Andrew Davis and Margaret --- of Yancey Co, NC

Andrew Davis was born ca 1819/20 in North Carolina. If he was the son of Andrew Davis (Sr) as I suspect, then he was most likely born in Iredell Co, NC. If he wasn't a son of Andrew Sr, then perhaps he was born in the Yancey County area, though at that time, still part of Burke and Buncombe Counties.

I suspect that Andrew was a son of the elder Andrew Davis due to them being in the same area (Three Mile Creek) and the close proximity of Andrew (Jr) to the William Davis Sr family, who's daughter Rachel married Andrew Sr's son William Davis (confused yet?). These two Davis families (William Sr and Andrew Sr) were not related to each other as far as I know, (except by marriage) but lived in the same area and were definitely associated with one another. On the 1850 census, Andrew (Jr) was two houses from Nancy Davis Burleson, daughter of William Sr, and just seven houses from Joseph Pyatte and his wife Jane Davis (c1796) (who's parents I have not yet identified). This puts three different (but associated) Davis families in very close proximity. They may all be related after all, but I've not found the common connection.

Assuming that Andrew Davis (Jr) was a son of Andrew Sr, then he appears to be with Andrew Sr on the 1830 and 1840 census. In 1830, Andrew Sr had a son age 10-14 (born ca 1815/20) that is probably this Andrew.

Around 1835, Andrew Sr moved over to Cocke Co, TN, and took his younger children with him, while his older (and married) children remained in Yancey Co, NC. The 1840 census record for Andrew Sr (in Cocke Co, TN) shows someone Andrew Jr's age 15-19 (c1820/25) which might be him. Another possibility is that he was still in Yancey in 1840 living with his brother William Davis, who did seem to have someone Andrew's age with him (they were all with William's father-in-law William Davis Sr). It is possible both enumerations are for Andrew, if he moved back and forth during the census year. Since he would have been 19 or 20 in 1840, he didn't have to still be home with his parents.

Regardless of where Andrew was in 1840 (with father Andrew, or with his "in-law" William Davis Sr), he was back in Yancey County, NC in time to marry Margaret --- before 1843. I don't know what her maiden name might have been. It is possible they married in Cocke Co, TN instead of NC, but the early marriage records for both counties are no longer extant, so I can't be sure. She was born ca 1819 in NC.

Andrew Davis served in the Mexican War. On 14 Feb 1847 "Andrew Davis", age 26 of Yancey County, enlisted in Company D as a Private. They mustered in at Smithville, NC on 14 Feb 1847, and mustered out at the same place on 7 Aug 1848. I don't know what, if any, action his unit saw. (From North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, Vol XXVI, No. 3, August 2000).

Andrew and family were listed on the 1850 census in Yancey County, NC. They were listed between Walter McCurry and James H. Wiseman families. Two houses away was Nancy Davis Burleson, daughter of William Davis Sr and Frances Carpenter. Seven houses away was Joseph Pyatte and Jane Davis (c1796), who might be related to Andrew in some way. Andrew's probable brother William Davis was just eleven houses away.

Andrew and family were still in Yancey for the 1860 census, and still apparently in or near the Three Mile Creek area. No other Davis families were listed close by them though.

Mitchell County was created from part of Yancey in 1861, including the Three Mile Creek area.

Andrew Davis and family were in Toe River Township of Mitchell County, NC for the 1870 census.

It seems that both Andrew and Margaret died in the 1870/1880 timeframe in Mitchell County, NC, as they were not found on the 1880 census, and several of their unmarried children were living together at that time, with no sign of parents.

Children

Andrew and Margaret Davis had at least six children per the 1850 through 1880 census records. If they had others, they may have been born and died between census years.

Harriett Louisa Davis was born ca 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). I don't know who she might have been named after, if anyone in particular.

She was with her parents for the 1850 census ("Harriet L."), and with them in 1860 ("Harriet"), and 1870 ("Harriet"), and with her brother John in 1880, listed as "Louisa" age 33, and listed as his sister.

William Alexander Davis was born ca 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). He was probably named, in part, after his Uncle William Davis.

He was with his parents for the 1850 census ("William A."), and 1860 ("Alexander"), but not found after that. He may have died during the Civil War, or some other time during the 1860/70 timeframe. Either that, or he moved away from the area.

Thomas M. Davis was born ca 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). He was probably named after his Uncle Thomas W. Davis.

Thomas married Eliza A. --- before ca 1879 in Mitchell County, NC. I don't know what her maiden name might have been.

They were listed on the 1880 census in Mitchell County, next door to his unmarried siblings.

John Wesley Davis was born ca 1852/53 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). He was probably named, in part, after his Uncle John M. D. Davis.

In 1880, John was listed as head of household (as "Wesley"), with his unmarried siblings residing with him. They were next door to brother Thomas Davis. A "Niece" named Ollive Davis, age 12 (c1867/68) was residing with him. That means she was a child of one of his siblings, but which one?

George W. Davis was born ca 1855/56 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). He was probably named after his Uncle George W. Davis.

George was with his parents for the 1860 and 1870 census, and with brother John Wesley Davis in 1880.

"George W. Davis" age 30, married Elizabeth Lewis age 18 on 26 Dec 1888 in Mitchell Co, NC. They were married by J. P. Thompson, JP at Toe River.

Rachel E. Davis was born ca 1858/59 in Yancey Co, NC (now Avery Co, NC). She might have been named after her Aunt (by marriage) Rachel Davis.

She was with her parents for the 1860 and 1870 census, and with brother John Wesley Davis in 1880.

"Rachel Davis" age 30, married Johnston Gilbert age 71 on 27 Nov 1887 in Mitchell Co, NC. They were married by N. H. Ollis at Toe River. I'm also a Gilbert researcher, but I don't know who this was.

Researcher List

1. Andrew¹ Davis (Pvt) , born 1819/20 in Iredell Co, NC; died 1870/80 in Mitchell Co, NC, son of Andrew Davis and (---) Houston . He married in 1840/43 in Yancey Co, NC Margaret (---) , born 1818/19 in Burke Co, NC (now Yancey Co, NC); died 1870/80 in Mitchell Co, NC.

Children of Andrew Davis (Pvt) and Margaret (---) were as follows:

2 i Hariett Louisa² Davis , born 1842/43 in Yancey Co, NC.

3 ii William Alexander² Davis , born 1846/47 in Yancey Co, NC.

+ 4 iii Thomas M² Davis , born 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC. He married Eliza A (---) .

5 iv John Wesley² Davis , born 1852/53 in Yancey Co, NC.

6 v George W² Davis , born 1855/56 in Yancey Co, NC. He married on 26 Dec 1888 in Mitchell Co, NC Elizabeth Lewis , born 1869/70 in Mitchell Co, NC.

7 vi Rachel E² Davis , born 1858/59 in Yancey Co, NC. She married on 27 Nov 1887 in Mitchell Co, NC Johnston Gilbert , born 1805/06.

Generation 2

4. Thomas M² Davis (Andrew¹), born 1848/49 in Yancey Co, NC. He married in 1870/79 in Mitchell Co, NC Eliza A (---) , born 1860/61 in Yancey Co, NC.

Children of Thomas M Davis and Eliza A (---) were as follows:

8 i Milas R³ Davis , born 1878/79 in Mitchell Co, NC.

Andrew Davis (c1820) and Margaret --- of Yancey Co, NC

Children

Researcher List

Register Report