Which Mary Ann is the Daughter of Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port?

Which of these two Mary Ann Davis is the real daughter of Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port?

Mary Ann Davis #1
Mary Ann was born abt 1762, the 10^th child of Benjamin Davis, Sr. and Rachel Port.

If you believe on-line trees and FindAGrave data Mary Ann Davis, was married 3 times and had children simultaneously in both Alabama and Georgia.

In 1784, at age 22, Mary Ann married a young man named Robert Commander Dunnam. Their marriage date (1784) is based upon the birth of their firstborn child, a son, Robert Commander Dunnam, Jr. born abt 1787 in Wilcox County, Alabama.

In his Book the David/Davis Family of Wales and America, Harry Alexander Davis had this to say about Mary Ann.

“Mary Ann married about 1784 Robert Dunham, born Marion Dist., S. C. 1760-1. He witnessed the will of Benjamin Davis, his brother-in-law, in 1802. He sold his land to Francis H. Whaley according to a deed dated 21 Dec. 1810. He migrated to Miss. Territory and located in Baldwin Co., later Alabama. He dated his will 9 Feb. 1812, Baldwin Co., Miss. Ter. This will was proven in open court 9 Feb. 1813.” {The Davis Book, page 111}

Attached is a snippet of the signature that also shows that Benjamin‘s sister Ann Davis wife of Robert Dunnam signed as a witness to her brother’s Will.

On the WikiTree website we have the following comments.

“Robert Commander Dunnam, Sr., the son of Robert Dunnam and Susan Burn(e) migrated through Georgia, with his wife Mary Ann (Davis) where he settled in Baldwin District, Mississippi Territory, with his family. He probably made more than one trip from South Carolina to Baldwin County, for there are several land transactions in which he sold his property in Marion District, South Carolina.
In Baldwin County, Robert Commander Dunnam, Sr. wrote his will in which he lists all his children and names his "Trusty Friend", Samuel Ervin, as one of his Executors, along with his wife Ann; son, Robert Commander Dunnam, Jr.; and William Godfrey.”

Robert Dunnam and Mary Ann Davis had the following children:

i. Robert Commander Dunnam was born about 1787 in Wilcox County, Alabama.
ii. Margaret Ann Dunnam was born in 1788.
iii. Frances Dunnam was born in 1790.
iv. Hannah Dunnam was born in 1794.
v. Ebenezer James Dunnam was born in 1796.
vi. Andrew Johnson Dunnam was born in 1798.
vii. Collins Woodberry Dunnam was born in 1803.
viii. Elizabeth Mary Dunnam was born in 1806.
ix. William Davis Dunnam was born in 1818.
Robert Commander Dunnam, Sr. left his Will and died in 1813.

After the death of Robert Commander Dunnam, Sr. in 1813; Mary Ann married Thomas Watson on 18 November 1817, Baldwin County Alabama.

Mary Ann Davis #2

A Georgia FindAGrave memorial list another Mary Ann Davis as the Daughter of Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port. This Mary Ann Davis is the wife of William Whiddom.

William Whiddon and Mary Ann Davis had the following children:

i. Eli Whiddon, b. Aug 17, 1774, Nash Co, NC; d. July 07, 1834, Decatur Co, GA; m. Ludicia Unknown
ii. Mary Polly Whiddon, b. 1781, SC.
iii. Dempsey Whiddon, Sr, b. March 08, 1782, Nash Co, NC; d. Feb 18, 1828, Hancock Co, GA; m. Martha Rhoda Barwick in Darlington Dist, SC
iv. Elizabeth Whiddon, b. Aug 03, 1782, SC; d. Oct 1880, Emanuel Co, GA; m. Nathan B. Barwick, Sr, June 21, 1810, Darlington Dist, SC
v. Sherrod Whiddon, b. Abt. 1783, SC.
vi. Eleaner Whiddon, b. 1784, Colleton Dist, SC; d. Feb 18, 1804, Darlington Dist, SC; m. James Barwick, 1804
vii. William E. Whiddon, Jr, b. April 18, 1793, Darlington District, SC; d. 1863, Henry Co, Al
viii. John Whiddon, b. 1795, SC; m. Elizabeth Gerguson, Oct 11, 1820.
Lott Whiddon, b. Dec 26, 1796, Halifax, NC; d. June 22, 1880, Ocilla, Irwin Co, GA; m. Judith Dorminy, 1816, Emanuel Co, GA
ix. Winnie Whiddon, b. 1797, SC.
x. Feraby Whiddon, b. 1799, SC.
xi. Susannah Whiddon, b. Sept 13, 1803, South Carolina; d. May 04, 1872, Emanuel Co, GA; m. John J. Barwick, Feb 18, 1819, Washington Co, GA
Source of children from Findagrave memorial #27202037.
I haven’t researched this family and have no doubts that her name is anything other than Mary Ann Davis. My soul disagreement about this issue is that she is not the daughter of Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port.

