Return to main file
Dolor Davis (1597–1672/3)
Margery Willard (bp. 1602–1658/68), daughter of Richard Willard
Dolor Davis was born say 1597, based on his marriage. He died between 13 September 1672 and 2 July 1673, based on his will. He married first Margery Willard on 29 March 1624 in East Farleigh, co. Kent. [1] He married second Joanna (Hull) Bursley, the daughter of Reverend Joseph Hull and widow of Captain John Bursley. [1]
Margery, the daughter of Richard Willard, was baptized on 7 November 1602 in Horsmonden, Kent. [1] She was alive on 17 July 1658 and probably died before 16 February 1667/8.
The marriage of Dolor and Margery took place in the Church of Saint Mary, whose plain Norman tower was erected in 1067. [2]
Dolor Davis was a house carpenter. [1]
On 13 July 1614, James Clarke, gentleman of East Farleigh, made his will. He left his servant Dolor Davis his house and land in Marden in Kent. [3]
Dolar came to New England about 1634. [4]
On 17 April 1635, Margaret Davis, age 32, John Davis, age nine, Mary, age four, and Elizabeth Davis, age one, were enrolled for passage to New England on the Elizabeth. [5] Given the plausible assumption that Elizabeth died young, this fits well with the family here. However, Anderson believes that this is a record for Margaret Davies who later married Charles Grist. [1]
Dolor settled in Cambridge, and moved to Duxbury by 1638. [1] He moved to Scituate by 1641. [1] He is on a 1640 list of inhabitants of Barnstable. [6] Having been dismissed from the church at Duxbury, Dolar and his wife were admitted to the church at Barnstable on 27 August 1648. [7] Dolor moved to Concord in 1655, returning to Barnstable in 1666. [8]
Dolor was on the Plymouth petit jury on 1 March 1641/2. [1] "Dolar Davis & his sonns" are in the Barnstable section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. [9] He was appointed to the Plymouth grand jury on 4 June 1645, but was ill and may not have served. [1] He was admitted freeman on 2 June 1646. [1] He was the constable in Barnstable on 6 June 1654. [1] He was surveyor of highways on 7 June 1655. [1] He was a selectman in Groton in 1655. [1]
On 4 August 1634 Dolor was granted 25 acres in Cambridge. [1] On 4 June 1635 he held this land and a house lot. [1] He sold the 25 acres to Richard Girling on 25 August 1635. [1] On 6 Apr 1640, Dolor was granted meadow land in Duxbury; 50 acres were laid out for him on 8 August 1640. [1] On 20 August 1655, Roger Draper of Concord sold land and a house to Dolor. [1] On 17 July 1658, Dolor sold Abraham Blush his house lot and land in Barnstable; this was acknowledged by Margery. [1] When this was acknowledged again on 16 February 1667/[8?], Margery did not take part. [1]
Dolor made his will on 13 September 1672; it was proved on 2 July 1673. He mentioned his wife Joanna; his eldest son John; his sons Simon and Samuel; his daughter Mary; his son-in-law Lewis; his daughter Ruth Hall. [1]
i. John Davis [4] was born about 1626. [1] He married Hannah Linnett on 15 March 1648/9 "at Nocett" [Eastham]. [1][7] Hannah was the daughter of Robert Linnett. [1]
ii. Mary Davis was born about 1631. [1] She married Thomas Lewis on 15 June 1653 in Barnstable. [1][7]
iii. Elizabeth Davis (perhaps, based on the questionable immigration record) was born about 1634. [1] If she existed, she must have died young.
iv. Simon Davis [4] was born about 1637. [1] He died on 14 June 1713 in Concord. [1] He married Mary Blood on 12 December 1660 [4] in Concord. [1]
v. Samuel Davis [4] was born about 1653. [10] He married first Mary Meddowes [10] on 11 January 1665/6 in Lynn. [1] He married second Ruth Taylor on 18 October 1711. [1]
vi. Ruth Davis was baptized on 24 March 1644 in Barnstable. She died on 6 June 1715 in Plainfield, Windham County, Connecticut. She married Stephen Hall.
References1. "Great Migration 1634–1635, C–F," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson,, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634–1635, Volume II, C–F (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), 292–7, 303–4.
2. "Church at East Farleigh, Kent, in Which Dolor Davis Was Married," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 42 (1888): 282–5.
3. Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 50 (1896): 118.
4. Mr. Drake, "A Note Concerning the Descendants of Dolor Davis," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4 (1850): 66.
5. John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality ... who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600–1700, reprinted (New York: Empire State Book Co., n.d.), 68.
6. David Hamblin, trans. "The First Settlers of Barnstable," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2 (1848): 64-67.
7. Amos Otis, trans., "Scituate and Barnstable Church Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9 (1855): 279–87; 10 (1856): 37-43, 345-351.
8. Howard Dakin French, "The Parents of Elizabeth (White) Wheeler and Anna (White) Hayward of Concord, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 87 (1933): 115–20.
9. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, "List of Those Able to Bear Arms in the Colony of New Plymouth 1643," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4 (1850): 255–9.
10. William Carroll Hill, "Miss Florence Marguerite Davis," Memoirs Section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 103 (1949): 143.
Photo of the St. Mary's Church by Pam Fray.
23-Apr-2023