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William Watts Hart Davis papers

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Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
1837
Repository:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Extent:
3.0 linear feet (7 boxes, 7 volumes, 1 flat file)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series her], William Watts Hart Davis papers (Collection 1837), The Historical Society of Pennsylvani.
Date:
1809-1908 (inclusive)
Creator:
Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910
Abstract:
William Watts Hart Davis was graduated from military school in Norwich, Vt., in 1842, was professor at Portsmouth (Va.) Military Academy, studied law, was an officer in the Mexican War, returned home to Doylestown and practiced law, was appointed to various government offices for the territory of New Mexico, 1853-1857, returned home where he purchased the Doylestown "Democrat," recruited the 104th Pennsylvania Regiment, and served through the Civil War, returned home to spend the rest of his life managing and editing the Democrat, and speaking and writing on historical subjects. Davis's papers are arranged into several volumes. His incoming correspondence, 1832-1846, 1857-1860, 1880-1882, from family and friends touches on all his activities, with many passing references to politics, although the content is primarily of personal affairs. One volume of the correspondence has been designated "autographs" and includes letters of political and military men, together with clipped signatures. There are also two volumes of "Literary Remains" containing school essays, articles, addresses, reminiscences, diary entries, queries, acknowledgements, invitations, and clippings. There are additional manuscripts of consolidated reports, returns, special and general orders of his command which included regiments of 11th Maine, 56th New York State, 52nd Pennsylvania, and 104th Pennsylvania; History of One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers; other works on the Mexican War and Bucks County; more scrapbook material, invitations, cards, notes, and newspaper clippings. The Doylestown Guards minute book, 1849-1860, is also in this collection.

William Watts Hart Davis (1820-1910), born to John Davis and Amy (Hart), became an influential military leader and prominent supporter of local community affairs in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

William’s early educational opportunities were acquired at a number of institutions including the private school of Anna Longstreth, the parish school at the Southampton Baptist Church, the Doylestown Academy, and the boarding school at Burlington, New Jersey. He then attended Partridge’s University and Military School in Norwich, Vermont, graduating from there in 1842. Not much later, he studied law with the Honorable John Fox when he enrolled in a law course at the Dane Law School at Harvard University. However, it was during his studies at Harvard in 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American war, he enlisted in the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. Thus, he commenced his military career and was commissioned as First lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1847 he was appointed adjutant and promoted once more before he was mustered out of service as Captain in 1848.

He returned to Doylestown where he practiced law for about five years until called to serve office in the territory of New Mexico from 1853 to 1857. There, he primarily served as the district attorney of New Mexico where he also functioned as the governor and superintendent of Indian affairs. As well, he pursued an interest in publishing, establishing the the Santa Fe Gazette which was published in Spanish and English. During this time, he returned east to marry Anna Carpenter, of Brooklyn, in 1856. While back in New Mexico, only a year later, he would resign his post and return to Bucks County to establish a household.

Continuing his journalistic interests, in 1857, he also purchased the Doylestown’s local weekly paper, the Democrat, which he managed until his retirement. Davis edited the paper quite carefully thereby making it an exceptional and recognized paper in the state at the time. It is through the paper that he galvanized local interests of the Doylestown Guards whereby to form the 104th Pennsylvania Regiment during the Civil War. Of those efforts to establish the regiment, the President appointed him colonel on August 6, 1861. His influence then led to his appointment as the provisional brigadier gerneral and first brigade of the First Division of the Fourth Corps of the army of the Potomac which included the 104th regiment, the 56th New York, the 52nd Pennsylvania, and the 111th Maine regiments; and, in 1864 was charged with the management of Morris Island in the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. The close of his participation in the war was precipitated by an injury sustained to his hand (loss of fingers) by shrapnel.

After the war effort, William Watts Hart Davis returned to Doylestown and pursued a number of interests including genealogy, local community history and related historical matters. These interests allowed him to produce a number of books and writings concerning his family’s history, the military, and his hometown community. Some of his writings included El Gringo, or, New Mexico and Her People (1857); A History of the Hart Family (1867); Spanish Conquest of New Mexico (1869); History of Doylestown Guards (1887); The Fries Rebellion, 1798-99: An Armed Resistance (1899); History of Bucks County (1905).

