For years, it has been reported that the Wife of Jonathan Daniel Davis is Sarah (Barnes or Rivers). This most likely started with the publication of a book by Harry Alexander Davis in 1927 entitled "The Davis family (Davies and David) in Wales and America : genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania."[1]
Jonathan Daniel Davis was born about 1800, the sixth child of Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers. His son, Jonathan Daniel Davis, Jr. was born about 1819; thus, it is believed that Jonathan Senior married about 1818 at the age of 18. He and his wife had 4 additional children, two sons and two daughters between 1820 and 1830. Their last born a son, died as an infant in 1830.
Jonathan Daniel, Senior is believed to have died in 1839. There is an 1839 Election Census[2] for Chesterfield County in which Jonathan is listed showing 7 individual in his household. This would indicate that along with him and his wife that 5 additional family members were in the household, most likely their children.
Jonathan Daniel Davis was born about 1800 in Cheraw District, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He died abt 1839 at the age of 39 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
Jonathan Daniel Davis and Sarah LNU were married about 1818 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Sarah LNU was born in 1795 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She appeared in the census in 1830, 1850 -1870 Census for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died after 1870 at the age of 75.
Jonathan Daniel Davis and Sarah LNU had the following children:
ii. Jonathan Daniel Davis, born 1819, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
iii. Robert Richard "Ricks" Davis, born 1821, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Sarah Rivers, abt 1836, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
iv. Jerusha Davis, born 1823, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married William McBride, abt 1840, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
v. Elisha Davis, born 1824, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Elizabeth Knight, abt 1850, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died aft 1870, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
In February 1837, the following article appeared in the "Cheraw Gazette" a local newspaper.[3]
SOUTH CAROLINA
Chesterfield District
Mary Parker, Applicant,
VS
Wm.Parker, Jonathan Davis and wife Elizabeth, Jesse Parker, T. Parker, George Parker, Lewis Parker, Elizabeth Parker, Joseph Parker & Phoeba Parker, Defendants
It appearing to my satisfaction that Jesse Parker one of the Defendants, resides without the State, it is therefore ordered, that he appear and object to the division or sale of the Real Estate of George Parker, deceased, on or before the 28th day of March next, or his consent will be entered on record.
TURNER BRYAN, O.C.D.
Jan. 23, 1837
[Reference- CHERAW GAZETTE, 14 February 1837]
The Court Case clearly shows that the Wife of Jonathan Davis is Elizabeth and suggests that she is a PARKER. The 1850 census, listed herein, shows that Jonathan Daniel Jr., age 32, is still single in 1850. Clearly the newspaper article is referring to Jonathan Davis, Sr. There are no other Jonathan Davis in Chesterfield during this time period.
Census for the years 1850-1870 shows Sarah with her Family and without a husband present. In 1850 we have:[4]
Sarah DAVIS, Female, age 55, born in SC;
Daniel DAVIS, Male, age 32, born in SC;
Elisha DAVIS, Male, age 29, born in SC;
Jerusha [Davis] McBRIDE, Female, age 27, born in SC;
Jane McBRIDE, Female, age 9, born in SC;
Elizabeth McBRIDE, Female, age 7, born in SC;
James McBRIDE, Male, age 5, born in SC;
Jerusha McBRIDE, Female, age 3, born in SC and
Archibald McBRIDE, Male, age 3, born in SC.
In 1860 Census[5], Sarah is listed as age 60 and living with her daughter Jerusha McBride. In 1870[6], Sarah is living alone and her age is listed as 84; next door is her son, Elisha Davis.
The US Population census, the 1839 Election census and the one newspaper article are the only documents known to exist that mentions Jonathan and/or his wife.
Sadly, we may never know the full name of Sarah the wife of Jonathan Daniel Davis. There are not enough extant records to fill in these gaps. I think it quite possible that Sarah in the census and Elizabeth in the newspaper is the same person and her name was Sarah Elizabeth Parker. But without documentation this is just pure speculation (guesswork) on my part and that just does not meet the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS).
I welcome your comments and feedback on this posting. Feel free to send me an E-Mail.
[1] Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis family (Davies and David) in Wales and America : genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: Lancaster Press Inc, 1927; reprint, Lancaster, PA: n.p., n.d.), page 124.
[2] 1839 Election Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Compiled and Indexed by Marie Gulledge Wiggins, Census taken by Hugh Craig in July 1839, 16 pages, listing 5,413 inhabitants; Sworn to before me July 29th 1839, J. C. Craig; signed Hugh Craig.
[3] "Division or Sale of Real Estate of George Parker", Cheraw Gazette (Cheraw, South Carolina), 14 February 1837, page 4, col 4.
[4] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 180B, Line 38, Dwelling 162, Family 1262, Household of Sarah DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[5] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 129A; Line 19, Dwelling 498; Family 497, Household of Sarah DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[6] 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 288A; Line 10,, Dwelling 2, Family 2, Household of Sar[ah] Davis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 10 April 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.
No comments:
Post a Comment