My Davis Connection
I have Davis blood on both sides of my family. My paternal grandmother was Mary Hoomes Davis, daughter of the Rev. Wilbur Fisk Davis. His father was the Rev. Joseph Hoomes Davis, the son of the Rev. Williams Edwards Davis. Williams E. Davis was the son of John Davis, also named as a Methodist preacher, and the earliest named Davis we know in our tree. My maternal great-grandmother was Olin Lee Turberville Davis, the brother of Wilbur Fisk Davis, mentioned above. She was the wife of George Wishart Murphy, my great-grandfather.
The Davis Line
What we know about the Davis people from whom we descended has been passed down through family lore and a few odd documents, those also appearing to have come from older family lore. Here is an excerpt copied from the Bible of Williams Thomas Davis now held at the University of Virginia and on microfilm at the Library of Virginia:
Statement as to Davis Genealogy received by Charles Hall Davis on March 5, 1919 from his cousin, Mrs. George Murphy, Kinsale, Va. – being excerpts from “Family Tree” prepared by John W. Davis. (Memo: Mrs. George Murphy and John W. Davis were both children of Joseph Hoomes Davis, who was the brother of Williams Thomas Davis. The “Family Tree” referred to is now (1945) in the possession of some of the descendants of Joseph Hoomes Davis in Westmoreland County, Virginia.)
“Davis Genealogy”
The first “Davis” we know of came from England and settled in Isle of Wight County (name not given). His son John was a preacher and moved to Gloucester County, Va., and married Elizabeth Edwards. They had two sons:
a. John, who married Nancy Adams of Matthews Co., Va.
b. Williams Edwards, of Oak Lawn, born March 16, 1780 in Isle of Wight County.
Williams Edwards, preacher, married Mary Hoomes and lived at Oak Lawn, Gloucester County, Virginia. He died on March 30, 1857 in Norfolk Co., Va.
Mary Hoomes was born September 10, 1785 and died on February 21, 1858 in Petersburg, Virginia and was buried in Blandford Cemetery.
Other accounts state that there were originally three Davis brothers who emigrated from Wales, alighting in Virginia and settling in Isle of Wight County. One of those brothers was said to have migrated south and from him sprang the family that produced Jefferson Davis. I can find no evidence to suggest this is true, but have not exhausted myself in searching it out. However, of the Isle of Wight and Gloucester County Davises, we are certain. We are clear that the first named Davis at the top of the tree was named John, and we know of his two brothers, Philip and Stephen. Stephen was a noted Methodist preacher who met his end in Norfolk of yellow fever in 1795. His will was recorded in old Norfolk County and can be seen in the county records preserved in the Norfolk Public Library. It mentions his brother, Philip, who was living in New Kent County. This is consistent with the Davis family tree mentioned in the quote above, which notes that Philip Davis settled in New Kent County and married a Clayton. He was also a Methodist preacher.
From Richard Beale Davis’s biography in Men of Mark in Virginia, Vol. 4, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler:
On his paternal side Mr. Davis’s ancestry was Welsh. His emigrant progenitor from Wales came to Virginia in the early half of the eighteenth century, and settled in Isle of Wight county. On this side of his house, Mr. Davis’ ancestors were ministers of the Gospel, distinguished for their integrity and strong faith.
Of John Davis, we know relatively little. The most of what we know is gleaned from descriptions of the origin of his son, Williams Edwards Davis. Samuel Basset French does not include the Rev. John Davis in his Biographical Sketches, but mentions him in the entry for the Rev. Williams Edwards Davis, noting only that he was his father. There are a couple more mentions of him in the biographies of his descendants. From a short biography of Wilbur Fisk Davis in Sketches and Portraits from the Virginia Conference, Twentieth Century Edition by John J. Lafferty:
His great-grandmother was the first Methodist in Gloucester county, whither she moved from Isle of Wight county. Her husband, John Davis, afterwards became a Methodist preacher. His two brothers, Philip and Steven, were also Methodist preachers. Stephen, a noted member of the Virginia Conference, died of yellow fever in Norfolk in 1795.
I am intrigued by the mention of his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Edwards Davis, as “the first Methodist in Gloucester county” and that John “afterwards became a Methodist minister.” That may also provide some interesting detail if records can be found in Gloucester. Perhaps we may discover who her parents were as I search through records in Isle of Wight.
It isn’t clear exactly what year John Davis moved his family to Gloucester. It may have been as early as the 1780s, or as late as 1800. John Davis was not an uncommon name, and census roles and tax records from that age are not specific enough to make much distinction. I suspect the most useful records will be in the deed books, showing transactions. If the specific Davis family of interest cannot be discerned in Isle of Wight, perhaps the acquisition of Oak Lawn in Gloucester can be identified to pin down the year or years the move occurred. We know that at least one of the Davis children, Williams Edwards Davis, was born in Isle of Wight in 1780 before the move.
