A to Z April Challenge: A is for Alvin

“We need to get together more often and not at a funeral.” How many times have you and a cousin said that? Funerals are much like a family reunion. You can learn a lot about a family just by looking at who showed up. Using my grandparents’ guest books and sympathy cards, I’ll be exploring “Who came to the funeral?”

is for Alvin Russell Marshall Sr.

Alvin attended the funeral for my maternal grandfather Orvin Owen Davis (1899-1963) held in Shenandoah, Virginia in October 1963.  Alvin and Orvin were first cousins. Alvin’s mother Zibiah Saloma Davis Marshall was an older sister of Orvin’s father Walter Davis.

Alvin was born September 30, 1895 in Rockingham County, Virginia, the second of six children of John Lewis and Saloma Marshall. According to the 1910 census, the family lived along Simmons Gap Road, just across the ridge from Beldor, home of many in the Davis line. Alvin was a farm laborer, likely on his parents’ farm

In 1917 Alvin registered for the draft. How interesting to learn he was tall and had grey eyes. It appears his father was the registrar. I have found no records to suggest that he ever had to serve.

1310 Q St NW Washington D.C.
Boarding house where Alvin and Edith met

Still single in 1920, Alvin earned a living driving a fire truck in Washington D.C. He was one of nineteen boarders at 1310 Q Street NW.  Most of the residents were clerks and stenographers for the Treasury Department and War Department. One of the boarders caught his eye: Edyth Terwilliger of Pennsylvania. 

Based on the 1930 census for Washington DC, Alvin and Edyth married in 1923. They had twin boys, Alvin and Lewis. Alvin Sr. was a fireman earning a respectable salary allowing the Marshalls to own their home at 806 Decatur Street. 

In 1940, Alvin made room in this house for his widowed father, John Lewis Marshall. Edyth had returned to work as a typist for the Veterans Department. Alvin remained a fireman until retirement. 

Alvin died in August 1979.

I advise you to advance to the A to Z April Challenge where you are assured of amiable company among the most affable artists and authors.

© 2015, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.  

52 Ancestors: Week 8 - Davis Deeds

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a challenge:  write one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  It can be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem – anything that focuses on one ancestor.

This week’s theme is “Good Deeds” pointing to a generous ancestor or to ancestors found through land deeds.  My mission to join the DAR recently involved a search for SOMETHING – ANYTHING to prove my 2X great grandfather was son of Leonard Davis, son of my patriot.  That "something" turned out to be a land deed. 

Rockingham Co, VA Deed Book 32, page 528

In 1886, my 2X great grandfather Mitchell Davis and his brother Elijah “granted bargained sold and conveyed . . . with general warranty” to their sister Sarah F. Davis their “right, title, interest, expectations and demand in and to the Home farm of said Leonard Davis Estate.”  Surely this will be a suitable substitute in the absence of birth and death records. 

An earlier deed serves the same purpose.  In 1881, Mitchell along with his widowed mother Frances and his siblings sold some land to David Wyant.  Frances had a brother David who died in 1882.  Possibly the David of this deed was the son of David Wyant.  But that is not the interesting part of the transaction.  No.  The land in question was purchased many years earlier by Leonard Davis and Thomas Marshall. 

Rockingham Co, VA Deed Book 20, page 212

“Thomas Marshall” caught my eye right away.  Leonard was the son of Leonard Davis and the widow Mrs. Mary Marshall.  It is possible Thomas was her son from her first marriage, making Leonard and Thomas possibly half-brothers.  Worth investigating.








Until now, I have been unable to pin down any information on Mary Marshall Davis.  Thomas might provide a clue to uncovering the story of my 4X great-grandmother.

© 2015, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

52 Ancestors: #19 - Leonard DAVIS and Mary Marshall

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a challenge:  write one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  It can be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem – anything that focuses on one ancestor.

For 18 weeks I’ve looked at the oldest generations of the Jolletts, my maternal grandfather’s mother’s side of the family.  Now his father’s side of the family has my full attention.  The Davis line. 

I’ve been collecting documents for membership in the DAR through Leonard Davis.  But it’s not easy.  The good news is that Leonard has been proven as a patriot, but since someone joined through a different descendant, my work is still cut out for me.

For whatever reason, “Leonard” was a popular name among Davis boys.  Letters to the Department of Pensions dated as far back as the 1920s reveal the mystery of my Davis line and the misinformation that has been perpetuated on public family trees on websites like Ancestry.com.  Everyone’s story begins the same, but then in some sort of genealogical schizophrenia, the life of Leonard Davis becomes two (or more) entirely different versions. 

