USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 58
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probated September 26, 1746. His wife Agnes died in 1758. Robert and Agnes (Kelso) Gilchrist had six children: John, born March 18, 1731, died 1748. Alexander I., who is mentioned below. Wil- liam, born January 8, 1736, died in Goffstown, New Hampshire, 1815. Agnes. born May 28, 1738, mar- ried her cousin, John Kelso, of Londonderry. She was the grandmother of John Page, governor of New Hampshire in 1841-42. Elizabeth, born Au- gust 8, 1740. Robert, who was born October 8, 1743. enlisted in the "old war" and was killed.
(II) Alexander, second child of Robert and Agnes (Kelso) Gilchrist, was born October 8, I733, and died April 22, 1820. He married Mar- tha Shirley of "Shirley Hill," Goffstown, in 1757. Marthia (Shirley) Gilchrist died March 17, 1815. Alexander and his wife Martha were both buried in the old cemetery at Goffstown Centre. Their children were: I. Robert, born 1759, married Martha, daughter of John Craige, of "Shirley Hill." For his second wife he married Mary, daughter of Deacon Thomas Shirley. of Shirley Hill. Robert was with General Stark at Bennington. He died in 1818 and was buried at Goffstown Centre. 2. Mary, born in 1763, died March 19, 1821. 3. Samuel ("Cap't Sam"), born January 12, 1764, died Au- gust 31, 1818, and was buried at Goffstown Centre. He married Sarah, daughter of John Aiken, of Bedford. 4. John. born May S, 1765, died Sep- tember 8, 1855. 5. Janet, born June 12, 1768, died at Bedford, New Hampshire, November 9, 1839; married William Riddle, of Bedford, September 29, 1791. 6. Alexander. who is mentioned- below. 7. James, born July 25, 1775, died young. 8. Da- vid, born December 24, 1777, married Hannah, daughter of Robert Kennedy, of Goffstown, De- cember 31. 1805. He died November 20, 1847.
(III) Alexander (2), sixth child of Alexander (1) and Martha (Shirley) Gilchrist, was born in 1772, and died July 28, 1844. He married Margaret, ("Peggy"), daughter of Deacon Robert Moore, of "Shirley Hill," Goffstown, in 1799. Margaret Moore was born April 26. 1779. Her father, Rob- ert Moore, was the youngest son of James Moore, of Londonderry, was born in Londonderry in 1746 and married, January, 1778, Mary (Jameson) Todd, widow of John Todd, who was killed in the Rev- olution in 1776. He was the Dunbarton line of Jamesons. Alexander and his wife Margaret lived on the home farm on Shirley Hill until about 1812, when they moved to Dunbarton, where they lived for the remainder of their lives. about two miles from East Weare. Their children were: I. James born September 26, 1800. married Ann Brown Dick- ey, of New Boston. September 23, IS30, died April 12, 1872. 2. Jane, born November 21, 1802, married (first) Andrew Gray, of Groton, Vermont: (sec- ond), Ira Low, of Bradford, Vermont. 3. Martha, who is mentioned below. 4. Mary, born January 2. 1807, died January 3. 1852, 1inmarried. 5. Jonathan, born Octber 2, 1810, died April 26, 1874, unmarried. Margaret (Moore) Gilchrist died April 29, 1843, aged sixty-four years. She and her husband Alex- ander are buried in the cemetery at East Weare, New Hampshire.
Martha, third child of Alexander (2) and Margaret (Moore) Gilchrist. was born on Shirley Hill, Goffstown, December 5. 1804, and died March 14, IS79. She married Luke Baker, of Dun- barton, January 19, 1834. (See Baker, VII.)
Before the general adoption of sur-
DAVIS names in Great Britain the Welsh people were accustomed to distinguish those bearing the same christian name from one
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another by adding the father's name with a pos- sessive, as "Harry's," "David's," and these were in time shortened and slightly varied, thus forming the very frequent names among those people, of Wil- liams, Jones, Harris and Davis. The family whose history is herein outlined was among those early planted in New England, and has furnished citizens to New Hampshire and other states, who have been noted for energy, probity, ability and high moral character.
