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Capt. Martin Thomas Davenport
Born Jun 23, 1742 Hanover Co. VA
Died Oct 10, 1815 Burke Co. NC

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Father

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Hannah Baker m. May 1, 1762 Culpeper Co. VA b. Oct 15, 1745? Culpeper Co. VA d. Jul 12, 1782 Burke Co. NC	James b. before Oct 15, 1764 Culpeper Co. VA d. Oct 15, 1841 Claiborne Co. MS	William b. Oct 12, 1770 Culpeper Co. VA d. Aug 19, 1859 Caldwell Co. NC	Thomas b. 1773? Hanover Co. VA d. 1809/1818 Burke Co. NC
	Jonas b. Nov 15, 1775 Hanover Co. VA d. Feb 9, 1865 Clay or Mitchell Co. NC	Robert b. 1776? Burke Co. NC
Martha Jane Browning m. Dec 24, 1782 Burke Co. NC b. May 2, 1745 Culpeper Co. VA d. Sep 15, 1850 Jane, McDonald Co. MO	Elizabeth Rachel "Betsy" b. Jul 9, 1783 Burke Co. NC d. Feb 1, 1871 Grayville, Edwards Co. IL	Hannah b. 1784? Burke Co. NC d. after 1850? Giles Co. TN	Abner b. 1785? Burke Co. NC d. 1823? Giles Co. TN
	Martin Thomas (Jr.) b. Apr 21, 1789 Burke Co. NC d. Mar 3, 1859 McDonald Co. MO	Mary "Polly" b. Feb 24, 1793 Burke Co. NC d. Mar 3, 1876 Douglas Co. MO	David M. b. Nov 28, 1795 Burke Co. NC d. Jun 11, 1877 Clay Co. NC
	Robert b. 1799 Burke Co. NC d. 1835? Giles Co. TN
See Map of Eastern Virginia in early 1700s, showing adjoining Hanover, King William and Louisa Counties.
Hanover County VA was formed in 1719 (see present day map for location).
Culpeper County VA was formed in 1748 (see present day map for location), and was bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. The Rappahannock River forms one of its eastern boundaries.
Father Thomas Davenport left Culpeper Co. VA by 1776 and came to Burke Co. NC and bought land near Wilson's Creek and Johns River to live with his children there. Martin was in Culpeper Co. VA in 1775 and then moved his family to the Johns River in NC, which within two years was part of Burke Co. He owned a 360 acre plantation where Wilson Creek ran into Johns River. [M.L. Vineyard, pp. 43, 62].
Martin commanded a fort built to defend against Indians on the Frontier in 1778 and 1779. He was badly wounded in a skirmish with Indians on the north fork of the Catawba River.
Sister Sophia married William White (1730?-1818), whose father was James Taylor White.
Sister Jerusha married James White (1736?-1783), whose father was James Taylor White.
Sister Susanna married a man named Cole and had three children before she died, including Alexander Cole who was old enough [at least 14] to witness a deed of gift from Reuben White to his brother's wife Sophia Davenport in Dec 1773 in SC. If Alexander Cole was born by 1759, his mother would be born by 1740, probably after Sophia and before Mary.
The Administrator's account of daughter "Susanna Cole, Decd" was recorded in Jul 1763, leaving her three children orphaned [Vineyard, p. 294]. In his August 15, 1770 petition in SC, William White describes raising three orphans of his wife's relatives. In 1777, Alexander was also in Burke Co. NC where the Whites had relocated, making oath to the deed he witnessed in SC.
Martin may have had a son James who was employed by son-in-law William White and William's brother Reuben White. A James Davenport swore in Jul 1777 in Burke Co. NC that he understood that he was employed jointly and that their property was equally held by both brothers. He could be Sophia's oldest sibling born about 1735. The Rowan Co. court wanted a James Leavenport [mispelled] to be examined by Col. Charles McDowell in Burke Co. relating to the disputed "will" of Reuben White after his death [M.L. Vineyard, p. 98].
Martin's first wife Hannah died of smallpox in 1782. He then married Martha Jane Browning in Burke Co. on Dec 24, 1782. On Jan 10, 1810, his wife's mother, Mrs. Sarah Browning died at his home.
North Carolina Counties at beginning of 1775 and at beginning of 1780 showing the creation of Burke and Wilkes Counties.
Son (Col.) William Davenport represented Burke Co. NC in the legislature in 1800, and was state senator in 1802. He was also justice of the peace, county surveyor, and a colonel of militia. He was the chief founder of Davenport female college, at Lenoir, NC. He married the widow of Maj. Charles Gordon, one of the heroes of King's Mountain. After the war, William went with his father to Mitchell Co. in 1861.
Martin Davenport Sr. was a hero at the Battle of Kings Mountain in Oct 1780. He headed a household of 3 males older than 16, 4 males under the age of 16, and 3 females, and 4 slaves in the 10th Company of the 1790 Burke Co. Census.
