William Alvis (abt. 1815 - aft. 1840)

Born about 1815 in Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Died after 1840 after about age 25 in Albemarle, Virginia, United States

Biography

This profile is part of the Alvis Name Study.

William Alvis was born about 1815 in Virginia, United States, son of Robert Alvis (~1765– ) and Polly Crittenden

William died after 1840 in Albemarle, Virginia, aged about 24.

Research Notes

• Notes: from import

Augusta Co VA General Index to Wills, 1745-1879?info from Clerks Office, Staunton, Augusta Co VA. Book 18, p 379: Indenture made 16 Nov 1833, between William Alvis and Benjamin Morris, legal heir[s] of Robert Alvis.

From The Alvis Exchange, 58-3, 4, 5: ?Another William Alvis in the 1840 Virginia Census?

From: Grant Alvis

Date: Mon Apr 07, 2003

To: Kathy Patterson

Subject: 1840 Albemarle County VA Census

I have been enjoying a fourteen day free trial of Genealogy.com?s U. S. Census which I have been using to go through and get the images of as many censuses relating to my family as possible. Today I chose to try to find the Albemarle Co VA Robert images with the thought that perhaps in the future I would end up connecting this man to my William, due to the deed we have discussed. I wanted to get the images while I had them available for free. [If you have access, this is Albemarle Co VA, St Anne?s Township, p 132.]

However, when I went there I found a surprise. I used The Alvis Exchange to find the image, which is why I knew that there was a Robert there at that time. For that reason I didn?t expect anyone else to pop up. But, here is a detail from the image showing what I found. You will see what appears to be Rob. Alvis at the top of this cropped image section.  But, take a look at the name at the bottom, one down from Robert.

Unless I am mistaken there seem to be two Alvis men in this county at this time. Do these names look the same to you? My first reaction was that this was definitely an Alvis, though I admit I may be mistaken. Additionally, I think that the second man?s name is given as Wm.

This, of course, throws a wrench in things for me. I have a document discussing a loan to a William Alvis of Augusta County from a Robert Alvis in 1832. I have an 1832 tax list for a William Alvis also in Augusta Co. My ancestor, Alexis, says he is the son of William Alvis of Augusta County. All of this seems very consistent. However, now it appears that there may be a second, slightly younger, William Alvis in Albemarle County. By the way, it appears that this man is 20-30, with one boy 10-15, and two under 5. There are also 2 females 5-10 and one 20-30 [20101/02001].

I am very curious to know what you make of this development. If he is in fact an Alvis, I am assuming, having never read anything about this man, that he is unkown to researchers submitting to The Exchange. If you have any thoughts I would love to hear them as I am trying to digest what this may mean for my research. Many thanks, Grant

Editor?s response: This Robert is Robert Woodson Alvis, son of Mary Ann and Joseph Woodson, see The Alvis Exchange, 7-2. Mary Ann seems to have been a daughter of John, whose brother George was probably the ancestor of Alvises in Augusta and Campbell Co.

We know of six adult William Alvises in VA in 1840. I have these census records: two men in Goochland Co, one in Buckingham Co, and yours in Greenbrier Co. Those whose censuses I do not have were William C Alvis, probably with an uncle in Henrico Co (he was born in 1821 and married in 1847), and William G, who was in Giles Co VA and Mercer Co WV, a son of this man:

David ?of Elijah,? b ca 1785; probably 1810 Buckingham Co VA: 00010/00000; m 24 Jul 1809 (1) Nancy Robinson, Cumberland Co VA, MR; m ca 1838 (2) Mary Thomas; 1840 Giles Co VA: 10000001/000001, 1850 Mercer Co VA

Children by first wife:

i William G 1810, m Mary Neely 1831

ii Joseph H 1812

iii Harriet R

iv David Foote 1818

v James L 1823

David also had six children by the second wife. He and his family were in Giles Co VA by 1831 and later in Mercer Co, which became WV. I do not have their 1830 census. I do have him in 1840, but not the censuses of the sons of his first marriage. James Alvis of Kanawha Co VA in 1840 was probably the son James; the age I have for him is likely incorrect.

My first reaction was that this ?new? William Alvis of Albemarle Co was William G Alvis, b ca 1810 VA; m 27 Jan 1831 Mary Neely, Giles Co VA, MR; 1850 Mercer Co VA; 1860 w/wife Mary, 4 dts

i Nancy J 1833

ii Margaret 1836

iii Harriet 1838

iv Mary E 1840

v Rufus 1846

But, if William G was the William you found in Albemarle Co in 1840, he went back north for a time after his marriage in Giles Co, something not at all typical of the Alvis families.

A second question, which I?ve had for years, is whether William P Alvis of Iowa was a son of this William G. The relationship might be indicated, except for the fact that in his census records William G had no sons the right age and his marriage was a year after William P?s birth. Could this ?new? William Alvis was William P?s father?

We know that William P Alvis?s first son was buried ca 1861 in Campbell Co VA, and later he went to Mercer Co before moving on to Iowa. This is the only link I have ever found between the Campbell-Appomattox Co families and the Mercer Co ones. I doubt there is also an Albemarle Co connection.

Also against identifying this census record with William G Alvis is the discrepancy of numbers and ages of the daughters and sons. It would be a stretch to assume the censustaker mistook two girls for boys and that there was an older previously unidentified son. I think it likely the ?new? William is someone else. If so, where happened to the five children?

I think he may have been the youngest son of Robert of Hanover Co, a first cousin of Robert Woodson Alvis, who lent him money. So, where did he go after 1840?

There was a Wiliam Aulvis, b 1836, in AR in 1860, who may be one of the sons. Note that if this identification is correct, the younger William had an uncle in AR previous to this time, but who had gone to MO.

Sources

Acknowledgements

• This profile was created through the import of Alvis families 9a.ged on 18 January 2011.