The Davis Family of Stokes, NC

William Davis

James Davis, the elder

James Davis was born on the 08th of August 1753 in Augusta County, Virginia [re: Davis & Fulton Bibles]. His parentage is undocumented by family record, but his father was most likely William Davis who moved to North Carolina from Virginia and was granted land in Surry County on the north side of the Dan River, by the State of North Carolina [re: deed; 18th of May 1789]. William left no known will in North Carolina or any probate records. Though James Davis is a name found as witness among William's transactions none of these deeds name James specifically as "son". These existing deeds do suggest that James Davis was kin to William and that relationship was probably father and son. James' mother's name also remains undocumented. Modern family records name a Mary Montgomery as mother of James; however, the source for this information is not known and I have found no record naming Mary Montgomery and no Montgomery family is found in Stokes. James does name his first child Mary, suggesting that Mary certainly may have been his mother's name. In an affidavit for the Revolutionary Pension application of Joseph Banner, James Davis states that he is the cousin of Sarah McAnally Banner, Joseph's wife [re: Pension W9716, 20 Oct 1838]. Therefore, James Davis' mother could have been a McAnally or certainly a relative of the McAnally family. Both the Davis and McAnally families are documented as having both come from Augusta County, Virginia.

By evidence of her tombstone and Bible records, James married a woman named Margaret. In an affidavit given for the Revolutionary War Pension of Joseph Banner, James Davis states that he was married in August of 1777 [re: Pension W9716, affidavit dated 20 Oct 1838]. There is no record in either Stokes or Surry of this marriage, though surviving marriage bonds from that date are rare. In the same affidavit, Davis states he is a cousin to Sarah McAnally Banner a daughter to Capt. Charles McAnally. This affiliation of "cousin" may also come through his wife's family, rather than his own [re: ibid]. Margaret Davis' tombstone records her birth date as, the 25th of June 1761 and her death date as, the 11th of March 1838, but does not give a maiden name or any clues to her origins. An unknown family source gives her maiden name as "Dunlap"; however, this does not appear to be information derived from a Bible or marriage record. Instead, I have traced this association to the Dunlap family to two documents. The first reference is found in the probate records for James Davis' estate, which include a letter between J. [or I.] Laird of Lynn Creek (Surry, NC or TN) and Thomas Armstrong, Esq. The letter is dated the 14th of February 1819 and concerns a "note" (loan) between James Davis and Mr. Dunlap "Old Man Dunlap", in which Mr. Dunlap assigned over to William Dearing. Laird writes,
"I recd a letter from you requsting to let you know the situation of Mr Dunlops estate I know very little about it the note that James Davis gave the old Man which he assignd over to Dearing When I wrote the assignment as well as I recollect the old Man Dunlap applyd to William Daring for his note to the amount of Davises including principal and Interest as well as I recollect ****** I wrote a note for that amt payable to the old Man, Dearing signd it and the old man requested him to recpit it him accordingly Mr. Dearing put away the note as to anything further as respects the old mans estate I know nothing of my own knowledg that I recollect at this time."
The inclusion of this letter concerning the estate of a Dunlap, has suggested to other researchers in the past that James married into the Dunlap family; however, the letter never states the relationship between James Davis and Mr. Dunlap. The inclusion of this letter in James' estate papers of 1844, was probably to clarify James' responsibilities to the debt, although the language of the letter is very ambiguous and it is not clear if Davis owned the loan or the debt. The appearance of William Dearing, a family which intermarried with the Davis family, does provide a glimmer of a suggestion that this loan is one between family members. Looking to records in Surry county, North Carolina there is more solid evidence of James kinship to these Dunlaps, since in November Court of 1778, James Davis along with Robert W**** provide security to Margaret Dunlap and John Dunlap as executors of Samuel Dunlap's estate. James' eldest child is born in 1779, so that this Margaret Dunlap may have married James after her Samuel's death. Whether this Margaret is the daughter of Samuel Dunlap or his widow is not stated by the court document; however, the estate papers found in Surry for the nuncupative will of Samuel Dunlop (sic) in 1777 names children: John, James, Samuel and Mary the wife of Jonathan Stone indicating that Margaret was probably the widow of Samuel not a daughter [re: Book 1, pg 123]. In the abstract of this document there is no mention of the Margaret though abstracts of the November Court of 1778 do name her. James Davis' appearance in these documents and indication of monetary transactions do suggest that James Davis was intimately aquatinted with this family and may have married Samuel's widow. The problem with this theory is that Margaret would have been quite a bit older than James, if in fact Samuel's children were already adults. Of course she could have also been a second wife of Samuel, but again this shows the complications that one runs into when interpreting these fragmentary bits of information.

