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Cornelius Davis (c1805) and Tabitha --- of Brunswick and Columbus Co, NC[Commentary] [Children] [Researcher List] [Register Report] [A Note about sources] [How to contact me] [Home] I (Marty Grant) am a 4th Great Grandson of Cornelius Davis and Tabitha ---. Cornelius "Neal" Davis was born ca 1804/1805 in NC, presumably in the area near the present community of Delco, in Ransom Township in Columbus Co, NC. This area was part of Brunswick County (and North West Township) prior to 1877. I don't know who Neal's parents are yet. I haven't found any records associating him with any other Davis families. I've attempted to use the early census records to possibly identify his parents, but this has not proven too helpful. The 1810 census (Brunswick Co, NC) shows several Davis families with sons "under 10" (born ca 1800/1810) including William Davis, Bartholomew Davis, John Davis, and J. B. Davis. One of these four men could be Neal's father. Another household, Richard Davis contained no detail, as his family was listed in the "Other" column (for Free Colored). He is also a possibility for the 1840 census record showed Cornelius in the "free colored" columns as well. On 7 Jan 1815 Jonah Keith of Brunswick Co, NC sold 34 acres of land to "Neale Davis" for $17. This was land on Livingstone Creek. Witnesses included Solomon Taylor Sr and Solomon Taylor. The deed was proven in Brunswick County Court on 27 Jan 1818 by the oath of Solomon Taylor, one of the witnesses. Since Neal was only 10 years old at this point, this seriously implies some kind of relationship between Jonah Keith and Neal Davis, except for the fact that it wasn't a deed of gift. There was no minimum age to be given or sold land, however, a 10 year old couldn't incur a debt, so someone else had to pay for this land. (Brunswick Co, NC Deed Book H page 6) I though that perhaps the above deed was for another Neal Davis, considering his age at that time (10 years old), but my Neal Davis had this same land in later years, and sold it to his granddaughter in 1880, so there seems little doubt he is the same person. It was perfectly legal to sell or give land to a minor, but a minor couldn't sell land. I found "J. Keith" and "S. Taylor" next to each other on the 1810 Brunswick County census. Solomon was born before 1765, and Jonah born ca 1765/84 per their ages on the 1810 census. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but J. Keith was next to J. Truman (or Freeman) and J. Grant households, both of whom were all listed in the "Free colored" columns. There were also some Jacobs families nearby who were also Free Colored. I mention this since Neal Davis was listed as Free colored on the 1840 census (and that was the only record showing him that way, all others showed him as white). D. B. Davis was just a few houses from the Keiths and Taylors in 1810. This is probably Dunbar Davis. "B. Davis" was also listed nearby. Dunbar had no apparent sons Neals age, but "B. Davis" had 2 sons under 10 (born 1800/10). "B" is probably Bartholomew Davis (1765/75). The 1820 census did not show Neal Davis as a head of household, though he was landowner at this time, he was still a minor (and only about 15 years old) so he must have been with his parents or other relatives. In 1820 there were two Davis households that had someone about his age residing with them: Bartholomew Davis (1765/75), and William B. Davis (just as in 1810). I don't know if either of these are likely candidates or not, though I'd favor Bartholomew since he was near Jonah Keith and Solomon Taylor in 1810 who we know are associated with Neal Davis. By the time of the 1830 census, Neal Davis was about 25 years old, and certainly old enough to be on his own, though he was not listed as a head of household, so he must have been with his parents or other relatives at this time. As in previous census years, there were a few Davis households in Brunswick County that had someone the right age with them, including: Thomas Davis (c1776) (free colored household, but someone Neal's age was there), Bartholomew Davis (just as in 1810 and 1820), and Richard Davis (free colored, but someone close to Neal's age was there). Neal Davis married Tabitha --- ca 1832 in Brunswick Co, NC. Her maiden name isn't known, but I suspect it may be Wallace based on some highly speculative circumstantial evidence. On the 1860 census, Tabitha was listed as being born in "SC". The very next household to them was that of Henry Wallace, just slightly younger than Tabitha, and also born in SC. No one else near there was born in SC. Backing up to 1850, Henry Wallace was just four houses away from the Neal Davis family. Like I mentioned, this is very circumstantial, but it is the only real clue I have so far. Neal Davis was listed as a head of household on the 1840 census in Brunswick Co, NC. Interestingly, his household was enumerated in the "Free Colored" columns. This means the census taker thought the family was of mixed blood, either part Black (African) or Indian or some other "non-white" ethnic origin. In the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census records, his family was always listed as "White", see my Ethnic Origins pages for more information on this subject. Neal Davis being shown in the Free Colored columns makes me wonder if he was somehow connected to the Thomas Davis or Richard Davis family, both of whom were always in the Free Colored columns. There are two possibilities, one, Neal Davis and family were mistakenly listed as "free colored" in 1840 (which works considering they were "White" in 1850 through 1880), or two, they (or at least he) had some mixed blood, either Black or Indian (or something else). At this point I don't have enough information to draw any conclusions. Neal's 1840 census entry put him on a page that was mostly "free colored" listings. I don't know if this means they all lived in the same area, or if the census taker grouped them all together on purpose. However, I don't think the census taker changed anything, it looks like the names are in neighborhood order, so those listed may all be neighbors to the Davis family. The Jacobs and Freeman families were nearby (who were also neighbors to Bartholomew Davis in previous census years). Neal's next door neighbors in 1840 were James Smith and Archy Freeman (both listed as "Free Colored"). 1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 1840 Brunswick County, NC pg 19 Neal Davis 0000000000000-0000000000000-301000-301000 Analysis: (all listings are in the "Free Colored" columns) 1 Male(s) 24-35 (1804-1816) Cornelius DAVIS (1804/05) s/o ? 3 Male(s) 0-9 (1830-1840) Robert DAVIS (1833/34) son William DAVIS (1835/36) son Leonard DAVIS (1838/39) son 1 Female(s) 24-35 (1804-1816) Tabitha WALLACE Davis (1809/10) wife 3 Female(s) 0-9 (1830-1840) Mary DAVIS (1837/38) daughter Daughter? (1830/40) --> gone by 1850 Sarah DAVIS (1840/41) daughter Neal Davis and family were listed on the 1850 census in Brunswick Co, NC in Northwest District. They were listed as "White" in this census (and all later census records). Junius Davis was the only other Davis household in that district, but he wasn't listed nearby. Neal was four houses from Henry Wallace, possible brother-in-law. Neal's next door neighbors were John Wells and Henry Jacobs (who was listed as "Mulatto").
1850 BRUNSWICK CO, NC Page 140 House/Family # 34/ 34 -- NORTHWEST DISTRICT Twp DAVIS NEAL 45 M W FARMER 164 NC 1804/1805 DAVIS TABITHA 40 F W NC 1809/1810 DAVIS ROBERT 16 M W NC 1833/1834 DAVIS WILLIAM 14 M W NC 1835/1836 DAVIS MARY 12 F W NC 1837/1838 DAVIS LENOARD 11 M W NC 1838/1839 DAVIS SARAH 9 F W NC 1840/1841 DAVIS LUKE 8 M W NC 1841/1842 DAVIS JOHANNA 6 F W NC 1843/1844 DAVIS MAHALY 5 F W NC 1844/1845 DAVIS ELVY 3 F W NC 1846/1847 DAVIS CORNELIUS 2 M W NC 1847/1848 DAVIS ARMILIN 8/12 M W NC 1849/1850 Neal Davis and family were listed on the 1860 census in Brunswick Co, NC in Northwest District. They were listed as "White" in this census. Again, Junius Davis was the only other Davis household in that district, but he wasn't listed nearby. Their "next door" neighbors were the Edward Bowen family and the Henry Wallace family.
1860 BRUNSWICK CO, NC Page 216B House/Family # 99/ 99 -- NORTH WEST DIST Twp ROBESON P.O. DAVIS CORNELIUS 55 M W FARMER 318 234 NC 1804/1805 DAVIS TABITHA 55 F W SC 1804/1805 DAVIS MARY 28 F W NC 1831/1832 DAVIS LUKE 21 M W NC 1838/1839 DAVIS SARAH 26 F W NC 1833/1834 DAVIS MEHALA 18 F W NC 1841/1842 DAVIS JOANNA 16 F W NC 1843/1844 DAVIS CORNELIUS 12 M W NC 1847/1848 DAVIS ARMOLIN 9 M W NC 1850/1851 DAVIS MANLY 5 M W NC 1854/1855 DAVIS DAUGHERTY 3 M W NC 1856/1857 I don't yet know if Neal and his sons participated during the Civil War. What I do know is that most of his family was gone from Brunswick County by the time of the 1870 census, and I have yet to track any of them down. Tabitha (---) Davis must have died during the 1860's, for she was not with Cornelius for the 1870 census. Cornelius was listed on the 1870 census in Northwest District in Brunswick County.
1870 BRUNSWICK CO, NC Page 36 House/Family # 394/ 394--NORTHWEST Twp DAVIS CORNELIUS 60 M W FARMER 164 100 NC 1809/1810 DAVIS MALINDA 30 F W KEEPING HOUSE NC 1839/1840 DAVIS ARMAND 15 M W AT HOME NC 1854/1855 DAVIS WADDELL 14 M W AT HOME NC 1855/1856 In 1877, Northwest Township of Brunswick County, including the Livingston Creek area (and what is known today as the Delco community) was given up by Brunswick County, NC and ceded to Columbus County, and became Ransom Township in Columbus County. This included the area where Cornelius Davis lived. On 1 Nov 1877 Cornelius Davis sold land on John's Branch to Franklin M. Carroll. I haven't figured out where he got this land yet. Witness was D.J. Daniel. (Columbus Co, NC Deed Book N2 page 483). Cornelius and his daughter Mahala and her children were listed in Ransom Township in Columbus Co, NC for the 1880 census. They were the only Davis family in that Township. They were listed between the households of J. B. Wilkins and Frank Carroll.
