Nicholas Clayton Davies
The first grandchild of Nicholas ("Old Nick") Davies
Above: Photo of a portrait found by Cousin Arthur (Tom) Davies in a Virginia
Courthouse,
submitted by Bob Chope. The portrait was painted about 1785.
Below: Biography compiled by Dr. James David Boyle
Nicholas Clayton Davies, son of Henry Landon Davies, Gentleman
and Anne Whiting Clayton, was born in Bedford Co, Virginia 27 February
1769. He was born at "Pebbleton", at 11 AM. Early (Notebooks) gives
the birth as 16 Oct 1770 at 2 PM, but is less likely to be correct.
Nicholas applied for a marriage license to wed Elizabeth Crawford in
Amherst Co, Virginia, 13 October 1789. Davis quotes page 52 of
Amherst Co Marriage register of this date: "Nicholas Clayton Davies,
Junior, bachelor and Eliz. Crawford, spinster, secured bond. His
father Henry L. Davies, gave his consent. Her father Capt. David
Crawford, consented as she was not of age". Published data does not
show that he was called Junior and gives only one bondsman, Nathan
Crawford, Jr. Others were Jno. and Nelson Crawford and Arthur L.
Davies.
He married Elizabeth Crawford in Amherst Co, Virginia, 13 October
1789. Elizabeth was born in Virginia about 1764 (based on the age of
56 given in her obituary). She was the daughter of David Crawford IV
and Elizabeth (Lucy) Henderson. Elizabeth was probably a free white
female, age 45 or over, in Nicholas Clayton Davies' household on the
1810 Census in Amherst Co, Virginia. Elizabeth died Sunday morning, 2
April 1820, "after a long and tedious illness" in Amherst Co,
Virginia, at 55 years of age. Elizabeth's will was probated in
Amherst Co, Virginia, 15 July 1820. Frances A. K. Davies, et al.
posted administrator's bonds on 17 April 1820, after her death.
Administrators account posted 15 July 1820. See also: Virginia
Soldiers, 1774, p.466. She took slaves in right of dower in the estate
of her late husband, Nicholas C. Davies.
He resided at "Vault's Hill", near Pedlar Mills, Amherst Co, Virginia
about 1790. Nicholas was a planter and major landowner. He inherited
part of his father's land in Bedford Co and another part, twice as
large, in Amherst Co, some 60,000 acres of land in the two counties,
in about 1810.
Nicholas was listed as the head of a family on the 1810 Census in
Amherst Co, Virginia. His household included 7 children under 10
years of age (2 were girls), a boy 10-15, a boy 16-25 and a man 26-44
(that being himself). There was one woman 26-44 and one 45 or over,
all white, as well as 22 slaves.
Nicholas died shortly before 17 June 1811 in Amherst Co, Virginia, at
approximately 42 years of age. He was probably buried in the "Old
Burying Ground" at Pedlar Hill, Amherst Co, but this cemetery is in
ruins and his gravestone is not now legible.
Nicholas's will was probated in Amherst Co, Virginia, 17 June 1811.
See Will Book 5:71-72, Amherst Co (1810-1820) for the Bond posted 17
June 1811 by the administrators of his estate: Elizabeth Crawford,
William Crawford, John Crawford and Charles Crawford, who were
appointed with a Bond of $20,000. The report of the commission which
divided his property among all 11 children is dated 17 Dec 1814, so
they were all living at that time, and a final division is dated 24
July 1820, again listing these children. See also Amherst Co Will
Books for 1811-1827: Book 5, p.404; 6:199; 7:94.
Nicholas Clayton Davies and Elizabeth Crawford had the following children: Arthur Beverly Davies, Francis á Kempis Davies, Mayo E. Davies, Samuel Roderic Davies, Dr. Henry Landon Davies, John N. Davies, Beverly Davies, Henryann Davies, Nicholas Davies, Editha Davies and Whiting Davies.