James Davis served in the American Revolution and also paid for another to serve in his place. Davis' pension claim gives a great deal of information on his service. He was drafted to the American army as a Private in the Militia. He served in Captain Colvarts' Company under Major Joseph Winston. James served as a guard for the baggage and provision wagons for three months. He entered a second time as a volunteer Militia Private under Capt. John Henderson and Col. Richard Henderson for another three months period. He volunteered again and served under Captain Robert Hill and again under Major Joseph Winston, and pursued Tories and the British into a place called Bryants in the Forks of the Yadkin River. During this time, his main function was to guard the prisoners taken at the Battle of Kings Mountain, he served only ten days. James then served in Salem for two weeks and was dismissed. James served another month as a Private against the Tories at Green Swamp near the Little Peedee. His final tour of duty was for three months, which he hired Berry Stone as a substitute for Ł60, Stone was sent to fight in the battle of Cowpens [re: DAR records]. Another war record shows aid to the American Army by James Davis, for furnishing 225 lb. of beef [re: DAR].

Extensive deeds and probate records show that James Davis was wealthy in both slaves and land. His accumulation of wealth seems to start during the period following the American Revolution. James' service is well documented by his Revolutionary War pension and DAR records. A survey of Stokes County tax lists has been done starting in 1804; earlier lists have not been surveyed. James Davis is recorded and taxed in 1804 for 3,050 acres and six taxable slaves in the Meadows District of Stokes County. By 1813, James is taxed for eight slaves. In 1838, James Davis is listed with 4,703 acres worth $5,700.00 and 17 taxable slaves in Meadows District. Neighboring him is his son James Davis Jr. with 574 acres and eight slaves. His other son William "Buck", is taxed in Germanton with one lot, Buck was probably involved in mercantile. James' will is dated 1834 and provides the names of 26 slaves. By 1839, James Davis is listed on tax records as James Davis Esq., denoting an elevation in status in the community, it is known that he served as a Justice and perhaps as a County Commissioner. The earliest found mention of James Davis as a Justice is in 1797 [re: List of justices of Peace & Militia Officers, NC Archives, G.O. 147, abstracted by Butch Johnson GSRS, v II, issue 3]. James Davis owned both grist and lumber mills and also ran an ordinary, or inn, at his homestead on the Dan River, as is evident in several petitions for licenses. Tavern bonds in Stokes are found for James Davis for June 1795, March 1797 and another one undated [re: bonds, NC Archives C.R. 090.104.1]. A modern article on early history, in "The Messenger", describes James Davis as,
"a farmer and large land holder owning more than 4,000 acres on both sides of the Dan River on Duckling Shoals, on the South side of Dan And Snow Creek and on the North side of the Dan River. The Davis family had a grist mill, blacksmith shop and a store on their property on Snow Creek."
[re: 15 Jul 1981].

James Davis' will and an inventory of his estate exist, providing a great deal of information on his material wealth. His home farm was left to his wife, later to be given to his son William. The bulk of the remaining land is divided between his sons James and William, though some smaller tracts are given to his daughters mainly where his son-in-laws were farming (i.e. Winston Carter). Land in Tennessee is also mentioned, which may be land given for service in the Revolution or bought for speculation. Five hundred acres are named on the Uhire River in Tennessee and is divided amongst his daughters. In addition to his children, James Davis Sr. also provides for the care and education of his illegitimate granddaughter, Minerva Davis, daughter of Margaret Carter and ward of William Davis. Davis' will was made on the 27th of May 1833 and probated in 1844. The slaves owned by James Davis were divided up amongst his children; however, several were sold and there is no indication in the records that any care was taken to keep families together.

Several family stories have been passed down relating the lives of this family. However, the stories are not terribly clear in identifying the people named in the tales. Some of these tales are preserved in the first "Stokes County Heritage Book", by a descendant Kathleen Adkins Blackwell [re: section 140 page 139]. One tale tells of one of James' daughters who was the first to be buried in the Old Davis Cemetery. After a prolonged illness, this daughter was visited by her sweetheart who had brought her wild flowers, gathered upon a hunting trip. When he started to hand the bunch of flowers to her, some honeysuckle that was among the bouquet, twined around the trigger of his gun, pulling it and killing her. Her name has been lost in time, she could be one of the two early graves, labeled "W.A.", who died in 1782 or "M." who was born April 1785.

James Davis died on the 17th of August 1844. His death date is recorded twice, once on his tombstone and once in Stokes County records where he son William signed an oath that his father had died on that day and that he was a pensioner of the American Revolution. James along with his wife and many of his children are buried in the Old Davis Graveyard, sometimes known as the James Davis Sr. Graveyard which is located in the Snow Creek District and has fallen into great disrepair.

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James Davis, the younger

James Davis Jr. was born on the 23rd of December 1793 in Stokes County, probably on his father's Snow Creek plantation. He is the eldest son of James and Margaret Davis a family of obscure origins, but one whose branches touched spread through almost every level of Stokes county's history. The family Bible labels James the Elder as "of Augusta county, Virginia and it seems likely that this family emigrated to Stokes along the Great Wagon Road through the Virginia Valley. Though the details of the early family history has been lost to time, James the Elder is well remembered mainly for founding the family fortune. During his ninety-one years, James Davis the Elder accumulated over 4,700 acres in the region and his will lists forty-six slaves and land in Tennessee. He left all his children and especially his two sons with considerable fortunes. Most personal history of the early generations of the Davis family remains more in the realm of folk tale rather than in historic fact. A good example of these family myths is the tale of James Davis Jr.'s birth. Kathleen A. Blackwell, a descendant who has preserved much of this family's history, recalls the tale that at the moment of James' birth, [a]"huge rock broke off a cliff above the road, where it crossed the Morris Field Branch, rolled down and crushed a [black] woman carrying a baby". This story may be factual or merely folklore, but it has been told for almost 200 years. The origins of the story are not clear, but it appears to have been passed down from black servants to their white wards. This is the earliest image we have of James Davis.

At least three letters exist that were written by James Davis. These letter represent a fragment of correspondence between Davis and his daughter Polly Fulton, who had emigrated to Texas before the Civil War. The once extensive collection of family letters were split up amongst Polly's children in 1919, but only one set survived and is now owned by Elizabeth Drouet of Denver, Colorado. Davis' letters show a strong hand and diverse word usage that suggest a high level of literacy and probably formal education. These letters reveal an affectionate father whose daily routine was consumed with plantation and county business. An additional letter that survives in Stokes county, is written to his son Jesse who was attending Emory College in Virginia during the 1840s [re: Stokes County Heritage Book]. A supper invitation has also survives, in the papers of Dr. John Pepper. The invitation was sent by James and Elizabeth Davis to the Peppers and dates from the 1850s [re: Ellen Pepper Tilley].

