James Davis, of Haverhill

It is a frequently copied statement that “according to old Bible records” that he came from Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. There is no evidence to support this and is likely incorrect.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-941

Anderson in his Great Migration profile of this Davis family states that they were from Marlborough, Wiltshire based on their Certificate of Conformity. However, he was clearly unaware of the research into the Davis family and of the wills of the Davis family of Acton-Turville.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-1090

James Davis

• Born Abt 1588 Acton Turville, Gloucestershire, England
• Died 29 Jan 1679 Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Buried Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts

Davis, Edwin Pountney. Davis, of Acton Turville, Gloucestershire: The Ancestry of James, Thomas and John Davis, who Settled in Newbury, Massachusetts c1638.
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000203153722833

https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldic02savarich/page/17/mode/...
Savage says he died Jan 1679 at age 90, which means he would have been born in 1588.

James Davis migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 89)

Family

Married Cicely Thayer, b. 1 May 1600, Thornbury Parish, , Gloucestershire, England , d. 28 May 1673, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA (Age 73 years) Married 11 Jun 1618 Thornbury, , Gloucester, England, St. Mary's Church [this identification is disputed]

Children

• 1. James Davis, b. Before 1623; Marlborough, , Wiltshire, England , d. 18 Jul 1694, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA (Age 69 years)
• 2. John, b. about 1623; m (1) 10 Dec 1646 Jane Peasley; m (2) Mary ____
• 3. Judith Davis, b. 1625, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA , d. May 1667, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA (Age 42 years)
• 4. Samuel Davis, b. 26 Nov 1640, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA , d. 10 Sep 1696, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA (Age 55 years)
• 5. Ephraim Davis, b. 1641, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA , d. 28 Sep 1679, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA (Age 38 years)
• 6. Sarah Davis, b. 1642, Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA

  ---

The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton by Hoyt, David Webster, 1833-1921 Publication date 1897

https://archive.org/details/cu31924025963772/page/n139/mode/1up?q=d...

Page 125
James Davis, of Haverhill, b. ab. 1583-8; m. "Cicely" or " Sissilla " , who. d. May 28, 1673 [Hv]. He was one of the first settlers of Haverill, having rem. there from Newbury. ab. 1640;* one of the first selectmen, 1646 ;f per. bro. of (1) Thomas. He d. Jan. 29, 1678-9[Hv] ; will March 17, 1675-6 ; codicil July 22, 1678 ; proved 1680. Children :

i. James, b. , "eldest son" in 1675; m. 1st, Dec. 1, 1648, Elizabeth Eaton; 2d, Mary .
ii John, b. ab. 1623; m. 1st, Dec. 10, 1646, Jane Peasley; 2d, Mary
iii Judith, b. ; m. Sep. 1, 1647[Hv], Samuel Gile.
iv Ephraim, b. ; m. Dec. 31, 1659, Mary Johnson,
v Samuel,, b. ; m. Dec, 1663, Deborah^ Barnes.
vi Sarah b. ; m. June 18, 1663[Hv], John Page

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-941

Common Errors to Avoid

Error 1: 1635 immigration and freeman date.
He is often said to have arrived in in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1635 as he was made a freeman on 4 March 1634/35.[17][18] This is incorrect. This record belongs to an unrelated James Davis of Boston.[19][20] The error probably occurred for a couple of reasons. First, it might appear that he is last in a list of men from Newtown, when in fact he is first in a list of men from Boston. Second, early authors failed to realize that James Davis of Hampton was the same person as James Davis of Haverhill. They assumed that the record of James Davis of Hampton being made a freeman must apply to another man; they therefore incorrectly deduced that the record from 1635 must apply to James Davis of Haverhill.[21] That James Davis of Hampton was the man who later moved to Haverhill is proved by later land transactions.

James Davis of Hampton and later Haverhill was made a freeman on 13 May 1640.[22]

Error 2: He came from (or was born in) Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.
It is a frequently copied statement that “according to old Bible records” that he came from Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.[21] There is no evidence to support this and is likely incorrect. His origins have been firmly placed in Acton Turville, Gloucestershire. He married a woman from Thornbury, Gloucestershire and his first two children were baptized at Thornbury with the third at Acton Turville. Marlborough is not impossibly far from these towns, being about thirty miles from Acton Turville and 50 miles from Thornbury. The parish records at Acton Turville no longer exist before 1600, so the actual baptismal record of James Davis has never been (and will likely never be) found. Still, James Davis was almost certainly born in Acton Turville where his father lived and died, and a move to Marlborough prior to his immigration is highly unlikely. Without any supporting evidence, this statement should be rejected as yet another family tradition which turns out to be wrong.

Error 3: James Davis of Haverhill is not the same person as the James Davis who married Cicely Thayer.
In 1906, the NEHGR published two articles containing will transcripts and parish records of the Thayer family from Thornbury, Gloucester, England.[23][24] Unfortunately, the articles contain a number of transcription errors in both the Thornbury parish registers and in the wills. These errors included: 1. A mistranscription of the will of John Thayer leading to a failure to identify Cicely Thayer as his daughter. 2. A mistranscription of the baptism of James Davis Jr. 3. Several mistranscriptions of dates 4. Incorrect double dating of the Thornbury records. 5. A mistranscription of the burial record of Cicely Thayer’s mother.

