(This page is a work in progress)
Absalom Davis was likely born in Virginia to Richard and Elizabeth Davis. In his Will, which was probated in Granville County, NC in 1761-2, Richard states that he was from Caroline County, Virginia. His Will is available from several sources and has provided many researchers with countless hours of deciphering due to the poor handwriting and grammar found in the Will. Here is one of the better sources of research regarding Richard Davis and his family.
Per Richard Davis's Will, the children of Richard and Elizabeth Davis are:
- Keziah married Davenport
- Patience married Tynes
- Judy
- Sophia married Yancy
- Augustine
- Cyrus
- Soloman
- Gideon
- Absalom
- Zachariah
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ABSALOM DAVIS
According to T. Mark James, Absalom was married twice. His first wife he married about 1736 had the first name Keziah (lnu) who bore him 9 children and then about 1759 he married Nancy/Ann Hackney who bore him 3 more children.
It appears that Absalom accompanied his father to Granville County, NC and after his father's death, he likely moved to the Abbeville District of SC where he lived until the beginning of the American Revolution. He then moved across the Savannah River into the Indian frontier of Georgia. We have Revolutionary War service records for many of his sons but it is likely that all of his sons served in some capacity.
The known children of Absalom per his Will (1807, Elbert County, GA):
- Absalom Jr. - We have records of his service in the Revolutionary War; his name can be found on the Kettle Creek Battlefield Monument and the soldiers Monument near downtown Elberton. We have his Will and land records.
- Augustine - Died about 1806 (Note that Augustine Davis the brother of Absalom Davis, Sr. died about 1785). We have Wilkes County land records for him and probably his uncle Augustine.
- Chesley - We have records of his service in the American Revolution and we have land records.
- Frederick - No information found. May have remained in VA or NC.
- Gideon - We have records of his service in the American Revolution; died about 1801; wife and son (Milly and Joseph) were administrators of his estate. We have land records.
- Joseph - No information found. May have remained in VA or NC.
- Lewis - We have records of his service in the American Revolution; Married Sarah (lnu); Died about 1791 in Elbert County. We have land records.
- Richard - Married Lucy Hackney (daughter of William Hackney) in 1761 in Middlesex County, VA. May have remained in VA or NC.
- Wiley - We have records of his service in the American Revolution. We have land records.
- Nancy (Ann) - Married Colonel John Cunningham, noted officer of the Patriot forces of the American Revolution. We have numerous records.
- Cheriah - Married Wooldridge. We have records for the WOOLDRIDGE family.
So, these are 11 of the 13 children that researchers claim to be the offspring of Absalom Davis. We do not know the birthdates of any of these children so it is not possible to determine which of his two wives birthed them. Other names noted in his will are Lucy Howard, Lucy B. Wooldridge (no relationship named), and Nancy Davis (Granddaughter). Most of these children were living, or had lived, in Wilkes (later Elbert) County at the time of Absalom's death.
One glaring ambiguity in Absalom's Will is that Augustine, Gideon and Lewis all appear to have died well before Absalom's Will was recorded in 1807. Two possible explanations for this are that his Will may have been written well before it was actually put into record or there are sons of Absalom's brother Augustine that had the same name. More research is needed to confirm dates and names.
Regarding his daughter Nancy (my line), it is important to note that Absalom names his daughter Nancy Cunningham not Ann Cunningham in his Will. In every one of the documents that I have seen, including her widow's pension application, the wife of John Cunningham is consistently noted to be Ann Cunningham; However, there is one document which may prove that Ann Davis Cunningham and Nancy Davis Cunningham are the same person: The April 4, 1788 land transaction between John Cunningham and Abel Tatom (Tatum).[1][2] This document appears to have been signed by or for John Cunningham and Nancy Cunningham. There are other land transactions where John and his wife Ann are both noted as the seller so this is consistent with his wife's name being listed in the document but this is the only document I have seen that appears to show her name as Nancy - a strong indication that she was in fact the daughter of Absalom Davis, Sr.
This document also has the name Gibson Wooldridge. In his Will, Absalom Davis, Sr. lists a Chiriah Wooldridge as one of his daughters; However, she does not appear to be the wife of Gibson - Gibson's wife was Lucy.
(Georgia Archives, Microfilm)
Also, in her Revolutionary War widow's pension application, Ann Cunningham states that four of her brothers served with her husband John Cunningham. My interpretation of this statement is just what it states and no more: Four of her brothers served with John Cunningham. It does not mean that only four of her brothers served in the Revolutionary War; In fact, most likely, all of her brothers served and perhaps even her father as well, although Absalom Sr. may have been too old to be an actual foot soldier.[3] Her statement implies that four of her brothers served with her husband, John Cunningham. This statement is further evidence of Nancy/Ann Davis is the woman that married Colonel John Cunningham.
Absalom Jr., Chesley, Lewis and Wiley are likely the 4 brothers that Ann notes as having served with her husband John Cunningham. The records for Gideon indicating that he also served confuse the matter since he would make 5 brothers not 4 but there may have been an error in the transcription or Ann simply may have misspoke or forgotten that one one of her brothers served (especially if one of them only served a short time and did not materially participate). To me, it does not appear that her father served as he may have been too old and more likely he may have only supported the cause by providing supplies and food rather than serving as an actual arms-bearing soldier. We also have the ambiguity of Augustine, Gideon and Lewis having died before Absalom's Will was recorded which shows them possibly as still living.
