NameAlexander Davidson
Birth Date17431
Birth PlaceGloucester Co. VA
Court record Date17672 Age: 24
Court record PlacePrince William County, VA
Court record MemoDec. 1767 PWCCOB p. 65 The will of William Foster, dec'd. was presented by William Foster, executor and proven by James Bridges, Alexander Davidson & William Wyatt.( Abstracts by M. Ljungstedt)

Pr. Wm. Co. Bond Book p. 74 executor's bond dated Dec. 7, , 1767 with William Foster, James Bridges, Alexander Davidson & William Wyatt bound as securities for £ 100 for Wm. Foster, executor to make an inventory of William Foster, deceased. Signed: William Foster, James Bridges & William Wyat. (Alexander Davidson is a tracer name that migrates with the Bridges families from Pr. Wm. Co. into Orange Co. then to Rutherford Co. and on to Ky.)
Land Purch Date17723 Age: 29
Land Purch PlaceOrange County, NC
Land Purch MemoAlexander Davidson bought land there.
Court record Dateabt 17733 Age: 30
Court record PlaceOrange County, NC
Court record MemoIn 1771-5 (no date) Alex Davidson, John Davison, and Moses Bridges were among the inhabitants of the north part of Orange Co. who signed a petition to divide the county.
Tax list Date17773 Age: 34
Tax list PlaceOrange County, NC
Tax list MemoMoses Bridges was on the 1777 tax list in Orange County, North Carolina with Alexander Davidson
Reside Date17773 Age: 34
Reside PlaceOrange County, NC
Reside MemoJohn , James , and Moses Bridges-were in Nash District Orange Co. near the Granville Co.-line, in the area which became Caswell Co. in 1777.
Land Purch Date17783 Age: 35
Land Purch PlaceTryon Coounty, NC
Land Purch MemoMoses Davis purchased 500 acres of land adjacent Alexander Davidson
Tax list Date1782 Age: 39
Tax list PlaceRutherford Co., NC
Tax list MemoTax list. 225 acres. 5 slaves; 5 horses; 19 cattle. http://www.northcarolinagenealogy.net/downloads/1782.txt

In Capt. Vinsant’s Company with Moses Bridges, Aaron Bridges, James Tubbs, Aaron Gage.
Census Date1790 Age: 47
Census PlaceRutherford Co., NC
Census Memo2 males over 16; 4 males under 16; 5 females. 3 houses down form Moses Bridges.
2 males over 16 would be Alexander and Hezekiah who was born about 1773. The four males under 16 would be William, Elijah, Benjamin and Isaac. The 4 females would be Mary (Alexander’s wife), Ann, Margaret, Elizabeth and Sarah.
Rutherford County, N. Carolina 1790 U.S. Census, p. 144, [Ancestry.com]
Tax list Date10 Sep 1800 Age: 57
Tax list PlaceBarren County, KY
Tax list MemoBarren County, KY 1800 Tax List. Davidson surnames extracted from the county tax lists by K Davidson, http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/Dky1800.html
Land Purch Date18084 Age: 65
Land Purch PlaceBarren County, KY
Land Purch MemoDeed from Samuel Murrel to Alexander Davidson. “15 A. on Beaver Creek”, Barren County, KY Deed Book B, , p. 199.

Col. Samuel Murrell was born in Albemarle County, Va., and was one of the pioneers to this county at an early day. He settled about four miles southwest of Glasgow, near John Mayfield, Rev. Alexander Davidson and Haiden Trigg.

Email
From: "Patricia" <[email protected]>
Subject: Col. Samuel Murrell
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 22:20:00 -0500
Quoting from The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky. By Franklin Gorin. John P. Morton & Company Incorporated, 1929. Published originally in the Glasgow Weekly Times, 1870's. pp. 115-118.
Census Date1810 Age: 67
Census PlaceBarren County, KY
Census Memo1810 U. S. Census Barren County, KY [Ancestry] Indexed in Ancestry under Alxr Davison [I have made correction.] Image 33 of 33 on Ancestry. Page is torn and page number not on the page. Living adjacent Haiden Trigg.

