Peter Davy

PETER DAVY U.E. of ERNESTOWN

My interest in Peter Davy U.E. stems from his daughter Elizabeth who married Frederick Baker, a U.E. Loyalist from Ernestown Township.

A.E. Baker writes [1]

"Elizabeth (Davy) married Frederick Baker between 1784 and 1788. The date and place is unknown. Their son Henry, however, was baptized at Bath, Ontario, in April 1789. The Davy's are well known Loyalist families. Memorial windows in loving memory of several of their family are to be found in St. John's Anglican Church at Bath, Ontario. One of the Davy's lived in Herkimer County, N.Y.

Elizabeth was a devoted wife and mother of a large family. The will of her husband, who predeceased her, indicates the esteem in which she was held. The date of her death and place of burial are unknown. Burial was likely in the old Lutheran Cemetary north of Ernestown or at St. John's, Bath. This is a matter for further research."

He further quotes a letter from Dr. H.C. Burleigh who said:

"The Davys' came from the Mohawk Valley. The four Davy brothers belonged to the 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rangers of New York, which unit they joined in 1781 and spent most of its service at Oswego, Carleton Island and Cataraqui."

Frederick and Elizabeth's eldest son, Peter, was baptized April 26, 1789 by Rev. John Langhorn. Her maiden name is attested in the baptismal record of their eighth child, William Davey Baker, who was baptised on 25 August 1808.

A number of other family historians state that Elizabeth Baker was a Davy and was related to the four Davys who were U.E. Loyalists in Ernestown: Henry, John, Peter and Michael. But how was she related? And was there any documentary proof of her family name? Elizabeth was not listed in the card index of Upper Canada Land Petitions, nor in Reid's Sons and Daughters.

Unnoticed by A.E. Baker, H.C. Burleigh and William Reid1, Elizabeth successfully petitioned for land at Kingston on 16 June 1790 [10]:

The Memorial of Elizabeth Baker alias Davy Daughter of Peter Davy, late a private in the 2nd Battn --- Humbly Sheweth

That your Lordship's Memorialist Being Married [to] Frederick Baker claims the Portion of land under the order of Council 9th of November 1789 And Humbly prays that two hundred acres of land may be assigned to her, as the Daughter of a Loyalist in the 8th Township.

When the Mecklenburgh District Land Board met on 16 June 1790 they granted her petition and awarded Elizabeth 200 acres [30, pg166]. However, there is no further record of Elizabeth receiving land.

Here is documentary proof that the wife of Frederick Baker was indeed Elizabeth Davy. Moreover, it shows that of the four Loyalist Davys, Peter Davy was her father. Furthermore, her petition tells us that her father Peter Davy was a private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rangers of New York and a Loyalist. Interestingly, Elizabeth's petition was one of four submitted by the Davys on the same day and in the same hand. The others were from Peter Davy, John Davy and John's wife Sophia (Huffnail) [16].

In his petition for additional lands, 16 June 1790, Peter Davy identified himself 'late a private in the 2nd Battalion Royal Yorkers' (KRRNY) (image). He is not included in the muster roll of disbanded soldiers settled in Ernestown 7 Oct 1784 [18], but appears in Muster Roll 13 of 1785 and in the list of Loyalists victualled at Ernestown in the summer of 1786 [32, pg 163]. At that time Peter's family consisted of his wife, three sons over 10, three daughters over 10 and one younger daughter, for a total of 9 persons. 

Peter drew 500 acres2 for himself and his family consisting of a wife and seven children and by 1790 had made a good improvement on the land. He therefore requested an additional 200 acres in the 8th Township (i.e. Sydney), but was refused. The Land Board reported that “he appears to have tilled and improved a Lot drawn by his son in conjunction with him and the son having already applied and obtained the Bounty, the Board do not think proper to comply with the present application” [30, pg 165].

Deeds for his 500 acres were issued by the Crown on 10 August 1801 [15], [23].

John Davy's petition states that he was a late Private in the 1st Battalion. He had a wife and child and had drawn 200 acres, and requested an additional 200 acres in Ernestown. This was granted. His wife, Sophia Davy alias Huffnail was the daughter of Job Huffnail, late a private in the Loyal Rangers. She wanted 200 acres in the 10th township (i.e. Richmond Township) as a daughter of a Loyalist, and this was granted.

