The Davis Family BY CHARLES M. DAVIS. You already have the history of the Davis family up to 1895, but the information extends no farther back than 150 years, and we feel impelled to mention the fact that in 1617 a James Davis came from England in the ship George to Virginia, from thence he went to the Western Shore of Maryland, and his descendants settled on the Eastern Shore where 7000 acres of land were laid off for them. This same history states also that the name originated from David, and for some reasons we may infer that King David of Bible fame was our ancestor-first he was a great singer and musician, and this Davis family have been noted for their musical talent. Then David was a man of war, and the Davis family have ever been found conspicuous in military affairs, ready to respond when duty calls. This is the third meeting at this time-honored place, and every member of the Davis family present, we believe, cherishes an ardent affection for this temple and kindred hearts beneath its roof. There have been some changes since we met here ten years ago -death has visited our ranks and removed some of our loved ones from earth to heaven, and the thought comes today, they may be listening, with door ajar, to our words of love and renewed frienships. Only one of Lemuel Davis' grandchilren is now living, Elizabeth Sorden, daughter of Caleb and Nancy Davis, who is a resident of the "Old Ladies' Home" in Easton, Md., and would have been with us today were it not for her affliction; she is totally blind and very feeble, and only waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown, to respond to the call to " come up higher."' Two grandsons who were with us ten years ago, and whose presence now would be a benediction, are numbered among the dead. Nathaniel, son of Tilghman Davis, who was born September 20, 1811, and died July 29, 1900, and Rev. Edward Davis, son of Caleb; he represented the Davis family in both the preceding re-unions, and rendered the church many years of faithful service. Having finished his work, he is now reaping the reward of his labors. Others who have passed away from our midst since 1895 are Tina wife of Fernandes Davis, Lillie Kenney, grandaughter of Curtis Davis, Rhoda widow of William Noble, Emily wife of Nathaniel Davis, Amanda wife of Wm. Edward Cannon, L. Shanley Davis son of Curtis, Mary W. Moore daughter of Isaac Davis, Lee H. Davis son of James, Ruth May infant daughter of Fernandes Davis, Augusta Booth daughter of Alfred and Mary Davis, Warden Cooper grandson of John Davis, Florence Miles daughter of Lottie Adams, and Eliazbeth P. Morgan and Sallie C. Davis daughters of Charles L. Davis. We will try to give a partial list of the surviving members of this wonderful family. Lemuel Davis' children have been named in a former hstory. The children of Rev. William Davis were William, Greentree, Mary Ann, Truston, Priscilla, Mahala and Jesse. Of William is Franklin Davis of Phladelpha. Of Greentree is Ann Amelia living near Georgetown, Del. Truston Davis' children were Edward and Winfield, neither of them living, but Edward who married Emma Wrightson, left three daughters, Nellie, Nannie and Winnie who reside in Cambridge, Md. Of Mahala who married Charles Noble we have two living representatives, Jonathan Noble and Mary the widow of Alfred Davis. Of Jesse Davis are Emily Kinder of this vicinity and Harriet Brown of Baltimore, Md. The children of Solomon Davis were Lemuel, Mary Ann and Solomon. Of Lemuel is Dr. W. F. Davis of Dover, Del. Mary Ann married W. A. Whealey and left four sons all living in Dorchester County. The children of Tilghman Davis were Isaac, James, Nathaniel, Henry, Alfred, Samuel, Kittie, Castelia and Charlotte. Of Isaac, are Celia wife of Edward Adams of Reliance, who has six children all living; Joseph T. Davis who married Annie Williams, has three children, Raymond, married living in Philadelphia, Addie and Myra living with their parents at the old homestead; Lottie Adams of Seaford, Del., one daughter living and one grand-daughter, Florence Etta Miles living at Upper Fairmount, Md.; and Martha Sharpp of Seaford has one son. Of James Davis son of Tilghman are Willie Prouse of Philadelphia, who has two sons living, Walter and Harry, and two small grandchildren; Georgia Patton of New Jersey has three children; W. J. Davis of Federalsburg one daughter, Laura, and Lydia