W. Baxter Davis (bef. 1741 - 1823)

Born before 1741 in Mecklenburg, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Amelia (Hopkins) Davis — married 1765 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 7 Jun 1823 after age 82 in Henderson, Henderson, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Melinda Pitts [send private message], Doug Corbin [send private message], and Derek Ralston [send private message]

Biography

Baxter Davis performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Baxter Davis is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A129946.

W. Baxter Davis,^[1] the son of John Davis and possibly his wife Esther, was born before 1741. He died in Henderson County, Kentucky, after 7 June 1823.^[2]

The first initial "W" may not be correct. The only source that shows a "W" first initial is the will of his brother-in-law, Dr. James Hopkins.^[1] Possibly James made an error when he prepared his lengthy and complicated will. In any event, it is doubtful that the "W" stood for "William," as W. Baxter had an older brother of that name. Also, note that both he and his son only ever identified themselves as "Baxter Davis," choosing to add "Sr." or "Jr." as a differentiator, when necessary. For clarity in this profile, he is shown for now as W. Baxter Davis to differentiate him from his son Baxter Davis.

In the Lunenburg County, Virginia, June 1757 Term of the County Court, Baxter Davis and John Davis, orphans of "John Davis deceased, came into court, (and being of lawful age for that purpose) made choice of William Davis" (their older brother) to be their guardian.^[3] Immediately thereafter, in the same court session, William Davis transferred titles for their portion of their father's estate, by indenture, to Baxter, John, and James Cocke, the husband of their sister Lucy.

In colonial Virginia, in the case of inheritance, a person had to be at least 16 years of age.^[4] A month earlier, in the May 1757 Court, "Lucy Davis" had also chosen William to be her guardian. A month later, she was "Lucy Cocke," married and her inheritance was deeded to her husband, James Cocke. The fact that Lucy's guardianship was "rushed" perhaps indicates that Lucy, as a single woman, was too young to own property, but as a married woman, she was not. As for her to brothers, they clearly had not reached their majority in 1757, but they were just a clearly old enough to own land. These actions indicate that Lucy was under 16 years of age (say born after 1741), that the brothers were 16 to 20 years old (say John born after 1737 and Baxter born before 1741), and that William had attained his 21st year of age before March 1757 (say born before 1736), the court at which he was appointed Administrator for his father's estate.^[5]

In the division deed dated 5 June 1757, Baxter received distribution of his portion of father's land in Lunenburg County, consisting of 240 acres northwest of Beaver Pond Creek, along county line.^[6] In addition, Baxter received on that date an additional distribution, of 400 acres of land across the county line in Granville County, North Carolina, on both sides of Beaver Pond Creek,^[7] the same property that his father had bought from Robert Mitchell on 5 March 1754.^[8]

He married Amelia Hopkins about 1765.^[2]

In the 1790 census Baxter was in Granville, North Carolina, United States.^[9]

In the 1800 census Baxter was in Hillsboro, Granville, North Carolina, United States.^[10]

Various records of Granville County, North Carolina, indicate that both father and son were known as "Baxter Davis." To differentiate between the two, the appendage "Jr" or "Sr" was frequently applied. On 26 February 1807, the last record is found in Granville County in which Baxter Davis, Jr., is identified.^[11] In it, his father, Baxter Davis , Sr., of Granville County, North Carolina, sold 600 acres to John Speed of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, "it being same tract of land whereon the said Baxter Davis [Sr.] now lives including that part on which Baxter Davis, Jr., now lives." It seems likely that the selling of this property coincided with their migration from North Carolina into Kentucky.