On 2 April 1827 Elizabeth tried for title to a modest 50 acres:

The petition of Elizabeth Baker, wife to Frederick Baker of the Township of Ernest Town (a U.E. Loyalist) Farmer

Humbly sheweth that your petitioner is the daughter of Peter Davy late of Ernest Town, deceased, a U.E. Loyalist; that at the first settlement of this Province fifty acres being the North East quarter of Lot number twenty nine in the third Concession of the Township of Ernest Town was allotted to her as family land on account of her said father as by reference to the map of said township will appear; and your petitioner being desirous to obtain a patent therefor from the Crown, prays that your Excellency will cause the same to be made out to her and permit Andrew Mercer of the Town of York to be her agent to take out the same when completed.

The petition was signed with 'her mark' and witnessed by Abraham Amey at Ernestown [13]. There is no indication that this second petition met with success either.

It seems that Elizabeth is seeking title to the 50 acres that her father received for her as his daughter (a Loyalist received 50 acres per child). This is odd because of course the land was given to the father, not the child. Moreover, Lot 29 Con 3 of Ernestown was not one of the lots awarded to Peter. In the 20 Jan 1790 report of John Collins of the Surveyor General's office all 200 acres of Lot 29 Con 3 was in the name of Lewis Hicks [14]. The deeds from the Crown were only issued in 1845 and then it was to Isaac Asselstine (150 ac.) and Joseph Chatterson (50 ac.) [15].

In 1844, writing about the settlers on the Bath Road, John Collins Clark said:

Mr. Frederick Baker settled on the farm next above Mr. [Jacob] Miller. His wife was a Davy. He died many years ago. His widow is still living with her son George, who owns the old farm. [7]

Her death is recorded in the John C. Clark diary [2] which notes on 28 June 1848 that:

Old Mrs. Baker, relict of the late Frederick Baker, died at night.

Davy Family History

The Davy family history was recorded by at least two family historians: Henry Sidney Davy and E. Ross Laughlin. The Davy clan was apparently much interested in family history and great story tellers. These two authors claimed a history that stretched back to 1555. H.S. Davy in particular retold stories he had heard as a boy of the Davys' adventurous exploits during the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolution.

The actual genealogy of the family was confusing and confused. The Davys re-used common first names such as Peter and John making it difficult to identify individuals. Laughlin in particular has a multiplicity of Davy families in Ernestown that likely (as he admitted) included duplications. As to the four Loyalists, the histories are contradictory as to whether these were four brothers. There is a shadowy Peter Davy who is presumed to be the father of all four.

Going further back, many family historians identify the Ernestown Davys with a family of Peter and Maria Devi who were living in Stone Arabia, New York in the period 1750 to 1773. One wonders however whether this identification is supported by more than the fact that some of the names are the same as those of the Ernestown families.

With my initial success with Elizabeth Davy and her land petition, I decided to compile as much information as possible from the records of the Loyalist era - muster rolls, land petitions, Upper Canada sundries, First and Second Heir and Devisee Commissions, land books and township papers - and then use that data to work backwards to the pre-War period in New York and forward to the families of the Loyalist Davys.

Who was Peter Davy?

In his petition of 1790, Peter Davy stated that he had had seven children when he arrived in 17843. At least five of Peter's seven children (four daughters and one son) identify themselves in their land petitions:

Child Description of Father Date of Petition Petition Ref
Elizabeth m Frederick Baker Peter Davy, late a private in the 2nd Batt'n 16 Jun 1790 B/Misc 19a
Hannah m Cornelius Brass Peter Davy late private in the 2nd Batt'n Royal Yorkers 10 Mar 1791 B/Misc 179
Christian m Asselstine Peter Davy, U. E. Loyalist 9 Nov 1797 A 3/49
Thomas Davy Peter Davy, U.E. Loyalist 9 Nov 1797 D 3/89
Mary4 m Amey   9 Nov 1797 petition not found
Hannah5 m Asselstine Peter Davy of Ernest Town. 'Peter Davy on the List' 19 Oct 1801 A 5/6

Based on the Mecklenburg Land Board's statement, we also know that at least one of either John or Henry was also Peter's son, since these are the only other Davys who received land prior to 1790. What the Land Board seems to be implying is that one of Peter's three sons (for whom he received 50 acres) had also received land in his own right. In the list of Loyalists victualled at Ernestown in the summer of 1786, John Davy is listed with his family separately from Peter. Henry is not listed. Thus it is most probable that it is Henry who is included among Peter's three sons.

Writing in 1915, Henry Sidney Davy stated that the four Davy Loyalists (Peter, Michael, John and Henry) were brothers whose father, Peter Sr., did not leave the US [3]. Peter Jr. is the grandfather of H.S. Davy, who says that he stayed too long in the US, looking after his elderly father, and so did not receive a land grant as a Loyalist. Peter Jr. is said to have purchased Lot 36, Con 4 of Ernestown, a clergy reserve lot, in 1806.

Based on the evidence, I believe a better reconstruction of the family is to identify Peter Davy U.E. with Peter Sr. Peter Jr., could still be his son, but did not receive land as either a Loyalist or as the son of a Loyalist. He came into Ernestown later than 1784. However, we have to suppose that H.S. Davy was mistaken as to the reason for his delay, since his father, Peter Sr., was in fact settled in Ontario from 1784 on.

William Reid assigns Hannah Asselstine and Mary Amey to Peter U.E. [8], while Ross Laughlin assigns Elizabeth Baker, Christian Asselstine, Thomas and Hannah Brass to Peter Sr [6]. Both are consistent with the above land petitions if we identify Peter U.E. and Peter Sr. as the same person.

Loyalist Lineages names Christian's husband as Peter Asselstine Sr. and Hannah's husband as Isaac Asselstine. Loyalist Lineages adds that Christian was born 1752-53, died 29 Jul 1804-05, and is buried in Union Lutheran Cemetery [22]. She married Peter Asselstine about 1785.

In addition to these names, Laughlin lists a daughter Mary, born about 1776, who married Jacob Hillier in Ernestown, while H.S. Davy mentions daughters who married Fraser and McLaughlin. There are no petitions from either Mary or Jacob Hillier to establish the relationship with Peter Davy. Nor could I find any from any petition from a Fraser or McLaughlin 'alias Davy'.

We can guess that Peter died in late 1801 or early 180213. He received Crown deeds to all of his lots on 10 Aug 1801 [15], [23]. Hannah Asselstine's petition of 19 Oct 1801 does not describe her father as 'the late', so we can infer that Peter was alive at that time. At some point, however, all three of Peter's lots passed to John Davy. This happened prior to 20 July 1802 when John Davy and wife sold Lot 6, Con 7 of Ernestown to Garrett Miller.

The fact that John inherited all three lots is strong circumstantial evidence that John was Peter's eldest son. On 19 June 1806, John Davy and wife sold Lot 25, Con 5 of Ernestown to Michael Davy and Thomas Davy (100 ac each). [15]. The Camden lot was willed to John's son Benjamin. A mortgage was taken out by B.F. Davy on 12 Oct 1843. There is nothing for these lots in the township papers to add any information. The instruments (sales, mortgages, etc.) are not preserved prior to about 1847.

Of the Davy family, we know from the land and other early records:

Henry

  1. Soldier in the 2nd Battalion of Royal Yorkers [17]. Joined Sir John Johnson in 1780 and served 4 years [31].
  2. In the muster roll of disbanded soldiers settled in Ernestown 7 Oct 1784, Henry, single, had gone into the States for seed wheat. He is also listed in Muster Roll 13 of 1785, though not on the list of Loyalists victualled at Ernestown in the summer of 1786.
  3. Drew half of Lot 10, Con 1 of Ernestown (100 acres). This implies that Henry was single at the time. John Davy drew the other half of Lot 10. However, the deed from the Crown in 1803 was only to John Davy.
  4. Petitioned 7 Oct 1789 for 200 acres in Sidney Tp in addition to "his first allowance of land" [17] and was granted 200 acres of Lot 36, Con 1 of Camden the same day. The Mecklenburgh Land Board noted that he had already received 100 acres in Ernestown. He sold the Camden lot to Gideon Shurtliff on 6 Oct 1798. [34]
  5. Witnessed the marriage of Hannah Davy to Cornelius Brass on 31 Aug 1790.
  6. John Davy swore an oath before a J.P. on 4th Oct 1797 that "Henry Davy was married and came to this province with his wife and one child before the year 1789".
  7. Petitioned 29 Oct 1797 for land for his wife and child born before 1789. (George was 21 in Oct 1809 so would have been born about 1788.) He was recommended for 100 acres as family lands and received half of Lot 22, Con 2, Ernestown from the Crown on 31 Dec 1798. He sold the property to Isaac Fraser on 28 Feb 1816. [15]
  8. Served as a Captain in the Addington County militia in the War of 1812 [31].
  9. Petitioned on behalf of his son George (as a SUE) for Lot 31, Con 3 of Ernestown in 22 Apr 1817 [31]. The wording of this petition confirms that the Henry Davy who was the Militia Captain was the same one who was the U.E. who served in the 2nd battalion of the KRRNY from 1780 to 1784.
  10. Still a Captain in the 1st Regiment, Addington Militia in 1828-1829 [33]
  11. "Capt Henry Davy died of cholera" on 15 Aug 1832 [2]

John

  1. Private in the 1st battalion, KRRNY
  2. In the muster roll of disbanded soldiers settled in Ernestown 7 Oct 1784, John had a family consisting of his wife and a daughter under 10 years. The man and woman were gone into the States for cattle.
  3. Drew 200 acres for himself, wife and child. This was half of Lot 10, Con 1, Ernestown and the east half of Lot 8, Con 6, Ernestown [20].
  4. In the victualling list of the summer of 1786, John had a second daughter.
  5. He received the deed to 152 acres of Lot 10, Con 1 from the Crown on 5 Nov 1803. It passed to his sons Peter and John in his will.
  6. Widower, married (2) Sophia Huffnail, daughter of Job Huffnail, private in the Loyal Rangers, on 22 Nov 1787 at Bath by Rev John Langhorn
  7. Petitioned 16 June 1790 for 200 acres in Ernestown. Received Lot 16, Con 6 of Camden6. This land is not mentioned in his will.
  8. 1800 map shows his name on the whole of Lot 8, Con 6 in Ernestown as he had purchased the other half from John Dulmage. John Davy sold half of Lot 8, Con 6 to Garrett Miller on 23 Feb 1805 and the rest passed to his son George in his will.
  9. John and Sophia apparently inherited all of Peter Davy's lands. On July 20, 1802 they sold Lot 6, Con 7 of Ernestown to Garrett Miller. On 19 June 1806, John Davy and wife sold Lot 25, Con 5 of Ernestown to Michael Davy and Thomas Davy (100 ac each). [15]. The 100 acres in Camden was willed to John's son Benjamin.
  10. Will dated 17 May 1808 and probated 12 July 1808 [19]. Sons named are Peter, John, Benjamin and George, and daughters Eve, Margaret, Sophia and Elizabeth.
  11. His widow Sophia married John Walden Myers in Aug 1817

Michael

  1. Arrived in 1784 but drew no land.
  2. Not listed in the muster roll of disbanded soldiers settled in Ernestown, 7 Oct 1784
  3. Did not claim any military service or status as a Loyalist7
  4. Married about 1793 to Elizabeth, daughter of John Adam Freymouth, a U.E. Loyalist
  5. Petitioned 4 Oct 1797 for land for himself and his wife [37]. He was recommended for 200 acres as U.E. but apparently did not receive any land
  6. 19 June 1806 Michael purchased from John Davy half of Lot 25, Con 5 of Ernestown which had originally been granted to Peter Davy.
  7. There is a will dated 1 Feb 1831

Thomas

  1. Witnessed the marriage of Hannah Davy to Cornelius Brass on 31 Aug 1790.
  2. Petitioned for land as the son of Peter Davy U.E. on 9 Nov 1797
  3. 19 June 1806 Thomas purchased from John Davy half of Lot 25, Con 5 of Ernestown which had originally been granted to Peter Davy.
  4. The nominal return of the Second Battalion of the First Regiment, Addington Militia taken 4 June 1830 lists Thomas Davy age 58

Peter Jr.

  1. Eva, daughter of Peter Davy and Mary Hiller baptized 28 Mar 1802 by Rev. Robert McDowell in Ernestown

Hannah

  1. 22 Nov 1787 witnessed the marriage (along with John Caldwell) of John Davy and Sophia Huffnail.
  2. 11 Mar 1788 witnessed the marriage of John Caldwell and Juliana Miller.
  3. 6 July 1788 witnessed the marriage of William Ashley and Margaret Buck.
  4. 31 Aug 1790 married Cornelius Brass. Wedding performed by Rev. John Langhorn. Witnessed by Thomas Davy and Henry Davy.
  5. Petitioned for land 10 Mar 1791 as Hannah Brass, wife of Cornelius Brass, and daughter of Peter Davy late private in the 2nd Batt'n Royal Yorkers
  6. Petitioned for land 19 Oct 1801 as Hannah Asselstine, daughter of Peter Davy of Ernest Town
  7. John, son of Hannah Davy and Isaac Asselstine baptized 25 Mar 1802 by Rev. Robert McDowell in Ernestown

Christian

  1. Petitioned for land 9 Nov 1797 as Christian Asselstine, daughter of Peter Davy, U. E. Loyalist

Military Service

The Haldimand papers contain evidence for Peter and Henry Davy in the 2nd Battalion KRRNY, and for John Davy in the 1st Battalion. Firm identification with our subjects is problematic because of the different spellings of the name. In particular, the use of Davis for Davy is confusing because there are also Loyalists in Ernestown with the name Davis8.

A muster roll of the 2nd Battalion received 25 Apr 1783 [28] includes among the privates:

This would suggest that Peter and Henry joined in Oct 1780 and implies that Peter was born in 1732/3 and Henry in 1751/2.

A muster roll of the 1st battalion [28] includes as a private in Capt. Richard Duncan's company:

Since the roll is believed to date from 1782, this implies a birthdate for John of about 17549. Another muster roll, this one from 21 Jan 1778, states that John Davy enlisted on 15 June 1777.

A correspondant of H.C. Burleigh [4] found a list in the Haldimand papers of prisoners taken near Fort Planck on 2 August 1780, including Henry and Peter Davis of Col Bellinger's Tryon County Regiment. Vol 158 of the Haldimand papers shows that Peter and Henry were raised for 2nd Battalion KRRNY by Lieut. P. Langan. A subsequent list by John Johnson of men raised for the 2nd Battalion KRRNY shows Henry Davis and Peter Davis enlisted 16 Oct 1780 [38]. This agrees with Henry's petition of 1817.

Henry Davis' rank is given as Drummer, implying that he was quite young. This would disagree with the age given above in the muster roll of 1783. However, it becomes important when considering the church records (below).

On 16 October 1780 John Johnson was leading

New York Church Records

Several researchers, including Maryly Penrose [9], have found Davy records that occur in the churches of the Mohawk Valley in New York State. She lists the following children of Peter Davis (sic) and Anna Maria Saltsman in two churches in Stone Arabia:

Child Birthdate Baptism Date Church Sponsors
Jo[h]annes 5 Oct 1751   LTSA Johannes Shultze & wife Magdalena (Saltsman)
Maria 9 Apr 1753   LTSA Michael Salzmann & wife Anna Maria (Nellis)
Magdalena 7 Sep 1754   LTSA Ludwig Devi & wife Maria
Christina 1 Oct 1756   LTSA Andreas Tillenbach, Christina Saltzmann
Catharina 2 Feb 1759   LTSA Andreas Fink & wife
Anna Marg. 15 Apr 1760   LTSA Wilhelm Casselmann & wife (Saltsman)
Thomas 3 May 1760 11 May 1760 RDSA Thomas Devi, widower & Ottilia wife of Thomas Gilli
Georg 12 May 1762 23 May 1762 RDSA Georg Saltzmann & wife Cathrin Lis
Maria 9 Apr 1763   LTSA Michael Saltzmann & wife
Wilhelm 5 Feb 1764 12 Feb 1764 RDSA Wilhelm Nelles & Maria Dorothea (Saltsman)
Elizabeth 13 Oct 1765 27 Oct 1765 RDSA Maria Elizabeth & Henrich Saltzmann
Henrich 6 Mar 1768 13 Mar 1768 LTSA (b)

