Thadeus Davis moved to Canada in the late 1790s and applied for land as a United Empire Loyalist. Many of his children applied for land on the strength of their relationship to him. (One of his children was also named Thadeus, so it's important to keep the two straight). Here are some of the land petitions I have been able to find.
Two daughters of Thadeus Davis, Jane and Lydia, made this petition, which contains information about Thadeus being imprisoned for his politics:
Davis, Jane (Ostrander)
Upper Canada Land Petition of Jenny & Liddy Ostrander dated at Niagara on 23 Jan 1797
“Respectfully Shews – That your petitioners are the Daughters of Thadeus Davis who served His Majesty in the [Refuge] at Long Island, and married two Ostranders, both Brothers one of which Andrew served in Brants Volunteers during the last war and was twice take prisoner – That your petitioners having never received Lands prays your Honor would be pleased for to grant them individually, such a proportion of Lands as your Honor may think proper and your Petitioners will as in duty bound ever pray—Your petitioner Jenny Ostrander has three children born before the Year 1789 prays your Honor would be pleased to consider them and allow them likewise such quantity of Lands as your Honor may think proper—[Signed] Jane Ostrander, Lida Ostrander” Read in the Executive Council on 26 Feb [1797] Ordered to lie over for the next Council. Ordered the necessary proof wanting. Read again in Council on 11 Apr 1797. Ordered the Petitioners not having mentioned their claims as U. E. Loyalists before the Justices in Sessions as directed The prayer of their Petition cannot be granted. [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “N” Bundle 3, Petition Number 20]
Certificate of John Small dated on 23 Jan 1797 attached to the Upper Canada Land Petition of Jenny & Liddy Ostrander
“I do solemnly swear that Andrew Ostrander served in Captn Brants Volunteers, Indian Department, in the last war with America, and was twice taken Prisoner – and that he was a very active good Soldier— Sworn before me this 23d Jany 1797 [Signed] John Small” James Houghdelan made his mark. [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “N” Bundle 3, Petition Number 20b]
Certificate of Mary Meyers dated on 3 Feb 1797 attached to the Upper Canada Land Petition of Jenny & Liddy Ostrander
“Home District County of Lincoln} Personally came and appeared Before me William Dickson Esquire one of His Majestys Justices of the Peace in and for the District aforesaid Mary Myers now of the Grand River, but formerly of Reading, Connecticut, who being solemnly sworn makes oath, that she well Knew Thadeus Davis of same Place, to be a Loyalist, and that she understood said Davis served under the British Standard on Long Island, and says Positively that on his Return to visit his family he was Imprisoned in Fairfield in Connecticut that subsequently he Broke Goal; That his Two Daughters are now in this Country married (one Jean Davis to Andrew Ostrander, and Lidya to Peter Ostrander, farmer in the County of Lincoln—Sworn before me this 3d day of Feby 1797 [Signed] William Dickson JP [Signed] Mary Meyers” [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “N” Bundle 3, Petition Number 20c]
This petition, from William Hooker Lee, husband of Thadeus's daughter Lois Davis, mentions his family staying with the Andrew Ostrander family (Andrew was the husband of Jane or Jenny Davis) until they are settled.
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| Upper Canada Land Petitions, LAC, Niagara 1797, Volume 284 Bundle L3 film C-2125 petition 47. |
President of the Government of Upper Canada
Etc. etc. etc. in council
The Petition of Wm. Hooker Lee
Humbly Shews
That your Petitioner came into the Province about ten days ago, with a wife and five children, who are now at Andrew Ostrander's in Stamford--your Petitioner's Brother in Law that your Petitioner has brought into the Province both oxen and cows, and being desirous of becoming an actual Settler, prays your Honor would be pleased to grant him 200 acres of Land for settlement--and your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray--(signed) Wm. H. Lee
Niagara 31 July
1797"
The first petition I have found from a Thadeus Davis is dated 1799. From the wording I think it is Thadeus's son, Thadeus Jr., because Thadeus Sr. was already married long before he came to Canada. This Thadeus mentions coming with his sisters but does not mention any brothers. He says he first came to Canada "six years since", or in 1796, stayed "upwards of a year", presumably left and then returned in September 1798.
Undated Upper Canada Land Petition of Thadeous Davis [signed Thadeus] received at the Executive Council Office on 7 Mar 1799
“Humbly Shews That your Petitioner came into the Province Six Years Since & remained in it for upwards of a Year, with his Sisters. That he has thus married & settled in the Province That he came again into the Province in Sepr last to Settle, & has since married – but has never drawn any Land. Prays yr Honor will please to grant him such Quantity of Land as yr Honor may think proper & Yr Petitioner in duty bound will ever Pray—[Signed] Thadeus Davis” Received at the Executive Council Office on 7 Mar 1799 and read in Council on 9 Mar. Ordered 200 acres under the New Regulations in association with four other grantees for the same quantity to whom a deed will issue for 1000 acres when the five grantees have paid their respective proportions of the additional fee. [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle 4, Petition Number 20]
This petition, dated November 12, 1801, is for Hall Davis.
