Davenport Family History & Genealogy

Hello, I am Liz Jackson in Wayne County NC. I have been working on and off on my Davenport ancestors.
My 2nd great grandfather was Louis Davenport born in 1830 in Lenoir County, N.C. . He fought in the Civil War and died in 1865 in Richmond VA. I have been going in circles trying to find his father. His mother was Sarah Davenport. Any suggestions/info. is gratefully appreciated. my email is [contact link]. Thank you in advance.

I am a great-great grandaughter of William and Coth Davenport and Jeff and Mary Nolan of Lincoln and Casey county in Kentucky. I am searching for anyone who has information regarding my great, great grandparents. William and Coth had a son named Frank who married Earsie Nolan. They had two daughters, Francis and Betty and twin sons, Howard and Harold. Howard is my grandfather, he married Dorothy Hill of Perryville, Ky and they have a son Reggie of Indiana. Reggie has 1 daughter, Jo, and two sons, Bill and Paul. I would like any information that someone may have.

Amanda Francis "Mandy" Davenport was born in Coffee County Tenn in 1896. She was married to William Forest "Billy" Davenport. They had 13 children. My father Reuel "Eugene" Davenport, was the youngest.James Arlan "Ollie" was the oldest, then Carl, Earl, an Estelle "Sissy". 8 of the children died very young. Ma "Mandy" lived to be 96 years old, and she died in Woodbury, Tenn about 17 years ago.When i was a child I was told Cole younger was a cousin of Ma "Mandy's". I was also told the Younger family changed their name to Young because of the shame "Cole" brought on the family name. I would like to know if this is true, or just a fable I was told as a child.

Thomas Wesley Davenport born 31 Jan 1839 Jefferson Co., Illinois died 11 Dec 1921 Springfield, Colorado married in Wise Co., Texas Sarah Safar L. Lipsey born 26 May 1841 died 25 Oct 1910 Decatur, Texas..

Children:
William Frank Davenport 16 Mar 1862
Jerome (Jake) Davenport 2 Jan 1864
Mary Saphire (Sophia) Davenport 7 Jan 1866
Edmond Jones (James) Davenport 7 Feb 1868
Nancy Emelilne Melinda Davenport 7 Jan 1870
Leon Charles Eugene Davenport 22 Feb 1872
James Renshaw Davenport 7 Jan 1874
Jessie Parish Davenport 27 July 1876
Hattie Estelle Davenport 16 Mar 1878
Ida Ora Davenport 3 Apr 1881
Mettie May Davenport 15 Sep 1883

The following was written by Fred Ward who is the son on Nancy Davenport Ware.
She was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Davenport. Fred lived with his family on the farm adjoining Thomas on the south. Fred was born in 1901. He lived close to Thomas and Sarah until her Death in 1910. Most of the information was given to Fred verbally by his mother. Just before her death in 1962. Since Thomas's family moved after 1900 some of the information is incomplete, but the part pertaining to Thomas and Sarah is interesting.

