William Davis (1747 - 1818)

Born May 1747 in Brunswick County, Virginia, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes (Lanier) Davis — married 28 Aug 1769 in Brunswick County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 14 May 1818 at about age 71 in Rayle, Wilkes, Georgia, USA

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Biography

Lieutenant Colonel William Davis served with 5th Virginia Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

William Davis was born in May 1747 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He is the son of Edward Davis, Sr. and Lucy.

William married Agnes Lanier August 29, 1769, in Brunswick County.^[1] See also FamilySearch film 7578837 image 141 for the original marriage register. Note that the William Lanier who gives consent is Agnes' guardian and uncle. It's interesting that one witness is Augustine Willis as William Davis later owns land next to a George Willis who is also an executor of his will.

They likely moved about 1772 with a large group of friends and relatives to the Yadkin River area of North Carolina. Before the war, they moved on to that part of Wilkes County, Georgia, that eventually became Greene County.^[2] (Note that this comment is taken from information about Agnes Lanier's sister Rebecca and her husband Walton Harris. So far records show that William and Agnes resided in the part of Wilkes County that remained Wilkes County. It's possible Rebecca's son Buckner Harris is the one who sold land to William Davis in Wilkes County.)

(Note DAR now attributes this service to another William Davis, but am leaving original info here.) William was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 5th Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War, 1777-1781.^[3] He was awarded 7, 777 acres of land for his service.^[4]

William Davis died May 14, 1818, in Rayle, Wilkes County, Georgia.^[5]

Will of William Davis recorded 14 July 1818. Wilkes Co, GA Will Book GG p. 119-121 and FHC film 5756824 image 509-510.

Will proven July 6th 1818 in the Court of Ordinary Wilkes County by Claybrook Williamson, William Brook and William Evans. From Wilkes Co, GA Minutes 1799-1827 p. 24 also on FHC film 7701191 image 427.

Additional probate records available including an appraisal of his estate as well as an "inventory" which records those who made purchases at his estate sale and those who received money after that estate sale ("inventory" from Book 3 Court of Ordinary Annual Returns on Estates 1819-1826 p. 42-43 FHC film 5756828 images 44-45).

It is believed William Davis is buried in the Sardis Baptist Church cemetery which descendants think is under the old Rayle school building (which had been moved behind the church and placed on top of the old cemetery). Descendants created a memorial headstone as no original headstone exists.

Wilkes County, GA Land and Tax Records

A 1783 Land Act in Georgia allowed a man to obtain 200 acres on his own headright free of charge except office fees for a survey and grant. He could buy an additional 50 acres for each family member. If he lived on the land for a year and cultivated at least 3% of the land, then he could buy that land and receive a grant for it. Perhaps this is why William Davis and others migrated to Wilkes County, Georgia.

6 May 1784 Based on warrant by surveyor, 200 acres for William Davis has been admeasured and laid out on his own headright. Source: Georgia Archives Virtual Vault Headright and Bounty Plats, Vol B. p 43.

23 Apr 1785 William Davis granted 200 acres on Kettle Creek. Source: Land Grant Index for Wilkes County, Georgia Book HHH p. 813

5 Sep 1785 Wiliam Davis buys 200 acres on Long Creek from Robert Simms. Deed Book AA 1785-1787 p. 92

14 Nov 1785 William Davis buys 200 acres on Beaverdam Creek from William Seal Muse and his wife Judith. Deed Book AA 1785-1787 p. 93

1785 Tax Digest William Davis is taxed for 200 acres.

2 Aug 1789 Wiliam Davis buys 70 acres on Long Creek from Buckner Harris and his wife Anne "Nancy". Deed Book BB 1787-89 p. 50

1794 Tax Digest William Davis is taxed for 700 acres on Long Creek adjoining G. Willis. He is listed next to his son Edward. Note that George Willis was an executor of William Davis' estate.

