounded at the Battle of York & received a discharge by Captain Lamb. During his second term he served under many generals including Washington and the French General Marquis De La Fayette. He married Mourning McGuffey in 1789 in VA. After marriage they moved to Sevier Co., TN. In 1798 he moved to KY in the area that later became Wayne County in 1801 and Clinton County in 1836. Shortly after arriving in KY, John contributed to the founding of the first and oldest Methodist Church in Clinton County by donating the land for it's use. The Church, initially called The Davis Society changed to The Davis Meeting House and eventually became the The Davis Chapel. John died September 30, 1841 in Clinton County, KY and is buried at the Davis Chapel Cemetery.

After the American Revolution, he married Mourning Guffey (McGuffey). Mourning being the daughter of James and a sister to Ephriam and Henry Guffey (McGuffey). John and Mourning moved after their marriage from Virginia to Sevier County, TN. In 1798 - 1799 they moved again and went to Kentucky settling in an area that later became part of Wayne Co, (1801). Until Clinton county was formed in 1838. (Albany is the county seat of Clinton county, KY). Shortly after they were settled in their home and on the land near Spring Creek. Rev. Jacob Young begun holding readings and prayers in the home. Rev. Jacob Young organized a church using the name DAVIS SOCIETY. When a separate building was erected on his land for church services it was called the Davis Meeting House. Which was later called DAVIS CHAPEL. It was the first and oldest Methodist Church in Clinton county, KY. ( It was one of the two Methodists churches in Clinton county in 1835). The church burned down in 1925. It was well over one hundred years old. A new church was built on the land west of the present day - Davis Chapel Cemetery. The DAVIS CHAPEL is located east of Albany, KY on highway 90 between Clinton and Wayne county, KY. It is on the right side of the road going east toward Monticello, KY. Mourning died in 1804 in Clinton county and is buried in the Davis Chapel Cemetery beside her husband, John who died September 30, 1841 in Clinton County, KY.^[1]

"He was at the seige of Yorktown. There one night, while standing guard, he had about one-half of his gun barrel cut off in his hands by the bursting of a shell. His clothes were put on fire and he was rendered speechless and senseless for some time. Other guards put out the fire and he soon recovered. He liked to tell in later days how he watched His Majesty's red-coated troops, once so proud and confident, march out to surrender to the American army."^[2]

In the 1820 census John was in Shelby, Kentucky, United States.^[3]

In the 1830 census John was in Clinton, Hickman, Kentucky, United States.^[4]

John was in a military pension record in Kentucky.^[5]

John died 30 September 1841 and is buried in Davis Chapel Cemetery, Alpha, Clinton County, Kentucky, United States with a death date of 30 September 1841.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed September 23, 2017), "Record of John Davis", Ancestor # A030461.
2. ↑ Ferguson, Jack, Early Times in Clinton County, self-published, Albany?, KY 1986.
3. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820," database with images, citing Page: 123; Affiliate Publication Number: M33, FamilySearch Record: XHLH-NRX (accessed 16 July 2015) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBS-92M7, John Davis in Shelby, Kentucky, United States.
4. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830," database with images, citing 17, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 38; FHL microfilm 7,817, FamilySearch Record: XHPB-R6Y (accessed 14 August 2015) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYY-FL3 Image number 00039, John Davis in Clinton, Hickman, Kentucky, United States.
5. ↑ Military: "U.S., War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815," database with images, War of 1812 Pension Applications. Washington D.C.: National Archives, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1133 #112561 (accessed 12 June 2023), Soldier: John Davis; Military Service Location: Kentucky; Pension Number - #1: Sur Orig 29910; Roll number: 25; Archive Publication Number: M313.
6. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images, Find A Grave: Memorial #64594062 (accessed 12 June 2023), Memorial page for John Davis (12 Dec 1758-30 Sep 1841), citing Davis Chapel Cemetery, Alpha, Clinton County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Laurie Skogsberg Mattson (contributor 46911906).

Acknowledgement

Thanks to William Ramage in May 2012 and was merged into this profile in March 2013. Davis-592 was created through the import of mcdougle 2010-06-30.ged on 01 July 2010.