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Warren County DAVIS Family Wills Following
information about the slaveowning DAVIS families named in the Will of Peter R. Davis
ELIZABETH DAVIS-PITCHFORD, was born 1789/died 1875, sister of PETER R. DAVIS. She was married to STERLING PITCHFORD, who died in 1822.
The PITCHFORD children were THOMAS JEFFERSON PITCHFORD (1810-1883); REBECCA DAVIS PITCHFORD (1812-1900); NANCY DAWSON PITCHFORD
(1815-1900); MARY TURNER PITCHFORD (1819-1889). JOHN B. POWELL, d. 1858, was the husband of PETER R. DAVIS'
sister, NANCY DAVIS. JOHN B. POWELL married NANCY DAVIS on Feb. 14, 1804 Warren Co.,NC.
In his Warren Co. will probated May Court 1858, he mentions that the slaves he received from PETER R. DAVIS were to be divided up between his 3 children
WILLIAM MORGAN POWELL, PETER D. POWELL & MARY A. T. NEWELL; he also gave his daughter, MARY, a slave named EMMA.
DR. STEVEN/STEPHEN DAVIS, d. 1857, was the brother of PETER R. DAVIS. He was married to SALLY EATON JOHNSTON
on Feb. 23, 1815 Warren County. STEPHEN DAVIS (1786- 1857) his will probated Nov.
1857 gives 50 slaves and his land near Shocco to his son PETER R. DAVIS, who was married to CATHERINE WHITE on Nov. 5, 1839 in Warren Co. his daughters
SARAH AMIS & MARY EATON were dead by that time, and son HUGH J. DAVIS didn't receive any slaves, only land and other property. JAMES W. EATON, probably
his son-in-law, was allowed to keep a number of slaves that he had taken from Granville to Arkansas.
MARY POLLY DAVIS-KEARNEY was the sister of PETER R. DAVIS. She was married to EDWARD KEARNEY on June 5, 1815 in Warren County.
EDWARD KEARNEY's will, probated May 1868, made no mention of his wife, so I assume she was dead by that time. Their children named in
his will were HENDERSON KEARNEY & JANE HOOPER, not mentioned was daughter AMANDA, who had married SAMUEL DAVIS on March 11, 1847 Warren Co., although
SAMUEL was mentioned as being EDWARD's son-in-law. (SAMUEL DAVIS was the son of BURWELL DAVIS, who was PETER R. DAVIS' uncle)
REBECCA A. DAVIS-WILLIAMS was the sister of PETER R. DAVIS. She was married to WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS on June 26, 1819 in Warren County.
PETER R. DAVIS was the son of MATTHEW T. DAVIS & MARY MADDRAY-DAVIS, and the widow MARY DAVIS received a number of slaves upon
her husband's death in 1827, namely GEORGE, SEALEY, EASTER, ISHAM, TEMPERANCE, & REAMUS, it's very possible that EASTER was ESTHER, especially since
that was what she was called on the former slave, JAMES (JIM) DAVIS marriage license.
MATTHEW T. DAVIS was the son of PETER DAVIS (d. 1804) & AMY _____; PETER’s 2nd wife was HANNAH TURNER (d. 1826) DAVIS, all of these families
were of Warren County, North Carolina. PETER DAVIS, d. 1804, received
the following slaves from his father-in-law, THOMAS TURNER (WB 5/36, will dated April 30, 1788, probated Nov. 1788 Warren Co.,NC): EASTER, DRURY, DAVY,
FEREBERRY & ARTHUR; the will specified that the slaves were to revert to the children of HANNAH (TURNER) DAVIS upon her death, and according to noted
researcher Forrest King, they were PETER DAVIS' first slaves.
