James Davys

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-2259

James Davis was of Acton Turville, Gloucestershire, England.[1] The name of his father is unknown, though he is likely the brother Edmund Davis and John Davis who are also found in Acton Turville at the same time. What is known of him comes from the administration of his estate, the will of his wife. The parish register of Acton Turville does not exist before 1665 making reconstruction of this family difficult.

James Davis died presumably shortly before 27 November 1579 when Letters of Administration of the goods of James Davis, "late whilst he lived at Turvill Acton were committed to Agnes Davis his wife." The phrasing indicates he may have also lived elsewhere at some point in his life.

His wife Agnes Davis died in 1589 leaving a will naming a son John, a son Robert, a son Thomas, a daughter Deene, son-in-law John Wollen, Dorothy Wollen, Robert Wollen, Jane Wollen, and Prudence Davis.

The will of Edmund Davis names the children of John Davis and James Davis which is the primary reason for supposing three were brothers.

Family

Name: James Davis, of Acton Turville, Gloucestershire, England, yeoman.
Birth

Born: About 1535 in Acton Turville, Gloucestershire, England.

Marriage and Children

Married: Agnes Unknown

Children of James and Agnes Davis:

1. Dorothy Davis Born say 1560. She was likely the oldest as she was the only married daughter in the will of her mother, and her husband was made overseer of her mother's will in 1587. She married John Wollen and had three known children.
2. John Davis. Born say 1562. Oldest son. He was the principle heir and executor of the will of his mother in 1587.
3. Robert Davis. Born say 1564. Named in the will of his mother.
4. Thomas Davis. Born say 1566. Next son named in the will of his mother.
5. Deenes Davis. First daughter named in the will of her mother. She was unmarried at the time.
6. Margaret Davis. Named as a daughter of James Davis in the will of her uncle Edmond Davis in 1577. She is not named in the will of her mother in 1587.

Death

Died: Before 27 November 1579 in Acton Turville, Gloucestershire, England.
Date Letters of Administration were granted on his estate.

Note

He was a yeoman.

https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cdavis2/

The English Roots

The Davis Lineage traces its roots back to Acton-Turville, Gloucestershire, England. The family members are believed to descend from a man with the surname Davys, living in Acton-Turville in the late 15th century. The Military Survey of Gloucestershire, 1522 lists two men with this surname in Acton-Turville: John Davys and Thomas Davys alias Smyth, one of whom was most likely the man in question. He would have been born about 1500 and had at least five children, James, Edmund, John, and Robert, and a daughter whose name is unknown.

James Davys, born about 1535, lived in feudal England and was likely a farmer. He married a woman named Agnes and had three sons: John, Robert, Thomas, and three daughters: Deenes, Dorothee, and Margaret. They maintained the family heritage and were all farmers (or farmers wives!) probably ecking out a meager existence on family lands in Gloucestershire.

John Davis, born about 1560, carried on the tradition as well. Sometime in his life, he probably moved from Acton-Turville to Marlborough, west of London. He married Agnes Chandler and had six children: James, John, Thomas, Samuel, Ephraim, and Alice, not necessarily in that order. These children lived in an exciting time! A New World had been discovered and much of it had been claimed for England. James, John, and Thomas decided to make it their home.

The surname of DAVIS was a baptismal name 'the son of David' from the nickname Davy. An ancient Welsh personal name.

Early records mention Richard Davi, who was documented in 1273, County Somerset. William Davy, was recorded in Oxfordshire in the same year Johannes Dauyson of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. John Davyson married Elizabeth Bella at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1526.

This well known English and Welsh name is associated with Mallow in Ireland.

The name has been perennially popular in honour of the biblical king of the name, the greatest of early kings of Israel, and led to this being a given name throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Its popularity increased in Britain firstly by virtue of its being the name of the patron saint of Wales (about which very little is known); he was probably a 6th century monk and bishop, and secondly because it was borne by two kings of Scotland (David I reigned 1124-53 and David II 1329-71). Its popularity in Russia is largely due to the fact that this was the church name adopted by St. Gleb (died.1015) one of the two sons of Vladimir, duke of Muscovy, who were martyred for their Christian zeal.

At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. The origin of badges and emblems, are traced to the earliest times, although, Heraldry, in fact, cannot be traced later than the 12th century, or at furthest the 11th century. At first armorial bearings were probably like surnames and assumed by each warrior at his free will and pleasure, his object being to distinguish himself from others. It has long been a matter of doubt when bearing Coats of Arms first became hereditary. It is known that in the reign of Henry V (1413-1422), a proclamation was issued, prohibiting the use of heraldic ensigns to all who could not show an original and valid right, except those 'who had borne arms at Agincourt'. The College of Arms (founded in 1483) is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

The arms were registered at Kill, County Kildare.

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). (link to document)
• https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cdavis2/