John Randell Davis (1813 - 1883)

Born 12 May 1813 in Knox County, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 11 Aug 1883 at age 70 in Logan County, Arkansas

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Steve Broyles [send private message] and Michael Bissell --Benefiel [send private message]

Biography

John R. Davis was the youngest child of Samuel and Grizzy Davis of Knox County, Tennessee, as shown by several records after Samuel's untimely death when John was just two years old.

John married Polly McCarrell in Knox County in 1833. Their children:

1. Michael, b. 1836
2. George, b. 1838
3. Rebecca, b. 1840
4. Cynthia, b. 1842
5. Mary, b. 1845
6. William, b. 1849

Numerous family trees at genealogy sites say John's middle name was Randall or Randell and that he was the son of Michael Davis (1780-1874) of Knox County. John named his eldest child Michael which is certainly suggestive of that connection but there is no evidence of two men named John R. Davis living in the county at the same time. It is certain that Samuel Davis had a son named John R. Davis, a fact that was discovered in 2022. Birth order suggests John was born in 1813 or so, a date that is confirmed numerous times in the census, and like his siblings he used his middle initial in all records. We are left with two choices: 1) the son of Samuel Davis died young and the records below belong to Michael's son, 2) an error was made in assigning him as Michael's son. This profile assumes the second case. If the reader has information to the contrary, please contribute.

5 Oct 1829 - The heirs of Francis A. Ramsey of Knox County (James G.W. Ramsey, William B. Ramsey, James Scott, Eloxa Lane Scott, John M.A. Ramey) sell to Grizle Davis relict, James A. Davis, Edward R. Davis, Jane H. Davis, Nathaniel Davis, Ann A. Davis, John R. Davis, heirs of Samuel Davis late of Knox County. For $324, 150 acres on the French Broad River.^[1]

23 Oct 1833 - John R. Davis marries Polly McCarrell in Knox County, Tennessee.^[2]

25 Jan 1834 - Grizzle, Edward R., Jane H., John R. and Nathaniel Davis sell 260 acres on the north side of Holston River to Stephen Foster, husband of Anna Davis whom she married in 1831. As payment said Foster to support Grizzle Davis and Jane H. Davis during their natural lives. James A. Davis is excepted from the deal. He separately sells his right to 260 acres to Foster on 30 Apr 1834.^[3]

- John's three older brothers left Knox County for Ray County, Missouri, in the 1830's.

9 Nov 1837 - John R. Davis sells 20 acres on the north side of French Broad River to Benjamin Hazlewood for $100. Recorded 4 Mar 1841.^[4]

16 Sep 1839 - For $2000 John R. Davis sells to Robert and Alexander M. Armstrong 260 acres on the north side of French Broad River, including part of Gillespie Island, except 20 acres on the lower end belonging to sd Davis. Recorded 7 May 1857.^[5]

1840 - Census of Knox County. John Davis (no middle initial) with a wife and four children under 10 years old.^[6]

1850 - John R. Davis heads a household in the federal census of Knox County.^[7]

18 Apr 1857 - John sells a four year old filly to David Smith for $1, the sale conditional on Davis repaying a $19.30 debt to Wm. C. Doyle.^[8]

- John and family move to Arkansas.

1860 - Census of Johnson County, Arkansas.^[9]

1870 - He is living with his daughter Rebecca and her family in Johnson County. Polly has apparently died.^[10]

1880 - A J.R. Davis, 67, is living in Logan County, Arkansas.

Sources

• FindAGrave memorial

1. ↑ Knox County Deed Book V1:287
2. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ48-1J9 : 9 March 2021), John R Davis and Polly M Carrell, 23 Oct 1833; citing Knox, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,205,069.
3. ↑ ibid. Z1:18
4. ↑ Knox County Deed Book E1:27
5. ↑ Knox County Deed Book W2:161
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYG-SYS : 10 June 2022), John Davis, Knox, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 73, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD2-VZZ : 23 December 2020), John R Davis, Knox, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ Knox County Deed Book W2:192
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8W7-3FJ : 18 February 2021), John B Davis, 1860.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCW-2C1 : 28 May 2021), Jno R Daris in entry for David Houser, 1870.