The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: VA
Qualifying Service: Civil Service / Patriotic Service
John Davidson was born in 1725 in Scotland. He is believed to have moved with his parents to Ireland, then to Pennsylvania after 1759. Finally, he moved to Virginia about 1767, when he registered a patent for 225 acres in Augusta County.
John served as Commissioner of the Peace and Tax Assessor in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1778. John left Augusta County by 19 November 1779, when he was omitted from the list of justices for having taken up residence outside the county. A historical marker was placed in Bluefield, West Virginia, and reads: "Bluefield is on land which John Davidson patented in 1774.
He built a fort in about 1777 with Richard Bailey. The home built by his son, Joseph Davidson in 1811, is still standing.
John was married to Martha Draper, and together they had ten children: Martha, born 1757 (wife of George Peery); Joseph, born 1759, (married Matilda Patton); William, born 1759 (married Mary Stinson and Phebe Harman); Andrew, born 1760 (married Rebecca Burke, Sarah "Sally" Muse); Jane, born 1765 (wife of Lowe Brown); Nancy, born 1771 (wife of John Bailey); George, born 1774 (married Rebecca XX and Virginia Pepper); John (married Margaret XX); Betsy (wife of Jesse Farley); and Margaret (wife of John Burke).
John was murdered on 8 March 1793. His body was found in a hasty grave by Laurel Fork in Wythe County. He was reburied there and the grave is located near what is now Rocky Gap, Bland County, Virginia. An October 1793 petition of citizens of Wythe County regarding the defense of the frontier blamed his murder on Indians. The petition omits details related in other accounts that a man by the name of Rice had induced the Indians to attack Davidson in revenge. According to genealogist Phil Davidson, "In the 1780s, Rice had stolen a hog from Davidson. He was apprehended and sentenced to 40 lashes. Rice became so enraged and humiliated that he swore revenge. Ten years later, Davidson traveled to Rockbridge County, Virginia, to collect $800 on a debt. When he reached Rocky Gap on his return, he was set upon by Rice and a party of Indians who murdered him and absconded with the $800 and his horses."
John Davidson's will was proved in Wythe County, Virginia, on 3 June 1795. Martha was still alive at that time, her date of death is unknown.
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