Sunday’s Obituary~William B. Davis

William B. DAVIS -  On July 9, 1929 just as the golden sun was sinking in the Western sky the "Messenger of Peace" spoke gently to our friend and loved one, W. B. Davis, (familiarly known as Uncle Dock) and said "Son come up higher." It seemed a fitting close for a beautiful Christian character that had reached the sunset of life. His spirit took its eternal flight while his children and loved ones stood with bowed heads and stricken hearts. They weep, but not as those who have no hope, for we can rest assured he is at rest, with Jesus. His was a true consecrated Christian life; it can truly say of him, "He walked with God." His constant prayer was that his loved ones meet him as an unbroken family in heaven. In early life he united with the Methodist church and truly kept its vows. He will be sorely missed in his church and community, having lived there nearly all his life, numbering 82 years. In April 1863 during the War between the States, when a mere lad, he volunteered to enter the service for his country and enlisted with Co. B, 21st South Carolina regiment, was wounded twice, was captured and put in Federal prison when wounded the second time. After reaching home on stick and crutch he helped look after and care for his six orphan brothers and sisters, his father and mother having died February 6 and 28, 1863, respectively. During those dark and appalling days and years of reconstruction he struggled on bravely and in spite of his physical weakness never mourned nor complained. On December 31, 1866 he led to the altar of matrimony Susan Ann Gainey. Of this union the following children survive: James J., William W. Davis, and Mrs. Minnie J. Mauldin, of Chesterfield and Mrs. Lillian A. Winfree of Andrews, SC. His second marriage to Mary L. Dunn, of Morven, NC, was on May 6, 1875; the following children survive: Clarence E., Ernest D., J. Colon Davis, Mrs. A.L. Griggs, and Mrs. B. Thurman Teal, of Chesterfield; Mrs. Fred Miller, McFarlan, NC, Mrs. A.M. Gardner, Remberts, SC, Hoy W. Davis, Elliston, Va and Leo. F.Davis, Roanoke, Va. The youngest son, Junius B. Davis died in February 1920. He married again on Aug. 23, 1916, Mrs. Sallie Gaynor of Bethune, SC, who also survives him. For a number of years he has served as adjutant of Chesterfield Camp No. 950 United Confederate Veterans, was ever loyal and true to the duties involved therein. During his long illness in the early part of the year he was ever patient and kind to those who ministered to his needs and comfort and his constant prayer was that he might be spared to live a little longer; this prayer was answered and he was permitted to answer the roll call of "The boys who wore the grey," in Charlotte, NC, in June, and was stricken very ill on July 5th  and passed away on the ninth. Pine Grove community has lost one of its best citizens and the last one of her veterans of the sixties. Below is a copy of a letter received (by a member of the family) from one of his friends when notified of his death: Lakewood, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1929. Dear Mrs……and Family and all the relations of Brother W. B. Davis, soldier, patriot and Christian Gentleman. Greetings; wife and I got your letter while we were visiting relations here and while wife read it our eyes were filled with tears, for how could one help feeling a holy sympathy, when the bonds of Christian fellowship are so firmly rooted in us all. "Tho sundered far by faith we meet, Around one common mercy seat." It has been my pleasure to have sent your father's letters to me in the last four years to my friends in Massachusetts who would feel interested in all the friends whom I hold dear, and now your letter will be used in the same way because of the regard which my friends have for Christian men everywhere, and especially because your father was nursed in the hospital at Hampton Roads by one of my friends now dead. Your letter breathes such a cordial spirit of Christian regard and devotion to all that is sacred in the hearts of God fearing people, I wish its contents could be remembered by everyone who reads them, and cherished by everyone who may want to have abiding soul comfort. We will go back to California in late October where we live. In the meantime we will hold a sincere regard for all of you and shall always feel a comforting thought that we knew your father. Sincerely your friends, G. H. Crofts and wife, 445 Verdugo Ave., Burbank, Calif. The above letter brings out the sentiments of all who knew this good man, as he was widely known for his true Christian piety. (Poem). A friend.[1]

William B. Davis was the son of Carroll Washington Davis and his 1st wife, Elizabeth Boatwright. William B. Davis was my 2nd cousin 3 times removed
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[1] William B. DAVIS obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 3 October 1929, page 4, col. 5.