1880 COLUMBUS CO, NC Page 70B House/Family # 118/ 118 -- RANSOM Twp DAVIS CORNELIUS W M 75 HD W FARMER NC NC NC 1804/1805 DAVIS MAHALY W F 30 D S KEEPING HOUSE NC NC NC 1849/1850 DAVIS TABITHA W F 21 D S NC NC NC 1858/1859 DAVIS MARY C W F 14 D S NC NC NC 1865/1866 DAVIS THOMAS M W M 10 S S NC NC NC 1869/1870 On 24 Jul 1880 (this year is probably off slightly) Cornelius Davis sold his 34 acres on Livingston Creek to Mary C. Watson (his granddaughter). The deed was witnessed by M. J. Russell and F. P. Bordeauex and was recorded 3 Mar 1905 (many years after the fact). The trouble with the date of the deed is that Mary C. Davis didn't marry William H. Watson until 1882. The 1880 census and the 1880 deed is the last record I have for Cornelius Davis. I don't know when he died, but it was prior to 1900. I assume that he and his wife Tabitha are buried somewhere in the Delco, NC area (Columbus County). ChildrenCornelius Davis and Tabitha Wallace had at least 14 children, all proven by the 1850 through 1880 census. Some of those listed as children could actually be grandchildren instead. Unknown Daughter born ca 1830/1840. She was with the family on the 1840 census, but gone by 1850, so probably had married or died by then. Robert Davis was born ca 1833/34 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850 census, but gone before 1860. I didn't find him in Brunswick County that year, so I don't know if he died before then, or moved away. William Davis was born ca 1835/36 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850 census, but gone before 1860. I didn't find him in Brunswick County that year, so I don't know if he died before then, or moved away. Mary Davis was born ca 1837/38 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census. She was gone by 1870, unless she was the "Malinda Davis" age 30 living with Cornelius Davis, which could be her. Leonard Davis was born ca 1838/39 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850 census, but gone before 1860. I didn't find him in Brunswick County that year, so I don't know if he died before then, or moved away. Sarah Davis was born ca 1840/41 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census. She was gone by 1870, unless she was the "Malinda Davis" age 30 living with Cornelius Davis, which could be her, but I don't know. Luke Davis was born ca 1841/42 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census, but gone by 1870. Johanna Davis was born ca 1843/44 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census, but gone by 1870, so probably had married or died before then. Mahala Davis was born ca 1844/45 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). Mahala is my ancestor. She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census. Mahala had a child out of wedlock, born August 1866 (Mary Catherine Davis, my ancestor who married William H. Watson), and was charged with Bastardy. She had to obtain a Bastardy Bond in November 1866, and the Bondsmen included Mahala herself, W.R. Skipper, and William Smith Jr. Though the bond doesn't give that information, either Skipper or Smith could be the father. I did not find Mahala Davis listed on the 1870 census, but by 1880 she was living with her father in Columbus Co, NC. She was single, and may have had one other child by then as well. Elvy Davis was born ca 1846/47 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). She was home with her parents for the 1850 census, but gone by 1860. Due to her age, I suspect she died before then, but she could have married by then, or else just been living elsewhere as a servant, and not listed on the census. Cornelius Davis was born ca 1847/48 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census, but gone by 1870. Armilin Davis was born ca 1849 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census, but gone by 1880. Manly Davis was born ca 1854/55 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1860 census, but gone by 1870 unless he was the one listed as "Waddell" age 14. Daugherty Davis was born ca 1856/57 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). He was home with his parents for the 1860 census, but gone by 1870. Tabitha Davis was born ca 1858/59 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). She was not with the family in 1860 or 1870 but was there in 1880. She could be a granddaughter instead. Thomas M. Davis was born ca 1869/70 in Brunswick Co, NC, presumably in the Delco area (now Ransom Township, Columbus Co, NC). Thomas is probably a grandson, but he was with Cornelius in 1880 and listed as "son". He wasn't listed on the 1870 census. Researcher ListPersons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
Register Report1. Cornelius1 Davis , born 1804/05 in Brunswick Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Columbus Co, NC He married in 1830/33 in Brunswick Co, NC Tabitha Wallace , born 1809/10 in SC; died 1860/70 in Brunswick Co, NC, daughter of (---) Wallace . Children of Cornelius Davis and Tabitha Wallace were as follows:
Generation 29. Mahala2 Davis (Cornelius1), born 1844/45 in Brunswick Co, NC. She married in Not married (---) ? . Children of Mahala Davis and (---) ? were as follows:
Generation 317. Mary Catherine3 Davis (Mahala2 Davis, Cornelius1), born Aug 1866 in Brunswick Co, NC (now Columbus Co, NC). She married on 16 Nov 1882 in Columbus Co, NC William H Watson , born Mar 1852 in Onslow Co, NC; died in Marion Co, SC, son of Joseph Watson and Sarah Jenkins . Children of Mary Catherine Davis and William H Watson were as follows:
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