b. 24 May 1820, d. 8 August 1885
Birth | 24 May 1820 | Robert Earl B.C. Davis was born on 24 May 1820 near Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia.4,5,6 |
Name Other | | Robert's full name may have been Robert Earl Bourn Clapp Davis. He may have been named for a Dr. Earl Bourn Clapp who was a physician in the early days of Washington County.7 |
Ward | 20 Oct 1830 | On 20 Oct 1830, following the death of their father, Robert and his brothers John, Francis and William, along with their sister Margaret, became the wards of their older brother James.3 |
| | It is possible that their mother was also deceased as no clear mention of her has been located in later records. |
Land-Sell | 2 Feb 1833 | In Feb. 1833 the heirs of Robert Davis sold 65 acres of their father's land in Washington County to Peter Minnick. Although he was underage, Robert E.C. Davis signed on the deed. James signed the deed in his own right but is not stated to have signed on Robert's behalf as his guardian.8 |
Cens-1840 | 1840 | It also appears that besides being Robert's guardian, James may have provided a home for his younger sibling. The 1840 census for Washington County lists James as the head of a household that included 2 young adults who were too old to be James's children but were of the appropriate ages to represent Robert and his younger sister Margaret.9 |
| | In addition, a letter written by Robert's brother Francis during this time period stated that "Earl and Margaret are living with brother James."10 |
Migration | 3 Oct 1843 | In the late fall of 1843 Robert left Virginia in the company of his sister Margaret and her husband Hervey Maxwell. They intended to settle in southern Missouri and hence followed a path that first led them south into Tennessee. They traveled westward through Knoxville, Kingston and Sparta [TN], then turned northwards toward Gallatin. They crossed into southern Kentucky, traveling to Hopkinsville. Continuing to veer northwest they crossed the Ohio River into Illinois at Golconda, then traveled across southern Illinois. The group crossed the Mississipi about 100 miles below Ft. Lewis and then reached Washington County, Missouri where they visited family and friends (Maxwells and Carsons).
At some point in their travels the trio made the decision to work their way further north so they could settle closer to navigable waterways. Hence, after spending a few days in Washington County they headed out again. Their intention was to go to Green County, but as Robert put it: "as we were used to twisting about we turned and went to Jefferson City and from there to Boonville" [Cooper County on the Missouri River]. They settled at Georgetown in neighboring Pettis County on December 3rd, having been prevented from reaching the hoped for destination (VanBuren County) due to the winter cold.
In a letter to his sister Mary in Adair County, dated Dec. 28th 1843, Robert stated that during their travels they had a lot of wet weather and that the roads were the worst he ever saw. Robert commented that during the trip he often wished he had never left Virginia. The letter also expressed an interest in other areas of Missouri. Robert wrote Mary: " I want to know what is your County seat for I can't find any body that knows any thing about Adair County."11 |
| 20 Feb 1846 | It appears that over the next few years Robert walked a good deal of Missouri in search of a place to settle. In a letter to Mary and her husband dated 20 Feb. 1846, he wrote: "I do not think that ever I will settle in Missouri. I have been in some thirty five or forty counties in this state and am not satisfied yet" The letter continued with descriptions of how sore his feet were and how pleased he was with a pair of buffalo overshoes. He also commented that when the weather improved he planned to return by land to Memphis. It would appear that he must have followed through on this plan as he married in Tennessee later that year.12 |
Marriage | 24 Sep 1846 | He married Amanda Melvina Fitzallen Carmack, daughter of John Carmack and Mary Gray, on 24 Sep 1846, probably in Marion County, Tennessee. [They were first cousins, once removed]13 |
| | A few months after Robert and Amanda married he wrote a letter to his sister Mary describing Amanda as the prettiest, the smartest, and the best girl in Tennessee.13 |
