Joseph Davis Sr. (abt. 1775 - bef. 1860)

Born about 1775 in Maryland

Descendants

Died before 1860 before about age 85 in George's Creek, Lawrence, Kentucky

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Biography

Joseph Davis, Sr. was born circa 1770 possibly in Maryland. He moved to eastern Kentucky around 1800. He married Elizabeth Borders around 1817. They lived in the Lawrence and Johnson Counties of Kentucky. They had 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters. They finally settled in the area known as Joe Davis Bend on the Big Sandy River. The area is also known as George's Creek.

At this time the parents of Joseph are unknown.

From memory of Elmon Davis, 1994, Flat Gap, Ky. Great Uncle Elmon asked me if I knew how Joe Davis Bend got his name, and I replied I just suspected it was because he lived there. Elmon replied" Old Joe had land on both sides of the river there, you see, and he fell out of his boat one day while crossing and fell in the river. He was drinkin' and about drowned " He continued on telling about how the men drank so much more in times past than they do now

The Big Sandy Valley A History of the People and County From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time by William ELY 1887, Central Methodist, Catlettsburg, Ky pages 119-124 (read it all here). This is found listed under the information on the parents and siblings of Judge Archibald Borders: "Betty married Joseph Davis. They settled on the banks of the Sandy, at a place well known as Davis Bend."

Research Notes

1830 census of Lawrence County, Kentucky lists Joseph Davis, Sr. with 2 males and 2 females under the age of five. 2 males and 1 female bewteen 5 and 10 years. 1 male between 50 and 60. 1 male between 30 and 40.

This would explain the children William b. 1819 and John b. 1820, Frances b. 1822 Hezekiah b. 1824, Thursa b. 1827 and Elizabeth b. 1829.

The 1850 census of Johnson County, Kentucky lists Joseph Davis age 74, wife Elizabeth age 50, and children Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and Juliana. These children are also listed in other sites, MyHeritage and Geni.

This census also lists Cornelius Bradley and his wife Thursa. The ages coincide with the censuses listed above and also the marriage record listing Joseph as Father of Thursa.

The 1860 Census lists Elizabeth Davis in the household of her son Michael Davis.

Joseph's death is listed as before 1860. He is buried at the Davis-Borders Cemetery in George's Creek, Kentucky.

His wife Elizabeth is listed in the 1880 census of Johnson County, Kentucky in the household of her daughter Fannie and her husband Jesse Murry.

Sources

• Ely, William, The Big Sandy Valley A History of the People and County From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time 1887, Central Methodist, Catlettsburg, Ky pages 119-124

• 1830 Census. [1]

• 1850 Census. [2]

• 1860 Census. [3]

• Find A Grave: Memorial #70652837