Lieut Noah DAVIS, I

  General Notes:

Notes from Warren Ladd: of Stafford, CT.

Note from Mark K. Davis, Ph.D. President, Davis Family Association of Stafford, CT: "Noah was truly the first American Davis; he fought with the Continental Army in the American Revolution. When the call to arms was first given at the Hyde Tavern in Stafford, Noah joined in as sergeant in Capt. William Draper's 2nd Roxbury Company under the command of Col. William Heath. Noah and his company marched on the Lexington alarm on April 1, 1775. He received a commission as second lieutenant in May 1776 and served in Thomas May's 5th Company under the command of Col. Eliaza Wells of the 1st Sussex Company. Noah's military service continued until May 3, 1776. He also did a militia stint closer to home as a corporal under Capt. Paul Blodgett's company in Stafford in December 1776. After serving his newly forming country early in the Revolution, Noah returned to civilian life and was remarried to Anna Ladd, by whom he had five additional children. One of these children, Noah Davis, Jr., had a son Judge Noah Davis, who became a prominent attorney, judge, and U.S. Congressman from New York in 1869-1870.

As had been his father, Lieut. Noah Davis was a driving force in the local Congregational Church. He was deeply involved in the drive to oust Rev. Isaac Foster as pastor of the church due to financial and theological problems. In spite of the fact that nearly 75% of the congregation supported Foster, the opposition brought by Noah and his group tore the parish apart, culminating in the dismissal and excommunication of Rev. Foster in 1779.

Noah was among the first businessmen in Stafford, owing to his plentiful apple orchards. Noah's apples were reputed to make great pies, but he found other more profitable uses for them. In 1801, he was granted a license for the Davis Distillery, located near the Somers town line. A nearby spring provided the necessary cooling water which was piped to the site. Noah's still had a capacity of 66 gallons and the apple brandy he produced soon became well known locally."

Noah married Anna LADD, daughter of Jonathan LADD, II and Anna TYLER, on 19 Feb 1778 in Stafford, Tolland Co, CT. (Anna LADD was born on 7 Sep 1752 in Tolland, Tolland Co, CT and died on 20 May 1812.)

Noah next married Sarah ALDEN on 31 Dec 1767 in Stafford, Tolland Co, CT. (Sarah ALDEN was born on 17 Feb 1747 in West Stafford, Tolland Co, CT and died on 9 Dec 1776 in West Stafford, Tolland Co, CT.)

Noah next married Mary JOHNSON between 1812 and 1813. (Mary JOHNSON was born about 1747 in Stafford, Tolland Co, CT and died on 5 Feb 1829 in Tolland, Tolland Co, CT.)