Mercy (Town) Davenport (1774 - 1866)

Born 1774 in Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Wife of Elijah Davenport — married 11 Nov 1795 in Winthrop, Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Dec 1866 at about age 92 in Jay, Franklin, Maine, United States

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Biography

Birth

Mercy Town was probably the child of that name born to John and Martha Town at Boxford, Massachusetts, on 13 Nov 1774, although more evidence is needed to establish the relationship. The 1850 Census says she was then 75 years old and was born in Massachusetts.^[1] Her age at her death from her gravestone computes to a birth date in 1774.^[2]

Marriage

Mercy Town married Elijah Davenport at Winthrop, Maine (then in Massachusetts), on 11 Nov 1795.^[3]

Census Records

The 1850 US census for Jay, Maine lists residents as George T Devenport [sic] (40), a farmer, Malinda J [sic] (36), Eller M (5), Mercy Devenport [sic] (75), John G Hanson (10), a student, and Charles Gray (24), a farmer. Mercy and John were born in Massachusetts while the rest were all born in Maine. George owns real estate valued at $800.

The 1860 US census for Jay, Maine lists residents George T Davenport (50), a farmer, Melinda Y Davenport (46) and Mercy Davenport (85), born in Massachusetts, widowed. George owns real estate valued at $600 and has a personal estate valued at $ 1300.

Death

A gravestone at the Jay Hill Cemetery in Jay, Maine, says that Mercy Davenport died on 28 Dec 1866 at the age of 92.^[2]

Research Notes

The death record for her son George Towne Davenport states his mother Mercy Towne was born at Boxford, Massachusetts, a fact supported by an existing christening source showing a Mercy Town, daughter of John Town and wife Martha, christened on 13 Nov 1774 at Boxford, Massachusetts.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6JP-STN : 22 December 2020), Mercy Devenport in household of George T Devenport, Jay, Franklin, Maine, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Photo of gravestone of Elijah Davenport and "Mercy, His wife" (Find A Grave: Memorial #122009253)
3. ↑ FamilySearch transcription of the marriage record of Elijah Davenport and Mercy Town, in Maine Marriages, 1771-1907, database, FamilySearch > Mercy Town in entry for Elijah Davenport, 1795.

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHR-D7P : 18 February 2021), Mercy Davenport in entry for George T Davenport, 1860.

• Internet, A brief history of Winthrop : from 1764 to October, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Thurston, David,. A brief history of Winthrop : from 1764 to October, 1855. Portland Me.: B. T, Original data: Thurston, David,. A brief history of Winthrop : from 1764 to October, 1855. Portland Me.: B. Thurston, steam printer, 1855., Archive, Ancestory.com, Page number: 180