Marty and Karla Grant

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Thomas Davis (c1805-aft 1880) and Arabella Burchfield of Burke, Yancey, Cherokee and Graham Co., NC and Blount and Polk Co., TN

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Thomas Davis is my 4 times Great Uncle.

Thomas Davis was born ca 1804/05 per his ages on the 1850 census (45), 1870 census (65) and 1880 census (75), which are surprisingly consistent. He was born in Burke Co., NC, now Avery Co., NC, probably on the Three Mile Creek property.

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

There is another Thomas Davis (c1805) who lived in Watauga Co., NC (where some of our Davises also lived) that is often mistaken for our Thomas. That Thomas in Watauga was married to Lurany Holeman. He is not a son of William Davis, nor related as far as I can determine.

Our Thomas was seemingly home with his parents for the 1810 census aged under 10 (1800/1810), and home in 1820 aged 10-15 (c1805/1810), and still home in 1830 age 20-29 (c1800/1810).

In January 1824 Burke county court, it was ordered that Thomas Burleson (Thomas 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, John Davis (brother), 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.)

Thomas Davis married Arabella Burchfield on 9 Nov 1830 in Burke Co., NC. This marriage isn’t found in the official records, but was reported in a local newspaper. (I have not been able to locate this record again, so I don’t know what newspaper. Does anyone have a good reference?)

Arabella Burchfield was born 7 Jan 1812 (per her tombstone) in Burke (now Mitchell) Co., NC. Others believe she is a daughter of Robert Burchfield and his 1^st wife Elizabeth Hill. I’ve not yet seen any primary evidence for this connection, but it does fit circumstantially. Robert was in Burke Co., NC on the 1810, 1820 and 1830 censuses and to Blount Co., TN in Cades Cove by 1840, same as Thomas Davis. The 1810-1830 census records for Robert include someone Arabella’s age, so she definitely fits.

On 9 Feb 1832, Thomas Davis made a land entry of 100 acres on Toe River on the north side of Mullins land near Burchfields line. The Land Warrant was issued 17 Oct 1832. On 3 Dec 1834 the survey was made. Solomon H. Wright and Abner Wright were chain carriers. I didn’t see a record of this land ever being granted. (North Carolina Land Grants.)

The Davises moved to Blount Co., TN ca 1834 as did his brother Jacob and brother-in-law George Rowan and Arabella’s parents and other relations.

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

There were two Thomas Davises on the 1840 census in Blount. Ours was two houses from his brother Jacob Davis and a few houses from Arabella’s parents.

1840 Census, Blount 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+
95	Thomas Davis	1	1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		1	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

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

1m 30-39 (1800/1810)       Thomas Davis (c1805)

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            William Davis (1831) son

1m 0-4 (1835/1840)            Jacob Davis (1838) son

1f 20-29 (1810/1820)         Arabella Burchfield Davis (1812) wife

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Louisa E. Davis (1833) daughter

1f 0-4 (1835/1840)              Nancy E. Davis (c1835) daughter

On 12 Jun 1841, Reuben Carver made a deed to Jacob Davis in Blount Co., TN for $33 for land on Cades Cove being one half of a tract formerly of Thomas Carver that he gave to Nancy Briant. No acreage was listed. Reuben signed with a mark. Witnesses were Moses Y. Burchfield and Thomas Davis. (Blount Co., TN Deed Book R, pp. 33-34.)

On 11 Oct 1841, Reuben Carver and Alfred Burton Carver made a deed to Jacob Davis for $300 for 52 acres. The land joined Thomas Davis and includes the place where Wilson Sherrill then resided. Deed was signed by Reuben Carver and Alfred B. Carver. Witnesses were J. W. Slaughter and James Carver. (Blount Co., TN Deed Book T, pp. 119-120.)

On 13 Sep 1847, Alexander Crisp of Cherokee Co., NC made a deed to Thomas Davis of Blount Co., TN for $300 being 158 acres on Sweet Water Creek where “James Colvard now lives.” (Cherokee Co., NC Deed Book C, p. 173.)