More to come…
im doing research on my family when your article popped up… my name is shawn davis my family orignated here from England. Any relation? would love to know. Thanks,
Shawn,
Thanks for dropping by! I hope it is somewhat obvious that I can’t begin to answer your question. If you read this page on the Davis family I *do* know, then you know pretty much all I know about where they came from. Family lore, passed down through the generations, suggests that the Davis ancestors referred to on this page came from Wales. Beyond that, we don’t know anything. In fact, we don’t even really *know* that!
Sorry information is so skimpy, but that’s all I have. These early Davises are hard to smoke out!
Yes, I am a Davis and I’ve traced my family to Hanover County and Louisa, Va
Johnson Davis marries Lula Moss Davis in the 1800’s, any suggestions on tracking back further, I believe George Davis was a GGGrandfather? thanks
Deborah,
I have found it enormously difficult to track down the Davises in Virginia with any certainty. There were just too many! I spent a great deal of time in the Isle of Wight courthouse looking through old land records, wills and chancery causes and came away with very little I was able to correlate to known ancestors. My best advice is to go to the Library of Virginia and look through the county records for the counties you are interested in and check out all the Davis items you can find. Wills are great, as they often name parents, spouses, siblings and children, making it easier to find the right Davis.
I am seeking my grandmother heritage. I was told by my paternal grandmother that her mom last name was Davis and shi was A Cherokee Indian. She grew upon an reservation in Gloucester countyher was Henrietta Davis
Margo,
Thanks for the comment and question. I am not familiar with Henrietta Davis and don’t know of any reservations in Gloucester County, Virginia. There are two nearby in King William County: the Pamunkey Indian Reservation and the Mattaponi Indian Reservation. From your comment, I am not sure if she was born a Davis or married a Davis.
Hi,
Doing research I googled Davis family of Petersburg, VA. One a line you mentioned, Blandford Cemetery is mentioned. I am researching my great great grandmother Lena (Davis) Stevenson, who was born in Petersburg but died in Wake, North Carolina. I’ve ran into some dead ends so I started to find info on her siblings. I found her brother, John Richard Davis 1872 – 1946, buried in Blandford, married to Eva. His parents are who I believe to be Henry Clay Davis b. abt 1848 and Alice Hubbard 1849 -1883. Not sure where they are buried. Can you offer any insight? Thanks.
My grandmother was Phyllis Ann Davis, of Macon Georgia. She said direct line,Jefferson Davis president CSA and also ‘Mary’s Blood’….?
My grandfather was William Thomas Davis from Macon GA
I am a Davis from Lynchburg, VA. The Davis/Davies are huge here in both Bedford and Amherst Ciunties. According to family records, they came from Gloucester from Wales.
Do you know anything about the line from Henry Landon Davis or his descendants?
Hi,
Richard Davis born 1817 was from Wales and lived in Prince George, VA and Petersburg. He married Martha C. Baxter 1825 – abt 1879. They had a son, Richard Clay Davis born about 1848. Does this family ring a bell? Thank you!
They all sound so familiar, and they inhabited many of the same areas, but I have found Davises from Wales to be a wide ranging group of families that seem to use the same names over and over. While this does have a familiar ring to it, I have no records of this particular Davis family in any of my research. Even in looking through court records, I have not been successful in tracking down many of my early Davis ancestors. I hope you have good luck!
My 2nd greatgrandmother was Harriett J. Davis 1819-1861 and married John Wesley Johnson married in 1834, but I can’t find parents for her. Can someone help me, please?
Hi, My greatgrandfather was a Davis however he did not marry my great grandmother so my grandfather got his mothers last name. I have very limited information because of this. What I do know is that his name was Burnham Davis (I am unsure if Burnham is his first name or middle name) he was born between 1814-1818 in New Hampshire according to census records. He married a Elizabeth Matilda Viglini 1824-? in 1845 in Henrico, Virginia. I cannot find any siblings for him, parents, or any other information other than a few census records. I also know, there is a road in Hanover, VA named after him (Burnham Davis Road), I also know there is a Burnham Davis house in Richmond, VA (I have a gut feeling it is the same Burnham as they were both farmers and was in the St. Johns Parish, Church Hill district but I cannot find WHO he was to gain more information. I am trying so hard because my mothers family also ties into this line and I have found relation to Davis’s on 23andme that states we could be 3rd cousins but because I cannot get past Burnham I cannot find the links. I know I may never find him but it is driving me nuts. Would you by chance have any information on any Davis’s or Burnham Davis of Henrico or Richmond or Hanover, Va? Or any leads I could possibly follow? Thanks for your time!!
