Dr. Andrew W. Davisson

    Who was Dr. Andrew W. Davisson?   Is he related to my Josiah Davisson?   One researcher says he was born November 11,1783.  According to a history book of Greene County,Ohio he came there in 1804/05;  another says 1806.   One family researcher, in a post on a genealogy site, says he was born in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia and had a brother, Dr. Joseph Davisson..  It's also thought he attended the Randolph Academy in Clarksburg, WVA.  His family is thought to come from Winchester, Virginia and then moved to Mason County, Kentucky.  I have no proof, myself, of any of this.

   What I do know is this:  He married Rebecca Todd, the daughter of James and Jane (Buchanan) Todd in June of 1807 in Greene Co., Ohio by William McFarland, Justice of the Peace.  Rebecca was born March 2, 1790 near Nashville, Tennessee.  She was an older sister to my great, great, great-grandmother, Sarah (Todd) Davisson.  Andrew and Rebecca had the following children:

1.  Amanda Davisson, born 4-19-1808 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana;  married James P. Miller in 1829.  She died in 1897 in Washington, D.C.

2.  Eliza Jane Davisson, born 6-10-1810 in Ohio;  married Robert C. Hamill, born 1808 in Xenia, Ohio, on 11-14-1838 in Xenia.  She died in Chicago, Illinois on 2-25-1895.

3.  Mary Ann Davisson, born 12-1-1813 in Ohio;  married Thomas D. McCalla on 12-29-1841.  

4.  Dr. Alfred W. Davisson, born 5-21-1816 (or 5-31-1815) in Xenia,Ohio;  Married Jennie (surname unknown).

He died in 1895 in Atlanta, Georgia.

5.  Clarendon Davisson, born 12-18-1818 (or 12-10-1817) in Ohio;  Married Mary Ann McIntire, daughter of John McIntire, on 7-22-1845 in Pike County, Indiana.  He practiced law in Petersburg, Pike Co., IN at the time a Dr. Joseph Davisson was a physician in Pike Co., IN.  Clarendon died 9-10-1878 at Brighton Island, Georgia.

6.  James Todd Davisson, born 1-1-1821 in Indiana;  He died about 1824 in Ohio.

    Dr. Andrew W. Davisson died on 7-23-1822 at Madison, Indiana.  Rebecca returned to Xenia, Ohio and was listed  in the 1830 census of Greene County, Ohio.   The settlement of Andrew's estate was recorded on December 1,1829 in Greene Co., Ohio.   Josiah Davisson, my great, great, great-grandfather, and James M. Todd, Rebecca's brother,  were the administrators of his estate.  People who were paid from the final settlement mentioned in this record were James Collier, James Galloway, Jr., G. W. Stipp, J.B. Gardinier, Hugh Hamill, Alexander Turnbull, George Townsley, Moses Trader, J. Grover, A. Harlan, Esq.

   Rebecca died in 1870 in Chicago, Illinois.  Their son, Dr. Alfred W. Davisson, went to Chicago in 1842.  He practiced medicine in Indiana and Chicago,Illinois; he was also a prosector of anatomy at a medical college.  He left medicine to start a bank with his brother-in-law, Thomas McCalla.  
   I want to know if and how Dr. Andrew W. Davisson is related to my Josiah Davisson, other than being his brother-in-law.

Josiah and Sarah's Grandchildren

Children of Nancy Ann and William H. Kelly:
        1.  Sarah H. Kelly  b. 1847 Indiana
        2.  George C. Kelly  b. 1850 Indiana
        3.  Mary L. Kelly  b. 1853 Indiana
        4.  Martha Kelly  b. 1856 Indiana  
Children of Elizabeth Jane and John Clark:
        1. Isabella M. Clark   b. 12-15-1850  Indiana   d. 9-23-1853                       
        2. Albert Clark  b. 1852  Gibson Co. Indiana
        3.Thomas Clark  b. 1854  Gibson Co., Indiana
        4. Irene E. Clark  b. 1859  Gibson Co., Indiana
        5. Kate M. Clark  b. 9-14-1860   d. 8-17-1873  Gibson Co. Indiana
        6. Willis Clark  b. 1864  Gibson Co. Indiana
        7. Sherman Clark b. 1866 Gibson Co., Indiana
        8. Matthew Clark  d. 1890 (possible)
Children of Mary Louisa and (2nd husband) Thomas Paul
        1. Anna Paul b. abt 1850  m. Robert R. Orr in 1871
        2. Ellen Paul  b. 1853
        3. Mary Paul  b. 1853
              children of (2^nd Husband): Samuel J. Wallace :
        1. Charles Francis Wallace (lived 3 ½ years)
        2. Mary J. Wallace  b. 1859
        3. Lewis E. Wallace  b. 1861
        4. Nettie Wallace b. 1865
Children of Sarah F. and George W. Kelly:
        1. Eliza J. Kelly  b. 1857
        2. Mary F.  Kelly  b. 1859
        3. Charles Kelly  b. 1860
Children of James T. and Isabelle (Baker) Davisson
        1. Ida May Davidson  b. 1864  in Indiana.  d. bef. 1899    Married Marshall Douglas McCrary on Aug. 29, 1883.
        2. William Thomas Davidson   born 12/10/1865Co.,IN;  married Martha Alice Lowe on                2/14/1889.

