Thomas Davis and Elizabeth Pyatte of Burke and McDowell Co, NC

Thomas Davis was born ca 1790/91 in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. He was probably born in 1790. I base ca 1790/91 on his age in 1850 of "59". If born late in 1790, he would not have turned 60 yet when the census taker came around in mid 1850.

According to the research of Norman Davis, Thomas was a son of William and Sarah Davis, as proven by a McDowell County deed dividing land up among several heirs. I don't have this record, but I believe this to be correct.

Thomas seemed to be home with his father for the 1790 and 1800 census, and with his widowed mother for the 1810 census.

On 2 Nov 1812, Thomas Davis obtained a marriage bond in Burke County to marry "Betsy Pyatt" (Elizabeth Pyatte). Joseph Pyatt was the bondsman. Betsy was the daughter of Joseph Pyatte Sr and Sarah Jane Still. Whether it was her father (born ca 1755) or brother Joseph (ca 1790) who was the bondsman, I can't say. They Pyatte's lived near the Davis family in what later became McDowell County. This family had other connections with other Davis families. Elizabeth's brother James Pyatte (c1788) married Jane E. Davis (c1788) in 1813. I don't know how, or if, she connects to Thomas' family. Also, Elizabeth's brother Joseph (Jr) had two children to marry into the Carpenter family of Three Mile Creek, and they were closely connected to the William Davis (1730/40) family (who's wife was a Carpenter). At the very least, this shows that all these Davis families probably new each other, if they weren't related.

Thomas Davis was listed on the 1815 Burke County tax list in Captain Hemphill's district, with 50 acres on Camp Creek, valued at $20, and one poll (himself).

Thomas Davis was listed on the 1820 census in Burke County next to his widowed mother Sally Davis, and next to John Davis, probably his brother, or possibly a brother-in-law, if the same John Davis who married Mary Davis (possibly Thomas' sister) in 1810. Can't be sure with so many John's around.

Thomas was listed on the 1830 census in Burke, several houses from his brother Meredith Davis.

Thomas Davis was listed on the 1840 census in Burke near several relatives and probable relatives, including his siblings: Mary Davis Davis, Meredith Davis, Salathial Davis and others that I don't know the connection for, including John Davis Sr, John Davis Jr, and Patrick Davis.

McDowell County was formed in 1841 from the section of Burke where the Davis family resided.

Thomas Davis and family were listed on the 1850 census in McDowell County. He was just a few houses from Robert Davis (c1828) and John Davis (c1812), relationship unknown, though possibly his sons. Seven year old Sarah C. Dalton was with Thomas, and she could be a niece, a child of his sister Ruth Davis Dalton, or perhaps a granddaughter of Thomas instead.

Children

Thomas and Elizabeth Pyatte Davis had several children, per the 1820 through 1850 census records. Three are proven by the 1850 census, and the rest are unproven (so far).

Unknown Daughter (1810/20). Thomas Davis had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1820 census. She was under 10, or born ca 1810/20. Since he married in 1812, it is likely she was born ca 1812/20. She was gone from his household by 1830, so probably had married, or died by then.

The Burke County marriage records show only three female Davis marriages in the 1820's. These records are far from complete, so none of these might be this girl. On 7 Oct 1823, William Shell obtained a marriage bond to marry Cinthia Davis. Samuel Stalling was the bondsman. On 25 Mar 1828, Lewis Vance obtained a marriage bond to marry Isabel Davis, but she is already accounted for. And on the 16th of (month obscured) 1821, David Dalton obtained a marriage bond to marry Ruth Davis (who is Thomas' sister, so not a suspect). So of these three marriage bonds, only Cinthia is a likely candidate.

William Shell was on the 1830 Burke census, not near any Davis families, both he and his wife were born ca 1800/10 per that record, so that more or less counts them out as possibles. So Cinthia Davis is not likely this daughter of Thomas Davis.

Unknown Daughter (1815/20). Thomas Davis had an apparent daughter this age with him for the 1820 census. She was under 10, or born ca 1810/20. She was still with him in 1830, age 10-14, born ca 1815/20. She was apparently still with him in 1840, age 20-29 (c1810/20). However, she was gone by 1850, so apparently died, or married in the 1840's.

Since McDowell was formed in 1841 from Burke, if she married ca 1840/41, then it was probably in Burke (no female Davis marriage bonds located in Burke in that timeframe), if after 1841, then she probably married in McDowell County.

