Robert E Lee Davis Parents

[oldohiohome]

Hi. I’m not at the desk right now so this might be a little approximate. Blame all bad grammar on the voice recognition software.

Regarding the red herring questions - there would really have to be more records available to settle the question completely. But they’re not there. You’d have to find death records for your Francis Marion’s wives. The 1890 census which was destroyed would help. Property records would be nice.

I’m pretty sure that Phoebe Jane is the same person as Jane F on that 1900 census. She was probably going by her middle name Jane. And the enumerated did not know how to spell Phoebe. Whether she’s married to your Francis Marion Davis or not, as I said, I can’t be positive. However, there was only one Francis Marion Davis in Stoddard county from 1860 to 1880. Namely your man. He may have died soon after the census, and another Francis Marion Davis moves in and marries Phoebe, whatever her name was at the time, but is it likely?

The three death records I posted, in my opinion, match Jane F and  the two children with her in 1900. All of them say that  her husband and their father was named Francis Marion Davis. Again, whether or not that is your man or not I can’t be positive. My guess is that it is, but if you find another Francis Marion Davis in the area at the same time, then all bets are off.

Francis Marion Davis‘s age on the 1900 census is a bit of a problem. But a lot of times people‘s ages vary from census to census. If you expect the American vital records and censuses to be too much more than historical fiction, you never get anywhere with your research.

[TomGad]

Hi. I’m not at the desk right now so this might be a little approximate. Blame all bad grammar on the voice recognition software.

Regarding the red herring questions - there would really have to be more records available to settle the question completely. But they’re not there. You’d have to find death records for your Francis Marion’s wives. The 1890 census which was destroyed would help. Property records would be nice.

I’m pretty sure that Phoebe Jane is the same person as Jane F on that 1900 census. She was probably going by her middle name Jane. And the enumerated did not know how to spell Phoebe. Whether she’s married to your Francis Marion Davis or not, as I said, I can’t be positive. However, there was only one Francis Marion Davis in Stoddard county from 1860 to 1880. Namely your man. He may have died soon after the census, and another Francis Marion Davis moves in and marries Phoebe, whatever her name was at the time, but is it likely?

The three death records I posted, in my opinion, match Jane F and  the two children with her in 1900. All of them say that  her husband and their father was named Francis Marion Davis. Again, whether or not that is your man or not I can’t be positive. My guess is that it is, but if you find another Francis Marion Davis in the area at the same time, then all bets are off.

Francis Marion Davis‘s age on the 1900 census is a bit of a problem. But a lot of times people‘s ages vary from census to census. If you expect the American vital records and censuses to be too much more than historical fiction, you never get anywhere with your research.

I still think Phebe is abit of a stretch but at the same time I don’t want my tree to be incorrect. Really unsure what to do from here now

[oldohiohome]

Should we try and search for any birth records in Tennessee for Francis/Franklin/F M Davis?

That would be a good idea. When you do, also search for his father. Look in the 1850 census for any male named Davis, born say 1770 to 1810, who was living in Tennessee but was born in North Carolina. That allows for his father being anywhere between 20 and 60 when Francis was born. If there is a son named Francis in the household about the right age, make a note of the family. See if their Francis was still in the household in 1860. If so, they aren't the right family, since we know your Francis was on his own by then with a son William - whom you are sure of.

If Francis is not there, then research the family like it was your own and see if it lines up. Were they in NC in 1840 and before? Where? near the Colliers by any chance?  A negative answer to that question wouldn't rule them out, but a positive answer might make them a little more likely. Did the parents end up in Stoddard County like your Francis did? etc.

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I found a family in Kentucky using that method but never worked any more on them. You could follow them up also.
They are:
1850 Hopkins County, Kentucky
William M Davis, 42, farmer, real estate: $800
Elizabeth Davis, 45
Frances Davis, 18, male, born in NC
Emisetta Davis, 14
Benjamin Davis, 10
Israel Davis, 8
Mason Davis, 6
all born in NC

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M654-XQJ?lang=en

That Francis is not with the family in 1860
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBQ-5B2?lang=en

The fact that their Francis was said to be born in NC, and probably was since all the younger children are said to be born there also, does not eliminate him in my opinion. At this point I don't think we really know where he was born.

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Here is another person I never got back to look at:

1850, Buncombe County, NC
Francis M Davis, 18
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BW-3K7?lang=en

[TomGad]

Should we try and search for any birth records in Tennessee for Francis/Franklin/F M Davis?

That would be a good idea. When you do, also search for his father. Look in the 1850 census for any male named Davis, born say 1770 to 1810, who was living in Tennessee but was born in North Carolina. That allows for his father being anywhere between 20 and 60 when Francis was born. If there is a son named Francis in the household about the right age, make a note of the family. See if their Francis was still in the household in 1860. If so, they aren't the right family, since we know your Francis was on his own by then with a son William - whom you are sure of.

