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Our Ancestor: George Harbo (also DAVIS, below)

Our ancestor George Harbo and his friend Frank Samuelson rowed across the Atlantic in 1896. The pair were aimimng to claim a prize of $10,000 offered by a New York City newspaper. Their crossing record of 55 days stands to this day.

The book Daring The Sea: The True Story of the First Men to Row Across the Atlantic Ocean by David Shaw is the remarkable saga of two men who defied the odds and set a world record. In 1886, two Norwegian immigrants from the New Jersey coast set out to attain their piece of the American Dream by risking their lives to achieve the seemingly impossible. Convinced that they had no bright future as clam diggers supplying the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, they conceived a plan to set a world record by becoming the first men to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Harbo and Samuelson after their journey.

Row, row, row your boat

A little song they never sang on the journey.

To family, friends, and those intimate with the sea, the plan appeared suicidal; but to the two men, George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen, the crossing represented a way out of lives offering little promise. Their hope was to attract worldwide attention and lucrative lecture and exhibition fees if they succeeded.

Daring The Sea chronicles their incredible -- and nearly fatal -- row across the Atlantic in a tiny, eighteen-foot boat with no sail, no steam engine, not even a rudder to aid them as they struggled with storms, a capsize, hunger, relentless fatigue, great mental hardship, and near collisions with ships, whales, and an iceberg. Despite these obstacles, Harbo and Samuelsen rowed the 3,000 miles from New York to England in an amazing fifty-five days. Although there have been numerous attempts to better their times, no team has succeeded, and at least two men have died trying.

Sadly, their dream of fame and fortune eluded them, and for more than one hundred years -- until the publication of this book -- they remained unsung and unknown heroes. Daring The Sea tells their unforgettable story for the first time.

Row, row, row your boat

George Harbo died young, as did his wife Anine. The children were orphaned. The family is pictured here at Harbo's funeral. Our grandmother was about five years old in this photo. She was later adopted by the Malone family of Pittsburgh, and she became Harriet Malone. She married David Dexter Davis.

Below, Davis descendant Seth Goodman and friend Tory pictured in May 2000.

... to visit our current Horton website: Nashville Web Design

Here are some of our Davis ancestors:

