I love the name Eleazer! He has to be Rachel's father, and even if he isn't he deserves to be recognized for his time and service in the War for Independence.
He was a Ranger, a duty that I imagine he performed throughout the time of the hostilities on the Bedford County frontier. He is listed on the Pay Roll of men under the command of Michael Johnson of the Pennsylvania Rangers in Bedford Co. for 7 months in the year of 1781. The name of Elizer David is listed with Capt. Boyd's company of Rangers, 20th April, Ano dom. 1781. The Rangers were mustered to protect the frontier from frequent and merciless Indian attacks. Like the minute men of New England they were farmers who answered the call when an alarm was sounded. It was their job to patrol the perimeter and watch for the approach of the enemy into the settlement.
This Abstract Card shows that he was paid 11 pounds, 4 pence for service in the Bedford Co. Militia.
The Pa Archives, 5th series, Volume 8 mentions his name several times. On the Class Roll of Capt. Wm. McCall's Company of the 3rd Battalion, Eliezer David,1st Class, the 9th of May, 1775.
On the Muster Roll of Captain Samuel Davidson's Company, in Colonel Smith's Battalion of Bedford County Associators the name Eleazer David appears, March 22, 1776.
Eleazer didn't leave a large footprint for his descendents to follow, but we do know from tax records that he had property, animals, a house and family. The following tax assessment records were found. In 1783, Eliazer Davis of Bedford was assessed with one horse, one lot and one cow for which a State tax of 0.1.3 and a county tax of 0.0.3 were paid. In 1784, Eleazer Davis on the return for Bedford Township is assessed for one dwelling and 3 inhabitants. Elizer Davis of Bedford paid a state tax of 0.0.8 in 1789. In the 1790 census for Bedford Twp., Eleazer Davis is listed as the head of a household consisting of one adult over 16 (self) and three females. It is unknown who his wife was. Church records that would show the names of his children on the occasion of their baptism have not been found by this family historian. His final resting place or gravestone marker for him or his wife have not been located. There are many unanswered questions regarding the life of Eleazer Davis. If a reader has information to add to this narrative, I would be delighted to hear from you.
The time period that Rachel Davis was born is the late 1760's. She died somewhere between 1820 and 1830. Birth and death dates for her husband, Henry Lloyd are just as elusive. He was born about 1756 and died after 1820. Rachel and Henry were the parents of Catherine Lloyd who became the wife of William States, of McConnellstown. Catherine and William States were the parents of Abraham who married Catherine Mumper and they became the parents of Ann Eliza States, my great, great grandmother. Eliza States married Ben Heffner and had a daughter named Ella Mae who married Rev. Howard Long. They had a daughter named Eliza who married Homer McEwen, my grandparents. Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, I just want to know who your father was.
Source:
- Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp.
- PA Archives, 5th Series, Volume V, Muster Rolls and Papers Relating to the Associators and Militia of the County of Bedford.
- Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp
- Africa, J. Simpson. History of Huntingdon and Blair counties, Pennsylvania. Walker Township Pioneers. Published 1883. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24143417M.
- Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801.
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From "Lloyd Notes and Facts 1709-1990" booklet by Lloyd and Watson.
ReplyDeleteBedford tax rolls of 1775 list Eleazer's occupation as carpenter, which
suggests a possible association with the Davis who operated the saw
mill in Walker Township, that S. Africa refers to (p.385 of his History).
They suggest that perhaps that's how he came to connect with the
Lloyd family, who settled in Walker township.
That he didn't appear in the 1810 Census index for Pennsylvania suggests
he may have moved to Kentucky or westward.