(1) Philip Davis, a native resident of Wales. born in 1590, had three sons, Gideon, Philip and Francis. They were born, respectively, in 1615, 1617 and 1620. In 1638 these sons, all minors, were sent by their father to America, and they sailed as servants to others. They left South Hamp- ton. England, in the ship "Confidence," John Job- son, master, and two of them arrived at Portsmouth, the eldest having been lost at sea.
(II) Francis Davis settled at Amesbury, Massa- chusetts, about 1640, probably coming from Hamp- ton, this state. He was married about 1650 to Ger- trude Emerson, of Amesbury.
(III) Francis (2), son of Francis (1) and Ger- trude (Emerson) Davis, born about 1655. married (first) Mary Taylor, daughter of Walter Taylor, and she was the mother of his first three children. No date of her death appears. Francis Davis was married October 20, 1680, at Portsmouth, to Mary Wells, who was born June 14, 1658, in New Foundland, and died May 21, 1733, in Amesbury. He took the oath of allegiance December 20, 1677, before Colonel Fiske of Salem. His children were: John, Gertrude, Thomas, Francis, Samuel, Philip and Ephraim. (Francis and descendants receive extended mention in this article.)
(IV) Thomas, second son and third child of Francis (2) and Mary (Taylor) Davis, was born probably about 1685, and resided in Amesbury. He was married December 15, 1709, in Amesbury, to Deborah Martin, daughter of John and Mary (Weed) Martin, of that town, and granddaughter of George Martin, the patriarch of that family in Salisbury and Amesbury. She was born August 8, 1689, and was the fifth daughter and sixth child of her parents. Thomas and Deborah were the par- ents of: Abigail, Thomas. Mary, Sarah, Amos, Merribah, Moses and Timothy.
(V) Moses, third son and seventh child of Thomas and Deborah (Martin) Davis, was born January 16, 1722, in Amesbury. He resided for a time in that town and was afterward of the Ames- bury district in New Hampshire (now Newton.). Perhaps he did not change his location, but he was transferred to New Hampshire by the adjudication of the Province line. Ile is found of record as in Biddeford, Maine, in 1753, and of Pelham, New Hampshire in 1763. His farm extended into Dracut. Massachusetts, and he is supposed to have been living as late as 1785. He was married in 1748, at the first Amesbury Church, to Mary Whit- tier, daughter of John (2) and Elizabeth Whit- tier, of Methuen, granddaughter of John Whittier, and great-granddaughter of Thomas Whittier, of Newbury and Haverhill, the patriarch of that family in America. Their children were: Mitchel, Eben- ezer, Moses, Timothy and probably others.
(VI) Moses (2), who was probably the third child of Moses (1) and Mary (Whittier) Davis, was born somewhere on the coast (according to tradition at Cape Ann, Massachusetts), in 1760. The eldest son of his parents was born about 1753. which makes this tradition appear correct. He is
supposed to be buried at Norwich, Vermont. He may have remained at Cape Ann after his father removed to Pelham and Dracut. The family tradition says that he removed to Dracut in 1776, settling in that part which is now Lowell. In 1806- 07 he returned to Hanover, Grafton county, New Hampshire, and in 1813 to Norwich, Vermont. He was a farmer, and his farm in Vermont he made in the virgin forest. After 1813 he dealt in horses, buying in Vermont and selling in Boston. It was on one of these journeys that he died, April 21, 1829, aged sixty-nine years. He was an industrious, enterprising and thrifty man. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and the following is his record as furnished from the records at Washington, D. C .:
"Moses Davis was living at Cape Ann, Mass- achusetts, when hostilities commenced at Lexing- ton; and at the siege of Boston he engaged to serve eight months under Captain Prescott in Col- onel Brown's regiment, and was stationed at least a portion of the time at Prospect Hill; and it was stated by one witness that he served at Bunker Hill, but whether he was in the battle at that place was not otherwise expressed. After he removed to Dracut he is reported by the selectmen as having served two months, from September, 1776, probably under Colonel Brewer, in the vicinity of New York City. He also served six weeks from September, 1777. under Colonel J. B. Varnum at Fishkill-on- the Hudson River; there in April, 1778, he volun- teered for eight months, and marched to the historic camp of Valley Forge, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and in June, 1780, he volunteered for six months, marched to or near West Point, New York, and was attached to the Massachusetts regiment commanded by Colonel Michael Jackson. During his last term the traitor Arnold deserted to the enemy while in com- mand of West Point, during the absence of Washing- ton, and Major Andre, the spy, was captured Septem- ber 23, 1780, and Davis was detailed for one or two nights as sentinel over Major Andre before the execu- tion, October 2, 1780. The aggregate of this service was over two years." He married, April 6, 1785, at Dracut, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, Sarah Sawyer, who was deceased January 14, 1853, aged eighty-six. Their children were: Nathan, Moses, Reuben, Sally, Milton, Ira, Parker, Polly, John, Persis.
