Hi Lynda, I'm looking for a Mobile family who has a James DAVIS as one of the children. I don't know anything about him as an adult yet but am hoping he lived long enough to have children. Could we be looking for the same James? The one I'm searching has a father named George. George's wife's name was Rosetta, and they were both from London, England. They came to the US in about 1809. George was Jewish, however, his children seemed to convert to other religions. This James had some other siblings: Eliza, George Jr., Adaline, Betsey, and Isaac. The one named Isaac is (I'm almost positive) my gg grandfather, and he converted to Catholicism after he married (1841). Isaac was born in NY on 8 May, 1815. The father, George Sr., was known as "Original" George Davis, because when he came to Mobile in about 1823/4 he found there were other George Davises and wanted to distinguish himself from them. Everyone in town knew him as "Original" George Davis, and it even says that on his gravestone. He was an auctioneer (so was my Isaac), among other occupations. They lived in Tuscaloosa from about 1820 til they moved to Mobile. George Sr. operated a hotel in Tuscaloosa called the Eagle Hotel, but I don't know anything about it yet. George bought land in 1822 for his children (Tuscaloosa townsites) and you can find the records on the BLM internet site - just search for George Davis in Tuscaloosa. I haven't gotten copies yet of the records. All his children were minors at that time. I don't know what happened to his son James, but I have been gathering info on any Jameses I can find. I have the obituary for George Sr. and Isaac and the will of George Jr. Here are some James Davis records that I copied down in case he was the one who was George's son: I made a note that there were two James Davis marriages: 1) to Mary Nayler (or Tayler) 5 Aug. 1839 in Mobile - Book/page 3/184 2) to Nancy Pierce 20 Mar. 1844 in Mobile - Book/page 5/328B (the one you mentioned) In the 1840 Census index there is a James Davis in Mobile Co., p. 112, no twp. In the 1850 Census index there are two James Davises in Mobile Co., p. 484, no twp. and p. 414, in Mobile City. I must have looked at these, because I wrote "no" beside them. I guess they didn't fit my family. My family is caucasian, these may have been black? I can't remember why I wrote "no". It could also be that these James Davises were too old to be mine. Normally I list why I don't think they are mine, but I guess I was in a hurry and forgot to. In the AL1860 Mortality Index there are two James Davises, one in Shelby Co., AL, age 2, Male, died in Dec. 1860, born in KY, died of "liver compla" - the other James C. Davis in Limestone Co., AL, age 10 mo., Male, died in Feb. 1860, born in AL, died of croup. Mobile city directories (the only year I have that I saw a James listed): 1842 - Davis, James, "n mobile foundry" (I don't know what the "n" means but he must have worked at the Mobile Foundry) On a list of burial records of Mobile Co. published by the Mobile Genealogical Society, (sent to me by someone in Mobile) these are the following James listings: Volume I 1820-1856 Davis, James, age 25, died July 25, 1837 Davis, son of James, age 5 days, May 9, 1846 Davis, James, age 35, November 13, 1852 Davis, James, age 34, November 15, 1852 Volume II 1857-1870 Davis, dau. of James, F, 3, 1857 (don't know if the "F" means female or Feb. or if the age is 3) There were also some initial "J"s in this list. There were no James Davises listed in the "Index to Alabama Wills 1808-1870". Is there anything else you might be able to tell me about your James Davis? I hope I've helped you some, and it would be great if we were after the same line! I need more info on them to prove that this Isaac is my gg grandfather, Isaac, although I'm almost positive. I haven't found Original George's will, which is what I need to do. I had someone in Mobile looking for me but he couldn't find it, however I don't think he looked under "O" for "Original" - and I've found him listed in the O's in other lists, so that's a possibility. Do you get any other replies to your post? Let me know about your line. Thanks! Marianne Gilbert Phoenix, AZ On 3/13/99 Lynda wrote: >[email protected] >Help! Does anyone have a census 1850-1860 Mobile Co., Alabama. >If so,could you please look for the family of James Davis md to Nancy >Jane Pierce, looking for the names of their children. Thanks so much. >Lynda Lovejoy