Marty and Karla Grant
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Richard Davis (bef 1764-aft 1830) of Brunswick and Columbus Co., NC
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Richard Davis might be my 5 times great grandfather on my maternal side.
Special thanks to Debra Wint-Smith for information shared on this family.
Richard Davis, was born before ca 1764, which is when he and his mother were freed from slavery by their master, John Davis, Esquire. We don’t know how old he was in 1764. Richard wasn’t mentioned in that record, but in 1792 his mother made an appeal to the court to perfect their emancipation, mentioning him by name and stating he was an artilleryman during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Thus, if he served at the beginning of the war, and was at least 16 then, he was born before 1759. I’ll stick with before 1764 for now.
Richard’s father is unknown, but his mother was named Grace Davis according to the 1784 record mentioned above. Richard would likely have been born in Brunswick Co., NC on the plantation of John Davis, Esquire. When the state assembly approved her petition in 1792, it named the entire family: Grace Davis, Richard Davis, Harriett Davis, Samuel Davis, Rebecca Davis and Elizabeth Davis.
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 Moore Davis was Roger’s wife. (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.
According to his mother’s petition, Richard Davis served during the American Revolution as an Artilleryman. That would mean he worked with cannons or other large weapons. I checked the available records and wasn’t able to find any record of his service. That doesn’t mean he didn’t serve for the records of this war are incomplete. There was a Richard Davis who enlisted as a Private on 8 Jun 1780 under Cpt. William Earl and Col. Samuel Jarvis in the 1st NC Regiment of Militia from the Edenton District. That would be north eastern NC not south eastern where our Richard lived, so that must be a different man. There was a pay voucher for a Richard Davis in 1780 with no identifying information. It could be our Richard or perhaps not.
Richard Davis, nor his mother Grace, were found on the 1790 census in Brunswick Co., NC nor elsewhere. They may have been residing with another family, thus not listed by name. It should also be noted that many “free colored” families were left off this and other early censuses, perhaps on purpose by the census takers or perhaps because the families avoided the census taker or just lived somewhere isolated where the census taker didn’t know to visit.
Richard Davis married someone, name unknown, prior to 1800, perhaps well before then.
Richard is listed on the 1800 census in Brunswick Co., NC. He appears to be in the Livingston Creek area already judging by his neighbors. His “next door” neighbors were William Boyd and Jesse Bratley. The Davises were listed in the free colored columns. A few other nearby families were as well including Ezekiah Jacobs, George Kersey, Richmond Chavors (Chavis?), Calep Peavy and another Calep Peavy. No Davis families were nearby. William Keith, who is the father of James and Jonah Keith, is six houses from Richard. I mention him because of family associations with Richard and his son Cornelius Davis. James Jones was nearby. He might be related to Cornelius Davis’s wife Tabitha Jones.
1800 Census, Brunswick Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
13 |
Richd Davis |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
8 |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
8 Free Colored persons, no ages or gender given
1. Richard Davis (bef 1764)
2. Mrs. Davis, wife
3. Grace Davis? Mother
4. Harriet Davis? Sister
5. Samuel Davis? Brother
6. Rebecca Davis? Sister
7. Elizabeth Davis? Sister?
8. Child?
The above analysis is mostly pure guess-work, because I don’t know if Richard’s mother or siblings were still alive in 1800. If they were, I don’t know that they were living with him, nor do I know how many children of his own he might have had by then.
On 22 Apr 1800, Richard Davis was issued a State Land Grant (# 427) for 100 acres on Boggy Branch, a branch of Livingston Creek. He entered the land on 1 Feb 1794. It was described as beginning on Samuel Waters’ line and running up the branch. The survey was dated 1 Aug 1797 with Adam Plat and Thomas Newell as chain carriers. The survey description said it began on a pine in his own line meaning he already had land by 1797. It mentions Horsepen Branch. Thomas Newell was near Richard Davis on the 1800 census.
Boggy Branch joins Livingston Creek just above where Livingston Church is. This is a just a little upstream from Johns Branch.
On a survey dated 22 Feb 1801 for James Jones, Richard Davis and James Keith were chain bearers. This land was on Bull Head a prong of Livingston Creek adjoining Thomas Newell and William Boyd, both were neighbors of Richard Davis on the 1800 census.
On 20 Mar 1806 William Boyd deeded land to Richard Davis for $160, being 160 acres on the south side of Livingston Creek. It mentions the corner of John Davis’s 100 acre survey, and also James Smith and James Jacobs’ lines. William Boyd signed the deed. James Keith witnessed. (Brunswick Co., NC Deed Book E, p. 299.)
Note that a John Davis was mentioned as a neighboring land owner. More on him later.
Richard Davis received a state land grant on 23 Dec 1809 for 100 acres joining Taylor land. He entered the land on 12 Sep 1807. It was surveyed 15 Mar 1808. Chain carriers were John Brownam and James Brownam.