"To His Excellency Peter Hunter Esquire
Lieut. Governor of the Province of Upper Canada & & &
In Council
The petition of Hall Davis humbly shews that your petitioner came into this province last April brought with him a wife and some property Your petitioner now wishes to settle on Land prays your Excellency would be pleased to grant him such possession of Land as your Excellency in his wisdom may think fit and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray
(signed) Hall Davis
I do certify that the above named Hall Davis came into this Province last April Brought with him a wife and some property and appears to be a good industrious person Given under my hand this 12 Day of Nov. 1801
(signed) David Secord
As a historical aside, David Secord was the brother-in-law of the famous Laura Secord.
Cornelius Vandvalkenburgh submitted this petition in 1801 as well. Cornelius was married to Thadeus' daughter Lois Davis, although she is not specifically named in the petition.
This 1808 petition from Thadeus Davis Sr. is responsible for his name being added to the United Empire Loyalist listings and provides details about his military history.
"To His Excellency Francis Gore Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada. Brigadier-General commanding the Forces in said Province.
The petition of Thadeus Davis Senr. of Willoughby Yeoman.
Humbly Sheweth that your Petitioner joined the Royal Standard during the American War at ? Neck and New York in the year 1781 and joined Capt. Hubbel's Company from Connecticut and after being in about Six weeks was sent on a Party and was taken Prisoner at Hilton in Connecticut and was detained a Prisoner until the Peace.
Your Petitioner came into this settlement in July 1798 and purchased a Farm the N.E. ? having been at that time closed, your petitioner had no opportunity then of getting his name inserted. Your petitioner is of the age of Sixty-Nine years, has three sons named, in the District of Niagara, and Four Daughters. Your Petitioner therefore prays his name may be inserted on the U.E. list and that Ralphe Clench of Niagara ? be permitted to appear as his agent, and Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever Pray. (Signed) Thadeus Davis.
The next document fixes the arrival of Thadeus Davis as "before the twenty-eighth day of July 1798".
Thadeus Davis Jr. swears to his knowledge of his father's imprisonment, and Thadeus Sr.'s name is placed on the U.E. list. Order in Council February 22, 1808.
Upper Canada Land Petition of Thadeus Davis Senior of the Township of Willoughby in the District of Niagara Yeoman dated at Willoughby on 26 Jan 1810
“Humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioner removed into this Province in April 1797, with several Sons and Daughters who had Families of their own. That your Excellency and Council have since been pleased to have his name inserted on the U. E. List of this Province. Therefore your Petitioner humbly prays your Excellency will be pleased to grant him such quantity of the waste Lands of the Crown as to you in your wisdom may seem mete. And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray—[Signed] Thadeus Davis Senior” No decision of Council recorded. [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle “Miscellaneous 1797-1826”, Petition Number 37]
Certificate of Samuel Street J. P. dated at York on 1 Feb 1810 appended to the Upper Canada Land Petition of Thadeus Davis Senior of the Township of Willoughby
“I Certify that [Thade?] Davis of the Township of Thorold is a Sober Industrious Man—York Feby 1st 1810—[Signed] Sam Street JP. I Certify that Thadeus Davis Senr is an Honest, Sober, and Industrious Man, and Father to five or six Industrious Inhabitants now heads of Families in the District of Niagara—York Feby 1st 1810 [Signed] Saml Street JP for N. D.” [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle “Miscellaneous 1797-1826” Petition Number 37c]
I Certify that [Thade?] Davis of the Township of Thorold is a Sober Industrious Man—York Feby 1st 1810—[Signed] Sam Street JP. I Certify that Thadeus Davis Senr is an Honest, Sober, and Industrious Man, and Father to five or six Industrious Inhabitants now heads of Families in the District of Niagara—York Feby 1st 1810 [Signed] Saml Street JP for N. D.” [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle “Miscellaneous 1797-1826” Petition Number 37c]
Upper Canada Land Petition of Thadeus Davis the elder of the Township of Willoughby Farmer in the District of Niagara Yeoman dated at Willoughby on 26 Jan 1810
