Elijah & Becky Davis
My Davis ancestors can be traced back to the 1870 Population Census for Barbour County, Alabama. On this census, Elijah is listed as 54 years of age, which would indicate that he was born circa 1816. The census further lists Georgia as his birthplace. Although Georgia is listed as Elijah’s place of birth, various family members have stated they heard that he came from the West Indies.
The slave trade with Africa was supposedly abolished in 1808; however, we know this was too profitable a business for some as well as a way to provide free labor to wealthy farmers. As a result, traders continued to bring slaves into the country via Cuba and South America.
The unknown history of my ancestors generate many questions for me. Was Elijah a slave or free person of color? Was he sold into slavery in Africa and bought to the West Indies or was he born into slavery in the West Indies? Was he sold to a slave trader or to a plantation owner? How did he get to the United States? Did he purchase his own freedom or was he manumitted? Did he become a free person with emancipation?
The 1870 census identifies Elijah’s wife as Becky, born in Virginia. This information also raises many questions such as how and where did they meet? But most importantly how did they end up in Springhill, AL (Barbour County-Township 12 Range 28)?
Elijah and Becky had at least six children born in Alabama starting circa 1855. They were Margaret, Laura, Henry, Sama, Charles, my great grandfather, and William.
ROSA DAVIS NOBLE said,
8 March 2007 @ 11:23 am
MY GRANDMOTHER MATILDA DAVIS WAS MARRIED TO A MONROE DAVIS MY FATHER’S NAME WAS BOB DAVIS HE HAD A BROTHER NAME RICHARD, SISTERS ANNIE, THERE WAS OTHER SIBLING BUT THEIR NAMES I DON’T KNOW EUFAULA WAS THEIR HOME, PLACE OF BIRTH I AM NOT SURE. I KNOW OTHER DAVISES IN EUFAULA WHICH ARE NOT RELATED TO MY SET, MAYBE WE ARE RELATIVES. I KNOW NOTHING OF MY AFRICAN ANCESORY.
K. Williams said,
1 July 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Hello!!!!!
I truly believe that we are related. After reading your comments I am convience that Laua (Davis) whom you listed as your great grandfather’s sister is my great, great, great grandmother. I know that my great, great, great, great grandparents are Elijah and Rebecca “Becky” Davis from Barbour County AL. They are listed on the 1870 Barbour County Census. I have heard stories that Rebecca “Becky” was mulatto. I am currently tracing my families history and ran accross you note while trying to find out more about Eufala, AL.
K. Williams
ray nwamb said,
16 December 2007 @ 10:19 am
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vicki comer betsill said,
16 January 2008 @ 8:58 pm
I am looking for my ancestral family in elmore and coosa counties, my grandmother was queenie victoria zeigler.born 1902 to Maggie Baker and Jene/gene zeigler. in the 1910 federal census it is hard to discern the name jene. Queen married Wallace Comer (1901-1934) of Barbour,Eufaula Ala, about 1921-22)Maggie Baker was born ( 1884-1943) to Frank Baker and Malinda. Malinda died somewhere between 1886-1900. frank Baker’s oldest daughter Zadie Baker Fiber b.1875? was listed with the family .Other siblings were bros. Thomas (1882-83) Johnb.1887,George b.1891 and Lily b.1896. Maggie and Thomas both moved to Pittsburgh,Pa. sometime between 1919-1921.Thomas worked for Lockhart Steel in Mckees Rocks Pa. Maggie may have remarried in Alabama to Lewis Robinson before moving to Pittsburgh,anyway she was known to be his wife.My father is Wallace Watt Comer b.Nov.30,1924. He is the grandson of Watson and Carrie Wallace Comer ,Greatgrandson of Henry and Rebecca Comer,slaves of Old Springhill,Barbour County. I would love to make contact with any ancestral cousins
Marilyn said,
2 February 2008 @ 7:19 pm
There is a Powell Edwards Family Reunion this year (200
in Eufuala, Alabama (Barbour County). Memorial Day Weekend 2008.
Emily Davis said,
16 May 2008 @ 9:34 pm
The Davis-Dean and Tabor-Berry Family Reunion will be held July 18-20, 2008 in Atlanta, GA. I recently connected to some of my Dean family members and I am looking forward to formally meeting them at the reunion. The Davis and Dean families are from Barbour and Bullock Couties and the Tabor-Berry families are from Bullock County.
Jennie said,
18 May 2008 @ 11:48 pm
Laura Davis (daughter of Elijah and Rebecca) was my mother of my grandmother, Morrell Marshall. Laura was married to Billy Booker and Sam Boykins. She had children by both. Laura moved from Eufala to Meridian, Ms. where she is buried. There are members of the Davis lineage now residing in Chicago.
Emily Davis said,
24 May 2008 @ 10:51 am
The Barksdale Massey Family Reunion
“And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”-Genesis 12:3
July 25-27, 2008
Eufaula Alabama
Reunion Chair: 724-346-0459
Local Event Coordiator 334-688-8594
Emily said,
1 June 2008 @ 12:53 am
In July 2006, Kim Williams (Chicago) responded to my post on Elijah and Becky Davis. Since that time, it has taken us almost a year to actually talk and share information. Kim was looking for a connection to a Morrell Marshall whose mother was Laura Davis. During the conversation, she explained that an aunt and her daughter had passed away within a month of each other. Unfortunately, we did not find any family names in common to confirm a relationship.
A day later, I received an inquiry from a Jennie (Chicago) who had seen
the same post and was also looking for a connection to a Laura Davis. I emailed her my phone number. Jennie called within two days and during the conversation mentioned that her mother and sister had passed away within a month of each other. She was also looking for a Morrell Marshall whose mother was Laura Davis. Could this be the same family that Kim was speaking of?
Jennie had her mother’s phone book and stated that her mother had written “cousin” by some of the names. Jennie read a couple of names, Charles and Elisha “Honey”, and addresses. The addresses were the homes of my grandfather’s brother and his son. She then mentioned a name (Noble Davis) that I had never heard. Since I knew Elisha’s daughter, Cora (80+), who also lives in Chicago still at the same address that Jennie had, I did a 3-way call and asked her about Noble. Sure enough, she knew Noble as a family member. Halleluiah!! Cora’s confirmation connected our families to each other. I also learned that Kim and Jennie were related and that Kim was speaking of Jennie’s mother as the person who had passed away.
A few days later, I talked to Kim again and confirmed that were related. I have sent them my family tree, what I have written on Elijah and Becky and a picture and story on Elisha. What a coincidence that two people from Chicago would contact me via this post within a couple of days of each other looking for the same person. They have never visited Barbour County, AL. We have made a promise to talk again soon and to visit together.
The family line is as follows:
Elijah and Becky Davis had a daughter named Laura Davis. Laura had a daughter named Morrell Marshall (Father unknown). Laura later married Billy Booker and Sam Boykin. She moved to Meridian MS. Morrell Marshall married Ben Langston (Langton) and had seven children (John Henry, James, Jessie, Willie Mae, Benjamin Earl, Evalina and Laura)
We are still looking for descendants of sisters, Sama and Margaret.