RDSA (bpt)

Henrich Dillenbach & wife Barbara Schultz
Anna 2 Jul 1769   LTSA William Nelles Jr. & Margaretha Dillenbach
Thomas 9 Jan 1772   LTSA Wilhelm Gutbrod, Maria Shuz
Michael 15 May 1773   LTSA Bernard Kaiser, Barbara Emg

There are difficulties with this list, especially two children born three weeks apart in 1760. (Bill Barker amends Margaret's birthdate to 15 Apr 1761.) Second, the records are from two different churches in Stone Arabia, the Reformed Dutch (RDSA) and Lutheran Trinity (LTSA)10. Third, the RDSA records do not give Maria's maiden name (though Saltsman's are involved in three of the four baptisms). Penrose speculates that there may have been two couples named Peter and Maria Davy in the area.

We recognize all of our known children of Peter Davy U.E. in this list: John (the eldest!), with a birthdate close to that needed to match the muster roll; Elizabeth who was 23 if she married in 1788; Hanna (Anna); Christian (Christina); Thomas and Mary (Maria). It makes sense that John sold some of his father's land to his two youngest brothers, Thomas and Michael. Michael would only have been 11 in 1784 and 20 when he married Elizabeth Freymouth, so he could have been one of Peter Davy's seven children in 1784.

Henry in the above list could have been a drummer in 1780 (age 12) but not 31 in 1783. Henry Davy and Anna Moog witnessed the baptism of Susanna, daughter of Peter Davy and Elizabeth (Spohn) on 5 July 1785.

From the 1786 list of children we can speculate on the identity of the three sons over 10 (Henry, Thomas and Michael), and three daughters over 10 (Mary, Elizabeth and Hannah). There is no baptism for a daughter who was under 10 in 1786. (There are no RDSA records from 1771 to 1786.) Perhaps Christian is in fact not the much older Christina and was the young girl. She could have been 21 years of age at the time of her petition in 1797.

The birthdate of Thomas in 1772 matches his age of 58 in the nominal return of the Second Battalion of the First Regiment, Addington Militia taken 4 June 1830.

Family history preserved by H.S. Davy says that a Thomas was killed at the battle of Oriskany in 1770. This could be the first Thomas in the baptismal list. H.S. Davy also tells the story of George, a brother of Peter Jr., who was killed by Indians in the spring of 1780 [35, pg. 25]. This could be the George in the list, who would have been 18 at the time.

The clarity of this picture may however be an illusion. Rex Stevenson has Thomas married Maria Campbell before 1803; John married Dorothy Sybilla Schneider on 21 Jan 1769 at Stone Arabia11; Christina married Michael Crantz before 1780 and had a daughter Maria Crantz b.18 Jan 1780 in German Flats; Anna married Peter Wals on 16 Oct 1785 and had a daughter Christina Wals baptized 4 July 1790 in St. Johnsville, Montgomery NY. [29]. Clearly there is a need to combine data post 1784 from both sides of the border, recognizing that it was also possible for people to cross the border to marry or be a witness to a baptism.

Surprisingly, there is no son named Peter12. This makes it hard to tie in the H.S. Davy line.

Looking farther back, in the First Dutch Reformed Church, Schenectady, we have Peter Davy baptized 31 May 1724, the youngest child of Thomas Davy and Catarina Klein, who married 14 Dec 1701 in Schenectady [29]. This is fairly consistent with Peter's age in the muster roll. He would then have been 76 when he died in 1801/2. The other children of Thomas and Catarina are Margarita (1702), Johannes (1705), Thomas (1707), Ludwig (1710), Maria (1715) and Willem (1721). We see Thomas and Ludwig (and his wife, Maria Clement) among the sponsors for the baptism of Peter's children. However, there is no Henry.

NOTES

1. The petition went unnoticed because the petition was interleaved with that of Elizabeth Franklin, wife of Wm Baker. Consequently, her petition is not on the card index.

