The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record is an old and respected journal catering to researchers who are interested in former residents of New York State. It's clear that the Davis family passed through New York on their way to Canada, and that at least three of them eventually returned. I went to my local reference library today (it has a full run of the Record) and looked up all 26 volumes that had a Richard Davis indexed. Most of them were other Richard Davises, but I did find a few articles with some good information.
I'm most excited about finding an abstract of Richard's will. There are several databases of wills in New York state that I have checked to no avail, but now I know that Richard definitely did write a will, and I have the probate date. One step closer to finding the will itself!
From Volume 57 (1926), p. 176, "Abstracts of Wills, Montgomery County, New York".
"RICHARD DAVIS of Charleston, will dated 1-2-1823, probated 6-2-1823, mentions--wife Mabel, sons, Henry, Joel, Hosea, Lyman, William, Joseph, Simeon, Andrew and Daniel; daughters, Mary, Sally and Hannah. Executors: sons William, Daniel and Lyman. Witnesses: Frances Carey, Wright Davis, Wessn (?) Gage."
Richard died in 1823, so obviously he wrote this will shortly before his death. Even the abstract gives us valuable information, most obviously which of his children were still alive in 1823. Wright Davis was Richard's brother.
From Volume 59 (1928) p. 268 "Tombstone Inscriptions, Montgomery County, New York".
"Cemetery 3/4 mile North of Oak Ridge, Town of Charleston, Montgomery County, N.Y., Map No. 22...
Davis, Harry E., son of Henry and Mariah d. 2-19-1831, ae. 1-1-24.
Davis, David N., son of Henry and Mariah, d. 4-4-1839, ae. 4-8-13.
Davis, Mary C., dau. of Henry and Mariah, d. 12-15-1849, ae. 10-3-7.
Davis, Richard, d. 3-8-1823, ae. 61-11-19.
Davis, Mabel, wife of Richard, d. 9-23-1846, ae. 79-206.
Davis, Infant son of Hosea and Phebe, d. 12-14-1852 ae. 2 days.
Davis, Henry, d. 4-3-1876, ae. 69-9-3.
Davis, Maria, wife of Henry, d. 5-19-1861, ae. 54-5-15.
Davis, Lyman, d. 5-12-1878, ae. 79-8-10.
Davis, Catherine, wife of Lyman, d. 1-1-1858, ae. 54-9- .
Davis, Phebe Jane, dau. of Wright and Ursula, d. 9-27-1842, ae. 2-3-23.
Davis, Mary Jane, dau. of Wright and Ursula, d. 1-9-1851, ae. 4-10-15."
I had already known that Richard and Mabel were buried together at the Charleston Cemetery, but it's great to have a record of other family members buried in the same place.
From Volume 50 (1919) p. 276. "Mohawk Valley Householders in 1800".
This article gives some interesting information about the geography of Charleson, which it refers to as "Charlestown". It then lists Richard and Thadeus as residents in 1800. I had thought that they were in Ontario at that time.
"The town of Charlestown included in 1800 the modern towns of Charlestown, Glen, and a portion of Root, in Montgomery County. At thje census of 1790 this area formed a part of the old town of Mohawk, distinct from the modern town of that name."
The Richard Davis household is listed as having 1 male under 10 years, 2 males between 10 and 16, 2 males from 16 to 26, and one male over 45.
The Thadeus Davis household is listed as having 1 male between 10 and 16, 1 male between 16 and 26, and 1 female between 26 and 45. These two households are listed side by side.
There is another entry which I think relates to earlier Davises in our line.
Volume 128 (1997) p. 176. "A Proposed Family for Thomas Jones of Fairfield, Connecticut and Huntington, Long Island" by Frederick Hart, Jr.
"Children of Josiah and Joanna (--) Jones:...
3. Thomas, b. 1719/20, d. Stamford 1769, m. 6 Dec. 1744 Mary Davis, b. 24 Feb 1727/8, daughter of Richard and Martha (--) Davis."
The Record appears to be a journal that I could explore further. I'd like to see what it says about Thadeus, about Richard's siblings and children, and about the Norton family.
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