4 males under 10 (Jacob Ellis, Asa Allen, Albert) 1 male 10 thru 15 (Abram), 2 males 16 thru 25 (Jesse and Isaac) and 1 male 26 thru 44 (Benjamin). 1 female 10 thru 15 (unidentified), 2 females 16 thru 25 (Elizabeth and Sarah) 1 female 26 thru 45 (Rachel Jones step daughter) and one female over 45 (Mary).
Death Date1817 Age: 74
Death PlaceBarren County, KY
Burial PlaceBarren County, KY
OccupationBlacksmith and farmer; Baptist preacher
EducationApprenticed
ReligionBaptist
FatherAlexander Davidson (-~1748)
MotherSarah Ellis (1717->1752)
Spouses
Death Dateabt 1782
Death PlaceRutherford Co., NC
Death MemoAlexander Davidson married Mary [Ellis] Jones on April 28, 1783. Elijah Davidson’s birthdate was 23 Feb 1782. It is very possible that Alexander’s first wife died either in childbirth or in the complications arising from childbirth.
FatherBridges
ChildrenJames (~1762->1817)
 John (~1769-1844)
 Alexander (~1765-<1849)
 Ann (~1780-)
 Hezekiah (~1773-~1841)
 William (1780-1843)
 Margaret (-<1849)
 Elijah (1782-1870)
Birth Dateabt 1765
Birth PlaceNorth Carolina
Birth MemoBirth date derived from Mary’s age on censuses.
Death Date18495 Age: 84
Death PlaceBarren County, KY
Death MemoFrom Chancery Court records of Barren County.
Marr Date28 Apr 1783
Marr PlaceRutherford County, NC
Marr MemoAt this point I have no proof of the date of the marriage other than a Davidson website and an Ellis website and neither website cites their sources.
Davidson website: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/4606/Ellis/pafg06.htm
Ellis website: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/4606/Ellis/pafg06.htm
However, if Elijah Davidson was born on 23 Feb. 1782, and Benjamin Davidson was born 3 April 1784, then a marriage date in 1783 makes sense. Mary [Ellis] Jones was the widow of a man named Jones with at least one daughter, Rachel Jones. Alexander was a head of a household with eight children ranging in age from about 20 to a year or less.
ChildrenBenjamin (1784-1832)
 Isaac (1786-1852)
 Elizabeth (-<1849)
 Abram (-1840)
 Jacob Ellis (~1802->1870)
 Asa (-<1849)
 Allen (-<1840)
Notes for Alexander Davidson
From the papers of Sonia Murry6:

“Family Histories Help to Backtrack Alex Sr. to His Birth”

In an “Ancestral Account” written in 1899, Ira F. Butler, a legislator, J.P. and county judge of Monmouth, Oregon, born in Barren County, KY. said that his late wife Mary Ann (22 April 1814 -- 22 June 1888) was a daughter of Elijah Davidson and Margaret Murphy, and a granddaughter of “Alexander Davidson of North Carolina. His wife was a Bridges.”

In 1901, Alexander’s granddaughter Laura Davidson Baird, (identified in Barren Co. Chancery Court documents as a daughter of his son Abram Spencer Davidson,) wrote a family history letter to to a cousin in which she stated that her grandfather, Alexander Davidson, a blacksmith, was born in Gloucester Co. Virginia in 1744; that he had brothers William and Phillip; that Alexander was apprenticed to a blacksmith; that one of the brothers was apprenticed to a tailor; that his first wife was a Miss Bridges; and that his second wife was Mary Ellis.6

________________________________________

Anna Bridges was the first wife of Alexander Davidson. They had eight children. The first child listed in his will was James. James Davidson had a daughter named Margaret. Margaret married Richard Tubb. And so on down the line to me. Alexander Davidson Sr. remarried after Anna died and sired eleven more children all named in his will. He was a Pvt. in the Revolutionary War. He was an ordained Baptist minister and established many churches in Warren Co.,Ky.(see church records Duke University N.C.) Alexander Davidson served as the Warren Co., delegate to the Second Constitutional Convention of Kentucky. He settled on Beaver Creek, near Glasgow, in the area which became part of Barren Co.,Ky in 1798. His will dated June 15, 1811 and probated in 1818 in Barren Co. Ky. His second wife was Mary Ellis she had a daughter by a previous marriage. All this in the will except the name of his first wife which is in the DAR Patriot Index which lists him and both wives by name. The Index has his date of birth as Jan. 31,1744.

From a letter by Katherine Davis to Genforum 15/02/1998 http://www.genforum.com

___________________________________

The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky. By Franklin Gorin.
John P. Morton & Company Incorporated, 1929. Published originally in the
Glasgow Weekly Times, 1870's. Chapter XXIX.

