Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

John Davis (c1800-1881) and Sarah Buchanan of Burke, Yancey and Mitchell Co., NC

[Davis Home] - [Table of Contents] - William Davis - John Davis.

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

John Davis is my 4 times Great Uncle.

John Davis was born ca 1799/1800 per his age on the 1850 census (50), 1860 census (60) and 1880 census (80). There are some researchers that show him born 20 Oct 1798, but I have yet to see a source for that. It doesn’t match the census records mentioned, but it does kind of match his 1870 entry, age 72 (c1797/98). If he was born 20 Oct 1799, then that would work because he would be 50 in 1850 (census time was June, before his birthday), etc. However, I’m not going to use this date not knowing it’s origin. I would go so far to say it’s more likely he was born in 1799 than 1800 judging by his ages in pre 1850 censuses.

John was born in Burke Co., NC, now Avery Co., NC, probably on the Crossnore property.

John is a child of William Davis (1731-1841) and Frances Carpenter as named in his 1836 Will.

There are some researchers who list John as “John David Davis,” but I have seen no evidence at all that he had a middle name. I doubt he did.

John seems to be home with his parents on the 1800 census, aged under 10 (born 1790/1800) and still home in 1810, aged 10-15 (1794/1800) and still home in 1820, aged 16-25 (1794/1804).

In July 1820 Burke County court, Aden Carver was appointed overseer of the Yellow Mountain road from David Tate’s plantation to Gilbert White’s with the hands to work under him, (to wit): Adin Carver, William Poteat, Henry Steveter?, John Davis, Jacob Davis, Jacob Carpenter, Bedford Wiseman, Alexander Wiseman, John Ollis, Thomas Carver, Gilbert White & Thomas Burllison. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1829.)

John Davis married Sarah Buchanan between 1820 and 1823 in Burke (now Avery) Co., NC. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificates of two of their children, both of which list her as “Sally Buchanan.”

Sally Buchanan was born ca 1801/02 per her ages on the 1850 census (48) and 1860 census (58). She was 70 in 1870, or born ca 1799/1800. I suspect the two prior ones were more accurate. She was born in Burke Co., NC (per her 1870 census entry). Other researchers show her parents as Joseph Buchanan and Sarah Jones (who married 1792 in Rutherford Co., NC). I don’t know if there is any primary evidence linking Sarah Buchanan Davis to Joseph Buchanan.

I’ve made a small attempt to sort out the Buchanan families with limited results.

There were none of this surname in Burke Co., NC on the 1790 census. There were four households by 1800. This census was alphabetical so I can’t determine where anyone lived or who their neighbors were.

1800 Census, Burke Co., NC

p. 723 Mary Buckhannon                   00300-01201-0-0

p. 723 James Buckhannon                 30010-10010-0-0

p. 728 James Buchannon                   00101-00001-0-0

p. 728 Joseph Buchannon                  30010-20010-0-0

By 1810 the population had nearly doubled.

1810 Census, Burke Co., NC

p. 321 Joseph Buchanan                    12101-51010-0-0

p. 322 Arthur Buchanan                     30010-00100-0-0

p. 322 Arthur Buchanan Sr                00001-00001-0-0

p. 322 William Buchanan                   42010-32010-0-0

p. 352 James Buchanan                      02110-31010-0-0

p. 352 Joseph Buchanan                    00010-00010-0-0

p. 352 Mary Buchanan                       00110-10101-0-0

p. 352 John Buchanan                        20010-10010-0-0

The above is the first census which should include Sarah. She’d be around 8 years old. Joseph Buchanan, who others say is her father, did have five apparent daughters in the under 10 age category. One of those could be Sarah. Furthermore, he was living right in the midst of Davis relatives so that’s a point in his favor. William Buchanan on the next page was nearby as well and he had 3 daughters under 10. The other Buchanans who had daughters her age were in a different section of the county it seems, so probably not likely parents for Sarah, though still possible.

There are six Buchanan households in Burke in 1820.

1820 Census, Burke Co., NC

p. 13 James Buchanon        200100-10100-0-0

p. 53 Arthur Buchanan       000001-00001-0-0

p. 55 William Buchanan     321301-22101-0-0

p. 55 George Buchanan      000100-10100-0-0

p. 55 Joseph Buchanan       110001-12301-0-0

p. 55 Arther Buchanan       330011-11111-0-0

Sarah would be about 18 for this census and should be in the age 16-25 grouping. William had one female that age, Joseph had three. George and James had one each, but I suspect that would be their wives, not daughters.