In 1780, prior to the Battle of King's Mountain, a soldier named Robert Ballew was "with James Davenport by order of Gen. [Charles] McDowell, as express to Col. Cleveland who was on the lower creek of the Catawba ordering him to rendezvous at Head quarters [Burke Co. Courthouse]" [Pension Statement, Robert Ballew, Jan 21, 1836].
Possible son James Davenport was among many who accused people of being Tories in Burke Co. on Nov 12, 1782. In many cases William White and James accused the same persons.
About 1783, possible son James may have married Mrs. Ann Hays Blair, widow of a James Blair of Lower Creek, Burke Co. NC [M.L. Vineyard, p. 319]. She had children Ann and George Blair from the previous marriage. By 1790, Ann Blair (1769-1825) married Charles Baker (1762-1850), son of Dorothy Baker, daughter of Martin Davenport (1682-1735). George Blair (1765-) married Mary Mallory, one of four granddaughters raised by Mrs. Dorothy Baker [M.L. Vineyard, p. 319].
In 1785 in Natchez District, son William Davenport was sued by a Nathan Lytle, who claimed being mistreated by a group on a boat on the Ohio River "as they were coming to take possession of Natchez". The group also included "Capt. John Smith" and brother James Davenport [McBee, p. 261].
In Jul 1787, Subpoenas were issued to James Davenport and Reuben Estes in the case of Isaac Martin vs. Joseph White [Edith Warren Higgins, Burke Co. Court Records, NC Land & Misc. Records, vol. III, p. 131].
No James Davenport is found in the 1790 Burke Co. Census. In the 1790 Ninety-Six District of Pendleton Co. SC Census, there are two James Davenports along with Blair and Baker relatives: On page 80, "James Devanporte" is head of a household of 10 members: 1 male aged over 16 (James' uncle?), 3 males under age 16 (born after 1773), 4 females, and 2 slaves. On page 83 "James Devenport" consists of 4 members: 1 male aged over 16 (James b. 1764 would be aged about 26), 1 male under 16 (stepson(?) born after 1773), 2 females, and no slaves. Also James' step-son "George Blair" household has: 1 male aged over 16 (George), 1 male under 16, 1 female (George's wife Mary Mallory), and 1 slave. In the 1800 Census for Pendleton Co. SC there are no Davenports regardless of spelling. Charles and Ann Baker are listed with one child in the 1790 Burke Co. Census and with 7 children and 4 slaves in the 1800 Pendleton SC Census. George and Mary Blair and the Davenports are listed in the Census of the Ninety-Six District of Pendleton Co. SC in 1790, but in 1800 only George Blair's family was listed there.
In the 1790 Burke Co. NC Census for 10th Company, "Martin Devenport" is listed near "Wm Wiseman" and "Thos Wiseman" (who had married a daughter of sister Sophia Davenport White) as a head of household of 14 members: 3 males aged 16 and up (Martin, WIlliam and Thomas), 4 males under age 16 (Jonas, Robert, Abner and Martin Jr.) 3 females (2nd wife Jane, Elizabeth and Hannah b. 1784?), and 4 slaves.
In the Census of the Natchez District in 1792, translated from Spanish handwritten records, "James Davenport" is listed with no family, with no land, and three blacks living in the "Bayou Pierre" (BP) subdivision: In a head of household index [from a different translation from microfilm as well as histories such as Claiborne] he is listed as "Jaime Deavenport" [Adams Co. Gen. Hist. Network].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
Possible son James Davenport may have married before 1799, because he had at least two children, Elizabeth born 1799 and Joseph born 1802. Elizabeth married Francis Wood on May 14, 1818 in Claiborne Co. MS and Joseph married Letitia M. Jefferies (1807-1853) in 1825. Joseph and Letitia are both buried behind their plantation called the Ark in the Devenport Cemetery in Russum, Claiborne Co. MS.
"James Devenport" is listed on page 2, lines 18 and 19 of the Claiborne Co. Tax Roll for 1810 as follows: James Devenport 300 acres in Bayou Pierre (preemption), one poll and 18 slaves. James Devenport 600 acres in Mississippi (donation), no polls and no slaves. In the 1823 Tax Rolls, "James Devenport Jr." on page 2, line 10, 300 acres (Spanish), and "James Devenport Sr." on page 6, line 29, 437 acres (U.S.) in Clark's Creek area with no polls and 27 slaves [ 1823 Tax Rolls for Claiborne Co. MS].
In the 1816 Claiborne Co. index of heads of households, two James Davenports are listed. In 1820, "James Davenport Sr." is listed in the Caliborne Co. MS Census, on line 22 of page 21, submitted in Aug 1820. He is head of a household of: 1 male aged 16 to 26 (son Joseph), 1 male 46 and up (James b. 1764), 1 females age 16 to 26 (daughter Elizabeth born after 1795), 1 females age 26 to 45 (wife born after 1775), and 16 slaves.
A Claiborne Co. MS newspaper reported the marriage of Sarah Davenport, daughter of Joseph Davenport of this county, to James M. McGill on Oct 30 1850.
Sister Dorotha married John Browning (1747?-1817) in Culpeper Co. VA, and had 6 sons and 4 daughters at the time of the 1790 Burke Co. Census (listed in 2nd Company).
