William Davidson and Mary Ramsey

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Husband William Davidson ¹

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           Born: Abt 1758 - Ireland
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Aug 1826 - ? Lawrence Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: [Father] Davidson (      -      )
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Mary Ramsey ¹

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           Born: Abt 1757
     Christened: 
           Died: 10 Feb 1831 2
         Buried: 

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   Other Spouse: [Unk] Ramsey (      -      ) 1

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Children

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1 M Capt. James Davidson ¹

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           Born: 13 Feb 1786 - Ireland 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Sep 1856 - ? Lawrence Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth Houston (Abt 1789-1864) 2
           Marr: 4 Dec 1810 2

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2 F Rosanna Davidson ²

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           Born:  - Ireland
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 F Elizabeth Davidson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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4 F Mary Davidson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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5 F Lydia Davidson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - William Davidson

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After his father died at the old home in Ireland, William, as the eldest son, assumed the place of head of the family, and, in company with his widowed mother, his wife and two children, James and Rosanna, his sisters, Lydia, Sally, Molly, Peggy, Esther, and his two brothers, James and Robert, came to America, settling first in Redstone, near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After living in that locality a few years, he, with his family, proceeded "out West" to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, but their stay in that section was not protracted to any extent, and in April, 1794, they removed to a site, then located in Beaver County, but now a part of Lawrence County.

One of the interesting as well as thrilling incidents of the journey came to pass in this manner: They came on as far as Beaver, where they rested a short time with William's sister, Lydia Alexander; from there to their newly chosen home, they made the journey in a day, arriving at their destination at nightfall. The father led one horse, across whose back was adjusted a wallet, the ends of which contained the two little ones, Elizabeth and Mary; in addition the household bedding and other necessary domestic articles were heaped in a pack on the animal's back. The mother rode the second horse, and carried in her arms the six weeks old infant, Lydia. The two older children walked and drove a little cow. While crossing Rock's Ridge, the horse, ridden by the mother, stumbled, throwing her over its head, and she threw the infant ahead of her. Full of apprehension and dire misgivings, the parents hastened to the spot where the babe lay, and to their surprise found it sleeping, as if nothing at all had occurred. As they had previously narrowly escaped drowning, the mother remarked that that child surely was not born to be either drowned or hanged.

One branch of the Davidson family went South, and the other West, and as a distinctive feature in both branches will be found the names of James, William, Robert, and Samuel. Gen. Davidson, who was killed in the battle of the Cowpens during the Revolution, came from the same section of Pennsylvania.

1 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 267.

2 —, Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, PA (Buffalo, NY: Biographical Publishing Company, 1897), Pg 268.