Capt. William Davis, b. 31 Oct. 1772, at Killingly; m. (1) 18 Nov. 1794, Drusilla Olney, b. 20 April 1771, in Nova Scotia; sett. in Ohio. She d. 21 Aug 1824. He m. (2) 2 Dec. 1824, Mrs. Sarah Ransom, m. n. Wright, b. 8 March 1789, in England; d. 29 May 1878, at Lowell, Ohio. He d. 18 March 1843. Children by w. Drusilla: Lucena; Betsey; Asa; James; William; Willard; Walter; Drusilla; Mary; John; and Cynthia. Children by w. Sarah: Sarah, b. 6 Nov. 1825, unm., lives at Lowell, O.; Jesse W., b. 20 Dec. 1827; and Sophia, b. 7 July 1830, unm., lives at Lowell, O. Capt. William Davis was a man of good character and standing; captain of militia and a magistrate." Pages 507-508: "Capt. William Davis. . . . Wayne's victory occurring in August, 1794, in November of the same year he was married, and about the same time drew a hundred-acre lot in the Bear Creek allotment, Adams township, about twelve miles above Marietta, on the banks of the Muskingum. On this tract he and his brother Daniel, who was with him for a time, soon after built a cabin and began clearing the land, chopping down the trees with the loaded rifle leaning against them that they might be prepared for an attack from the enemy. Here he and his little family struggled heroically with want and privation for the first few months, but gradually surrounded themselves with the comforts and applicances of civilized life. On a bluff near the river he built a house, a horse-power grist-mill with a wool-carding machine attached, a rope-walk, a blacksmith-shop and a cooper-shop, and being a natrual mechanic operated either of them as occasion required. Here he continued to live and prosper, raised a numerous family and died at a ripe age. He was of a social and hospitable disposition, and, although not much accustomed to making visits, gave a warm welcome to his friends. He was in manner gentlemanly and courteous; unambitious of office but served as township trustee, treasurer, and school director; was many years deacon of the Christian church and was strict in religious matters; capatin of the militia. While the Muskingum River improvements by the State were in progress he opened his house to public entertainment and continued thus for severah years. He was among the prominent and influential men of the place, and his death was greatly mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His second wife, Sarah, came to America with her parents at about five years of age. Her first husband was Jacob Shepard. She next married Theophilus Ransom, and lastly Capt. Davis. She was a very estimable person, possessing great kindness of heart, and was specially efficient in times of sickness and trial.

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Samuel Davis Of Oxford, Mass., And Joseph Davis, Of Dudley, Mass., And Their Descendants, George L. Davis (1884), pp 135-136

Contributed by: Eliz Hanebury

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