Son of Osborne Jeffreys, who came to what is now Franklin County about 1760, from the Northampton County area (source: NPS National Register Nomination Form for Portridge, Louisburg, North Carolina).

David Jeffreys married Barberry Bell, bond date June 3, 1779, in Wake County, North Carolina. Bondsman was John Hunt and witness Paul Jeffreys.

Historical research on the Portridge Plantation house, with an estimated construction date of 1780, "strongly suggests that Portridge was built for David Jeffreys" about the time he married Barbara Bell. The Jeffreys appear to have lived in Portridge until his father died in 1793, when David moved into his father's manor house (source: NPS NR nomination for Portridge).

David Jeffreys is listed in Franklin County, North Carolina, in the 1790 federal census:
1 free white male 16 and over
3 free white males under 16
5 free white females
35 slaves
44 total household members

David Jeffreys, Franklin County, North Carolina, wrote his will on September 21, 1794. He directed his executors to sell all his land on Roanoke River in Northampton County to pay off all debts which he owed, allowing his brother Simon Jeffreys refusal. He named his wife Barbara Jeffreys, giving her 5 Negroes (all named) along with their increase, 640 acres on Davis's Creek, and other items. He named his 5 daughters, all underage and unmarried. He gave to daughter Ann Jeffreys 9 Negroes, 640 acres on Ceder Creek, near the lower end of his land near the plantation called The Purchase. He gave daughter Sarah Jeffreys 9 Negroes, 640 acres adjoining lands of Jeremiah Perry. He gave daughter Elizabeth Jeffreys 9 Negroes, and 640 acres adjoining land given to daughter Ann. He have daughter Huksey Jeffreys 9 Negroes, and 640 acres including the Portridge Plantation, adjoining the lands of his daughters Ann and Elizabeth. He gave daughter Martha Jeffreys 9 Negroes, and 640 acres of land. He also gave to his nephew Osborne Jeffreys of Person County, when he came of full age, 640 acres of land, including the plantation on which David Jeffreys lived.

By 1796, his widow Barbara Jeffreys was married to William Bowers. John Hunt, executor of David's will, stated that he had removed the 5 daughters from Barbara and was keeping them at his own house "to preserve the morals of his wards" because Barbara had "set many evil examples". He said William Bowers had committed much waste on the plantation so the property had not paid its own way.

To be Rented,
FOR ONE YEAR,
THE PLANTATION whereon David Jeffreys Dec. late of Franklin county lived. The dwelling House is sufficiently large for the convenient accommodation of a family—There are all other necessary out Houses; and land cleared sufficient to work twenty hands to advantage.—For terms apply to
J. HUNT, Guardian,
for Patsey Jeffreys.
—Minerva, or Anti-Jacobin, weekly newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina), Monday, December 26, 1803, p. 3.

In December court 1805, Nancy (wife of Fanning Jones), Sally (wife of William Green), Hicksey (wife of James Jones), Betsey (wife of Furnifold Green), and Patsey Jeffreys, a minor, were named as the daughters of David Jeffreys. David's widow, Barbara Jeffreys, who had married William Bowers, was by then deceased. Because their father's will was unsigned, it was declared invalid in 1806, with each daughter receiving the land named for her in the will, plus portions of remaining land. Hicksey received not only the Portridge tract but also the land containing Osborn Jeffreys' manor house; this combined property became known as Portridge.

In a deposition dated September 1846, Tilman Patterson, age 86, stated he knew David Jeffreys, son of Osborn Jeffreys, from 1774 until he died. He said David had no male child, David's land came from his father Osborn, that David lived at Portridge, and he died before 1800. Also, his father Osborn lived and died on the land he gave to son David.

NOTE: Place of burial not known at this time. Please advise if you know his definite place of burial.