PLEASE NOTE (28 Sep 2013):  a male DAVIS who is a patrilineal line descendant of our subject's son, Joseph, has been Y-DNA tested at FamilyTreeDNA.  Results show he is a genetic match with two patrilineal male descendants of Isaac DAVIS (c1765-1834), long claimed to be son of our subject.  The matching Y-DNA test results are solid proof that these three have a near common ancestor, providing strong support for the assertion that Isaac is our subject's son. 

It is said that both James and Hannah were born in and married in Augusta [now Wythe] Co., VA, but do we have anything to document their location before the appearance of James DAVIS and Josiah RAMSEY in Montgomery [now Wythe] Co., VA, during the Revolutionary War?

— born in VA or KY:
  6.  Sarah DAVIS, b. 1780-84 (probably closer to 1780 as she married in 1800) 

— born in KY:
  7.  Joseph DAVIS, b. 1781/2, KY 
  8.  Phoebe DAVIS, b. 24 Feb 1783, Mercer Co., KY 
  9.  Mary "Polly" DAVIS, b. ca. 1790, KY 
10.  Hannah H. DAVIS, b. 1793, Logan Co., KY [now Montgomery Co., TN]
 

I'm only guessing there must have been about three children born between Isaac and Edward.

The average woman has her last child by the age of 43, so Hannah was only just young enough to have had daughter, Hannah.  If they had a son, James, as alleged, he was probably one of the earlier children.

1.  Family Group Sheets compiled by Georgie Tolleson, Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati, and Maude Irene (Thompson) Rose.

2.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  KY, NC, TN, VA, WV Marriages:  Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-229):  not found.

3.  1790 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  the 1790 VA, KY, and TN censuses were destroyed.

4a.  1800 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  the 1800 VA, KY, and TN censuses were destroyed.

4b.  Census Index:  U.S. Selected Counties, 1800 (Broderbund CD-312):

1800 Tax List

Davis, James

KY

Christian Co.

5.  1810 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #X; official enumeration date 6 Aug 1810; extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

1810

-

- Co.

- Twp.

Roll -

p. -

Ln. -

-

-

These data indicate:

6.  1820

7.  1830

.  Find-a-Grave: Entries (online at findagrave.com):

Name	James Davis	-
Birth	4 Jun 1744 Augusta Co., VA	-
Death	6 Oct 1822 Howard Co., MO	-
Note	Stone moved here in 1969	-
Burial	Davis Cemetery Fayette, Howard Co., MO	-
Inscription	-	-
Father	-	-
Mother	-	-
Spouse	-	-
Children	-	-
-	-	-
Memorial #	124260675	-

Hannah not shown.

a.  Willard Rouse Jillson.  1925.  The Kentucky Land Grants. Filson Club Publ., Louisville, KY (online at Ancestry.com; Broderbund CD-650):

Pg	Warrant No	Name	Rank	Acres	Date	Surveyed
Warrants for Land in Kentucky, Earliest Surveys of Land in Kentucky
81	1105	William Ragsdale	Sold Capt John McNeelis's Co	50	…	By... Lincoln Co, on waters Dick's R, adj James Davis—Whitley's Settlement

b.  Willard Rouse Jillson.  1925.  The Kentucky Land Grants. Filson Club Publ., Louisville, KY (online at Ancestry.com; Broderbund CD-650):

