William Davidson
February 14, 1783-March 2, 1867 (age 84)
Summary
- Born
- February 14, 1783 in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States Sources: Pennsylvania House Speaker Biography, William Davidson
- Died
- March 2, 1867 (age 84) in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States Sources: Pennsylvania House Speaker Biography, William Davidson
- Buried
- Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, United States Sources: Davidson family notes, 1550-1700
- Parents
-
James Davidson II 1742 — 1836 Jane Hudson ~1747 — ~1799 - Partners
-
Huldah Thorp marriage, ~1810 1791 — 1879 Sarah Rogers marriage, December 19, 1813 1784 — November 21, 1856 - Children
-
George Hudson Davidson March 10, 1811 — September 1, 1875 Thomas R Davidson October 6, 1814 — November 8, 1875 Daughter Davidson ~1816 — >1840 John R Davidson ~1818 — <1840 Col. Daniel Rogers Davidson January 12, 1820 — March 18, 1884 Sarah Davidson ~1822 — ~1890 - Military
-
War of 1812 (Veteran, Served under General Hull) August 16, 1812
Timeline
Additional Information
William Davidson is recorded as a child of James Davidson and Jane Hudson.
He was born February 14, 1783 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and died March 1, 1867 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania House biography gives his death date as March 2, 1867.
He married Huldah Thorp about 1810 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, this was his first marriage. Their son George Hudson Davidson was born March 10, 1811.
He married Sarah Rogers on December 19, 1813 in Connellsville. Sarah was a widow with several children, and she and William had five children of their own: Thomas R Davidson, an unnamed daughter Davidson, John R Davidson, Daniel Rogers Davidson, and Sarah Davidson.
William was of Scotch-Irish heritage, and an immigrant ancestor, James Cloyd, was a survivor of the Siege of Londonderry. He was a surveyor in Cumberland County and came to Fayette County in 1808 to seek his fortune in the West. He managed the Laurel Iron Works.
William served under General Hull during the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner on August 16, 1812 at Detroit. During the War of 1812 period, his marriage to Huldah ended.
He became proprietor of Break Neck Furnace and served several years in the Pennsylvania State Legislature. He was Speaker of the House in 1818 and later served in the State Senate. He was one of the founders of the Disciples of Christ Church, and his home was used as a meeting place until a church building was built.
The Fayette County historical account says William read the Bible through twice before he was nine years old and mastered Latin, Greek, and Hebrew without a teacher. It describes him as over six feet tall, a fluent talker, an Old-Line Whig, and a perfect gentleman.
The supplied notes record several facts indicating that George Hudson Davidson maintained a relationship with his father even though he probably lived with his mother. Eliza Blackstone, daughter of Sarah Rogers from her first marriage, married James Banning in 1825. They went to Mount Vernon, Ohio, established a tan-yard and store, and George Hudson later went to Ohio to work for them. They are said to have sent him to Wyandot County to work in an Indian trading post. Thomas, son of William and Sarah, took his law school training at Kenyon College near Mount Vernon. The notes state that while there is no record of George Hudson visiting Fayette County, transportation difficulties of the time and the fact that George was busy with fourteen children should be considered.
External References
| West Penn Families | William Davidson |
|---|