Marty and Karla Grant
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Elizabeth “Betsy” Davis (1770/80-aft 1836) and Joseph Cantrell of Burke and Yancey Co., NC and Carter Co., TN
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Betsy Davis Cantrell is my 4 times Great Aunt
Elizabeth “Betsy” Davis was born ca 1770/1780 per census analysis:
∙ 1810 census age 26-44, born ca 1765/1784.
∙ 1820 census, not found.
∙ 1830 census age 50-59, born ca 1770/1780.
∙ 1840 census, not found.
She was probably born in Surry Co., NC, though that isn’t known for sure.
Elizabeth is a child of William Davis (1731-1841) and his first wife, who was likely Mary Miller of Surry Co., NC. Betsy was the first named in her father’s 1836 Will, so one would assume she was his oldest daughter since the rest appear to be named in age order.
When her parents split up, ca 1790, Elizabeth may have remained with her mother in Surry or gone with her father to Burke. We don’t know for sure, but she was definitely in Burke by 1804, then between 24 and 34 years old.
She is referred to as both Betsy and Elizabeth on records which isn’t unusual. “Betsy” was a very common nickname for Elizabeth. What is unusual is that William Davis actually has two proven daughters named Elizabeth Davis!
I believe this can be explained. As noted in William’s Will, he alluded to his first wife being unfaithful and that she apparently had children he didn’t claim as his own. It’s possible that Betsy was one of those he didn’t claim at first, thinking she wasn’t his for some reason. Thus, in 1796, with his second wife Frances Carpenter, they named a daughter Elizabeth Davis. If the first Betsy wasn’t his, then no conflict. However, at some point after the birth of the 2nd Elizabeth, he changed his mind about the first one being his, perhaps due to a strong resemblance or some other reason. By then he found himself with two daughters with the same name, born approximately 15 to 20 years apart. An interesting situation, perhaps involving much drama at the time.
If William Davis didn’t claim Betsy at first, then she probably remained with her mother in Surry Co., NC after he moved to Burke. She doesn’t seem to be with him on the 1800 census, though it’s possible she was married by then, though perhaps not legally, as you’ll see a little later on.
Betsy was in Burke Co., NC by 1804.
Betsy Davis married Joseph Cantrell before ca 1797, presumably in Burke Co., NC. I base that date on their likely son Isaac Cantrell who was listed as 53 on the 1850 census, or born ca 1796/97. That might be off a tad because other records show him born ca 1800/1810 (1830 & 1840 census), and ca 1810 (1860 census).
Joseph was born ca 1760/65 per his ages on the various census records. I don’t know who his parents were. There was a rather large family of Cantrells in Pendleton and Spartanburg Districts, South Carolina that he could be connected to, but I don’t know if he was.
In Jan 1795, the Burke court ordered William Davis and Joseph Cantrell and others to lay out a road from Towe and Linville River from John Wagley’s on Linville to Joseph Jones on Tow. Those named: Thos Wiseman, Thos Triplett, Thos Suttles, Jos. Jones, Wm Davis, George Crossnore, Benj. White, John Baker, Joseph Greyer, Samuel Bright, William Wiseman, Martin Wiseman, James Wiseman, Davenport Wiseman, William Wiseman, William Mays, Joseph Cantral, Alexander Cole, John Browning, Martin Davenport, Thomas Davenport, John Browning, Robert Cook and John Wagley. (Burke County, N. C. Land Records 1779-1790 Volume Two, Edith Warren Huggins, p. 143)
I didn’t find Joseph Cantrell on the 1800 census. There is a Charles (1755/74) and William Cantrell (1774/84) listed in Burke that year who were gone by the next census. I don’t know how, or if, they’re related to Joseph Cantrell. (Burke County, N. C. Land Records and More Important Miscellaneous Records 1751-1809 Volume 3, Edith Warren Huggins, p. 49.)
In Jul 1802 Burke court, it was ordered that Rachell and Ferrebee Cantral, orphans be brought into court. I don’t know how, or if, they connect to Joseph.
In January 1804 court in Burke Co., NC, the grand jury “... likewise do present Joseph Cantrel and Betsy Davis as living together as man and wife contrary to the laws of this state.” (Burke Co., NC Civil Action Papers 1804-1806.)
