The Official Davis Family History.

 
 


The Taylor Plantation.

—As thoughtfully compiled by Alfred Willis

OUR ANCESTORS WERE ENSLAVED ON THE TAYLOR FAMILY PLANTATION IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, VA. THE DOCUMENTED PATRIARCH OF THE TAYLOR FAMILY, MAJOR WILLIAM TAYLOR, WAS A PROMINENT MAN IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, VA. DURING A TIME WHERE MANY PLANTATION OWNERS WERE LEAVING VIRGINIA, WILLIAM RELOCATED MUCH OF HIS PLANTATION TO TIPTON COUNTY, TN.

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1833, WILLIAM TAYLOR DEEDED OUR ANCESTORS TO HIS FIRST SON, DRURY TAYLOR, WHO WAS LIVING IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE. DRURY DIED A FEW YEARS AFTER THIS DEED WAS EXCHANGED AND THE PROPERTY THAT WAS DEEDED TO DRURY WAS RETURNED BACK TO WILLIAM TAYLOR. IN 1834, WILLIAM TAYLOR DECIDED TO MOVE FROM MECKLENBURG COUNTY, VA TO TIPTON COUNTY, TN WHERE HE DIED 20 YEARS LATER (DECEMBER 1854).

ANOTHER SON OF WILLIAM TAYLOR, JAMES A. TAYLOR, GAINED OWNERSHIP OF WILLIAM TAYLOR’S ESTATE. JAMES TAYLOR MARRIED HIS COUSIN FRANCES TAYLOR AND TOGETHER THEY OWNED WHAT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS “TAYLOR QUARTERS”. SOME TIME LATER JAMES TAYLOR DIED. HIS BODY WAS FOUND IN THE HATCHIE RIVER AFTER COLLAPSING FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE.

The Taylor Plantation

James left his estate to his wife (Frances Taylor) and daughters. Unable to manage the property themselves, George Taylor, Frances Taylor’s uncle, was placed in charge of managing the estate. George Taylor was the last manager of the Taylor quarters before the end of slavery.

GEORGE TAYLOR WAS INTERVIEWED ON JUNE 8, 1866 BY THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER ABOUT HIS VIEW ON THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY. IN HIS STATEMENT HE ACKNOWLEDGED ONE FORMER ENSLAVED FAMILY IN PARTICULAR THAT WAS DOING QUITE WELL AFTER GAINING THEIR FREEDOM.

 

Col. George Taylor, 1805-1885 & wife, Mary Goodloe Somerville, 1805-1858, socially prestigious planter couple of early Mason. The Taylor home was built at a cost of $10,000 and burned in 1881.

 

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE FAMILY HE WAS REFERRING TO WAS ANDERSON TAYLOR AND HIS FAMILY.

From Venus to Anderson

WE BEGIN OUR CURRENT STORY LIKE MANY OTHER AFRICAN DESCENDANTS OF THE U.S. SLAVE TRADE, WITH A DEED. SPECIFICALLY, A DEED OF GIFT FROM MAJOR WILLIAM TAYLOR OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA TO HIS SON DRURY TAYLOR OF TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1833

IN A SECTION OF THIS DOCUMENT WE LEARN THE NAMES OF THREE GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILY. IT READS “…MOSES, LOVELESS, DICK, VENUS, JOHN SON TO VENUS, BETSY DAUGHTER TO VENUS-WILL SON TO BETSY, JANE DAUGHTER TO DO, PRIS DAUGHTER TO DO, ANDERSON SON TO DO, MARY DAUGHTER TO DO, AGGY DAUGHTER TO VENUS, UNTO HIM MY SON SAID SON DOURY SMITH TAYLOR…”. FROM THIS WE CAN CONFIRM THAT ANDERSON’S MOTHER WAS BETSY, AND BETSY’S MOTHER WAS VENUS. WE ALSO LEARN THAT BETSY HAD A SISTER NAMED AGGY AND A BROTHER NAMED JOHN. PRIOR TO THE DISCOVER OF THIS DOCUMENT OUR FAMILY ONLY KNEW ANDERSON TAYLOR AS OUR OLDEST ANCESTOR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO SURNAMES GIVEN TO THE ENSLAVED ON THIS DEED.

THIS DOCUMENT ALSO GIVES US THE NAMES OF SEVERAL OF ANDERSON’S SIBLINGS. THEIR NAMES ARE WILL (WILLIAM “BUCK” CANNON), JANE, PRIS, AND MARY. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THAT ANDERSON HAD ANOTHER SISTER NAMED BETTY . AS OF 2023 ANDERSON’S FATHER IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

ANDERSON TAYLOR – THE BLACKSMITH

ANDERSON TAYLOR WAS BORN AROUND 1828 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TN. HE BECAME A BLACKSMITH ON THE TAYLOR PLANTATION, SPECIFICALLY ON THE TAYLOR QUARTERS. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, HE WAS LIKELY THE ONLY BLACKSMITH IN THE AREA. THROUGH UNCONFIRMED METHODS, ANDERSON WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EITHER BEFORE OR SHORTLY AFTER THE END OF SLAVERY. HE ACCUMULATED SO MUCH CAPITAL THAT HE WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE 500 ACRES OF HIS OWN LAND. THE LAND PURCHASES INCLUDED PROPERTY THAT WAS ONCE PART OF THE TAYLOR AND THE NEIGHBORING CHAMBERS PLANTATION.