These errors led subsequent authors to reject, or to express doubt about, the idea that James Davis of Haverhill was the same person as the James Davis who married Cicely Thayer – the argument being the names and dates did not match what was known about James Davis of Haverhill. For example, Hoyt in his corrections to Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury pointed out that “names and dates do not coincide” and rejected the identification.[21] Tomas Ojeda used the NEHGR in his attempt to reconstruct the Thayer family and so made a number of errors in his Thayer Family of Thornbury.[25] The excellent genealogist Mary Lovering Holman also was misled, and gave James Davis’ wife simply as Cicely _____ in her treatment of James Davis of Haverhill.[26]

These errors were pointed out and corrected by Clifford L. Scott in an article which appeared in The American Genealogist in 1998.[12] In fact, the dates and names match perfectly to the family of James Davis of Haverhill – there is now no doubt that James Davis married Cicely Thayer on 11 June 1618 ‘at Gloucester’ (but recorded at Thornbury Parish) before immigrating to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and eventually settling in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Baptism of son: The original extraction of Thornbury parish records as published in the NEHGR mistranscribed the baptism of James Davis Jr as being that of "Francis Davis." These errors led subsequent authors to reject, or to express doubt about, the idea that James Davis of Haverhill was the same person as the James Davis who married Cicely Thayer. The error was pointed out by Clifford Stott in 1998.[12] In fact, the corrected names and dates fit perfectly with the family of James Davis.

Last Modified 22 Mar 2005 00:12:00 Family ID F783 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

• Ref; AFN: 9B0P-RT
• Ref: Christened: 1 May 1600, Marlborough, Whiltshire, England

https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofd02stac/page/94/mode/2up

James Davis, the emigrant, was born, according to old Bible records, in Marlborough, Eng., about the year 1584. He was made freeman at Newbury, Mass., 4 March 1634/5. In 1640 he with eleven others cleared the forest at the Indian village of Pentucket and founded the present city of Haverhill, Mass. He lived at the easterly end of the town, near Rocks Bridge. He was a prominent man, serving as selectman and representative to the General Court. He was a Puritan and once accused John Godfrey of witchcraft. His wife. Cicely, was born in Marlborough, Eng., and died in Haverhill, Mass., 28 May 1673. He died 29 Jan. 1679. He left six children, with only one of whom we are concerned in the history of Oyster River Plantation.

https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:James_Davis_and_Cicely_Thayer_...
Children:

1. James Davis chr. 4 Jul 1619 Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England 18 Jul 1694 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

2. John Davis chr. 28 Jan 1620/1 Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England 18 Jul 1694 Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, United States

3. Sarah Davis abt 1625/1630 England 7 Jun 1714 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

4. Judith Davis

       14 May 1629 Marlborough, Wiltshire, England 	May 1667 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

5. Joanna Davis abt 1632 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

6. Ephraim Davis 1634 Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States 28 Sep 1679 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

7. James Davis 4 JUL 1639 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts 18 JUL 1694 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts

8. Samuel Davis 26 Nov 1640 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts 10 Sep 1696 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts

9. Sarah Davis 1642 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts 7 JUN 1714 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts

10. Ephriam Davis 1691 Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, New England

Disputed origins

See error #2 above!
Davis born in Marlborough is an error.

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-941

"JAMES DAVIS, according to Bible records, was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, ca 1584. Hoyt's "Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury" states that he is not the same James Davis born in Thornbury Parish, county Gloucester, England, who married June 11, 1618, Cicely Thayer, and had children with similar names, saying there are too many disparities as to dates. They may well have been cousins, however, as the father of the latter James lived at Acton-Turville, only about thirty miles from Marlborough. Wilts.

---

wikitree:

James Davis (abt. 1583 - 1679) and

James Davis

• Born about 1583 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England [uncertain]
• Son of John Davis and Agnes (Chandler) Davis
• Brother of Samuel Davis, Sarah Davis, John Davis and Thomas Davis
• Husband of Cicely Sissilla (Thayer) Davis — married 11 Jun 1618 in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England
• Father of James Davis, John Davis, Judith (Davis) Gild, Sarah (Davis) Page, Ephraim Davis and Samuel Davis
• Died 29 Jan 1679 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

James Davis, born about 1583 (age about 96 at death in 1679)

Haverhill Land Holders, 1645* John Ayer, Sen., John Ayer, J r., William Butler, Job Clement, John Clement, Robert Clement, Tristram Coffyn, George Corliss, James Davis, Sen., James Davis, Jr., John Davis, Thomas Davis, John Eaton, James Fiske, Samuel Gile, Thomas Hale, Bartholomew Heath, Daniel Hendrick, Christopher Hussey, Joseph Merrie, Daniel Ladd . Richard Littlehale, Henry Palmer, Joseph Peasley, John Robinson, Henry Savage, Hugh Sherrat, Abraham Tyler, John Ward, William White, Nathaniel Wier, John Williams (p 60)[1]

Davises who received second division lands in Haverhill 1652: James Sr., 10 acres, James Jr. 10 acres, John, Thomas.(p77)[1]

1667 Division James Sr & Jr received 20 acres (p 106) 1721 5th Division lands James Jr and James Sr (p 256)[1]

James died Jan 29, 1678[/9] age about 96[2]