 Following are some will abstracts from Warren County for these families:
(Born 1752 Orange Co.,NC; Son of Peter Davis, d. 1804)
MATTHEW DAVIS – 30 Mar 1825 - Probated Feb Court 1827 - WB 30/Pg. 158 (d. Dec. 23, 1826)
Wife MARY DAVIS – lend all my land on the north side of the Great Branch, and Negroes GEORGE, SEALEY, EASTER, ISHAM, TEMPERANCE, and REAMUS, all sheep,
cattle, furniture, etc. for her lifetime. Son PETER R. DAVIS – part of the WEATHERS Tract adj the Big Rocky Branch, MASSEY’s Old Field, HEATHCOCK’s Mill
Path, JOSIAH STALLINGS, and MACKLIN, also Negroes JOHN, HANNAH, KINCHEN, JACOB, and DANIEL. Daughter NANCY POWELL – the part of my land on the south
east side of the Little Rocky Branch where JOHN D. POWELL now has a plantation, also Negroes SOLOMON, CEILEY, NED, PRIMUS, and JANE. Son STEPHEN DAVIS –
land adj. the Bick Rocky Branch, R. T. CHEEK, HAITHCOCK, PETER R. DAVIS, the Black Branch, and Fishing Creek, also Negroes LEWIS, ISHAM, TEMP, MARIAH,
and HAGAR. Daughter ELIZABETH PITCHFORD – land where she now lives which I bought of JOHN HARWELL, also Negroes RICHMOND, RUTH, GEORGE, HENRY (son of
NED), REAMUS, and DICK. Daughter POLLEY KEARNEY – land on Reedy Creek I bought of JOHN T. KEARNEY, for her lifetime with reversion to her children, also
Negroes TIM, HARRY (son of RUTH), MATILDA, SANDY, and MERANDY, for her lifetime with reversion to her children. Son-in-law EDWARD KEARNEY- lend a life
estate in the Negroes I bought of him, namely DOCTOR, BILL, FEN, HARRISON, EVELINE, JOHN, MARIAH, MARY, MANERVA, JULIA, CLARY, and TOM, with reversion
to his children. Daughter REBAKAH WILLIAMS – land I have loaned my wife for her lifetime, also Negroes FED, PETER, ESTIS, MARY, BOB, ISHAM, CHARITY, and
SARY.
Ex: sons PETER R. DAVIS and STEPHEN DAVIS
Wit: ROBERT T. CHEEK, JOHN HALL
(Son of Matthew Davis)
STEPHEN DAVIS – 15 Jan 1852 - Probated November Court 1857 - WB 49/Pg. 128
To the four daughters of SARAH AMIS “of late”, being my granddaughters - $1000. To each of the three children of the late MARY EATON, being my
grandchildren - $1000. To JAMES W. EATON – the Negroes he carried from Granville to Arkansas, formerly belonging to me and put in his possession. Son
PETER R. DAVIS – all my land near Shocco, also fifty Negroes. Son HUGH J. DAVIS – all my land on Fishing Creek which formerly belonged to my brother
PETER R. DAVIS, also my lands, houses, and lots in Warrenton and elsewhere.
Ex. PETER R. DAVIS, THOMAS WHITE, HUGH J. DAVIS
Wit. JOHN WHITE, THOS. H. COLEMAN
(Son of Stephen Davis, d. 1857)
HUGH JOHNSTON DAVIS - 29 Oct 1862 - Probated November Court 1865 – WB 50, Pg 166
My houses and lots in Warrenton, the land on both sides of the main road leading to Clarke’s Bridge, and my crop are to be sold, and proceeds divided
among my legatees. To my brother PETER R. DAVIS – life estate in the plantation where I now live, lying near Fishing Creek, also all my Negroes except
DANIEL. If my bother marries again and leaves issue from that marriage, all this property shall fall to those children, but if he does not marry again
and leaves no issue, this property shall go to the daughters of my sister SARAH AMIS. My Negro DANIEL, for his service to me, shall choose his master.
Ex. Brother PETER
Wit. P. T. NORWOOD, THOMAS G. PLUMMER
PETER DAVIS - 15 Feb 1803 - Probated February Court 1804 - WB 12/Pg. 192 (d. Jan. 27, 1804)
Son MATTHEW DAVIS – all the money he owes me. Son GILES DAVIS – Negro MINGO, cows and calves. Son BURRELL DAVIS – ten silver dollars. Son BUCKNER DAVIS
– all the money he owes me. Son ALLEN W. DAVIS – Negro TOM. Daughter REBECCAH WINN – Negro DICK for her lifetime and then to descend to her daughter
MARY WINN. Daughter MARY HOGWOOD – Negro HICKS. Son THOMAS DAVIS – Negroes DINAH and CHERRY, also the plantation where I now live, after my wife’s
death, and an equal division with all his brothers and sisters. To the rest of my children, namely JACOB, JOHN, WINNY, TEMPERANCE, and THOMAS DAVIS –
Negroes ABRAM, PETER, ARTHUR, DAVY, BENN, LUCY, EASTER, DICE, PHERIBY, BETT, FANNY, and GRACE. All stock, etc., is to be divided at my wife HANNAH
DAVIS’ death among my five last named children.
