| Name | William Davenport |
| Birth | 8 Sep 1796, Oglethorpe Co., GA120 |
| Census | 1850, Campbell Co., GA |
| Census Memo | p. 408, Roll M 432_62, aged 53 |
| Census | 1860, Campbell Co., GA |
| Census Memo | aged 63 |
| Census | 1870, Campbell Co., GA |
| Census Memo | p. 228 aged 74 as Deavenport |
| Death | 28 Mar 1877, Campbell Co., GA120 |
| Burial | aft 28 Mar 1877, Old Watts Church Cem., Campbell Co., GA |
| Father | James Davenport (1759-1824) |
| Mother | Dicey Kennedy (1759-1835) |
| 1 | Elizabeth Sydnor Andrew121 |
| Birth | 28 Oct 1800, Elbert Co., GA122 |
| Death | 10 Oct 1888, Campbell Co., GA122 |
| Burial | Old Watts Church Cem., Campbell Co., GA |
| Father | Rev. John Andrew (1758-1830) |
| Mother | Mary Overton Cosby (1771-1846) |
| Marriage | 10 Dec 1818, Oglethorpe Co., GA122 |
| Children | Overton Fletcher (1820-1909) |
| Eliza Garland (1822-1890) | |
| Matilda Ann (1823-1863) | |
| Sarah Dicey "Dee" (1825-1911) | |
| James Thomas (1826-1897) | |
| Jouett Harbert (1828-1892) | |
| John Andrew (1830-1916) | |
| Mary Overton (1832-1878) | |
| William Harvie (1836-1862) | |
| Elizabeth "Bettie" Sydnor (1838-1926) | |
| Samuel Shannon (1840-1862) | |
| Charles Cosby Winans (1844-1863) | |
| Margaret "Peggy" Watts (1846-1933) |
WILLIAM DAVENPORT was born in Oglethorpe County, Ga., September 8, 1796; and died in Campbell County, Ga., March 28, 1877.
The subject of this notice was married to Miss Andrew (sister of our late bishop [James Osgood] Andrew), who still survives him, and with whom he lived a devoted husband, a bright and shining light in the interests of Church and country. He possessed in a rare degree practical common sense, and an inquiring mind, added to a fair education, that kept him well informed as regards the great political, literary, and ecclesiastical movements of the age. He liked to read. In his house the minister of Jesus could not only find a home, but books of theology and early Methodism. He was wise in counsel, and his great soul was felt in the correctness and cogency of his admonitions. To use his own language, he was "born with an unusually incredulous heart, and for several years made an honest effort to be an infidel." In 1824 he attended the Salem camp meeting, in Clarke County, Ga. At a night service, as he approached the stand, Dr. Lovick Pierce rose and with unusual emphasis read Charles Wesley's hymn, beginning, "Stay, thou insulted Spirit, stay," which produced a strange feeling in his heart. The text was Rom. xi:22 – "Behold the goodness and severity of God." When the sermon closed the last fragment of infidelity was gone, and he, for the first time seeing himself a lost and ruined sinner, knelt for prayer and called on God to be merciful. At that meeting he was converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the communion of which he lived a faithfull and useful member to the end of his life. His views of the plan of salvation were more than ordinarily clear and correct. Although brightly converted, he was often in great doubt and Darkness, which he ascribed to not coming to Jesus when he was a child. But withal, he had the true, Scriptural idea of trust in God. He was an invalid for about six years – for ten months confined to his bed. During all these years of gloom he wrestled in prayer to God for unmistakable assurance of his acceptance with God. Fifteen months before his death, when bathed in penitential tears at the mercy seat for the witness of the Spirit, he said, "If I have never again have it, and am finally lost, I will tell the enemy till doomed, I still trust God." O, how grand such faith! At last the cloud lifted, the shadows fled, and he exclaimed, "My God is reconciled," etc. He never had another doubt – praised God all the time- often saying "Hallelujah" – "Glory be to God" – "Happy, so happy" – "Bright, bright." He had always been devoted to the Sunday-school, the children, and young people, but now he exhorted them, and all who came near him, to meet him in heaven, and not to be discouraged though satan should pursue them to the gates of the city. He had reached "through great tribulation" faith's beatitude in sight of the Jordan, and there rejoiced in hope of an entrance being administered unto him that would be all the sweeter because of the afflictions. His departure was ecstatic. As the ship loosed its moorings he exclaimed distinctly, "Heaven, sweet heaven;" "Farewell;" "Glory, Glory:" and "was not, for God took him."
John M. Bowden
[from the Wesleyan Christian Advocate (Atlanta), some issue in 1877]
Shortened version ran in Southern Christian Advocate 5 Jun 1877.
She was the daughter of Rev. John and Mary O. Andrew, and was the last [surviving] of nine children, six daughters and three sons, one of whom is our now glorified Bishop James Andrew of precious memory. She was married to William Davenport, December 10, 1818, by Rev. Gabriel Christian, and survived, in much feebleness, her husband, about nine years. Her educational advantages were few but possessing a strong natural mind, being a lover of books and a constant reader of current literature, particularly that of her church, she developed into more than ordinary intelligence. Converted in childhood, she joined the Methodist Church and lived seventy-three years in its fellowship. Her Christian life was beautiful, devoted to her church and the cause of Christ, she kept all religious interests well in mind. She was hopeful and looked with great faith for the triumph of Christ's Kingdom, and when, because of infirmity of age, she could not attend the public meetings, she wrestled in prayer for the power of the Holy Ghost upon the preacher and congregation. She was affectionate as a mother, and faithful as a wife, but she was fond of the Bishop especially, and watched with amazing interest the points in his life that identified him with the history of the church. Left, as she felt, almost alone in the world, because of the death of the friends of her youth, she became quite taciturn toward the last, but when she did talk it was in beautiful expressions of soon being with the saints in rest. Hers was a life of prayer, of usefulness and of trial, but also of triumph.
Jno. M. Bowden.
[from the Wesleyan Christian Advocate (Atlanta), Jan. 23, 1889]