Will of James Sr. = Dated March 17, 1675/6: Of Haverhill in Norfolk in New England: Bequests to: son Jno Davis; James Davis, son of son John; son Ephraim Davis; Steven & Ephraim, sons of son Ephraim; son Samuel; daughter Sarah, wife of Jno Page Jr.; James Gild, son of Sam'll Gild; son James Davis. Codicil dated July 22 1678. Entered November 5, 1680.[1]

"JAMES, Newbury ,
Hampton, Haverhill, m. in Thornbury, co. Glouc., 11 June 1618

Cicely Tayer (Thayer), bp. there 1 May 1600, dau. of John and Joane (Lawrence). Himself, their three eldest children, and his younger bros., Samuel, Thomas, John and Ephraim, are named in the will of his father John Davys of Acton-Turville April--Nov. 1626, this place a chapelry on the edge of Wiltshire, ab. 30 m. from Marlborough. Other wills of his relations in the same place are found, incl. his grmo . Agnes Davis, wid., 10 Mar. 1587-8--9 July 1589. Arthur Clark (5) was app. his br.-in-law. He was called approximately 60 in 1663, approximately 96 at death 29 Jan. 1678-9. Made freeman at Newbury 4 Mar. 1634-5. Hampton gr. 1639, rem . to Haverhill in May 1644. His gr. at Hampt. he sold 17 Aug. 1648, four years aft. his removal. Both at Hamp. and many yrs. at Haverhill he was Com.t.e.s.c. He was often select m. and gr.j. and Rep. 1660. Lists 391ab, 392a, 393b. Will 1 7 Mar. 1675-6, cod. 22 July 1678. Wife -Sissilla- d. 28 Ma y 1673. Ch: James, bp. at Thornbury 4 July 1619. John, bp . at Thornbury 28 Jan. 1620-1. Sarah, named in grfr.'s will , app. d.y. Judith, m. 1 Sep. 1647 Samuel Guild, d. May 1667, ch. Ephraim, m. 31 Dec. 1659 Mary Johnson. 9 ch. Samuel . Sarah, m. 18 June 1663 John Page, liv. 1714. 1 dau." [3]

"JAMES(12), gr. at Hampton 1640. In 1647 he and Mr. Stanyan were app. to lay out the road bet. Haverhill and Exeter. Lists 391b, 392a. Will 18, d. 18 July 1694.

Wife Elizabeth (Eaton), d. 21 Jan. 1683. 12 ch. inc. James, who m. Sarah (Winnock?) Wiggin from Scarb., and Daniel, k. at Pemaquid in Apr . 1689. See Hoyt's Salis. p. 125."[3]

James Davis of Haverhill, b. ab. 1583-8; m. 'Cicely ' or 'Sissilla' --, who. d. May 28, 1673 [Hv]. He was one of the first settlers of Hv., having rem. there from Nb. ab . 1640; one of the first selectmen, 1646; per. bro. of (1 ) Thomas. He d. Jan. 29, 1678-9 [Hv]; will March 17, 1675-6 ; codicil July 22, 1678; proved 1680."[4]

"Davis Family. James Davis. A James Davis m. June 11, 1618, Sysley Tayer (early form of the New Eng. name Thayer) at Gloucester [from Thornbury Parish Register, Gloucestershi re, Eng.] It has been thought by some this may have been the marriage of the Hv. settler, claimed by Bible records to have come from Marlborough, Wiltshire, b. 1584-9; but other names and dates do not coincide. This may prove an ancestor of one of the other Davis families of Salisbury and Ames bury, or possible Gloucester, Mass*. *The same register has Sicely Tayer bp. May 1, 1600. Also Frances Davys bp. July 4 , 1619; John Davys bp. Jan. 28, 1620-1; Tayer godparents in both cases, no parents named."[5]

"JAMES DAVIS, according to Bible records, was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, ca 1584. Hoyt's "Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury" states that he is not the same James Davis born in Thornbury Parish, county Gloucester, England, who married June 11, 1618, Cicely Thayer, and had children with similar names, saying there are too many disparities as to dates. They may well have been cousins, however, as the father of the latter James lived at Acton-Turville, only about thirty miles from Marlborough. Wilts.

"James Davis1 of Marlborough came first to Newbury Ma. where he was made a freeman March 4, 1635. He was one of the first settlers at Hampton NH, receiving a grant there in 1639 of 80 acres and in 1646 a grant of three shares of the commons. His houselot in Hampton was near the Landing and in 1641 he and others built a pound; in May of 1644 he removed to Haverhill and sold his Hampton grant August 17, 1648 . He lived near Rocks village, East Haverhill, and was for some years Justice of the Peace both at Hampton and Haverhill; often a selectman and juryman; a deputy to the Genera l Court in 1660. In 1661, he and his wife Cisley sold for £10 two acres of his Haverhill houselot to George Brown.

"A sister Sarah married Arthur Clark of Hampton and Boston, and a brother Thomas, sawyer and stonemason, was also an early settler of Haverhill, found first in Boston in 1635 , in Newbury in 1641, and the following year in Haverhill where he was a constable in 1652.