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF REV. ALEXANDER DAVIDSON. Of his parentage, place of his birth, and time, as well as of his birth, and time, as well as of his pursuits in early life, we are almost entirely ignorant. He was of Irish extraction and possessed many traits and peculiarities of that ancient and noble race. We have many reasons to believe that he was born in the State of North Carolina when it was a colony of Great Britain, and that he was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ before he emigrated to this county in the early part of the last century. He was married in North Carolina twice, but we don't know the maiden names of either of his wives. By his first wife he had nine children. After her death he married a second time to Mrs. Mary Jones, a widow with one child, a daughter named Rachel. By her he had ten children. In all, including his step-daughter, Rachel, he had twenty. Ten of them were born in Kentucky. Their names were Jesse, Allan, Abram, Jacob, Ellice, Asa, Rachel, Albert, Elizabeth, Sarah, James, John, Alexander, Hezekiah, William, Margaret, Elijah, Benjamin and Isaiah. He was fond of Scripture names, as is evident from the names of his children. He was survived by all of his children and by his second wife; by her for many years, until 1845. Jacob married Mary Winn, the daughter of Thomas Winn, for many years Justice of the Peace for Barren County. He is the only child now living. He and his wife with about twenty children are living in California. Sarah married George W. Holland, a shoemaker of Glasgow. Both are dead. Elizabeth married Dr. Benjamin Thruston, a teacher and a man of fine classical education. Both are dead. Benjamin married a Miss Depp, daughter of Wm. Depp, and Isaac married a Miss Dodd. All of the above left children, and two last, large families. We do not know who the others married. Some of them remained single. One or more of the sons became preachers. There were no more respectable citizens in Barren County. In this and in Warren county are many of their descendants living, esteemed generally. Alexander Davidson, as well as many of his children, was a stout, robust and muscular man, of much energy, with a sound, strong mind, industrious and trustworthy. As soon as he settled in this county, he commenced preaching, and aided by Carter Tarrant and J. Hightower, organizing churches. He organized the church of Sinking Creek in Warren County and was its pastor almost till his death, which occurred in 1817. Mount Tabor (originally called Beaver Creek) was organized at an early day, by him, Carter Tarrant and Wm. Hickman. He also assisted in constituting other churches. He was a zealous, industrious and active preacher, plain in his manner and address, faithful to the practices of the church. His walk was upright; he was honest, truthful and humble. He was a kind husband, father and neighbor and a humane master. He owned a number of slaves and other property, which was not, with the exception of a few legacies, distributed among his descendants until the death of his wife in 1845, the whole having been given to her during her life. He was a member of the convention which formed our second State constitution, on the 17th day of August, 1799 - being the only delegate from Warren County. He died on his farm in the forks of Beaver Creek and the South Fork, where he had resided many years. His descendants are scattered over the West and the South, only a few left in Kentucky.

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/Dzalexellis.html

______________________________________

MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION WHICH FRAMED THE SECOND CONSTITUTION OF KY, ASSEMBLED AT FRANKFORT, 17 AUG 1799:

Jefferson Co: Alexander S. Bullitt (President), Richard Taylor. Bourbon Co: John Allen, Charles Smith, Robert Wilmot, James Duncan, William Griffin, Nathaniel Rogers. Bracken Co: Philip Buckner. Campbell Co: Thomas Sandford. Clarke Co: Robert Clarke, R Hickman, William Sudduth. Christian Co: Young Ewing. Fayette Co: John Breckinridge, John McDowell, John Bell, H Harrison, B Thruston, Walter Carr. Franklin Co: Harry Innes, John Logan. Fleming Co: George Stockton. Garrard Co: William M. Bledsoe. Green Co: William Casey Harrison Co: Henry Coleman, William E Boswell. Jessamine Co: John Price. Lincoln Co: William Logan, N Huston. Logan Co: John Bailey, Reuben Ewing. Mason Co: Philemon Thomas, Thomas Marshall Jr, Joshua Baker. Mercer Co: Peter Brunner, John Adair, Thomas Allin, Samuel Taylor. Madison Co: Green Clay, Thomas Clay, William Irvine. Montgomery Co: Jilson Payne. Nelson Co: John Rowan, Richard Prather, Nicholas Minor. Shelby Co: Benjamin Logan, Abraham Owen. Scott Co: William Henry, Robert Johnson. Woodford Co: Caleb Wallace, William Steele. Washington Co: Felix Grundy, Robert Abell. Warren Co: Alexander Davidson.

TIP#93 - KENTUCKY GOVERNMENT  
Sandi Gorin  http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.kentucky.tips/4/mb.ashx
Court
Spotsylvania County Will Book B, p. 136, Bond.