2. This is confirmed by the report of the Deputy Surveyor General, John Collins, in his report to Council dated 20 Jan 1790 [14] which shows that Peter Davy had received Lot 25, Con 5 of Ernestown (200 acres), Lot 6, Con 7 of Ernestown (200 acres) and part of Lot 24, Con 1 of Camden (100 acres).

3. Peter probably counted his dependents only, not children who arrived independently, such as (I believe) John.

4. Mary is included because her land grant names her as Mary Amey alias Davy, and because the date would exclude any other known Davy as her father. It is not known which Amey she married.

5. It is probably safe to assume that Cornelius Brass died and Hannah then married Isaac Asselstine. However, the first Hannah signed her petition 'Hannah Brass alias Davie' while the second signed with her mark. Hannah Asselstine swore on the Holy Evangelist before a J.P. that she never received lands from the Crown. This could show (1) that she could not be Hannah Brass on the basis of the first petition; or (2) she was known to have filed an earlier petition as Hannah Brass but never received the lands she was allotted 10 years earlier.

Hannah Davy witnessed the marriage of John Davy and Sophia Huffnail on 22 Nov 1787.

6. This sequence of events is confirmed by a petition dated 27 May 1829 to the Second Heir and Devisee Commission by Peter Davy of Bath, John's eldest son. Peter claims the lot as the heir of the original nominee of the Crown. In his reply, the Surveyor General grants Peter's petition and finds a certificate about 1797 to John Davy under a Land Board Certificate in response to his petition of 16 June 1790. [21]

7. This raises a doubt as to whether Michael was a son of Peter Davy U.E. ,or else he would have used that relationship to petition for land in the absence of his own military service.

8. Daly is another surname found in Ernestown records of the period. Muster Roll 13 of 1785 lists both Peter Daley and Peter Davy, showing that they were distinct persons.

9. In the 1st battalion KRRNY there is also Peter Davis, age 43 and Henry Davis, age 36. However, I am sticking to the evidence from the land petitions that our Peter and Henry served in the 2nd battalion.

10. The significance of this is mitigated by the fact that Henrich has his birth recorded in LTSA and his baptism in RDSA. Moreover, of the four times when Maria's maiden name is not given, twice the sponsors are Saltzmanns.

11. This might be the missing first marriage of John Davy.

12. Rex Stevenson adds a Peter b. abt 1758. He has this Peter marrying (1) Elisabeth Spohn and (2) Maria Jon Hiller on 30 Dec 1792 and thus being the Peter who was H.S. Davy's grandfather.

13. Some sources report that a Peter Devi was buried by Rev. John Langhorn at Bath on 7 Oct 1790 and therefore conclude that Peter Davy died about then. I cannot find this record in the published transcripts of Langhorn's burial register.

REFERENCES

[1] Rev. Alexander Earle Baker, Frederick Baker, U.E. and Some of his Descendants, Published by the Author at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1961.

[2] John C. Clark diary, transcribed by Dr. H.C. Burleigh. See the Baker file in the Burleigh collection, Queen's Archives, Kingston. The John C. Clark diary is in the National Archives of Canada.

[3] Henry Sidney Davy, Davy History, Toronto, 1915. Photostat of a typescript is in the Davy file, Lennox and Addington Archives, Napanee. Also incorporated in Reference [35].

[4] Davy File, H.C. Burleigh Collection, Queen's University Archives, Kingston, Ontario.

[5] Russ Waller, U.E. Loyalist Links, Vol II - Lennox & Addington Co., Kingston, Ontario. Rev May 1992.

[6] E. Ross and M.E. Laughlin, Davy Genealogy, Williamsburg MA, 1956. Copy in Davy file, Burleigh Collection, Queen's Archives, and Metro Toronto Reference Library 929.2 L1338.

[7] John Collins Clark, "Reminiscences of some of the first settlers in Ernestown, March 1844". Originally published in the Napanee Beaver. Reprinted in Lennox and Addington Historical Society, Papers and Records, Vol XIV, 1973. (copy in Napanee Public Library).

