Robert J. Davis
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 29 Jan 1785 - , Baltimore, MD 16
Christening:
Death: 15 Feb 1860 - Glen Easton, Marshall, VA 16,472
Burial: in Fork Ridge, Marshall, WV 15
Cause of Death: dyspepsia 15
Events
• He has conflicting birth information of 1 Jan 1785. 15
• He signed a will on 13 Feb 1860 in , Marshall, VA (Later WV). 472 probated 1860
• Military: War of 1812, 1812. 16 He was in the militia.
• He appeared on the census in 1850 in District 33, Marshall, Virginia. 473
Robert J. Davis, age 60, male, farmer, b. Maryland
Elizabeth Davis, age 57, female, b. Maryland
Elizabeth Davis, age 13, female, b. Virginia
Harmon Crow?, age 9, male, b. Virginia
Spouses and Children
1. *Elizabeth Harris (22 Mar 1783 - 19 Sep 1876)
Marriage: Sep 1807 - , Baltimore, MD 16
Children:
1. George Davis (1808- ) 15
2. Elijah Davis (1809-1877) 15
3. John Davis (1810- ) 15
4. Sarah Davis (1812-1886) 15
5. Susanah Davis (1815- ) 15
6. Thomas J. Davis (1817- ) 15
7. Elizabeth Davis (1819-Abt 1860) 15
8. Mary Elizabeth Davis (1823-Between 1880) 447,463,464
9. Nancy Davis (1824- ) 15
10. Robert Harris Davis (1827-1887) 15
Notes
Burial Notes:
He is buried on what was a family burial plot on his farm.General:
R. J. sometimes called Bobby, was born 1 Jan 1785 in Maryland, probably Baltimore County - as was his wife although her parents are listed as foreign born. Robert J. Davis and Elizabeth Harris were married in September 1807, at the home of Edward Stricklin (sometimes spelled Strickland) between Recstarstown and Westminster (then Baltimore County) now Carroll County, MD, by James Cromwell, a clergyman. This Edward Stricklin travelled on the same wagon train as they did, when they moved West with their family. In later years, a sister of Elizabeth's is believed to have married a Stricklin, probably this man.Marriage Notes (Elizabeth Harris)
The children of R.J. and Elizabeth Davis, most of whom were born in Baltimore Co., MD, were: George, Elijah, John, Sarah, Suzannah, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy and Robert.
A grandaughter wrote, "he was a beteran of the eighteen and twelve war". According to his pension papers, he served at least two terms as a private with the Maryland Militia, 1813 and 1814, discharged at Camp Deal "after teh British left the Bay". The United States Congress passed bounty land acts in 1850 and 1855 for Veterans of the War of 1812. A warrant was issued in 1851 for 40 acres, Marshall Co., VA for Robert J. Davis. He signed his affidavit in a shaky but distinct hand, so we know he was literate.
This family left MD in 1823 (quoting the same granddaughter) traveling the national Road, whcih went from Cumberland, MD to Wheeling, WV - now route 40. They traveled by covered wagon, with a cow behind it. She (Elizabeth) had a baby in the wagon during the trip. Their daughter Mary was born 27 Feb 1823 and her sister was born the next Feb, so one of these would be that baby born on the wagon train.
They settled in Fork Ridge, Marshall, VA. Bobby built a log farmhouse, and up the hill a spring-house, and on the other side were mammoth old apple trees - then he left Granny with the dog, a gun, and the kids there, and he went back where them come from and got apple scions and grafted them on these wild apple trees. This farm is beautifully situated, one can see the "green, rolling hills of West Virginia" in all directions. Bobby and Elizabeth surely chose a pretty spot to begin their life in Virginia.
Wheeling WV is in the upper tip of WV, that stretches North between Pennsylvania and Ohio, and is on the East side of the Ohio River, in Ohio Co. In 1835 the lower part of Ohio Co., (to the South) became Marshall Co. That's the area that thw WV relatives settled in, called: "Hollow", Fork Ridge, Bowman Ridge, Brush Ridge, Navruo Ridge, and Beelers Station - all Marshall Co. In 1861, forty counties broke away from Virginia, and established WV. WV became the 35th state in 1863.
Robert Davis was a farmer and a country school teacher part time. They spent the rest of their years on the WV farm. There was a family burial plot, out on a knoll, on the farm. There were two or three white marble stones, probably the stones of small children. R.J. died 15 Feb 1860, 75 years old, and Elizabeth 19 Sep 1876, 93 years old. They were buried there, a four-foot tall, 12 inch square marble monument, and an open Bible carved on top marked their graves. In 1985, this large stone was moved to Beeler Station Cemetery, Glen Easton, WV, beside their daughter, grandson, and great grandson.
The old log farmhouse burned sometime after 1950. The owner of the farm raises cattle. 15
Baltimore County Maryland is now Carroll Co., MD. 15