"James Davis was discharged from militia training in 1650 because of age but was required to pay to the Haverhill mili tary company £3, 4d yearly. His wife Cicely died May 28, 1673, and James died January 29, 1679, aet 96. His will signed March 17, 1676, and proved November 5, 1680, contained a reference to Philip's War: "in these desolateing time ; wherein ye Enimie seeks ye destruction of our New England Israel." All of his children were born in Haverhill."[6]

"James1 Davis, the pioneer of this branch of the Davis family was probably born in Marlborough, Wiltshire County, England, about 1583-8. He came to this country with his wife and three sons and settled first at Newbury, Mass. He with twelve others, under the lead of Rev. John Ward, secured a grant from the government and settled what is now Haverhill; they went there in 1640. Samuel Gile, who seven years later became his son-in-law, was among the twelve. They went about clearing the woods off and making a settlement. In 1642 they bought out the rights of the Indians to the land, and Thomas Davis, a brother of James, was one of the witnesses to the deed. This Thomas was a sawyer and came from Marlborough, England, soon after James did. James must have been a man of considerable wealth for those times, for in 1643 he was one of three in the settlement that were worth over £200, and in 1646 James Davis paid the largest tax. When the town elected its first selectmen in 1646 they were: James Davis, Thomas Davis, Thomas Hale, Henry Palmer and William White. In 1645 there were thirty-two land-holders in the town, and James Davis, James Davis Jr. and John Davis were among them; also John Eaton and Joseph Peasley, whose daughters married James Jr. and John Davis. The first meeting house was built in 1646, and "Thomas Davis was given £3 to ground pin and daub it. He to provide the stone and clay." In the second division of land, made in 1652, James Davis had 10 acres, James Davis Jr. 10 acres, John Davis 6 acres, Thomas Davis 8 acres, John Eaton 10 acres. His wife was Cicely or Sissilla. His wife and three of the children must have come over with him, for James, John and Judith were born before his arrival in this country. He died 29 Jan., 1678-9, and left a will which was proven in in 1680. His wife died 28 May, 1673, at Haverhill."[7]

Children

Source: Old Families of Salisbury ...

• James, eldest son in 1675; m (1) 1 Dec 1648 Elizabeth Eaton; m. (2) Mary ___
• John, born about 1623; m (1) 10 Dec 1646 Jane Peasley; m (2) Mary _____
• Judith, m. 1 Sep 1647 Samuel Gile
• Ephraim m. 31 Dec 1659 Mary Johnson
• Samuel m Dec 1663 Deborah Barnes
• Sarah m. 18 Jun 1663 John Page

---

Basic information:

Birth: 1582 - Marborough, Wiltshire, England. Other reported birth date is between 1583 and 1588 (averaged out to circa 1585).

Baptism: Unknown.

Marriages: 11 June 1618 with Cicely "Sissillia" Thayer (d. 28 May 1673 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony), marriage being reported in one case in Gloucester, MA (problematic as it wasn't settled until 1623). The other report suggested Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England, which would make more sense.

Death: 29 January 1679 - Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Burial: Unknown.

Occupation:

• Reported to have been made a Freeman at Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony, on 4 March 1635, but this appears to be an obvious error (neither he, nor his earlier-arriving brother Thomas were in the colony at that time). Another report suggests he became a Freeman in 1640, shortly after arrival.
• Reported to have held a town lot in Hampton, within present New Hampshire, in 1639.
• Immigrant to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with wife Cicely or Sissilia and three children (James, John, and Judith), reportedly in 1640, following his brother Thomas (who sailed aboard probably the ship "James of London" - passage on 6 April to 2 June 1635, Julian Calendar - note, another 300-ton ship "James" set sail about 2-3 months after this ship). Settled first in Newbury.
• Moved to Haverhill that same year (eventually the town became part of Essex County on 10 May 1643, when the colony's first four counties were created) after securing a grant as part of a group of 12 led by Rev. John Ward. Cleared land over the next several years.
• Bought out land rights from chieftains Passaquo and Saggahew of the Passaconnaway tribe at Pentucket on 15 November 1642, in response to threats made by members of the tribe.
• Commissioner for small cases in Haverhill in 1642 and 1643.
• One of three land-owners worth more than 200 pounds in 1643; lived on the easterly end of town.
• Puritan. Accused John Gordrey of witchcraft.
• One of 32 land-holders in 1645.
• Became one of five selectmen for Haverhill, Essex County, in 1646, and was representative to the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Paid the most tax of any single citizen in town that year, much of the money going toward a new meeting house.
• Excused from military training in 1650 because of his age. Again, had over 200 pounds in personal wealth.
• Received a land grant of 10 acres in 1652.
• Served as representative to the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1660.
• Will written 17 March 1676, with codicil 22 July 1676.
• Will proven 5 November 1680.

Alternate names: James Davis, II, or James Davis, Sr. (uncertain as to how the II got in there, as his father's name was John).

http://www.e-web-america.tv/gray/a13.htm#i795

James DAVIS Sr, son of John DAVIS and Agnes SAMON, was born in 1582 in Marborough, Wiltshire, England and died on 29 Jan 1679 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 97.

James married Cicely Sissillia THAYER on 11 Jun 1618 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Cicely was born on 1 May 1600 in Gloucester, Massachusetts and died on 28 May 1673 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 73.

Children from this marriage were:

• 1. 2816 i. James DAVIS Jr (born on 4 Jul 1619 in Marborough, Wiltshire, England - died on 18 Jul 1694 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA)
• 2. ii. John DAVIS was born on 28 Jan 1620 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA and died in 1685 at age 65.
• 3. iii. Judith DAVIS was born in 1625 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA.
• 4. iv. Ephraim DAVIS was born in 1634 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA and died on 28 Sep 1679 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 45.
• 5. v. Samuel DAVIS was born in 1639 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA and died on 10 Sep 1696 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 57.
• 6. vi. Sarah DAVIS was born in 1643 in Massachusetts USA.

