Mary Copeland1

d. 1821
FatherBenjamin Copeland2
  Mary Copeland was probably born around 1750 based on the year of birth (1773) of her eldest child. The 1758 settlement of her father's estate contains entries indicating he died before March 1755. One of those entries listed monies paid for Mary's schooling. The estate was settled by Anne Ralston, formerly Anne Copland, who was most likely Benjamin's widow. Mary named her first born daughter Ann, suggesting Ann (?) Copeland Ralston may have also been Mary's mother.1,2 
Marriage  Mary married first James Corry in Rockingham (then Augusta) County, Virginia. 
Migration1773  The couple migrated southwest to Washington County in 1773.1 
WidowedOct 1780  James died at the Battle of King's Mountain in Oct. 1780. Mary was left to raise 4 sons under the age of 7. 
Tax  Tax records for Washington County indicate that Mary owned 8-13 horses and 21-25 cows in the years following James's death (1782-1786).3 
Marriage19 Oct 1786 She married second John Davis, son of Nathaniel Davis and Sarah (?), on 19 Oct 1786 in Washington County.4 
  John was a widower with 8 children, four of whom were under ten years of age. 
  Together they added two additional daughters to the family. 
WidowedJun 1810  Mary was widowed a second time when John died in June 1810. 
Cens-18101810  The 1810 census listed Mary as the head of a household that included 2 males and 3 females in addition to Mary (no doubt the female in the 45+ category). The two females age 16-25 were probably the two daughters Mary and John added to their blended family.5 
  The years following John's death found Mary embroiled in a lawsuit against several of her stepchildren. She was unhappy with the manner in which John's estate was probated. See the link below for a summary of the documents created during this dispute. 
Tax1815  A special tax asessment conducted in 1815 assessed Mary for 1 farm on Poor Valley Rd containing 350 acres. It held 1 dwelling house which was 30 feet by 30 feet and 2 stories tall. There was also 1 barn, and 1 outbuilding valued at $4.50. The farm was assessed at $1,575. Two unimproved tracts totalling 70 acres added $35, and 2 male slaves under 12 (valued at $300) brought Mary's assessment to $1,910.6 
Death1821 Mary died in 1821. 

Related Links and Images:

Wythe Co. court case between Mary Davis and certain of her stepchildren

Family 1

James Corry d. 7 Oct 1780
Children
  • John Corry+1 (8 Dec 1773 - Apr 1855)
  • Ann Corry (1776 - )
  • William Corry (1778 - )
  • James Corry (1780 - )

Family 2

John Davis b. 14 Oct 1743, d. Jun 1810
Children
  • Elizabeth Davis7 (22 Mar 1788 - )
  • Nancy Davis (6 Feb 1793 - )
Last Edited1 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S2570] James and Mary (Copeland) Corry family data compiled by a grandson-in-law, undated.
  2. [S330] Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted From the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, 3:51. This record is abstracted from Will Bk No. 2, p. 287, dated 17 Nov. 1758 which contains Benjamin Copland's estate settlement. It lists money paid for the schooling of Mary Copland.
  3. [S2572] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1786, 1788-1790.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 15. Entry reported to read: John Davis and Mary Curry, 19 Oct. 1786 by Charles Cummings.
  5. [S1004] Mary Davis household, 1810 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 742 (added script), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2007, image 54 of 73. Household includes: 1 male 10-15; 1 male 16-25; 1 female under 10; 2 females 16-25; 1 female 45+; 5 slaves.
  6. [S2384] Mary Kegley, Southwest Virginia Tax Assessments, p. 104.
  7. [S1295] Elizabeth Willoughby deposition in case of Mary Davis vs Russell et al; Wythe Co. Virginia Superior Ct. Chancery Pleas Records 2: 19.