52 Ancestors: #10, Capt. Benjamin Thomas Davis

In January 1850, Benjamin and Mary J. are a young newly married couple, without any children, trying to eke out a living farming the land. By 1860, Census records indicates that Benjamin and Mary J. are still childless.^{1 2} 

In early 1861 with threat of all out war on the horizon Benjamin Thomas Davis formed what was known as the “Capt. B. T. Davis’ Company, South Carolina Volunteers”.³
 
As the company was integrated with other companies it was designated the 21st SC Volunteers, Infantry. Capt. Davis was 33 years of age in 1861 when he formed this company. 

The 21st Regiment reported heavy casualties in May 1864, in front of Petersburg, at Drewery’s Bluff and the Battle for Bermuda Hundred. 

On 28 May 1863, Capt. Benjamin Thomas Davis was killed in action (KIA) while fighting at Bermuda Hundred. He was 36 years old at the time of his death. ⁴
 

Capt. Benjamin Thomas Davis is buried at Ft. Stevens, Virginia, A “Cenotaph” was erected in his memory in his home county and can be viewed here. ⁵
 
It is not known what happen to Capt. Davis’ young wife, Mary Jane Knight. If you have any information on Benjamin or Mary Jane Knight please contact me here.  

Benjamin Thomas Davis is my 1st cousin 4 times removed. He set a proud tradition of military service and sacrifice. 


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[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 178A, Line 6, Dwelling 1218, Family 1218, Household of Benjamin F. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 March 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 139A, Line 2, Dwelling 636, Family 635, Household of B. T. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 March 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653-1217.
[3] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 15 May 2012), entry for B. Thomas Davis, Capt.; Co. "E'. 21st SCV; Confederate.
[4] Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: Univ of South Carolina, 1997), page 87.
[5] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 15 May 2012); Headstone for B. Thomas "Tom" Davis; (); Records of the Chesterfield Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.