Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Davis, William 1765 - 1831
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 30, 2005, 6:19 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

WILLIAM DAVIS.

   This excellent man and useful minister, was a native of Orange county,
Virginia, where he was born January 7th, 1765. His parents were poor, but honest
and respectable, and were members of the Episcopal church. He became concerned
about his soul at the early age of nine years. Two sermons which he heard about
this time, (one by an Episcopalian, the other by a Presbyterian,) made a deep
impression upon his mind. The Baptists, then called "New-Lights," commenced
preaching in his native county about the same time. Much was said against them,
as those who were "turning the world upside down," which raised much anxiety in
the mind of young Davis to hear them. The first opportunity of the kind he
enjoyed was to hear an exhortation and prayer from one John  Bledsoe. This
served to deepen his religious impressions, and frequently at that tender age he
was known to go forward voluntarily and ask the ministers to pray for him. He
continued serious, by turns, until in his fourteenth year, a conversation he had
with a pious negro in his father's employment, (a Baptist,) fully awakened him
to a sense of his lost condition as a sinner. For some six months, his mind was
in great distress. During those days of darkness, he went far and near, by day
and by night, as far as lay in his power, to hear the gospel from the Baptist
preachers, who were itinerating through the country, One night he went some four
miles from his father's residence to attend a meeting held by Elijah Craig.
During the services, his feelings became such as to unnerve him; he swooned
away, and remained in a helpless state for some time. In this condition, the
Lord brought deliverance to his soul. He rose rejoicing, and began at once to
exhort his fellow-mortals to flee from the wrath to come. At this time his
parents resided in Culpeper county, and were opposers and persecutors of the
Baptists. William left the parental roof, rather unceremoniously perhaps, walked
some fourteen or fifteen miles to a Baptist church in Orange county, called Blue
Run, where he was immersed in his fifteenth year.

  As soon as he had discharged this solemn duty, he returned home and submitted
himself to his parents. Soon thereafter, being encouraged by his brethren, he
was in the habit of exercising publicly in exhortation and prayer. These
exercises were sanctified to the conversion of his parents, his two older
brothers, his youngest brother and several of his sisters. All these became
Baptists, and continued in "the comfort of the Holy Ghost" until their death.

  At sixteen years of age, though much against the will of his friends. Mr.
Davis volunteered as a soldier of the revolution, and was some time under the
command of General Lafayette. He was wounded in the head, and suffered greatly
from fatigue and hunger. While the army of Lafayette was on a forced march to
join Washington in the capture of Cornwallis, young Davis was without a morsel
of food two whole days. This having come to the ears of the General, he was sent
for to his tent, and with his own hands he furnished the youthful soldier with
food. This kindness, on the part of Lafayette, was remembered .with gratitude
all his life. He was heard to mention it during his last sickness. He was
present at the surrender of Coruwallis, and after the war, returned to his
family in Virginia, where he enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the
Madisons and Barbours, and other distinguished men of that State.

  In 1788, he was licensed to preach the gospel, while yet in his native State,
and was ordained in Georgia by Dozier Thornton and Thomas Maxwell in 1793. His
education was quite limited, yet he was a man of strong mind, excellent memory,
and fine imagination. His manner was easy, yet forcible. He was an original
thinker, and his style of oratory was peculiar to himself—bold and energetic.
His character was without spot or blemish, and his piety was of a high order.
One fact proves that he lived the religion which he preached: Eleven out of the
twelve children, which he had, became worthy members of the church during their
father's lifetime; three of them are preachers, Jonathan, James and Jesse; and
two others, Jeptha and William, deacons. As a pastor, he must have stood high
with the churches which enjoyed his watchcare. The church in the fork of Broad
river (Elbert county,) he served twenty-three years; that at Beaver Dam twelve
years; Clark's Station nineteen years, etc. He possessed the faculty of drawing
out his brethren, who were called of God to the ministry; among those who were
raised up under him, are the following: E. Shackelford, Isaac Shuttle, Elijah
Mosely, Isham Goss, James Hales and Sylvanus Gibson.

  In the middle of life, Mr. Davis was a person of fine appearance, weighing
upwards of two hundred pounds. He suffered much in after life from dropsy in the
chest, and was so debilitated as to make it necessary that he should resign all
pastoral charges. Yet, he was in the habit of visiting the churches, whenever he
was able to ride, and when unable to stand, he would preach in a sitting
posture. While thus standing on the borders of the tomb, his ministry was
greatly blessed. His farewell discourse to the people of Elbert county was
delivered, while he sat on a table in the open air, and such was the powerful
effect produced, that it was regarded as the commencement of one of the most
glorious revivals ever experienced in that county. He was decidedly favorable to
ministerial education, and was one of the Board of Mount Enon Academy. He was
opposed to the location, however, and always believed that that was the main
cause of its failure. The Temperance cause never had a warmer friend. On this
subject, he addressed letters to the Sarepta and Georgia Associations, when too
infirm to attend their sessions.

  For several months previous to his death, he had a presentiment that his end
was near—often spake of it, and arranged all his worldly business with reference
to it. All his children were invited to make him a last visit, and on their
doing so, he required each of his sons to lay their hand on the scar on his
head, (the result of a wound he received in his youth, while a soldier of the
revolution,) and solemnly charged them severally to be faithful to their
country's interest and glory. He was in attendance on a Methodist camp-meeting
some ten days before his death, when he was taken suddenly ill. His wife (who
was absent on a visit,) was sent for, as also his children. When they arrived,
he told the day and the hour he expected to depart hence and be with Christ.
When that day arrived, he spent a part of it in writing, and to his friends
present gave a circumstantial account of his early life. Some two or three hours
previous to his exit he was in great pain and frequently called upon God for
help. Of his sons, Jonathan and James, who had not yet arrived, he spoke in a
most affectionate manner. To his son Isaac (the only one of his children not in
the church.) he made a most touching appeal to meet his aged father in heaven.
After bidding his wife and children a last farewell, he desired to be raised up
in the bed—then, raising his hands towards heaven, he shouted aloud, "Victory!
victory! victory!" laid down calmly, and instantly expired. This glorious
triumph of faith took place on the 31st of October, 1831, in his sixty-seventh
year.

  His widow survived him eleven years. It is rather remarkable that she did not
become a professor of religion until after her husband's death. She was finally
baptized by her son, Jonathan, and died full of years and in strong hope of
eternal happiness.


Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.




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