In the 1810 census Baxter was in Henderson, Henderson, Kentucky, United States.^[12]

Baxter and Amelia (Hopkins) Davis had the following known children:

1. James Hopkins Davis (1762-1815)
2. Mary Polly Davis (1766-1828)
3. Baxter Davis (1772-1839)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Space:Some Migratory Davises and Their Connections, pages 8-9. "Whether the son's full name was W. Baxter Davis is not known, as neither father nor son used the initial W. in deeds or other records now extant. The only record that I have found which uses the initial regarding the father is the will of Dr. James Hopkins, youngest son of Dr. Arthur Hopkins, who specified that certain legacies for his nieces and nephews should be paid into the hands of his brother-in-law, W. Baxter Davis." see FamilySearch Book: 759585
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 2 February2023), "Record of Baxter Davis", Ancestor # A129946.
3. ↑ Court Order: "Lunenburg County, Virginia, Court Order Book 4, page 299-300"
   Catalog: County Court order books, 1746-1865 Order books, 1754-1759.
   Film number: 007898597 > image 467 of 724
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS42-1SV4-5 (accessed 2 February 2023)
4. ↑ "Laws in Early Virginia," (https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mobjackbaycolemans/genealogy/v02laws.htm#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20person%20did%20not,person%20had%20to%20be%2016.
5. ↑ Court Order: "Lunenburg County, Virginia, Court Order Book 4, page 267"
   Catalog: County Court order books, 1746-1865 Order books, 1754-1759.
   Film number: 007898597 > image 451 of 724
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS42-1SVH-K (accessed 2 February 2023)
6. ↑ Deed: "Lunenburg County, Virginia, Deed Book 4, pages 454-457, dated 5 Jun 1757 and recorded 7 Jun 1757"
   Catalog: Deeds, 1746-1869; index to deeds, 1746-1900 Deeds Vols. 3-4 1752-1757
   Film number: 008190569 > image 548 of 596
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSL6-W2SW (accessed 2 February 2023)
7. ↑ Deed: "Granville County, North Carolina, Deed Book C, page 283"
   Catalog: Record of deeds, 1746-1923 & indexes, 1746-1962; deeds of trust, 1874-1905 & index, 1874-1947; indexes to real estate conveyances, 1744-1947 Deeds, v. C (another filming) 1756-1760
   Film number: 007513627 > image 312 of 743
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G983-NFR (accessed 2 February 2023)
8. ↑ Deed: "Granville County, North Carolina, Deed Book B, pp. 294-296"
   Catalog: Record of deeds, 1746-1923 & indexes, 1746-1962; deeds of trust, 1874-1905 & index, 1874-1947; indexes to real estate conveyances, 1744-1947 Deeds, v. B (another filming) 1751-1756
   Film number: 007513628 > image 310 of 568
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G983-X4BT (accessed 2 February 2023)
9. ↑ 1790 Census: "United States Census, 1790"
   citing Page: 88; Affiliate Publication Number: M637; Line: 21924;
   FamilySearch Record: VJ1N-ZGL (accessed 1 February 2023)
   Baxter Davis in Granville, North Carolina, United States.
10. ↑ 1800 Census: "United States Census, 1800"
    citing p. 511, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 31; FHL microfilm 337,907.
    FamilySearch Record: XHR7-BCM (accessed 1 February 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R8C-LKT Image number 00468
    Baxter Davis in Hillsboro, Granville, North Carolina, United States.
11. ↑ Deed: "Granville County, North Carolina Deed Book, volume T, pages 75-76."
    Catalog: Record of deeds, 1746-1923 & indexes, 1746-1962; deeds of trust, 1874-1905 & index, 1874-1947; indexes to real estate conveyances, 1744-1947 Deeds, v. T 1806-1810
    Film number: 007416760 > image 67 of 315
    FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9C5-X4CM (accessed 30 January 2023), Davis to Speed.
12. ↑ 1810 Census: "United States Census, 1810"
    citing Page: 333; Affiliate Publication Number: M252;
    FamilySearch Record: XH2C-73M (accessed 1 February 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYK-3FTF
    Baxter Davis in Henderson, Henderson, Kentucky, United States.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZHK-15W

Acknowledgements

• Davis-24770 was created by Derek Ralston through the import of Ralston Family Tree_2014-09-02.ged on Sep 2, 2014.