Robert Davis, of Yarmouth

http://bigelowsociety.com/rod2005/davis05.htm

Robert Davis, born Abt.1608; died April 14, 1688 in Barnstable, MA; married (1) Mary Unknown; born 1612 in England; married (2) Ann ( ) Abt 1638 in Bamstable MA; born Abt.1620 in England; died Aft. May 05, 1699 in Barnstable, MA..

Robert Davis was born in 1608 in England. He came from South Hampton in 1638 as servant to Peter Noyes. Robert moved to Yarmouth, MA in 1643, where he married Ann. They moved to Barnstable, MA in 1645 where Ann became a member of the church in 1685. Robert’s will was written on April 14, 1688 and probated June 29, 1693. Ann was born in 1608 and died in 701. Her will was written May 6, 1699 and probated on April 1, 1701. They had the following children.

1. Deborah Davis, born January 1645 at Yarmouth, married Thomas Green, and died in 

    1736.

2. Mary Davis, born April 28, 1648 in Barnstable, married Benjamin Dexter and died in

    Yarmouth.

3. Andrew Davis, born March 1650

4. John Davis, born March 1, 1652

5. Robert Davis, born August 1654 and married Sarah Archer

6. Josiah Davis, born September 1656, married Anne Taylor and died in 1710.

7. Hannah Davis, born September 1658, married a Dexter

8. Sarah Davis, born October 1660, married Joseph Young

9. Joseph Davis, see below 10 Mercy Davis married 1st Nathaniel Young and 2nd Nathaniel Mayo.

Disambiguation

Disconnected from parents Ichabod Davis and Suzy Davis on 12/2015 by Hatte R. Blejer. It's unlikely that he was related to Dolar Davis or that either of these American Davises were connected to the Northamptonshire Davises. Dolar appears to have been from Kent and Robert from wherever Peter Noyes was from perhaps, namely "WEYHILL, or Penton-Grafton, a parish, with a village, in Andover district, Hants; 3 miles W by N of Andover r. station".

Two of the name of Robert Davis came over. Robert of Sudbury, born in 1609, came (with Margaret Davis, perhaps his sister, aged 26) in 1638, in the confidence of Southampton as servant of Peter Noyes, and died 19th July, 1755, aged 47 at the hands of Indians. He had a wife Bridget who survived him, and daughters Rebecca and Sarah ; the Latter born 10th April, 1646. Now these two constantly getting mixed up. The one attached to this profile is Robert Davis of Yarmouth, not Robert of Sudbury. Robert of Sudbury Wife Remarried to Thomas King five years after Robert of Sudbury was killed by the Indians. Robert of Sudbury has his own profile as he should, the one for this profile though is Robert of Yarmouth and the rest of this story will only talk about him.

This Robert Davis was NOT married to Ann Kingman.

Biography

Parents are unknown.

Last names of his wives are unknown.

Robert was born about 1619 in England. Robert's will is dated 14 Apr 1688 and Robert died probably 29 Jun 1693 in Barnstable, MA, bequeathing to his wife Ann and children. I found this above passage at http://genealogical-gleanings.com/Puritans.htm under the heading of Puritan Ancestors

I am thinking this is the same Robert Because he was married to an Ann and his Death Date is the same as the Will Date Above.

Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of America found this entry:

Robert Davis of Yarmouth , 1643. or earlier, had Deborah, born January, 1646; Mary, May 28, 1648; Andrew, May, 1650; John, March 1, 1652; Robert Jr., August 1654; Josiah, September, 1656; Hanna, September, 1658; Sarah, October, 1660; and Tristram. Perhaps Sarah married October 23, 1679, Joseph Young.

Found this in Barnstable Massachusetts Vital Records Volume 4 page 222:

[p.408] Robert Davis his Children their births. His daughter Deborah born January 1645, Daughter Mary born in 1648, his son Andrew born in May 1650, John of March 1652, Robert in August of 1654, Josiah September 1656, Hannah September 1658, Sarah in October 1660.

DAVIS.