Know all men by these presents that we, William Ellis, Thomas Blassingham and William Lewis, are held and firmly bound to Richard Tutt, Benjamin Grymio, Robert Jackson, William Hunter, Fielding Lews, and Charles Dick, Gent Justices of the Court of Spotslyvania County, now sitting in the sum of two hundred pounds Current money of Virginia to the payment whereof well and truly to be made to the said Justices and their Successors, we bind ourselves each of us our and each of hour heirs Executors and Administrators Jointly and severally firmly by these Presents, sealed with our seals this third Day of October in the year of our Lord 1752 and in the XXVI : year of the Reign of our Sovereign lord King George the Second

The condition of this Obligation is such that whereas the above bound William Ellis is appointed Guardian to Alexander Davidson Orphan of Alexander Davidson Deceased if therefore the said William Ellis guardian aforesaid his heirs Executors and Administrators shall well and truly pay or Cause to be paid to the said Orphan, all such Estate or Estates as now is Due or hereafter shall appear to be Due to the said orphan, when or as soon as the said Orphan shall attain to lawfull age, or when thereunto Required by the worshipful Justices aforementioned their heirs and Successors, as also save and keep harmless the said Justices their heirs and Successors from all troubles or Damages that shall or may arise about the said Estate or Estates, then this Obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to Stand, remain and be in full force power and virtue ___________

William Ellis (seal)

Sealed and Delivered) his
in the Presence of) Thomas B Blassingham
mark

his
William X Lewis
mark
At a Court held for Spotsylvania County on Tuesday October the Third 1756
William Ellsi Thomas Blassingham and William Lewis acknowledged this their Bond in Court which is ordered to be Recorded

Test W. Waller CLCur
Probate Admin
ret’d to this place
in October 17527

3 Dec. 1751, p. 141

Ordered that William Ellis pay unto Bloomfield Long, Jun. the Sum of Twenty Shillings for the sd Longs keeping and cloathing Alexander Davidson, an Orphan, out of the money in the hands of the sd Ellis That is due to the said Orphan.7

Tue ! Sep 1752, p. 197:

William Ellis Appeared in Court and rendered an Account of the Estate of Alexander Davidson Dec’ed in his hands, which being examined, was not Approved of by the Court And it Appearing that Alexander Davidson an infant son Heir at Law to the Deceased, hath no Guardian, it is ordered that Thomas Merry be Summoned to the next court to Inform the Court if he will take upon him the Guardianship of the said Infant.7

Dec. 4, 1754, p. 528

Alexander Davidson an Infant by William Ellis his Guardian, Plt. agst Mumford Stevens Defendt In Detinue This Day Came the Parties by their Attornies and on Motion of the Deft an Imparlance (deferment) till the next Court is Granted the Defendt.7

Definition of detinue form Wilipedia: In law, detinue is a common law remedy to obtain the return of chattels (personal property or portable property) that have been wrongly converted to the use of another person, or are being unlawfully withheld from a person with good title to the chattel. Unlike other remedies, detinue is not extinguished by the passage of time as long as the owner of the chattel pursues return of the chattel in a timely manner once he or she re-locates the chattels. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detinue
Family information

HISTORY OF THE DAVIDSON PAMILY

By Laura Davidson Baird-1901


Our great grandfather Davidson was a native of Scotland lineal descendant of an old Scotch Irish family. He emigrated from his native land in an early day, and located in Gloucester County, Virginia. before the days of the Revolution.

From the date of grand-father's birth, where they became identified with the Pioneer settlers and developments of the State he had two brothers, William and Phillip.

I have no information concerning the rest of grandfather’s family or their demise. One of his brothers was apprenticed to a tailor. Grandfather was apprenticed to a blacksmith. He was born in 1744 in Gloucester County, Virginia, and subsequently was united in marriage to a Miss Bridges, and to them were born six sons and two daughters. Their names are recorded in the old family Bible, which was published one hundred and twenty years ago (1779).

The names are first: James, John, Alexander, Hezekiah, William and Elijah; sisters: Margaret and Anna, but the dates of their birth are so torn and yellowed with age, they cannot be deciphered. I regret this very much, but know of no other record among our Davidson relatives that I could refer to. I have never seen any of Grandfather's children by his first wife. They moved to other states long before I came to Kentucky to reside with my dear father's mother. Record of the names of grandfather's children I have elsewhere stated that dates of births and deaths could not be deciphered in the family Bible, which is one hundred twenty-two years old.

The names of the (children of) first marriage will be given first: The eldest son was James, next, John Alexander, Hezekiah, William, and Elijah. Their two sister's names were Margaret and Anna. These six sons and two daughters constitute all of the family of the first marriage of the Elder Alexander Davidson; I will now pen the names of the children by the second marriage:

Benjamin, the first son, was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Depp. of Glasgow, Kentucky. To them were born seven children: Thompson Ellis, Joseph W, William and Alexander - their sisters were Elizabeth, Susan, and Mary Jane.

Jesse, the second son, was wedded to Miss Susan Depp, of Glasgow, Kentucky. Only one child was born to them, this child was named William Depp Davidson.

