PAMUNKEY DAVENPORTS & OTHERS INTERESTED: By relating findings in Cumberland, Powhatan, and Campbell counties, Virginia, with extensions into Washington County, a family history is developing that looks rather different from the one long portrayed by reliance on Ann Pemberton Davenport's unsuccessful application for a Revolutionary Widow's Pension in 1840 and Miss Rachel Davenport's recall pronouncements of 1892. First, we deal with Wilson Davenport, only son and eldest child of Henry and Ann, and his Pemberton connection. Wilson was definitely older than credited by the list of births allegedly taken from the family bible by Ann and attached to her pension application. Evidences now found suggest that the Cumberland/Powhatan Pembertons were not movers and shakers--the exception being William Pemberton of Goochland, who attained stature by five years of cavalry service during the Revolution, progressing from Ensign to Captain of Continental Light Dragoons, and gained wealth by a Bounty Land grant of more than 5,000 acres in Kentucky and Ohio--which he sold and bought a manor plantation (today a B&B) in Goochland. (William is the only Pemberton, all Thirteen Colonies, certified by the DAR as a Patriot.) William, son of Richard of Cumberland/Powhatan, I now believe, was a brother to Ann, wife of Henry Davenport, Sr., of Cumberland/Buckingham. Certainly, it was no coincidence that William Pemberton of Goochland held the mortgage on Wilson Davenport's slaves, law library, and most valuable chattel when Wilson died. James Pemberton, in Campbell records, 1795-1811 (possibly later), I now believe, was a younger brother of Ann Davenport, likely from a second family by their sire. James appears to have been an employee or agent of Scott & Davenport and Scott & Company, which terminated with Wilson's death, whereafter he became a Campbell Deputy Sheriff. (Not researched past 1811.) I have been surprised at the scarcity of Pemberton mentions in the records of both Cumberland (prior to 1777) and Powhatan (1777-1810)--no jury service--grand or petit, no road surveyors, no constables, no law suits, yet they were there. Considering that Ann Pemberton allegedly married Henry Davenport, Sr., in 1770 and died in late 1840. She was surely no more than 20 when she married, and Henry was at least 50--he took title to the land he sold in 1789 in 1741. My point is that Wilson, their oldest child and only son, was born at least several years before Henry, Sr., and Ann were allegedly married--appears to have been older than Henry Davenport, Jr., Henry, Sr.'s youngest son by his first wife. By social mores of Colonial times, Henry, Sr.'s and Ann's union appears to have been rife with irregularities, not found among aristocrats and the gentility given the age disparity. Let's leave the Pemberton connection for the moment and sort out what we now know about Wilson Davenport, Lynchburg attorney and member of the Virginia Assembly for Campbell County when he died suddenly in Richmond in Jan1807. Work is needed, but a substantial framework is already in place by blending data from Cumberland, Powhatan, and Campbell. The principals, likely in order of importance, were (1) William Terry Davenport, merchant and son of William Davenport, Sr., also a merchant, and a grandson of Thomas Davenport, Sr., tobacco planter--and a first cousin to Wilson; (2) Samuel Scott, a merchant and partner of William T. Davenport in the firm Scott & Davenport, that appears to have started in Powhatan and terminated in Campbell; (3) the merchant firm of Scott & Davenport which did business on the Upper James River Basin at least to the Blue Ridge; and (4) Wilson Davenport, who was closely associated with William T. Davenport in Scott & Davenport business from the beginning in 1793-94, and was actively engaged in Powhatan Court activities concurrent with Scott & Davenport law suits in 1794-96. The Scott & Davenport business center shifted from Powhatan to Campbell (Lynchburg) in 1797, concurrent with Wilson Davenport's being licensed as an Attorney in Campbell, Samuel Scott settling there, and William T. Davenport appearing on the Lynchburg Personal Property Tax List for 1797 along with Wilson. But William T. moved around, was to be found in Cumberland, Powhatan, Campbell, likely Buckingham, and had an office in Richmond. The point is that Wilson Davenport was not in Powhatan County because of his Pemberton relatives--he was there as either an agent for or as a silent partner in Scott & Davenport. He surely