The above means they weren’t legally married. Maybe this is because Joseph Cantrell was so much older than her that he had a prior wife who was still living, thus he couldn’t legally marry Betsy? Or perhaps they were simply living together never having had a wedding. Whatever the reason, they apparently fled the state right about then, as their next child was born that same year in Washington Co., TN.
There is a marriage record in Carter Co., TN dated 14 Jan 1810 where “Joseph Canter” wed Elizabeth Davis. Is this our Joseph? It clearly says “Canter” on the original bond. The bondsman was Daniel Bradley. “Canter” is a valid surname in Carter Co., TN, so this could be a big coincidence and have nothing to do with Joseph Cantrell and Elizabeth Davis.
They returned from Tennessee to Burke County, apparently right after marrying, if that 1810 record is them, which it might not be.
In 1810 there is only Joseph Cantrel in Burke, the others having moved elsewhere apparently. Joseph was living right next to William Davis on this census.
1810 Census, Burke Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
320 |
Joseph Cantrill |
2 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (before 1765) Joseph Cantrell (1760/65)
2m 0-9 (1800/1810) 1. Isaac Cantrell (c1797) son
2. William Cantrell (1800/10) son
1f 26-44 (1765/1784) Betsy Davis Cantrell (1770/1780) wife
1f 0-9 (1800/1810) Margaret Cantrell (c1804) daughter
A deed dated 5 Feb 1810 was proven in April 1821 Burke Co., NC court, from Waightstill Avery to Joseph Cantrel for 70 acres, proven by Isaac T. Avery. (Burke Co., NC Court Minutes 1818-1829.)
In Burke Co., NC court, Oct 1810, in a section labeled “Orphans” it was “Ordered by the court that the Sheriff of Burke bring into next court a boy child of Elizabeth Cantrel now living at William Mackey on Toe River.” (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1807-1818).
Is this our Elizabeth? It might be, though her children wouldn’t technically be orphans at this point, but the court might have considered them so. Read the 24 Oct 1810 record to see why.
There is a curious “Bastardy Bond” in Burke Co. NC dated 24 Oct 1810 for John Cantral, son of Elizabeth Cantral, living at William McCay’s on Toe River. Who is this Elizabeth Cantrell? Is it Joseph’s wife? If so, then perhaps they still weren’t legally married, thus this child was considered born out of wedlock. If this is correct, then the 1810 marriage in Carter Co., TN might not be them after all. William Mackey (McCay) didn’t live all that far from where her father was. He isn’t related to them as far as I’m aware.
A deed dated 19 Jun 1813 was proven in April 1821 Burke Court. The deed was from Joseph Cantrel to William Davis for 40 acres. It was proven by Jacob Carpenter. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1829.)
This is probably a portion of the 70 acres he got from Avery in 1810. Here he sold it to his father-in-law, William Davis.
There were no Cantrells in Burke for the 1820 census. There was a Joseph Cantrell in Boone Co., KY that year and another one in Bourbon Co., KY, but neither of those are the same man from Burke.
I think our Joseph was in nearby Carter Co., TN in 1820, which census is sadly lost. I believe that’s where they were because it’s where I find them in 1830.
On the 1830 census they are listed near a William Cantrell (1800/1810) and an Isaac Cantrell (1800/1810) which fits nicely with the two unidentified sons from the 1810 census. Son-in-law Samuel Rose was nearby as well. They are also very near Robert Vance (c1783) who was in Burke prior to being in Carter and is closely related to the Vances that married into the Davis family, thus making me 100% certain this is the same Joseph Cantrell who was in Burke in 1810.
1830 Census, Carter Co., TN
Page |
Name (Males first row, females on second) |
0-4
|
5-9
|
10-14
|
15-19
|
20-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70-79
|
80-89
|
90-99
|
100+
|
34 |
Joseph Cantrell |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
|
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 60-69 (1760/1770) Joseph Cantrell (1760/65)
1f 50-59 (1770/1780) Betsy Davis Cantrell (1770/1780) wife
1f 15-19 (1810/1815) Elizabeth Cantrell (c1813) daughter
I didn’t find Joseph Cantrell on the 1840 census in Carter Co., TN nor elsewhere. He may have died in the 1830s. His likely sons William and Isaac were still in Carter Co., TN for the 1840 census, the only ones of that surname listed there. Neither of them had their mother with them, apparently. Son-in-law Samuel Rose was in Russell Co., VA in 1840. Betsy didn’t seem to be with them either. Daughter Elizabeth Rose Wilson was in Washington Co., VA in 1840. Betsy didn’t seem to be with her either.