If Francis is not there, then research the family like it was your own and see if it lines up. Were they in NC in 1840 and before? Where? near the Colliers by any chance?  A negative answer to that question wouldn't rule them out, but a positive answer might make them a little more likely. Did the parents end up in Stoddard County like your Francis did? etc.

-----
I found a family in Kentucky using that method but never worked any more on them. You could follow them up also.
They are:
1850 Hopkins County, Kentucky
William M Davis, 42, farmer, real estate: $800
Elizabeth Davis, 45
Frances Davis, 18, male, born in NC
Emisetta Davis, 14
Benjamin Davis, 10
Israel Davis, 8
Mason Davis, 6
all born in NC

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M654-XQJ?lang=en

That Francis is not with the family in 1860
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBQ-5B2?lang=en

The fact that their Francis was said to be born in NC, and probably was since all the younger children are said to be born there also, does not eliminate him in my opinion. At this point I don't think we really know where he was born.

------
Here is another person I never got back to look at:

1850, Buncombe County, NC
Francis M Davis, 18
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BW-3K7?lang=en

I think its also worth looking for Francis in Arkansas as thats where he is in 1880. Meaning he had left Stoddard by this point yet again making me skeptical of the Phebe Marriage as that was in 1884 after Francis had already left Stoddard. Why would he have moved back?

[oldohiohome]

I still think Phebe is abit of a stretch but at the same time I don’t want my tree to be incorrect. Really unsure what to do from here now

Make a note of the Phoebe family information - marriage and 1900 census - and keep it. It might fit in later. Sometimes I just add all that kind of stuff to a note attached to the person it might go with. In this case I'd add a note to Francis Marion Davis and say "might be this man .... " or something like that. But I wouldn't enter Phoebe, the marriage or the children as actual links in the tree.

[oldohiohome]

I think its also worth looking for Francis in Arkansas as thats where he is in 1880. Meaning he had left Stoddard by this point yet again making me skeptical of the Phebe Marriage as that was in 1884 after Francis had already left Stoddard. Why would he have moved back?

Very good point.

[oldohiohome]

I think its also worth looking for Francis in Arkansas as thats where he is in 1880. Meaning he had left Stoddard by this point yet again making me skeptical of the Phebe Marriage as that was in 1884 after Francis had already left Stoddard. Why would he have moved back?

That 1900 census with Jane F is the only one that says Francis Marion Davis was born in NC, isn't it? So if that is not your ancestor, then there is no reason to think he was born there, and you can pay less attention to those two possibilities I just posted - the family in Kentucky, and the Francis Marion Davis, 18, in NC.

I'm starting to realize that a lot of families in North Carolina thought that the general, Francis Marion, was a good guy.

[TomGad]

I think its also worth looking for Francis in Arkansas as thats where he is in 1880. Meaning he had left Stoddard by this point yet again making me skeptical of the Phebe Marriage as that was in 1884 after Francis had already left Stoddard. Why would he have moved back?

That 1900 census with Jane F is the only one that says Francis Marion Davis was born in NC, isn't it? So if that is not your ancestor, then there is no reason to think he was born there, and you can pay less attention to those two possibilities I just posted - the family in Kentucky, and the Francis Marion Davis, 18, in NC.

I'm starting to realize that a lot of families in North Carolina thought that the general, Francis Marion, was a good guy.

The 1900 is the only census that mentions North Carolina yet again making me think its not my Francis.

The 3 census I do have all say Kentucky apart from the 1870 Census where he is listed as being born in Tennessee.

“Lets make a chart to show what details we have that have been noted on these census to help build a picture perhaps.

Francis Birth:

1860 Census: Born 1832 Born Kentucky

1870 Census: Born 1830 Born Tennessee

1880 Census: Born 1830 Born Kentucky

Going off this knowledge it seems likely he was probably born in 1830 and the 1860 census is just a couple years out for some reason. Should we try and search for any birth records in Tennessee for Francis/Franklin/F M Davis?”

[TomGad]

I think its also worth looking for Francis in Arkansas as thats where he is in 1880. Meaning he had left Stoddard by this point yet again making me skeptical of the Phebe Marriage as that was in 1884 after Francis had already left Stoddard. Why would he have moved back?

That 1900 census with Jane F is the only one that says Francis Marion Davis was born in NC, isn't it? So if that is not your ancestor, then there is no reason to think he was born there, and you can pay less attention to those two possibilities I just posted - the family in Kentucky, and the Francis Marion Davis, 18, in NC.

I'm starting to realize that a lot of families in North Carolina thought that the general, Francis Marion, was a good guy.

I have just found this that has peaked my interest slightly. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZQ-1WG?lang=en