Jehu Davis

John "Jehu" Davis (1738 - May 11, 1802) was an American farmer 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 1738 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.

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 of America. 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.

President of Delaware
Previous		Service Dates		Successor
Thomas Collins		March 29, 1789 - June 2, 1789		Joshua Clayton

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while President)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	Speaker		House Majority	Speaker
1788/89	13th		non-partisan	George Mitchell		non-partisan	vacant

Death and legacy

Davis died May 11, 1802 at McSparren, in Mispillion Hundred, and was buried in the Christ (Savannah) Episcopal Church Cemetery there. The cemetery is now paved over by Delaware Route 14.

No known portrait of Jehu Davis exists.

Almanac

Elections were held October 1st and members of the General Assembly took office on October 20th, or the following weekday. Assemblymen had a one year term. The General Assembly chose the State President for a term of three years.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Took Office	Left Office	notes
Assemblyman	Legislature	New Castle	October 28, 1776	October 20, 1777
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1777	October 20, 1778
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1778	October 20, 1779
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1779	October 20, 1780
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 21, 1782	October 20, 1783
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1783	October 21, 1784
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1786	October 21, 1787
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1787	October 26, 1788
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1788	October 20, 1789
State President	Executive	Dover	March 29, 1789	June 2, 1789	acting
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1789	October 20, 1790

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1776/77	1st	State House	non-partisan	John McKinly		Kent at-large
1777/78	2nd	State House	non-partisan	George Read		Kent at-large
1778/79	3rd	State House	non-partisan	Caesar Rodney		Kent at-large
1779/80	4th	State House	non-partisan	Caesar Rodney		Kent at-large
1782/83	7th	State House	non-partisan	John Cook		Kent at-large
1783/84	8th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		Kent at-large
1786/87	11th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		Kent at-large
1787/88	12th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		Kent at-large
1788/89	13th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins	Speaker	Kent at-large
1789/90	13th	State House	non-partisan	Joshua Clayton	Speaker	Kent at-large

References

• Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, DE: Roger A. Martin. 
• Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University. 
• Racino, John W. (1980). Biographical Directory of American and Revolutionary Governors 1607-1789. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-00-4. 
• Rodney, Richard S. (1975). Collected Essays on Early Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware. 
• Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co. 

External links

• Delaware’s Governors
• Find a Grave

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society website, 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware Library website, 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965