Betsy was still alive in 1836 as named in her father’s Will. She might have still been alive in 1840, but I couldn’t find her on the census. She may have been dead by then, thus having died between 1836 and 1840. I did check the 1850 census for her but didn’t find her.
Census analysis and circumstantial evidence shows that Joseph and Elizabeth had at least four children, two sons (born ca 1800/10) and two daughters, one born 1800/10 and one 1810/1815. The sons are almost certainly Isaac and William who were near them in 1830. I didn’t know the identity of the daughters until finding a 100+ year old book that lists them. While the book has some notable errors, I think the two girls are probably indeed Joseph’s children, namely one who married Samuel Rose and one who married James Wilson. They listed Mrs. Rose as “Mary” but all records I’ve found show her as Margaret. Mrs. Wilson was listed as “Lizzie” in the book, which is often short for Elizabeth, though can be short for Eliza as well. More on the book later.
There is a Jonathan Cantrell born ca 1809 NC who died Jun 1849 in Carter Co., TN on the 1850 census mortality schedule. He was listed as single, no occupation, and died of T. Fever (Typhoid Fever). He is certainly connected somehow, but I don’t know how. It’s possible he’s a son of Joseph and Betsy too, but doesn’t seem to be with them in 1830. Could Jonathan be the “John” Cantrel listed in the 1810 bastardy bond? I have seen the names John and Jonathan used interchangeably, though it’s not all that common. If this is the same person, then he might be a nephew of Joseph and Elizabeth if not their son.
The book I referred to above is “The Cantrill-Cantrell Genealogy” by Susan Cantrill Christie, published sometime after 1897. The Internet archive (archive.org) has the full book available for free download. In the section titled “Descendants of Joseph Cantrill” they include this family. (Note the Joseph in the title of the section isn’t the same Joseph we’re interested in.)
p. 69
678. William Cantrell5 (Stephen,4 John,3, Joseph,2 Richard,1) was born in North Carolina. Married Elizabeth Davis. They moved to Carter county, Tenn. early in the last century.
Children:
721. * i. William.
ii. Isaac. No record, except he d. many years ago.
iii. Lizzie, m. James Wilson. They live in Missouri.
iv. Mary, m. Samuel Rose. They live in Kentucky.
721. William Cantrell6 (William,5 Stephen,4 John,3, Joseph,2 Richard,1) was born in North Carolina and went with his parents to Tennessee. Married Polly Ann Hart, at Hart’s Ferry, Tenn. in 1829. She died Dec. 2, 1872.
Children:
725. i. Elizabeth, b. May 25, 1830; m. William Brunet, in 1849.
Children:
1. Polly Ann Brunet.
2. Lisie Brunet.
726. ii. Nancy, b. Dec. 10, 1833; m. James Simons in 1866.
Child:
1. Jennie Simons.
727. *iii. William Riley.
* It continues William Riley’s line another few generations.
The most important part of the above for us is the first generation. While it clearly shows that William Cantrell is the husband of Elizabeth Davis and father of the children, I think that’s a mistake. While I did use circumstantial evidence to link Joseph Cantrell to Elizabeth Davis, and to their likely sons Isaac and William, the evidence regarding daughter Margaret Rose (listed in the book as Mary) is pretty convincing. Her death record lists her parents as Joseph and Elizabeth Cantrell. While death records aren’t always accurate, hers seems to be, and of course we have other evidence that Betsy Davis married Joseph Cantrell.
The author includes a Joseph Cantrell as a brother to the William above, but they have him in Spartanburg Dist., SC in 1840 and father of Wiley Cantrell and Aaron Cantrell. That’s almost certainly an entirely different Joseph Cantrell than the one I’m interested in. I would also go so far as to say these Cantrell’s in the book might not even be part of the same family as our Joseph. However, I don’t know enough to be certain of that.
Their children:
1. Isaac Cantrell was born ca 1796/97 per his age on the 1850 census (53), or ca 1809/10 per his age in 1860 (50), or 1794/95 per his age in 1880 (85). His 1830 and 1840 entries both give him ages that show born ca 1800/1810. In the book they only say “No record, except that he d. many years ago. He died in the 1880s, so that was approximately 20 years prior to the book.