Thomas and family moved from Cades Cove to their new Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC land ca 1847/48. Brother Jacob Davis also moved there around the same time.

Thomas was named in the 1849 division of his father William’s estate in Yancey Co., NC. He didn’t sign the division as he wasn’t there.

Thomas and family are on the 1850 census in Cherokee Co., NC not particularly close to any relatives. They appear to be in the section that became Stecoah Township.

1850 Census, Cherokee Co., NC, House 952, Family 952

On 27 Sep 1855, Thomas Davis made a deed of trust with Pleasant Henry of 2^nd part and G. R. Mount of the 3^rd part for $480.76 for various livestock and sundry items. (Cherokee Co., NC Deed Book G, pp. 554-555.)

They moved to neighboring Polk Co., TN before 1859.

On 22 Feb 1859, Thomas Davis of Polk Co., TN made a deed with William Davis of Cherokee Co., NC (his brother-in-law) for $500 for 153 acres in Cherokee Co., NC. Thomas signed with a mark. Witnesses were John Hyde and William Morgan. (Cherokee Co., NC Deed Book I, p. 102.)

They are listed in Polk on the 1860 census. They are two houses from Robert Davis, 27 TN, wife Elizabeth 25 TN, no known relation.

1860 Census, Polk Co., TN, 6 District, Spring Town PO, House 682, Family 682

They moved back to Blount Co., TN by the 1870 census, but apparently not Cades Cove as their post office was Chilhowee. That was a community on the Little Tennessee River. Arabella’s brother Moses Burchfield was listed a few houses away. They are residing with Nancy Ghormley for some reason. I don’t know how they might be connected. Her maiden name was Ashley, and she was a widow of Dr. Samuel Ghormley. Perhaps there is no connection and the Davises were simply renting from them at the time. Alternately, they might not have been in the same household at all, and the census taker simply failed to give Thomas and Arabella their own separate house and family number.

1870 Census, Blount Co., TN, District No 17, Chilhowee PO, House 16, Family 16

They moved back to Graham Co., NC before 1880 and are listed there on that census, this time in Cheoah Township. Thomas is very clearly listed as Thomas “Jr” at 75 years old. Who is the older Thomas they are distinguishing him from? I think this was meant to say “Sr” to distinguish him from his nephew Isaac Thomas Davis who usually went by Thomas, but got transcribed wrong when the census taker copied his enumeration to new forms for submission, at least that would explain it.

1880 Census, Graham Co., NC, Cheowah Township, House 68, Family 68

Thomas Davis died sometime after the 1880 census, exact date not known. He is buried at Lone Oak Cemetery with a nice marker that is inscribed “Thomas Davis” with no dates or other information.

Arabella returned to Blount Co., TN where she died on 28 May 1882. She is buried at the Calderwood Cemetery there. Someone told me long ago that Arabella died of something contagious at Cades Cove, and that is why they didn't bring her home to be buried by her husband, but buried her where she died. Unfortunately I don't recall who told me that. She was the first Davis buried in that cemetery as far as I can determine.

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Children

Thomas and Arabella had nine children, all of whom are proven by the 1850 and 1860 censuses. That’s good because I’ve found no Will, probate or other records that name their heirs.

 

1.         William Davis was born ca 1830/31 per his age on the 1850 census (19). I’ve located a William Davis in 1860 through 1910 censuses that I believe is this same William, but I’m not 100% certain it’s the same man. In 1860 his wife was Claricy, but by 1870 he was married to Susannah Baker. They lived in Polk and Blount Co., TN, then the Cherokee Nation by 1900, which was Osage Co., OK by 1910.

 

2.         Louisa E. Davis was born Jan 1833 per the 1900 census, which agrees with her 1850 census entry age 17 (c1832/33). She was born in Yancey (now Avery) Co., NC. She married John Aaron Hyde (1826-1919) ca 1850/51 in Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC. He was a son of John A. Hyde and Mary Beck. John and Louisa are on the 1860 census in Monroe Co., TN, back to Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC by 1870, in Graham in 1880 and 1900, and to Jackson Co., OK by 1910. Both died there in 1919.