(VII) Dr. Ira Davis, sixth child and fifth son of Moses and Sarah (Sawyer) Davis, was born in Dracut, in ISO1, and died in Norwich, March 2, 1872, aged seventy-one years. When about five years old he was taken by his parents to Hanover, New Hampshire, and at twelve years old to Nor- wich, Vermont, and at the latter place his adult life was spent. Growing up in the midst of a cominiin- ity of farmers in a pioneer region, he had aspira- tions for a more extended sphere and a greater de- gree of influence and usefulness than would be his if he remained on the farm. He had a natural love for study and after getting what literary education circumstances permitted, he turned his attention to the study of medicine, in which he had a long and successful career, during a large part of which he was intimate with the widely known Dr. Dixi Crosby. He was a man of much ability which was manifested in many ways. He was one of the cor- porators of Norwich University, which was founded November 6, 1834, and this was the nucleus for the present Norwich University of Northfield, Ver- mont. He was one of the executive committee and one of the medical examiners of the school; and was also one of the editors of the Vermont En- quirer in years preceding and following 1830. A
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member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he de- voted much time and a goodly portion of his money to the furthering of plans for the benefit of his church and in other philanthropic and charitable en- terprises. In politics he was a strong partisan Democrat, popular with his party, and was re- warded for his labors with the office of postmaster at Norwich, which he held for years. He was also representative three or more terms. Dr. Davis was a strong man, strong in his likes and dislikes, and energetic in whatever he undertook. He always tried to be right, and generally was, and his in- fluence was always felt in every enterprise he joined. He was not active for several years before his death, being affected with paralysis. By his first wife he had one son. He married (second) Rhoda Slack, by whom he had several children who grew up, one of whom, Bella C., is now connected with the state district police department of Mass- achusetts. He was married (third) in Lawrence, Massachusetts, October 12, 1858, by Rev. Warren F. Evans, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to Lucy A. L. Crary, of Norwich, Vermont, who was born April 25, 1827, died in Manchester, June 5, 1894, daughter of James and Lavinia (Stowell) Crary, of Norwich, by whom he had two children grown up: Curtis W., the truant officer of the pub- lic schools of Manchester, and George M., whose sketch follows.
(VIII) George Moses Davis, M. D., second son of Ira and Lucy Ann Lavinia (Crary) Davis, was born in Norwich, Vermont, January 30, 1864. In 1872 the mother and two sons moved to Man- chester, New Hampshire. Here George M. attended the common schools: he then entered the office of the Manchester Mills, first serving as messenger boy, and later in other capacities. While thus em- ployed he began the study of medicine, employing all his spare time for this purpose. In 1884 he matriculated at Dartmouth Medical School, from which he graduated Doctor of Medicine in 1888. During a portion of his course he was at the State Hospital at Tewksbury, Massachusetts. After grad- uation he returned to the State Hospital as assist- ant physician, and filled that place one year. He then began practice in Bedford. New Hampshire, where he remained four years. He then removed to Merrimack, New Hampshire, and remained two and a half years, and in 1895 removed to Manches- ter and there became the professional associate of Dr. Henry Boutwell. In 1903 he was appointed medical referee for the county of Hillsborough ; he was on the staff of Brigadier-General Daniel M. White, of the New Hampshire National Guard, as hospital steward for three years: he is one of the staff physicians to the Masonic Home and Sacred Hospital. He is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society and American Medical Association, a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 41, Free and Ac- cepted Masons : Mount Horeb Royal Arch Chapter, No. If: Adoniram Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters of Manchester : and Bektash Temple, Or- der of the Mystic Shrine. of Concord. Politically he is a Republican. and a member of the school hoard of Manchester.