ROBERT DAVIS

Some of the descendants of Robert Davis* have supposed that he was the first who settled in that part of Barnstable known from early times as Old town. But this is a mistake. He was not the first nor the second- Rev. Stephen Bachiller and his company, settled there in the winter of 1637-8. William Chase owned a farm there very early, probably in 1639, certainly June 8, 1642, when he mortgaged a part of it to Stephen Hopkins. He sold out
before 1648. In the division of the fences that year, it appears that the fence on the south boundary of his land extended seventy rods. In 1648, the Old town lands were owned by the following persons, in the following order, beginning on the east at Stony Cove, as the mill-pond was then called: 1st, Mr. Thomas Allyn 25 acres, Mr. Andrew Hallett 8, Goodman Isaac Wells 9, Goodman James Hamblin 9, Mr. John Mayo 7, Thomas Huckins 1, Goodman Rogers Goodspeed 2, Mr. Henry Coggin 4, Samuel House (or Howes) 4, the Sachem Nepoyetam 30, and the Sachem Cacomicus 10. The quantities here given included only the cleared lands fit for planting. Forest, swamps, and meadows, were not probably included in the measurement. In January, 1648-9, the grist mill now known as Hallett's water-mill, had been built and the. division of the fences commenced at the mill. Mr. Allyn had purchased largely, and Samuel Hinckley seven acres. Mr. Hallett, Mr. Coggin, and Cacomicus, had sold out. After this date, the records furnish no means of tracing the ownership of these lands.

Robert Davis' name appears on the list of those who were able to bear arms in Yarmouth in August, 1643. He married, in 1646, and his daughters Deborah and Mary were born in Yarmouth the latter April 28, 1648. The birth of his son Andrew

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OP BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 277

In May, 1650, is on the Barnstable, and not on the Yarmouth return, which fixes the date of his removal with sufficient exactness. Excepting of the births of his children, the earliest entry I find of his name on the records, is 12th May, 1657, when a grant of "a parcel of common land" in the New Common Field was made to him, lying between the lands of Goodman Cobb and Goodman Gorham. He was admitted a freeman of the Colony in 1659.

Robert Davis was not a man of wealth, was not distinguished in political life, nor was he ever entitled to the then honorable appellation of "Mister;" he was "An honest good man, And got his living by his labor, And Goodman Shelly* was his neighbor." His character for honesty and industry he transmitted to his posterity. His lands were not recorded in 1654. His farm in 1639, was included within the bounds of Yarmouth, and with the exception of a small lot owned by Robert Shelly, was bounded on the west by Indian Lane — the original boundary between the towns — on the east, his farm was bounded by the lands of Joseph Hallett, and on the south by Dead Swamp, including the narrow strip between the present road and that swamp. The easterly part of his farm was a part of the William Chase farm. The westerly part he bought of the town, of the Indians, and of James Gorham, and the south was a part of the great lot of Thomas Lumbert's His house, in 1686, was not on the present County road, but on the higher ground north, of the swamp where the first road probably passed. In 1686, the house of Robert Shelly was the next west of that of Robert Davis, and both appear to have been on the north of the swamp. In that year the town granted Goodman Shelly was a very worthy, unambitious man, "a rolling stone that gathers no moss" — in other words, he was often removed from place to place, and was always poor. His wife. Goody Shelly, was a Bay lady, and a cobbler would say of her, was "high in the instep." If Mrs. Lothrop or Mrs.. Dominick had a party, if she was not an invited guest, she took great offence, and her seat at church on the following Sabbath would be vacant. Rev. Mr. Lothrop complains bitterly of this trait in her character.

X All the descendants of Robert Davis for eight successive generations, have been noted for their honest dealings and industrious habits. Of the whole number, I find only one whose character for integrity was doubted by his neighbors. Cornelius Davis, I presume, was a descendant of Robert, though the evidence is not satisfactory. He was not reported honest. Perhaps his habit of carrying an Indian basket on his back was no credit to him. It, however, is said that other peoples' goods got into that basket. Whether or not these reports were slanderous I cannot say ; but this much is certain, he did not enjoy an unspotted reputation for honesty and integrity in his dealings. There is something in untraceable nor even now, the character of the ancestor can be traced in the child of the ninth generation.