  • DAVIS, (Unknown) b: ABT 1585 in (Unknown),,England d: in (Unknown),,England
  • DAVIS, Aaron Young b: 9 JAN 1845 in Mansfield,,Oh d: 5 JAN 1895 in ,,Wi
  • DAVIS, Adaline D. b: ABT 1831 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Adelaide O. b: 9 AUG 1861
  • DAVIS, Albion H. b: ABT 1830 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Alice b: 30 JUL 1710 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, Alice b: BEF 9 OCT 1757 in Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Andrew b: MAY 1650 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Angeletta Matilda b: 13 JAN 1826
  • DAVIS, Ann Mari b: 21 MAR 1825 in Thorndike,Waldo
  • County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Artema b: 23 DEC 1828
  • DAVIS, Augustus Greenleaf b: 8 FEB 1835
  • DAVIS, Brendon
  • DAVIS, Byron Charles b: AFT 1860 in Maine d: ABT 1905
  • DAVIS, Daniel b: 28 SEP 1713 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 22 APR 1799 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Daniel b: 18 OCT 1798 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Daughter
  • DAVIS, David b: 20 OCT 1764 in of Gorham,Cumberland,Maine
  • DAVIS, David Dexter b: 14 JUN 1898 in Brooks,Waldo County,Maine d: 14 FEB 1958
  • DAVIS, Deborah b: JAN 1641 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Ma d: JAN 1736 in Enfield,Hartford,Conn
  • DAVIS, Dolly Marie
  • DAVIS, Dorcas b: ABT 1901 in Brooks,Me d: in La Guna Beach,Ca
  • DAVIS, Eben b: 15 FEB 1829 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Ebenezer b: 1765 in Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Ebenezer b: 22 FEB 1802 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Edmund Hall b: 9 AUG 1823 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine d: 1879
  • DAVIS, Edmund Hall b: ABT 1896
  • DAVIS, Edward b: BEF 9 OCT 1757 in Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Elijah b: BEF 9 OCT 1757 in Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 5 OCT 1783
  • DAVIS, Elijah b: ABT 1790 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Elijah b: 5 AUG 1800 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine d: in Jay,Maine
  • DAVIS, Elizabeth b: 6 JUL 1764 in Gorham,Maine
  • DAVIS, Elizabeth b: 14 APR 1777
  • DAVIS, Elizabeth Mansur b: 1938
  • DAVIS, Elizabeth S b: 28 NOV 1848 d: 4 SEP 1873 in Kansas
  • DAVIS, Emily b: 21 APR 1827 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Eunice b: 6 AUG 1825
  • DAVIS, Fouch b: 27 AUG 1693 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, Gershom b: 30 NOV 1758 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Gershon b: 5 SEP 1702 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma d: 6 MAY 1790 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Gideon b: 8 FEB 1775 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Gorham b: 23 MAR 1806 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Gwendolyn "Wendy" b: 1945
  • DAVIS, Hannah b: SEP 1658 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Hannah b: 5 MAR 1705 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 13 OCT 1755 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Hannah b: 23 JAN 1758 in
  • DAVIS, Harriet b: 12 NOV 1802 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Infant Ebenezer b: 1760 in Barnstable,Massachusetts d: ABT 1763 in Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Isaac b: 27 MAR 1762 in Gorham,Maine d: 20 JUN 1839
  • DAVIS, Jacob O. d: in Indiana
  • DAVIS, James b: 30 JUL 1700 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 6 OCT 1745 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, James Perry b: 21 FEB 1825
  • DAVIS, Janet b: 1934
  • DAVIS, Joanna b: 28 JAN 1706 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, Joel R. b: 6 NOV 1839
  • DAVIS, John b: 1 MAR 1652 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, John Colby b: NOV 1812 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, John William b: 6 JUL 1833
  • DAVIS, Jonathan b: 10 JUL 1770 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine d: 15 MAR 1852 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Jonathan b: 3 OCT 1841
  • DAVIS, Joseph b: 1664 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma d: 10 AUG 1735 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Joseph b: 1668 in
  • DAVIS, Joseph b: 23 MAR 1698 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Ma DAVIS, Joseph b: 9 AUG 1769 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Joseph b: 12 OCT 1817 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Joseph Hinds b: 22 JAN 1831
  • DAVIS, Joshua b: ABT 1735 in
  • DAVIS, Joshua b: 1 MAR 1760 in
  • DAVIS, Josiah b: ABT 1650
  • DAVIS, Josiah b: SEP 1656 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 1709
  • DAVIS, Keith b: 10 FEB 1918 d: 1987 in Bartlesville,Ok.
  • DAVIS, Lewis b: 22 SEP 1797 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Lewis b: ABT 1799 in
  • DAVIS, Lewis Gorham b: ABT 1833 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Lydia b: 12 FEB 1709 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma d: 30 DEC 1763
  • DAVIS, Mansur b: ABT 1891 in Brooks,Maine
  • DAVIS, Margaret Louisa b: 31 AUG 1843
  • DAVIS, Margaret Mae b: 1875 in d: 1938 in Canoga Park,La,Ca
  • DAVIS, Martha Abigail b: 18 SEP 1835
  • DAVIS, Mary b: 28 MAY 1648 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Mary b: 4 JUN 1707 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 25 FEB 1782 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Mary b: 1763 in Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Mary A. b: 5 JUN 1860
  • DAVIS, Mary Ann b: 25 JUL 1808 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Mary Frances b: 14 NOV 1845
  • DAVIS, Mehitable b: 20 SEP 1767 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Mercy b: 1662/1664 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Nellie
  • DAVIS, Olive J. b: ABT 1832 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Patricia Whitfield b: 1931
  • DAVIS, Prince b: 1724 in Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 17 SEP 1819
  • DAVIS, Prince b: ABT 1767 in Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 8 JAN 1853 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Prince b: ABT 1819 in
  • DAVIS, Prudence b: BEF 9 OCT 1757 in Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Rachel b: 6 NOV 1803 in North Carolina d: MAR 1876 in Iowa
  • DAVIS, Rebecca b: 15 JUL 1766
  • DAVIS, Robert b: 1608 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 14 APR 1688 in Barnstable,Brnstb,Mass
  • DAVIS, Robert b: ABT 1628 in of Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma d: 1693 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Ma DAVIS, Robert b: AUG 1654 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Robert b: 7 MAR 1696 in Yarmouth,Barnstable,Ma d: 1 JUN 1765
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 13 SEP 1734 in Barnstable,Barnstable,Massachusetts d: 18 JAN 1789 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 11 JUN 1762 in Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 25 APR 1780 in Haverford,Chester,Pennsylvania
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 22 SEP 1797 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: ABT 1798 in Kennebunk Port,York,Maine d: in Kennebunk Port?,York,Maine
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 20 FEB 1815 in Richland,Fayette County,Ohio d: 30 JUL 1864
  • DAVIS, Samuel b: 3 FEB 1822 in Thorndike,Waldo County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Sarah b: 25 OCT 1656 in Eastham,Barnstable,Mass d: DECEASED in Eastham,Barnstable,Ma,?
  • DAVIS, Sarah b: 6 NOV 1692 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, Sarah b: 3 JAN 1762 in Gorham,Maine
  • DAVIS, Sarah b: 17 SEP 1781 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Sarah b: JUN 1815 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Sarah Malinda b: 3 DEC 1837
  • DAVIS, Sewall b: 4 DEC 1804
  • DAVIS, Sheldon T
  • DAVIS, Son b: ABT 1890 in Brooks,Maine
  • DAVIS, Stephen b: ABT 1685 DAVIS, Stephen b: 30 JUN 1797 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Susan Elizabeth b: 1 FEB 1840
  • DAVIS, Tacy Arabella b: 17 AUG 1859 in Blackhawk,Sauk County,Wisconsin d: 14 DEC 1952 in Glendale,California
  • DAVIS, Temperance b: 11 NOV 1759 in Barnstable,Ma
  • DAVIS, Thomas b: 4 MAY 1698 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, Thomas b: 10 MAY 1768 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Timothy b: 18 OCT 1772 in Gorham,Cumberland County,Maine
  • DAVIS, Tristram b: ABT 1663 in
  • DAVIS, William
  • DAVIS, William b: ABT 1670 in of,St Stephen P,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, William b: 17 JAN 1690 in St Stephens Pari,Cecil,Md
  • DAVIS, William b: BEF 1760
  • DAVIS, William b: 9 JUN 1771 in Barnstable,Massachusetts
  • DAVIS, William b: 1806
  • DAVIS, William Patton b: ABT 1848
  • DAVIS, Wilson b: 25 NOV 1843
  • DAVIS, Wm. Patton b: ABT 1848
  • DAVIS, Zerilda Jane b: 12 AUG 1823