ANDERSON WENT ON TO BE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF ST. PAUL CHURCH IN MASON, TENNESSEE. HE UNSELFISHLY GAVE $1000 TOWARDS IT’S FUNDING (APPROXIMATELY $20,000 IN 2018 STANDARDS.)

ANDERSON WAS MARRIED TO MARY JANE. TOGETHER THEY GAVE BIRTH TO 14 CHILDREN THAT WE KNOW OF; CYNTHIA, JANE, ALLEN LEVI, AARON GUY, MATTHEW, WILLIAM, JAMES, MINERVA, JOHN DANIEL, WILHIMENIA, ADAM, IDELIA, SIDNEY, AND ELISHA. THOUGH ANDERSON’S LEGAL SURNAME WAS TAYLOR, ALL OF HIS CHILDREN HAD THE LEGAL SURNAME OF DAVIS. IN ANDERSON’S WILL, HE DISTRIBUTED HIS LAND AND PROPERTY BETWEEN HIS 14 CHILDREN AND FROM HIS WILL WE GET A CONFIRMATION OF THE NAMES OF HIS CHILDREN.

THE DATE OF ANDERSON’S DEATH IS UNKNOWN. FROM THE DATE LISTED ON HIS WILL, IT CAN BE SURMISED THAT HE PASSED AWAY AFTER 1880.

OUR COUSIN, KERMIT BOND (MASON, TN), STATED TO A RESEARCHER THAT ANDERSON DAVIS WAS DESCRIBED HIM AS A DARK AND HARDWORKING MAN. KERMIT WAS BORN AFTER 1880. MORE RESEARCH WILL BE NEEDED TO CONFIRM ANDERSON’S PASSING.

Descendants of Anderson Taylor

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, ANDERSON TAYLOR HAS 15 KNOWN CHILDREN. THRU RESEARCH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A LITTLE INFORMATION ON SEVERAL OF THEM. HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME NAMES AND SPELLINGS MAY BE INACCURATE.

  • ALLEN LEVI DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1847 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

  • AARON GUY DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1849 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • POSSIBLY MARRIED TO A WOMAN NAMED SIDDIE CRESS MARCH 29, 1876

    • HE ONCE LIVED WITH HIS BROTHER ELISHA DAVIS IN 1910

    • HE WAS LAST SEEN LIVING WITH HIS NEPHEW LEE SMITH, SON OF MINERVA DAVIS, IN 1920

    • LIKELY DIED AFTER 1921 IN TIPTON COUNTY TENNESSEE

  • WILLIAM MATTHEW DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1851 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED HENRIETA WEST JANUARY 29, 1876

    • HAD ONE KNOWN SON, FLAVOR DAVIS (1877 – UNKNOWN)

    • HAD ONE KNOWN DAUGHTER, WILLIE ANN DAVIS (1878 – 1914)

    • DIED JUNE 3, 1878 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

  • JAMES ANDERSON DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1853 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • DIED SEPTEMBER 18, 1908 IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

  • MINERVA DAVIS (FEMALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1855 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED JOSHUA SMITH

    • HAD ONE KNOWN SON, LEE SMITH (1873 – 1960)

  • JOHN DANIEL DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1856 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • POSSIBLY DIED IN 1892 IN TEXAS

    • POSSIBLY WENT TO TEXAS TO BECOME A DOCTOR

  • WILHEMINA DAVIS (FEMALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1859

    • MARRIED A MAN WITH THE SURNAME HAYS

    • DIED BEFORE ANDERSON DAVIS

  • ADAM DABNEY DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN OCTOBER 10, 1864 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED SALLIE SMITH ON A CURRENTLY UNKNOWN DATE

    • HAD TWO KNOWN SONS; ALLEN H. DAVIS (1895 – 1983) & ADAM L. DAVIS (1901 – UK)

    • HAD THREE KNOWN DAUGHTERS; ANNA A. DAVIS (1894 – UK), LUDIE DAVIS (1898 – 1849), MAMIE LEE DAVIS (1905 – 1983)

    • DIED APRIL 26, 1940 IN MASON, TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

  • CYNTHIA DAVIS (FEMALE)

    • BORN ABOUT 1865 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED ADDISON GRANDERSON IN 1887

  • SIDNEY DAVIS (MALE)

    • BORN MARCH 29 1876 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED LUCY TAYLOR ON MARCH 15 1887

