Thursday, May 31, 2012

Carroll Washington Davis – Double Tragedy 1863 – Follow-up


In my posting yesterday, Colleen G. Brown Pasquale asked "What happened to the Children?"

Her question and my response prompted me to take another look. My initial research was done back in the 1990's when I was living in Utah and up until recently I did not have easy access to the Chesterfield County Probate Records. Now they are on-line at FamilySearch. What I found is that there is indeed a probate record on file when I had told Colleen there was none. My apologies for the error.

Probate file #439, Davis, Mary E., et al[1] is the file on these four children of Mary Boatwright Davis and her husband Carroll Washington Davis. The files contain documents relating to the care and upkeep of Catherine J. Davis, Lewis B. Davis, Margaret E. Davis and Mary Eliza Davis.

In 1870, a letter was initiated stating that Mary Eliza Davis was about 8 years of age and needed a guardian appointed[2]. Michael Davis was appointed her guardian.  Michael Davis accepted the appointment on 23 December 1870. On 24 February 1877, James F. Perkins was appointed guardian of the children.



The file contains 48 documents related to the care and upkeep of these children.
James F. Perkins petitioned the court for release of guardianship of Mary Eliza Davis on 21 August 1884 (Image 1144).[3]

James F. Perkins petitioned the court for release of guardianship of Lewis B. Davis on 29 August 1878. (Image 1164).[4]

James F. Perkins petitioned the court for release of guardianship of Catherine J. Davis on (document undated) (Image 1169).[5]

Image #1171 shows that the last 4 children are entitled to part of Lewis Boatwright Estate.
Catherine J. Davis, Margaret E. Davis, Mary Eliza Davis and Lewis B. Davis; all under age of twenty-one. [6]



The seven (7) children lived to adulthood. Catherine J. Davis, 1st child by second wife (Mary) married James Franklin (Pigg)  Hunley. She was the first of the seven to pass away. She died in 1904. There are no newspapers and very few legal documents from this period. They were all destroyed during the Civil War; burned by General Sherman forces.


I know of no other documents that can provide information on this family and these children. I don't know what ORAL HISTORY has been passed down in this family.

The first image (1125) of the estate file (#439) can be access here: http://bit.ly/JQoGBN

If you are a direct descendant of C. W. & Mary B. Davis and have information you are willing to share, please contact me at this e-mail address.








[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1125 -1173, FHL Film#2166335.
[2] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1167, FHL Film#2166335. 
[3] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1144, FHL Film#2166335. 
[4] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1164, FHL Film#2166335. 
[5] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1169, FHL Film#2166335. 
[6] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/: viewed 30 May 2011), Images, "Probate File #439, Mary E. Davis, et al," Image 1171, FHL Film#2166335.

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