Pg	Grantee	Acres	Book	Pg	Date	County	Watercourse
The Kentucky Land Grants, Part 1, Chapter II, Virginia Grants, 1782-1792
41	Davis, James	400	2	13	3- 1-1780	Lincoln	Whitley Cr
42	Davis, James	400	10	32	2-14-1783	Jefferson	Beech Fk
The Kentucky Land Grants, Part 1, Chapter III, Old Kentucky Grants, 1793-1856
166	Davis, James	1120	6	211	04-12-1785	Military	Red R
The Kentucky Land Grants, Part 1, Chapter IV, Grants South of Green River, 1797-1866
295	Davis, James	112	1	434	10- 4-1799	Christian	W Fk Red R
	Davis, James	200	2	502	3-14-1805	Christian	W Fk Red R
Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds, Chapter II, Lincoln Entries, 1779-1787
27	Davis, Jas	400	1	23	4-26-1780	Lincoln	Whitley Station
	Davis, James	400	1	24	4-26-1780	Lincoln	None
Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds, Chapter IV, Jefferson Entries, 1779-1785
197	Davis, James	400	A	26	4-26-1780	Jefferson	Whitley Station
	Davis, James	400	A	27	4-26-1780	Jefferson	Whitley Station
	Davis, James	250	A	64	5-17-1780	Jefferson	Beech Fk (Withdrawn)
	Davis, James	250	A	65	5-17-1780	Jefferson	Beech Fk
	Davis, James	400	A	143	6-22-1780	Jefferson	Beech Fk

This 1120 acres was, at the time, in the "Military Reserve" of western NC. 

c.  Willard Rouse Jillson.  1925.  The Kentucky Land Grants. Filson Club Publ., Louisville, KY (online at Ancestry.com; Broderbund CD-650):

Pg	Name	Acres	Warrant	Service	Date
Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds, Chapter V, Military Warrants, 1782-1793
327	Davis, James	100	1372	3 years soldier Virginia line	7-14-1783
	Davis, James	100	2171	3 years soldier Virginia line	12-20-1783
	Davis, James	100	1955	3 years soldier Virginia line	4-17-1784

.  Census Index:  Colonial America, 1607-1789 (Broderbund CD-310):

1789 Tax List

Davis, James

KY

Mercer Co.

p. 45

Of course, in 1789 this was Virginia, not Kentucky; Kentucky did not become a state until 1792.

.  Anon.  1990.  Logan County, Kentucky, Taxpayers, 1792-1799.  T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL.

Year	Name
1792	Dadviss, James
1793	Davis, James
1794	Daviss, James
1795	Davis, James
1796	Daviss, James
1797-99	[not found]

As expected, James DAVIS disappeared from the Logan Co. tax rolls when Christian Co. was formed in 1797.

.  Anon.  1991.  The 1795 Census of Kentucky [as constructed from tax lists].  T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL.  On p. 46:

Name	County
Davis, James	Logan

a.  Don Simmons.  1974.  Christian County, Ky., Tax Records, 1797-1798-1799.  Self-published:

Year	District	Surname	Given Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
1797		Davis	James	1		1	1	7	820	W. F. Red R.
1798
1799	2	Davis	James	1		2	2	9	1120	W. F. Red R.
A = White males over 21; B = White males 16-20; C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses

b.  Don Simmons.  1978.  Christian County, KY., Tax Records, 1800-01-02-03.  Simmons Historical Publ., Melber, KY:

Year	District	Surname	Given Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
1800		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1801	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1802		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1803		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A = White males over 21; B = White males 16-20; C = Blacks over age 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses & Cows

. Christian County, Kentucky, Tax Rolls, 1797-1816.  Heritage Quest, Microfilm No. V20-72 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):
Please note:  I have the microfilm, but not a microfilm reader.  I'm making trips to the local library and gradually getting the pages photocopied.

Year	District	Dates of Receiving Lists	Persons Names Chargeable with the Tax	Acres			Watercourse	In Whose Name Entered	In Whose Name Surveyed	In Whose Name Patented	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
				1st	2nd	3rd
1797		Aug 7	Davis James		820		W F Red R	John Montgomery	Do Montgomery	Jas Davis	1		1	1	7
1798		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1799	-	-	Davis James		1120		W F R R	John Montgomery	ditto	James Davis	1		2	2	9
1800		-	Davis James		1120	112	Red R Red R	J Montgomery J Davis	Same Same	J Davis	1	2	2	3	8
1801	-	Mar 19	Davis James		800  112		W F Red River W F Red River	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1802		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1803		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1804	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1805	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1806	-	Apr 8	James Davis	-	620	200	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1807	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1808	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1809	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1810		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1811		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1812			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1813			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1814			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1815			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
1816			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-
Legend for numerical data [grey indicates that particular datum was not taken that year]:  1st/2nd/3rd refer to 1st Rate, 2nd Rate, or 3rd Rate land.  A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20; C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses & Mares (gelded male horses and female horses); F = Stud Horses (intact male horses); G = Rate of Covering (stud fee, in dollars).