Isaac, the third son, was united in marriage to Miss Susan Dodd. I do not know the name of her father, but they reared a large family.

Date of Birth Date of Death
Isaac Davidson March 31 1786 September 16 1852
Susan Davidson June 15 1793 July 21 1862
Allen B Davidson April 24 1811 1835
Minerva B Davidson July 5 1812 November 24 1813 Albert J Davidson April 29 1814 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Isaac W Davidson March 8 1816 May 24 1873
Susan Ann Davidson October 18 1817 January 29 1845 James Alexander Davidson July 4 1819 September 6 1834
William Bradford Davidson May 4 1821 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sarah Emily Davidson May 14 1823 September 12 1824 Winston Franklin Davidson March 7 1825 July l885
Benjamin Haydon Davidson December 14 1826 January 6 1827
(Benjamin Haydon was buried at Evening Shade, Arkansas.)
John H Davidson September 21 1833 August 2 1834
Matilda C. Davidson September 21, 1836 February 19, 1905

Abram Spencer Davidson (the 4th son) was united in marriage to Miss Laura P Stoddard, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. To them were born: Adrianna Ittalla, Lorissa Almira, Laura Mary Melvina Fitzallen (Cousin Laura Baird) and a half-sister Elverah, Half brother Abram S. My father's last wife was Mariah E Landis, of Trenton, Tennessee.

Jacob Ellis Davidson, next son (5th) wedded Miss Mary Winn, a sister of Mr John Winn, the father of Mr Key Winn and Dr Smith Winn. They reared a large family of sons and daughters, fifteen in number. I do not know their names; they moved to Missouri in an early day, and from there to California.

Asa, the next son (6th) married Miss Amanda Gassaway. Only one daughter was born to them,named Mary, for his own mother. His wife passed away in Missouri. He and his daughter boarded with a kind lady She came in from milking her cows and found Uncle lying dead, supposed to be heart failure. Grandma was much affected over the sad news.

Next son, Allen (7th) never married. Died in the prime of life after a long confinement.

Albert, the last and youngest son (the 8th), died in California at the home of L B Hall. Aunt Holland, also, was with him all the time after leaving Kentucky.

Elizabeth, the eldest daughter by the last marriage was united in marriage to Dr Benjamin Thurston. He was one of the first classical teachers of Kentucky. To this union, two children Hannibal and Mary, were born. Mother and daughter both died in Missouri.

Sarah, sister of Elizabeth, married George W Holland. To them three children were born: Alfred Ellis, William, and Elizabeth P Holland (who) married L B Hall, who first went to Missouri,later to California.

Aunt Holland, Uncle Albert Bishop, and Elizabeth have all passed away, leaving a large family of sons and daughters, several of whom married and were doing well the last I heard from them.

Grandfather's first wife was a very pious lady, and she finally wished to unite with the Baptist Church. It was with reluctance that Grandfather gave his consent for her baptism. (At that time the was opposed to religion.) He only owned one horse, so he took his wife riding behind him to the baptismal waters, and as he rode home he said he felt like she was not his wife any more. Not long afterwards, he went with her to prayer meeting at church, to which an old colored brother was a member. He was absent on that occasion, and one of the brethren asked where he was. Grandfather rose to his feet, and replied that he did not know unless he was robbin' some one's hen roost.

Not a great while after this, he was convicted of his sinfulness and sought mercy at God's throne of grace; and eventually obtained that peace of mind this world can neither give nor take away. He subsequently became an eminent pioneer minister of the Gospels and was pastor of several churches in Virginia. Some years afterwards, the wife of his early manhood, the mother of his children, passed away, leaving him and the children very desolate. (I feel the loss of the dates of marriages and deaths of our loved ones but there is no remedy that I know of.)

Sometime after the demise of his first wife, he was wedded to Miss Mary Ellis, daughter of Jacob Ellis, and a grand-daughter of Abram Spencer. Her parents were of English descent and were natives of North Carolina.

In those early days of the Revolution, her father and his family, consisting of six sons and three daughters, were exposed to many hardships. The country was infested with Tories, who often robbed them of the little they had accumulated. On one occasion they came at night, searched her father's cabin, only found a few dollars and a pair of steelyards. Fortunately, her father had most of his money in the pockets of some old pants hanging to the wall, which escaped their notice. Often, they would be driven from their homes,perhaps get another cabin, built a few acres in cultivation, and be driven miles away

Grandma related to me many thrilling incidents in which her father and family passed through. When quite a girl, Grandma saw General George Washington crossing the James River with a company of soldiers. She never saw him afterwards. Subsequently, her father moved with his family to the state of Tennessee, in what is now called Trousdale County two miles beyond Hartsville, lived to a ripe old age, passed away in the year eighteen hundred. His youngest son, Presley Ellis lived to the age of 106 years, and had never taken a dose of medicine.

