Mary Van Hook Davis1

b. 31 October 1849, d. 19 July 1919
FatherArchimedes Davis2 b. 2 Dec 1811, d. 22 Oct 1865
MotherMary V. Fulkerson2 b. 24 Sep 1820, d. 27 Oct 1892
Birth31 Oct 1849 Mary Van Hook Davis was born on 31 Oct 1849 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Marriage25 Sep 1872 She married Charles Harris, son of Hannibal Harris and Mary Eliza (?), on 25 Sep 1872 in Washington County.4 
  In 1874, Mary's sister Margaret married, as his second wife, John F. Sutton. When Margaret died in 1879 John married Charles Harris' sister Emma as his third wife. 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  Charles and Mary ran a hotel in Abingdon. In 1880 their household included Charles and Mary and their 3 children along with 7 other individuals who were employed in running the hotel (clerks, waiters, a cook).5 
WidowedOct 1898  Charles died in October 1898. 
Cens-190019 Jun 1900  Mary, with 4 children still at home, continued to run the hotel. The population of the establishment in 1900 indicates it was a boarding hotel. Twelve individuals outside Mary's immediate family were included on the enumeration, including several merchants, a dentist and a butcher.6 
Death19 Jul 1919 Mary died on 19 Jul 1919 at age 69.3 
Burial She was buried at Sinking Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  Mary's 1900 census entry indicates that she was the mother of 7 children, with 6 living. According to a stone at Sinking Spring Cemetery Mary and Charles had a son in Dec. 1889 or Jan. 1890 who died at 1 month of age. The county death records report they had a son Archimedes who died in Feb. 1891 at age 1 month. Since Mary's census entry only suggests the death of one child, it is possible Archimedes was the son who died in infancy and either his headstone or the death register was incorrect. If the entries represent two different children, then Mary had 3 children within a very short time frame as the same county records reported the birth of a daughter Frances in Dec. 1891.7,8 

Family

Charles Harris b. 25 Jan 1838, d. 25 Oct 1898
Children
  • Mary P. Harris6 (Nov 1873 - )
  • Maggie Harris5 (circa 1876 - )
  • Charles W. Harris5 (circa 1878 - )
  • Hattie P. Harris6 (Oct 1883 - )
  • infant son Harris8 (circa 5 Dec 1889 - )
  • Frances Harris6 (8 Dec 1891 - )
  • Annie Harris6 (Nov 1895 - )
Last Edited3 Feb 2011

Citations

  1. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 716.
  2. [S234] Archimedes Davis household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 32 (original script), dwelling 2378, family 2316, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan 2011. Household includes: Archimedes Davis, 49, lawyer, owns land worth $20,000, and pers. prop of $3,000; Mary, 40; Margaret, 18; Arabella, 16; James, 15; Abram, 13; Archimedes, 12; Mary, 11; Samuel, 8; Arthur, 6; Sarah, 4; Lydia, 1; all b. VA.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 84. Stone reported to read: Mattie V. Davis Harris, b. 31 Oct. 1849, d. 19 Jul 1919.
  4. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 150. Charles Harris, 33y, sgl, b. "Powhatan", resid WCV, merchant, s/o Hannibal & Mary E. Harris marr Mary V. Davis, 23, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o A. & Mary V. Davis; 25 Sept 1872.
  5. [S162] Charles Harris household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon, ED 92, page 31 C (p. 16 stamped), dwelling 203, family 224, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jan. 2011. Household includes: Charles Harris, 41, hotel keeper; M.V., 31, wife; Mary P., dau, 6; Maggie, dau, 4; Charles W., son, 2; Walter Henderson, 50, clerk in hotel; Wesley Dawson, 40, waiter; Richard Singelton, 27, waiter; Cicero Harris, 22, waiter; Salley Staten, cook in hotel; Mary Miller, 30, waiter; all b. VA.
  6. [S634] M.V. Harris household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Abingdon, ED 107, sheet 9B, dwelling 152, family 162, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2011. Household includes: M.V. Harris, 50, b. Oct. 1849, wid, mother of 7 children, 6 are living, hotel keeper; Mary P., dau, 26, b. Nov. 1873, teacher; Hattie P., dau, 16, b. Oct. 1883; Francis, dau, 9, b. Dec. 1890; Annie, dau, 4, b. Nov. 1895; enumeration also included 12 boarders whose occupations varried from merchant to dentist to butcher.
  7. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington Co., VA death register entry for: Archemedes Harris, d. Feb 1891, age 1m 6d, disease of bowels, s/o Charles & Mary Harris, reported by father.
  8. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 84. Stone reported to read:Inf Harris, s/o Chas & M.V. Harris, b. [?] 6 Jan. 1890, age 1m, 1d.