Uriah (Hugh) Davis

Family tradition suggests that Uriah married a Jensie White,but Jane is

mentioned with Uriah in the estate sale records on Union Co., SC,and in

the Baptist church records in TN. She is also listed as a head of

household in the 1840 Weakley Co. federal census, living in close

proximity toher sons.

Uriah 's occupation: Farmer. He resided Weakley Co., Tennessee 1827.

Uriah served in the military. Uriah was an apprentice Laurens Co., SC, 10

Mar 1785. He resided Gibson Co., Indiana 6 Oct 1814. He resided 1817.

Uriahwas listed as the head of a family on the 1820 Census Vanderburgh

Co., Indiana. He resided Weakley Co., Tennessee 1823. Uriah was listed as

the head of afamily on the 1830 Census Weakley Co., Tennessee. He

resided Weakley Co., Tennessee 1832. Uriah was a plaintiff in a court

case in Weakley Co., TN, 22 May1833. Uriah was listed as a member of a

church Weakley Co., Tennessee, c. 1833. Uriah was listed as a member of a

church in Hickman Co., KY, Sep 1837. InMay 1780 the British laid siege

to Charleston, South Carolina, with land andsea forces under General

Cornwallis. The city soon capitulated, and Cornwallis sent his troops

toward the South Carolina back country to take control ofthe colony. It

was during this period that a Frederick Davis joined Colonel Brandon's

militia unit to fight the British invasion. This Frederick Davis mayhave

been the father of our progenitor Uriah, who was probably born about

1780, according to his 1820 and 1830 census enumerations.

In 1785 Laurens County, SC, deed records reveal that a Frederick Davis

bound out his sons Richardand Uriah to James Milwee, a farmer in the 96

District, each for a period ofeight years. Our Uriah would have been

about five years old- considerably younger than the usual age for

indenture at fourteen. However, this would havebeen an opportunity for

some education, food and lodging for Frederick's sons, if he was widower

or otherwise unable to take care of his offspring.

No enumeration has been found for Uriah (who was apparently also known as

"Hugh")as a head of household in the 1800 or 1810 federal census

records. In 1807 aHugh and Jane Davis purchased items at an estate sale

for a Thomas Davis in Union District, South Carolina, and a Uriah Davis

purchased items at Joseph Davis' estate sale in 1808.

Family legend and Cousin Bess Simpson's notes indicate that Uriah went

from Virginia to Tennessee, though "...others went to theNorthwest

Territory." Thus it is ironic that records indicate Uriah was in Gibson

County, Indiana Territory, in October 1814. The northern portion of

Vanderburgh County was formed from Gibson County in 1818, and Uriah was

enumerated there during the 1820 federal census. We have primary evidence

that it was the subject of this sketch residing in Vanderburgh County

during this period, because his son James M. Davis filed an Indian Wars

pension application, which indicates that jurisdiction as his birthplace

in 1819.

Research in Vanderburgh County deeds, land entry and county court records

so far has failed to shed any further light on Uriah during this period.

It seems strange that this pioneer apparently owned no land, or at least

failed to record his title.County court minutes do not include Uriah in

lists for jury duty or road crews, yet the family heads enumerated as his

neighbors in the 1820 census wereapparently prominent citizens. A

comparison of surnames listed in that censuswith Uriah's neighbors in

1830 Tennessee also provides few clues regarding other clans that

accompanied him in his migration (source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2782956&...)