5. Christian County, Kentucky, Tax Rolls, 1797-1816.  Heritage Quest, Microfilm No. V20-72 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):
Please note:  I have the microfilm, but not a microfilm reader.  I'm making trips to the local library and gradually getting the pages photocopied.
Note that "ditto" and "same" work to the left, not upwards.

Year	District	Dates of  Receiving Lists	Persons Names  Chargeable with the Tax	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	Acres			Watercourse	In Whose Name Entered	In Whose Name Surveyed	In Whose Name Patented
											1st	2nd	3rd
1797			Davis James	1		1	1	7				820		W F Red R	John Montgomery	Do Montgomery	Jas Davis
1798
1799	-		Davis James	1		2	2	9				1120		W F R R	John Montgomery	ditto	James Davis
1800			Davis James	1	2	2	3	8				1120	112	Red R Red R	J Montgomery J Davis	Same Same	J Davis
1801	-	Mar 19	Davis James	1	1	2	3	8				800  112		W F Red River W F Red River	J Montgomery J Davis	Same Same	J Davis
1802		Jun 7	Davis Isaac	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	720	200	W F R R W F R R	[I'm missing the right half of this pg.]	-	-
		Jun 7	Davis James	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	130  112		Little R W F R R	[I'm missing the right half of this pg.]	-	-
		Jun 4?	Davis Edward	-	-							100		W F R R	[I'm missing the right half of this pg.]	-	-
1803		Aug 1?	Davis Edward	1				7				112  100		W F R R W F R R	J Davis J Montgomery	Same Same
		Aug 2	Davis James	1		2	11	8				600		W F R R	J Montgomery	Same	J Davis
1804	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1805	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1806	-	Apr 8	James Davis	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	620	200	-	-	-	-
1807	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1808	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1809	-	-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1810		-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1811		-	-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1812			-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1813			-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1814			-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1815			-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1816			-	-		-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Legend for numerical data [grey indicates that particular datum was not taken that year]:  A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20; C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses & Mares (gelded male horses and female horses); F = Stud Horses (intact male horses); G = Rate of Covering (stud fee, in dollars); 1st/2nd/3rd refer to 1st Rate, 2nd Rate, or 3rd Rate land.

It appears James has given/sold some of his land to his son, Edward, and possibly some to Isaac as well.

10.  See this page for our subect's tax records combined with his children's records as extracted from the original microfilm.  This extraction includes some important information not included in the Willhite extractions, below.

a.  A.B. Willhite.  [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1804-1809.  (self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY):

Pg. in Willhite	Year	Dist.*	Last  Name	First  Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
4	1804	South	Davis	James	1		2	4	7	500	W
33	1805	South	Davis	James	1		2	4	8	500 200	W W
75	1806	South	Davis	James	1		2	4	8	620 200	W W
119	1807	East	Davis	James	1		2	4	12	600 200	W W
162	1808	East	Davis	James	1		2	4	12
210	1809	East	Davis	James	1		2	5	10	600 200	W W
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column not used in 1809); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses
Abbreviations:  W = West Fork of the Red River
*The county was divided into just two districts:  from 1804 to 1806, into North and South Districts; beginning in 1807, into East and West Districts.  The change tells us that James was in the southeast quadrant of early Christian County, which later became the southwest quadrant of Todd Co., when it was formed in 1820, then northern Montgomery Co., TN, when the state line was re-drawn in 1826.

