Hugh Davids (abt. 1758 - aft. 1804)

Born about 23 Oct 1758 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died after 1804 after about age 45 in Rahway, Union, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

Lieutenant Hugh Davids served with British Legion during the American Revolution.

Hugh Davids was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Undetermined
Date: Undated

Hugh was born about 1750. Likely a resident of Pennsylvania. During the British occupation of Philadelphia he joined Captain Jacob James' Philadelphia Light Dragoons.^[1], and when this unit was absorbed into Tarleton's British Legion, he became a Cornet in Captain Richard Hovenden's Troop from August 1778 to April 1779. Captured at sea aboard the Schooner "Phoenix" enroute from New York to Savannah, Georgia in December 1779, along with Lieutenant Samuel Chapman and Cornet (later Lieutenant) John Miller, and taken to Boston. Escaped from Concord Jail in September 1780 with Captain Thomas Sandford and Lieutenant John Miller, also of the Legion.^[2] Served in Captain David Kinlock's Troop, and promoted to Lieutenant by the end of the war. Went to Granville, Nova Scotia in 1783, along with Lieutenant Walter Willet and Cornet Samuel Willet.^[3][4][5] No definitive records have been identified after 1784, and he is not found in the Nova Scotia Poll Tax records from 1792, so he may have left Nova Scotia by this time.

He is on the Army Half Pay List for officers of Tarleton's Dragoons in 1798: Cornet Hugh David, but not in 1803 so likely passed away between these dates.

Notes

Surname variously recorded as DAVIS, DAVID, and DAVIDS.

Muster Rolls:

Cornet Hugh Davies, British Legion (Cavalry), in Return of Troops, 1779, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-369, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14908

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1782/06/25 TO 1782/12/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-359, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14690

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1782/06/25 TO 1782/08/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-357, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14686

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1782/06/25 TO 1782/08/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-357, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14687

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1782/12/25 TO 1783/02/23, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-360, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14688

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1783/02/24 TO 1783/04/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-361, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14684

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1783/02/24 TO 1783/04/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-361, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14685

Lieutenant Hugh Davids, British Legion (Cavalry), in Pay List, PERIOD 1783/04/25 TO 1783/06/24, British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts) Microfilm: M-363, Reference: MG23 B1, Item Number: 14689

Possible match to Hugh Davids, son Benjamin Davids and Ann Evans

RELIGION: Disowned in 1778 at Phila MM ND for joining British Army;

RESIDENCE: Granted certificate from Rahway MM to Philadelphia MM in 1792; Granted certificate from Phila MM ND to Rahway MM in 1792

Marriage 1 Sarah GREENLEAF b: 31 AUG 1760 in Philadelphia MM , Pennsylvania Married: 1785 in Philadelphia MM , Pennsylvania

Children:

Catharine Greenleaf DAVIDS b: 13 FEB 1789 in Rahway, New Jersey Benjamin G. DAVIDS b: 29 JUL 1792 in Rahway, New Jersey

Sources

1. ↑ Philadelphia Light Dragoons Formation: http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/philld/pldform.htm
2. ↑ "Broke out of the Gaol in this Town, on the Night of the 3d Instant, the following British Officers, Prisoners of War, viz- ... LIEUT. HUGH DAVIS, AND LIEUT. JOHN MILLER. ... Davis and Miller had on short green Coats trimmed with narrow Gold Lace, and Nankeen Waistcoats and Overalls., about 5 Feet 9 Inches high, brown hair. September 4, 1780. EPHRAIM JONES, Dep. Gaoler Concord.": INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE & UNIVERSAL ADVERTISER (Boston), September 7, 1780, No. 628.
3. ↑ Muster Roll of Disbanded Officers taken in the County of Annapolis, dated 30 July 1784. MG 23, DI, Series 1, Vol 25: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/loyalists/loyalists-ward-chipman/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=958&
4. ↑ Lieutenant Hugh Davids, 500 acres, Wilmot Township, 1784, in Marion Gilroy, Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia, Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Publication No.4, 1937, p.11
5. ↑ Lieut. Hugh Davids, named in land grant at Wilmot: https://archives.novascotia.ca/land-papers/archives/?ID=492&Doc=warrant&Page=201102915

• Lieutenant Hugh Davis, in Don J Gara, Biographical Sketches of the Cavalry Officers of the British Legion: https://www.banastretarleton.org/odds/bl_cavalry.html