Projects
Our Latest Project is the Fredrick Davis Cemetery
The Frederick Davis Cemetery is probably one of the best kept secrets in Williamson County. Despite its small size, it serves as the final resting place for Frederick Davis. At the time Frederick Davis died, October 31, 1831, he was buried at his farm/residence near his wife, Francis “Fanny” Grieves Davies’ grave. Francis had died in 1822. Frederick Davis’ farm/residence was located near what is now the old Trinity School on Wilson Pike and Frederick Davis Cemetery is located beyond the old Trinity schoolyard which can be accessed from the Covington Farm off Guy Ferrell road.
Frederick Davis, son of David Davis, was born near Great Dismal Swamp and Albemarles Sound, Pasquotank County, NC on September 22, 1748. He married his cousin Francis (Fanny) Grieves.
Frederick served in Captain John Ingles Company of the North Carolina Battalion during the Revolutionary War. In 1790 he moved with his wife Fanny Grieves Davis and his 6 children to the western wilderness of North Carolina, which today is Middle Tennessee. They were married August 9, 1769. He commenced a settlement on Hayes Creek, a branch of the Big Harpeth River in Williamson County, Tennessee. In Frederick's 84th year he was violently attacked with a fever and was taken to his daughter Nancy Watkins' house. In less than a week he died.
Frederick Davis, son of David Davis, was born near Great Dismal Swamp and Albemarles Sound, Pasquotank County, NC on September 22, 1748. He married his cousin Francis (Fanny) Grieves.
Frederick served in Captain John Ingles Company of the North Carolina Battalion during the Revolutionary War. In 1790 he moved with his wife Fanny Grieves Davis and his 6 children to the western wilderness of North Carolina, which today is Middle Tennessee. They were married August 9, 1769. He commenced a settlement on Hayes Creek, a branch of the Big Harpeth River in Williamson County, Tennessee. In Frederick's 84th year he was violently attacked with a fever and was taken to his daughter Nancy Watkins' house. In less than a week he died.
Frederick Davis Obituary
"Died on Monday, 17 October 1831 at the residence of Owen T. Watkins, Esquire. To the worth and excellency of the deceased as a man and citizen we have the testimony of an extensive circle of mourning friends. As a man, he was affable and bland in his demeanor, and displayed in a high degree the courtesies which alone give society its charm and life its value. Those who knew him and possessed his friendship will long remember and cherish the memory of his noble independence and many virtues. He would never accept official position, either for honor or emolument. When urged by his friends to apply for a pension to which he was justly entitled as a soldier, his rely was, 'I will not have any pension; I did not fight for money. I fought for liberty and I got it, and I am satisfied. I am able to work, have plenty to live on, and am not dependent upon the government.”
"A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND GENERATIONS OF FREDERICK AND FANNY DAVIS" by William Frederick Watkins, Grandson.”
John Davis, was born 3 July 1770, Pasquotank County, NC, the oldest of seven children born to Frederick and Francis Davis. At age 18, John left home with a group of North Carolina Militia on assignment to fight Indians 700 miles west in what is now Middle Tennessee. In 1787 he had received one of the earliest recorded land grants of 3,840 acres located in the vicinity of Ft. Nashboro (Nashville) on the south side of the Cumberland River. This grant was for services rendered as a Captain in the Continental line. During his lifetime he increased his holdings through purchases and by grant to 7,000 He returned to Pasquotank for his parents and six brothers and sisters. Early histories of the area tell of scouting expeditions surveying tracks through the wilderness and of many battles with the Indians.
John Davis and General James Robertson, founder of Nashville and father of Middle Tennessee were close friends and related by 2 family marriages. Two Robertson sons married 2 Davis daughters.
In 1900 the publication "The Historians" states "He (John Davis) was a generous man, kind to the poor, and lenient with his many tenants. He gave to the public a building site on which now stand a public school house and a church free to all denominations. Davis was a member of no church, but was inclined to the universal doctrine claiming that God is too good to condemn any of his creatures to eternal punishment. He believed that the disobedient would be punished here and hereafter, but not eternally."
John Davis and his wife are both buried at Frederick Davis Cemetery.
"Died on Monday, 17 October 1831 at the residence of Owen T. Watkins, Esquire. To the worth and excellency of the deceased as a man and citizen we have the testimony of an extensive circle of mourning friends. As a man, he was affable and bland in his demeanor, and displayed in a high degree the courtesies which alone give society its charm and life its value. Those who knew him and possessed his friendship will long remember and cherish the memory of his noble independence and many virtues. He would never accept official position, either for honor or emolument. When urged by his friends to apply for a pension to which he was justly entitled as a soldier, his rely was, 'I will not have any pension; I did not fight for money. I fought for liberty and I got it, and I am satisfied. I am able to work, have plenty to live on, and am not dependent upon the government.”
"A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND GENERATIONS OF FREDERICK AND FANNY DAVIS" by William Frederick Watkins, Grandson.”
John Davis, was born 3 July 1770, Pasquotank County, NC, the oldest of seven children born to Frederick and Francis Davis. At age 18, John left home with a group of North Carolina Militia on assignment to fight Indians 700 miles west in what is now Middle Tennessee. In 1787 he had received one of the earliest recorded land grants of 3,840 acres located in the vicinity of Ft. Nashboro (Nashville) on the south side of the Cumberland River. This grant was for services rendered as a Captain in the Continental line. During his lifetime he increased his holdings through purchases and by grant to 7,000 He returned to Pasquotank for his parents and six brothers and sisters. Early histories of the area tell of scouting expeditions surveying tracks through the wilderness and of many battles with the Indians.
John Davis and General James Robertson, founder of Nashville and father of Middle Tennessee were close friends and related by 2 family marriages. Two Robertson sons married 2 Davis daughters.
In 1900 the publication "The Historians" states "He (John Davis) was a generous man, kind to the poor, and lenient with his many tenants. He gave to the public a building site on which now stand a public school house and a church free to all denominations. Davis was a member of no church, but was inclined to the universal doctrine claiming that God is too good to condemn any of his creatures to eternal punishment. He believed that the disobedient would be punished here and hereafter, but not eternally."
John Davis and his wife are both buried at Frederick Davis Cemetery.