Stephen Davis (bef. 1645 - aft. 1691)

Born before 1645 in England

Husband of Sarah (Hills) Davis — married after 1685 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 1691 after age 46 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Matthew Hutson [send private message]

Stephen Davis was a Newark Founder

Biography

He was from Hartford, Connecticut, 1646, freeman of Conn. 1658, he came with others from Milford, Conn. and they founded on the Passaic River, the City of Newark. He held various offices since Newark's incorporation 1666-1713 as follows: Surveyor and Layer out of Highways - 1670-72, 1674-78, 1684, 1686, 1688 Burner of Woods and Meadows - 1670, 1672-1673 Town Committee - 1674 Town's man - 1674, 1678, 1680-82, 1686, 1687 Wayward?--[can't read] 1673, Warner of Town Military 1673 Grandjuryman - 1676 Stephen Davis’ name is found in the list of residents who attended the first town meeting held on Feb. 6, 1667 - at meeting a drawing of home lots was held - he drew Lot 53. (No Source)

Excerpts from Bloomfield, Old & New' An Historical Symposium by Several Authors Published by the Centennial Historical Committee Bloomfield, New Jersey 1912: Steven Davis of the Milford group was the Davis ancestor. No record appears concerning any grant to him of land in Bloomfield. There are many records showing that Thomas Davis, his son, had acquired a number of tracts in this neighborhood near the Second and Third rivers previous to 1700. A deed in the possession of the Davis family of Bloomfield, dated November 7, 1711, in the reign of Queen Anne, conveys 111 acres in the Eastern Division of New Jersey from Thomas Wall of Middletown, Monmouth Co., to Thomas Davis of Newark.

Which descendant of Stephen Davis was the first to make his home on Watsesson Plain we are unable to state. Caleb, the father of Deacon Joseph Davis, died in 1783, aged sixty-six years and his wife, Ruth, in 1793. The Davis line in Bloomfield appears to run as follows: Stephen, the founder, died in 1691. His sons were John, Thomas and Jonathan. Thomas (2) who was born in 1660 and died January 26, 1738, acquired much land in different parts of Essex County, and one of his deeds for property further away has been mentioned.

He had seven children: Thomas, Jonathan, Stephen, James, Apphia, Sarah Ball, and Mary. From Thomas (3) descended James (4), whose will in 1748 mentions Thomas (4), who died in Bloomfield in 1780 and four daughters. It is this Thomas who gave the lot for the school. From Jonathan (3), who died in 1690, descended Caleb (4), born 1717 and died in Bloomfield 1783; and Deacon Joseph (5), born 1753, died June 5, 1827. The children of Deacon Joseph were Caleb, Charles, Joseph Austin, Henrietta, Abigail, Martha and Mary. Henrietta was the last of children to occupy the old homestead, and later a grandson, Charles M., the son of Caleb (6), resided there. Joseph Austin was the well-known physician, who is still remembered by hundreds of his former patients. Another line comes from Moses Davis, sons of whom were John, Joseph and Henry.^[1]

From the Address of Colonel Jos. Davis Sears on May 11, 1936 on dedication of the bronze tablet on Davis Homestead, Franklin St., Bloomfield NJ. And - My Treasure House. Stephen Davis built the lst part of the house in 1676. Family tradition has said that on the site or nearby, a loghouse or stockade was first built. Davis family lived for many generations in the house, Charles M. Davis, my gr-gr grandfather conducted a school in the house for many years.

Deacon Joseph Davis, Esquire was born in 1754 in this house in that section of Newark which later became Bloomfield. [see map on web page.) Died here in 1827.Joseph, like his father Caleb, fought in the Rev. War. The home was a small world unto itself. 95% of the food and clothing was produced or manufactured on the place by the Davis family and their slaves. Davis men and men slaves did all the farmwork. The Davis house served as a church for 3 years until the 3rd Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield, 'Church on the Green' was built. Gov. Bloomfield was entertained in this house, as well as George Washington. The charter of Bloomfield was signed in the Davis homestead living room. The Davis family opened their house often to visitors and loved entertaining people. In the cellar of the church, although the entrance is now bricked - exists a long underground tunnel. Family tradition says it served two purposes: l) Underground Railroad. Slaves were taken through it at night and another entrance was located on the main street and then they were taken to the Orange Mountains. [this tunnel exit was exposed when a workman discovered it in the 1900's] 2) The British often terrorized families - it was a place of hiding for Davis women & children. Joseph and Caleb both were Rev. War. soldiers. At one time Joseph was captured and later released during a prisoner exchange.^[2]

Notes

The Davis homestead was converted into restaurants and a tea house thru the years. Today it is called 'Bloomfield Steak and Seafood House'. In order to receive a liquor license, the entrance had to be changed because of NJ state laws stating liquor could not be served facing the entrance of any building that had been a church at one time. The walls are several feet thick - used as a fortress against hostile Indians. Tiny windows used to show through the foundation walls, so a rifle could be shoved through them during a possible raid. My grandmother, Alma Davis [McDowell] was the last Davis to be born in this home. Submitted by: Judy Gluck

Sources

1. ↑ Bloomfield, Old & New' An Historical Symposium by Several Authors Published by the Centennial Historical Committee Bloomfield, New Jersey 1912
2. ↑ Address of Colonel Jos. Davis Sears on May 11, 1936 on dedication of the bronze tablet on Davis Homestead, Franklin St., Bloomfield NJ.

• Address of Colonel Jos. Davis Sears - May 11, 1936 on dedication of the bronze tablet on Davis Homestead, Franklin St., Bloomfield NJ, attended by the DAR, Mayor and residents.

• Bloomfield, Old & New' An Historical Symposium by Several Authors Published by the Centennial Historical Committee Bloomfield, New Jersey 1912

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~harrisonrep/Harrison/d0065/g0000005.html

• My Treasure House. Possible book cited in bio, unknown author.

• http://www.billputman.com/Davis.pdf

• SOME EARLY FAMILIES OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY Baldwin - Davis - Dodd - Morris - Ward. Excerpts from "Bloomfield, Old & New" An Historical Symposium by Several Authors Published by the Centennial Historical Committee Bloomfield, New Jersey 1912