Little is known of James' early life. It is assumed that it revolved around the management of his father's 4,000 acre plantation in the fairly remote area of Stokes county. Though James' own sons were sent to College, the level of James' own education is unknown. His letter suggest a good education, probably conducted at home. The exact location of the old Davis homestead is unknown, but it is said James' wife Elizabeth McAnnally grew up on the plantation opposite of the Davis homestead on Dan River. However, Stokes tax records and deeds suggest that the James Davis, the Elder, homesteaded further away in the Snow Creek District. James Jr. built his own home on the Dan across from the McAnally homestead, which may be the source of the confusion. James was old enough to have served in the War of 1812, but instead hired Stephen Ryerson to take his place. Stephen Ryerson (1763-1849) signed a statement naming himself as a substitute hired by James Davis to serve Davis' term for the War of 1812, Ryerson enlisted in 1814.

The marriage bond for James Davis and Elizabeth McAnnally is dated the 02nd of January 1817. In addition to connecting James with one of the most active political families in the local area, the marriage produced thirteen children who both through their own actions and the actions of their descendants left a considerable mark on Stokes county. Elizabeth McAnnally was born on the 23rd of November in 1796 to Jesse and Elizabeth (Morgan) McAnnally. Her father died when she was only four years old and her mother never remarried. Probably her grandfather Capt. Charles McAnally and her uncle Charles Banner played the role of father to her and her orphaned siblings. The McAnnallys were active members in the formation and governing of Stokes county. Though the McAnally's family wealth was more modest than that of James Davis, the Elder, their mark upon early Stokes history is somewhat more dramatic. Elizabeth's father and grandfather served as Justices in the region. Her grandfather was one of the founders of the county and his activities were well recorded in the records of the nearby Moravian settlement. The farm reported to be the homestead of Jesse McAnally stood the Dan in the Meadows District, but was demolished in 1998.

Elizabeth died on the 19th of March 1858 and family story recalls this event. In the Fulton family, Emily Jarvis Davis recalls a story her grandmother told her. Her grandmother is Emily Fulton Nevens, daughter of Wilson and Mary Ann Fulton and Elizabeth's granddaughter. It should be noted that Emma Fulton was only three when her grandmother died, so she could not have been an eyewitness to the event. The supernatural element of the story makes it suspect to be a myth; however the story has been remembered and past down. The tale says that, Polly Fulton woke up in the middle of the night having dreamt that her mother was in danger. The dream was so vivid that Polly insisted that her husband wake the household and send for the carriage, ever though the weather was bad and the roads icy. The couple, who were living in Danbury at the time made the difficult trip out to Red Shoals. Upon their arrival, they found Elizabeth dead, having collapsed in front of the fireplace.

