It’s Family Time~The William and Priscilla (Bryant) Davis

William Davis was born 1809 in South Carolina, a son of Samuel Davis and Lucinda Munsey Davis. This was a highly mobile family for the times and thus is a works-in-progress. About 1818-1819,  Samuel relocated his family from South Carolina to Tennessee, arriving first in Warren County. Between 1818 and 1835, Samuel lived in Warren, Dickson, Madison, Davidson and back to finally settling in Warren County. 

Sometime between 1835 and 1840, William married Priscilla Bryant. Where this marriage took place is unknown. There is a report that William migrated to Jackson County, Alabama about 1835 and it may have taken place within the State of Alabama. No record of the marriage in Jackson County can be found with records available on-line. 

William and Priscilla's first born child, a daughter they call Nancy, arrived in 1840 suggesting a marriage about or before 1839. The couples would have a total of six children before William Davis’s untimely death in the early 1860”s.  

The Children of William and Priscilla (Bryant) Davis are:

i. Nancy A. Davis was born about 1840 in Alabama, United States.

ii. Lucinda A. Davis was born about 1842.

iii. Sophia Davis was born about 1844.

iv. Sarah J. Davis was born after 1847.

v. William W. Davis was born about 1851.  

2 vi. Alabama Davis, born 29 Apr 1859, Mississippi; married Henry Lyons Hall Sr., 1879; died 24 Jan 1918, Mexia, Limestone, Texas.

William Davis wrote his Last Will and Testament on 28 March 1861. Probate record for Atalla County, Mississippi shows that William Davis died before 17 May 1861. I believe he died on 5 April 1861 and here is how I arrived at that date. There is a very old, broken tombstone for a William Davis, b. 13 Oct 1809. This tombstone  shows his age to be 51 y 5 m 23 d.

You can view the tombstone here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14388189/unknown-davis

That's 51 years, 5 months and 23 days. This tombstone shows he was born 13 October 1809. A 5 April 1861 death date would be 51 years, 5 months and 23 days. This date is also compatible with him having written his Will on 28 March 1861, making this date to be 10 days before his death.  

His Probate Files shows that the Administrative Bond on the William Davis Estate was Executed 17 May 1861.

There were 3 William Davis’ in Atalla County in 1861 but only one of those William Davis was born in 1809.

If you have any information on this family please contact me thru this blog.  

William Davis is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed. 

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1. 1850 U. S. Census, Pickens County, Alabama, population schedule, Southern District, Pickens, Alabama, Page 49A(Stamped), Lines 42+1-5, Dwelling #560; Family #582, Household of William DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm M432.

2. 1860 U. S. Census, Attala County, Mississippi, population schedule, Township 13 Range 6, Attala, Mississippi, ; Page 217/477 (Penciled), Lines 6-13, Dwelling #1564; Family #1492, Household of Wm. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2020); citing NARA publication Roll: M653.

3. Attala County Chancery Court, MS, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates, Volume B:: page 354-356, Images 198, 199, 200, William Davis; LDS FHL Film#1953994.

4. Attala County Chancery Court, MS, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates Volume C: 45: page 355, Images 714.

5. Attala County Chancery Court, MS, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates Bonds and Letters of Administrators, Executors, Guardians, 1858-1895: page 235, Images 160.

6. Attala County Chancery Court, MS, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates Volume C: 45: page 45, Images 714.

7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 June 2020); Memorial page for William Davis; (1809–1 May 1861); Find a Grave memorial # 48067565, Citing Yockanookany Baptist Church Cemetery; McVille, Attala County, Mississippi, USA.