Davis, Jonathan
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Davis, Jonathan
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Reverend Jonathan Davis was the pastor for multiple churches in Fairfield, former vice president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, president of the Furman Board of Trustees, and owner of enslaved people.
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Jonathan Davis was the only son of Captain James and Mary Ederington Davis, born August 16, 1786. He became a Baptist preacher around 1835 and served multiple churches in the Fairfield District. Davis was pivotal in finding and acquiring land for the Furman Theological Institute in the Fairfield District, and was elected president of the first Board of Trustees in 1835. He resigned in 1842 due to financial problems. Davis served as vice president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention for 10 years. Davis was a wealthy planter and owner of enslaved persons. He lost his estate in 1846 as a result of incurring debts while acting as security for his sons, Dr. James B. Davis and William K. Davis. Davis married Rebecca Kincaid (1787–1870) on January 22, 1807 and they had eleven children, nine that survived to adulthood. Jonathan would die of old age on October 5th, 1855.
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16 August 1786
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5 October 1855
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