1 Jun 1797 William Davis sells sells 12 acres to neighbor Lewis Barrett on the Dry Fork of Long Creek, adjacent to both Davis’ and Barrett’s land, being part of the land where Davis now lives. Deed Book RR p. 36

30 May 1799 William Davis Sr. sells to James Davis (for $2) 122 acres of land on Long Creek and on William Davis’ line. Deed Book RR p. 312

9 Nov 1807 William Davis Sr. and wife Agnes sell 125 acres to William Shearer (Sherrer) on Kettle Creek, part of the grant to William Davis Sr. Deed Book XX pp. 414-415

11 Feb 1809 William Davis and wife Agnes sell 180 acres to Robinson Ralls on Kettle Creek and Long Creek. Agnes relinquishes her rights. Recorded 30 Jan 1810. Deed Book YY pp. 24-25

19 Mar 1813 William Davis sells to Joshua Davis (for $10) 122 acres on Long Creek and on William Davis’ line. Deed Book EEE p. 41

Wilkes County, GA Records which may be for Davis-19588 instead

There is a second William Davis in Wilkes County, GA who was a Baptist preacher and son of Jonathan Davis. He is on WikiTree as Davis-19588. It is important to determine which William is in the various county records.

1803 Land Lottery "William Davis (Long Creek)" 2 draws. Men over 21, married and with one or more children were eligible for 2 draws. Both William Davis in Wilkes Co, GA had land along Long Creek. However, this record is likely for the William Davis on this page because the other (Davis-19588) appears to have moved to Wilkes Co, GA in about 1806 based on children's birth locations as stated on his WikiTree page.

Dec 1806 Warrant and Survey for 990 acres for a William Davis. The land survey from Dec 1806 was found on Georgia Archives Virtual Vault, Headright and Bounty Land Grants https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/looseplats

This land grant is more likely for the other William Davis, the preacher and son of Jonathan Davis, who is thought to have moved from Elbert Co, GA to Wilkes Co, GA (where his father already resided) in about 1806 which coincides with the land grant date of Dec 1806. In addition, this grant is for land along the Broad River vs. Kettle Creek and Beaverdam Creek where this William Davis had land (see above). Furthermore, the Rev. William Davis is said to be a Revolutionary War Veteran. See extra note under Revolutionary War Service below.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Davis
2. ↑ Ingersoll does not specifically mention Agnes & William in this group but it appears likely given their death in Wilkes County.
3. ↑ Ingersoll Page 268
4. ↑ Gwathmey Page 213 - Note: There is some question about whether the officer in the 5th Regiment is this William Davis, see Notes.
5. ↑ DAR-A030750 Death: 5-14-1818 WILKES CO GEORGIA.

Sources

• DAR-A030750: DAR Website, Ancestor #: A030750 William Davis Service Source: Seems to be some confusion about his service.
• Davis: Davis, W. O., "Lanier Family - Some Corrections of Article in Last Number", Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume III, No. 3, January 1922, p. 210-211. On Archive.org
• Gwathmey: Gwathmey, John H., Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, Soldiers, Saliors and Marines, 1775-1783, Richmond, Virginia, 1938. Available on Ancestry.com
• Ingersoll: Ingersoll, Louise. Lanier, Goetz Printing Company, Washington, 1965. Free on DCMS
• Family Data Collection - Individual Records Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,4725::0
• Find-A-Grave: Col William Davis

Notes on Revolutionary War Service

• The Lieutenant Colonel thought to be this William Davis appears in the Gwathmey book as William Davies in the listing of officers of the 5th Regiment on page 857. In the alphabetical listing, William Davies does not have a (Davis) as do many of the Davies listings, suggesting that there was no uncertainty. There are many soldiers by the name of William Davis listed including a Colonel Militia awarded 7,777 acres.
• Ingersoll clearly concluded that he was this William Davis but she gives no source for conclusion.
• The DAR website indicates that the service attributed to this William Davis (A030750) actually belongs to William Davis (A030752).
• Various books seem to cite service for this William Davis based on the DAR listing not on any military certificate or other information found; also sources conflict citing the 5th NC (not 5th VA) and the 1st NC.
• Studying the land records and Revolutionary War records of this William Davis and the William Davis, son of Jonathan Davis, who died in Wilkes Co, GA in 1831 (Davis-19588) suggests that the 990 acre land grant from 1806 (which many descendants included in their "proof" that this William was a Lt. Col.) was most likely for the other William Davis, i.e. Davis-19588.