Private in nature
My Davis Family history begins in Wales, as my people were Welsh Quakers. They arrived in this country about 1607 into Jamestowne and about 1684 into Philadelphia. From there, branches of my family migrated into Delaware-then into South Carolina and Virginia.
John Davis was in North Carolina or Virginia about 1724. Son, George was born 25 April 1774 in North Carolina. George married Elizabeth Lanier in Georgia. They move west and were in Mobile for a short time when it was part of British West Florida. This was 1811-1812 before the war. After the war of 1812, this area became the Mississippi Territory. George move west to the banks of cedar creek in what would become Jackson County, Mississippi Territory. He was elected Justice of Jackson County when it was formed in 1813, near Americus Community (this was near the present Jackson and George County, MS lines).
Son, Samuel was born 11 April 1795 in Georgia. The first of 10 Children, he fell heir to his father's political standing. He was Court Clerk for many years, was Postmaster at Americus and then was elected Probate Judge of Jackson County, MS in the 1850-60's. He helped to establish Salem Methodist Campground were summer campmeeting has been held most continuously since then. (1826).
James Davis was born in 1824. He married Nancy Abigail Pierce, whose family lived closer to Mobile. She was daughter of Jeremiah Pierce of NC. We believe the Pierce Family is related to Chief Bowles of the Western Cherokee. Many of this Pierce Family migrated to Texas in the mid 1800's. Jeremiah's property now contains the present day site of the Mobile Municipal Airport. James Davis, later, married a Ms. Nancy White. He apparently left her and went to Texas by boat, entering Galveston. He died there.
Son, Seymore Lawrence Davis (1856) ran away at about age 13(about the time of his fathers leaving)--he is listed, but missing in the 1870 Census. Not happy with family life, he ended up in the Bromley community near Byrne's lake. Various families assisted him. He obtained a Land Grant in the late 1870's.He married Margaret Eva Vines, daughter of William A. J. Vines a CSA soldier, (died in service).
Seymour Hance Davis (1886), my great-grandfather was born near Bromley. He was for many years involved in "stumpwooding" and the turpentine gathering. He married Henrietta Bankester, also of Bromley. She is descended from native blood( George Washington Bankester).
My grandfather, Rev. Woodrow Douglas Davis (1937 Summerdale, Al) was a carpenter, by trade, but was later in the ministry, full time. In the late 1940's, he was responsible for four locations of the Congregational Holiness Church and had to "ride the circuit" each week to meet one of them. Douglas married Rosa Inez Dupree from Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia. I suspect Cherokee blood among her relatives--Dupree, Stephens, Bottoms and Roberts. The racial climate was such that those who were not removed, have not discussed this for more than 150 years.
My father, Floyd Woodrow Davis, was born in Rome, Georgia in 1937. It was Grandma's habit to go home to relatives when she got ready to deliver. Floyd was trained as a Forester and worked for the U.S.Forest Service, a private Company in NC where he met mom (Patricia Coltrain) and then 33 years with Scott Paper Company in Mobile, AL.
Honorable Samuel Davis(born 1795)--m--Sussanah Goff (Gauff)
He was Postmaster and Probate Judge of Jackson County, MS for many years when the courthouse of the same was at Americus community. He helped to start the "Salem Methodist Campground". He was a man of some influence and means, but most written records of his business dealings have been victim to the fire which damaged the original court house building. He is buried near Salem Campground--Old Carter Cemetary.
1822 Martha-m- Francis Cunningham
1823 Mary-m-W. Francis Avara
1824 James-m-Nancy Pierce
1827 Nancy-m-
1829 William B.-m-Elizabeth
1831 Sabra-m-William Ramsay, SR.
1837 Cassandra-m
1840 Alice
1845 Samuel H.---missing CSA
James Davis(born 1824)--m--Nancy A. Pierce
Not much is known of this man. He is not mentioned in the 1870 census and the family appears in the households of others. Civil war service records are unclear concerning his service and there is little verbal history handed down about him. Relatives from Texas state that he left his 2nd wife, Nancy White, and went by boat into Galveston where he lived until his death.
1854 Wylie E.-m-Mary
1846 Emily A.-m- Lowery
1847 Edward William-m-Lucy Tanner
1849 Alfred-m-Alice Ann Ely
1851 Mary A.-m-
1853 James Clayton-m-
1854 Franklin Goff-m-
1856 Seymore Lawrence-m-Margaret Eva Vines
1861 Martha (Patsy)
1863 Lucy
Seymore Lawrence Davis(born 1856)--m-Margaret Eva Vines
Seymore was born at Americus, but ran away sometime before 1870 and ended up in the Bromley Community of Baldwin county Alabama near old Blakely. He would never discuss where his family was or anything about them. This has caused further questions as to what his father had done or his whereabouts. Seymore was mainly a subsistense farmer and worked in turpentine and stumpwooding. He continued to attend Methodist Meeting.
1879 Simeon James(sim)-m-Valula Rider
1883 Wiley Lawrence-m-Agnes Celeste Wallace
1886 Seymore Hance(ball)-m-Henrietta Bankester
1888 Nolia Eva-m-Louis N. Brown
1890 Simon Peter(si)-m-Elizabeth Thomley
1893 John Edward-m-Susan Alma Durant
1896 Magdalene(mag)-m-Robert Quinley
1899 Pleadas-m-Edward Crenshaw
1902 Mary Louise-m-Robert Wallace
1906 Alfred Edison-m-Mary Viola Cook
Seymore Hance Davis(1886)--m--1. Henrietta Bankester (her children listed)
1907 Rev. Ester Lee-m-Davis Gagner
1907 Ethel M.-m-John Hammond
1909 Seymore Henry-m-Nellie Duck
1913 Rev. Woodrow Douglas-m-Rosa Inez Dupree
1920 Rev. Davis Hance-m-Elma Lee Moore
Rev. Woodrow Douglas Davis(born 1912)--m- Rosa Inez Dupree
Floyd Woodrow-m-Patricia A. Coltrain
Doyle Eugene-m-Jean Lewis
Mary Delois-m-Gerald Overstreet
Martha Joyce-m- (1)Robert Warr(deceased)(2)Norris Rester
Thomas Emory-m-June Hale
Floyd Woodrow Davis(born 1937)-m- Patricia Anne Coltrain
Rev.(Chaplain) & Police Sgt. Michael Douglas-m- Bonnie Lynn Hart
Cheryl Leigh-m- Rev. Ronald Eugene White