William M. Davis1

b. circa 1809, d. May 1860
FatherRobert Davis2 b. 26 Apr 1778, d. bef 20 Oct 1830
MotherNancy McMillan d. 1824
Birthcirca 1809 William M. Davis was born circa 1809 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Marriage He married Emily (?). 
Migrationcirca 1835  William and Emily probably lived in Washington County until 1834 or early 1835, when they moved to Tennessee where William studied bankruptcy law.4 
Land-Sell2 Feb 1833  In Feb. 1833 William and his siblings sold Peter Minnick 65 acres of the land they inherited from their father. When the deed was recorded on Oct. 2, 1835 William and Emily resided in Sullivan County, Tennessee.5 
Migration  By 1846 it appears they had settled in Arkansas. 
Cens-18501850  Emily apparently died shortly before the 1850 census at which time 41 year old William Davis was enumerated farming land in Phillips Co., Arkansas. His household also included the following Davis children: Ann S., (17, b. VA), John, (15, b. TN), Jas K. P., (13, b. TN), Francis (male), (11, b. TN), Mary D.,( 8, b. TN), Elizabeth D.,( 6, b. TN), Cordelia, (4, b. Ark).3 
Marriage  William married for a second time, probably in late 1850. A letter written by William's brother Francis dated April 1853 describes how Francis visited William in Sept. 1852 and found that his first wife was deceased and that William had married a widow named "Buckhanan" from Kentucky.6 
  They appear to have had two daughters together, Adelaide, born abt 1851 and Elizabeth, born abt 1853.7 
Marriage7 Nov 1855 However, his second wife died as well. William then married Mrs Amanda M. Roper on 7 Nov 1855 in Phillips County, Arkansas.8 
DeathMay 1860 William died in May 1860 in Phillips County. His death was a suicide.9,10 
  Within a few weeks, if not days, of William's death, Amanda's household was recorded for the 1860 census. Her extended family appeared to include her two children from her first marriage, 3 of William's children from his first marriage, and 2 daughters from his second marriage. There is no indication any children were born to William and Amanda.7 
  In 1870 William's two youngest daughters lived with his widowed brother Francis in Panola County, Texas.11 

Family 1

Emily (?)
Children
  • Ann Davis3 (circa 1833 - )
  • John Davis3 (circa 1835 - )
  • James K.P. Davis3 (circa 1837 - )
  • Francis Davis3 (circa 1839 - )
  • Mary D. Davis3 (circa 1842 - )
  • Elizabeth D. Davis3 (circa 1844 - )
  • Cordelia Davis3 (circa 1846 - )

Family 2

? ?
Children
  • Adelaide Davis7 (circa 1851 - )
  • Elizabeth Davis7 (circa 1853 - )
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S2578] William M. Davis dec'd letters of administration (1860), Phillips Co., Arkansas Probate Record C: 227. The application was entered at court 18 June 1860 and recorded 31 Aug. 1860.
  2. [S2289] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 6 1827-1834, p. 30: distribution of the slaves of Robert Davis dec'd among his heirs, as found in Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 6:244.
  3. [S1726] William Davis household, 1850 U.S. census, Phillips Co., Arkansas, pop. sched., Planters township, p. (after 174 stamped), dwelling 32, family 32, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2007, image 4 of 9. Household includes: Wm Davis, 41, farmer, owns real estate worth $2,000, b. VA; Ann S., 17, b. VA; John, 15, b. TN; Jas K. P., 13, b. TN; Francis (male), 11, b. TN; Mary D., 8, b. TN; Elizabeth D., 6, b. TN; Cordelia, 4, b. Ark.
  4. [S1713] Letter dated 28 Dec. 1843 from Robert Davis at Pettice [sic] Co., Mo to Mrs. Mary L. Eason, Adair Co., Missouri.
  5. [S1064] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 13: 112.
  6. [S1713] Letter dated 14 Apr. 1853 from F.M. Davis at Blountville, TN to Mrs. Mary L. Eason, Lancaster, Missouri.
  7. [S2577] A.M. Davis household, 1860 U.S. census, Phillips Co., Arkansas, pop. sched., Big Creek township, p. 283 (stamped), dwelling 52, family 47, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan 2011. Household includes: A.M. Davis, 36, owns pers. prop. worth $3,000, b. AL; M.E. Roper, 15, owns land worth $3,000, b. Ark; Lucy A. Roper, 12, owns land worth $3,000, b. Ark; Mary D. Davis, 18, b. TN; E.D. Davis (f), 14, b. TN; Cordelia Davis, 12, b. Ark; Adelaide Davis, 9, b. Ark; Elizabeth Davis, 7, b. Ark; Joseph Harris, 22, engineer, b. IN; Riley Henderson, 19, b. Mississippi.
  8. [S2576] "Arkansas Marriages, 1837-1944", database (no images), Family Search (www.familysearch.org : Jan. 2011).
  9. [S2578] William M. Davis dec'd letters of administration (1860), Phillips Co., Arkansas Probate Record C: 227.
  10. [S2579] "US Federal 1860 Census Mortality Schedule for Phillips Co., Arkansas", index, Ancestry.com (Ancestry.com : Jan 2011).
  11. [S2575] J.E. Harvel household, 1870 U.S. census, Panola Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat No. 3, p. 291 (stamped), dwelling 1035, family 1035, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2011. Household includes J.E. Harvel, 65, b. Georgia; Francis Davis, 53, school teacher, b. VA; Robert, 22, works on farm, b. TN; James, 21, works on farm, b. TN; William, 16, works on farm, b. TN; Adalade, 19; b. Arkansas; Elizabeth, 17, b. Arkansas.