I have not the date of Grandfather's removal from Virginia to Kentucky. Doubtless was in an early day. Grandma told me Glasgow was a small town, and that calico was one dollar per yard;coffee one dollar per pound; and everything else in proportion.

Grandfather's home was three miles south of Glasgow. That community is now called South Fork,taking the name of the creek which ran through Grandfather's farm, which contained seven hundred acres. The neighbors were far apart. Col. George Murrell, who emigrated from Virginia was at one time Grandfather's nearest neighbor. He was the father of James, Schuyler, and Robert Murrell and his grandsons lived near Grandma's even during the days of my girlhood.

There were no better citizens to be found anywhere than those primitive settlers. Ere long, the Everett's, Sanders', Mayfield's, and many others, too tedious to mention, settled not very far from Grandfather's home. The neighbors were more devoted to each other then, than at the present time. Grandma told me that Grandfather's liberality knew no bounds. He never would let little Mill Boyd pass his home of evenings. Had him (and others) stay over night, and after breakfast start them on their way home, which, perhaps, was several miles distant.

Grandfather was a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention of the State of Kentucky. It must be remembered that Barren County at that date, was yet a part of Warren County (Ky).

With the aid of his sons and slaves that he brought from Virginia soon a plantation was cleared. Everything almost, in the way of clothing was made on the farm. Even the hides of beeves killed for family provision were tanned in large troughs down by the wide, flowing spring branch, for shoe leather, with sap bark. The hair, also, was utilized, mixed with cotton, carded, spun, and woven into blankets for the colored family.

A blacksmith shop was built close by and Grandfather did his own smithing, and some for others. On one occasion a widow lady sent her plows by her son, putting in some old castings in the wagon for Grandpa to use on her plows. It fretted Grandfather. He stopped to a briar, patch near by and tossed the old pot lids as far as he could send them. I told Grandma I imagined that Grandfather's Scotch temper rose. The old lady that sent them perhaps knew no better than to suppose that a blacksmith could use any kind of iron in his shop. (She knew better, afterwards, I imagine!)

Uncle Hezekiah, Grandfather's fourth son, was a splendid gunsmith and made many guns in those days. Grandma had a table made by him when they first came to Kentucky. The walnut timber was just hewn. He had neither saw nor plane to work with. Some may think this incredible,nevertheless, it is true. I had it from the lips of dear Grandma.

Uncle John Davidson (who was a chain carrier for Edmund Rogers) went to visit with a neighbor, who lived some distance across the creek from his home. He wished to borrow an augur. At late bedtime he started home, had not gone very far before he found he was pursued by a panther, which screamed. Uncle would turn and wave the augur to and fro at the panther, and scream back at him as loud as possible but still it followed on until the creek was reached. Uncle crossed over on the foot-log; I suppose in that way Uncle's life was saved, for he did not even have a pocket knife with him to defend himself. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ellis, a sister of Grandmother, much younger than herself. She was quite a Doctress, using medical herbs, performing many cures, and was held in high esteem in the community in which she lived. Uncle John was captured by the Indians; I don't know how long he was held a prisoner, but in their travels he had to sit in a circle with the Indians around a large kettle and take mouthfuls about with the Indians, using a large iron paddle. (When he was at home, he was particular; would not even use a spoon that his wife had used.) I told Grandma it was a bitter dose, but better than starving.

Cousin Hollie, I can not pen you all that I would wish to, but will write those incidents of most importance. If your children were small, they would enjoy much that I could tell them of the Indian language,but now something more important would be better. You must pardon my many errors, as well as the writing.

Cousin Allen Davidson's grandson visited me, wants a copy; said he would have it published in the Times. I don't feel competent to write anything for publication. I told him that I would write for him. I have borrowed the Baptist History Of Kentucky from your Cousin Phina Fishback, and will gladly make a few quotations from the first volume:

On page 384, Mt Tabor Church is located on Beaver Creek some two miles west of Glasgow in Barren County (Ky); it was fathered by Alexander Davidson and was constituted of seven members by the assistance of the famous old pioneers, William Hick-man and Carter Tarrant. November 5, 1798, Alexander Davidson was chosen pastor; John Murphy was elected clerk; and John Baugh was appointed to hold meetings in the absence of the pastor Alexander Davidson.

He was the first preacher that settled between Green and Barren Rivers. He was active in gathering the first churches in that region before any other preacher settled there, as well as afterwards. He was for a number of years pastor of Sinking Creek Church in Warren County, Kentucky. History also states (page 186) that Grandfather must have been a man of considerable prominence, as he represented Warren County in the Constitutional Convention that formed the second Constitutional Convention of Kentucky.