   Children of 2^nd wife, Anna Lawrence:

        1. Grace Eva Davidson  b. Oct 1885  m.(1) Edward Tingle   m. (2) Wm. B. Yelton

        2. Roger Davidson   b. Dec 1890  m  Ruth Sutton

        3. Paul Davidson  b. Apr 1893   Commander of Merchant Vessel. Lived in NY

        4. Corrine Davidson  b. Oct 1895 m. Albert Lee Sanders

Josiah and Sarah's Children

1.  Nancy Ann--born about 1825 in Greene Co. OH;  married William H. Kelly on 1-20-1844 in Gibson Co., IN.  They lived in Anderson, Warrick Co.,IN in 1850 and Clay Twp., Pike Co., IN in 1860.   
        
2.  Elizabeth Jane  (or Eliza Jane)--born 3-10-1828 in Greene Co.,OH;  married John Clark on 1-14-1850 in Gibson Co.,IN;  She died 4-14-1879; buried in the Archer Cemetery NW of Princeton, IN.  John died around 1875.


3.  Mary Louisa--born about 1830 in Greene Co.,OH;  married (1.) Thomas Paul (son of Audley Paul and Ann Gillespie)on 10-15-1849 in Gibson Co.,IN.; (2.) Samuel J. Wallace in Gibson Co.,IN;  She died 1916; Buried in the Archer Cemetery NW of Princeton, IN.


4. Sarah F.--born about 1833 in Greene Co., OH;  married George W. Kelly on 12-4-1851 in Gibson Co., IN;  They lived Spencer Co.,IN in 1860;  Canfield, Mahoning Co., OH in 1870.  


5. Amanda--born March 1835 in Greene Co.,OH.  She was a twin to James T.   She was living with her mother in Gibson Co.,IN in 1850; Nothing else is known about her.

6. James T.--born March 1835 in Greene Co., OH;  married (1.) Isabelle Baker on 2/24/1859 in Gibson Co. IN. They lived in Patoka Twp., Gibson Co. IN in 1860, next door to his sister, Elizabeth J. Clark and family;
Isabel died 11-16-1866 and is buried in the Hight Chapel Cemetery, Patoka Twp. of Gibson Co.               
(2.) Anna A. Lawrence, daughter of Solomon M. Lawrence and Mary E. Clark, on 12-19-1883 in Gibson Co. IN.  They lived in Princeton, IN.  James died  1-29-1908 in Princeton; Buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Princeton.


7. Joseph--born about 1840 in Greene Co.,OH.  Never married.  Died in 1905 in Princeton, IN and is buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Princeton.

The Given Name "Josiah" As a Clue

    A common custom in early America was to name children after grandparents, parents and other family members.   After about 1860 the naming of children did not follow the old customs in my family.   But before that time, given names in my Davisson family might be a useful clue.

   The first "Josiah" that I know of was Josiah Davisson born in 1692 in Ipswich Hamlet, Wenham, Essex Co.,Massachusetts Bay Colony and died 1759 in Millstone River, Princeton, New Jersey.  He married Mary (surname is thought to be Winthrop or Skelton or Scudder but some researchers are not sure).  His parents were Daniel and Sarah (Dodge) Davison.   Josiah and Mary had about 10 children:  Obediah, Mary, Daniel, John, James, Amaziah, Andrew, Jane, Nathaniel and Ananias.   Some say he had 12 children and some say 9 children and they're not always listed in the same order.   But no doubt many of his children named their sons Josiah.   Here's what other researchers say about the oldest ones.  Let's start with some of Josiah's (b. 1692) sons naming their sons:

    1. His son, Obediah, is said to have a son, Josiah, who was born 1758 in Princeton, Mercer Co., N.J.  and died 1838 in Harrison Co., WVA.  

