Carroll Washington Davis - Double Tragedy in February 1863

Carroll Washington Davis is my 1^st Cousin 4 times removed and his wives are also my 1^st Cousin 4 times removed. Carroll married sisters; Elizabeth and Mary B. Boatwright. They were the daughters of Lewis Boatwright and Elizabeth Rebecca Davis.  

Carroll Washington Davis was born on 20 Jun 1821 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He appeared in the census in 1850 – 1860 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States.[1] [2] Carroll served in the military Civil War in 1861–1865. He died in Feb 1863 at the age of 41 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was buried on 28 Feb 1863 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States

Carroll Washington Davis and Elizabeth Boatwright were married on 17 Feb 1846 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Elizabeth Boatwright, daughter of Lewis Boatwright and Elizabeth Rebecca Davis, was born on 2 May 1820 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.[3] She died on 15 Dec 1853 at the age of 33 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Carroll Washington Davis and Elizabeth Boatwright had the following children:

                      i.   William Benjamin Davis, born 1 Feb 1847, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

                     ii.   Elizabeth Julia Davis, born 28 Mar 1848, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

                    iii.   George Richard Davis, born 1 Mar 1851, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Carroll Washington Davis and Mary B. Boatwright were married on 10 Aug 1854 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Mary B. Boatwright, daughter of Lewis Boatwright and Elizabeth Rebecca Davis, was born in 1832 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. [4] [5] She died on 22 Feb 1863 at the age of 31 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Carroll Washington Davis and Mary B. Boatwright had the following children:

                      i.   Catherine Jane Davis, born 1855, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                     ii.   Lewis Boatwright Davis, born 30 Jun 1857, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                    iii.   Margaret Elizabeth Davis, born 28 Mar 1860, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina..

                    iv.   Mary Eliza Davis, born 22 Feb 1863, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

When Carroll first wife, Elizabeth Boatwright Davis, died on 15 December 1853 it left him in very dire position. As a farmer, he had tasks that must be done on the farm. As a Father he had three (3) children to care for, two boys and a girl, ranging in age from 2 to six years old.  They couldn’t be left alone.

On 10 August 1854, Carroll married his wife’s sister, Mary B. Boatwright.  During the next 9 years Carroll and Mary had four children of their own, three daughters and a son, plus his three (3) children from the first marriage.

Probate and census records indicate a double tragedy occurred in this family in February 1863. Both Carroll and his Wife Mary died in February of 1863. I don’t know which died first; Carroll Washington memorial at findagrave.com shows a death date of 6 Feb. 1863. [6] He did in fact die in February 1863 but the exact date is not listed in his probate record.

 

The first line reads: "Sheweth that C. W. Davis late of said county departed this life about the      day of February 1863, having …"

We can see from this document that he died in February 1863 but the exact date is not mentioned. He had a large estate at the time of his death. The initial administrator David R. DAVIS died (8 Jan 1892) while the estate was in probate and probate was reassigned to Louis B. DAVIS and continued until the 1890's. His entire estate consists of 135 documents.

Then on 22 February 1863, another tragedy occurred, Mary Boatwright Davis died from childbirth of her daughter Mary Eliza Davis, b. 22 February 1863.

Contained within the estate file (#66) is this document.[7]

South Carolina}

Chesterfield District}   Personally came Sarah Ann Freeman before me and made oath that soon after the death of Ms Mary Davis wife of C. W. Davis she this despondent  was requested to take charge of an infant child (a daughter) of said Mary Davis then named Mary Eliza, then about two weeks old despondent consented to do so and on taking the said child in her charge found it in a very critical state of health and filled with sores, but by careful treatment and nursing it recovered and is still alive – despondent took charge of the infant on the 6^th day of March 1863 and carefully attended to it finding clothing &c until the 1^st day of March 1865, during which time she was put to considerable trouble and bestowed all necessary care and attention to the said infant to secure her health and comfort.  

Sworn before me                                                        her

March 30^th, 1867                                        Sarah Ann X Freeman

                                                                                    mark

The Sarah Ann Freeman here is most likely Sarah Ann Davis, wife of Jesse Freeman. David R. Davis the administrator of the estate died 8 Jan 1892. On April 4^th 1892, Louis B. Davis brothers to Carol W. and David R. Davis was appointed the administrator

Legal heirs to the estate as named in probate were:[8]

Wm. B. Davis, Jr.; T. B. Teal and wife Elizabeth J. Teal; George R. Davis; Catherine J. Davis; Lewis B. Davis; Marg. E. Davis and Mary Eliza Davis all legal heirs.  

If you are a direct descendant of this line and have oral history on the death of Carroll and Mary, please e-mail me.

 

         

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[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 179B; Line 12, Dwelling 1241, Family 1241, Household of Carroll W. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

[2] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 125B; Line 6, Dwelling 448, Family 447, Household of C. W. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

[3] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 179B; Line 12, Dwelling 1241, Family 1241, Household of Carroll W. DAVIS.

[4] 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 177B, Line 31, Dwelling 1214, Family 1214, Household of  Lewis BOATWRIGHT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 November 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

[5] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 125B; Line 6, Dwelling 448, Family 447, Household of C. W. DAVIS.

[6] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Family Search, "C. W. Davis, Probate File #66," images 23-158.

[7] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Family Search, "C. W. Davis, Probate File #66," images 23-158.

[8] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Family Search, "C. W. Davis, Probate File #66," images 23-158.