Maw Maw, where is Paw? "He ran off to Arkansas".

"Maw, Maw! Where Is Paw?"
"He ran off to Arkansas."

The above rhyme is one I have heard from the old folks of Stanly County, and has survived even to this day.

In my research of the old court record of  the case of Joyce Ann Fisher, and Wiley Monroe Barringer, I found the story of a love story gone wrong. Of the relationship of a young couple who lived on the border of Stanly and Cabarrus Counties in the reconstruction era of the 19th century and who had a daughter, but the relationship did not end in marriage.

Sadly, the young man married another shortly after his daughter was born and started a large family. He met his legal financial obligations, but apparently never looked back and showed no legal recognition, as often, but not always, happened during those years.


The mother of the child, Joyce Ann Fisher, lived with family, and later, her daughter and son-in-law, for the remainder of her days. She kept herself and her daughter up for awhile, apparently, running a boarding house and renting rooms, while her daughter Ada, found work at a young age in the Cotton Mills of the era.

Wiley Monroe Barringer and his wife BellaZorra or Isabell Zorra Page Barringer went on to have a large family of 11 children, which they raised in Cabarrus County, near Gold Hill, around the Cabarrus/Rowan County line, not far from the northern end of Stanly County.




In this story, I want to focus on one son, who seemed to have disappeared, but not so entirely that he was unable to track down.

For whatever reason, Arkansas was a common destination for many area young men and even families, looking for a greener pasture. A well-known and often told story of "the only man to be hanged in Stanly County", was that of Alex Whitley, a local scoundrel and petty criminal, who headed off to Arkansas with his half-sister (and reputed girlfriend) and several associates, to escape from accusations of crimes here, only to commit a proven murder there, of school teacher and Stanly Count resident,  Burt Tucker.

And, for whatever reason, George Wesley Homer Barringer, the fourth child of Wiley and Belle, was another of these Arkansas rangers.

Name:	George W Barringer
Age:	17
Birth Date:	Aug 1882
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1900:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
House Number:	2
Sheet Number:	17A
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:	271
Family Number:	274
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's name:	Wiley M Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's name:	Bell Z Barringer
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Occupation:	Farm Laborer
Months not employed:	1
Attended School:	1
Can Read:	Yes
Can Write:	Yes
Can Speak English:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Wiley M Barringer 46 Bell Z Barringer 39 Cara L Barringer 19 George W Barringer 17 Paul M Barringer 15 John A Barringer 14 William A Barringer 11 Clarlie L Barringer 9 Clarence R Barringer 7 Lawson R Barringer 0

Born in 1887, Wesley, as we will call him, first shows up as a teenager in his parents home in 1900, in the Misenheimer area, which is on the northernmost edge of Stanly County, but they lived on the Cabarrus side of the line.

Shortly afterward, and oddly, on Christmas Day in 1902 , he married Lucy Roxie Isenhour, daughter of  Daniel M F Isenhour and wife Roseann Powles Isenhour of the same area, "Reed Misenheimer's", Cabarrus County. Lucy was a little older than he was, and nearly exactly to the day, nine months later, their first child, Elsie Irene arrived, on September 24, 1903.

Elsie was quickly followed by two younger brothers, Roy Glenn Barringer on April 20, 1905 and Howard Franklin Monroe Barringer in February of 1909.

Name:	George W Barringer [Geroge W Barringer]
Age in 1910:	27
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Township 7, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Lucy R Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Employer
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Farm or House:	Farm
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	7
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age George W Barringer 27 Lucy R Barringer 28 Elsie I Barringer 6 Roy G Barringer 4 Howard F M Barringer 1

The 1910 census shows a typical young farm family of 5, renting a farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, having all three of their children survive, and having been married for 7 years.

But something was restless in Wesley's soul. Something was awry, because in the next decade, his world, and that of his family will have changed.



Fold 3 link to George W. Barringer card
There may have been a military explanation, or behind the action. Or perhaps, another explanation may have been something to do with the railroad.

The 1920 census gives this information on Lucy and her children;

Name:	Lucie R Barringer [Lucie R Bannen]
Age:	39
Birth Year:	abt 1881 [abt 1883]
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
House Number:	Farm
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Native Tongue:	English
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Owner
Industry:	Farm
Employment Field:	Own Account
Home Free or Mortgaged:	Free
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Lucie R Barringer 39 Elsie I Barringer 16 Roy G Barringer 14 Howard F Barringer 10

She appears to be living in the same house, in the same area. She owns her farm and all three children are listed as farm labour. Many of her neighbors are Isenhours, and possibly, and hopefully, for her benefit, were relatives that could help out. Her marital status is "Married", not widowed, not divorced. Lucy was, obviously, an abandoned woman. Whether she knew the whereabouts of her husband is unknown.