In the 1841-1850 timeframe, there were several female Davis marriages in McDowell County. There were several, but after checking them, I disqualified all but James P. Leakey (Lackey) and Jane Davis 15 Mar 1843; I could not find them on the 1850 census.

Unknown Son (1820/25). Thomas Davis had an apparent son this age with him on the 1830 census, age 5-9, ca 1820/25, and with him in 1840, age 15-19, ca 1820/25. This child was gone from his household by 1850, so had married or died by then.

There was a Robert Davis (c1821/22) listed four houses from Thomas in 1850. This Robert had an apparent brother Silas Davis (1829/30) residing with him. Both of these are a great fit to be Thomas' children. I have no direct proof that they are his though, other than their ages being a match, and them being so close by.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). Thomas Davis had an apparent daughter this age with him on the 1830 census, age 5-9, ca 1820/25 but gone from his household by 1840, so had married or died by then.

The Burke County marriage bonds only show one female Davis marriage in the 1830's, and that is for Delpha Davis who married John Buchanan, but she is already accounted for.

Unknown Son (1825/30) Thomas Davis had an apparent son this age with him on the 1830 census, age 0-4, ca 1825/30, and with him in 1840, age 10-14, ca 1825/30. This child was gone from his household by 1850, so had married or died by then.

There was a John Davis who married Levicy Noblitt in McDowell in 1844, marriage bond dated 5 Sep 1844. I did not find this couple on the 1850 census. That could be this son of Thomas, but I don't know.

Unknown Son (1825/30). Thomas Davis had an apparent son this age with him on the 1830 census, age 0-4, ca 1825/30, and with him in 1840, age 10-14, ca 1825/30. This child was gone from his household by 1850, so had married or died by then.

I believe this could be Silas Davis (c1829/30) who was residing just four houses from Thomas in 1850, with his apparent brother Robert Davis (c1821/22), who also fits as a possible son of Thomas.

Unknown Daughter (1825/30). Thomas Davis had an apparent daughter this age with him on the 1830 census, age 0-4, ca 1825/30, and with him in 1840, age 10-14, ca 1825/30. This child was gone from his household by 1850, so had married or died by then.

There was a Rebecca Davis (c1825/26), who married John A. Davis (c1823/24) on or after 25 Sep 1844 in McDowell Co, NC. They were only four households from Thomas in 1850.

Mary Davis was born ca 1831/32 in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census, and was with them in 1850.

Thomas A. Davis was born ca 1835/36 in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. He was apparently home with his parents for the 1840 census, and was with them in 1850.

Anna Davis was born ca 1837/38 in Burke (now McDowell) Co, NC. She was apparently home with her parents for the 1840 census, and was with them in 1850.

Researcher List

1. Thomas¹ Davis , born 1790/91 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC), son of William Davis and Sarah "Sally" (---) . He married on 2 Nov 1812 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC) Elizabeth Pyatte , born 1795/96 in Burke Co, NC (now McDowell Co, NC), daughter of Joseph Pyatte and Sarah Jane Still .

Children of Thomas Davis and Elizabeth Pyatte were as follows:

+ 2 i Robert² Davis , born 1821/22 in Burke Co, NC. He married Elizabeth (---) .

3 ii Silas² Davis , born 1829/30 in Burke Co, NC. He married on 30 Nov 1850 in McDowell Co, NC Mary Ann Sophrona Dalton , born 1830/31 in Burke Co, NC; died aft 1910 in McDowell Co, NC, daughter of David Dalton and Ruth Davis .

4 iii Mary² Davis , born 1831/32 in Burke Co, NC.

5 iv Thomas A² Davis , born 1835/36 in Burke Co, NC.

6 v Anna² Davis , born 1837/38 in Burke Co, NC.

Generation 2

2. Robert² Davis (Thomas¹), born 1821/22 in Burke Co, NC. He married in 1840/43 in McDowell Co, NC Elizabeth (---) , born 1819/20 in Burke Co, NC.

Children of Robert Davis and Elizabeth (---) were as follows:

7 i William B³ Davis , born 1842/43 in McDowell Co, NC.

8 ii Obediance E³ Davis , born 1843/44 in McDowell Co, NC.

9 iii George L³ Davis , born 1844/45 in McDowell Co, NC.

10 iv Silas F³ Davis , born 1849/50 in McDowell Co, NC.

Thomas Davis (c1791) & Elizabeth Pyatte of Burke and McDowell Co, NC

Children

Researcher List

Register Report