As well, Davis was a member of many social, civic, and military groups and organizations including the American Historical Society, Aztec Club, Board of Charities of Pennsylvania (Lunacy Committee), Bucks County Historical Society (founder), Doylestown Literary Club, Grand Army of the Republic – Post No. 1 of Philadelphia, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Society of Foreign Wars, Society of the Army of the Potomac, Survivors of the Mexican War, Western Reserve Historical Society, and the vestry of the St. Paul’s P. E. Church. Chief among Davis’s organizational memberships was his association with The Doylestown Guards. It was established in 1835, an offshoot of the Doylestown Grays which preceded it. Davis was a signee of the company’s constitution when it was reorganized in 1846. They are well known for their participation in the Civil War as the first company from Bucks County to enter service upon the President’s call for patriotic citizens.

Davis enjoyed a long life of multiple careers as an educator, journalist, author, and government and military official, which allowed him to produce a great deal of writings and communications. The papers here show the work he engaged in and the people he worked with, or who were impressed by the worked he produced. Contained with William Watts Hart Davis's papers are correspondence, various writings and compositions, newspaper clippings, military records, and artifacts.

Box 1 contains a number of compositions including historical overviews, biographical sketches, correspondence, commentary, extracts from personal journal, and historical notes about the war and other contemporaneous events in the United States and Europe. Among the many entries included are “Pennsylvania;” “Benedict Arnold;” “The Abolition of Slavery; “Washington;” “Farming,” and “History of the Hart Family.” Items are housed as they were included in the volume where they were previously bounded.

The items in Box 2 primarily concern the public’s response to Davis’s “History of Buck County” and the “History of the 104th PA Regiment.” The commendations show their appreciation of his works saying “it is a work of great labor and research” and “the remarkable contribution you have made in the ranks of historical research.” Also included are various newspaper clippings discussing social and civic engagements, and Davis’s printed speeches most notably his remarks offered at the Bicentenial Celebration in Doylestown in 1882. Other items include thank you letters regarding invitations to events other civic and social engagements.

Box 3 include a number of drafts of Davis’s writings including the “History of the 104th PA Regiment;” “Mexican War: A Military Execution;” “The Mexican War;” “The Capture of General Valencia;” “With General Cushing in Mexico;” “Indian Trial at Santa Fe;” “History of Bucks County Historical Society;” “The Military Spirit of Bucks County;” “A Description of Pennsbury Manor Reformed Church, Bucks County;” “Major Joeph O. Archambault”; and “From Over the Sea” all of which are hand written. Other miscellaneous material includes a mathematics notebook, newspapers clippings on the Mexican War, the 104th Regiment badges, and correspondences.

Boxes 4 and 5 contain returns and consolidated reports for the 104th Pennsylvania regiment. The reports show the promotions of military personnel, ranks, attendance records. Box 6 also contains a variety of documents related to the military including correspondence, orders, invoices, circulars, and memos.

There are seven volumes in the collection of a variety of documents including correspondents, autographs, newspaper clippings, invitations, cards, and notes. Most notably, among the volumes, is the Doylestown Guards company book (1848-1860). The loose items from these volumes were removed and rehoused in Box 7.

Davis, W. W. H. 1820-1910. History of the Doylestown Guards. Doylestown, PA: [Press of "Democrat" job Dept.], 1887. Davis, W. W. H. Life of John Davis. Doylestown, PA: [Press of "Democrat" job Dept.], 1886. Davis, W. W. H. 1820-1910. History of the Hart Family of Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania To Which Is Added the Genealogy of the Family, From Its First Settlement in America: To Which Is Added the Genealogy of the Family, From Its First Settlement in America. [Doylestown, Pa.]: Print. priv. [W.W.H. Davis, printer], 1867. Hart, Thomas. A Record of the Hart Family of Philadelphia : With a Genealogy of the Family, From Its First Settlement in America ; Augmented By Notes of the Collateral Branches, 1735-1920: With a Genealogy of the Family, From Its First Settlement in America ; Augmented By Notes of the Collateral Branches, 1735-1920. Philadelphia: [s.n.], 1920. Hart Genealogy; With Collateral Family Lines: With Collateral Family Lines. West Hartford, Conn. :b O.S. Hart, 1970.

Purchased, 1961.

At other institutions:

Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910, Norwich University Archives.

Davis, W. W. H., Papers, 1727-1905, Bucks County Historical Society.