Ex: friend JAMES TURNER, son BUCKNER, wife HANNAH DAVIS
Wit: JESSE PERSON, JOHN PARRISH
(Hannah Turner, widow of Peter Davis, d. 1804)
HANNAH DAVIS - 24 Jun 1819 - Probated February Court. 1826 – WB 29, Pg 63 (died Jan. 6, 1826)
To WINIFRED DAVIS, JACOB DAVIS, TEMPERANCE D. DAVIS (of JNO DAVIS, dec’d), THOMAS DAVIS, and TEMPERANCE DUKE – Negroes PETER, FANNY, DAVY, ARTHUR,
DICEY, BETSEY, GRACE and FERIBEE, and all my other property, including that portion of the earth where I now live. To THOMAS DAVIS – Negroes DINAH &
CHERRY.
Ex: (None)
Wit: STEPHEN TURNER, HENLEY TURNER
(Son of Peter Davis, d. 1804)
BUCKNER DAVIS - 27 Jan 1820 - May Ct 1820 - WB 22/Pg. 436
My executors are to have control of my estate, and they are to afford my daughter BETSEY C. CHRISTMAS for herself and children, during her lifetime, all
that part of my land lying between the road from MAJOR PARKS to PASCHALL, including a small strip of land lying west of the said road, going to Cabin
Branch and adjoining my own corner, said to contain 350 acres. They are also to afford her Negroes CHARLES, CUDGE, PRIMUS, TEMPY, SILLER, MILLY, TOM,
HARRIETT, MARY, LUCINDA, DILLY, DICK, LITTLE SUMMERSETT, BETTY, SOMMERSETT, and ALLEY, also furniture, cattle, etc. At the death of my said daughter
BETSEY, my executors are to give this property to her children. My executors are to afford my son PETER DAVIS support from my land lying east of the
land allotted for BETSEY CHRISTMAS, including a small tract adj. EDMOND WHITE, supposed to contain 350 acres, and also these Negroes: JOHN, JIM, GEORGE,
MINTY, PEGGY, CAROLINE, MARIAH, BRANDY, HAGAR and child SABINA, BECCA, DILLAH, HENRY SALLY, and ISAAC, as well as various furniture, cattle, etc. My
executors when they feel my son PETER can be safely trusted to own this property, may make a title to him for the same. My executors are to afford
support to my son WILLIAM C. DAVIS by my land lying west of that allotted to my daughter BETSEY, containing 250 acres, and Negroes STEPHEN, EDMOND,
SHADRACH, DICY, LIZZA, FANNY, FLORA, THOMAS, PETER, HARRISON, HANNAH, PORTER, MATILDA, CATY, and SARAH, also furniture, cattle, etc. My executors, when
they feel my son WILLIAM can be safely trusted to own this property, may make a title to him for the same.
Ex: friends GOV. JAMES TURNER, PETER R. DAVIS, STEPHEN DAVIS
Wit: ROBERT PARK, ROBERT H. JONES
(Son of Buckner Davis, d. 1820)
PETER M. DAVIS – 4 Feb 1822 - Probated November Court 1822 - WB 24, Pg. 222
I give all my property to my friends PETER R. DAVIS, STEPHEN DAVIS, and JAMES TURNER, for the support and welfare of my brother WILLIAM C. DAVIS, except
for $300 for my cousin MARTHA DAVIS (daughter of GILES DAVIS, dec’d.). To my brother WILLIAM C. DAVIS I give my riding horse.
