DAVISON Ezra Maxon

Notes:

Died:
Interment: Davison (Yankeetown) Cemetery, Clayton , Woodford Co., IL

Ezra married WILSON Helen on 19 Feb 1868 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. DAVISON Annie L. was born on 24 Nov 1868 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL.
2. DAVISON Clarence E. was born on 01 Sep 1871 in Manito, Mason Co., IL.
3. DAVISON Theodore Ezra was born on 21 Aug 1874 in Minonk, Woodford Co., IL; died in 1885.

Notes:

After his father died, he bought out the heirs to the homestead where his father and grandfather had lived and died. He was a carpenter by trade, also a farmer. In 1837, he tore down the old house and built a new house on the same foundation where his father’s house had stood. That house was burned in 1848, while occupied by his widow, Malinda Maxon-Davison, and again rebuilt on the same spot. It stands there yet. Also the same old barn that grandfather Ezra Davison built.

Have a kodak picture of the house and barn, also a section of stone wall taken by Mrs. Minnie Arvilla (F.W.) Wilcox, of Minonk, IL in 1901. The fences and the old place are mostly stone walls. There are stones enough to fence the land in one acre fields and then have enough left to nearly cover the ground. The land produces good grass and the best potatoes and other vegetables, and SUCH GOOD APPLES.

We will remember the Greecy Greening, and the Barn apples, so mellow we could crush them in our hands. The Honey Sweeting, the Pobiquamp, that was large and just right for cooking without sugar; the White House Sweeting, a large striped sweet apple; the Cheesebrook, and the Rhode Island Greening; the juicy apple and the Streaked Sweeting; and many others that we well remember, and it makes our mouths water to think of them. The trees in the old orchard were nearly all gone when I was there in 1889.

Daniel P. M. Davison was a very ambitious man, but never enjoyed good health. He was exempt from military duty because of this. He died at age 39 years, 4 months, and 13 days. He took great interest in religious matters. He was Superintendent of the first Sunday School at Cobb’s School House. Was a Methodist, and held prominent offices in that Church. The preachers were frequent visitors, and prayer meetings were held at his house. He also held responsible offices in town. He was a good neighbor, a good father, and a good Christian. (A. A. Davison)

Daniel married MAXON Matilda on 14 Dec 1823. Matilda was born on 25 Mar 1806 in Woodford Co., IL; died on 30 Aug 1871 in Woodford Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Interment: Sep 1871 Davison (Yankeetown) Cemetery, Clayton , Woodford Co., IL

Notes:

Although family tradition holds that Ezra enlisted when he was but 16, the first record of his service is his enlistment in Capt. Benjamin Durkee’s company of Matrosses, at Port Trumbull, Connecticut, August 12, 1782, his 17th birthday.

They took up land two miles northeast of Grafton Centre. the country was then a wilderness. They built a house, cleared the land of forest, planted on archard, and built stone walls, or fences. Panthers used to steal their sheep. Bears were in the woods. There were few settlers. No Church nor School House. The first school district was organized, Sept. 13, 1813, and they voted to build a school house on a man's land, whose name was Cobb. (It was always called the Cobb's school house.) It was sixteen feet square with an entry large enough to hold a load of wood. They levied a tax of $75.00, the rest was to be paid in work. Three or four generations of Davisons studied Webster's spelling book, Daboll’s arithmetic, and the English Reader, and perhaps got punished in the Cobb’s school house.

The first trustees were Daniel Mills, Foster Reynolds, and Bradick Peekham, Jr., moderator, Elisha Wells, Clerk Daniel Mills. A great many prominent men were educated in the Cobb's school house. About 1842, Van Ransellaer, the Patron, offered a set of outline maps, to the best school in Grafton, to be examined by a committee at the Church in Grafton Centre. We carried home the maps and were justly proud of it. I visited the spot in 1889. Found nothing but the foundation stones and thickly grownup weeds and brush. (A. A. Davison)

Ezra lived and raised his family on what we call the “Old Davison Homestead.”

Ezra married SMITH Diedamia on 24 May 1790 in Argyle, Penobscot Co., ME. Diedamia was born in 1774; died in 1853. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Record and Pension Office, War Department.
Respectfully returned to Almond A. Davison, Manito, Illinois.
Washington, D.C., March 28, 1896.

The records of this office show that Asa Davison, served as a private in Captain Nathaniel Webb's Company, 4th Battalion, Connecticut Forces, commanded by Col John Durkee, Revolutionary War. He enlisted, March 1, 1778, to serve 5 months, was discharged, January 1, 1779.

The records also show that Asa Davison, served as a private in the 1st Company, Fifth Connecticut Regiment, Commanded by Lieut. Col. Sherman, Revolutionary War. His name first appears on the roll for March 1782, and he was discharged, June 22, 1782.

The records further show that Asa Davison, served as a private in Capt. Nehemiah Rise's Company, 8th Connecticut Regiment, Revolutionary War. He enlisted Aug. 16, 1779 to serve six months, and was discharged, Jan. 15, 1780.

The records also show that Ezra Davison, served as a private in Capt. Benjamin Durkee's Company of Matrosses, at Port Trumbull, Connecticut. He enlisted, Aug. 12, 1782, (That day he was 17 years old.), to serve 12 months, and was discharged, Aug. 12, 1783. By authority of the Secretary of War. Signed by Col. U.S. Army Chief in Office.

Note that they were enlisted for short campaigns of a few months to a year, following which they would return home to take care of farm and family, then enlist again. (GEW)

In other accounts, Asa Davison appears at “The Battle of Lexington”, and “The Battle of Monmouth”. He was also with Gen. Benedict Arnold, on his famous campaign to Canada.

Asa served with the English Army during the French and Indian War, at the siege of Louisburg, Nova Scotia. After the war, the family settled there for a time, where his son, Ezra was born in 1765. At some point, he moved the family back south, as we find him in Ashford, Massachusetts at the start of the Revolutionary War.

At some point after the war, the family migrated on down to Grafton, New York, where Asa died in 1824. He was buried in the Brock burying ground in the northeast part of Grafton.

Died:
Interment: 1831 Brock Cemetery, near Grafton , Rensselaer Co., NY

Asa married PRIDE Sarah. Sarah was born on 24 Aug 1743. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]