Davis, W. W. H., Historic scraps, 1902-1904, Bucks County Historical Society.

Davis, W. W. H., Military record of W. W. H. Davis, 1846-1865, Bucks County Historical Society.

Davis, W. W. H., Papers, 1861-1865, Bucks County Historical Society.

W. W. H. Davis Collection (1681-1904), AC 059, Museum of New Mexico.

W. W. H. Davis papers (1846-1864), WA MSS S-1323, Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

W. W. H. Davis papers, 1863-1864, Manuscripts P, University of South Carolina

Subject
Place

Publisher
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Weckea D. Lilly.
Finding Aid Date
; 2015.

Collection Inventory

Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 1).
Box 1 Folder 1
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 2).
Box 1 Folder 2
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 3).
Box 1 Folder 3
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 4).
Box 1 Folder 4
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 5).
Box 1 Folder 5
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 6).
Box 1 Folder 6
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 7).
Box 1 Folder 7
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 8).
Box 1 Folder 8
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 9).
Box 1 Folder 9
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 10).
Box 1 Folder 10
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 11).
Box 1 Folder 11
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 12).
Box 1 Folder 12
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 13).
Box 1 Folder 13
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 14).
Box 1 Folder 14
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 15).
Box 1 Folder 15
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 16).
Box 1 Folder 16
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 17).
Box 1 Folder 17
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 18).
Box 1 Folder 18
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 19).
Box 1 Folder 19
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 20).
Box 1 Folder 20
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 21).
Box 1 Folder 21
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 22).
Box 1 Folder 22
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 23).
Box 1 Folder 23
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 24).
Box 1 Folder 24
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 25).
Box 1 Folder 25
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 26).
Box 1 Folder 26
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 27).
Box 1 Folder 27
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 28).
Box 1 Folder 28
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 29).
Box 1 Folder 29
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 30).
Box 1 Folder 30
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 31).
Box 1 Folder 31
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 32).
Box 1 Folder 32
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 33).
Box 1 Folder 33
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 34).
Box 1 Folder 34
Literary Remains, Volume I (P. 35).
Box 1 Folder 35
Literary Remains, Volume I (Front Cover).
Box 1 Folder 36
Miscellaneous Certificates, 1701 - 1887; n.d.
Oversize FF 1

Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 3).
Box 2 Folder 1
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 4).
Box 2 Folder 2
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 5).
Box 2 Folder 3
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 6).
Box 2 Folder 4
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 7).
Box 2 Folder 5
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 8).
Box 2 Folder 6
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 9).
Box 2 Folder 7
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 10).
Box 2 Folder 8
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 11).
Box 2 Folder 9
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 12).
Box 2 Folder 10
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 13).
Box 2 Folder 11
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 14).
Box 2 Folder 12
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 15).
Box 2 Folder 13
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 16).
Box 2 Folder 14
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 17).
Box 2 Folder 15
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 18).
Box 2 Folder 16
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 19).
Box 2 Folder 17
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 20).
Box 2 Folder 18
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 21).
Box 2 Folder 19
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 22).
Box 2 Folder 20
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 23).
Box 2 Folder 21
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 24).
Box 2 Folder 22
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 25).
Box 2 Folder 23
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 26).
Box 2 Folder 24
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 27).
Box 2 Folder 25
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 28).
Box 2 Folder 26
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 29).
Box 2 Folder 27
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 30).
Box 2 Folder 28
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 31).
Box 2 Folder 29
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 32).
Box 2 Folder 30
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 33).
Box 2 Folder 31
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 34).
Box 2 Folder 32
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 35).
Box 2 Folder 33
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 35a).
Box 2 Folder 34
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 36).
Box 2 Folder 35
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 37).
Box 2 Folder 36
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 38).
Box 2 Folder 37
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 39).
Box 2 Folder 38
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 40).
Box 2 Folder 39
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 41).
Box 2 Folder 40
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 42).
Box 2 Folder 41
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 43).
Box 2 Folder 42
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 44).
Box 2 Folder 43
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 45).
Box 2 Folder 44
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 46).
Box 2 Folder 45
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 47).
Box 2 Folder 46
Literary Remains, Volume II (P. 48).
Box 2 Folder 47
Literary Remains, Volume II (Front and Back Covers).
Box 2 Folder 48

MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 1-3.
Box 3 Folder 1
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 4-6.
Box 3 Folder 2
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 7-9.
Box 3 Folder 3
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 10-12.
Box 3 Folder 4
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 13-15.
Box 3 Folder 5
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 16-19.
Box 3 Folder 6
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 20-22.
Box 3 Folder 7
MS - History of 104th PA Regiment, Chapters 23-25.
Box 3 Folder 8
"History of the 104th PA Regiment".
Box 3 Folder 9
"A Military Execution" (Mexican War Incident).
Box 3 Folder 10
"The Mexican War".
Box 3 Folder 11
"The Capture of General Valencia".
Box 3 Folder 12
General Caleb Cushing: "With Gen'l Cushing in Mexico".
Box 3 Folder 13
General Caleb Cushing: "With Gen'l Cushing in Mexico".
Box 3 Folder 14
"Indian Trial at Santa Fe".
Box 3 Folder 15
History - Bucks County Historical Society.
Box 3 Folder 16
"The Military Spirit of Bucks County;" Other Local Interest Papers.
Box 3 Folder 17
A Description of Pennsbury Manor; Reformed Church, Bucks County.
Box 3 Folder 18
Major Joseph O. Archambault, Obituary, 1874.
Box 3 Folder 19
Mathematics Exercise Book of General W. W. H. Davis, 1834.
Box 3 Folder 20
Newspaper Clippings: Mexican War, Civil War, & W. W. H Davis.
Box 3 Folder 21
104th Regiment Badges (Removed from last page of Volume V - Invitations, Cards, Notes and Other Matter).
Box 3 Folder 22
"From Over the Sea" (An account of the trip of W. W. H. Davis to the Paris Exposition), 1872.
Box 3 Folder 23
Miscellaneous Letters, 1858-1906.
Box 3 Folder 24
Miscellaneous.
Box 3 Folder 25

Returns, 1861-1862.
Box 4 Folder 1
Returns, 1862.
Box 4 Folder 2
Returns, 1863.
Box 4 Folder 3
Returns, 1864.
Box 4 Folder 4
Consolidated Reports, 1861.
Box 4 Folder 5
Consolidated Reports, January - May 1862.
Box 4 Folder 6
Consolidated Reports, July - November 1862.
Box 4 Folder 7

Consolidated Reports, April - June 1863.
Box 5 Folder 1
Consolidated Reports, July 1863.
Box 5 Folder 2
Consolidated Reports, August 1863.
Box 5 Folder 3
Consolidated Reports, October 1863.
Box 5 Folder 4
Consolidated Reports, November 1863.
Box 5 Folder 5
Consolidated Reports, January - March 1864.
Box 5 Folder 6
Consolidated Reports, April - August 1864.
Box 5 Folder 7

Orders, Memos, etc., 1861.
Box 6 Folder 1
Orders, Memos, etc., January - July 1862.
Box 6 Folder 2
Orders, Memos, etc., August - December 1862.
Box 6 Folder 3
Orders, Memos, etc., January - August 1863.
Box 6 Folder 4
Orders, Memos, etc., December 1863.
Box 6 Folder 5
Orders, Memos, etc., January - March 1864.
Box 6 Folder 6
Orders, Memos, etc., April - August 1864.
Box 6 Folder 7
Orders, Memos, etc., n.d.
Box 6 Folder 8

Items removed from Volume 1, 1843-1846.
Box 7 Folder 1
Items removed from Volume 2, 1853-1881.
Box 7 Folder 2
Items removed from Volume 3, 1774-1886.
Box 7 Folder 3
Items removed from Volume 4, n.d.
Box 7 Folder 4
Items removed frm Volume 5, 1852 - 1859; n.d.
Box 7 Folder 5
Items removed from Volume 6, 1865-1883.
Box 7 Folder 6
Items removed from Volume 7, 1854 - 1859; n.d.
Box 7 Folder 7

Letters, 1809-1846.
Volume 1
Letters, 1857-1883.
Volume 2
Autographs Volume, 1670-1882 (Broken Series).
Volume 3
Reconstruction Newspaper Clippings.
Volume 4
Scrapbook.
Volume 5
Scrapbook: Invitations, Cards, Notes, etc.
Volume 6
Company Book: Doylestown Guards, July 28, 1849-April 10, 1860.
Volume 7

Print, Suggest