Mary died about 1830.

In Summary:
Clearly, all evidence points to Mary Ann Davis #1 as the daughter of Benjamin and Rachel Port.
She was twice married; first to Robert Commander Dunnam and 2^nd to Thomas Watson.
Her signature and her husband’s signature on the Will of her brother Benjamin Davis, Jr. substantiate her ties to this family.
The Will of her husband Robert lists all their children:
She could not possibly be having children in two different locations, miles apart, in the same year. (AL & GA) i.e. these two
· vii. Collins Woodberry Dunnam was borne 1803 in Alabama. 
· xi. Susannah Whiddon, b. Sept 13, 1803, South Carolina; d. May 04, 1872, Emanuel Co, GA; m. John J. Barwick, Feb 18, 1819, Washington Co, GA

Two of Mary Ann Davis Whiddom's children were born in Nash County, NC. I found no evidence that Mary Ann Davis had ever been in Nash County, NC.

Mary Ann Davis #2 may be a Davis but I have not found or seen any  proof connecting her to Benjamin Davis and Rachel Port





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[1] Baldwin County, Alabama, Will Books:"C", page 10-11 Robert Dunnam Jr; , Bay Minette, Baldwin County, Alabama.
[2] Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: H. A. Davis, 1927), page 111.
[3] https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dunnam-21
[4] Will Book 1, pages 27 and 28
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PT-2982-P?i=38&cat=391278
[5] "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1942," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 3 June 2019), Thomas Watson and Mrs. Ann Dunnam; Marriage Date: 18 Nov 1817.
[6] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 June 2019); Memorial page for Mary Ann Davis Whiddon; (1760–1830); Find a Grave memorial # 27202037, Citing Barwick Cemetery; Norristown, Emanuel County, Georgia, USA

Amanuensis Monday~Will of Mary Ann Davis

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.


His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

Today’s subject is the WILL of Mary Ann Davis written 10 October 1891.[1]

The State of South Carolina
In the name of God, Amen.

I Mary A. Davis, of the County of Chesterfield and state aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory, do make my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say.
First, It is my will and desire that all my just debts and funeral expense be paid.

Second, I hereby give devise and bequeath all the property I may own at the time of my death both real and personal, bonds & mortgages, monies and all other property to my husband George R. Davis.

Third, I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my husband George R. Davis Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

                        In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of October 1891.

Signed, sealed,and published and }
declared by the said Mary A }
Davis, as and for her last }                             M. A. Davis {Seal}
will and testament in our }
presence, who, in her presence}
at her request, and in the }
presence of each other have }
subscribed our names as }
witness to the due execution}
of the same }
Joe W. Hanna }
J. D. Evans }
W. J. Hanna}

Mary Ann Davis is the daughter of John Calvin Davis and Charlotte Hurst. She married George Richard Davis on 17 July 1870. They had 7 children; 3 daughters and 4 sons. Their youngest, John Henry, was just shy of his 5th birthday when his Mother wrote the above Will.

Mary Ann died 15 June 1905 and her hasband George died  on 7 August 1912. They are buried at Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery.


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[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19416-14292-13?cc=1911928&wc=MPPB-JW5:190567401,190561002,190567402,191475301 : accessed 31 Mar 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0830-0899 > image 1450 of 1670; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.