Richard Davis received another state land grant on 23 Dec 1809, this one for 50 acres. No land marks were given. He entered the land on 18 Nov 1807. It was surveyed 10 Mar 1808. Chain carriers were John Brownam and James Brownam, same as the prior one.
Richard Davis is listed on the 1810 census in Brunswick, once again with his entire household crammed into a single free colored column. This census taker listed everyone by initial only, making it difficult to determine who was who. However, there was only one “R. Davis” in Brunswick in 1810. His “next door neighbors” in 1810 were J. Brownen and T. Newell (probably Thomas Newell). Other free colored households on the same page were: E. Lord, C. Peavy, N. Peavy, J. B. McKenzie, C. Hays, and E. Jacobs. Richard was listed two houses from B. Laspier, who is Bernard Laspeyre, 2nd husband of Harriett Ashe Davis (1769-1853), who was first married to John Moore Davis (c1744-1790), son of John Davis, Esq.
1810 Census, Brunswick Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
236 |
R. Davis |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
5 |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
5 Free Colored persons, no ages or gender given
1. Richard Davis (bef 1764)
2. Mrs. Davis, wife
3. Child? Cornelius Davis (c1805) son?
4. Child?
5. Child?
The 1815 tax list for Brunswick Co., NC, Northwest District shows John Davis and Richard Davis as the only Davis’s. John had 50 acres on John’s Branch and one white poll. Richard had 144 acres Bull Head Branch, no white polls, no colored polls.
On 29 Oct 1816, Richard Davis entered 50 acres “below Vines and Keetor.” The survey was dated 10 Nov 1817 and it came out as 33 acres. Chain Carriers were William Smith and John Davis. I didn’t find a record of this being actually granted to Richard Davis.
We see John Davis once again associated with Richard. I believe this is John Ashe Davis (c1787-aft 1838) who was a son of John Moore Davis and Harriet Ashe Davis mentioned earlier.
I was unable to find Richard Davis on the 1820 census. The Brunswick census is only 7 pages long. I wonder if some of it is missing?
Richard is “back” for the 1830 census. Thomas F. Davis (1778-1846) is listed nearby. He didn’t actually live in Brunswick but had a plantation there consisting of one white male (an overseer, probably) and 50 slaves. Thomas is related to old John Davis, Esquire, who freed Richard and family.
From this census it appears that Mrs. Richard Davis had died for there is no one her age in the household.
1830 Census, Brunswick Co., NC
Page |
Name (Males first row, females on second) |
0-4
|
5-9
|
10-14
|
15-19
|
20-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70-79
|
80-89
|
90-99
|
100+
|
333 |
Richd Davis |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
FPC=020010-010000 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
Free Colored Persons
1m 55-99 (1730/1774) Richard Davis (bef 1764)
2m 10-23 (1806/1820) 1. Son -> Cornelius Davis (c1805) perhaps?
2. Son
1f 10-23 (1806/1820) Daughter
I found no additional records on Richard Davis. He apparently died sometime after 1830, presumably in Brunswick Co., NC. Unfortunately, many early records were lost during the Civil War when Federal Troops burned them in 1865. That would probably include any estate, probate or court records relating to Richard’s estate. He had a lot of property, so there would have been records of some sort.
No records have been found thus far to proven any of Richard Davis’s children. I strongly suspect that my ancestor Cornelius Davis is his son because they lived on the same creek in the same section and were associated with the same families. Cornelius was born ca 1805 so that works well. He was also listed as free colored in 1840, so that also works.
There were eight people in Richard’s 1800 census household. They were all lumped together in the free colored column, so it can’t be determine which were males, which were females, or what ages any of them were, thus we can’t even properly analyze the data to determine which are likely to be his children versus siblings or other relatives. One of the eight was obviously Richard himself. Another was probably his wife, leaving six yet to be identified.
In 1810 he had five persons, which would include himself, and presumably his wife, leaving three who could be their children. I would like to think that my Cornelius Davis (c1805) was one of those.
His 1830 entry includes two boys born ca 1806/1820 and one girl in that same age group. While that isn’t a perfect match for Cornelius (c1805), one of those may be him anyway. Then again, at 25 years old, he could have been elsewhere, perhaps residing with another family as a hired laborer, and these two boys were his younger brothers. It’s hard to say without other evidence.
I haven’t found any Davis’s in the area after 1830 who could fill these slots.
1. Cornelius Davis (c1805-aft 1890) married Tabitha Davis. My ancestors.
2. Unknown son (1806/1820-aft 1830). Home in 1830, no further info.
3. Unknown son (1806/1820-aft 1830). Home in 1830, no further info.
4. Unknown daughter (1806/1820-aft 1830). Home in 1830, no further info.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Richard Davis.
Revised: December 22, 2025
Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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