2. William Cantrell was born ca 1800/1810 per his ages on the 1830 and 1840 censuses. According to the book, he married Polly Ann Hart in 1829 at Hart’s Ferry, TN. I haven’t been able to determine where that is/was. William is on the 1830 census in Carter Co., TN. I should note there were no Hart families on the 1830 census in Carter Co., TN. William’s family in 1830 is large enough to suggest he was married prior to 1829, perhaps to a first wife before Polly Ann.
I found a William Cantrel on the 1844 tax list in Washington Co., TN. I think that is this William. Also in 1844 I found court records regarding the violent assault of one Mary Cantrel in that county by Gabriel G. Bumpass. I don’t know if that was William’s wife or not. There were also court records for an Elizabeth Cantrell that same year related to a riot. I wonder if the two events are connected? In Elizabeth’s case, one Edmund Brummit and wife Eliza were also named. William’s daughter Elizabeth (1830) married a “William Brunet” per the book. She would have been about 14 at this time. Marriage records show that Edmund Brummitt married Eliza J. Davis on 11 Nov 1843 in neighboring Washington Co., VA. Davis is a very common surname, so this might be a coincidence.
I was unable to find William and Polly on the 1850, 1860 or 1870 censuses. Their daughter Nancy and son William were both in Washington Co., VA in 1870. I wasn’t able to find them before that.
There is a William Cantrell, 51 (c1799 NC) and wife Mary, 47 (c1803 VA) on the 1850 census in White Co., TN. I’m 100% sure this isn’t the same William from 1830 and 1840 Carter Co., TN for this William of 1850 White was also in White back in 1840 and 1830, thus a different person.
3. Margaret Cantrell was born ca 1804 in Washington Co., TN. She was married to Samuel Rose (c1804 NC). The book included her, but listed her as “Mary” instead of Margaret, and stated they resided in Kentucky. However, as best as I can tell, they never lived in Kentucky. They lived in south western Virginia which borders Kentucky, which might be the source of the confusion.
They appear to have married in the 1820s, likely in Carter Co., TN. They are listed on the 1830 census in Carter Co., TN near Joseph, Isaac and William Cantrell. In fact, when I was first searching for the Cantrells, I noticed Samuel Rose nearby and thought there might be a connection. At the time I didn’t know one of the Cantrells had married Samuel Rose. However, he caught my eye because a Nathan Rose (c1808 NC) had married a daughter of Sarah Davis Rowan around this same time, thus the name jumped out at me because I thought there might be a connection. I don’t know if Samuel and Nathan Rose are related, but they’re the right ages to be brothers. Their wives would be 1st cousins to each other.
Samuel Rose is listed on the 1840 census in Russell Co., VA. They are still there for the 1850 census. By 1860 they are in Buchanan Co., VA and by 1870 in Wise Co., VA and still there in 1880. When Margaret died in 1881 in Dickinson Co., VA, her death record confirmed that she was a Cantrell and that her parents were Joseph and Elizabeth.
4. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cantrell was born ca 1812/13 in Carter Co., TN. She married James Harvey Wilson ca 1830/35 in Carter Co., TN. He was from Washington Co., VA I think.
I wasn’t able to locate them at first because James and Elizabeth Wilson are such common names. However, I discovered others had them in their trees on Ancestry.com. Normally those trees are undocumented, but several of them had proof it was the right family. The Wilsons are on the 1840 census in Washington Co., VA, the 1850 census in Marion Co., KY. Mr. Wilson died in the 1850s, and Elizabeth married again in 1859 to Elmodum Walton, in Clay Co., IL. They are listed there on the 1860 census. He died before 1870, and she is listed on the 1870 census in Clay Co., IL. I didn’t find her after that.
The book stated “They live in Missouri.” That was current tense, suggesting they were still living as of ca 1900. However, it’s more likely Elizabeth was dead by then, but perhaps not.
5. There is a Thomas Cantrell, 25 (born ca 1825 NC) on the 1850 census in Yancey Co., NC next to Nancy Davis Burleson, daughter of William Davis. I don’t know who Thomas Cantrell is, whether connected to Joseph and Betsy or not, but it’s interesting that he was next to Betsy’s half sister on this census. They were the only Cantrells in that county at the time. They remained in that area until death, I believe.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Elizabeth “Betsy” Davis and Joseph Cantrell.
Revised: January 23, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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