John Davidson, Jr.  (1750-1825)  P-144207

     John Davidson, Jr. was born 16 March 1750 at Tewksbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and died 25 October 1825 at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at the age of 85 years, at the home of his son, William.  John married Mary Lancaster, a daughter of Henry Lancaster and Dorothy Harvey, 10 Nov 1774 at Tewksbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  John Davidson, Jr. and Mary Lancaster had eight children.

     Although born at Tewksbury, John Davidson, Jr., removed with his parents and siblings to Windham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, in May 1752 when he was two years old.  It was at Windham that he reached adulthood.  In 1770, at age 19 years, he was directed by his father to go to Belfast, Maine District, Massachusetts, where the father had drawn lots as an original proprietor of that town, and to settle there.  He ventured into the wilderness as a true frontiersman, and brought his wife to his log camp in December 1774.  His many difficulties of life in the frontier are vividly recounted in his memoirs which he wrote in 1832 at age 82.  Of special interest are his detailed recollections and experiences of the Revolutionary War.  As he writes, in the summer of 1776 "….my neighbor Durham came to my house in a great hurry and could scarcely speak by seeing the read coats glistering guns and running he said they were in his field a coming toward the road from the shore and seeing us about the house… Durham said to my wife run run she said where shall I run. Down the cellar? He said no they will burn it over your head run to the wood, so she went to the woods…."  Eventually, with two other patriots, John Davidson conveyed 12 British prisoners from Belfast to Camden in a small boat, from where the prisoners were eventually transported by others to Boston.  "… we three John Durham Junr., Samuel Mitchel, and myself took them into a boat and carried them in thirty miles to Camden. Som [sic] of them were croos [sic] and ill natured.  We three set in the stern of the boat with our guns in good order and loaded. I think twelve could have taken us tho we had guns and sword they had jackknives.  I think each one had a knife but they did not appear to wish to go from or harm us in any way although it was in their pour…."  Shortly thereafter, John Davidson helped the inhabitants of Belfast to get much needed ammunition by pressuring the British to give it to him.  "…about this time …. the inhabitants was [sic] short of provision, on account of b(e)ing short of ammunition partly, as in those days m(a)ny were dependent on wild meat which could not be procured without ammunition…."  He, with several other inhabitants, made a surprise visit to Colonel Thomas Gouldthroit, who was in charge of the nearby British fort.  "… Mr. James Nichols and myself were chosen to go to introduce the subject to Col. Gouldthroit.. once more we are come to ask for some aminision [sic] you were intrusted [sic] with that were in your possession and defence [sic] of the inhabitance of Belfast… we told him we were de(ter)rmi(i)ned to have it if it should be by force of arms…he gave each man a pound of powder ball and flint… and we returned that same night to Belfast in good spirits.  The next we heard of him… he went on board a British vessel and left the country and we have not heard from him afterward… "

     In June 1779, as John Davidson recalls, General McLean of the British fleet arrived at Belfast harbor and required all the males of Belfast to come aboard his ship at an appointed time to swear an oath to King George.

     "… I received a proclamation that all male members must come on Board our Ship and take the oath of allegians [sic] to king George [sic] or abide the consequence.  What that would be I know not.  What could I do.  I took the proclamation…  I resolved that every man in town should see or hear this paper before I slept…  I spoke and said I had a log canoe and before I would go and take the oath of alegence [sic] I would take my wife and three little children into it and try to com away…"  Thus began a harrowing flight in a small boat from the British, in which his family left all belongings in Belfast and his crops to die in the field.  He recounts being fired upon by small arms fire and cannon, fearing drowning, starvation, and enduring the most difficult hardships until he eventually arrived at his father's home at Windham, New Hampshire, July 9, 1779.  One of his little children in this exodus was Dorothy, age two.

     After the Revolutionary War, John Davidson, Jr., returned only briefly to Belfast to recover his cattle and belongings and sell his property, but, he and his family continued to live at Windham, New Hampshire.  He was a very religious man and was known as “Deacon John,” as he was an elder at the church at Windham.  After his wife died, he removed to Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, to live with his son William Davidson, where he died. Only one of his children, Henry, elected to live in Maine.

     John Davidson, Jr. is recognized by SAR for Patriotic Service, P-144207.