In the Cabarrus land records, a deed exists that can help to explain Lucy's mode of survival.

Book 100 Page 247  March 23, 1923

An Indenture between R. C. Isenhour and Lucy Barringer. For the sum of $1.00, 21.01 acres in Number 7 Township, Cabarrus County. "The conditions of the above declare that at her death the said lands divert to her three children. 

R. C. Isenhour referred to her mother, Roseann Camilla Powles Isenhour.



However, this is the family of George Wesley Homer Barringer in 1920.

Name:	Wesley Barringer
Age:	37
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Birthplace:	Tennessee
Home in 1920:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Street:	Unnamed
House Number:	X
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Ninie Barringer
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Grademan
Industry:	Railroad
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Wesley Barringer 37 Ninie Barringer 27 Albert Barringer 8

Upon first glance, it looks like, "Whoa, this is not the right person." He's a grademan for the railroad, but it has him as "Wesley" and not ""George" and it claims his birth place is Tennessee.

And oddly, on his application for Social Security, he also goes by only his middle two names, and lists his birthplace as "Chattanooga, Tennessee", HOWEVER, his parents are listed as Wiley Barringer and Belle Page.  But the 1900 census claims his birthplace as North Carolina with the rest of his siblings.

Name:	Wesley H Barringer
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birth Date:	15 Aug 1887
Birth Place:	Chattanoga, Tennessee
Father:	Wiley Barringer
Mother:	Bell Page
Type of Claim:	Original SSN.
Notes:	Feb 1937: Name listed as WESLEY H BARRINGER

The fact is, there was no other combination of a Wiley Barringer and Bell Page living anywhere in America at this time that could have produced this son, only our Wiley and Bell, and certainly none in Tennessee at the time. Wesley H. Barringer HAD to be George Wiley H. Barringer of Gold Hill Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

His Veteran's Administration Pension Payment Card corroborates the fact that his first name WAS, Actually "George".




As does the Headstone Application for US Veterans, Listing Fayetteville, Arkansas as his residence.





While listing the "H" in his name as Homer in some instances,  on his WWI draft registration card, in 1914, his middle name is listed as "Howard" instead. He apparently was ambivalent there for awhile about what his middle, or third name should be.

World War I Draft Card

His WWII Draft Card, part of "The Old Man's Draft" for those aged 45 to 64, gives ambivalence a new oddity, on the same card. Under "name" he is listed as Wesley Homer Barringer, yet he signs it, Wesley Herman Barringer.




Here, he lists his birthplace as Hamilton, Tennessee. But there were no Wesley H. Barringer's born in the 1880's in Hamilton, Tennessee.

So......Where did the Hamilton, Tennessee come from and who was Nina Barringer?

Nina Irma Wagner was born on September 15, 1893 in Danbury, Red Willow County, Nebraska. She was the daughter of George Leroy Wagner and Alverda Emily Wagner. She grew up in Jaspar County, Missouri, and the family is there by the 1900 census. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Kentucky, yet the 1920 census also gives her birthplace as Tennesse and the same for both parents. Neither was true.

Name:	Nina I Wagner [Nina I Wayner]
Age in 1910:	17
Birth Year:	abt 1893
Birthplace:	Nebraska
Home in 1910:	Duval, Jasper, Missouri
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Daughter
Marital Status:	Single
Father's name:	Geo L Wagner
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's name:	Verda E Wagner
Mother's Birthplace:	Kentucky
Native Tongue:	English
Attended School:	No
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Geo L Wagner 52 Verda E Wagner 54 Nina I Wagner 17 Stanley P Wagner 14

Nina and Wesley claim to have married, yet I've not been able to find a marriage license. It could be that Hamilton County, Tennesse is where they met, and thus became "reborn". Wesley may have figured being guilty of fornication was a lot less trouble than being guilty of bigamy, as the former was not prosecuted in the 1920's as it was in the 1880's, but the latter most certainly was.

There is not a marriage license listed for them in Hamilton County, Tennesse or in Arkansas.


Wesley Barringer and  Nina Wagoner's first census together was the 1920 one. It gives us a few clues as to how their relationship may have came about.