He is the only James DAVIS being taxed in the county.

b.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1810-1813.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First  Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
	1810
62	1811	James	Davis	1		2	5	7	600 200	W F W F
114	1812	Jas	Davis	1		2	5	6	500 200	W F W F
165	1813	Jas	Davis	1		2	5	6	690 200	W F W F
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column used only in 1811); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses
Abbreviations:  W F =  West Fork of Red River

He is the only James DAVIS being taxed in the county.

c.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1814-1818.   (Self-published.  This book is out of print.  I do not have a copy.  If you have one to sell, please contact me.)

d.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1819-1823.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	Acres	Watercourse
18	1819	Jas	Davis	1	4	5	6	600	W F
86	1820	Jas	Davis	1	4	6	6	500	W F
129	1821	Jas	Davis	1	4	6	12
	1822-23	[not found]
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = Blacks over 16; C = Total Blacks; D = Horses
Abbreviations:  W F = West Fork of Red River

James DAVIS must have lived in the extreme SE corner of Christian County in order to be on the West Fork of Red River, but not be in Todd County after it was formed in 1820; that is, most of the watershed of the West Fork of the Red River ended up in Todd County.  James died in Missouri in 1822, so we would expect him to drop from the Christian/Todd County tax rolls before 1822, and he does.  Apparently, James made the trip to Missouri at the age of 78, then died after his arrival.  Another James DAVIS appears in Christian County in 1822, but he has no land or horses (1-1-4-0) and, in 1823, he has land on the Little River.

.  Ruby Altizer Roberts.  1938/1939.  "Montgomery County's Revolutionary Heritage."  Virginia Magazine of History and Biography XLVI(1938): 254-261, 339-348. XLVII(1939): 32-40, 153-162.  Pages 206-242 in Elizabeth Petty Bentley, indexer.  1983. Virginia Military Records…  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore (online at Ancestry.com):

-
p. 211	To Clerk of Montgomery County [Virginia] — We whose names are hereunto subscribed do swear or affirm that we renounce and refuse all allegiance to George third King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a free and Independent State, and that I not at any time do or cause to be done, any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared thereof, as declared by Congress and also, that I will discover and make known to someone Justice of the Peace for the said State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America. Capt. Cox's Company, 1777 Sept, 30...
p. 212	Jas. Thompson Josiah Ramsey... The Above was sworn before me. Jas. McCorkle, Dec. 5, 1777.
p. 217	Names Mentioned in military accounts... Jas Davis...
p. 218	Nat. Clark... James Davis... Josiah Ramsey... Benj. Clark... Thomas Wyat... John Ramsey...
p. 219	Priscilla Davis... John Bradshaw... John Montgomery...
p. 220	Vact Dillinham... John Craig... Alex. Ewing... James Davis...
p. 240	A List of Capt. John Adams Company of Militia. John Adams, Capt. Jno. Thompson... Saml. Montgomery... Robt. Adams... Jas. Montgomery Saml. Montgomery, Jr... Jas. Ramsey... Patrick Adams John Adams...
There are a lot of names on these lists that will catch the attention of anyone working on these families in later Christian Co., KY.  Of course, some of these are common names, so they may not all represent individuals who ended up in Christian County after it was formed in 1797, but this may be a clue to where many of these individuals were before arriving there.

 

.  Pete Payette & Phil Payette.  North American Forts, 1526-1956 (online at www.northamericanforts.com):  South Central Kentucky:

William Whitley House (State Historic Site) (1788), near Crab Orchard A settlers' fortified brick house on the Dix (Dick's) River. House features musket loopholes, a barred cellar, and a hidden stairway. Admission fee. Before the present house was built, Whitley's Station (1779) was located two miles west on Walnut Flat (Whitley) Creek near Walnut Flat.  Whitley relocated in 1786, then built the brick house two years later.