§ Thomas Lumbert's great lot was all finally owned by the descendants of Robert Davis. In 1664, the western part was owned by Samuel Hinckley, and the eastern part by the widow of Nicholas Davis. Robert Davis appears to have owned the north-easterly part of the Lumbert lot.

278 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.

Shelly a part of the swamp, and Robert Davis sold him "a small portion of land," so that Shelly's lands was afterwards bounded south by the present highway. This addition was made where the late Capt. John Easterbrook's' old house now stands. Fifty years ago John, Abner, and Elisha T. Davis, sons of Joseph, owned all Robert Davis' lands on the north of the highway.

Robert Davis died in 1693. His will is dated April 14', 1688, and proved June 29, 1693. He names his wife Ann. To his son Joseph he devises the land in the New Common Field, which he bought of the Indians ;|| and to Josiah he devises the two acres of land in the Common Field, which the town granted to him in 1657. He also names Josiah's house lot, now owned by Lot Easterbrook's. He also names his son Andrew, to whom he gave five shillings, and his son Robert ; also his daughters Deborah Geere, Sarah, Mercy, Mary Dexter, and Hannah Dexter. His estate was apprised at £75,13, a small sum ; but it must be remembered that money had not then been depreciated, and that land at that time was not valuable.

His widow, Ann Davis, died in 1701. Her will is dated May 5, 1699, and was proved April 1, 1701. She named Robert Davis, my son Joseph's son, daughter Hannah Dexter, grandchild Sarah Dexter, son Josiah's wife, and daughters Sarah Young and Mercy Young. The fact that she names only the younger children, indicates that she was the second wife of Robert Davis.

1. Robert Davis of Yarmouth, in 1643, of Barnstable in 1650 where he died in 1693, probably married twice. His last wife, whom he probably married in 1657, was named Ann. Children born in Yarmouth. Deborah, Jan. 1645. Mary, April 28, 1648.

Born in Barnstable. Andrew, May, 1650. John, March 1, 1652. Robert, Aug. 1654. Josiah, Sept. 1656.

Hannah, Sept. 1658. Sarah, Oct. 1660. Joseph. Mercy.

Found this at following website: http://bigelowsociety.com/rod2005/davis05.htm:

Robert Davis was born in 1608 in England. Robert moved to Yarmouth, MA. in 1643, where he married Ann. They moved to Barnstable, MA. in 1645 where Ann became a member of the church in 1685. Robert’s will was written on April 14, 1688 and probated June 29, 1693. Ann was born in 1608 and died in 1701. Her will was written May 6,1699 and probated on April 1, 1701. They had the following children.

 1. Deborah Davis, born January 1645 at Yarmouth, married Thomas Green, and died in 1736.

 2. Mary Davis, born April 28, 1648 in Barnstable, married Benjamin Dexter and died in Yarmouth.

 3. Andrew Davis, born March 1650

 4. John Davis, born March 1, 1652

 5. Robert Davis, born August 1654 and married Sarah Archer

 6. Josiah Davis, born September 1656, married Anne Taylor and died in 1710.

 7. Hannah Davis, born September 1658, married a Dexter

 8. Sarah Davis, born October 1660, married Joseph Young

 9. Joseph Davis, was born on March 28, 1665 in Barnstable. He married Hannah Cobb, daughter of James Cobb  and Sarah Lewis, at Barnstable in March of 1695.

10 Mercy Davis married 1st Nathaniel Young and 2nd Nathaniel Mayo.

Robert Davis settled in Barnstable, where he died in 1693. His will mentions his wife Ann and nine children. The names and birth dates of eight children of Robert Davis are given in the vital records of Barnstable printed in the “Mayflower Descendant,” vol. iv., 1902, p. 222.

The sixth child was Josiah,2 born in September, 1656, further mentioned as follows, p. 223: “Josiah Davis and Ann Tayler married June 25, 1679.” “Their son Josiah, born in August, 1687.” The printed record includes also (p. 225). under “Josiah Davis and Mehitable, his wife,” “Their son Josiah was born 2 Aug. 1718.”

References

• Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine page 34
• http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db...