In 1792, delegates met and framed the first constitution which became effective on the first day of June thereafter. (I think it must have been the first constitution instead of the second.) That Grandfather was a delegate. It has been my understanding from childhood that is was the first Constitutional Convention of Kentucky. It must be remembered that in those early days Barren County was yet a part of Warren County.

Well, dear Cousin, my promise was long being fulfilled, bad health and many impediments prevented. I hope the perusal of what I have written will afford pleasure. I regret so much not having more of the early ministry of our beloved Grandfather. All the information from my dear Grandma and all obtained from her youngest sister's son, Cousin Carroll Johnson, of Hartsville,Tennessee, is treasured in my memory and shall be faithfully preserved for the benefit of our dear kindred.

In the early days of the year eighteen hundred, Grandfather visited Grandmother's father, Jacob Ellis, who resided fifty miles distant and on Sunday a stand was erected in Shady Grove for Grandfather to preach. A large congregation assembled and Grandfather's text was "is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?" It will be found in the book of Jeremiah, 8th chapter, and is a part of the 22nd verse. There were but few dry eyes in the congregation when preaching was over. How sad that this is the only text of Scripture we know that he used for a foundation for his sermon. I heard Grandma say that she went with him to preaching at Mt Tabo on one occasion and in his sermon he quoted a passage from the Bible and some minister corrected him, quoting it some other way. Grandpa said, "No, it is not," and went on as though he had not been interrupted at all with his discourse. I have no authentic knowledge of the date of his demise. Had I ever had the least idea of being called upon to write anything in memory of him, I could have gathered so much information from dear Grandma. It is strange that I never heard Aunt Holland mention anything concerning her father's ministry, but I never did. Several of Grandfather's sons by his first marriage came with him to Kentucky. Uncle William and Uncle Hezekiah both owned homes in the vicinity of Prewitt's Knob. I have been at both farms. I have a little nephew laid to rest at the former home of Uncle William Davidson by the side of one of his sons.

In 1828, my father visited his widowed mother and his two brothers living near Prewitt's Knob. I don't know where Uncle Elijah Davidson lived, but he was a Baptist minister and frequently held services at Mt Tabor Church. He was the youngest son by the first marriage. In after years, he moved to Oregon Territory. He passed away while Aunt Holland was residing in California. She wrote me about all I ever knew after he left Kentucky. I infer he had a large family of sons and daughters, but they never knew their Kentucky kindred, and never corresponded with any of them. I think all that spell their names as we do are Grandfather's descendants. By his first marriage, he had six sons and two daughters; and by his second marriage, eight sons and two daughters, making eighteen children. All united in marriage and reared families, but his two youngest sons, Allen and Albert.

Uncle Jesse went to Mississippi after the death of his wife and son. We never heard from him any more. Uncle Asa passed away in Missouri; Uncle Jacob Ellis Davidson in California. He had fifteen children. Uncle Isaac in Kentucky, had fifteen children; several died in infancy. Uncle Benjamin had seven; A S Davidson my father, had five i one passed away in infancy. I cannot remember them all.

The purpose of the preceding pages of the manuscript is to give my Davidson relatives the little knowledge I am in possession of concerning our grandparents. I am now the only living grandchild different states in the state, so far as I know. We have Davidson relatives in many of the different states. I have read much in the papers. I doubt not but we are distantly related to many that we read about (o ). While we do not claim perfection, even naturally, for any of the name; yet I have never heard of one of the name stooping to littleness of character. 34

They are honorable in character, high-minded, independent and trustworthy, as every citizen should be. I esteem good character high above riches. It is something that wealth of this world cannot buy.

In the pioneer days, many hardships had to be encountered. Grandma related to me many thrilling scenes she passed through in the days of her girlhood. I never tired listening, and although I have passed my eightieth birthday, much that she related to me is still vivid in my memory. None but our dear relatives would care for their perusal, so unless requested to do so I shall not commit them to paper.

I notice, dear Cousin, in the paper all that is published concerning the Davidsons; their ancestors came from Scotland and most generally emigrated either to Virginia or North Carolina. That convinces me that we are all one people. I wrote so late yesterday eve I see this morning I did not follow the lines; but I know you won't "view me with the critical eye, but lovingly pass my imperfections by! I will try to finish up this morning and redeem my promise of long ago. I am nervous at times and often my right arm pains me from the shoulder to the end of my fingers. I will try to finish now concerning Grandfather's descendants.

