The Davis Family History
Family elders say that great-great grandmother Harriet came to Washington County, Georgia as a slave from Virginia. A slave owner, whose last name is Brantley, reportedly brought her to Georgia. The elders describe her as a Black woman with Native American blood and long curly hair. Genealogical research indicates great-great grandmother Harriet was born in either 1849 or 1850.
While barely a pre-teenager during the early part of the Civil War (1860-1865), Harriet gave birth to a "mulatto" son named Isaac ("Ike"). An unknown white man, probably in Georgia, may have fathered Issac.
She apparently acquired the name Davis after arriving in Georgia. The 1870 census - the first one taken after the emancipation of slaves and the first to record Black people by their full names - listed Harriet in the residence of Silas Davis (b. 1841 or 1842). The census file contains no information about their relationship or marital status aside from the fact that they occupied a "family dwelling" in District 97, Washington County, Georgia, and Post Office: Sandersville.
The 1870 census lists Silas Davis with the following information: 28 year old Black man; occupation - farmer; value of personal estate - $200; birthplace - Georgia. Likewise, Harriet's information was listed as the following: 20 year old Black female; occupation - keeping house; birthplace - Georgia. The 1870 file does not list Issac or any other children in the household.
The discovery of these official census records confirm the fact that great-great grandfather Silas Davis was a Black man, not white, as originally thought. The question of whether Silas Davis was Issac's bilogical father, however, remains a mystery. Although Silas may have actually been Issac's step-father, the fact that Issac carried Silas Davis' last name indicates that Silas was the father-of-record. During the slavery, reconstruction, and post reconstruction eras, mulatto children of plantation owners often lived in their "father's" household and worked as servants. That may explain why Ike was not counted for the 1870 or 1880 census in Silas and Harriet Davis' household.
As we know now, Silas and Harriet Davis are our earliest ancestors. They are our first known generation. Close examination of the entire 1870 census and 1880 census schedules for Washington County, GA could reveal Issac's whereabouts during that decade.
The 1880 census schedule indicates that Silas and Harriet Davis lives in the same district as they did in 1870. They had two children - Ida, 7 and George, 3 - and a "servant" (Rachael Davis, 14) living with them. The description of Rachael as a servant may have been a census taker's personal interpretation of her role within the family. The index for this same census lists Rachael as Silas' sister. Since the other children of the household were very young, Rachael may have cared for them, cooked, and kept house while Silas and Harriet worked. To the census taker, this may have meant that she was a servant. The 1880 census also indicates that Silas' mother was born in Virginia and his father in South Carolina.
Family elders also say Ike had sisters and brothers named Elafare, Alice, and Alfred. There was also a nephew named Mose Jefferson. The children of Silas and Harriet may have been born after 1880.
Issac "Ike" Davis, son of Silas and Harriet, was born in November 1862 in Georgia according to the 1900 census. His wife Georgia Ann (Howard) Davis, was born in August 1867 in Georgia as well.
Great-grandmother Georgia Ann's parents, according to the 1870 census, were George and Silvia Howard. They lived in Washington County, GA, Post Office: Davisboro. That census lists great-great-grandfather George as a 25 year old mulatto male; occupation - farming; value of personal property - $125; and birthplace - Georgia. Great-great grandmother Silvia is listed as a 24 year-old Black woman; occupation - keeping house; and birthplace - Georgia. George and Silvia had three children, according to the 1870 census: Georgia Ann (8), George, Jr. (3), and Mary (10 months).
Recent Howard family research conducted by Frank Gilmore indicates that George and Silvia (Sylvia) Howard had a total of 12 children: Georgia Ann (b. 1866?), George, Jr. (b. 1868?), Mary (b. 1870?), Robert (b. 1872), John (b. 1874), Elizabeth (b. 1876), Mattie (b. 1878), Ruth (b. 1880), Jessie (b. 1882), Frank (b. 1886), Angie (b. 1888), and Willie (b. 1889).
Georgia Ann Howard Davis' youngest brother, Willie Howard, changed his name to Willie "Gilmore" after leaving Washington County, Georgia in a hurry due to some unfortunate circumstances and relocated to West Palm Beach, FL where his sister, Ruth Howard (Riggins) resided. There are still unanswered questions as to why Willie Howard picked Gilmore as his new surname.
When interviewed for the 1900 census, Ike and Georgia Ann Davis lived in the Cato community of General Militia District (GMD) #95, Washington County, GA.
Those who remember great-grandfather Ike say he loved to fish and was crazy about his cotton. A "consummate entrepreneur" best describes great-grandmother Georgia Ann. According to late great-uncle Ralph Perry and late cousin Edward Hodges, great-grandmother Georgia Ann perfected a method of making charcoals used mostly for heating pressing irons. Edward and late brother, Hayward, actually provided much of the labor for the charcoal making operation. Great-grandmother Georgia Ann reportedly did not go to town in Sandersville without taking something to sell, and she went to town almost every day. She sold charcoal, milk, butter, eggs, peas, and other vegetables all over town.
Ike and Georgia Ann had a total of 16 children during their marriage; 14 survived and a set of twins died at birth. All of their children were born in Georgia. According to the 1900 census, their names were Mary (b. 1887), Pinkie (b. between 1888 and 1890; died before 1900), Mack (b. 1890), George (b. 1892), Eula (b. 1893), Drucilla (b. 1896), Eva Belle (b. 1897), and Katie (b. 1899). The 1910 census listed an additional five children: Issac, Jr. (7), Jeannie (6), Charlie (4), Edith (2), and Thomas (2 months). The only child born after 1910 was a son named Olin (b. 1914).