February 24, 1891, Dr. Davis married Mabel L. Davis, daughter of Reuben and Minerva ( Maxim) Davis, a native of Norwich, Vermont .. They have two children: Hilda Lena, born June 10. 1892, in Bedford, New Hampshire, and Harold Irving, born December 24, 1893, in Merrimack. New Hampshire.
(IV) Francis (3), third son of Francis (2) and Mary (Wells) Davis, born about 1687. was married September 6, 1716, to Joanna Ordway, of 1-14
Haverhill, Massachusetts, probably a daughter of Hananiah and granddaughter of James Ordway, of Newbury. He died October 9, 1753, and was sur- vived by his wife. Their children were: Gideon, "Gartret," Anna, Francis, Philip and Joanna. ( Fran- cis (4) and descendants receive extended notice in this article).
(V) Gideon, eldest child of Francis (3) and Joanna (Ordway) Davis, was born June 8, 1718, in Amesbury, and resided in West Amesbury. He was baptized April 18, 1742, in the Second Amesbury Church, and died June 2, 1793. He was married June 7, 1744. to Elizabeth Hoyt, daughter of Jacob and Joanna ( Ring) Hoyt. She was born in Ames- bury and died in Warner, in 1797. Jacob was a son of Lieutenant Thomas Hoyt, who was a son of Thomas (sce Hoyt. II). Gideon and Elizabeth Davis had six children, namely: Ruth, Gideon, Robert, Francis, Elizabeth and Anna. (Francis re- ceives mention, with descendants, in this article).
(VI) Gideon (2), second child and eldest son of Gideon (1) and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Davis, was horn in Amesbury. December 28, 1747. About 1783 he removed from Amesbury, Massachusetts, to Warner, New Hampshire, where the remainder of his life was spent. His wife's name was Ruth (Cheney) Davis. and they were the parents of eight children : Molly, John, Robert, Ruth, Gideon, Anna, Moses and Olive.
(VII) John, eldest son and second child of Gideon (2) and Ruth (Cheney) Davis, was born in Amesbury, January 24, 1775, and wås taken to Warner by his parents when about eight years old. He was a mechanic, passed the remainder of his life in that town, and erected all of the earliest buildings in the town. He married Rachel Bennett, of Sandown, New Hampshire, and they had chil- dren : Zaccheus, John. Rachel, Sally.
( VIII) Zaccheus, eldest son of John and Rachel (Bennett ) Davis, was born in Warner, February 6, 1806, and died August 19, 1854. He learned the carpenter's trade and was a successful builder for years. He owned and occupied a farm of generous proportions, which he conducted with profit. In religious faith he was a Methodist, and in politics held to that almost universal concomitant of the Methodism of his time-Abolitionismn. It need hardly be said that his faith was of the kind that is never shaken. He married Lucinda Pervear, born March, 1812, died March, ISSI. daughter of Na- thaniel and Mary (Bennett) Pervear, of Sandown. They had four children: Albert P., Mary, Charles and Zaccheus.