Regarding the sons of Absalom, we have numerous Georgia Land grants for Chesley, Lewis, Wiley and Gideon and we have the Revolutionary War Pension application of John Bynum (S3111) showing Lewis and Chesley in the Georgia Militia (pension app also notes Colonel John Dooly and Major Elijah Clarke).
Fold3.com and Ancestry.com
5th SC Regiment (Militia)
Absalom Davis (No rank shown; Muster form dated Nov 2, 1778)
(Probably Absalom Jr.)
(Probably Absalom Jr.)
Chesley Davis (Listed as Davies; No rank shown; Muster form dated June 11, 1776)
Chesley Davis, 5th SC Regiment
(Fold3)
(Fold3)
Gideon Davis (Listed as Davies; No rank shown; Muster form dated June 11, 1776)
Gideon Davis, 5th SC Regiment
(Fold3)
Lewis Davis (Listed as Davies; Rank of Sergeant; Muster form dated June 11, 1776)
Lewis Davis, 5th SC Regiment
(Fold3)
Wiley Davis (Might be the William Davis shown in the 3rd SC Regiment)
CAROLANA.COM
Absalom Davis
Chesley Davis (Listed as Csiesley Davies)
Gideon Davis (Listed as Davies)
Knight's Georgia Roster of Revolutionary War Soldiers
Absalom Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated Feb 2, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Absalom Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated March 25, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Chesley Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated Feb 2, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Gideon Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated Feb 2, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Lewis Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated Feb 2, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Wiley Davis is listed in a certificate for bounty land dated Feb 2, 1784 from Elijah Clarke
Note: There are 3 other Davis men (James, Joel and Samuel) that also received certificates from Elijah Clarke on the same day (Feb 2). Are these men related? Are they sons of Augustine? Why is there no record for Augustine?
Pay Records (revwarapps.org)
Chesley Davis (listed as Chisleu) was paid for 241 days Militia Duty in South Carolina commencing in 1779 per Captain Joseph Calhoun and James Caldwell. Note: This is likely Captain James Caldwell whose sister married Patrick Calhoun the uncle of Captain Joseph Calhoun. Patrick Calhoun was the famous South Carolinian that was a noted Whig leader in the Abbeville/Ninety Six area.
Wiley Davis was paid for 75 days Militia duty per Captain Joseph Calhoun beginning in 1779.
Captain Joseph Calhoun and Captain James Caldwell were both officers of the 5th SC Regiment - a fact that supports the documents found on fold3.com and ancestry.com. See Kettlecreek Battleground memorial monument below.
Pension Application of John Bynum (S3111)
This man notes that Lewis and Lt. Chesley Davis were in command of his unit in 1779 while in the service chasing the Indians (that killed a man named John Barnett and others and kidnapped a Mrs. Webb?). He volunteered in Wilkes County, Georgia in 1777. He notes he was also under the command of a Captain Davis in 1779 but does not mention his first name. Most of his duty appears to have been building forts and guarding the frontier. Captain John Dooly is mentioned.
1827 Georgia Land Lottery
One the same page (Captain Tucker's District), we have a listing for a Nancy Davis as the widow of a Revolutionary War soldier and a listing for the orphans of Absalom Davis. We have the 1814 Will (Elbert County) of an Absalom Davis which names his wife Nancy and several children. This is likely referring to Absalom Davis, Jr.
Monuments/Memorials
We have 2 Revolutionary War monuments with relevant names: The Kettle Creek Battle site and the Elbert County City Monument.
(Courtesy Elbert County, GA)
Elbert County Memorial
Erected in 1994
(Courtesy Elbert County, GA)
The monument above shows Absalom Davis, Jr., who is the brother of Nancy/Ann Davis Cunningham. The names of her father and her brothers do not appear here nor does Colonel John Cunningham's name.
(Author photo, 2016)
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ABSALOM DAVIS FAMILY DOCUMENTS
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[1] Most of these original land documents do not appear to have actual signatures but are signed "for" the grantor by a clerk or some other official. In this case, it appears that Nancy's name was abbreviated or perhaps the clerk was simply in a hurry and misspelled her last name. It is noteworthy that the name Cunningham was often spelled as two separate words in several of these documents including this one - IE, Cunning ham.
[2] Georgia Archives microfilm for Wilkes County Deeds, reel 43-31; Michael Martin Farmer, Wilkes County, Georgia, Deed Books A-VV, 1784-1806, (Farmer Genealogical Company, 1996) p.151
[3] Many men who were too old to handle the rigors of combat often participated by supplying food and supplies to nearby forts and garrisons or they drove wagons which carried supplies. By my estimate, Absalom Davis, Sr. would have been in his sixties when the Revolutionary War began.
[4] John Wansley's son Reuben married the daughter of Colonel John Cunningham and Nancy/Ann Davis.
(This page was updated on 10/2/2021)