There were 13 Buchanan households in 1830 Burke. I didn’t look too closely at them since Sarah was already married to John Davis by then. However, I did abstract them all just to see where they were.

1830 Census, Burke Co., NC

p. 195 James Buchanan      2101001000000-2200100000000

p. 196 John Buchanan        0033000000000-0010000100000

p. 196 Joseph Buchanan    0011000001000-0010000100000 <---

p. 197 James Buchanan      2001000000000-1100010000000

p. 197 Wm Buchanan         0000100000000-1000100000000

p. 199 Joseph Buchanan    1000100010000-1000000000000

p. 199 James Buchanan      0000100000000-2200100000000

p. 199 Wm Buchanan         0011000100000-0012101000000

p. 199 George Buchanan   2200010000000-0100010000000

p. 200 Arther Buchanan     0000100000000-2000100000000

p. 202 John Buchanan        3000100000000-0100100000000

p. 202 John Buchanan        2000010000000-1211000000000

p. 202 Wm Buchanan         1100010000000-0100100000000

Joseph Buchanan (p. 196) was three houses from William Davis, and not too far from John Davis, so that lends credence to the idea he was Sarah’s father. Further, he no longer had any daughters at home her age by this census. There was another Joseph listed in 1830 also.

In January 1824 Burke county court, it was ordered that Thomas Burleson (John Davis’s brother-in-law) oversee the road in room of Aden Carver leading toward the Yellow Mountain from David Tate’s plantation to Gilbert White’s with the hands to work on the road (to wit): John Ollis, Bedford Wiseman, William Carpenter (1st cousin), Jacob Davis (brother), Thomas Davis (brother), John Davis, John Vance (soon-to-be brother-in-law), Thomas Vance, James Moody, David Carpenter (1st cousin), Lewis Vance, William Vaughan (brother-in-law), Alexander Wiseman, Thomas Burlison, Josiah Wiseman, William Roberts. (Burke Co., NC Court Records 1818-1819.)

In court, April 1827 it was ordered that several men view and condemn 3000 acres towards the building of an Ironworks. The names: Isaac T. Avery, Jonas Davenport, George Rowin, Jacob Davis, Jacob Carpenter, Aden Carver, Joseph Hopson, Bedford Wiseman, Aron Burlison, Thos Burlison, Harris Pitman, Wilson McKeney, Reuben McKeney, John Davis, Reuben Young, John Buchanan, and Shackwell? Green.

John Davis is listed on the 1830 census in Burke not far from his parents and not far from Joseph Buchanan, Sarah’s possible father. They were next to brother-in-law Josiah Wise. There were two other John Davises in Burke in 1830 also. One lived in what is now McDowell County. I’m not sure where the one was in the county, but he’s much younger so there’s no chance of mixing them up, at least not on census records.

1830 Census, Burke Co., NC

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+

177

John Davis

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

192

John Davis

1

1

~

1

1

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

2

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

196

John Davis

2

1

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 30-39 (1790/1800)       John Davis (c1800)

1m 5-9 (1820/1825)            William Davis (c1823) son

2m 0-4 (1825/1830)            1. Jacob Davis (1826) son

                                               2. Allen Davis (1827) son

1f 20-29 (1800/1810)         Sarah Buchanan Davis (c1802) wife

1f 5-9 (1820/1825)              Mary Ann Davis (1824) daughter

John was named in his father’s 1836 Will as “John Davis.”

On 11 Aug 1837, John Davis made a land entry for 100 acres in Yancey County on Rogers Fork of Three Mile Creek joining William Davis and Col. Brown. The Land Warrant was issued 28 Nov 1837. The survey was made 23 Jul 1838 with Levi Houston and Andrew Davis as chain carriers. The land was granted on 29 Nov 1838. (North Carolina Land Grant # 145, File # 145.)

Andrew Davis was a neighbor and not related as far as can be determined. Levi Houston was related to Andrew Davis and also lived in the same area.

There are two John Davises on the 1840 census in Yancey Co., NC. Ours was listed next to Lodowick Oakes and near brother-in-law Josiah G. Wise.