(IX) Albert Pervear, eldest child of Zac- cheus and Lucinda ( Peryear) Davis, was born in Warner, May 2, 1835, and acquired steady habits and strong muscles on his father's farm. After completing the studies taught in the common schools, he attended several of the principal acad- emies of the state, and prepared to enter Dartmouth College. The death of his father at that time de- volved the care of the family and the farm upon him. and he was compelled reluctantly to forego the advantage of a college course. His education enabled him to teach successfully, and for several years he was superintendent of the Warner high school. He also engaged to some extent in cutting and marketing lumber. In 1870 he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1876, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession. Before starting in the law he obtained the agency for several good companies, and built up a good business in insurance, to which he has added an extensive and profitable business in
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real estate and loan brokerage. Ilis ability and steady application to his various employments have brought him financial success and civic honors. He is a Repub- lican, and as suchi has been elected to various offices. He has served as a member of the school board many years, was sheriff, member of the constitutional con- vention in 1890, and member of the legislature in 1891. He is a member and a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church. Mr. Davis married, 1854, Lavona Harvey, born November 5, 1835, daughter of Abner and Mary (Fisk) Harvey, of Warner. They have two children: Ida, born September 15, 1855, married W. W. Wheeler, of Boston; Wood- bury E., born September 5, 1857, now engaged in business at Warner, New Hampshire, married, De- cember 30, 1884, Emma Annis, born January 19, 1864, daughter of Paine and Sarah (Gallup) Annis, of Warner.
(VI) Francis (5), third son and fourth child of Gideon and Elizabeth (Hoyt) Davis, was born May 21, 1754, in West Amesbury, and was baptized twelve days later in the Second Amesbury Church. He removed to Warner, New Hampshire, in 1780, and died there about 1797. His intention of mar- riage to Judith Foster, of Newbury, was published September 20, 1780. Their children are recorded in Warner, as follows: Hannah, William Foster, Elizabeth, Judith (died young), Susanna, Anna, Francis and Judith.
(VII) William Foster, eldest son and second child of Francis (5) and Judith (Foster) Davis, was born July 11, 1783, in Warner, where he passed his life, engaged in agriculture, and died December 27, 1861. He married Susannah Collins, of Warner, who was born December 23, 1792, and passed away July 4, 1860. Their children are accounted for as follows: Mary S. became the wife of Samuel S. Locke, and died in Belmont. Massachusetts. Lonisa married Puffer, and died in Lowell, same state. Susan died when two years old. Alice P., wife of William Merrick, died in Warner. Nancy was twice married, her first husband being George, and the second Josiah P. Nelson; she died in Warner. Nathan C. died before two years old. Belinda R. died in her fourth year, and Judith F. when one year old. Lucinda F. died unmarried. Francis Evans, the last, is the subject of the follow- ing paragraph.
(VIII) Francis Evans, second son and tenth child of William Foster and Susannah (Collins) Davis, was born July 3, 1832. in Warner, and died in that town February 26, 1905, aged seventy-three years. He received a limited education, such only as the home district afforded, and continued to live all his life on the ancestral homestead, being of the fourth generation on the place. He was a man of most amiable disposition, and had no enemies. With great industry, he tilled his inheritance, and gradually added to his holdings until he was in possession of two hundred and ten acres at his death. Many deeds are on record, showing pur- chases ranging from a fraction of an acre to fifty acres, and in time ranging from 1855 to 1883 .. The cost ranged from thirty dollars for one and one-half acres to sixteen hundred dollars for thirteen acres. This last item was purchased from his father, and probably included the homestead buildings. One parcel of thirty-three-fortieths of an acre cost forty- two dollars. Other parcels included one of twelve. two of twenty, one of twenty-four, one of thirty, and one of fifty acres. The farm lies two miles south of Warner village, near the Henniker road. In his earlier years Mr. Davis gave much attention to the rearing of sheep, in which he was successful.
and his later years were devoted chiefly to dairying. His judgment was sound, and he made a success of whatever branch of farming he engaged in, and his farm showed some fine specimens of Holstein cat- tle. These brought handsome prices when sold at the settlement of his estate, as did also his real es- tate. Mr. Davis held settled convictions on ques- tions of public policy, and was a staunch Repub- lican in political views, but never desired official station. He was progressive in ideas, and affiliated with Warner Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. as an instrument of improvement and advantage of agriculture. He is also a member of the Univer- salist Church.
