Narrative
private email from VB Fillmore
it is possible that the Davenports listed on my site came from Franklin Co TN, however the family of Colonel Joseph Davenport, born Jun 2 1789 in Virginia, says he came from Jackson Co TN between 1812 and 1816, and then to DeKalb Co about 1839 or 1840.
see http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jcb1976&id=I3968
For Joseph's dates see http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/person.aspx?pid=-2080962889&tid=254402
http://www.tngenweb.org/records/davidson/nca/nca5-06.htm
Colonel JOSEPH DAVENPORT born in Va., June 2, 1789; died Dekalb Co., Ala. Jan. 22, 1876; md Mary Thomas, Apr. 16, 1812 and had 8 children, 4 of whom died young; md Barbara Stallins, Oct. 1, 1860; veteran of War of 1812.
private in 6 REG'T (SHARP'S) VIRGINIA MILITIA & "CHOCTAW INDIANS" [looks like ""Lt Col Sharpe" - The company mustered at Norfolk (4/2/1813)]
F H "Bud" Landstreet of Fort Payne, AL authored a book about Joseph's descendents called "Joseph Davenport Family Tree":
"Col. Joseph Davenport, b. June 2, 1789 in Virginia d. January 22 or February 22, 1876 at his home in DeKalb Co., Ala.
Buried at the family cemetery on his homestead (now known as the Stuart Place). The headstone unmarked.
Resided in Little Wills Valley, just north of the Letitia Macfarland Place. The lands now lie in NE Fort Payne.
The Federal Census records 1840-1870 of DeKalb County, Ala and the Federal Census of 1820 of Jackson County, Tenn. show that he was born in Va. He removed to Tenn. 1812-1816 and to DeKalb County, Ala. 1839-1840.
War of 1812 – Was with Jackson’s forces in the Battle of New Orleans.
Indian Wars – Was with Jackson’s forces in the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend.
Patented the following land in DeKalb County, Alabama [gives particulars; a total of 280 acres]
He married (1) Mary Thomas (1789-1849) on April 16, 1812."
Note: Col. Jos. Davenport was in Jackson Co., Tenn in 1820, along with Henry & James. In 1830, James, Henry, Charles & their mother, Elizabeth (70-80) were in Jackson Co. Joseph was not, he having apparently left between 1820 and 1830. John was in Franklin Co., Tenn, in 1830. –Bill N. Taylor, 12-1-1968.
[Note: He is in Smith County, TN 1830 Census]
from "Building Neighborhoods - Jackson County, Tennessee Prior to 1820" by Betty Huff Bryant
"16130 Joseph Davenport .. 10 acs .. west fork of War Trace Cr .. above where Ralston Ray now lives .. 30 Nov 1815."
Ralph Hamman’s book includes this info about Joseph, written by Dr. George Montraville Davenport, preacher, 1961:
"Colonel Joseph Davenport was the original Davenport in Alabama. Aunt Adeline Springs, one of his daughters, had a big scrapbook with the most authentic record of the family. It has been lost, which is unfortunate.
Colonel Joe was a little man always ready for a fight. He served in Indian wars under General Andrew Jackson. He had a brother named Henry Davenport of whom I know little. ... He fought the Indians all over Alabama. He fought the Spaniards at Pensacola and the English at New Orleans. After 1815 he moved his family to DeKalb County Alabama and settled on a farm half way between Valley Head and Fort Payne. ... Colonel Joe was anti-secession as most people were in DeKalb County. When Alabama seceded, he went with his state."
[note from Kyle: this is amusing because in 1860 US Census Slave Schedules, Joseph had 6 slaves!]
Ralph’s book also includes a family sheet for Joseph Davenport compiled by Dee Davenport Lovelady, which has some bits of additional info that she says came from “Joseph Davenport Family Bible, in possession of Clyde Davenport Fischer, Jr., Fort Payne, Ala.” It says that Joseph’s two oldest children, Emeline and Orville, were born in the town of Granville in Smith County, TN, in 1813 and 1815 respectively. The next two of his children are listed as born in Smith? TN, 1817 and 1820. And the next five children are listed as born in Jackson? TN, from 1821 to 1834. His fifth child, Montraville, married Amelia McSpadden in 1843 – perhaps connected to the McSpadden family with which Lilburn Davenport was living in Ala in 1850?"