5633. Cicely Sissillia THAYER, daughter of John THAYER and Joane LAWRENCE, was born on 1 May 1600 in Gloucester, Massachusetts and died on 28 May 1673 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 73.

Cicely married James DAVIS Sr on 11 Jun 1618 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. James was born in 1582 in Marborough, Wiltshire, England and died on 29 Jan 1679 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts USA at age 97.

b. Abt 1585, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England , d. 27 Jul 1638, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts

Married 11 Jun 1618 Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England

James Davis, immigrant ancestor, DAVIS was born in England about 1583-88, and was among the early settlers of Haverhill, Massachusetts, whence about 1640 he removed to Haverhill, where he was one of the first board of selectmen in 1646.

He was probably a brother of Thomas Davis, lawyer, born about 1602, who came from Marlborough, England, in the ship "James", April, 1635, and settled in Newbury; was admitted a freeman June 2, 1641; removed to Haverhill where he was a proprietor and town officer; his wife Christian died April 7, 1668, and he died July 27, 1683, having no descendants of the male line, as far as we know.

James Davis was excused from training by the county court at Hampton (New Hampshire) in 1650, on account of his age. His sons James Jr. and John were also proprietors of Haverhill. His wife Cicely died there May 28, 1673, and he died, aged about ninety-six years, we are informed, January 29, 1676. His will was dated March 17 1675, with codicil of July 22, 1675, and proved 1680, naming sons John, Ephraim, Samuel and James; daughter Sarah Page; grandchildren, James, son of John; Stephen and Ephraim Davis, sons of Ephraim ; James Guild or Gile, son of Samuel. Children: i. James Jr., the eldest, married, December i, 1648, Elizabeth Eaton. 2. John, born about 1623, married, December, 1646, Jane Peaslee. 3. Judith, married, September i, 1647, Samuel Gile (Guild). 4. Ephraim, died September 25, 1679; married, December 31, 1659, Mary Johnson, who married again November i, 1682, Edward Clarke. 5. Samuel, mentioned below. 6. Sarah, married, June 18, 1683, John Page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The name "James Davis, Sen., of Haverhill, upon the Merrimack," like that of his neighbor Peasley, occurs with puzzling frequency in the Essex Registry of Deeds, as well as in the early records of Haverhill. The Johns and Daniels have been and still are numerous. Ephraim, Samuel and William were common names a century and a half ago. In regard to John Davis and his wife, Jane Peasley, who removed to Dover, N. H., historians do not agree. Whether John had one wife or two ; how many of the family were killed by Indians ; and some other matters of interest, we leave to others to settle. One of their descendants, John Davis, settled in Rye, N. H., and had sons, William and Samuel, baptized in 1757 and 1761. He probably died soon after the latter date, as the daughter Hannah was, in 1763, presented for baptism by her mother, Eunice Davis. How many children were born before the family lived in Rye the records do not show. Ephraim Davis, in 1776, had a son Samuel, and in 1779 a son Ephraim.

Samuel Davis married January 20, 1782, Abigail Brown and had children, Betsey and Billy.

James Davis, Sen., had a wife Sissilla. The Haverhill records show that "The wife died before him, upon May 28, 1673. The man himself, being at 90, died Jan. 29, "78." His son James then became James Davis, Sen., as> he had a son James, born October 3, 1660. John, another son, born June 30, 1664, "was killed at Canada 1690." Daniel, the next son, born September 19, 1666, "at Pemequid April 19, "89." Elisha, the youngest son of James and Elizabeth Davis, born August 30, 1670, married June 19, 1694, Grace Shaw. They had seven children ; among them a James, Daniel and John.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James Davis, the pioneer of this branch of the Davis family was probably born in Marlborough, Wiltshire County, England, about 1583-8. He came to this country with his wife and three sons and settled first at Newbury, Mass. He with twelve others, under the lead of Rev. John Ward, secured a grant from the government and settled what is now Haverhill ; they went there in 1640. Samuel Gile, who seven years later became his son-in-law, was among the twelve. They went about clearing the woods off and making a settlement. In 1642 they bought out the rights of the Indians to the land, and Thomas Davis, a brother of James, was one of the witnesses to the deed. This Thomas was a sawyer and came from Marlborough, England, soon after James did. James must have been a man of considerable wealth for those times, for in 1643 he was one of three in the settlement that were worth over £200, and in 1646 James Davis paid the largest tax. When the town elected its first selectmen in 1646 they were:

• 1. James Davis,
• 2. Thomas Davis,
• 3. Thomas Hale,
• 4. Henry Palmer and
• 5. William White.

In 1645 there were 32 land-holders in the town, and James Davis, James Davis Jr. and John Davis were among them ; also John Eaton and Joseph Peasley, whose daughters married James Jr. and John Davis. The first meeting house was built in 1646, and " Thomas Davis was given £3 to ground-pin and daub it. He to provide the stone and clay."

In the second division of land, made in 1652,

• James Davis had 10 acres,
• James Davis Jr. 10 acres,
• John Davis 6 acres,
• Thomas Davis 8 acres,
• John Eaton 10 acres.