The children of James and Elizabeth (McAnnally) Davis are well recorded by Bible record, tombstones, and among public documents and obituaries. The dates of birth, death, and marriage provided here are all derived from Bible records, except when noted. The original family Bible exists today in the possession of Kathleen A. Blackwell of Pine Hall, NC; however, this Bible was also copied by hand around 1861 into the Fulton family Bible. A comparison of these two Bibles suggest that James Davis copied the Bible himself for his daughter Polly Davis Fulton. The pages from the Fulton Bible exist and are today owned by Elizabeth Drouet of Denver, CO. When ever possible tombstone and obituary dates have been taken into consideration to confirm or to take the place of the Bible records. The below listed grandchildren of James Davis are named in many records including Bibles, tombstones, census and school records. Civil War records have also been surveyed for evidence of service and for some death dates. Descendants of these men an women have also been consulted to confirm names and dates namely: James Tatum, Kathleen Blackwell, Hilda Taylor, John Brown Jr. and Rachel Fulton Rawls. Industrial Census records show that James Davis Jr. was involved in both planting and a tobacco manufacturing. Earlier records, such as an 1838 tax list, records James Davis Jr. with a 574 acre farm and eight taxable slaves. James is shown living in the Meadows District of Stokes County. The Davis' house was built overlooking the Dan River near an area known as "Red Shoals" and across from the [Jesse] McAnnally farm. The site of the home must have been low and near the river, since it is remembered that one could fish off the porch, when the Dan flooded. From bits of oral history and a fragment of a photograph, the Davis house can be described as a large two story wood house probably T or L shaped and skirted by a verandah. The original house burnt down about 1914, but soon after James William Davis built the present house, now known as the Pitzer Place. It is said that the foundations of the Pitzer House are the same as the original Davis homestead. Only one torn photograph of the original house remains and gives the only glimpse of how the house looked. The house appears to have typical of the wood frame or log house sheathed in vertical planks of wood of that time. The house may have been two or one and a half stories tall. It clearly has an upper story and shows outside stairs leading up. It is unclear at what angle the house is viewed in the photo. The doors seem unusually wide and are clearly handmade with cast iron fixtures. It is said that the boy's wing was accessed through and outside staircase, while the girl's rooms were accessed only by the staircase in the parents bedroom [re: Interview, K.A. Blackwell]. Pieces of the plantation furniture still exist in the Adkin family. Emily Davis Adkins bought many pieces from her father's estate, including a large walnut corner cupboard which was once a set made for the dining room [re: probate records; James Davis 1873]. The other cupboard was bought by the Taylor family. James Davis provided for each of his daughters a trousseau, which included an elaborately carved poplar bed (two which are known to have survived), bed furniture, a spinning wheel, sidesaddle, a horse, a cow and a slave [re: interview, K.A. Blackwell].

Within walking distance of the Davis Place, is Davis Chapel. The first known structure was originally built by James Davis Jr., though it is said a place of worship had been there since the time of James Davis the Elder. The original Chapel burnt down, but was rebuilt by Davis' son-in-law, Hiram Adkins and still stands today. A good photograph of the original chapel exists showing a traditional wooden rectangular meeting house sitting on a rock foundation with a front bell tower of about one and a half stories tall.

James Davis wealth holdings can be traced through the tax records and provide us with some idea of the life style the family lead. The 1840 tax records show that James Davis Jr. owned 874 acres worth $2,500.00 and was taxed for ten slaves. After his father's death James' holdings naturally increased, and by 1854 he was taxed on a 2,500 acre plantation worth $5,400.00 and was taxed for sixteen slaves. The 1850 Census Schedules list James as one of the largest farmers in Stokes County. Owning only 2,500 acres, James was not the largest landowner; however, with 400 acres improved land he owned the fourth largest in improved lands for Stokes County. William Orrender owned 600 acres, William Ware owned 500 acres, and William Withers owned 466 acres. Unlike these other planters, James seems to be a more diversified farmer producing only 2,500 lb. of tobacco, only a tenth of William Orrenders 25,000 lb. In 1850, James is listed with 29 slaves, 16 who are over the age of 20 years, giving him a rather large percentage of adult (full-hands) labor. Compared with other large slaveholders James had one of the highest proportion of full-hands in his slave population, numbering over half. The industrial Census of 1850, lists Davis as a Tobacco Manufacturer producing 5,420 lb. of processed tobacco. On the eve of the Civil War James Davis owned 2,075 acres, [an additional 560 acres were taxed for his son Jesse] and was taxed on 14 slaves. The Agricultural Census of 1860, breaks down the Davis household into 300 acres of improved land and 2,400 acres of unimproved land with a net worth of $14,000.00. This land sustained, 3 horses, 5 mules, 7 milk cows, 15 cattle, 45 sheep, and 60 swine valued at $1,396.00 and which produced $500.00 worth of slaughtered meat. Forty five pounds of wool was produced in 1860. The main crop was the 4,000 pounds of tobacco. The plantation also produced 1,400 bounds of corn, 400 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of rye, and 200 bushels of oats. Other foodstuff was raised such as, peas, beans, Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes. The 1862 tax list show James Davis with 2,692 acres worth $12,950.00 and 29 taxable slaves worth $7,500 and cash amounting to $6,440.00. The tax list for 1863 shows James with 1,764 acres worth $8,500, 32 slaves worth $12,250, debts of $2,400.00, cash of $6,000, Confederate bonds worth $1,050.00, a house worth $75.00 and one dog. The Census records of 1860 poll James Davis with an estate of $45,700.00 making him the sixth wealthiest man in Stokes County. James' brother William is shown as the fifth wealthiest. The two are surpassed in wealth by their cousin James Madison Covington, planter and family friend Hampton Bynum, Dr. William Withers, farmer John Chandler, tanner and distiller Rueben D. Golding, the merchant William A. Lash and the Hairstons, Ruth and Peter - the later two whose family were ranked as the largest land and slave holders in the South.