Ex. Friends PETER R. DAVIS, STEPHEN DAVIS, JAMES TURNER
Wit. THOMAS P. KEEL
(Son of Peter Davis, d. 1804; married Elizabeth Powell, Apr. 13, 1784)
GILES DAVIS- 22 Aug. 1809 - Probated November Court 1809 – WB 15, Pg. 113
Wife ELIZABETH DAVIS – lend a life estate in my land on the north side of the Read Hill Branch, also Negroes CANDLES and OLD MINGO. Daughter PATTY DAVIS
– Negroes NANCE and her child SILEY. Son SUGAN DAVIS- Negro CESAR and a horse. Daughter TABITHA SLEDGE – Negro CHARITY. Son GOODY DAVIS – Negroes
ABRAHAM and VICEY already in his possession. Daughter TAMER DAVIS- Negro ANNAKA. Son ORREN DAVIS – Negro BOB. Daughter SUSANNAH DAVIS- Negro HICKS. Son
BALDY HAMILTON DAVIS – all my land, including the land loaned my wife for her lifetime, alson Negro HASTY and the family Bible. Daughter MARIAH DAVIS –
Negro FRANK. My children may receive their shares as they marry or come of age.
Ex. Friend HENRY G. WILLIAMS, son-in-law TURNER SLEDGE
Wit. BURWELL DAVIS, BUCKNER, JAMES COCKE
(Elizabeth Powell-Davis, widow of Giles Davis)
ELIZABETH DAVIS – June 1821 - Probated August Court 1821 – WB 23/Pg. 232
Daughter TABITHA SLEDGE – cows, pigs, etc. Daughter MARIA DAVIS – bed, table, chest, etc. Daughter THAMAR DAVIS – all money in bonds due by ARCHIBALD H.
DAVIS to me for the hire of Negro ABRAM, to be taken up by the said ARCHIBALD in part payment for the land THAMAR and I purchased of him. I give one
dollar to my other children not named in this will, to be paid from a debt collected by WILLIAM R. HARRIS from JOSHUA HARPER.
Ex. Friend ISHAM DAVIS
Wit. ISHAM H. DAVIS, JOHN HARWELL
(Son of Giles Davis, d. 1809)
GOODE DAVIS - 24 Sep 1814 - Probated February Court 1815 - WB 19/Pg. 123
To my mother (unnamed)- Negroes ABRAHAM and VICE during her lifetime, and at her death ABRAHAM to my sister TAMER for her lifetime, and if she should
die without issue I leave him to my brother SUGAN DAVIS. At my mother’s death I lend VICE to my sister MARIAH, but if she dies without issue I leave
VICE to my brother ARCHIBALD DAVIS. I give $10 each to my brothers and sisters (unnamed). Brother ARCHIBALD – saddle, chest, and clothing. My money is
for the education of my sister MARIAH.
Ex. (none)
Wit. J. LISCOMB
(Son of Peter Davis, d. 1804)
BURWELL DAVIS – 27 June 1842 - Probated August Court 1846 - WB 39/Pg. 183
My estate is to be kept together for the support of my son SAMUEL DAVIS and my daughter JANE POWELL, until my debts are paid. Daughter SALLY BETTY –
Negro PATIENCE and her four daughters HICKS, CAROLINE, BETT, and JUDY. Daughter JANE POWELL- Negro CHERRY and her children MOSES, LUCY, and BILL.
Daughter NANCY FLEMING – Negro EASTER and her children CHERRY, MAHALY, MELISSA and ALLY. Son EDWARD DAVIS - 300 acres of land adj. SOLOMON STALLINGS,
Davis’ Bridge, the old fork, the Wolf Pit Ford (formerly called JOHN CHEEK’s great gate), Fishing Creek, and MRS. PITCHFORD. Son EDWARD – Negroes FANNY,
CHARITY, ELIZA, NELSON, JOE and DEMPS. Son JOHN S. DAVIS – 200 acres, being the part of the tract I bought of BAXTER, and being all that part of the
BAXTER tract that I now own on the south side of the main stage road from Warrenton by WILLIAM H. BROWN’s. Son JOHN – Negroes ANSON, DICK, RODY, SARAH,
and ELLEN. To WINNIFRED DAVIS (widow of my son RICHARD DAVIS) – life estate in Negro NATHAN, and at her death to fall to my daughter JANE POWELL. Son
SAMUEL DAVIS – all that part of the BAXTER tract lying between the main stage road and the BELL road, containing 700 acres, also the land where I now
live, except for that part already given to my son EDWARD. My son SAMUEL is to let my daughter JANE POWELL live on the plantation where I now live as
long as she thinks proper. Residue of estate to son SAMUEL.
