Nelson Davis (abt. 1840 - 1888)

Born about 1840 in North Carolina, United States

Husband of Harriet (Ross) Tubman — married 18 Mar 1869 in Auburn, New York, USA

Died 18 Oct 1888 at about age 48 in New York, United States

Profile manager: Erin Casner [send private message]

Biography

Private Nelson Davis served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company G, 8th Regiment, U.S.C.I.

This profile is part of the Davis Name Study.

Nelson Davis (alias Nelson Charles),^[1] was born about 1840 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.^[1][2] According to his wife, he was enslaved by a person surnamed Charles, and also went by the name Nelson Charles.^[1] Primary documentation confirms that he used this name while serving in the U.S. military, and assumed the Davis surname around the time of marriage.^[3] Church marriage records also show that he used the name, Charles Nelson Davis.^[1]

Marriage

Nelson was the second husband of Harriet Tubman,^[1] a famous Underground Railroad "conductor" and Civil War spy and nurse, in 1869.^[4]

US Civil War

During the U.S. Civil War, he served as Private in Company G, Eighth Regiment USCT. It's not certain but he may have been drafted. Harriet Tubman stated that he enrolled on 25 September 1863, and was discharged at Brownsville, Texas on 10 November 1865.^[1] In 1866/7, he moved to New York after being discharged.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Senate Report 1619 to Accompany a Bill Granting a Pension to Harriet Tubman Davis. National Archives Identifier: 7330232. File Unit: Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress, 3/15/1897 - 3/3/1899 Series: Accompanying Papers, 1865 - 1903 Record Group 233: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789 - 2015. U.S. House of Representatives. 3/4/1789- (Most Recent). US National Archives. Web.

   .

   Approved Pension File for Harriet Tubman Davis, Widow of Private Nelson Davis (alias Nelson Charles), Company G, 8th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment (WC-415288). National Archives Identifier: 5939992. Series: Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, 1861 - 1934; Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007. Veterans Administration. (7/21/1930 - 3/15/1989) (Most Recent); Department of the Interior. Bureau of Pensions. 1849-1930 (Predecessor). US National Archives.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," images, Nelson Davis, Fleming, Cayuga, New York; citing enumeration district 20, sheet 47D, NARA microfilm T9 (DC: NARA, n.d.), roll 0814; FHL microfilm 1,254,814.[1]

   Roll: 814; FH Film: 1254814; Page: 47D; Enumeration District: 020; Image: 0016

3. ↑ "Letter from George Underwood, of Underwood, Storke, and Seward Counselors at Law, to Sereno E. Payne, concerning the military career of Nelson Charles, Harriet Tubman's husband," (1898, June 27). National Archives Identifier: 306576. File Unit: Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress, 3/15/1897 - 3/3/1899; Series: Accompanying Papers, 1865 - 1903; Record Group 233: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789 - 2015. U.S. House of Representatives. 3/4/1789- (Most Recent). US National Archives. Web.
4. ↑ Larson, Kate Clifford. Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman. New York: Random House, 2009, p. 239, 252

See also:

• General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls. Ancestry.com
• Death date: Larson, Kate Clifford. Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman. New York: Random House, 2009, p. 276
• Fact: Residence (1880) Fleming, Cayuga, New York, United States
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 29 April 2017, 15:59), entry for Nelson Charles Davis(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LJB5-P2X); contributed by various users.

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