Henry Davison was born into Freshford`s wealthiest family in the year 1580.The family had grown rich as clothiers and owned most of the village. The family was large with 11 offspring recorded in the fathers will. Henry`s brother John was to destined to become a succesfull clothier as well and lived nearby at what is today,"Grove House" in Station road. This seperate branch of the Davisons often referred to as Davisson has taken some time to sort out and if you click on their family tree in the panel at the side there is seperate page on their lives.
Henry`s family resided at "Pittes Place" in a large house that faced on to Freshford Street next to the church. An interesting document has survived in the "Methuens Archive" showing the father giving to his son his "Mansion House"in 1603. He was to die the following year and three years later his 26 year old heir was to marry Anne Chiver. The Chivers were also wealthy Clothers from Quemersford near Calne.The couple are known to have had a son -Joseph, and 2 daughters -Jane & Elizabeth.Their son Joseph was born in 1628 and was to succeed his father in occupation of Pittes Place". Henry is shown to have continued to purchase more land in Freshford culminating in his purchase of Freshford Mill from the Langfords of Trowbridge in 1612.His eldest daughter- Elizabeth marries John Ashe from Batcombe in 1621. From then on Henry is shown as either giving,or selling to his son in law all his lands and property. By 1647 he has even sold his house- "Pittes Place" to John and both him and his son are recorded as renting their property.He was to live to the good age of 78 and his wife ann lived on until 1670. The HearthTax of 1664 details the house as having 7 hearths, with only John Ashes house at Freshford Mill being larger.
Henry Davison`s younger daughter Jane marries another wealthy Clothier - John Curl who has property in Bradford, Turleigh and Freshford. Their house is detailed in old documents and seems likely to have been the bilding now called the Inn.