| | The letter also stated that he was living with his mother in the Sequachy valley of Tennessee [letter was addressed from Marion County, TN with directions to send return mail to Cheeksville in Marion County] but would move to Missouri the following fall. On the surface this would seem to suggest that Robert's mother, Nancy (McMillan) Davis was still living. However it is my opinion that Robert was actually referring to his mother-in-law, Mary Carmack. It is also not clear that Robert and Amanda ever moved to Missouri. If they made the move they did not stay long as an infant daughter born to them in early January 1848 died soon after birth and was buried in Marion County, Tennessee.13 |
Cens-1850 | 30 Sep 1850 | Also, Robert and Amanda were enumerated living in Marion County in 1850. Robert was 36 and owned property valued at $350, which he was farming. "Manda" was 25.14 |
Land | | In the years following the 1850 census Robert purchased several tracts of land in Marion County. He acquired five parcels as the assignee of Aaron Grigsby in 1854. Robert quickly sold 3 of the parcels - two he held for a few years and then sold. The total acreage when he sold the tracts was 50 acres short of the purchase acreage; it is possible the 50 acres was retained and incorporated into Robert's home farm.15,16,17,18 |
Land | 4 Dec 1854 | Robert also acquired 2 additional tracts of land in late 1854. One was 220 acres and the other was 11 acres. They were deeded to him by a special commissioner appointed by the Marion County Court. No payment was mentioned in the deed which was witnessed by Harvey Richards and Edwin Duke. The land was located in the 5th district of the county.19 |
Land-Buy | 21 Sep 1855 | The following year Robert purchased 54 1/2 acres from Harvey Richards for which he paid $300. The land was described as adjoining the lands of Richards, E. Duke and R.E.C. Davis. Several of the "line calls" used to describe the boundaries of the land followed the wagon road and match line calls recorded in later deeds when Robert's sons sold his land after his death.20 |
| | The description of the land in this 1855 deed for 54 1/2 acres also suggests that it sat adjacent to the 220 acres Robert acquired in late 1854, suggesting these parcels made up at least a portion of the approximately 360 acres he held at his death. |
Cens-1860 | 19 Jun 1860 | Three sons were added to the family between 1850 and 1860. They were listed on the 1860 census as: John L. (9), Robert E. (6) and James K. (3). Robert's worth had also increased substantially. His real property (land) was now valued at $4,000 and his personal property at $5,000.21 |
Cens-1870 | 1870 | The first census enumeration following the Civil War reflected the impact of the war on the southern farmer. Although Robert still claimed land valued at $4,000, his personal property was now valued at $700. The household consisted of Robert (50), Amanda (44), John (18), Robert (16), James (12) and William 7. Also included as a Davis was Rutha, age seven.22 |
| | Rutha's marriage record lists her maiden name as Carmack which is more likely correct. She was no doubt related to Amanda although the nature of that relationship is not known to me at present. Robert and Amanda did have a daughter, Mary, who was born in 1865 but died in 1866. |
Land-Buy | 25 Nov 1873 | Some years later Robert and John Davis purchased a tract of 25 acres in the 3rd district from Alfred Smith for $650. This parcel began on the southeast side of the Sequatchie River; also mentioned was Slough Creek, Picketts corner and Teague's line.23 |
Cens-1880 | 1 Jun 1880 | In 1880 the three younger sons (Robert, James and William) were still at home with Robert Sr. (enumerated as R.E.C.) and Amanda (enumerated as Manda). In addition, a Mr. Hall and his 9 year old son John boarded with the Davis family.24 |
Land | | Following Robert's death his land was divided among his sons. These records establish that Robert and Amanda's land sat just west of the East Valley Rd. in Marion County. |
Religion | | Robert was an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.25 |
Death | 8 Aug 1885 | Robert died on 8 Aug 1885 in Marion County, Tennessee, at age 65.5,4 |
Burial | | He was buried at Davis Cemetery in Marion County, Tennessee.4,5 |
Probate Recd | 5 Sep 1887 | James Davis served as administer of his father's estate. In September 1887 he filed a settlement report in Marion County court which showed a distribution of $50 to W.E. Davis, R.E. Davis, J.L. Davis and also to himself. Other expenses included $20 for a coffin and $10 in attorney fees.26 |