Elliott has two daughters. Bessie wife of Earle Noble and Anna the bride of Harry Kinder of Pittsburgh. Of Nathaniel Davis are Tilghman of Easton, Md., Willard living near Trinity church, Benjamin and three daughters, Leona, Kate and Edith Davis Mulligan who has two children. Of Henry Davis son of Tilghman are Jacob Tilghman, Harriet McMahon who has two daughters Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Coffin, and Ida Collins of New Jersey. Of Alfred Davis are Emily wife of Henry Cannon of Seaford, Charles T. a resident of this vicinity. Sallie C. wife of W E. Carpenter of Woodland, James, and Laura widow of Oliver Obier of Seaford, Del. Of Castelia who married John Kinder are Isaac and Samuel the only children living today. Of Charlotte who married John L. Willis are Tilghman and Sallie Samuel Brown both of Seaford, Del. The children of Ennals Davis were Charles, Peggy, Betsy and Eliza. Of Charles Davis were Elizabeth V. Morgan. John Marcus, Sallie and Emily; the first three deceased and Emily living near the church. Of Peggy who married Melvin Andrew, Ann Eliza, Lizzie Hubbard, William D. and Kate Sisk of his vicinity. Of Eliza who married Truston Cannon, Jacob, Mary E., Antoniette, Arcady, Elizabeth, Eliza Jane, Lillie Newton, Sallie Tilghman, Augusta, Charles Davis and James Wilson. The children of Caleb Davis were Curtis, Albert, John, Washington, Edward, Lizzie, Mary, Aun, Emeline, Carrie and Jerry. Of Curtis Davis, Rebecca, his widow, who resides in Federalsburg, L. Shanley Davis his eldest son, whose precious memory lingers with us still, died in 1900, leaving one son who bears his father's full name and lives in New York City; Charles M. Davis residing in Federalsburg has two daughters, Eva the wife of Prof. H. H. Murphy living now in Denton, and Lydia at home with her parents, also one grandson. Rowena, wife of Rev. James T. Kenney has two unmarried daughters all living in Philadelphia; Oliver Davis has two sous, Curtis and Norman both married and all living in New York, Jerome Davis of Goldsboro, Md., is married but has no children; Oscar Davis of Hoboken, New Jersey, has three children; Elena Davis unmarried resides with her mother; Fernandes, living in Federalsburg, has two children. Wilmer and Winter are both married, living in New York, but have no children; Carrie Lewes wife of H. M. Carroll has one son, and resides in Federalsburg. Of Albert Davis are Edward F. Davis who has two daughters, Roberta wife of Dr. R. Kemp Jefferson and Ethel Davis, also two grandsons; James H. Davis has five children, two sons, Harry W. Davis, cashier of Federalsburg bank and Albert Davis, and three daughters, Blanche wife of Roland Webster who lives in Cambridge and have one child, Iva and Nancy Davis who live at home with their parents in Federalsburg. Of John Davis, one daughter, Jennie Cooper, who is a widow with two sons and lives at White Haven, Wicomico Co., Md Of Rev. Edward Davis, Mattie his widow who resides in Newark, Md., Leland and Belle Bailey of Wilmington; John of Bridgeville and Ella Bowen, who has one son, Edward Farrell, of Newark, Md. Of Ann who married Warren Kinder were Caleb, Rhoda, Emily, Sina, Amanda, Cassie, Martha, Carrie and Addie. Caleb, deceased, left one daughter. Rhoda Noble left one daughter, Sallie, who married James Andrew and lives in Hurlock, Md. Amanda Cannon left two sons living in Florida, and two daughters, Mary Fooks of Georgetown, Del., and Ella Emery of Seaford. Carrie Wilson left two children, Maggie of Seaford, Del., and Robert of California. Sina Rawlins resides in Seaford, Cassie Corbin in this vicinity, Martha Lewis who has one son, Warren lives in Laurel, Del., and Addie Wright of Seaford has one daughter, Lillie Handy. Of Carrie who married Twiford Noble, Alex Noble of Preston, Md., and Addie, deceased, who married Robert Jarrell of Goldsboro, Md. In closing this historical sketch we are reminded that there may be some mistakes and names omitted that should be recorded, but we have gone according to our information, and wish to be pardoned for any errors. One characteristic of the Davis family is a fondness for something good to eat, and the wives of these kind husbands seem to know the art of cooking. To agree with this assertion you have only to visit one of them and partake of their toothsome viands. The latch string of their hospitable homes ever hangs outside. |