“Humbly Sheweth That your Excellency in Council has been pleased to Grant him Two Hundred Acres of Land as an Enrolled U. E. Loyalist, which your Petitioner is informed is one hundred Acres short of what old Soldiers are intitled to, and which from ignorance your Petitioner did not state. He therefore now Humbly Prays that One hundred Acres of Land in addition or such other quantity as to your Excellency may appear meet may be granted him your Petitioner having been a Soldier as will appear by his Petition Praying to Have his name &c &c inserted on the U. E. List which is in the Office of the Hmbe the Executive Council. And your Petitioner Will Ever Pray [Signed] Thads Davis.” Received at the Executive Council on 11 Jun 1811. The Council ordered the Surveyor General to report what lands the petitioner has received. The Council then read the petition on 8 Feb 1812 and ordered the petitioner to bring proof of the capacity in which he occupied in the army—and if he has been a soldier to procure his discharge. [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle “Miscellaneous 1797-1826” Petition Number 39]
Report of Surveyor General Thomas Ridout dated at York on 13 Jun 1811 appended to the Upper Canada Land Petition of Thadeus Davis Senior of the Township of Willoughby
“In obedience to your Excellencys order of reference to me, to report upon the Petition of Thaddeus Davis the Elder—I am to state to your Excellency that a Thaddeus Davis was granted by an order in Council dated 2 March 1799, 200 acres of Land, paying Fees under the Regulations of the 22nd December 1797, & for which the Surveying fees were paid at this Office the 1st October 1800; The Location was made on Lot No 23 in the 2nd Concession of the Delaware Township, which has been described on the 10th of February 1810. A Fiat, in the name of Thaddeus Davis the Elder, a U. E. Loyalist, was lodged in this Office, granting him 200 acres of Land, the 17th November 1801;—upon this authority, has been made no Location. I find no other order or location that can be deemed in the name of The Petitioner all which is humbly submitted to your Excellencys wisdom [Signed] Thos Ridout Surveyor Genl [Upper Canada Land Petitions LAC “D” Bundle “Miscellaneous 1797-1826”, Petition Number 39b]
Richard Davis, from whom our line descends (he was the father of William Davis of Aylmer) submitted this petition in 1810:
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| Upper Canada Land Petitions, C-1744, Vol. 153, Bundle D9, Petition 55, p. 466-468. |
"To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada & & & In Council,
The Petition of Richard Davis of the township of Thorold Yeoman Son of Thadeus Davis Senr.
Humbly Sheweth,
That Your Petitioner is the Son of Thadeus Davis Senr. of the Township of Willoughby a U.E. Loyalist, that he is married and has never received any Lands or order for Land from the Crown;
Wherefore Your Petitioner prays that Your Excellency will be pleased to grant him Two Hundred Acres of the waste Land of the Crown, and permit Thomas Hamilton of York Gentleman to be his agent to locate the same and take out the Deed when completed;
And Your Petitioner will ever pray--
(signed) Richard Davis
Niagara 17 August 1810.
Several of Richard's brothers also put forward land petitions in 1810. Hall Davis;
"To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada In Council
The Petition of Hall Davis of the Township of Thorold Yeoman
Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioner is the Son of Thadeus Davis Senr of the Township of Willoughby a U.E. Loyalist that he is married and has never received any Land or order for Land from the Crown; as the son of a Loyalist
Wherefore your Petitioner prays that your Excellency may be pleased to grant him Two Hundred Acres of the waste Lands of the Crown and permit Thomas Hamilton of the Town of York Gentleman to be his Agent to locate the same and take out the Deed when completed
And your Petitioner will ever pray
(signed) Hall Davis
26th March 1810."
Loyal Davis's petition is virtually identical, except for being dated 27 March 1810, one day after his brother Hall:
Thadeus Davis Jr. also has an identical petition, dated 26 March 1810 (the same date as Hall's). His first petition from 1801 did not mention the Loyalist connection. If he did get land, it must not have been because of his connection to his Loyalist father.
:
William Davis (the uncle of William Davis of Aylmer) again has an identical petition, except for the date of October 12, 1810.
Wright Davis' petition is dated 26 March 1810, but again is otherwise identical.
Taken together, these land records give us some valuable information about the Thadeus Davis family. They provide confirmation that Thadeus Jr., Hall, Wright, Richard, and William Davis are his sons and that Jane (or Jean/Jenny) Ostrander and Lidya (or Liddy) Ostrander are his daughters. They suggest that William Hooker Lee was a family member by marriage (other sources name him as the husband of Pheobe Davis) and that Cornelius Vandenburgh was and his wife, which we know from other sources was Lois Davis, were settling in the area as well. They fix the arrival time of various members of the family at between 1796 and 1810. They give the family's point of origin as Fairfield, Connecticut. Finally, they also give details of Thadeus' military service and imprisonment. None of his sons mention being Loyalists in their own right, although many of them took an oath of allegiance to the British crown as a condition of their petitioning for land.
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