Name: Wesley Barringer Age: 37 Birth Year: abt 1883 Birthplace: Tennessee Home in 1920: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Street: Unnamed House Number: X Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Ninie Barringer Father's Birthplace: Tennessee Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Grademan Industry: Railroad Employment Field: Wage or Salary Home Owned or Rented: Rent Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Wesley Barringer 37 Ninie Barringer 27 Albert Barringer 8

It tells us that Wesley was working for the Railroad, which gave citizens greater mobility. It claims their place of origin as Tennessee, where no one who could be mistaken for either of them existed.

Their 8 year old son Albert is said to be born in Arkansas, which would place them in Arkansas by 1912. This means that shortly after the 1910 census, George Wesley Barringer obtained a job with the railroad, probably in nearby Salisbury or Spencer, most likely ended up in Tennessee or Missouri, where Nina's family was in 1910. There began their relationship and they somehow chose the popular destination of Arkansas to begin their family.

Name:	Wesley Barringer
Birth Year:	abt 1890
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Tennessee
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1930:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Map of Home:	View Map
Dwelling Number:	87
Family Number:	89
Home Owned or Rented:	Owned
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Age at First Marriage:	20
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	Own Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Employment:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age Wesley Barringer 40 Nina Barringer 36 Ralph Barringer 9 Eughene Barringer 4

Two more sons have joined the family. They claimed to be married and Wesley gave his age for first marriage as 20 while Nina gave hers as 15. Here, Wesley claims to only be 4 years older than Nina, while in 1920, he was 10 years older than her. Oldest son Albert had already married by 1930 and had established his own household by age 18.

Name:	Albert Baringer [Odbert Baringer]
Birth Year:	abt 1912
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birthplace:	Arkansas
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1930:	De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas
Map of Home:	View Map
Dwelling Number:	58
Family Number:	60
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Age at First Marriage:	18
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:	Tennessee
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	Rented Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Household Members:	Name Age Albert Baringer 18 Edna Baringer 17

Name: Wesly Barringer Age: 52 Estimated birth year: abt 1888 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Tennessee Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Map of Home in 1940: View Map Farm: Yes Inferred Residence in 1935: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Residence in 1935: Same Place Sheet Number: 3B Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 54 Occupation: Farming House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 200 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade Class of Worker: Working on own account Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Wesly Barringer 52 Nina Barringer 47 Ralph Barringer 19 Eugene Barringer 14 The last census we have to observe this family is that of the 1940. Ralph and Eugene are now in their teens and Wesley and Nina are in the same place, farming.  Name: Albert Barringer Age: 28 Estimated birth year: abt 1912 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Arkansas Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Map of Home in 1940: View Map Farm: Yes Inferred Residence in 1935: De Roche, Hot Spring, Arkansas Residence in 1935: Same Place Sheet Number: 4A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 56 Occupation: Farming Industry: Farm House Owned or Rented: Rented Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 1 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60 Class of Worker: Working on own account Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Albert Barringer 28 Edna Barringer 27 Louise Barringer 4 Albert was also still living in Hot Springs and farming. Below is the obituary for the middle son of this union, Ralph Barringer.

GENCY FUNERAL HOME MALVERN, ARKANSAS

Ralph "Slim" Barringer

( February 17, 1921 - December 18, 2006 )

Ralph “Slim” Barringer, age 85, of New DeRoche, Arkansas passed away December 18, 2006 at his home. He was born February 17, 1921 at New DeRoche, the son of Wesley and Nina (Wagner) Barringer. He was a WWII Army veteran serving in an Infantry 30th Division “Old Hickory”, and was also in the Airborne and Engineers Division. He served in the invasion at Normandy and received a Purple Heart and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He worked for General Motors, and for Reynolds Metals Company in the holding furnace, and was a farmer. He was also affiliated with Bismarck United Methodist Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Tonya Barringer, and two brothers, Albert and Eugene Barringer.

Survivors are his wife of forty years, Sandra (Hudgens) Barringer; daughter, Rhonda Barringer and granddaughter, Whitney Barringer, all of New DeRoche; niece, Louise Loy of Natches, Mississippi; great-niece and nephew, Debbie Draper, of New DeRoche, and Steve Loy of Dallas, Texas; and a host of friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 19th from 6:00 to8:00 p.m. at Regency Funeral Home in Malvern.