Note. James Davis Sr. and his son Ephraim signed a paper presented to Ipswich Court, February, 1658, against John Godfrey, accusing him of witchcraft.

Note. ln 1650 a law was passed that forbid any person whose estate did not exceed £200 from wearing any gold or silver lace or buttons, silk hoods, ribbons or scarfs, under penalty of 10 shillings.

His wife was Cicely or Sissilla . His wife and three of the children must have come over with him, for James, John and Judith were born before his arrival in this country. He died 29 Jan., 1678-9, and left a will which was proven in in 1680. His wife died 28 May, 1673, at Haverhill.

Six children were born to this couple :

• 1. i. James Davis, born in Marlborough, England, died in Haverhill 1694.
• 2. ii. John Davis, born in Marlborough, England, 1623, died in 1685.
• 3. iii.. Judith Davis, born in Marlborough, England, married in 1647 to Samuel Gile of Haverhill; he came to America in the "Ann," in 1636, settled in Dedham, then Haverhill.
• 4. iv. Ephraim Davis, born , married Mary Johnson of Andover, 31 Dec., 1659.
• 5. v. Samuel Davis, born , married Deborah Barnes of Haverhill in December, 1663.
• 6. vi. Sarah Davis, born , married John Page of Haverhill, son of John and Mary (Marsh) Page, 18 June, 1663.

James Davis, son of James and Cicely or Sissilla Davis, born in England, came to America with his parents, married i Dec., 1648, to Elizabeth Eaton, the daughter of John Eaton, one of the first settlers of Haverhill and one of its selectmen. He was appointed by the Court in 1647 to "lay out the way from Haverhill to Excetter." He was a land-holder in 1645. He was given more land in 1652. In 1667 he was appointed one of the committee to lay out boundary between Haverhill and other towns. In the division of land in 1667 he received 20 acres. He built a house previous to 1668. He took the oath of allegiance in 1677. His wife Elizabeth died 21 Jan.

1683-4. He married for his second wife Mary . He died 18 July, 1694.

JAMES DAVIS became a "freeman" in Newbury on March 4, 1635. From the "History of Oyster River", in 1640 he, with 11 others, cleared the forest at the Indian village of Pentucket and founded the present city of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He lived at the Easterly end of the town, near Rocks Bridge.

The original settlers were: William White, Samuel Gile, James Davis, Henry Palmer, John Robinson, Christopher Hussey, John Williams, Richard Littlehale, Abraham Tyler, Daniel Ladd, Joseph Merrie, and Job Clement. The first eight were from Newbury, the last four from Ipswich. It was not, however, until more than two years later that the land was purchased from its Indian owners, this step taken in apparent fear of a massacre.The text of the original deed (note that the book contains a facsimile of the original handwritten deed) is as follows: "Know all men by these presents, that wee Passaquo and SaggaHew with ye consent of Passaconnaway: have sold unto ye inhabitants of Pentuckett all ye lands wee have in Pentuckett; that is eyght myles in length from ye little Rivver in Pentuckett Westward: Six myles in length from ye aforesaid Rivver northward: And six myles in length from ye foresaid Rivver Eastward, with ye Ileand and ye rivver that ye ileand stand in as far in length as ye land lyes by as formerly expressed: that is, fourteen myles in length: And wee ye said Passaquo and. SaggaHew with ye consent of Passaconnaway, have sold unto ye said inhabitants all ye right that wee or any of us have in ye said ground and Ileand and Rivver: And wee warrant it against all or any other Indeans whatsoever unto ye said Inhabitants of Pentuckett, and to their heires and assignes forever

Dated ye fifteenth day of november Ann Dom 1642.Witnes our hands and seales to this bargayne of sale ye day and year above written (in ye presents of us,) wee ye said Passaquo & SaggaHew have received in hand, for & in consideration of ye same three pounds & ten shillings.John Ward ye marke of

Robert Clements PASSAQUO (A bow and arrow.) [SEAL.]

Tristram Coffin Passaquo

Hugh Sherratt

William White

• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

He was a prominant man, serving as one of the first Selectman in 1646 and a Representative to the General Court. He was a Puritan & once accused JOHN GORDREY of witchcraft.

• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It seems that James Davis Sr., lived in Hampton (now NH) and had a grant of a house lot in 1639. His son James was also proprietor in 1640. James signed a petition in Howard case in 1643. He was one of the commissioners for trial of small cases in 1642-3.

Removed to Haverhill about 1646. Town officer. ... His wife Sissilla (Thayer) d. May 28, 1673. His daugther. Judith married Samuel Gile, and his daughter Sarah married John Page. He or his son James deposed 14 (2) 1663, ae. about 60 years.

James died Jan. 29, 1678, "ae. about 96 years"; will dated March 17, codicil added July 22, 1678, prob. in 1680; beq. to sons John, Ephraim, Samuel and James; daughter Sarah Page; grandchildren James, son of John, Stephen and Ephraim, sons of Ephraim, James, son of Samuel Gile. John, of Exeter, signer of petition of inhab. 1643, afterwards of Dover, clerk of market, etc. who d. in 1686, beq. a tract of land in Haverhill which his father James had bequeathed him.

• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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James Davis, son of John Agnes Davis, b. 1583 in Marlborough, Wiltshire England and d. 29 Jan 1678/79 in Haverhill, Essex Co MA, age about 90. He married 11 June 1618 in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England to Cicely "Sisella" Thayer, dau of John Joan (Lawrence) Thayer. She b. 1 May 1600 in Thornbury, Gloucester England, and d. 28 May 1673 in Haverhill MA. James Davis was an early settler of Haverhill MA, a freeman in 1640, Representative in 1660. Jame made his will 17 March 1675-6, and it was proved 5 Nov 1680.

He gave to son John "my third division of land in Haverhill." To James Davis "son of my son John," one half of "my fourth division of upland in Haverhill." To son Ephraim Davis thirty acres which "he hath built upon joyneing to ye great plaine in Haverhill;" also the east meadow; also such sheep and cattle as were then in his hands; "two Ox Commons and also five Cow Commons." To Stephen and Ephraim, sons of son Ephraim, half of fourth division of upland. To son Samuel "my second division of upland and one Ox Comon and also three cow Comons all in Haverhill. To daughter Sarah, wife of John Page Jr., one half of my Pond meadow," and all his goods in possesion of her husband, "excepting only my warmeing pan." To Janmes Gild, son of Samuel Gild, one half of pond meadow. To son James (executor) all other estate. In a codicil added 22 July 1678, he made Wm. White and Nathaniel Saltonstall both of Haverhill "overseer of this my will" with a special injunction that "If I outlive the -- among (you) I thought ot spend, justice, according to proportion in my Will mentioned may be done to my eldest son James before any legacies are paid [The old gentleman's apparent expectations of the need of interposition were not unrealized.

The children pretty generally wanted each a thicker slice of the estate. Accompanying papers show that John (who is said to have removed "to Pascataqua above twenty years since" had some altercation regarding land of his own which he had once authorized somebody to sell--that a variety of others claimed land which their father, they knew, always intended to give them, and that one claimed handsome share for taking care of his feeble old mother; these little things however, were settled by a peremptory decision against John, a denial of all "intended" gifts except one to Samuel which was proved clearly enough, and by an inherited rebuke to the son who manifested such filial affection to his mother, the affairs were settled in 1680.]

References

• [S375] Birch's & Family's gedcom, Roy Birch, (Updated 8/25/2001 E-Mail: rbirch1@san.rr.com).
• [S376] World Family Tree Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Brøderbund Software, Inc., (Release date: November 29, 1995), Tree #3084 (Reliability: 3). Date of Import: 9 Apr 1998
• [S65] My Roots, Sunni Kay McPheeters (mcpheetersfam@gbis.com, (Updated 10/21/2001).
• [S370] My Lines (within 20 generations of me), Robert Brian Stewart, (updated 3/26/2001 E-mail of Robert Brian Stewart is stewartr@compuserve.com) (Reliability: 3), 31 May 2002.
• [S371] NE Colonists from Gloucester, Mahler, Leslie, (URL: http://genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/EmigrantsNE.html), Reference to The American Genealogist, vol 72, p. 81-90, and p. 209-219 (Reliability: 3), 31 May 2002.
• Chase, George Wingate. History of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860. Haverhill: By the Author, 1861.
• Vital Records of Haverhill Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Vol 2 – Marriages and Deaths. Topsfield, Mass.: Topsfield Historical Society, 1911.
• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire :Author : Walter G. Davis, Sybil Noyes, and Charles T. Libby Biographical and genealogical data on every family established in Maine and New Hampshire before 1699. 1928-1939 (p 184)
• Hoyt, David W. The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton.Providence, R.I: Snow & Farnham, printers, 1897.
• Hoyt, David Webster. Additions and corrections for The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts. suppl. to v. 3. Providence, R.I: Snow & Farnham Co., 1919.
• Johnson, Carol Clark,. A genealogical history of the Clark and Worth families : and other Puritan settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cygnet, Ohio: Priv. print., 1970.(pp 433, 434)
• Warden, William Albert. The Ancestors, Kin and Descendants of John Warden and Narcissa Davis Warden, his wife. Worcester, Mass., 1901. (p 167)
• Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior To 1700 (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 19 85) 3. Title: Dover, NH Marriages
• John R. Ham, Dover New Hampshire Marriages 1623-1823 (Dover , NH: 1880-1902 typescript) Page: p. 44 4.
• E. S. Sta ckpole and W. S. Meserve, History of the Town of Durham , 2 vols. (Durham, NH)Page: Vol. 2, p. 94 5.
• A Genea logical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Sh owing Three Generations of Those who Came before May, 1692 , on theBasis of Farmer's Register James Savage; compiled b y O. P. Dexter, A Genealogical Dictionary of thePage: Vol . 2, p. 17 6.
• Mary Lovering Holman, Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbur y and John Sargent Pillsbury (Concord, NH: Rumford Printin g Company, 1938)Page: p. 153 7. Title: William Albert Warde n, The Ancestors of John Warden and Marcissa (Davis) Warde n (Worcester, MA: Maynard-Gough Company, 1901)Page: pp. 167 -8
• Chase, George Wingate. History of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860. Haverhill: By the Author, 1861.
• Vital Records of Haverhill Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Vol 2 – Marriages and Deaths. Topsfield, Mass.: Topsfield Historical Society, 1911.
• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire :Author : Walter G. Davis, Sybil Noyes, and Charles T. Libby Biographical and genealogical data on every family established in Maine and New Hampshire before 1699. 1928-1939 (p 184)
• Hoyt, David W. The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton.Providence, R.I: Snow & Farnham, printers, 1897.
• Hoyt, David Webster. Additions and corrections for The old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts. suppl. to v. 3. Providence, R.I: Snow & Farnham Co., 1919.
• Johnson, Carol Clark,. A genealogical history of the Clark and Worth families : and other Puritan settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cygnet, Ohio: Priv. print., 1970.(pp 433, 434)
• Warden, William Albert. The Ancestors, Kin and Descendants of John Warden and Narcissa Davis Warden, his wife. Worcester, Mass., 1901. (p 167)
• https://accessgenealogy.com/massachusetts/james-davis-of-haverhill-...
• WikiTree contributors, "James Davis (abt.1595-1679)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-941 : accessed 15 February 2024).
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Davis?iframe=yresults light green group, R-M269 “John Davis of Newbury, Mass”