    2. His son, Daniel, named a son, Josiah, and he was born 1743 in Rockingham Co., VA. and died 1825 in Preble Co. OH.

    3. His son, Amaziah, had a Josiah, born 1767 in Harrison Co., WVA and died 1829 in Greenup Co., KY.   This Josiah was known as "Short Si" according to an old book.

    4. His son, Andrew, had a Josiah, born 1764 in Middlesex Co. NJ and died about 1845 in Harrison Co. WVA.  He also lived in Greenup Co. KY.   He was known as "Long Si".

    5. His son, Ananias, had a son, Josiah, born about 1777 in Rockingham Co., VA.

    Another older Josiah, in the Daniel Davison family, was the son of Daniel Davison ( who married Elizabeth Plummer), born about 1708, who was the son of William Davison born about 1664 in Essex Co., Massachusets.  William was the son of Daniel (immigrant from Scotland to America) and Margaret (Low) Davison and a brother to Daniel Davison, Jr. of whose line I'm most interested in.


    There were other early Josiahs, in the Daniel Davison family, that either remained in Massachusetts or migrated farther north but I'm interested in the ones that went south to New Jersey and on to West Virginia.


    Did any other Davison/Davisson/Davidson families, besides the Daniel Davison family, use the name "Josiah"?  Yes.  Here are a few examples that I found after checking the website, "Davidson/Davison/Davisson Research-DNA Study Project" and other websites:
      
      I found a Josiah Davidson, born 1802, died 1881 in Crittenden Co. KY. and perhaps also lived in Smith Co.,TN.   He may belong to the James Davidson, Sr. of  Adams Co., PA and Bedford Co., VA. 
    
    Another Josiah Davidson, Sr. was of the William Davidson of Orange/Guilford, NC family.  This Josiah was born about 1766 in Buckingham Co., VA., was in Orange Co., NC in 1780, and died in Hickman Co. TN in 1859.  He had a son, Josiah, thought to have lived in Fulton Co., KY. in 1850.   This family of Davidsons are thought to have been in James City Co., VA by 1682. 

    Also of Tennessee were Josiah Davidson of Henry Co. in 1840;  Josiah Davidson of Dickson Co.,TN in 1820 and 1830.


    As of now, I believe my Josiah was from the Daniel Davison of Massachusetts family because of the early spelling of his surname and the frequency of the given name, Josiah.
   

Xenia, Greene County, Ohio

     Xenia, Ohio is the first place my Josiah Davisson shows up on record.   When did he come to Xenia?   He wasn't born there because his son says he was born in Virginia and his daughter says he was born in Kentucky.  The earliest year that I know he was in Xenia was in 1817 because his name is on a list of petitioners to incorporate the town of Xenia according to a history book about Greene Co., Ohio (which I think was written by Michael A. Broadstone).   Also on the list was Andrew W. Davidson (also spelled Davisson in other history books).   I cannot find any 1810 census record for Greene County, Ohio so I have resorted to old history books which include certain lists of residents.  

    

    Xenia is the town where Josiah and Sarah owned lot number 57 in 1825 and they are in the Personal Property List for Xenia Township.   They also had 200 acres in Xenia Township; this land later was located in Cedarville Township after 1850.   They owned two horses valued at $80 and two cows valued at $16.

   Some early Davissons in Greene Co. include: 
1. Elijah Davisson--on an 1803 petition list.  This one would have been born about 1783, if he was about 20 in 1803. 
2. Dr. Andrew W. Davisson-came about 1804-06.  He is thought to be a brother to Dr. Joseph Davisson from Mason Co.,KY and later Pike Co.,Indiana.  Dr. Joseph alleged on his pension application that he had served with McClelland's Co.,Ohio Militia, in 1812.  McClelland lived in Sugar Cr.,Greene Co., Ohio and commanded a company of soldiers in Greene Co.,Ohio.
3. Isaac Davisson, Jr., son of Isaac and Sarah (Curl), about 1810 
4. John Davidson with a son, Richard, born in Greene Co. in 1813, who later moved on to Delaware Co.,Indiana  
5. Richard Davisson, Constable for Clark Co. which was part of Greene Co. at the time in 1815.
6. Richard Davison from Frederick Co., VA arrived about 1816. 
7. Richard Davisson from Berkley Co., VA, living in the Cedarville Twp. by 1820.
 8. Josiah Davisson in the Xenia Twp. by 1820.  He was on a list of men in Greene Co.,Ohio in 1817 along with Dr. Andrew W. Davisson.   