Ex. Sons SAMUEL, EDWARD, and JOHN
Wit. W. C. WILLIAMS, PETER R. DAVIS
(Son of Burwell Davis, d. 1846)
ISHAM H. DAVIS - 19 May 1830 - Probated November Court 1830 - WB 33/Pg. 143
Father BURWELL DAVIS – all my property, except for $150 which I give to my brother RICHARD DAVIS for his services acting as my executor.
Ex. Brother RICHARD DAVIS
Wit. CASWELL DRAKE, PETER R. DAVIS
(Son of Burwell Davis, d. 1846)
RICHARD DAVIS - 17 Mar 1836 - Probated February Court 1839 - WB 37/Pg. 155
Wife WINIFRED DAVIS – Negroes STEPHEN, LUCY, MALISSA, NATHAN, KINCHEN, and PLEASANT. To my wife – life estate in Negroes Old AMY, ELIJAH, MATILDA, SAM,
CHARLES, BOB, MARY, MARTHA, and YOUNG AMY. Wife – life estate in the land where I now live adj. PERSON. Nephew JOHN B. POWELL – reversion of land loaned
my wife at her death, also Negroes OLD AMY, ELIJAH, MATILDA, SAM, CHARLES, BOB, and YOUNG AMY which I have loaned my wife. Niece ELIZA H. POWELL –
Negroes MARY and MARTHA which I have loaned my wife. Brother SAMUEL DAVIS – Negro DICK. Brother EDWARD DAVIS - Negro LUCINDA. Brother JOHN S. DAVIS –
Negro SARAH. Sister NANCY D. FLEMING – Negro ISHAM. My executor is to sell my lot in Warrenton, which I purchased of JOHN V. CAUTHORN, and from the
proceeds I bequeath $500 to my sister SALLY BETTY (wife of HENRY BETTY), now living in Tennessee. Wife – rest of estate, and she is to pay my brother
JOHN S. DAVIS $150 for his services as my executor.
Ex. Brother JOHN S. DAVIS
Wit. (none)
(Probate indicates the signature of the dec’d. was proved on the oaths of PETER R. DAVIS, ROBERT H. JONES and EDWARD W. BEST)
(Widow of Richard Davis, d. 1836)
WINIFRED DAVIS – 2 July 1861 - Probated February Court 1866 WB 50, Pg. 172
Nephew JOHN B. POWELL – all my stock and Negroes BOB, DINAH and children SARAH, BEN, SAM and LUCY, also MARTHA and children ANTHONY and JACK. Nephew
JOHN B. POWELL – Negroes AIMY and OLD SARAH to take special care of. To WINIFRED LOUELEN POWELL (daughter of JOHN B. POWELL) –bed, Negro LOULY (daughter
of MARTHA). To ELIZA H. EGERTON (daughter of J. A. EGERTON) – Negroes MARY and CELIA. To POLLY PARISH - $250. To MARTHA HARVY - $250.
Ex. Nephew JOHN B. POWELL
Wit. HENRY A. FOOTE, HENRY A. FOOTE, JR.
(Daughter of Peter Davis, d. 1804)
WINIFRED DAVIS - 22 Apr. 1848 - Probated May Ct 1848 - WB 39/Pg. 457
Niece TEMPERANCE D. NORWOOD – 246 acres of land on Nutbush Creek, also Negroes ISAM and GRACE, also Negro VIOLET for ten years if she lives that long.
Grandnephew JOHN D. NORWOOD – Negro NATHAN and BOY TOM. Great nephew JAMES M. NORWOOD – Negro TEMP and $700 from the sale of Negro DANIEL. Great nephew
LEWIS H. NORWOOD – Negro GABRIEL. Great nephew MARCUS D. L. NORWOOD – Negro PETER. Great nieces FRANCES ANN, ALMINA HANNAH, MARTHA ELIZABETH and SALLY
ALEXANDER, and my great nephew BENJAMIN NORWOOD ((infant) Negro VIOLET loaned to my niece TEMPERANCE, also Negro MINERVA and her two children LUCY and
HINNY and $500.
Ex. BENJAMIN NORWOOD (husband of my niece TEMPERANCE)
Wit. C. STURDIVANT, WILLIAM BURROUGHS.
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