[8] William D. Reid, The Loyalists of Ontario: The sons and daughters of American Loyalists of Upper Canada. (Lambertville, N.J., Hunterdon House, 1973).

[9] Maryly B. Penrose, Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore MA, 1990., pg 173. See also Marly B. Penrose, Mohawk Valley Land Records: Abstracts, 1738 - 1788, Liberty Bell Assoc., 1985, pg 14.

[10] Upper Canada Land Petitions 1788-1832, B Misc/19. Ontario Archives Reel C-1634.

[11] Deputy Surveyor Plan (undated) ca. 1800. RG1 A-IV, Vol II. Ontario Archives MS 400, Reel 7.

[12] Sydney Township Abstract Index to Deeds, Vol A2. Ontario Archives GS 4269.

[13] Upper Canada Land Petitions 1793-1840, B Misc/162. Ontario Archives C-1636.

[14] John Collins report, Surveyor General's Office, 20 Jan 1790. RG 1, A-IV, Vol 9, pg 14. Ontario Archives MS 400, Reel 7.

[15] Ernestown Township Abstract Index to Deeds, Vol A. Ontario Archives GS 4642.

[16] Upper Canada Land Petitions D/Misc DA-DEY, numbers 23, 24 and 25. Ontario Archives reel C-1885.

[17] Upper Canada Land Petitions D/Misc DA-DEY, number 16. Ontario Archives reel C-1885.

[18] Muster Roll, Township No. 2, 7 Oct 1784. Haldimand Papers, Vol 168. Ontario Archives Reel XX-85.

[19] John Davy will. Frontenac County Kingston Wills, A-DEA 1801-1858. Ontario Archives reel G.S. Ont 1-1222.

[20] Index to Alexander Aikin's Schedule of Locations in Midland District, ca. 1798. Ontario Archives R.G. 1 C-I-4, Vol 40. Reel MS 241.

[21] Second Heir and Devisee Commission.,File 40-915. Ontario Archives MS 657, reel 25.

[22] Loyalist Lineages of Canada 1783-1983, Toronto Branch, The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada (Toronto: Generation Press, 1984)

[23] Camden East Tp Abstract Index to Deeds, Vol A. Ontario Archives G.S. 4622B.

[24] Ernestown Township Papers. Ontario Archives MS 658, reels 136, 137 and 138.

[25] Camden Township Papers. Ontario Archives MS 658, reel 58.

[26] E. Keith Fitzgerald, Loyalist Lists - Over 2,000 Names from the Haldimand Papers, 1984.

[27] Haldiman Loyalist Lists. North York Public Library, Canadiana Collection microfilm C-1475.

[28] Mary Beacock Fryer and Lieut-Col William A. Smy C.D., Rolls of the Provincial (Loyalist) Corps, Canadian Command American Revolutionary Period, Dundurn Press 1981. NYPL

[29] Rex E. Stevenson, Jr., Ancestral File AF96102661. Also "First Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, Records of Baptisms, Vol 1 1694-1753", pg. 9

[30] Upper Canada Land Board Minutes and Records RG 1, L4, Vol 7 - Mecklenburg District records, 1783-94; National Archives of Canada, Film C-14027

[31] Upper Canada Sundries, Part 2 1816-1820, pp 15031-15035; National Archives of Canada RG 5, A 1; reel C-4548

[32] Norman K. Crowder, Early Ontario Settlers - A Source Book, Genealogical Publishing Co, 1993

[33] Bruce S. Elliott, Dan Walker and Fawne Stratford-Devai (eds), Men of Upper Canada - Militia Nominal Rolls 1828-1829, Ontario Genealogical Society (Toronto), 1995

[34] First Heir and Devisee Commission, Midland District, Vol 28, No. 174. Ontario Archives H-1139

[35] History of the Davy Family from 1555 to 1932 A.D., H.S. Davy, Odessa Ontario (1932). Published privately by Carol J. Davy, Odessa (1992).

[36] Upper Canada Land Petitions D3/64. Ontario Archives reel C-1743.

[37] Upper Canada Land Petitions D3/1. Ontario Archives reel C-1742.

[38] Haldiman Papers, Vol B158 (add. mss. 21818) pp 405ff. National Archives of Canada film A-746


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