1830 Census:
 Xenia Township
1. Rebecca Davison (widow of Dr. Andrew W. Davisson)
2. Robert Davison  (I believe this is the Robert who married Mary Stratten in 1829.  He was born in Bourbon Co., KY in 1798; He and Mary moved on to Darke Co., OH after 1830.)
3. Joseph Davison (He fits my Josiah)
4. Richard Davison  (from Frederick Co., VA; married Mary Sellers) 

 Sugar Creek Township 
5.  John Davison  (possibly the John that married Mary Lawrence and later moved to Indiana and on to Oregon)

 Beaver Creek Township
6. Joseph Davisson
7. Elizabeth Davisson (thought by some to be Elizabeth McConnell, daughter of Robert and Nancy (Boyd) McConnell, b. 1772 in PA and married Joseph Davidson in 1798 in PA. 

 Ross Township 
8.  Mary Davison (possibly related to the Richard Davison from Berkeley Co., Va-his wife's name was Mary and he had a daughter, Jemima who died in Ross Twp. after 1820;  Richard died before 1830.) 

First Record of Josiah

    The first record of Josiah's name that I've seen was a copy of page  from "Gibson County, Indiana Marriage Application Book 1882-1890".  " Jas. T. Davidson", of Princeton, Indiana, listed his father as "Josiah Davison" and his mother as "Sarah Todd" in this book.   James said he was born in Xenia, Ohio.  So in the 1820 Greene County, Ohio census I found a Josiah Davisson, age 16-26, and a female age 16-26, living with another male age 26-44.   The marriage records of Greene County, Ohio show Josiah Davisson and Sarah Todd were joined  on 11 May 1819 in Greene Co. by Robert Armstrong.  

Where Was Josiah Born?

    In the 1880 census, James T. (Davidson), the son of Josiah, said his father was born in Virginia and his mother was born in Tennessee.    But later I found that James' older sister, Mary L. Wallace, says her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Tennessee, also in the 1880 census.  Which one is right?   Mary was 48 and James was 45 in 1880 so age is not a huge factor in guessing which one really had it right.  I might presume that women probably kept closer track of these details than their male siblings.

   

    Kentucky used to be part of Virginia until 1792.   West Virginia became a state in 1863.   So I look for Josiah's family in Kentucky and the West Virginia area primarily.    Harrison County, West Virginia was home to a large "Davisson" family that descended from Daniel Davison, born in Scotland about 1650, and died in Massachusetts in 1793.   Daniel had a large number of descendants in this country and they migrated down through Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and on to West Virginia.   Some of them went on from WVA to Kentucky, Ohio and beyond.    In Kentucky, the counties of Mason, Bourbon, and Greenup have been places to find Davissons.   Another clue led me to Scott, Breckingridge, and Nelson counties.   But so far I do not know exactly where Josiah was born.

    As of now, I'm looking closely at Mason County, Kentucky as Josiah's possible birthplace.   

Known Facts about My Josiah Davisson

      Josiah was born about 1798.  His son, James, said Josiah was born in Virginia and his daughter, Mary, said he was born in Kentucky, according to the census records.   Josiah married Sarah Todd, the daughter of James Todd, on May 11, 1819 in Xenia, Ohio.   Sarah was born about 1799 near Nashville, Tennessee.   Josiah and Sarah lived in Greene County, Ohio until the later 1830's.   They relocated to Gibson County, Indiana before 1840.    Josiah died sometime in the 1840's.    

      In 1817 Josiah signed the petition to incorporate the town of Xenia, Ohio.  He and Sarah owned a lot in Xenia and 200 acres in the Cedarville Township sometime after they were married in 1819. 

     In 1827 Josiah was appointed as one of the directors of the Greene County Infirmary for the destitute.   In 1826 and 1827, Josiah was a Justice of the Peace in Xenia.

     In 1831 Josiah and Sarah sold their 200 acres and in 1832 he was no longer a director of the Greene County Infirmary.    
     In 1832 he hosted a well-known stallion from Kentucky for stud services at his stable in Xenia.

     By 1840 Josiah and Sarah were living in Washington Township of Gibson County, Indiana.