Thursday’s Mystery – Which William B. Davis?

Today we have a mystery that I have worked on for some time without a conclusion. I need your help.

There are two William B. Davis, of age, to serve in the Civil War living in Chesterfield County, SC in 1861. William Blakeney Davis, b. 1823, d. aft 1880 and William Benjamin Davis, b. 1 February 1847. Tombstone for these two men show that they both served in the 21^st SC Volunteer Infantry.

Morven Cemetery,
Morven, Anson County, NC[1]

Peniel Cemetery
Chesterfield County, SC[2]

Only one record has been found for a William B. Davis in the 21^st  SCVI. On Fold3.com that record is listed as:

·         Civil War Service Records

·         Confederate Records

·         South Carolina

·         Twenty-first Infantry C-E

·         Davis, William B (17)

     Page: Page 1

This is a direct link to this record, if you have a Fold3 account: http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|85283370 [3]

The (17) after William B. Davis generally refer to the age of the soldier; in this case this William B. Davis is age 17. This would tend to indicate the record is for William Benjamin Davis since he is the younger and the closest to age 17 during the war. This record consists of 26 pages or 26 images. I could not find a single image in this record that showed the soldier's age.  

Image #20 of this record on the bottom reads:

The inclosed Q should be &c with data rel to William Blakely Davis &c

In the book, "Memoirs of the War of Secession, from the Original Manuscripts of Johnson Hagood, Brigadier, C.S.A" on page 403 a Wm. B. Davis, Jr. is listed as a member of the 21^st SCVI.[4] This listing as such with “Jr.” suggests that this is the younger William Benjamin Davis. Neither one of these two men had Fathers or Sons that were Senior or Junior.  

So, I’m in a quandary. Is this the record for the younger William Benjamin Davis or is this the record for the older William Blakeney Davis? 

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[1] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for William Benjamin Davis; (1 February 1847–9 July 1929); Memorial # 30452309; Record of the Morven Cemetery; Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, USA; Accessed on 11 July 2012.
[2] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for William Blakeney Davis; (abt 1823 - aft 1880); Memorial # 44967042; Record of the  Peniel - Pine View Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 10 July 2010.
[3] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 10 July 2012), entry for William B.DAVIS, Private; 21st South Carolina Infantry, Volunteers; Confederate.

[4] Johnson Hagood, Memoirs of the War of Succession (Camden, SC 29020: Jim Fox Books, 1997 (Reprint)), page 403.

[5] Tombstone photos courtesy of  Julious Burr. My thanks to Julious for the use of his photos.

Military Monday – William Blakney Davis

William Blakney Davis was born about 1823, a son of William Davis and Julie Thurman in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He exact death date is unknown but was sometime after the 1880 Census. He is buried Peniel Cemetery, Chesterfield South Carolina

William Blakney Davis married Mary Jane Martin about 1855. Mary Jane Martin was born on 3 Feb 1835 in North Carolina. She died on 15 Sep 1885 at the age of 50 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried in Peniel Cemetery, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

William Blakney Davis and Mary Jane Martin had 10 children, 5 before the war and five after the war.

He enlisted on January 8, 1862, by Capt. B. T. Davis, into the Confederate Army for 3 years as a Private. His military record is available on Fold3.com

He was wounded in his left hip and captured on 24 June 1864, He stayed in the hospital at Fort Monroe, VA till February 1^st, 1865 at which time he was sent to Point Lookout, Maryland where he was paroled February 14, 1865.

He was admitted the day after his parole (Feb. 15th, 1865) to the hospital in Richmond, Virginia. On Feb 21, 1865, he was granted a 60 day furlough.

His military record also contained another parole that occurred in 24 July 1863. At that time he was also a prisoner of war. He was granted release in a prisoner exchange by pledging, on his honor, never to bear arms against the United States of America.

William B. Davis parole

William Blakney Davis, though captured and taken prisoner twice and wounded, survived the War and returned home to his family. He and Mary Martin Davis had five additional children after he was released.

They are enumerated in the Cole Hill Township of Chesterfield County in 1880[1], six of their 10 children are living at home; the oldest age 16, the youngest age 5.

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[1] 1880 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #004, Page: 303D; Line 20, Dwelling 79, Family 79, Household of William B. Davis

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