James' wealth made him an influential man in the county. After the Civil War, the Northern troops' commander was advised in a letter to contact James Davis, as one of the County's leading citizens [re: Correspondence of the Union Forces]. The letter reads as follows:
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS.
Greensborough. N.C., May 10, 1865
Instructions for the officers in charge of the detail from the One hundred and twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry: You will proceed to Danbury, Stokes County, N.C., by the following rout: Via Krusess' Cross Roads to Madison; northwest course form Madison to Cardwell's Mills; from there to Sandy Ridge; form Sandy Ridge to Danbury. On your arrival there you will, as far as practicable, consult with good, responsible, loyal citizens, for the purpose of organizing a small company of the most respectable loyal citizens to serve as a loyal police force until further orders...A list of names is appended to this; these persons are represented as good citizens, who may be able to give you assistance...W.B. Taylor, R.B. Hay, Samuel Hall, Spottswood Taylor, James Davis, John J. Martin, Zach Alley, William O. Lash, James Rierson, Joel Hill, Jacob Hill, Joseph Fulp, Benjamin Bailey...By command of Brigadier-General Carter:
L.A. Gratz
Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
[re: Correspondence, Etc. - Union; Operations in NC, SC, S. GA & E. FL, pg 460-61]
Consequently, the Davis plantation was occupied by General Palmer, who led part of Stoneman's raid through North Carolina. The Adkins family has stories of this occupation, which are confirmed by letters written at the time by Louretta Davis to her sister in Texas. It was Billy Pitzer and other grandchildren of James Davis, many who were eye witnesses that passed on these stories. According to the Pitzers, the Union forces arrived at Red Shoals and occupied the house. The Davis slaves managed to hid the hams in the skirts of the beds. James Davis' favorite horse was spared from confiscation by a slave named Caesar, who hid the horse in the woods; however, James' rifle was taken and broken in half over the fence in front of the house. That same rifle was passed downed for generations in the James W. Davis family and is now owned by Hiram Martin of Lynchville, Virginia. Kathleen Adkins Blackwell was told by her grandmother, Emily Davis Adkins, of the Union soldiers camping in the graveyard and of Louretta Davis begging the General to spare her ancestors such a disgrace, a wish which Palmer granted. Another story tells of Susan Davis who was mortified when asked to break the Sabbath and mend the General's button, and sobbed as she complied with her captors request [re: K.A. Blackwell, interview & Stokes County Heritage]. A contemporary letter survives describing the situation in Stokes, during Stoneman's raid. The letter written is by Luretta Davis to her sister Polly Fulton in Texas mentions an earlier more detailed account, now lost, written by Sam Taylor to Polly. Louretta writes,
"If you could have seen the place the day the Yankees left you hardly would have known it. General Palmer and his staff stayed in the house they acted very gentlemanly treated us with respect they did not plunder the house, I believe we are get[t]ing along now as well as we were before the negro'es were free. Father has hiered Burl & Mealy Sarah & Brum (her husband) the children are all here and one of Isham's girls & [Joe?][.] some of our negro's are starving I expect some of them will perish if they do I blam[e] no body but the mean inpertinent black hearted Yankees."
[re: letter; Luretta Davis to Polly Fulton: 20 Apr 1866]
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