Graveside Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 20th at Prairie Bayou Cemetery with full military honors by Thaddeus H. Caraway Post 2278. Reverend Gail Baldwin and Brother Bobby Looper will officiate.

Pallbearers are Arvin Booy, Adolph Hughes, Mark Johnson, Jim Harsh, Gary Burroughs, Bill Hudgens, Tommy Barton, and Wesley Anderson. Honorary pallbearers are Waymon Prince and Darrell Clifton.

Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home, Malvern, Arkansa

Meanwhile, in North Carolina:

Name:	Lucy R Barringer
Birth Year:	abt 1883
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Homemaker?:	Yes
Home in 1930:	Township 7, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Map of Home:	View Map
Street address:	Connon Dist road
Home Owned or Rented:	Owned
Radio Set:	No
Lives on Farm:	Yes
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Farmer
Industry:	General Farm
Class of Worker:	Working on own account
Employment:	Yes
Household Members:	Name Age Lucy R Barringer 47 Elsie J Barringer 26

Lucy is still living on her property with her daughter Elsie and claiming to be married, still waiting on her missing husband, George Wesley Barringer.

By 1940, she has assumed he is dead, and listed herself as a widow. Her daughter Elsie still with her. Elsie did not marry until later.

Name:	Lucy Barringer
Respondent:	Yes
Age:	58
Estimated birth year:	abt 1882
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Marital Status:	Widowed
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1940:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Map of Home in 1940:	View Map
Farm:	Yes
Inferred Residence in 1935:	Reed Misenheimers, Cabarrus, North Carolina
Residence in 1935:	Same House
Sheet Number:	8A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation:	128
House Owned or Rented:	Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented:	225
Attended School or College:	No
Highest Grade Completed:	Elementary school, 6th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939:	0
Income:	0
Income Other Sources:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Lucy Barringer 58 Elsie Barringer 36

But Wesley was not dead, he was very much alive.

George Wesely Homer (or Howard) Barringer passed away on November 2, 1957 in DeRoche, Hot Springs County, Arkansas.




He was buried next to his second wife Nina Wagoner Barringer.

Lucy Isenhour Barringer died on September 26, 1957, just two months before Wesley. She passed away in Cabarrus County, North Carolina and was buried at Lower Stone Church near Gold Hill, Rowan County, North Carolina.



Her death certificate lists her as a widow and her husband as George Wesley Barringer.


The Complete Lineage of George Wesley H. Barringer is as follows:

Married Lucy Roxie Isenhour (1881-1957) on December 25, 1902

1)  Elise Irene Barringer b September 24, 1903 d March 7, 1981
      Married  Arey Franklin Sides. 

2) Roy Glenn Barringer b April 20, 1905 d Jan 9 1980 
     Married Margie Pauline Barringer.

3) Howard Franklin Monroe Barringer b February 17, 1909 d December 22, 1986
     Married  Mary Pauline Hatley


With Nina Irma Wagner (1893 Danbury, Red Willow County, Nebraska, grew up in Jaspar, Missouri, met Barringer, possibly in Tennessee in 1910. Died 1986 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.)

4) Albert Wesley Barringer b November 13, 1911  d June 22, 1974 Buried Hot Springs, Arkansas
      Married Edna Phillips

5) Perry Ralph "Slim" Barringer b February 17, 1921 d December 18, 2006 
      Married Sandra Hudgens

6) Eldrid Eugene Barringer b September 12, 1925 d December 13, 1944 in France. WWII. Buried in  Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The Will of Randolph Davis

Randolph Davis was one of the sons of Henry Davis and Mary Marriott. I've always thought of him as an ancestral Uncle, and not a direct ancestor, because the name Randolph, or Randall as he is sometimes seen, did not travel down my direct line. But in a time when there were too many James', William's and John's, Randolph was one whom I could readily identify, because at the time, he and his brother Marriott I, were the only ones.

Both of them, I discovered, ended up in Brunswick and Mecklenburg Counties, Virginia. And the Davis I was looking for lived in Mecklenburg County in 1773, when my Sixth Great-Grandfather, who would come to make his home in Stanly County, NC, along the Rocky River, was born there.




Randolph Davis and his siblings were likely all born in Surry County, Virginia. Surry County was formed in 1652 from a portion of James City County, and was located south of the James River. This branch of my family tree, I have discovered, had its start in Jamestown with Captain James Davis and his wife Rebekah Keyes Davis, son of Sir Thomas Davis. Captain Davis did not stay there in the early days, but was back and forth, between the colonies and England. He and his father both, eventually did retire there, after things were healthier and more established. He did survive one really bad winter there, however, and that may have been why it was many years before he brought his family.






