Our Lynn, Ma. lineage starts with one Jenkin Davis who was born ca 161x at Buckinghamshire County, maybe, in England. The place of birth is based upon the fact that Jenkin Davis’s son, John, married Sarah Kirkland whose family was from Sherrington, Buckinghamshire. Jenkins died in 1661 at Lynn with his will, Essex Probate #7274 being proved 27 Jan. 1662. He married, in1635 at Lynn, Ma., Mary (–) whose parentage and ancestry is not known. Mary (–) Davis died, in Lynn, Ma., after 29 March 1682 at which time there was court activitiy concerning her well being.

Jenkin Davis emigrated to New England prior to 1635 at which time his marriage took place. He was a joiner by trade and for awhile, he was a servant to “Mr. Humphrey”, perhaps John and Susan Lincoln? Humphrey of Salem, Ma. Jenkin Davis of Lynn was a juryman in 1637, a proprietor in 1638, and a man subject to punishment for a crime in 1642. Perhaps, relevant to Jenkin’s “crime”, we find in the Ipswich Quqrterly Court, Sept.1668, a statement by John Davis relative to an agreement between the executors of the estate of John Humphrey, Esq. and Mary (–) Davis, relict of Jemkin Davis; the essence of the agreement is that Jenkin Davis owed John Humphrey 20L. In the Salem Quarterly Court of Nov. 1673, we find ”Received of the widow Davis of Lynn for Jenken Davis fine and so for a full discharge, 20L”. Evidently, Jenkin Davis was fined 20L, for his “crime?” and John Humphrey of Salem paid his fine The members of his church of Lynn petitioned the General Court on his behalf on 13 Nov. 1644. Jenkin Davis was a constable of Lynn in 1650. There was a mortgage on his house and land in 1661.

Jenkin and Mary (–) Davis had two children, i.e., our John Davis who married Sarah Kirkland, and Mary Davis who married Thomas Ivory in 1660. After the death of Jenkin, in 1661, his widow Mary (–) Davis became increasingly infirm in body and unable to take care of herself. It would seem that the subject of “taking care of Widow Davis” became a contentious subject between son John and his sister Mary Davis Ivory. A petition was submitted by Thomas Ivory in March 1682 requesting permission “to sell enough of her, Mary (–) Davis, estate to pay Thomas Ivory a rate of four shillings per week for past, present, and future care of this woman”. William Crofts, aged about seventy years, testified “that about 13 Feb. 1677, widow Mary (–) Davis of Jynkin Davis came to the house of Thomas Ivory and had been cared for there ever since”. He, William Crofts, heard Thomas Ivory demand of the tenant John Davis the rent towards the maintenance of his mother and he, John Davis refused.” Anne Crofts, aged about eighty, disposed “that her son Thomas Ivory told her that John Davis had brought his mother, widow Mary, there and said his wife Sarah Kirkland Davis couldn’t agree with his mother and thought it would be best off that John’s mother would be better off being with her daughter, Mary Davis Ivory”. It would seem that family relationship problems are not unique to the 20th century. The above testimonies give clear evidence that our John Davis was the son of Jenkin and Mary (–) Davis.
References: PH7:206; PH97:133; PH110:241; PH127:V2:467; PH222:V8:289-290; NEHGR:V3: 95; MD1:188-189; PH222: V1:192,272; V4:49; V5:256-257.

John Davis, the only son and first born child of Jenkin and Mary (–) Davis, was born in 1636 at Lynn, Ma. He died at Lynn, Ma. prior to 05 April 1703 at which time his will, Essex Probate #7282, was proved. He married, on 05 Oct. 1664 at Lynn, Ma., Sarah Kirkland who was born 27 July 1636 at Lynn, Ma. and died , at Lynn, prior to19 August 1729, at which time her will, Essex Probate #7338, was proved. She was the daughter of Philip and Alice (–) Kirkland.

John Davis was a joiner by trade. In response for a free offering for the maintenance of ailing “Brother Millet”, John gave fifteen shillings which was above the average offering. He was Constable of Gloucester in1659. He was a witness, in Nov.1659, in a court case re “William Steevens presented for not making a bridge over the cut at Gloucester;”. John Davis was a member of the Grand Jury in 1679.

Our John Davis had somewhat of a volatile temperament. We find, in the Salem and Ipswich Quarterly Court Records, some interesting items. In Sept. 1680, we find John Davis of Lynn of being accused of “ slanderous and reproachful speeches toward Sarah Lindsey “ including many petty details. In April 1681, Sarah (Kirtland) Davis of Lynn is accused of “abusing her husband John” which resulted in a warrant being issued. Again with much enhancement. And in October 1681, John Davis of Lynn, is accused of “ harassment of Martha Johnson including sexual innuendoes”. Other court records reflect that John Davis did enjoy the partaking of liquid spirits; obviously, our John was an “atypical” Puritan.

John and Sarah Kirtland Davis had a toal of nine children, all born in Lynn, Ma., of which six achieved adulthood.
References: PH7:207; PH16:Ma: 10244; PH51:lxv; PH110:241,243; PH127:V2:467; PH222:V1: 192,272; V4:46: V5:256-257; V8:102-103, 289-290; FH19:3730:521; MD1:188-189.

Sarh Davis, the fifth child and fourth daughter of John and Sarah Kirtland Davis was born in Dec. 1675 and died on 01 Sept.1754 both is Lynn, Ma. She married, in Lynn and on 26 Nov.1697, Michael (2) Bowden who was born ca 167x in Topsfield, Ma. and died on 01 Oct. 1741 at Gilmanton, NH. He was the son of Michael (1) and Sarah Nurse Bowden.
References: PH7:86; PH16:Ma:10361; PH71:V11:46; PH127:V2:115,128; FH51:8; FH293:118- 119.