read Law in Powhatan where he got considerable Court experience, but did not become an Attorney until Aug1796, when he was admitted to practice before Campbell Court. He was surely the attorney for Scott & Davenport until the death of William T. in 1803, whereafter he was the attorney for Scott & Company, Merchants, until his death. The seemingly unending litigation between Scott and Wilson's executors strongly indicates that Wilson had a financial interest in both Scott & Davenport and in Scott & Company. William T.'s estate, probated in Cumberland, was so intermingled with Scott's affairs that no one would undertake execution of his will (long, long story). William T.'s affairs were also mixed up with his brother Alexious. They had a partnership, dating from the late 1790s, that was, in present day terminology, a debt collection agency. They bought debts at a discount and/or collected debts for others by assignment for a percentage. After William T.'s sudden death, Alexious had 24 collection suits in one Cumberland Court session. Alexious was still chasing debtors when he died in 1829 in Powhatan. In essence, I now discount a Pemberton role in Wilson Davenport's having become an attorney. Wilson was surely influenced by William T. Davenport and Samuel Scott, became a participant in their business affairs, which had a constant need for an attorney. His executors were still waiting for umpires to sort out what Scott owed Wilson's estate ten years after Davenport died. Now, add Molly Davenport to Joseph Davenport as the earliest Pamunkey Davenports in WCV who need to be identified. There is no Molly in Ann Pemberton's bible record of her and Henry's children. Did both Joseph and Molly belong to Julius and Mary Noell? Or were they more of the first family of Henry Davenport, Sr., by wife Sarah Terry? John Scott Davenport Holmdel, NJ

Having reached the conclusion that I am still years away from finding a Davenport Family that produced my Isaac Davenport, who was first heard from in 1854, I would like to ask if someone in the Pemberton Family or a Davenport can comment on a letter I received back in 1998. A Gentleman wrote to me that I must be descended from the Isaac Davenport in KY in the census , who was married to Rebecca Logston and moved on to Hendricks Co. IN. After delving into that history, I don't think so. In an accompaning note, which has been lost, he said to look at Ann Pemberton as the Mother. The following is what he wrote : " I can tell you we have two Family History Letters , they don't tell of Wilson Davenport, twin to Julius Terry Davenport B.Feb 15, 1780. this Julius Terry Davenport is listed in Both Davenport Family History Letters ., I proved twin Wilson Davenport by headstone! and the two History letters proved Claiborne Davenport , Sr. We can't prove Wilson Davenport 1830-1840 census. We know the children went to Wayne Co, KY.,to Rhea Co., TN in 1833, On to Rose Hill ( Davenport Farm) Kingsville, Johnson Co.MO. by 1833 1/2.On Oct. 1848 Cholera Killed Kingsville Davenports. the family had started to move on by 1840. Wilson Davenport missed 1830-1840 census. However, in light of this latest discussion by Doc, I will quote what my correspondent also said. "Thomas Pemberton went to Quick City , MO. Their (sic) is a Pemberton cemetery listed. Lewis Pemberton lised (sic) On Julius Terry Davenport will. Also. he is the son of Thomas Pemberton Sr. Henry Davenport Brother to Thomas Davenport that married Mary ( Noland ETC.on Spelling). Now Pemberton Family left will. Pemberton Family has cemetery. Tie is Garner Davenport, b.June 4,1813, son of julius Terry Sr in Saltville, Washington Co., VA.. Garner married May 6, 1841 kingsville, Johnson Co., MO to Ducina Cockrell Cockrill. the Cockrell Family mixed with Pembertons-----note dates of wills of Pembertons" I apologise for the spellings, abbreviations, punctuations, but I have typed this as it was written to me. The long and short of this is he was claiming that Isaac was the son of this Wilson, twin to Julius terry Davenport. He also asked who was this John Scott Davenport and said he himself was working with named Gilly about the Washington Co. Davenports. Sorry, Doc, that was 8 years ago. I am hoping this proves I am not yet senile as I remembered this vague connection to the Pembertons, other than Henry's numerous children and the mysterious Wilson . Let's have some discussions againn, if Doc is not the only one besides me, who is still interested in Unknown Davenports. Ellen Eanes Bethel