Marty and Karla Grant
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Grace Davis (bef 1743-aft 1792) of Brunswick and Columbus Co., NC
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Grace Davis might be my 6 times great grandmother on my maternal side.
Special thanks to Debra Wint-Smith for information shared on this family.
Grace Davis, was born a slave. She was freed from slavery by her master, John Davis, Esquire, in 1764. A 1792 act of the State Assembly confirmed her freedom as well as that of her children Richard, Harriett, Samuel, Rebecca and Elizabeth Davis.
We don’t know how old Grace was in 1764, but she was referred to as “woman” and not “girl” in the emancipation, so that suggests she was at least 21, (born ca 1743 or earlier) or perhaps even older. Unfortunately no other record has yet come to light to suggest a more accurate birth date for her so I’ll stick with before 1743 for now.
Grace was presumably born on the John Davis plantation. In 1743 that region was in the border area between Bladen and New Hanover counties. Brunswick County was formed in 1764 from those two counties, and the Davises would have fallen into Brunswick. Over a hundred years later, in 1877, that north west section of Brunswick County, where some of Grace’s descendants then lived, was annexed to neighboring Columbus Co., NC. It isn’t known if John Davis’s land fell into that same section or whether it remained in what is still Brunswick. However, Grace’s son Richard had land in the section that became Columbus, so perhaps Grace lived there too.
Grace Davis’s parents are unknown. John Davis, Esquire was certainly old enough to be her father, but there is no evidence that he actually was. However, if he was, it might explain why he freed her in 1764. Of course there could be other reasons as well. Consider the actual record:
On 13 Apr 1764, the following emancipation was made:
To all to whom these presents shall or may concern, I John Davis of Brunswick County aforesaid, Esquire do by these presents set free my Negro woman Grace for and in consideration of her meritorious services and I do hereby confirm her said freedom in as full and ample manner if she said woman Grace had never been a slave.
Witness my hand and seal this the thirteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred and sixty four.
It was signed by John Davis. Witnesses were Elizabeth Davis and Roger Davis. Roger was John’s oldest son. Elizabeth was Roger’s wife.
The above was recorded in the deed books in June Term 1790. “Shewith in manumation was proved in court which admitted and ordered the same to be recorded.” Signed Fred Ward. (Brunswick Co., NC Deed Book B, p. 421.)
The above manumission of Grace Davis freed her, but didn’t mention her children. Nearly thirty years later she filed a petition with the state regarding this. I have not seen the original document, but there is an abstract available:
Grace Davis and her eldest son Richard represent that John Davis in 1784 “by certain Instruments of writing did manumit them.” They further relate that Grace has “continued to enjoy all the rights of a free Woman” and that Richard “has ever enjoyed the Priviledge of a Freeman,” even serving “as an artilleryman in the cause of liberty.” Grace, having “borne a number of children all of whom have & do continue to enjoy their freedom,” is advised that her manumission “is not perfect more especially as to her Children without an act of Assembly.” The petitioners therefore “humbly pray your honorable body to take such measures as in your great wisdom shall think necessary.”
The above is from an abstract from Race and Slavery Petitions at the Digital Library on American Slavery. http://library.uncg.edu/slavery/petitions/
The petition was approved, and in January 1792, Grace and her children (and others) were officially declared free by the State of North Carolina. A copy of this document was filed in Bertie Co., NC in 1840 for some reason (perhaps in regard to one of the other persons mentioned in it). I suppose a copy might have also been filed in Brunswick, but that one is either lost or we just haven’t found it yet. This is from the same website as the aforementioned petition (an excellent site for slavery research). I transcribed the Bertie copy of the document:
An Act to emancipate certain persons therein named.
Whereas sundry petitions have been presented to this General Assembly praying that Austin Curtis a Mulatto slave belonging Willie Jones, Grace and her children to wit, Richard, Harriett, Samuel, Rebecca and Elizabeth formerly the property of John Davis deceased, Absolom Spencer formerly the property of Benjamin rush and Rachel formerly the property of Sarah Rush deceased, and Richard, Dolly and her son Nathan the property of George Merrick and Linny? the property of John Spencer and Richard and William the property of the Estate of Thomas Pritchard deceased be liberated and set free —
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same that the aforesaid Austin Curtis by and under the name of Austin Curtis Jones, and aforesaid Grace, Richard, Harriett, Samuel, Rebecca and Elizabeth under the names of Grace Davis, Richard Davis, Harriett Davis, Samuel Davis, Rebecca Davis and Elizabeth Davis and the aforesaid Absalom Spencer and Rachel Spencer by and under the names of Absalom Spencer and Rachel Spencer and the aforesaid Richard, Dolly and Nathan by and under the names Richard Green, Dolly Green and Nathan Green and the aforesaid Linny? under the name Linny? Charlton and Richard and William above mentioned under the names of Richard Pritchard Morris and William Pritchard Morris, shall be and they and each and every of them are hereby declared to be free, by and under the names aforesaid and they and each and every of them shall from hence forward enjoy the protection of the Laws and benefits of the Constitution of this State in the same manner as others of their Colour who were borne free.
Provided nevertheless that nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to affect the title or claim of any person or persons other than the persons named in this Act.
Signed by Wm Lenoir, S.S. and S. Cabarrus, Sp. H.O.
Read three times and ratified in general 11th 14th 17th day of January Anno Domini 1792
State of North Carolina Secretary of State’s office
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid do certify that the forgoing is a true copy of an act of the General Assembly of this State taken from the original which is on file in the this office.
Given under my hand this 11th day of June 1836.
Signed Wm Hill
State of North Carolina, Bertie County Court May Term 1840
This paper writing was exibited in the open court and ordered t be registered.
Registered 19 May 1840. Signed Jno? Cherry, Clk.
(Bertie Co., NC Deed Book EE, pp. 449-450.)
From the above we see that Grace Davis had Richard, Harriett, Samuel, Rebecca and Elizabeth Davis. At the time of this writing, I have no information on Richard’s siblings.
Note: William Lenoir was North Carolina Speaker of the Senate 1790-1795. Stephen Cabarrus was Speaker of the House 1789-1793. William Hill served as Secretary of State from 1811 to 1857.
I did not find Grace Davis on the 1790 census. She was probably residing with one of her children then. I did not find her in 1800 or later censuses either.
The 1792 Act of Assembly is the last record I found for Grace Davis. I don’t know when or where she died.
The 1792 Act of Assembly names Grace Davis and five others, all presumably her children, though not stated as such in that record.
1. Richard Davis (bef 1764-aft 1830). Probably my ancestor.
2. Harriett Davis. Named in 1792 Act of Assembly. No further record.
3. Samuel Davis. Named in 1792 Act of Assembly. No further record.
4. Rebecca Davis. Named in 1792 Act of Assembly. No further record.
5. Elizabeth Davis. Named in 1792 Act of Assembly. No further record.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Grace Davis.
Revised: December 22, 2025
Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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