Peter Davis (1680 - 1776)

Born 1 May 1680 in Dover, Kent, England

Husband of Mary (Shorey) Davis — married 22 Jul 1705 in Westerly, Kings County, Province of Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 29 Feb 1776 at age 95 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island

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Biography

Peter was a Friend (Quaker)

Peter was born 1d 3m 1680 [1 May 1680] in Dover, Kent, England.^[1]

He married Mary Shorey on 22 May 1706.^[2][3]

Children

Children of Peter and Mary Davis:

• Mercy Davis.
• William Davis.
• Peter Davis.
• Sarah Davis.
• Anne Davis.
• Lydia Davis.
• Rev. John Davis.
• Benjamin Davis.

Testimony

The following testimony is from Memorials of deceased friends of New England Yearly Meeting.^[1]

Our beloved ancient friend, Peter Davis, was born at Dover, in Great Britain, the 1st of 3d month, 1680. By his own ac count he was brought over to Boston, North-America, when very young. He was educated after the manner of the Presbyterians, and was a professor of religion in the order of that denomination. About the thirty-sixth year of his age, he be came convinced of the principles of truth as professed by the Society of Friends.

He was a minister, well approved; his life and conversation agreeing with his profession—careful to educate his children in plainness of speech and habit, zealous for the cause of truth, a diligent attender of meetings, both for worship and discipline. His religious services were not confined about home. He visited most of the meetings of Friends in New-England, where "his public testimonies were well received, and were to the edification and comfort of many.

He left his home, in Westerly, R. I., on a visit to Friends, in England, the 4th of 5th month, 1747, with the approbation and unity of his friends; travelled through Connecticut into the province of New-York, and visited the meetings of Friends at and about Albany, East and West Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland; thence to Philadelphia, where he took shipping for England; but on his passage was taken by Spaniards and carried into France, and from thence got passage to England. He visited the meetings in London and those in the western and northern parts of that kingdom, pretty generally, where he was also well received and had good service among them, as appeared by certificates. After his return he remained steadfast in the faith and fervent in spirit, often leaving his family and occupation, which was that of a tailor, to visit his brethren in the various parts of the quarterly-meeting and the families of Friends in the adjacent meetings, to their comfort and edification. Like the beloved ancient disciple of our blessed Lord, (to whom he had many times been likened) he frequently exhorted his brethren to love one another and to be faithful, taking occasion in his public testimony to assure those to whom he ministered, that honesty was the best policy, which he was enabled often to open in such striking manner that he was known by his friends, both in Great Britain and America, by this maxim. Although his gift lay more in the ministry than in the administration of the discipline of the Church, he was sensible that that necessary institution was not so fully at tended to, as would be best, which he manifested in a lively simile, in his advanced age, saying that “Notwithstanding I have not been so much engaged in the discipline of the Church as might have been best, yet it is like marrow to my bones in my old age, to see the young and rising generation engaged therein, for we have been ploughing and sowing, but neglecting to keep up the hedge, the wild beasts have got in and devoured our labor.” He often visited the sick and afflicted, and we have reason to believe they were often refreshed by his ministry. When far advanced in old age, he continued to appear in the exercise of his gift, with that warmth and bright ness which is reflected by a near approach to the Sun of Righteousness; and when he had access to His presence in prayer, the spirit of which he frequently appeared to be favored with, an awful solemnity and covering of the Divine Canopy was witnessed. By reason of great age he was confined to his house about fifteen months before his death. During this time he had often something to offer in meetings, held at his house on account of his not being able to get out. About fifteen days before his dissolution, he was seized with a fit, and continued to grow weaker until the 29th of 2d month, 1776, when he departed this life, in the 96th year of his age, and was interred in Friends’ burying-ground, in Westerly, on the 3d of 3d month following.

To a friend, who visited him during his last illness, he said, being in a tender frame of spirit, “As I have lived in love, so I expect to die in unity with Friends. Give my love to all my dear friends who ask after me.” And as our beloved friend lived, so he died, in the unity of his brethren; being indeed, an Elder worthy of double honor.

Signed in and by order of South-Kingstown Monthly Meeting, held at Richmond, the 28th of 3d month, 1780, by STEPHEN HOXIE, Clerk for this time.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} New England Yearly Meeting of Friends. Meeting for Sufferings. Memorials of Deceased Friends: of New England Yearly Meeting. Providence: Knowles & Vose, printers, 1841. p. 13.
2. ↑ Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - With some noted exceptions all marriage records in this collection can be found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and may be available through Fam; Repository: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com
3. ↑ Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Repository: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com