Henry Davis was the son of James Davis III, a Great-Grandson of Captain James, who married Elizabeth Warren, daughter of  Thomas John Warren. The Warren's were also a very old Virginia family.

The line is:

Sir Thomas Davis of Devon, wife unknown.

Two son, James and Robert, both Sea Captains and sailed for England helping to establish and supply the new colonies.

"was among the company of men assembled by Sir John Popham, 1607, to settle the region of Virginia which later was designated New England."

From The Adventures of Purse and Person.


He married Rachel Keyes about 1608. They had two sons. Later in his career, Captain James started a plantation South of the James River. There he died in the winter of 1622 or 1623, James City, Henrico, Nansemond County when it was noted by a man named Hotten that "James Davis, dead at his plantation over the water from James City" on February 16, 1623.

His son Thomas was born about 1613. In 1634, he was given a patent for 300 acres on Warwicksquicke Creek.  He was in Norfolk by1637 and Nansemond in 1642. Thomas married Elizabeth Bagwell and died in 1673.

From History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow. Published 1931.


Thomas Davis of Warricksqueake, planter—son of James, late of Henrico, in 
Vir’ dec’d, was granted 300a of land on Warricksqueake Creek, “100 in 
right of his father, an ancient planter, who came to Va in the “George” 
1617, and 100a in right of his mother Rachel, wife of sd James.” Mar 6, 
1633. Thomas made deposition in Norfolk Co Va 1640. He sold a grant from 
Sir Wm Berkeley June 1, 1649, to Thomas Maros, who sold sd land 400a unto 
Robert Bowers, who in like manner gave the land to his dau Mary, wife of 
Thomas Davis, and was conveyed by them Nov 14, 1708, unto Phillip Reynolds 
Mer’cht, “lying on W. side of Western Branch,” in which deed Thomas Davis 
is styled, “of Nansemond Co. planter.”

Their son Thomas was born in 1658 and died in 1720. He married Elizabeth Plaw, who was born at Smith's Fort and died in 1726 in Surry County.

They were the parents of James Davis, born in 1682 and died on 21 January 1745 who married Elizabeth Warren.

They, in turn were the parents of Henry Davis who married Mary Marriott, daughter of William Marriott and granddaughter of Mathias Marriott. More on them in another post.

Henry and Mary had a large family of 12 childdren:

The Children of Henry Davis and Mary Marriott Davis, He the son of James Davis and Elizabeth Warren, she the daughter of William Marriott and Sarah Collier. 

1) William Davis married Martha Wells Thompson

2) Benjamin Davis married Tabitha Rose

3) Rebecca Ann Davis married 1st) Roger Tillman Married 2nd) James Taylor

4) Hannah Davis

5) Isham Davis married Sarah Long. Migrated to Halifax Co. NC then to Wilson Co. TN.

6) Keziah Davis

7) Elizabeth Davis married John Rose

8) Randolph Davis married Hannah Marriott daughter of his Uncle Thomas Marriott

9) Henry Davis Jr. 

10) Marriott Davis married Mary Nicholson

11) James Davis married 1st) Sarah Holmes married 2nd) Lucy Walker died in 1830 in Brunswick County. 

12) Sylvia Davis married Sterling Wright son of Solomon Wright. Moved to North Carolina. 

At times, there is also a Joshua, Charles and Edward Davis attributed to this marriage. I will have to do more research before coming to that conclusion. There is a Joshua Davis who shows up in the early records of Anson County and Montgomery County, North Carolina.


It must also be noted that the children younger than Randolph were under 21 at the time of Henry's death and were appointed guardians in the court. James and Henry were appointed James Taylor, their brother-in-law, and husband Rebecca Ann Davis Tillman Taylor, mother of Mary Tillman Floyd with whom Job Davis migrated from Virginia to North Carolina with and Silvia Davis, the youngest child, was appointed Joshua Winfield, brother of Peter Winfield who also migrated to North Carolina and whose daughter, Sarah Winfield became the wife of Job Davis after the death of her first husband Richard Howell. After research on Richard Howell, it has become fairly clear that his roots originated with the Jordan and Howell families of this same area of Virginia.