1840 Census, Yancey Co., NC

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+

258

Jno Davis

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

3

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

275

John Davis

1

2

2

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

2

1

~

1

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 40-49 (1790/1800)       John Davis (c1800)

1m 15-19 (1820/1825)       William Davis (c1823) son

2m 10-14 (1825/1830)       1. Jacob Davis (1826) son

                                               2. Allen Davis (1827) son

2m 5-9 (1830/1835)            1. Josiah D. Davis (c1831) son

                                               2. James H. Davis (1833) son

1m 0-4 (1835/1840)            John P. Davis (1838) son

1f 30-39 (1800/1810)         Sarah Buchanan Davis (c1802) wife

1f 15-19 (1820/1825)         Mary Ann Davis (1824) daughter

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Margaret C. Davis (1833) daughter

2f 0-4 (1835/1840)              1. Rachel E. Davis (1836) daughter

                                               2. Sarah E. Davis (1836) daughter

John Davis was listed on the 1840 Yancey tax list in Cpt. Vance’s company with 319 acres valued at $150, 1 white poll. From: Toe Valley Genealogical Society Newsletter, Volume 5, Number 8, October 1993, 1840 Yancey County Tax List, Capt Vance's Company by Kathy Sullivan.

John was on the 1841 tax list in Yancey in Cpt. Swan’s Company, taxed the same the same as in 1841. From: Toe Valley Genealogical Society Newsletter, Volume 5, Number 9, November 1993, 1841 Yancey County Tax List, Capt Swan's Company by Kathy Sullivan.

John Davis was listed on the Spring 1848 court records for revaluation of property. He was in Cane Creek district.

John was named in the 1849 division of his father William’s estate. John signed his receipt with a mark. The 1850 census indicated he couldn’t read or write.

John and family are on the 1850 census in Yancey Co., NC.

1850 Census, Yancey Co., NC, House (cut off), Family 433

In Oct 1850 court, John Davis was made exempt from paying poll taxes and working on public roads, likely because he was then 50 years old. (Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1844-1870.)

In court during the Fall Term in 1853, John Davis was made Administrator of the estate of his father, William Davis, deceased. William Davis (Jr) had been administrator, but he moved away around that time to join Jacob and Thomas Davis in Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC. (Yancey Co., NC Court Records 1844-1870.)

They are still in Yancey for the 1860 census between sons Allen and Josiah.

1860 Census, Yancey Co., NC, Bakersville PO, House 392, Family 392

Mitchell County was formed in 1861 and they fell into the new county.

They are listed on the 1870 census in Mitchell between sons John and James Davis.

1870 Census, Mitchell Co., NC, Bakersville Township, Bakersville PO, House 87, Family 87

Sarah Buchanan Davis died ca 1875 in Mitchell Co., NC. She is buried at the Mine Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

John Davis is listed on the 1880 census with his son James and family.

1880 Census, Mitchell Co., NC, Bakersville Township, House 150, Family 154

John Davis died ca 1881 in Mitchell Co., NC and is buried at Mine Creek Baptist Church.

Someone has put a nice modern marker there for John and Sarah, inscribed:

Sarah B. Davis 1802-1875

John David Davis 1792-1881

I won’t complain much about the incorrect information inscribed because it was nice of someone to go to the effort and expense of marking their graves.

---

Children

John and Sarah had ten children, all of them proven. Nine are proven by an 1892 deed selling some of John’s property. The tenth, James, is proven by the 1850 census, and another deed and by John’s 1879 Will in which he was the only heir to receive anything.

On 8 Apr 1892, William Davis and wife Elizabeth, Jacob Davis and wife Susan, Allen Davis and wife Anny, Josiah Davis and wife Perlina, John Davis and wife Matilda, John Greene and wife Mary Ann, Allen Buchanan and wife Sarah, Wilburn Wilson and wife Margaret, Linsey Ledford and wife Rachel of Mitchell and Yancey Counties, made a deed to Bedford Wiseman, Susan Ollis, Molton Wiseman, W. W. Wiseman and Martha L. Dayton of Mitchell Co., NC. For $70 they sold 100 acres on south side of Buck Hill. (Mitchell Co., NC Deed Book 29, pp. 141-142.)

The above is all the children of John and Sarah except James H. Davis. The grantees were children of William E. Wiseman and Dulcenia Burleson (who was daughter of Nancy Davis Burleson.) I believe they sold this land to them because they had been living on it awhile already.

Other researchers have placed Beadie Buchanan (1829-1919) (married Henry Grindstaff) as a child in this family. However, she’s a proven Buchanan as shown in her death certificate which lists her as daughter of Sarah Buchanan and unknown father. This could mean she was born out of wedlock, or that the informant simply didn’t know who her father was. I believe some earlier researcher saw Sarah Buchanan listed as her mother and assumed it was John Davis’s wife of that same name. However, Beadie’s mother Sarah Buchanan was a different person from Sarah Buchanan Davis.

---

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Davis and Sarah Buchanan.

---

Revised: January 22, 2026

Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]