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Is he the same as James Davis, of Haverhill ? Some think not.

Origins

John's will was made in April and proved on November 21, 1626, his son James being named principal heir and executor.

• 1. James probably born c 1590. In the will of his uncle Thomas, "Ite' I give to Janes Davis his children forty shillings". He was namedexecutor and principal heir in the will of his father dated in April 1626, the will also naning three of his children. James narried at Thornbury, Gloucestershire, June 11, 1618, Cicely Thayer. She was baptized in that parish, may 1, 1600, the daughter of Edward Thayer and Katherine Eddys. He was at Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1638, and at Haverhill in 1640, where he died on January 29, 1678; his wife died there may 28, 1673. They had, with other children:
  • 1. James, bagtized at Thornbury, July 4, l6l9, witnesses, Edward Thayer and Wills. Thurner. His grandfather left him __ shillings.
  • 2. John, baptized at Thornbury, January 28, 1620/1, witnesses John Thayer, Robert ffockes and Alice Harvest. He was left __ shillings by his grand­ father.
  • 3. Sarah, baptized at Acton Turville, December24, 1623. She was left 10 shillings by her grandfather.

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James Davis, John Davis and Sarah Davis, children of James Davis, son of John Davis d 1626

Abstract of will of JOHN DAVIS, Acton Turville, 1626
In the name of God Amen, I, John Davis of Acton Turville in the countye of Glouc., yeoma', sycke in bodye but of good and p'fect memory, do make thys my laste will and Testament in manner and form following. My bodye to be buryed in ye Churchyarde of Acton Turville aforesaide. It' I gyve unto my sonne Samyll in regard of one cowe whych . . . Item I gyve unto my sonne Thomas twelve pence. Item I guve unto . . . sonne twelve pence. Item I geve unto James Davys and John Davis my sonne James his sonness...shillings a peece. I gyve unto Sara my sonne James his daugher (ten shillings?). Item I gyve unto Sara my nowe wyfe on coffer. ffurther my will is that I...which I gyve unto my Sonn Samyll in regard of his...him bymy executor when he have served his apprentis...not then to remayne to my sonne James his children. It'l al the est of my goods moveable and unmoveable and ye executorsyeare of my lease...my sonne James Davys whome I make my executor of this my last will and testament. Also I do Intreate and Apoynt will p'formed...Apryll 1626. The marke of John x Davis.
Wytness to this will John Sloper Proved at Gloucester 21 November 1626

James is the Will executor with children and Samuel is still an apprentice. James must be oldest child

His wife Cicely died May 28, 1673, and James died January 29, 1679, aet 96. His will signed March 17, 1676, and proved November 5, 1680, contained an interesting reference to King Philip's War: "in these desolateing time; wherein ye Enimie seeks ye destruction of our New England Israel."[11]

Abstract of will of JOHN DAVIS, Acton Turville, 1626
In the name of God Amen, I, John Davis of Acton Turville in the countye of Glouc., yeoma', sycke in bodye but of good and p'fect memory, do make thys my laste will and Testament in manner and form following. My bodye to be buryed in ye Churchyarde of Acton Turville aforesaide. It' I gyve unto my sonne Samyll in regard of one cowe whych . . . Item I gyve unto my sonne Thomas twelve pence. Item I guve unto . . . sonne twelve pence. Item I geve unto James Davys and John Davis my sonne James his sonness...shillings a peece. I gyve unto Sara my sonne James his daugher (ten shillings?). Item I gyve unto Sara my nowe wyfe on coffer. ffurther my will is that I...which I gyve unto my Sonn Samyll in regard of his...him by my executor when he have served his apprentis...not then to remayne to my sonne James his children. It'l al the est of my goods moveable and unmoveable and ye executorsyeare of my lease...my sonne James Davys whome I make my executor of this my last will and testament. Also I do Intreate and Apoynt will p'formed...Apryll 1626. The marke of John x Davis.
Wytness to this will John Sloper Proved at Gloucester 21 November 1626

Children named in will: James, Samuel, Thomas, Samuel (the apprentice)
James is the Will executor with children and Samuel is still an apprentice. James must be oldest child.
James Davis, John Davis and Sarah Davis, children of James Davis, son of John Davis d 1626

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-2259
• Davis, Edwin Pountney. Davis, of Acton Turville, Gloucestershire: The Ancestry of James, Thomas and John Davis, who Settled in Newbury, Massachusetts c1638. (São Paulo, Brazil : privately published, 1984).; (document attached)
• https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cdavis2/