Was Nancy Davis wife of James Ross married Previously

Was Nancy J. Davis, born 25 June 1844, daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers previously married before her marriage to James Ross at age 26?

Harry Alexander Davis in his book "The Davis Family in Wales and America" made the following statement: "Nancy J. b 1845 md 1865 David Richard son of Eliza Davis and Benjamin Teal, 1st cousins: had 2 children in 1870. Page 222." 

Minnie Sanders Rivers in her genealogy of the Rivers Family written in 1927 made this statement in her handwritten booklet:

65. Nancy; b. June 25, 1844; d. Nov 5, 1918; m(1) Geo. Parker. Had 1 son_______, d. young. M(2) July 17, 1870 James Ross; b. abt 1850.

These two statements are not entirely TRUE. But, it does suggest that Nancy Davis born June 25,  1844 was married twice.

Both of these authors are talking about the same person and they each reached a different conclusion and they both are WRONG. Mrs. Rivers is closer to what I believe the truth is. 

Do keep in mind that even though Nancy had died in 1918; James Ross was still living in 1927 when Mrs Rivers published her genealogy booklet.

There is only one known husband for Nancy and that was James Ross and they had no children. But, based on research I have done, there is circumstantial evidence that she was married twice and that her first husband was James K. Parker.

There are two PARKER'S listed in the 1860 Census with wives named NANCY. George A. PARKER, age 24 and his wife Nancy PARKER, age 27 and James K. PARKER, age 23 and his wife Nancy PARKER, age 16.
While the above statement is not entirely true, I believe it does have merit and is partially correct. Based on my research, I believe the 16-year of wife of James K. PARKER was in fact Nancy J. DAVIS PARKER, b. 25 June 1844.

David Richard son of Eliza Davis and Benjamin Teal, did in fact married Nancy J. Davis. The Nancy J. Davis that he married was born 17 March 1839 and was the daughter of John Calvin Davis and Charlotte Hurst. John Calvin is the uncle of Nancy J. Davis, b. 25 Jun 1844 to Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers.

Nancy J. Davis, b. 25 Jun 1844 is believed to have married James K. Parker who died in 1862 in the Civil War and after the War; she married James Ross abt 1870. No source has been found, as of today, for the exact married of July 17, 1870 to James Ross.

First, there is the 1850 & 1860 Census for Michael Davis & Hulda Rivers, parents of Nancy J. Davis, born 25 June 1844.

1850 CENSUS: Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M432_851; Image: 363; Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240. Michael DAVIS, age 43, Farmer, born in SC; Huldy DAVIS, Wife, age 33, born SC; William A. DAVIS, Son, age 15, born SC; Sarah A. DAVIS, Daughter, age 11, born SC; Elizabeth DAVIS, Daughter, age 9, born in SC; Thomas F. DAVIS, Son, age 8, born SC; Nancy DAVIS, Daughter, age 5, born in SC; Charley W. DAVIS, Son, age 3, born SC and Elisha B. DAVIS, Son, age 1, born SC;  Film #0444814.

Nancy, who is only 5 is at home with her parents.

1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217; Image: 191; Family History Library Film: 805217; Page 94, Line 1, Dwelling/Family 1/1. Michael DAVIS, Farmer, age 54, born SC; Hulda DAVIS, Wife, age 45, born SC; William DAVIS, Son, age 26, born SC; Sarah DAVIS, Daughter, age 21, born SC; Thomas DAVIS, Son, age 20, born SC; Charles DAVIS, Son, age 18, born SC; Elisha DAVIS, Son, age 12, born SC; Jane DAVIS, Daughter, age 10, born SC; Mary Eliza DAVIS, Daughter, age 07, born SC. Film #0805217. Living with Michael & Hulda is Mary DAVIS, age 50 [Michael's sister].

In 1860, Nancy J. Davis would have been approximately 16 years old. She is not in the household of her parents, thus giving some credence to the suggestion that she has married.

Next we have the 1860 Census for James K. Parker

1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217;Image: 254; Family History Library Film: 805217, Page: 125; Line14, Dwelling 449, Family 448; Jas. K. PARKER, age 23, Laborer, born in SC; Nancy PARKER, age 16, born in SC and Elizabeth BRITT, age 20 Born in SC.

We can see here that his wife, Nancy Parker, age 16 matches the exact age of Michael & Hulda Davis daughter Nancy J. Davis.

James K. PARKER, age 23, enlisted into the Civil war on 21 December 1861 at Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was a Private in Co. E. 21st SC Volunteers, Infantry. He died 14 April 1862 at Georgetown, SC.

Nancy J. Davis Ross obituary makes no reference to any husband other than James Ross.

Obituary - Mrs. James Ross, The Chesterfield Advertiser, November 7, 1918, page 1, col. 3: Mrs. James Ross died at her home on Green Street last Tuesday morning at 6:30 o'clock after a long illness, which she had borne with Christian resignation. Mrs. Ross had attained the age of 75 years and had been a life long member of Zoar church. Before her marriage she was Miss Nancy Davis, and was raised in the Zoar section. She is survived by her husband and a large family connection. The body was laid to rest in the Zoar cemetery Wednesday afternoon. Many beautiful floral tributes attested the love and esteem in which this good woman was held by her friends.[SOURCE: James C. Pigg, "Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926, Chesterfield County, SC" (Tega Cay, SC, Self-published, 2001].

Was Nancy J. Davis daughter of Michael and Hulda Rivers married twice; First to James K. Parker and after his death to James Ross.

If you have any information on Nancy J. Davis, born 25 June 1844; died 5 Nov 1918; please contact me by e-mail.



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[1]  Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1927), page 222.
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[3] ] James C. Pigg, "Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926, Chesterfield County, SC" (Tega Cay, SC, Self-published, 2001. Mrs. James Ross obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 November 1918, page 1, col. 3:.