He was married to Harriet Flanders, of Warner, born January 9, 1836, and died November 13, 1858. Mr. Davis was married (second), April 1, 1860, to Mary Whitcomb, of Warner, daughter of Imri and Mary D. Whitcomb (see Whitcomb, VII). Mr. Davis married (third) Carrie Chase, daughter of Moody and Araminta (Marshall) Chase, of Hud- son, New Hampshire. Moody Chase was a son of William Chase, of Pelham. There was one child of the first marriage, namely, Harriet, now the wife of Clement H. Rooker, residing in Brookfield, Missouri. They have a son and daughter, Frank and Ruth. Mary (Whitcomb) Davis was the mother of two sons: Eugene H., the eldest, died December 26, 1899. He married Ella Bean, of Penacook, who survives him.
(IX) Everett Lendall, younger son of Francis E. and Mary (Whitcomb) Davis, was born June 27. 1863, in Warner, where he grew up, receiving the educational training afforded by the common schools. Soon after attaining his majority he went to Concord and took employment as coachman and handy man with J. H. Abbott, the noted carriage manufacture. He remained in this position four years, and in 1889 purchased the business of Charles Bean, of Penacook, who was engaged in teaming. With the energy characteristic of his ancestry, Mr. Davis was prompt to fulfill his undertakings, and has built up from a small beginning. one of the flourishing industries of Penacook. By his courtesy and fidelity to business he has made friends in busi- ness circles, and does most of the heavy teaming of the village, serving the mill. merchants and in- habitants generally. He employs twenty-six horses, with corresponding complement of men, does a prosperous wood and coal business, and has the only ice business in the village. He takes an in- terest in the vital affairs of the town and village, and bears his share of official responsibilities. For eight years lie served as road agent, was supervisor of the check list six years, is now a member of the precinct lighting committee, and has represented ward one in the city council since 1894. He is ardent in support of Republican principles, and attends and sustains the Baptist Church. He holds membership in Contoocook Lodge, No. 26, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; in Winneperkct Encampment of the same order, as well as in Can- ton Wildey, No. I. of Concord. He was married October 14, 1891, to Nellie Wales, of Concord, a daughter of Edward and Marianna (Williams) Wales. Marianna Williams was a daughter of James Madison and Mary (Clough) Williams, of Warren, New Hampshire. Mrs. Davis was born June 7, 1870, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is the mother of Lendall Evans Davis, born January 30, 1898.
(V) Captain Francis (4). second son and fourth child of Francis (3) and Joanna (Ordway) Davis, was born in West Amesbury, October 26,
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1723, and was baptized July 11, 1742. He is men- tioned in ancient records as junior until about 1750. In 1765 he bought of Samuel Hadley, of Amesbury, one-half share of a township granted to Hadley, with others, by the general court "in consideration of my being a soldier in the Narragansett War." The same year he bought of Joseph Peaslee, of Amesbury, a similar right in "township first in number and second range," (Warner, called No. I). In December. 1767, he and his wife sold their home- stead in Amesbury. The history of Warner states that he moved to Warner about 1767-73. At any rate, he was one of the earliest settlers in that lo- cality now known as Davisville, and was the fore- most man in that town from the time of his arrival to the time of his death. His name appears on al- most every page of Warner's history from 1768 until 1785, being prominent in all town affairs, in church matters, and in all industrial, mechanical, milling and landed interests. He was the foremost military man of the town, his commission as cap- tain of the militia being dated 1773, and signed by John Wentworth. He had three sons in the Revol- ution, two of whom were at Bunker Hill. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and possessed the confidence of his fellow townsmen in an eminent degree. His was the first grist mill in the township. He was one of the committee to secure the incorpor- ation of the town, which was incorporated in Sep- tember, 1774, and assisted in the division of the lots in the township, and was chairman of the committee of safety in 1775. In Harriman's History of War- ner" is this paragraph: "In this first legislative body, chosen by the suffrages of a free people, Francis Davis appears the accredited representative of the town of Warner. It is a distinction .and an honor to be remembered with pride by his numer- ous descendants."
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