No matter which Leonard someone descends from, the stories begin with the facts that were spelled out in Leonard’s application for a pension based on his service during the Revolutionary War:  (1) he THINKS he was 19 in 1781 (making his birth year approximately 1761 or 1762), (2) his father moved to North Carolina, (3) Leonard was born in Albemarle County but moved to Rockingham County around 1813.

from pension application of Leonard Davis 1833

After that, it’s hit or miss with Leonard.  The father who moved to North Carolina COULD be Lewis Cave Davis.  There was a Lewis Davis in Albemarle County in 1780 and 1790; then in 1800 there was both a Lewis Sr. and Jr.  As would be expected, there has been somebody named Lewis Davis in Albemarle forever thereafter.  Just to compound the confusion there was a Lewis Davis in numerous counties throughout North Carolina who might have been the father of MY Leonard.  Or not. 

Most people who refer to Lewis Cave Davis as their first Davis in America tell the story of how he was one of seven brothers who emigrated from England.  Five were killed during either the Revolutionary War or War of 1812.  But when they rattle off the list of Lewis’s children, everyone parts ways.

Page 517 of "The Boone Family, A Genealogical History of the Descendants of George Boone" says Lewis Cave Davis was father to Leonard born in Pennsylvania and that Leonard was father to three children: Matthew, Augustus Cave and Doris who married John Watts.  A website has a Leonard Davis born 1762 and died 1817 who married Mary Ballard of York, Virginia. It lists their FOUR children: Matthew, Augustus Cave, Louis, and their sister who married a Watts.  But this husband of Mary Ballard has also been recorded as born in 1742 and a veteran of the French & Indian War, making it impossible to be the same Leonard Davis who applied for a pension in 1833.  Some versions have Leonard moving to Kentucky, but I know there was a Leonard Davis in Rockingham County, Virginia until his death before 1840.  Another version claims Leonard was BROTHER to Augustus Cave, not father.  Birthdates suggest that such a scenario is at least possible.

Two entries in the Albemarle County Deed Book 9 in 1784 echo some familiar names:  Ballard, Watts, Augustine which is rather close to Augustus. 

• Aug 10 1784. Charles Bush and Elizabeth, his wife, of Albemarle Co. , to Philip Ballard, of same county. £25 curr: 49 a [acres]. in Albemarle Co. part of a tract purched. by Wm. Sumter ; adj. Leonard Davis; Wit. Wm. Betts; Wm. Watts , Leonard Davis . Aug. 1784. D. B. 9, p. 10.
• Dec. 22 1784. Frederick Wills & Frances, his wife; Leonard Davis and Mary, his wife, of Albemarle County to Thomas Ballard, of Orange County.  £45 curr. 100 a [acres] at foot of Piney Mountains, Albemarle County.  Witt. Robert Sanford, Leonard Davis, Augustine Davis, John Wills, Elizabeth Ballard; March 1785. D. B. 9, p. 69.

So there must be some element of truth to the various versions of the life and times of Leonard Davis.  Maybe the players are just not aligned correctly.  Maybe there’s another generation of Leonards.  Maybe ….

Anyway, my contribution to the confusion is this:  “MY” Leonard Davis was married to Mary Marshall – MRS. Mary Marshall according to their 1788 Albemarle County marriage record, so she evidently was a widow.  Whether she was his first wife or second is not clear since there is also a marriage record for a Leonard Davis and a Susannah Burrows dated 1776 in Orange County, Virginia.  There is a small handful of known children, but maybe there were more.  Maybe they were children of Susannah or maybe of Mary Marshall, who knows. 

Leonard does not appear as head of household until 1820, which matches information given in the pension application.  Besides Leonard and his wife Mary, there were 4 young females between 10 and 44.  Three are possibly known daughters Sarah, Mary Polly, and Elizabeth.  Leonard Jr. had already married and was head of his own household.

In 1830 Rockingham County, the head of household was likely Leonard Jr. with his wife Frances.  The older male was probably Leonard Senior.  The rest appear to be children of Leonard Jr. and Frances.  Leonard Sr.’s wife Mary was likely dead by then.

In 1840, Leonard Sr’s name appears as a Pensioner of the Revolutionary War, age 79.  However, he was not a head of household, and he was not enumerated in Frances Davis’s household either (Leonard Jr’s widow).  It is likely that is where he was, but since the pensioner information is on a second screen, it is difficult to determine how the images align.  

