Fifth Generation

247. John D. DAVIS^96,119 was born about 1787. He died before 21 August 1843 at the age of 56 in Dallas County, Alabama.¹²⁰

John's middle name said to be Dempsey and he married Sarah Newberry about 1809 in Georgia. Date given for his death was 19 Jul 1843 and Sarah's as 13 Aug 1843. She doesn't figure in his estate settlement, so apparently these dates are accurate.

Tract book of Dallas Co AL on microfilm at the AL Archives shows John D. Davis as receiving a part of S1 T18 R11 on 18 May 1819. William Higginbotham took out a patent in S2 T18 R11 on 7 Apr 1819 but examination of the BLM records revealed he relinquished this patent. However, it appears the men may have come to Alabama together.

"Cahawba Press & Alabama State Intelligencer" [AL Archives #547-3 reels) Reel 1
Monday, Jul 9, 1821: Letters at the Post Office include: W. Higgingbotham, John D. Davis

Another researcher states that a John Davis was from Jones County, GA. He left a Will in Dallas Co AL dated 25 Sep 1840 and proved 19 Oct 1840. It listed wife MaryAnn, Sons Moses and William J., daughter Elizabeth, Margaret, and Mary Ann. Found Dallas Co Will Book, 1, p.180-183 (Img 184 LDS Film 1289657) This was another John Davis in Dallas County and their records have been confused; however, the names of this John's children could indicate a kinship between the two John Davis's.

The John Davis in this database consistently used his middle initial, perhaps to avoid some of the confusion.

Dallas Co Deed Book D, p.156. William Higginbotham and wife Mary N. to John D. Davis for $400. Three tracts of land. They were described as:
W half of NE qtr S 6, T 18, R12, sold at Cahaba
28 acres, SE corner of NE qtr, S1, T18, R11
NE qtr of NW qtr of S6, T18, R12, 40.50 acres offered for sale at Cahaba
10 Jan 1835. Mary relinquished her dower. Recorded 18 Feb 1835.

1830 Census. Dallas Co, AL
John Davis: 1m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 1m 40-50. 1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50. 18 slaves
and
John Davis: 1m under 5, 2m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m15-20, 1m 40-50. 1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50 17 slaves
and a third John Davis had one male age 30-40 - no slaves counted and no females but showed total of two in the household.

John D. Davis found on p.49 of the 1840 Dallas Co Census: 2m -5, 2m 10-15, 1m 15-20 and 1 m 40-50 (John); 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50 and 1f 50-60. 51 slaves.
unreadable page number: John Davis, 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 2m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 1m 50-60; 1f 40-50 - slaves are blurred, but 2? something
p.?80 John Davis - 1m 40-50; 1f 50-60 - last on page - 2? slaves and next to a Moses Davis, age 30-40

5 Dec 1840. Administrator's Bonds, Vol. B., p.132. John D. Davis and Anderson Davis, along with A. P. McCurdy were securities for John D. Davis to serve as administrator of the estate of Joseph F. Newman, deceased.

Another Probate in Dallas Co. in 1843 is the Estate of John D. Davis. I believe this to be the son of Moses, based on the buyers at the Estate Sale of Moses Davis in 1838. Heirs were Anderson W., Henry H. and William W. Davis, Mary wife of Thomas Ross in Arkansas, Martha A., wife of Thos. A. Burgan, and Francis C. wife of George A. Oden. Anderson W. & Henry H. applied to be Administrators. They also applied on the same day to be Administrators of John N. Davis (their younger brother).

John D. DAVIS and Sarah NEWBERRY were married about 1809 in Georgia. Sarah NEWBERRY was born (date unknown).

John D. DAVIS and Sarah NEWBERRY had the following children: