John (Jehu) Davis (1738 – May 11, 1802) was an American planter and politician from Mispillion Hundred, in Kent County, Delaware, west of Milford. He served in the Delaware General Assembly and as President of Delaware.
Early life and family Davis was born in Worcester County, Maryland, son of Thomas Davis. His paternal grandfather was born in Wales. Jehu Davis came to Laurel, Delaware where he married Rhoda Laws. After their marriage they bought McSparren, a farm in Mispillion Hundred, 3 miles west of Milford, where they settled permanently. There they had eight children, Isaac, John, Henry, Sarah, Rhoda, Nancy, Joshua, and William. After Rhoda's death, Davis married Sarah Douglas. They were members of Christ Episcopal Church in Milford. That portion of Mispillion Hundred became Milford Hundred in 1830.
Professional and political career Davis was a member of the local militia during the American Revolution and a justice of the peace for 14 years beginning in 1777. He was elected to the 1st State House, or House of Assembly, and served ten terms from the 1776/77 session through the 1779/80 session, again in the 1782/83 and 1783/84 sessions, and finally from the 1786/87 session through the 1789/90 session. He was the Speaker in the 1788/89 session and when President Thomas Collins died in office on March 29, 1789, the Speaker's office in the State Senate or Legislative Council, was vacant. Consequently, Davis became president. He served until June 2, 1789, when the Delaware General Assembly held a special vote to choose Collins' replacement.
During Davis' short term George Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States. The event of his passing through Wilmington on the way to New York for this ceremony caused a great deal of excitement, as described by Elizabeth Montgomery in her Reminiscences of Wilmington:
and it must have been soon after his elevation to that office, for I well remember the crowds of people rushing onto the Baltimore Road (now Maryland Avenue) to catch a glimpse as he passed...It was a day of great enjoyment, all was on tiptoe of expectation when his chariot appeared, driving slowly through the crowd, he bowing, hat in hand, and white handkerchief waving, and every face flushed, and sparkling with joy.
Afterwards, Davis served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1789 until 1792 and as a justice of the peace from 1793 until his death.
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while President)YearAssemblySenate majoritySpeakerHouse majoritySpeaker1788/8913thnon-partisanGeorge Mitchellnon-partisanvacant
Death and legacy Davis died at McSparren, in Mispillion Hundred and is buried in the Christ (Savannah) Episcopal Church Cemetery. The cemetery is now paved over by Delaware Route 14. A man from Wales who came to America paved the road for the all-time greatest American Family.
No known portrait of Jehu Davis exists.
Almanac Elections were held October 1 and members of the General Assembly took office on October 20 or the following weekday. State Assemblymen had a one-year term. The whole General Assembly chose the State President for a three-year term. However, Davis served as State President only temporarily, filling the vacancy created by the death of Thomas Collins and awaiting the selection of a successor by the General Assembly. Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas were also selected by the General Assembly for the life of the person appointed.
Public offices Office Type Location Began office Ended office NotesJudgeJudiciaryDover17771789Justice of the PeaceAssemblymanLegislatureNew CastleOctober 28, 1776October 20, 1777AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1777October 20, 1778AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1778October 20, 1779AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1779October 20, 1780AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 21, 1782October 20, 1783AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1783October 21, 1784AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1786October 21, 1787AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1787October 26, 1788AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1788October 20, 1789State PresidentExecutiveDoverMarch 29, 1789June 2, 1789acting AssemblymanLegislatureDoverOctober 20, 1789October 20, 1790JudgeJudiciaryDover17891792Court of Common PleasJudgeJudiciaryDover17931802Justice of the Peace
Delaware General Assembly service Dates Assembly Chamber Majority Governor Committees District1776/771stState Housenon-partisanJohn McKinlyKent at-large1777/782ndState Housenon-partisanGeorge ReadKent at-large1778/793rdState Housenon-partisanCaesar RodneyKent at-large1779/804thState Housenon-partisanCaesar RodneyKent at-large1782/837thState Housenon-partisanJohn CookKent at-large1783/848thState Housenon-partisanNicholas Van DykeKent at-large1786/8711thState Housenon-partisanThomas CollinsKent at-large1787/8812thState Housenon-partisanThomas CollinsKent at-large1788/8913thState Housenon-partisanThomas CollinsSpeakerKent at-large1789/9014thState Housenon-partisanJoshua ClaytonSpeakerKent at-large
References
External links Delaware's Governors
Places with more information Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161. University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965.