I see that you also have information on the Beales. Per my previous reply, Burnham Davis married Matilda Elizabeth Viglini whose father was Joseph Viglini and Mother was Catherine Beale, daughter of John Beale. I am not sure if this makes a difference but I would love to find the missing link but it stops here. I know the connection is close I just can’t find who Burnham Davis was or his parents. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks!
Update: I am not sure who you are or how often you check this platform or really why I am updating but if you ever get a chance to read or reply but I have successfully traced my Beale lineage and actually have Beale on 2 sides of my family back to a Thomas Beale and Taverner Beale and so on. I am still unable to find parents for Burnham Davis but I have found quite a bit of info on him since going to the library of Virginia. He served on the trial (that never went to trial) for Jeff Davis, etc. I don’t know if he is related to the Joseph Hoomes Davis that married another Beale. If you ever get an opportunity would you mind checking your database for a Burnham Davis from anew Hampshire or any other Davises for that matter that could have came from New Hampshire to Va in the early 1800’s please let me know I would really appreciate. Thanks for your time.
Hi Karen, we own the Burnham Davis house in Church Hill and have been trying to learn more about the house and its original builder/occupant for a while. It looks like you’ve had some success at the library of VA. Can you point us in the right direction to any info on Burnham Davis? Thanks!
Hi Jan! I would be happy to share what I have learned about Burnham. Please email me at ihuntdeadfolks@gmail.com and I can correspond a little quicker that way.
Take care,
Karen
Interested in early DAVIS, DAVIES in Gloucester and/or Mathews cos., VA…
My great great grandfather was Henry Landon Davies(Davis), He was born july 1846. Im lost because there were so many Henry Davies in Bedford Co. I would really appreciate any one that had any info as to who his parents could possibly be or point me in right direction. I know he was born in Virginia because that was what my great grandmother has always said. Census records vary from birth in Virginia and birth in Pennsylvania. I believe he had at least 2 siblings. James and Anna according to 1910 and 1920 census.
Hello all.
I have been chasing my Davis family to find out where they started as well. This is what I have been able to trace.
1) GGGGreat Grandfather John G. Davis / Birth- around 1792- Died Jan 3, 1881 / He was born in Virginia and not sure where he died. Married Elizabeth Gibbs. She was born in PA around 1794. She died in German, Darke Co., Ohio
2) GGGreat Grandfather John N. Davis / Birth- July 11, 1815 – Died Feb 18, 1875 / He was born in KY. Not sure where he died. He married Matilda Newland Aug 4, 1838 in Ohio. She was born in Ohio around 1817 and died Dec 16, 1884. Going to guess they both died in Ohio.
3) GGreat Grandfather Joshua Davis / Birth- Oct 15, 1849- Died Aug 1, 1933 / He was born in Blue Ball, Ohio. He married Justina Alice Engle 1872 in Greene, Ohio. She was born Feb 12, 1856 and died Oct 18, 1940. They both died in Ohio.
I know for sure up thru my GGreat Grandfather. Both of the John Davis’ I have traced over the internet. This is as far as I have been able to come up with. John G. Davis May have been from this group, not sure. If you have any info, please, please let me know.
Thank you
I have a bible from William Codding Davis born in Newport Rhode Island. 6/20/1825 son of John W. Jr and Susan ann Davis. It has alot more of the genealogy from the Davis family. Not sure it this is related to your ancestors. I also have info that connects George Watson Sumner to the Davis family as well as info that somehow gets to Robert E Lee’s wife Mary Ann Custis.
If you have info on John and Matilda Davis, please let me know. Thank you.
Hello. The one I have listed as my GGGGreat Grandfather, John G. Davis that was married to Elizabeth Gibbs, i have a feeling that I had that one wrong and that they are not the parents of my GGGreat Grandfather John (N?) Davis who was married to Matilda Newland. There are and were a lot of Davis’ and it can get confusing sometimes. My GGGreat Grandfather is as far as I have been able to go. Really would love to find more info. If you or anyone can help me, please reply here. Thank you.
I am looking for a Diane/Dianna/diana.w Davis who would have a granddaughter named Tami l Hope. I am the biological daughter of Tami and the biological granddaughter of Mrs. Diane/Dianna/Diana w Davis. I have very deep yet Brite blue eyes, blonde hair with naturally dark roots and clubbed thumbs on both hands. Also I’m very pale in color!!! Any Whittier I’d be capible of passing myself off as a blue eyed albino lol!!! Desperately trying to find my real family!!! I’ve been searching for 29 years now!! I’ll be 40 in October!!! I was born in October 14th 1982!!! Father listed as unknown!!! Not looking for drama money blood or an organ lol just want my family back is all!! Please help me!! I’m lonely without them!! Their all I can think about!!