"This is tribute to the father of this large family and is my Grandfather on the maternal side. It seem that he was the dependence of a large family and many others in and outside of his immediate responsibility. His Father in law and his spinster daughter came to live with them and did until they passed away.
It seems that when misfortune overtook some of the direct members of his family, he was the one they all went to for help, and such as it was, it was always shared with those who came to him in the time of need, I don't think that throughout his life anyone was ever turned away from his door or home as humble as it was, and it was a never a complaint of his, at time, time that any imposition had been place upon him. He was the cheerful giver and sustainer in many instances with what he had in any way of resources. I don't think any man ever worked harder to try to support those whom he considered his dependents or his responsibility. His wife even though bearing eleven children was never strong, and he left Wise County and went to Missouri for about six years following the close of the war, in anticipation of improving her health. That accounts for three of the children including my mother being borned in that state. After they came back to Texas in the early seventies it was trying times and there was nothing to do and money was hard to come by, and the government owned all of it, so of necessity he secured employment with them as a freight to the forts in West Texas, Fort Belknap and Griffin, and he hauled flour under contract to those points from Sherman Texas. Of course at that time he was exposed to the hazzards of the trial and used what is now known as the old butterfield route, which was used as the route from St. Louis to El Paso and then into California. This was yet during the time of the Indian depredation in the particular part of the country and he more than once was encountered by them, but fortunately without bodily harm or injury. After this tenure he bought another homestead and proceeded to make the improvement for a permanent home, then settled down to farming again, in more or less successful way reared the large family that he had to the best of his ability and the opportunities than available. As the children grew up married and passed on to other field and places he still remained and maintained a home in case they returned for refuge in adversity. He was never idle and in seasons when most men would take it easy, he was at his business all the time. I think I never saw a handier man with an axe than he. As said before money in those days was hard to come by, and during winter season there was a market for wood, and he would on rainey days and cold days swing the axe and push the saw all day long clearing out all the time new land to be cultivated, and had each growing season what he called new land. You could sell a wagon load of wood in those days for $2.00 and $3.00 per load and two loads a day to town six miles away was nothing unusual for him. Besides what he raised on the farm this would buy the necessities that he could not produce himself. So his life was spent with many misfortunes and disappointments, but through it all he carried on and enjoyed the family life and had the satisfaction of having known that he had made the best of everything and at the same time had gained something in the sacrifices he had made for others, and no man ever in my opinion cherish a family more than he, and many Grandchildren in after years was a great joy to him and no Granddaddy was ever more of an Idol than he with them. He was never known to instigate any differences with neighbors or between them and often acted as the mediator in trivial differences as of natural consequence would arise. He being in no way antagonistic always tended to his own business and let others do the same thing. He having been in Wise County before the (Civil) war and having paid particular attention to the situation as did most everyone in that time, wondering and anticipating what the outcome would be.
It can be said that during this time as is recorded there were the two factions rife in this southland, as between those who were called loyalist and those who still contained the ideals of states rights, and the great amount of aggitation that was constantly coming up between these two factions it did not pay to talk too much. It being a new county and the country and the most of the settlers also being new, this particular county in its then position and condition, was perhaps more divided than others in the area, and some trouble was always in the making. He took not too much interest in politics but always was more or less stood for those things that he sincerely thought was for the best interest of everyone. He was devoutly religious, and I never heard him in my life utter a word of profanity, and I have heard him reprimand his boys who some time used it, in no uncertain terms. He being my maternal grandparent I can see that my mother inherited a lot of his traits, first, that of keeping busy all the time, and also bearing the many things that I would consider impositions. No one ever gave any more consideration to the family relationship than they, nor was anyone more prone to take care of their own business and let others alone. As stated before, grandmother in her ill health a greater part of her life, too placed a lot of the domestic source upon him, and with his kindness and goodness he bought about an understanding that the children should take the responsibility of share and share alike, and could be stern and positive at times in his own way of letting it be known around the home that it was something that like and like interest had to be taken care of. His faithful diligence always persisted. The old homestead has now decayed and it is not like I remember it fifty or sixty years ago. It is entirely different as there is not house or other of the improvement that were built by him, no cultivated land and little time left it is difficult to think that in that time so much change could come about. Time changes a lot of things, this country has been one that has been more or less abandoned, people have looked and found newer land and homes, and those who still live there have changed their ways and means of earning a livelyhood. There are a few but not many of his descendants in that part of the country, they have scattered everywhere and even a lot of the second generation have lost tact of the others and know not of their whereabouts or welfare and this has happened since he passed on. He was known by a lot of people in Wise County and any and all either called him Grandpa or Uncle Tom. His friends were many and he was one to everyone, as they all knew. They still have in that County what was call the Confederacy of old settlers (or otherwise the reunion) , it was organized just after the close of the war. It has been dedicated as a county park and maintained by the county to the memory of this old settler and pioneers, it is now used on many occasions and in varied ways by the direct descendants of those who came there first. In August of each year they still go there to meet those of former years who have moved away but came back to renew acquaintances and talk of the time past and gone. But its not like it was in the early day when communication were much also slower and distances greater, and where the population is not gradually decreasing where as then it was entirely upward. Those who were responsible for its organization all gone and the second, third and perhaps sometimes the fourth generation have forgotten the things and aims and purpose it meant to those who met there again in comradeship to talk of their trials and tribulations, the primitive times and privations, and had the consolation that even though it was a lost cause, their individual liberties were not threatened and that in the future if not for them maybe their posterity would be more enlightened and delighted to know that times for them as they are now were not made in a day or decade, but by the visions of the ancestors of former days. The pioneers of this particular county no doubt was some of the most courageous men in this areas history. Many of them having been appointees to the Texas Ranger forces and served well and long in the defiance of the lines of civilization, and it is but fitting that they should be remembered at least once a year, and their virtues extolled to the understanding of those who never even give it a thought that through their sacrifices we are yet permitted to live in peace and tranquility and follow our daily pursuits of avocation without carrying the differences in the form of firearms. In Wise County the Woody's and Mannings as representative of the Rangers and in Jack County the pioneers as the Kutch, and many others to many to name, at one time formed an association to mark the historical spots, and to erect memorials to mark them, and in a traditional way commemorate, pay tribute and respect to those who fell in battle and to acknowledge the patriotism of those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Most every place has some historical significance and in most instances they kept with reverence, but in the defiance line of the pioneer which lies in this particular areas or geographically speaking in this inconsistent with our ancestral prestige. To make jesting or joking remarks about them is not in compliance with the traditional traits of those who lived here before us. With much less impunity and far greater respect for age and the things of essentiality."
This information was received from Charles Ferguson who compiled the Lipsey information.