Three Generations:

Leonard DAVIS (1761 - 9 Dec 1840 Rockingham Co, VA) & Mrs. Mary MARSHALL ( - About 1830 Rockingham Co, VA) 23 Dec 1788 Albemarle, Virginia

1. Leonard DAVIS JR.  (Abt 1795 – Before 1840 Rockingham Co, VA) & Frances “Fanny” WYANT (1799 – After 1880) 21 Mar 1820 Orange, Virginia,

• Mitchell DAVIS (4 Sep 1820 Rockingham Co, VA – 22 Apr 1892 Rockingham Co, VA) & Martha Ann WILLSON (10 Jun 1832 Rockbridge Co, VA – 1 Dec 1905 Rockingham Co, VA)  24 Aug 1846 Rockbridge Co, VA
• William Franklin DAVIS  (1822 – 1905 Rockingham Co, VA ) & Ardena J. WYANT (1828 – 1890)  23 Dec 1842 Albemarle Co, VA
• Elijah DAVIS  (Dec 1825 – ) & Barbara Ann SHIFLETT (Jun 1827 - )
• Mary Ann DAVIS (1828 – ) & m1) George HERRING; m2) Joseph WOOD (1836 Rockingham co, VA – 1870 Rockingham Co, VA) 27 Sep 1858 Rockingham Co, VA
• Rebecca Ann DAVIS (Dec 1833 Rockingham Co, VA – 15 Aug 1922 Elkton, VA)  & James K. CRAWFORD (22 Jan 1845 Greene Co, VA  – 7 Sep 1921 Elkton, VA) 7 Feb 1878 Rockingham Co, VA,
• Sarah F. DAVIS (Feb 1834 – 2 Feb 1913 Rockingham Co, VA)

2. Sarah Ann DAVIS (Abt 1801 – 24 Nov 1881 Craig Co, VA) & Matthias LAMB (1804 Virginia – 1880 Botetourt Co, VA)  18 Dec 1826 Rockingham Co, VA

• Isaac LAMB (1827 – Before 1880) & Martha A. UNKNOWN
• Margaret LAMB (1830 Virginia – )
• Joseph LAMB (1832 Virginia – Before 1880) & Frances UNKNOWN
• Ariadne LAMB  (1833 Virginia – )
• Elijah LAMB (1835 Virginia – )
• Moses LAMB (1837 Virginia – Craig Co, VA) & m1) Elizabeth J. MANKEY (1840 Rockingham Co, VA – 1880 Craig Co, VA) 15 Nov 1860 Virginia ; & m2) Fannie UNKNOWN (1856 - )
• David LAMB (1839 Virginia – )
• Abraham LAMB (1840 Virginia – ) & Martha UNKNOWN
• Matthew LAMB (1842 Virginia – )

3. Mary “Polly” DAVIS  (Abt 1805 – ) & John Jacob BAUGHER (2 May 1799 Rockingham Co, VA – 1864 Rockingham Co, VA)  2 Jan 1823 Rockingham Co, VA

• Lucinda BAUGHER  (1823 – 1903)
• Sarah BAUGHER (1827 Rockingham Co, VA – 19 Jul 1899) & Gideon LAYMON
• Jemima BAUGHER (1832 – 1912) & Alfred MORRIS
• Mary BAUGHER (1834 – 1916)
• Marietta BAUGHER (1836 – 1916)
• Jacob BAUGHER (1838 – 1913 in Nodaway, MO) & Catherine UNKNOWN
• David BAUGHER (1840 – 1920) & Carlitha UNKNOWN (1846 Missouri – )
• John BAUGHER (1844 – 1924)
• Phineas Abraham BAUGHER (1846 – 1926) & Jessie A. HERMAN (1855 Kentucky – )

4. Elizabeth DAVIS & Jonathan CRAWFORD 24 Oct 1820 Rockingham Co, VA

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Fearless Females: March 3 Unique Names

 In celebration of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist has presented 31 prompts to honor the “fearless females” in our family trees.

Today’s prompt:  Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

Probably the most common name among my female ancestors is Mary:  241 of them.  My own name is unique in my database.  While not very common in any time period, “Wendy” is not unusual.  Probably the most unusual female name among my ancestors is that of my great-grandfather’s sister:  Zibiah Saloma Davis Marshall (1864-1936).

Biblical associations with these names make them an odd pairing.  "Zibiah" means Doe, Gazelle, Beautiful Lady.  Zibiah was briefly mentioned in 2 Kings 12:1.  This mother of King Jehoash is listed among the women who showed courage, but I’m not exactly sure what she did.  Maybe she helped hide and protect her son who was one of the targets of his power-hungry and murderous grandmother.  

Saloma, on the other hand, is a familiar biblical name.  While her name means “Peace” (related to the word “Shalom”), she will forever be remembered as the dancing woman who demanded John the Baptist’s head on a platter and got it.

Courage.  Beautiful.  Peace.  Murder.  I wonder if Zibiah Saloma’s mother had been experiencing strange food cravings.  

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.