His family by his first and second marriage, and I cannot but speak of the love and kindness that my dear Grandmother bestowed upon me; truly, can I say she was the only mother I ever knew,my own dear mother dying when I was but a babe. Her love and her affection was returned, I remember, as long as she lived. Doubtless, death to her was the gate of endless joy. If she had a fault, her loved ones could not see it. Aunt Holland, her widowed daughter, Cousin Joe Davidson*Mr William Murrell, and others, were present during her illness, with us much of the time,and many others that have long since passed to that bourne from whence no traveler returns. Oh, I can never forget how desolate I felt when Grandmother breathed her life away, to be doubly orphaned, indeed. She had no fear of death. She had been a member of the Baptist Church more than half a century. She told me that she had never closed her eyes in sleep all those years without trying to thank the Lord for the salvation of her soul.

The words came to her, as if spoken in deep distress of mind, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and live." But is she dead? Not No! She lives, her happy spirit flies to Heaven above and there receives the long expected prize. She was laid to rest by the side of her loved husband who had passed to the bright beyond nearly forty years before.

I have lived in the state of Kentucky since 1840, and I have passed the time often in much sadness; yet I feel that the goodness and mercy of God bas followed me all the days of my unworthy life, even to the present moment. Many sad changes have taken place since I visited the home of my girlhood. The old homestead all gone; the family burial ground, I trust, has been reserved. There sweetly sleep until the Resurrection morn many of our loved ones. Our dear Grandparents, Uncle Benjamin Davidson and beloved wife, together with many other loved ones whom I cannot name. There sweet be their rest till He bids them arise to hail Him in triumph descending the skies.

Often in the days of my girlhood, I have taken my knitting and sat near the graves of my loved ones, under the foliage of the old apple tree.

My days at Grandma's for months after my arrival from Trenton, Tennessee, were extremely melancholy. Shadowed by the death of my beloved father, separated from each of my sister*,little half-brother$ stop-mother, and my dear schoolmates, my whole life being spent in Trenton, where I attended church and Sabbath-school every Sunday. Oh, how lonely and desolate seemed the change - not a white child on the farm.

I was too young to know how to guide a horse, even had I have had the privilege. I shed many tears, unseen only by the God of the orphans, and the broken-hearted. I loved my dear Grandmother; she was ever kind and so loving to me. And I lament my many faults. (This letter-history was written for Mrs Clinton Bybee.)
Will
The Will of ALEXANDER DAVIDSON 
Kentucky Barren County June 15th 1811 
In the name of God Amen The fifteenth of June One thousand and eight hundred and eleven and of the Independence of America the thirty fifth year I Alexander Davidson being in good health and of perfect memory but calling to remembrance the mutability of things sublunary and that all flesh must yield to the Destiny of nature when it shall please God to call: do make, ordain, constitute, and declare this my last will and testament, revoking and annulling by these presents all and every Testament or Testaments, Will or Wills by me heretofore made and declared either by word or writing and this only to be taken for my last Will and none other. And first. I resign my soul to God who gave it in hopes of a happy immortality through the mediation of my Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to be decently interred at discretion and of settling my Temporal estate I do order, give and dispose of the same as follows to wit And first I will that all those Debts I owe in Right, to any person or manner of persons shall be paid at a convenient time after my Decease by my Executors hereafter named. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary my real and personal estate during her natural life under the following restrictions to wit; That as the several Legatees hereunder named shall come of age the said Mary shall give them as followeth, to my son Jesse Davidson thirty pounds in Stock and household furniture, the said Mary shall give in like Stock and furniture as above mentioned to Abram, Jacob, Ellice, Asa, and Alan Albert Davidson and my Daughter Elizabeth and Sarah Davidson the sum of fifty pounds to each of them; should my wife Mary Decease before the above Legatees or Any of them be entitled to and receive the above sums they shall nevertheless receive their respective shares of fifty pounds before an equal division shall take place but at my said wifes death and after the said Legatees whether of age or marriage have received their portions heretofore assigned assigned them Then the remainder of my real and personal Estate shall be divided as follows to wit, Equally between all my sons and Daughters and Step Daughter namely, James, John, Alexander, Ann, Hezekiah, William, Margaret, Elijah, Benjamin, Isaac, Elizabeth, Jesse, Sarah, Rachel, Abram, Jacob, Ellis, Asa, Alen, and Albert Davidson. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my Dear and loving wife Mary and my Sons Alexander, Hezekiah and Benjamin Davidson my Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament. 
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the date first written. 
Signed sealed and declared Alexander Davidson (LS)
signed sealed and declared in the presents [sic] of testators
George Murrell
William Trigg
William Depp
Clement Montage (Montague?)8
Last Modified 16 Feb 2009Created 16 Feb 2009 using Reunion for Macintosh