Family Name Davenport. We are searching for the family of Elizabeth and John Davenport. Both born about 1808 NC/Tenn/Jersey County Ill.
Three of their children-- Absolam B and Nancy and now Rachael (b about 1847 in Ill)have been located.
We are trying to find where Rachael Davenport Murphy is buried. Milton Murphy the Husband is buried Elsah Il, but as yet Rachael resting place has not been located.
The family's of John & Elizabeth Davenport resting places unknown also. They lived in Jersey County in 1850. Twp7 Range 12.
Their children were Absolam B/ Nancy//Susan //William //Elizabeth//John// Rachael b 1847. Hope these folks can be located.
Also following maybe this can be of help to those searching for other Davenports.
I have 1840 census Cannon Co Tenn where there is :
Willie Davenport//George D./ Warren D//Absolom D// Henry D// Martha D// Coffee Co Tenn 1840 James Davenport. Shelby County Tenn 1840 John C Davenport.
Montgomery Co. Tenn 1840 John Davenport.
Hunphreys Co Tenn 1840 Henry Davenport// James D// Joseph D .John C Davenport. Knox Co. Tenn 1840 Samuel W Davenport.
I hope this info is helpful. Thank You Paul D

The following Davenport data is a brief extract taken from "The Pamunkey Davenports of Colonial Virginia", a working paper compiled by Dr. John Scott Davenport of Holmdel, NJ, as appearing on the PAMUNKEY DAVENPORT GENEALOGY by Jack W. Ralph. and copyrighted 1998 by The Pamunkey Davenport Family Association, Robert L. Davenport, coordinator. For the link to this website go to the bottom of this page. (I think it is GREAT SITE. Please go and look at it. I give all my thanks to Jack and Dr. John Scott Davenport for all their hard work. THANK YOU AGAIN ,Janet)

The following quoted material is re-published with permission of the author.

BEGIN QUOTE

The descriptor "Pamunkey Davenports" (a term coined in January, 1998) is used to identify all those Davenports who trace back to Pamunkey Neck, Old King William County, Virginia, which in 1704 included present-day King William County, the southwestern fourth of Caroline County, and the most southern portion of Spotsylvania County. Old King William was sixty miles long with an average width of nine miles. After Spotsylvania County (1722) and Caroline County (1728) took portions of Upper Pamunkey Neck into their jurisdictions, King William was reduced to its present dimensions--thirty-two miles long with an average width of eight miles.

Pamunkey Davenports include all those descendants, by surname or corollary (daughter) lines, who trace back to Davis Davenport, who first appeared in the King William Quit Rents of 1704, either by proof (son Martin) or by circumstantial evidence (daughter Ann, son Thomas, son John, son Richard, and son Elias). In essence, Pamunkey Davenports can all prove that they trace back to Pamunkey Neck, but in most part cannot yet prove -- and possibly never may be able to do so -- that they trace back to Davis, although circumstantial evidence heavily supports the conclusion that they do. Hence, they can identify themselves collectively as "Pamunkey Davenports" comfortably -- without pretense or need for qualification.

For those unfamiliar with Virginia geography, Pamunkey Neck is that long finger of land running northwest to southeast between the Pamunkey-North Anna River and the Mattaponi River, ending at their confluence to form the York River. Prior to 1701, Pamunkey Neck was the reservation of the Pamunkey, Chickahominy, and Mattaponi Indians as well as a few even smaller tribes. (Both the Pamunkeys and Mattaponis still have small reservations in King William County today.)

Until we identify a Davenport ancestor for Davis Davenport, speculation about his mother being a Davis from New Kent County, has no better legs than our bastardy hypothesis. Those New Kent Davises, who we have investigated and tentatively rejected because there were a half a dozen Davis candidates in closer proximity to our ancestor, were located on the far side of Pamunkey Neck from Davis Davenport's plantation and landing of 1696. The Pamunkey Davenports trace back to Davis Davenport, first in evidence in 1695 in Pamundey Neck(now King William County) which was then and Indian reserbvation. the most tenable scenario for monent is that Davis ws the b****** son of Ann Davenport and a Thomas Davis, both indentured servants, who were in Virginia records in terms of time and place as to make them viable condidates as Davis's father. Few are happy with this speculation, but descendants increased exponentially via sons, Martins, Thomas, John , Richard, and Elias, and daughter Ann. We use the term"Paumdey Davenports" to cicumstantial evidence. Davis might have been a descendant Lancelote, but there is nothing in terms of time of place relative to Colonial Virginia to make that more than wishful thinking.

