In 1813, he enlisted as a private in John Payne's Company of Kentucky Militia. John Payne was from Mason Co.,Kentucky (1). Joseph also alleged that he served with Capt. McClelland's Co., Ohio Militia, in 1812. (2) Robert McClelland of Greene Co.,Ohio had a company of volunteers from Greene Co., Ohio in 1812. Joseph's name is not on the official roster. But if we believe his claim, this would put him in Greene Co., Ohio about 1812. Dr. Andrew W. Davisson was there at that time and his brother-in-laws were on the roster. This is also the place where my Josiah Davisson lived, at least by 1817, before moving to Gibson Co., Indiana. What was Dr. Joseph doing in Greene Co.,Ohio? I can't help but think this connects him to Dr. Andrew W. Davisson. My theory is that Dr. Joseph, Dr. Andrew and my Josiah were brothers. In 1840, a Clarendon Davisson, attorney-at-law, was listed along with Dr. Joseph Davisson, physician, in the Petersburgh, Pike Co.,Indiana City Directory. Clarendon was a son of Dr. Andrew W. Davisson of Xenia, Greene Co.,Ohio, mentioned above. Could Clarendon have come there because he knew Dr. Joseph and the other Davissons?
In 1815, in Mason Co., Kentucky, a Joseph Davison was bondsman for John Davison, Jr. and Charity Cain. (3) I believe that John Davison, Jr. was Dr. Joseph Davison/Davisson's brother also. There were other Davison marriages in Mason Co., KY that involved people that moved to Gibson and Pike Cos., Indiana.
Dr. Joseph Davisson, along with Fielding Colvin, James Lounsdale, James Hillman and others, bought land from Toussant DuBois in the Gibson and Pike County areas of Indiana. (4) If they bought their land directly from Mr. DuBois, it had to be around 1816 or before because DuBois died March 11, 1816.
On March 8, 1819, a Joseph Davidson was appointed a guardian of the children of a deceased Joseph Davidson ( Davisson). The children named are those of Edith and Joseph Davisson. Edith's husband, Joseph, died September 21, 1818. Was Dr. Joseph appointed guardian of the children? As of now I have no recorded proof, so I base my theory on clues found in excerpts of books found online.(5) Note that Dr. Joseph was buried in the Hornbrook Cemetery just outside the town of Union, Pike Co. This is where Edith's first husband, Joseph Davisson, and her second husband are buried. Others include Fielding Colvin and his wife, Elizabeth Davison Whipps Colvin (married Feb. 11, 1813 in Mason Co., Kentucky; moved to Gibson Co., Indiana. I believe that this Elizabeth Colvin is also a sister to Dr. Joseph and Edith. Since Dr. Joseph is buried in the same cemetery with these particular people, they could be his relatives.
In 1823 an early church group was constituted at the home of James Lumsdale, a short distance west of Union. Members of the constitution included Fielding Colvin and wife, Mary Lumsdale (Mary Hillman Lounsdale), Elizabeth Shawhan (Elizabeth HIllman), Elizabeth Davidson, and William Wright and wife. The members first met in a log building on Dr. Joseph Davidson's land. (6) The names here are very interesting. The Lumsdales ( also spelled Lounsdale or Lawnsdale) were from Mason Co., KY and James had been in the militia with Josiah Davisson, son of Andrew (b.1722 NY) I think that Elizabeth Colvin was Dr. Joseph's sister and these other people were interconnected friends and relatives from Mason Co., KY. The Hillmans are connected; John Hillman married Mary Ann Davison in Mason Co.,KY. John was also in the Kentucky militia with a John Davison, Samuel Whipps, and James Colvin,etc. and mustered out in Mason Co.,KY. Elizabeth and Mary Hillman (maiden name) were sisters and were also from Mason Co.,KY. Fielding Colvin married Elizabeth Davison Whipps of Mason Co.,KY. Her first husband was James Whipps of Mason Co., KY. (Note too that Edith and Joseph Davisson named their son, James Whipps Davison. I believe that Edith is a sister to Dr. Joseph and Elizabeth Colvin.) Next, the Wrights may be relatives to the Elizabeth Davidson, listed as a member, because Elijah Davisson married Elizabeth Wright and lived in Gibson Co.,IN. He died between 1822 and 1825. Elijah H. Davisson was with a Joseph Davisson in a newspaper article in 1822.(6) Dr. Joseph seems to be related to some of these church members and this would appear to put him in the Davison/Davisson family of Mason Co.,KY. I think Dr. Joseph and these other Davissons are relatives to my Josiah Davisson.
Sources:
1. Index to Texas CSA Pention Files, War of 1812, by Virgil D. White
2. History of Greene County, Ohio; Its People, Industries and Institutions by Michael A. Broadstone Page 244
3. Marriages of Mason County, Kentucky found at http://kykinfolk.com/mason/
4. Article about Clay Township, Pike Co., IN found at www.ingenweb.org/inpike/Piketwp.htm
5. Excerpt from "The Davisson/Davidson Family from Immigrant to Present" by Mary Belle Lontz; another excerpt from a book, title unknown, found online.
6. "History of Pike and DuBois Counties...", published by Goodspeed Bros. 1885.
7. "Western Sun and General Advertiser 10-5-1822 V. 13 No. 36 P.I.C.I. Vincennes newspapers at the Indiana State Library Database 1804-1827