Lincoln County... James Davis' Station (1) (1780), on Walnut Flat (Whitley) Creek near Whitley's Station.

.  Denny Davis of Fayette, MO.  29 Mar 1987.  Letter (online in a file by Anthony Rockefeller at WorldConnect):

We know nothing of the ancestors of James Davis, except that family tradition says the Davises came from Wales and settled in Virginia before moving on to Kentucky. The earliest date and place that we can positively identify our James Davis is 22 June 1780, when he entered 400 acres on Beech Fork of Salt River (Possessioners' Report, P. 28, Bardstown, KY) in later Nelson County.  In order to be able to enter that land, he must, by law, have occupied it and raised a crop before Jan. 1, 1778; that is, a crop in the 1777 growing season.  We know James was there in 1777 therefore; and we know it was our James because when he sold it in 1788, wife Hannah waived Dower rights. Daniel Boone arrived in Kentucky in 1775 and there were only two American white settlers there before him, so we can bracket James Davis's arrival in Kentucky 1775-1777.  Probably like other settlers he pulled back to a fort during the early part of the American Revolution, because of the attacks of the Indians who were spurred on by the English.  There is no reason to believe our James was not the James Davis listed on the militia muster at Harrodstown (Harrod's Fort). When James Davis sold the above tract in 1788, he gave his address as Lincoln County, so we know he was by then living on the Christian County tract he recorded in 1785.

.  Anon.  1986.  "JAMES DAVIS #1."  Page 149 in Family Histories:  Christian County, Kentucky, 1797-1986.  Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY. 

.  Anthony Lee Rockefeller.  27 Jan 1986.  Family Group Sheet of James DAVIS & Hannah RAMSEY.  Yates Publ. Co., Stevensville, MT (Mr. Rockefeller's database is now online at WorldConnect): 

HUSBAND: James DAVIS (ID=1239) Born 04 Jun 1744; Place Augusta County-Virginia Marr 21 Nov 1764 Died 06 Oct 1822; Place Randolph County-Missouri WIFE: Hannah RAMSEY (ID=1240) Born 14 Jun 1751 Died 11 Jul 1830; Place Randolph County-Missouri WIFE'S FATHER: Josiah RAMSEY (ID=1271) WIFE'S MOTHER: Elizabeth (GRIGSBY?) (ID-1272) CHILDREN 1 F Phoebe DAVIS (ID=36)     BORN 24 Feb 1783; Mercer County-Kentucky     FIRST MARRIAGE 05 Nov 1803 James ADAMS Jr. (ID=35)     DIED 03 Feb 1847 2 F Sarah DAVIS (ID=372)     FIRST MARRIAGE 01 Apr 1800 James HICKS (ID=373)     DIED Prior 1830 3 F Mary (Polly) DAVIS (ID=321)     FIRST MARRIAGE 15 Nov 1809 Thomas ADAMS (ID=320)     DIED Prior 1826 4 M Joseph DAVIS (ID=374)     FIRST MARRIAGE 19 Oct 1809 Mary WILLIAMS (ID=375)     DIED 01 May 1865 5 F Hannah DAVIS (ID=376)     FIRST MARRIAGE 02 Apr 1812 Niel (Neal) MURPHY (ID=377) 6 M ?(James)? DAVIS (ID=378) 7 M Edward DAVIS (ID=326)     FIRST MARRIAGE 19 Oct 1801 Mary (Polly) ADAMS (ID=325)

Note:  Elizabeth GRIGSBY was Josiah's ward, not his wife; the maiden name of Josiah's wife is believed to be HOLLIS.

.  LDS.  Family Search: Internet Genealogy Service:  IGI - International Genealogical Index (online at FamilySearch.org).

.  LDS.  Family Search: Internet Genealogy Service:  AF - Ancestral File (online at FamilySearch.org).

.  WorldConnect / Ancestry World Trees (online at RootsWeb.com/Ancestry.com).