Between 1810 and 1815, daughter Hannah married Thomas D. Cole (1787-1848), probably a son of the Alexander Cole who was orphaned when Susanna Cole, daughter of Hannah's grandfather Thomas Davenport, died by Jul 1763. The 1830 and 1840 Censuses for Giles Co. TN show Hannah was born between 1790 and 1800. But The 1850 census says she was 66.
About 1808, daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Browning in Burke Co. NC.
Martin is buried in Bright's Cemetery historic site (Spruce Pine) along with Captain Robert Sevier. Photo of Grave marker.
Son William married Mary Lenoir (1772-1859). She was a daughter of Gen. William Lenoir and also the widow of Charles Gordon (1756-1799).
Son William administered the estate of William White in 1818.
Son William is buried in Fort Defiance Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. NC. Photo of Grave marker, gives his birthdate Oct 12, 1770 and birthplace as Culpeper Co. VA.
Daughter Mary "Polly" Davenport married John Hopper about 1817. They were photographed together by a roving French photograper, on glass. In the 1900's the glass portraits were made into photos. One of these shows Polly Hopper in her wedding veil [Vineyard, p. 569].
A Claiborne Co. MS newspaper reported the death of Maj. James Davenport on Oct 14, 1841 at his residence in the county. In the 1850 Claiborne Co. Census there is a "David Davenport" aged 70, born in SC (about 1780), heading a large household of members all born in Miss. including a 42 year old (born about 1808) "Ester A." [USGenWeb, 1850 Claiborne Co. MS Census, page 132A].
Maj. James Davenport is buried in Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson, Claiborne Co. MS. Photo of Grave marker, which says: "MAJ. JAMES DEVENPORT a native of Va. BORN A.D. 1764 Emigrated to Miss. A.D. 1780. Died ...aged 77 years".
Son Martin Jr., age 61, farmer born in NC, headed the household of "Martin Devenport" in the 1850 Census of McDonald Co. MO, on line 16 of page 98a, enumerated on Sep 5, 1850. Also listed in the household are: Dorothy, age 64, born in NC in 1785 (wife), James T., age 37, Parson M E P C, born in NC, Nancy, age 29, born in TN, David, age 27, born in TN. His wife Dorothy was born Sep 22, 1785, the daughter of Rachel Davenport (Martin's sister) and William Cole.
Son Martin T. Davenport, Jr. and his wife Dorothy Cole Davenport, are buried in Jane Cemetery in Jane, McDonald Co. MO. Photos of the grave markers of Martin T. Davenport, Jr., and Dorothy Davenport. They died about two months apart.
SOURCES: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. Clark, Walter, State Records of North Carolina Vol XVII 1781-1785, Broadfoot Publishing, Wilmington NC, 1994, pp. 287-8, 294. Claiborne, J. F. H., Mississippi as a Province, Territory and State, vol. I, 1880. Corbitt, D. L., The formation of the N.C. counties, 1663-1943, Dept. Arch. & Hist, Raleigh NC, 1950, 323pp. Genealogical Register, vol. VIII, No. 3, Sep 1961. Genealogy Trails, Claiborne Co. (MS) 1810 Tax Roll, website, transcribed by Lee Kohler, updated May 8, 2018. Genealogy Trails, Claiborne Co. (MS) 1823 Tax Roll, website, transcribed by Lee Kohler, updated May 9, 2018. Genealogy Trails, 1790 Census, Burke Co. NC, website. Houton, Erica, "John White, Sarah White", Geni, website, trans. from Spanish, St. Martin of Tours Church, St, Martinville LA, record no. 263, image uploaded Jan 19, 2019. McBee, Mary Wilson, Natchez Court Records 1767-1805, Abstract of Early Records, Greenwood MS, 1953, p. 261. Obituary notice of Thomas Davenport, The Star, Raleigh NC, Mar 8, 1810. MSGenWeb, 1816 Claiborne Co. Census, from 1917 MS State Centennial Edition, website, submitted by Sue Moore. MDAH, MS Territorial Census 1810, Claiborne and Warren Cos. Northern Neck Grants, Virginia State Archives, Book G. Poe, Allan, "The Records, From Virginia to Old Burke Co. N.C.", publ. in Pre-Revolutionary Plat Books, SC Archives Dept., vol. 21, pp 424-433. "Pension Application of Robert Ballew", transcribed by Will Graves in Southern Campaigns American Revolutionary Pension Statements & Rosters, website. US Census 1850, McDonald Co. MO, USGenWeb, website. USGenWeb, 1850 Census Claiborne Co. MS, Jane Embrose, transcriber, file pg124b.txt, page 132A, 1999. USGenWeb Archives, Pendleton Co. SC 1800 Census, contrib. by Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., Jan 25, 1998. Vineyard, M.L. & E.M.Wiseman, Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 41-42, 254-256, 294-296, 258, 569. Virginia Land Patents, Book 8, p. 16. White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, April 1982. White, Gifford, "James White and John White", Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, by M.L.Vineyard & E.M.Wiseman, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 86-96, 107-112.