Joseph Davis Jr. (1727 - 1776)

Born 14 Apr 1727 in Brookfield, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Dec 1776 at age 49 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Joseph Davis was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, on April 14, 1727, the son of Joseph Davis and Experience Willis.^[1][2]

He married Rachel ___ about 1753-4. They resided at Western (now Warren), Massachusetts, and at Greenwich (now defunct), Massachusetts. Children:^[1]

1. David Davis, born June 18, 1755, at Western (recorded in Greenwich records as "Weston"); died at Greenwich October 4, 1760, aged 5.^[1][3][4]
2. Jonathan Davis, born March 16, 1758, at Greenwich; married, April 16, 1778, Phebe Phelps of Belchertown; died September 11, 1833, at Thompson, Ohio.^[1][5][6][7]
3. Joseph Davis, III, born December 13, 1760, at Greenwich; married Elizabeth ___; died 1847 at New Albion, New York.^[1][5]
4. Thankfull Davis, born December 23, 1764, at Western; married, (1) September 26, 1790, Asahel Bartlett, (2) 1792, John Saxe, (3) Joshua Nichols of Easthampton.^[1][5][8]
5. Mary Davis, born May 8, 1767, at Western.^[1][9]
6. Solomon Davis, born September 1, 1769, at Western; married, November 20, 1794, Anna Hollowell of Spencer; died November 25, 1857, at Bakersfield, Vermont.^{[1][10][11][12]}
7. Levinah Davis, born July 18, 1772, at Western; died November 5, 1781, aged 9.^[1][13]

Although he was an "old soldier," Joseph was active in the American Revolutionary War (See Revolutionary War Service). His death is recorded "at Roxbury Camp" in December of 1776. It is uncertain exactly what Joseph was doing there, but it is known that the Roxbury Camp was important during the Seige of Boston, it being the only land exit possible for the British. Consequently, the Americans kept all the troops they could spare in camp there.^[1][14]

His widow, Rachel, subsequently remarried to Israel Phelps of Northampton, intention published at Western August 24, 1779.^[1][15]

Revolutionary War Service

Private Joseph Davis Jr. served with 14th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment (1775), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Davis, Joseph, Western. Private, Capt. Reuben Read's co. of Minute-men, Col. Joanthan Warner's regt., which marched April 20, 1775, in response to the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Roxbury; service, 8 days; also, Capt. John Grainger's co., Col. Ebenezer Learned's regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted April 29, 1775; service, 3 mos. 1 week 3 days; also, company return dated Oct. 7. 1775.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Davis, Merle H. and Edith Fates Davis. The Ancestry And Descendants of Solomon Davis (1769-1857). (Franklin Vermont, 1964). Pages 11-17. Citing: "Chapter III - Joseph and Rachel."
2. ↑ Vital Records of Brookfield, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Franklin P. Rice, Worcester, Mass., 1909). Births. Page 72. Citing: "Davis, Joseph, s. Joseph and Experance, April 14, 1727."
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHP7-63P : 14 January 2020), David Davis, 18 Jun 1755.
   Transcript of Image Page 8: "David Davis Son of Joseph Davis by Rachel his Wife was Born at Weston June ye 18th 1755."
4. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMM-Y6F : 14 February 2020), David Davis, 4 Oct 1760.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Davis, The Ancestry And Descendants of Solomon Davis: Pages 18-23. Citing: "Chapter IV - Solomon's Brothers and Sisters."
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (Greenwich, Massachusetts).
   Transcript of Image Page 8: "Jonathan Davis Son of Joseph Davis by Rachel his Wife was Born March 16th 1758."
7. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Marriages. Marriages. Page 99. Citing: "Davis, Jonathan, and Phebe Phelps of Belchertown, April 16, 1778. In Belchertown."
8. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Births. Page 30. Citing: "Davis, Thankfull, d. Joseph and Rachall, Dec. 23, 1764."
9. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Births. Page 30. Citing: "Davis, Mary, d. Joseph and Rachall, May 8, 1767."
10. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Births. Page 30. Citing: "Davis, Sollomon, s. Joseph and Rachall, Sept. 1. 1769."
11. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Marriages. Page 99. Citing: "Davis, Solomon and Anna Hollowell of Spencer, Nov. 20, 1794. In Spencer."
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150381475/solomon-davis : accessed 05 January 2022), memorial page for Solomon Davis (1 Sep 1769–25 Nov 1857), Find A Grave: Memorial #150381475, citing Maple Grove Cemetery, Bakersfield, Franklin County, Vermont, USA ; Maintained by Barb Destromp (contributor 46785064).
13. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Births. Page 30. Citing: "Davis, Levinah, d. Joseph and Rachall, July 18, 1772."
14. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Deaths. Page 169. Citing: "Davis, Joseph, Dec. __, 1776. At Roxbury Camp."
15. ↑ Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts: Marriages. Page 99. Citing" "Davis, Wid. Rachel and Israel Phelps of Northampton, int. Aug. 24, 1779."
16. ↑ Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Wright & Potter Printing Co., Boston, 1896). Vol 4 Cos-Dry. Page 516. Citing: "Davis, Joseph, Western."

See also:

• Vital Records of Warren (formerly Western), Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Franklin P. Rice, Worcester, Mass., 1910).
• Greenwich, Massachusetts at Wikipedia.
• Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts at Wikipedia.