    • HAD 10 CHILDREN WITH LUCY

      • 5 BOYS; JAMES DAVIS (1890 – 1918), FRED R. DAVIS (1891 – 1978), LEE E. DAVIS (1895 – 1917), SIDNEY L. DAVIS (1902 – 1918), WILLIAM HENRY DAVIS (1910 – UK)

      • 5 GIRLS; SCYNTHA A. DAVIS (1893 – 1916), LUELLA DAVIS (1893 – 1917), NANNIE B. DAVIS (1898 – UK), SORETHA DAVIS (1904 – UK), OLLIE B. DAVIS (1907 – 1918)

    • MARRIED A WOMAN NAMED MILLIE

      • HAD ONE SON, GABRIEL FORD (1906 – 1941)

  • IDELIA DAVIS (FEMALE)

    • BORN JANUARY 1, 1870 IN TIPTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

    • MARRIED MACK CALVIN BONDS ON JANUARY 10, 1889

    • HAD TWO KNOWN SONS; SAMUEL W. BONDS (1907 – UK) & CURTIS BONDS (1914 – 1995)

    • HAD 7 KNOWN DAUGHTERS; BLANCH BONDS (1889 – UK), MARY WEITER BONDS (1891 – UK), ETHEL L. BONDS (1893 – UK), BERTHA E. BONDS (1896 – UK), RUTH BONDS (1898 – UK), FREDIE MACK BONDS (1903 – UK), LUCILE G. M. BONDS (1905 – UK)

    • DIED APRIL 2, 1915

  • JANE DAVIS (FEMALE)

    • NOT MUCH IS KNOW ABOUT JANE DAVIS. MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Elisha Davis & Lucinda Bond

 

OUR FAMILY IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NAME OF ANDERSON’S SON, ELISHA DAVIS, AND HIS WIFE LUCINDA BOND.

 

LUCINDA WAS PREVIOUSLY MARRIED TO HENRY WHITLEY AND THEY HAD A CHILD TOGETHER NAMED WILLIAM. THE FATE OF HENRY WHITLEY IS UNKNOWN. BUT THE UNION BETWEEN HENRY AND LUCINDED ENDED WITHIN 2 YEARS OF ITS INCEPTION. ELISHA DAVIS MARRIED LUCINDA BOND ON DECEMBER 26, 1884. LUCINDA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF HUMPHRIES BOND AND DOLLY CHAMBERS. LUCINDA WAS ALSO THE YOUNGER SISTER OF MACK CALVIN DAVIS WHO MARRIED ELISHA’S SISTER, IDELIA DAVIS. TOGETHER ELISHA AND LUCINDA HAD 8 CHILDREN. THEIR NAMES WERE DABNEY DAVIS (MALE 1889 – 1920), MACK DAVIS (MALE 1889 – 1951), MINNIE O. DAVIS (FEMALE 1890 – 1949), LENORA DAVIS (FEMALE 1894 – 1990), LOUIS W. DAVIS (MALE 1895 – 1964), EARLY DAVIS (FEMALE 1902-1943), MABLE DAVIS (FEMALE 1902 – 1974), AND ELISHA “BO” DAVIS (MALE 1904 – 1962).

SOMETIME AFTER THE BIRTH OF ELISHA “BO” DAVIS, LUCINDA WAS MISSING FROM ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS. HER FATE REMAINS UNKNOWN AS OF NOVEMBER 2018. ELISHA RELOCATED TO SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND REMARRIED A WOMAN NAMED KATIE MCCLELLAND (MAIDEN NAME FARRIS) ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1909 WHO ALSO HAD A CHILD FROM A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE NAMED ANNIE MCCLELLAND. SOMETIME AFTER THE 1910 CENSUS, ELISHA DISAPPEARED. HIS FATE IS UNKNOWN AS OF NOVEMBER 2018.

The Davis Family Presently

THE DAVIS FAMILY REUNION HISTORY

OUR FAMILY CAN TRACE ITS FIRST REUNION BACK TO 1927. THE MOTIVATION OF WHICH IS STILL UNKNOWN, BUT IT IS A FACT THAT OUR TRADITION HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 90+ YEARS. THE FIRST REUNION WAS HELD IN ARLINGTON, TENNESSEE AT THE HOUSE OF LOUIS DAVIS. HE AND HIS SIBLINGS GATHERED TOGETHER ON OLD BROWNSVILLE ROAD TO EAT, DRINK, AND REMINISCE ABOUT THE PAST. WE CREDIT THOSE SIBLINGS AS THE PILLARS OF THIS FAMILY AND THE FOUNDERS OF OUR REUNIONS.

THOSE SIBLINGS ARE:

 
 

DAVIS HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

 

1870 CENSUS CONTAINING THE FAMILY OF ANDERSON DAVIS. THE CHILDREN’S NAMES ARE WRONG BUT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR CENSUS TAKERS TO INTENTIONALLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY WRITE DOWN THE WRONG NAMES.

Click on the image to see a bigger complete version.

 
 

Marriage License for Elisha Davis & Lucinda Whit6ey

Dated December 26, 1884.