 

3.         Nancy Evaline Davis was born ca 1834/35 in Blount Co., TN. She was with her parents for the 1850 census (“Nancy” 15, born TN), and 1860 (“Nancy” 23, born NC). She married Samuel “Long Hair Sam” Burchfield in 1862 in Blount Co., TN. They are listed on the 1870, 1880 and 1900 censuses in Blount Co., TN where Nancy died in 1908. Samuel died there in 1917. Sam and Nancy are 2^nd cousins. He’s a son of Wilson Burchfield and Elizabeth Baker.

 

4.         Jacob Davis was born 11 Jul 1838 in Blount Co., TN. He was home with his parents in 1850 (“Jacob” age 13, born TN). He married Sarah Ann Cline ca 1857/58 in Cherokee Co., NC (the Shoal Creek section), a daughter of Lawson Cline and Rebecca Mingus. They are found on the 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910 censuses in Cherokee Co., NC. Jacob died there in 1917 and is buried at the Roberts Family Cemetery. Sarah died 1928 and is buried at the same place.

 

5.         John R. Davis was born 18 Dec 1840 in Blount Co., TN. He was home with his parents for the 1850 census (“John R.” age 10), and 1860 census (“John R.” age 19). He married before ca 1862 in Polk Co., TN to Annie Starkey (1839-1913), parents unidentified. I haven’t found John on the 1870 census. They are listed on the 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 census in Graham Co., NC. He died in Putnam Co., GA in 1928, but is buried at Lone Oak Cemetery in Graham Co., NC by his wife.

 

6.         Frances Jane Davis was born 19 Aug 1843 in Blount Co., TN. She was with her parents on the 1850 census (“Francis” age 7), but not found in 1860. She married William Farley (c1844-1889) before ca 1868. They are on the 1870, 1880 and 1900 census in Graham Co., NC. I didn’t find her in 1910. She died 5 Aug 1911 in Swain Co., NC. She’s buried in the Proctor Cemetery in Swain. Her husband is buried at Yellow Creek Cemetery in Graham Co., NC.

 

7.         Albert Burton Davis was born ca 1845/46 in Blount Co., TN. He was with his parents for the 1850 census (“Albertie” age 4) and in 1860 (“Burton” age 15). He married Althea Paulina Ditmore in 1868 in Blount Co., TN. She is a daughter of John H. Ditmore and Amanda Bowling. Burton and wife are listed on the 1870 census in Blount Co., TN in the household of Hazel Davis, widow of Carson Davis, who as far as I can determine, are not related. This is a bit of a puzzle. They are on the 1880 census in Blount Co., TN. I didn’t find them after that. There is a potential match for him in Oklahoma in 1900. If it is him, his 1^st wife died and he married Nancy — ca 1881.

 

8.         Amanda Davis was born 7 Jul 1849 in Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC. She was with her parents in 1850 (“Amanda” age 1), and in 1860 (“Manday” age 13) and in 1870 (“Amanda” 20). She married William R. Jackson in 1872 in Blount Co., TN. They’re listed on the 1880 census in Blount Co., TN. She died there ca 1891. He died in Cowlitz Co., WA in 1915.

 

9.         George W. Davis was born Feb 1852 in Cherokee (now Graham) Co., NC. He was with his parents in 1860 (“G. W.” age 8), and 1870 (“Geo W.” age 17). He married ElizabethJ. Jackson in 1872 in Blount Co., TN. She might be William R. Jackson’s sister. They apparently divorced soon after marrying. He is on the 1880 census with his parents in Graham Co., NC (“George” age 26, divorced). He remarried in 1881 to Roxanna Adams who died in 1894. He is on the 1900 census in Graham Co., NC, the 1910 and 1920 censuses in Blount Co., TN. I didn’t find him in 1930. He died 1931 and is buried at the Farley Cemetery in Graham Co., NC.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Thomas Davis and Arabella Burchfield.

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Revised: January 22, 2026

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

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