Capt William Davis

1620 - 1676  (56 years)

• Name	William Davis
  Prefix	Capt
  Birth	1620	Dorchester, Dorset, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	17 May 1676	Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  Notes	Click on the arrow on the left to display this note.
  	https://www.mckaystevens.us/genealogy/artmckay/mckay-howard.php#davis Captain William Davis: Boston: freeman 1645. He was a Captain of a troop of horse, in Ninigret's war. *A troop of horse was raised about this time; Capt. William Davis is named as its commander: "it was a frequent thing for the officers to turn troopers, when their own regiment is not in exercise, for the encouragement of others."* He was a merchant of celebrity; by some he is represented as an apothecary, probably because he first imported drugs and medicine on a considerable sscale [the Boston Church Records style him apothecary]. He represented Springfield in 1652; this arose from the circumstance of his having married, 1644, Margaret, the daughter of William Pynchon, the Assistant, the founder and leading inhabitant of that town. He was probably the Representative of Haverhill, 1668. He was Commissioner to King Philip at Taunton, in 1671, in company with William Hudson and Thomas Brattle, and was joined with General Leverett, afterwards Governer, as a Commissioner, united with the Connecticut Commissoners, to the Dutch Governor, Stuyvesant, of New York, 1653. he accompanied the brave Captain Thomas Lake, in his expedition to Kennebec, 1676- probably their joint interest in that quarter was "an eexciting cause"- and with him escaped at a back door, when the Indians had gained the fort, to the water's side, where Lake fell. Davis was wounded, but made his escape. This was rather a disastrous affair. Hutchinson, in a note, says, "Davis was afterwards of the Council for Massachusetts Province"- but I cannot find any corroborating evidence. That he deserved to be there, is true. Captain Davis was elected Ensign of the Artillery Co. 1652, Lieutenant in 1659 and 1663, aand twice as Captain, in 1664 and 1672. His will is dated May 17th, 1676. There is a tombstone in the Chapel burial-ground, Boston, which says, Capt. William Davis, died 1675, [the discrepancy of the year may be accounted for by the architect who repaired the same, or his posterity not being accurate antiquarians]. The tombstone was repaired by his great grandson, Edward Davis, with Connecticut free stone, which is very perishable, and is now almost illegible. His son, Major Benjamin D Davis, was of the Artillery Co. 1673. He stands at the head of the founders and members of the Old South Church. -Joseph Davis, Boston, born 1645  -Major Benjamin Davis, Boston, apothecary, of what corps we are noot informed; and Ensign of the Artillery Co. 1679; Lieutenant 1681. He died, according to Farmer, Nov. 26th, 1704. There appears administration on Benjamin Davis, apothecary, Boston, June 1st 1704. I am not able to reconcile these dates. A member of the Old South Church. -William Davis, Boston; youngest son of Captain William, Ar. Co. 1643, and brother of Major Benjamin, Ar. Co. 1673. Member of the Old South Church.   .......taken from 'History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company: from its formation in 1637 and charter in 1638, to the present time; comprising the biographies of the distinguished civil, literary, religious, and military men of the colony, province, and commonwealth.' by Zachariah G. Whitman, Boston, Mass, 1842
  Person ID	I5689	McKay Stevens | Ancestors of Charlotte McKay
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2021

  
  

  Father	Robert Davis,   b. 1591   d. 1622 (Age 31 years)
  Mother	Mary Warren,   b. 1598   d. 1622 (Age 24 years)
  Family ID	F4130	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Pynchon,   b. 3 May 1624, Dorchester, Dorset, England d. 1653, Dorchester, Dorset, England (Age 28 years)
  Children	1. William Davis,   b. 24 Jun 1653, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts d. 1736, Freetown, Bristol, Massachusetts (Age 82 years)
  Family ID	F3016	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Sep 2020

  
  

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  Birth - 1620 - Dorchester, Dorset, England Child - William Davis - 24 Jun 1653 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Death - 17 May 1676 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

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