I will cover land records in a later post, but one of the treasures of my trip to Virginia was the discovery of the Will of Randolph Davis in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. I have never seen any records in my research of the Davis family, of any of the descendants of either Marriott or Randolph Davis. Davis descendants often list Randolphs marriage to Hannah Marriott and leave it at that. But according to the records and to his will, he was the Patriarch of a large branch of the Davis Family Tree.

Listed in his will are a living wife and the following children and grandchildren:

Children of Randolph Davis and Hannah Marriott Davis living in 1825:

1) John Davis
2) Robert Davis
3) William Davis
4) Henry Davis
5) Benjamin Davis
6) Betsy Taylor
7) Rebeckah Vaughn
8) Nancy Cheatham
9) Daughter "S....Y" who married a Moon, Her children mention are Sally Moon, Harry Moon and Betsy Moon. The letter that begins the name is definately an "S" and looks the same as the S to start Sally, but the others could be interpreted as "Saucy" or "Savory". It appears most as S... ae or us..gap..sey or ssy. It could be a spelling of Susey, short for Susanna. 

So far in my research of this family, I have discovered that William married Mary Cheatham, daughter of  Daniel Cheatham and his wife Agnes Robertson Cheatham and Nancy Davis married her brother Samuel as his second wife.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Davis married Goodwin Taylor
Rebeckah Davis married Robert Vaughn, son of Ambrose Vaughn.

I can not find any record of a Davis marrying a Moon, in fact the only Moon marriage in Mecklenburg was that of a Joseph Moon to a Joan Johnson, several decades before the Davis children were born. It could be that Randolph's "S" daughter married a son of this couple.

The names of the sons are so common, and with the record number of migrations out of this area to less populated areas south and west during this era, it will take awhile to determine which John, Robert, Henry, William and Benjamin Davis are the sons of Randolph and Hannah. It would have been much nicer if they had named their sons Eupradites, Grief, Mitchum, Buckner or River, which are names I have seen parents give to sons during this era.

And now for the Will:

"In the name of God, I Randolph Davis in the county of Mecklenburg VA do ordain constitute & make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,that as soon after my decease as may be committed my Exec. herein after named shall be moved to sell all my estate both real and personal at publick sale the personal estate in a credit of 12 months and all my real estate on a credit of  one & two years selling the real estate in such tract and quantity of acres as shall appear most advantageous for my estate in the opinion of my Exectuto. I then give and bequest the proceeds arising from the sale of my estate in the manner and form following, that is to say in the first place it is my will and desire that all my just and equitable debts be justly and honestly paid as soon as possible after my decease and that the remains of my estate I give as follows viz: To my son John Davis I give and  (illegible) the sum of $500, 2nd for my son Robert I give and bequest the sum of  $300. To my son William I give and bequest the sum of $10. To my son Henry I give and bequest the sum of $5. To my son Benjamin I give and bequest the sum of $10. To my daughter Betsy Taylor I give and bequest the sum of  $100. To my daughter Rebeckah Vaughn I give and bequest the sum of $100.  To each of the children of my daughter Nancy Cheatham I give and bequest the sum of $50. To Sally Moon daughter of  S****Y Moon, I give and bequest $33. To Harry Moon her son I give and bequest $33. To Betsy Moon her daughter I give and bequest $33. And all the rest and residue of my estate it is my will and desire should be equally divided between my sons John, William, Benjamin and Robert. And I hereby constiture and appoint my brother James Davis and my friends Edwin H. Peete & Daniel Middaugh as my Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills herebefore subsribed. This 5th day of August, 1823.

                                                                                           Randolph Davis (Seal)

Signed in the Presence of Us

D Middaugh
Lewis G. Crutchfield
Samuel x Crutchfield
      his mark 

The following codicil is upon my request added to this my last will. Item that part of the land that I purchased of William Q Cook, which the said William Cook purchased of Samuel Cheatham containing about 80 or so acres I desire may not be sold by my Executors and my will is that it be laid off by my Executors and I here by give the said tract of land to my son Benjamin in addition to what I have hereforto given him and his heirs forever. 

                                                                                         Randolph Davis

Witness:

Phillip S Land
Ambrose x Vaughn
      his mark

At Court held for the County of Mecklenburg on the 16th day of February 1824 The last will and testament of Randolph Davis within written was proved by the court into court by Daniel Middaugh the executor therein named and proved by the oaths of Lewis G Crutchfield and Samuel Crutchfield  and a codicil therein proved by the oaths of  Phillip S. Sands  &  Ambrose Vaughn subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on motion of Daniel Middaugh the Executor therein named who made oath according to law aCertified is granted him for obtaining probate through in one form whereupon he together with Jones Gee, Joseph S. Grigory, Benjamin P. Pennington entered into bond for that purpose and qualified according to law. 

