Samuel Davies was born in Newcastle County, Delaware, in 1723; his ancestry Welsh on both sides of his family. His parents were deeply religious people, but in particular, his mother exhibited a fervent faithfulness. Later in life By Davies’ own account he would say, 'I am a son of prayer, like my namesake, Samuel the prophet, and my mother called me Samuel, because, she said, I have asked him of the Lord'.

At the age of fifteen, young Samuel professed publicly of his salvation experience, and of his confidence in the abiding grace and mercy of Jesus Christ his Lord; in that same year that he joined the Presbyterian Church. It was during this early period of his Christian walk, that he began a lifelong practice of reviewing his behavior ‘in all things pertaining unto Godliness’, not sparing his fleshly conduct in his self-judgment. By all accounts, his heart was sensitive, his conscience supple, with spirited emotions.

Young Samuel completed his education, both theological and classical under the Rev Samuel Blair, founder of the famous school “Fagg’s Manor” in Pennsylvania; many prominent ministers studied with Blair. Mr. Davies received his education during the first “Great Awakening”; perhaps the most outstanding revival this nation has known. The talents, the devoutness and the ministerial efficacy of Samuel Blair were of great renown. Years later, Rev. Davies would say of his old mentor in comparison to preachers in Europe, “that there was scarce one of them who exceeded, and most came far short of his old master, the incomparable Mr. Blair, both as to the matter of their discourses, and the impression produced by their delivery.”

In 1746, Samuel Davies was licensed to preach by the Newcastle Presbytery. That same year he married, and early in 1747, he was ordained as an evangelist; his mission was to visit vacant congregations in Virginia. Due to his inexperience, his delicate health, and a fear, that he would somehow dishonor the ministry, Mr. Davies was hesitant to go, but in obedience to Presbytery, he set out.

Upon Samuel’s arrival in Virginia, he first visited the Governor of whom he was favorably received. Then, Rev. Davies was granted the first ever dissenting minister license to preach by the court at Williamsburg. This was the time in Virginia of the Anglican Communion; they were the established Church of the colony. Often, dissenters were harassed greatly for their difference in faith. Yet, clearly it was through the wise and affable behavior of Evangelist Samuel Davies that these permits were initiated. It would be a lifelong battle, but by God's help, he was always able to continue in the ministry God had placed him.

Soon after the young minister returned home from his first missionary journey into Virginia, tragedy struck. His wife and son died in an unexpected manner. The notice of their death was recorded in a brief description in his own Bible beside his wife's name it says, “Sept. 15, 1747, separated by death, and bereaved of an abortive son.”

This heavy grief added to his already weakened constitution, and his friends became concerned about his physical condition. One of his dear friends wrote regarding him: “Finding himself upon the borders of the grave, and without any hopes of a recovery, he determined to spend the little remains of an almost exhausted life, as he apprehended it, in endeavoring to advance his Master's glory in the good of souls; and as he told me — he preached in the day, and had his hectic by night and to such a degree as to be sometimes delirious.”

Samuel Davies was not willing to accept a call to any congregation as a full time pastor, but instead, traveled from one vacant pulpit to another; each congregation received and thought well of his ministering. It was in the spring of 1748, that his health began to improve slowly, but his feelings were that it was only a brief reprieve before going to an early grave.

Among the many pastoral calls that Davies received there was one that stood above the rest, a request from Hanover County, Virginia. Their call was signed by the heads of around 150 families and a single member was selected to deliver the letter personally. Needless to say, Samuel’s heart was moved by the invitation, and although he could have chosen a church much closer to home, he accepted the call to this backwoods area of Virginia. He did not expect to live very long, and it was his intention to prepare the way for the one who might come after him.

Samuel Davies’ courage, faithfulness and determination were well known and his example inspired others.  William Henry Foote wrote, “It is scarcely possible' for a missionary to have gone to Virginia in circumstances better calculated to make an impression in favor of the gospel which he preached. In his domestic afflictions and bodily weakness, Davies felt the sentence of death gone out and already in execution. His soul burned with the desire of usefulness, and his tongue uttered the earnest persuasions of a spirit that would reconcile man to God, and lay some trophies at the Redeemer's feet before his lips should be locked up in the grave. He longed to carry with him to the heavens some gems for the eternal crown. He was indeed the living embodiment of Richard Baxter's admonition, 'To preach as never sure to preach again and as a dying man to dying men'.”

At the beginning, there were five meeting-houses, that growing into seven in six counties. Near the end of his ministering, Samuel Davies was responsible for fourteen Churches, some as many as 30 miles apart. His efforts take on a great significance when we think that his travels were on horseback, a man not well in-body but perseverant in spirit, overcoming his flesh with the Spirit of God. Samuel Davies, never one to miss an opportunity to speak about Christ, would preach and teach the families and their servants, wherever he would stay; every visit along his routes increasing those that heard the Good News of Jesus. Many have said that the great patriot Patrick Henry was greatly influenced by Rev. Davies’ exhortations and his powerful speaking skills, Henry attended the meeting-house where Samuel preached, from his eleventh year through his twenty-second; giving ample time for the fiery sermons and his model of behavior to inculcate, young Mr. Henry.

The Church that was closest to Davies was a structure that was plainly built, this in Hanover County, its seating capacity was 500. When the weather was agreeable, standing room was not enough in that building and the multitudes would gather in the shade, and worship the Lord in those precious open-air meetings. One of the original meeting-houses in which Davies preached stands to this day in Louisa County, Virginia.

His ministering was not confined to Anglos but large numbers of slaves attended his ministry. Over 300 numbered the black congregation that he pastored in the backwoods of Virginia. Not only was Davies active in teaching these slaves the Gospel, but instructing them how to read, and through donations from generous benefactors, supplying books for their further education, as well as providing for their material needs.

In 1759 the College at Princeton called upon Samuel Davies to fill the vacancy of president of the college, left by the death of Jonathan Edwards. Two times he refused the post, but when he was approached on a third occasion by the trustees, he decided to submit the matter to the Presbyterian Synod of New York, the Church’s highest court in the colonies. The Synod’s deliberation was that it would be best for all concerned, for Davies to accept the seat. And that is exactly what Samuel did, becoming the President of Princeton; yet, he would always be the Apostle of Virginia.

Eighteen months later, Davies passed from this world into his Heavenly home, at very young age of 37 years, accomplishing in that short period of time, what some ministers can only claim after some 50 years in service to our Lord. Reverend Samuel Davies was survived by his second wife, Jane Holt, three sons; two daughters; his mother. Not failing to mention the multitudes of spiritual children that he raised up into the fullness of the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Reverend Samuel Davies was a loving husband and father, a caring son, a devout Christian, known as the Apostle of Virginia, a tireless minister, and a Trail-Blazer of the Church.