William Davis (abt. 1769 - 1839)

Descendants

Died 1839 at about age 70 in Chambers, Alabama, United States

Biography

Dovey Davis first appears in records with her marriage to Thomas McGuire in 1840 Chambers County. Nothing at all is known of her early life. Her first husband may have been John Davis, since a descendant was named John Davis Smith. He apparently died soon after their marriage, and Martha Selina smay have been one of two children. Dovey would have been about 34 years old when Martha was born. The 1840 census of Chambers Co. lists Thomas and Dovey McGuire, with Martha Selina still at home. Dovey was associated with other Davises who came to Chambers County from Fayette County, GA, particularly the family of Col. Thomas Davis, originally of Chester District, SC., and an elderly William Davis who came to Chambers County in 1839 from Fayette County. The connection between William and Thomas is not known, but they might have been brothers. The elderly William Davis in Fayette Co. GA may have been Dovey's father. After the untimely death of Dovey's husband she and her daughter Martha may have moved into William's household. They seem to be with William on the 1830 census in Fayette County, GA. In the mid-1830's William, his wife Mary Ann, a daughter Clementine, Dovey, and Martha S. all moved to Chambers Co. AL. In the late 1830's William died in Chambers Co., leaving an estate. And in 1840, William's widow and unmarried daughter Clementine were probably living with Thomas McGuire, Dovey, and Martha. This conjecture is based on an analysis of census records in 1830 Fayette County, GA, and 1840 Chambers Co, AL. In 1842, Thomas McGuire was a buyer at the estate of Mary Davis, the widow of Col. Thomas Davis, who had died in 1818 in Chester District, SC. In 1847, McGuire was a buyer at the estate of Ezekiel Ratchford, whose widow Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Davis. There is no further record of Dovey, and she is thought to have died in either Tallapoosa or Chambers Co. between 1860 and 1880.

Sources

• http://www.lwgriffin.com