                                                                                       Edmond L Tabb C. Comm.



And now I commence to try to find clues among the land records I copied to the fate of these persons named in the will.

            

A Trip to Virginia

The Early Patents of Brunswick, Mecklenburg and Lunenburg County before her, tell the story of the interelation, entanglement and bonds of  my ancestors as neighbors and relations who intermarried, interacted and emigrated together.

When Henry Davis married Mary Marriott in Surry County, they established another connection to the oldest families then in Virginia.




Both the bride and the groom could trace their ancestory back to the early settlers at Jamestown. Davis' mother, Elizabeth Warren, was a direct descendent of William Spencer, who arrived in 1607.

Josiah Floyd Sr. was given a patent on Avents Creek. The same area the Winfields would live and eventually, several of the children of Henry Davis. The names are reflected in the later, younger arrivals to Anson/Montgomery/Stanly County, because these were their, our, ancestors.

428  Josiah Floyd 15 Dec 1758 VPB 33:526 243a Lunenburg/ on both sides of Avents Cr.

For Example, Edward Winfield, father of Peter Winfield, who migrated to Anson County along the Rocky River about 1785, own two patents, one on Jeneto Creek and another on the Branches of Avents Creek.

766  Edward Winfield    3 Jul 1752     VPB 31:126       466a Brunswick/ S side Jeneto Creek     237  Edward Winfield    5 Sep 1749     VPB 28:678       410a Brunswick/ on the Branches of Avents Creek

Peter would marry Charlotte Freeman, daughter of Arthur Freeman and his brother Joshua would marry her sister Jemima Freeman. The younger of Arthur Freeman and Agnes Stokes Freeman's daughters, Kesiah Freeman, would marry Richard Meanley (would evolve into Manley). The Meanley's along with Freeman and Stokes and Robertson relatives, would be in the party of travelers that Peter and Charlotte Freeman Winfield would emigrate to Anson County, North Carolina. Peter would buy land from Henry Mounger, whose name also shows up in Mecklenburg County, Virginia before showing up in those of Anson and Montgomery counties of North Carolina. Joshua Winfield would remain in Brunswick and after the death of Jemima Freeman Winfield, would marry Rebecca Thrower Carloss, daughter of Hezekiah Thrower and widow of Robertson Carloss. Some of Joshua's children and his stepson would migrate with Peter to Anson. While the older generation would stay there, the younger generation would continue to migrate to Marlboro County, South Carolina. Among these were the Roberston brothers, Drury Jr. and James, who had married Winfield sisters, nieces of Peter, Mary and Martha Winfield, while Peter and Drury Robertson Sr would remain in Anson along with son Booth Robertson. Also among these were nephew Joel Winfield, who would help establish Bennetsville, SC and ran an Ordinary there. Richard Meanly and Kesiah would be in the bunch of Anson residents along with Ropers, Randles, Howells and Logans who would migrate to Tennessee by the 1820's. 

Other families who lived in this same area, on the creeks that crossed the northern eastern border of Mecklenburg and northwestern border of Brunswick were the Penningtons, Laniers, Taylors, Nance, Malone, Duke, Ezell, Fielding and a very good friend of Peter Winfield, Sam Marshall. Many other families some of whose relations would migrate to the Anson/Rowan/Montgomery/Cabarrus/Stanly County area of North Carolina also orignated in Southside Virginia, although from along different sections of this county and with other combinations of families including Chandlers who settled along the Meherrin River.

 712  Samuel Marshall  6 Apr 1769 VPB 38:587  366a Mecklenburg/ N side of Avent's Cr.



511  Drury Malone 12 May 1759 VPB 34:290 390a Lunenburg/ Brs. of Jeneto Cr. and Avents Cr.
509  Drury Malone 12 May 1759 VPB 34:277 300a Lunenburg/ on both sides of Jeneto Creek
724  George Malone jr 15 Jun 1773 VPB 41:378 420a Mecklenburg/ on the brs. of Avents & Jenento Cr.
87   Thomas Malone 12 May 1759 VPB 34:321 705a Lunenburg/ N side of Jeneto Creek




 547  John Taylor Duke 20 Aug 1760 VPB 34:661 245a Lunenburg/ head of Taylor's Cr. & Flatt Cr.
366  John Taylor Duke  14 Aug 1754 VPB 32:387 400a Lunenburg/ on the head brs. of Jeneto Cr.

