Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 From: "Roderick Craig" <rodjcraig@hotmail.com> Subject: [Phly-Rts] William Davy, Philadelphia Merchant (1794-1817) Hi, My interest lies in my 4 x great-grandfather, William Davy (1757-1827), an English born Philadelphia merchant, who became an American Citizen and later Principal agent for the Indian Factories under the Jefferson administration, before retiring to England as a Consul of the United States for Leeds and Kingston upon Hull (it must be quite rare for an Englishman to have American ancestors - usually the other way round !). The son of a Devonshire (England) cloth manufacturer, William Davy was born in Crediton in 1757. He was at first a presbyterian, then a unitarian and seems to have been a friend of Joseph Priestley. He emigrated to Pennsylvania with his wife, children and several sisters on the ship "Active", which arrived in Philadelphia on 15 August 1794. He first travelled to Northumberland County where he stayed with the Priestleys (September to November 1794). He Kept a diary of his trip, which was published in "Pennsylvania History" (Vol. XX, April 1953). On his return to Philadelphia, he wrote a long letter to George Washington, proposing to set up cloth manufactures and make uniforms for the new American Army (George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). He was naturalised on August 31, 1796. In 1797, he was alredy in business in Philadelphia with Josiah Roberts (from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England - who later married William Davy's sister), under the name "Davy, Roberts and Co". Davy and Roberts started a calico printing firm in Germantown Road (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography). >From at least 1797, William Davy, owned or chartered many ships. In about 1800, he fitted out the privateer "Alexander", captained by his son John Broom Davy, who captured several French ships. He imported sugar and cigars from Cuba (Brig "Angustus"), India goods (silk, sugar, spices...) from Calcutta (ships "Monticello" and "Coromandel"), Earth oil (petrol) and elephant tusks from Burma (ship "Coromandel), rum from St. Vincent and the Grenadines (schooner "Sukey and Peggy"), coffee from La Guaira, Venezuela (schooner "Three Friends")... He exported hides to England and guns to Simon Bolivar. I know that he received invitations in 1804 and 1805 to dine with President Thomas Jefferson in Washington (Pennsylvania History, Vol. XX, April 1953, p. 277) and that Mr. and Mrs James Madison entertained him in 1805 (Pennsylvania History, Vol. XX, April 1953, p. 277). Suddenly, in 1817, he applied for an appointment in the U.S. consular service and returned to England where he died in 1827. William Davy and his wife, Susannah Broom, had 14 children, but, for the moment I only know the names of 10. Several moved to England with their parents. Albert Davy and Josiah Davy were both in the consular service in Leeds. At least 3 sons remained in America. John Broom Davy was, for a few years, consul of the U.S.A. in Rangoon, Burma, and died in Bordentown, New Jersey in 1822. William Davy Junior died in 1822 in Cartagena, Colombia. Thomas Davy, an agent for DuPont de Nemours, spent over 10 years in Cienfuegos, Cuba, where he died in 1830. I have no idea if there are any descendants in America. I know that at least 3 children (probably more) were born in Philadelphia, but so far, I have been unable to find any baptisms (I suppose that they were baptised as Unitarians or Presbyterians). John Broom Davy married Harriet Bridges in 1804 in Philadelphia and Thomas Davy married Elizabeth Loockermans of Delaware... I have a few addresses of William Davy's businesses in Philadelphia (59 South Water Street ; Germantown Road ; wharves in Water Street ; Cypress Alley, between Spruce and Pine, and 3d and 4th Streets ; 32 Dock Street and 356 High), but I have only been able to check 2 Philadelphia directories for the period. I have been unable to find a will for any of the Davys in England. Where can I look in Pennsylvania ? Any further information about William Davy, his business... and the Davy family would be most appreciated. Roderick Craig, Mulhouse, France. ******************************************** In 'Phila Co PA Births 1766-1780' by John T Humphrey, published 1995, there are 2 entries for DAVY surname: William DAVY born 11/14/1779 to William and Rachael DAVY, Christ Church, Philadelphia. John James DAVY, son of Adam and Betsy, both deceased, was baptized in 2/1799 at Scots Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia (This entry says 1799, but the book is supposed to be only thru 1780, so I am not sure if 1799 was a misprint or the real date) Maybe this will give you a clue as to additional research at those churches. Was your William married twice? Wife is Rachael in the 1779church record. Or is this a diff William Daly? Marriage at Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia: 1800, Feb. 14, Daly, William, and Elizabeth Carhune Marriages at Gloria Dei Swedes Church, Phila: 1797, April 30, Daly, John, and Susanna Pickson. 1761, April 6, Daly, Owen, and Catharine McGraugh. Diana in Alabama