DAVIS DAVENPORT, b. c1660, m. ?, d. before 1735, King William County. [First found with son Martin in King William Quit Rent Rolls of 1704, but a Davenport Plantation and Landing existed on the Mattaponi River in Pamunkey Neck in 1696. Last found as a mention in Martin's will in 1735.] Children (Order approximate):

END QUOTE

The following was extracted from Dr. Davenport's work, but it has been modified by the WebMaster of this site. The Pamunkey Davenport Family Association does not vouch for it's completeness, accuracy or authenticity.

Descendants of Davis Davenport

1 *Davis Davenport b: Abt. 1650 d: Abt. 1735 Age at death: 85 est. [First found with son Martin in King William Quit Rent Rolls of 1704, but a Davenport Plantation and Landing existed on the Mattaponi River in Pamunkey Neck in 1696. Last found as a mention in Martin's will in 1735.] Children (Order approximate):

1/A Martin Davenport b: MARTIN DAVENPORT, b. c1682, Pamunkey Neck?; m. (1?) ?, c1704, King William County; (2?) Dorothy Glover, c1714?, King William County; d. 1735, Hanover County. Children: (Order uncertain. His Will names only five sons, but circumstantial evidence indicates the possibility of eight sons, four daughters, as follows):

1/A/1 Mary, b. c1706, King William County; m. Henry Gambill, c1728, Hanover County; d. ?, Wilkes County, NC? [Henry Gambill, according to a deposition given by his brother-in-law Thomas Baker who was with him on a venture, died and was buried in the Welsh Tract, PeeDee River waters, SC, in the mid-to-late 1760s. When Mary Gambill and several of her children moved to Western North Carolina in the mid-to-late 1770s, other children and their families from South Carolina joined them there.] Children (Order uncertain):

1/A/2 Daughter [Claimed by some to have been Crotia or Crosha, who was Charles Kennedy's widow, but recent research indicates that Crotia was much too young to have been mother of Kennedy's eldest children], b. c1709?, King William County; m. Charles Kennedy, c1731, Hanover County; d. Before 1758, Louisa or Hanover.

*1/A/3. Thomas, b. 1711, King William County; m. Dorothy ------, c1732, Hanover County; d. 10Nov1809, Burke County, NC. Children: (Order approximate)

1/A/4. Richard, b. c1713, King William County; m. (1) ?, c1734, Hanover County; (2) Elizabeth ------, widow of Robert Hamner, Albemarle County; d. 1792, Albemarle County.

1/A/5. Dorothy, b. 2Nov1716, King William County; m. Thomas Baker, c1734, Hanover County; d. 1790, Burke County, NC. [Thomas Baker manufactured gunpowder for the Continental Army during the Revolution, was killed when his factory in Culpeper County blew up in 1777.]

* Thomas and Dorothy Davenport children:

1/A/3/1 Sophia, b. c1733, Hanover County; m. William White, Culpeper County; d. Nov1818, Burke County, NC.

1/A/3/2 Lucy, b. c1735, Hanover County; m. Richard Graves (C5), 1750, Hanover County; d. ?, Culpeper County?

1/A/3/3 Dorothy, b. c1737, Hanover County; m. John Browning. c17- 57, d. ?

1/A/3/4 Martin, b. c1739, Hanover County; m. (1) Hannah Baker, c1767, Culpeper County; (2) Jane Browning, c1779, Wilkes County, NC?; d. 1815, Burke County, NC.

1/A/3/5* Mary, b. 17Jun1741, Hanover County; m. William (*Edward) Wiseman, c1761 ; d. 17Jun1796, Burke County, NC. Children (Order certain): Thomas Wiseman; Dorothy who married David Baker (A5h) [their daughter Dorothy married David Davenport (A3c)]; William E. Wiseman, Jr.; Mary who married John Puett; Davenport Wiseman; Martin Wiseman; James Wiseman; John Wiseman; Celestial Wiseman; Susannah who married Thomas Baker; Robert Wiseman; and Nancy who married David Hunt. William may or may not have the middle name Edward.

Click here for Wiseman

1/A/3/6 Jerusha, b. c1744, Hanover County; m. James White, ?, Culpeper County, VA; d. ?, Natchez, MS.

1/A/3/7 Rachel, b. c1747, Hanover County; m. William Cole, Culpeper County, VA (to Jeffrey's Creek SC, then to Burke County, NC); d. ?

B. Thomas Davenport of Cumberland County Children:

B1. James, b. c1712, King William County; m. Catherine [Jenkins? Glenn?], c1740, King William County; d