277  Joseph Chandler 10 Jun 1760 VPB 34:510 1850a Lunenburg/ both Sides of the S Fork of Meherrin Riv.
276  Joseph Chandler of Lunenburg 3 Jul 1750 LUDB 2 p17-18 246a Lunenburg/ both sides S fk of Meherrin R,

 725  Sack Penington   15 Jun 1773    VPB 41:399   405a Mecklenburg/ on the Waters of Jeneto & Avents Cr.
     406  William Penington  16 Aug 1756    VPB 33:66   367a Lunenburg/ both sides of Stiths Cr.
     225  John George Pennington  1 Oct 1727 VPB 28:231  235a Brunswick/ on E side Taylors Creek adj William Pennington
     263  James Pennington   9 Oct 1753 VPB 31:423 400a Lunenburg/ S side Avents Cr. on S side Meherrin River
     727  William Pennington 15 Jun 1773 VPB 41:401 410a Mecklenburg/ waters of Avents & Jenato Cr. and Adjoining
     252  William Pennington  3 Nov 1750 VPB 30:403 630a Lunenburg/ on the head Brs. of Avents Cr.
     689  William Pennington  25 Mar 1762    VPB 34:1002 400a Lunenburg/ on both sides of Miles Creek
     726  James Pennington  15 Jun 1773 VPB 41:400 135a Mecklenburg/ N side of Avents Cr. Adjoining his own line

Both the Davis family and the Winfield family originated in Surry County. Edward Winfield was the son of Jarvis Winfield of Surry and Henry Davis, several of whose children settled in Mecklenburg and Brunswick, was from Surry. There was already a separate and possibly unrelated Davis family who was already there when Henry Davis and Mary Marriott Davis heirs arrived there. Henry Davis was the son of James Davis and Elizabeth Warren. His family roots trace back to the Jamestown Ship Captain James Davis, son of Sir Thomas Davis and wife Rebekah Keyes.  Jarvis Winfield was the son of William Winfield and the grandson of Jarvis Dix and Hannah Wynne, daughter of Sir Thomas Wynne.  The Win(g)field family also has roots in the origins of Jamestown. These are very old Virginia families. 

I recently traveled to this part of Virginia on vacation, trying to find anything I could on the families I descend from and above all, to find definitive proof of the parentage of Job Davis. It became more clear, that my theory of his being a grandson of Henry Davis and Mary Marriott Davis, because of his close association with Josiah and Mary Tillman Floyd, whom he migrated with in 1794, at the age of 21, and according to the 1839 deposition he gave for Mary to receive a widow's pension from Josiah Floyds' Revolutionary War service, lived with them for 18 months and lived within 2 miles from them for almost 40 years. 

Mary Tillman Floyd was a granddaughter of Henry Davis and Mary Marriott Davis. Records clearly trace the marriages of her mother, Rebekah Ann Davis, oldest daughter of the above couple, who first married a Roger Tillman, had 3 children Mary, Nancy and Henry. Henry named his mother and his two sisters in his will. She then married James Taylor and had several more children. James Taylor and his family, in particular, were also very entangled with the Floyd, Davis and Winfield families. 

While I did not find a document that named Job as the son of any particular Davis, I was able to find several documents of close interaction between these families, and through the process of elimination, narrowed down to who were not his parents, and then possibly who may have definately been. 

The biggest treasure was finding the Will of Randolph (sometimes seen as Randle) Davis, who had married his first cousin, Hannah Marriott, daughter of Thomas Marriott and niece of Mary Marriott Davis. The name Thomas Marriott, be it her father or her brother, Thomas Marriott , Jr. is often seen in close association with the Winfields as well. 

What I left with was two assurances and two probabilities. 

- Job Davis and his future wife Sarah Winfield, both born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia in 1773, probably knew each other from childhood.

-They both grew up on Taylor's Creek in St. James Parrish. 

- Per Randolph Davis' will, his brother James was living in 1825 when his will was written. 

- James Davis, whose will I will have to order and wait on, was living in Mecklenburg County at the time of Job's birth. He married first Sarah Holmes and second, in Brunswick, Lucy Walker. Both the wills of James Davis and Lucy Walker Davis are in Brunswick County, 1830.