This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: robingarland25 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.davidson/4833/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I seek to exchange information with others researching the Davidson families of both TN and IL. I am able to confirm that the Jesse Davidson (wife Martha) present on the 1860 Pope County, IL, born abt 1800, TN is the son of Thomas and Sarah Davidson of Dickson County, TN. Sarah, as a widow of Thomas, is present on the 1830-1860 Dickson County census. Several records related to her pension for Thomas' War of 1812 and estate settlement demonstrate them the parents of: Jesse C or G, abt 1800 Delila, abt 1804 (married John W. Thomas) Howell A, abt 1805 James M, abt 1808 Abraham (suspect abt 1812) I'm still gathering on Sarah and do not locate her in 1820. Was she living with others? Documents demonstrate she was widowed as Thomas was reported to have died in the Battle of New Orleans. I recently received the death record of William Davidson, 1903, son of Jesse Davidson from Pope County, IL records. It reports him as born in "Dixon Co Tenn" and born in 1829. I'd then suspect the Jesse Davidson family to appear on the 1830 census for Dickson County but do not find a Jesse Davidson listed. Was Jesse Davidson also known as George? Sarah's estate demonstrates the heirs of Jesse Davidson to be: Thomas (of Denton TX) and William, Sarah Jane, George and Isabelle Broadway (all of Pope IL). The document recorded in 1868 lists Jesse Davidson as deceased. William, Sarah Jane, George, and Isabelle are easy to track on the Pope census 1860 and after. In William Davidson's death record is reported that he was a resident of Pope County for 55 years. This would bring this Davidson family to that area in 1848. This would appear consistent with the first of land purchases that Jesse Davidson made in that area. Also, William Davidson married in the county in 1850. It would seem that the family should be present here in 1850 yet I do not find them. Were they missed on census? It seems unlikely that Jesse Davidson would miss appearing on every census of his life except for 1860! A record search via IL archives prior to 1850 for the Pope IL area did not reveal more than what I had in land entries beginning in 1848. Prior to Jesse's arrival in Pope other Davidson family are present. They are reported to have come to the area from Stewart TN. They are reported also to originate from the Davidson/Bowman line who had intermarried with Broadway family. If that is true or not I can not say. Interestingly, Isabelle Davidson, daughter of Jesse Davidson married into the Broadway family of Pope County. She was the second with of William Broadway who is said to be son of Royal Broadway who also descends from a Davidson line. As a couple, William and Isabelle Broadway had a son, Riley per census, Royal per online reports, who evidently perished young. William Broadway died during the civil war and Isabelle was widowed and does not appear to have remarried. Later census demonstrate her report of mothering one child and that child deceased. The children of Jesse Davidson remained in Pope County, IL for an extended period appearing to live and farm on lands purchased by both Jesse and William Davidson. Descendants of William Davidson intermarried into the Broadway family several times. William's youngest son, James Howell Davidson, married Mettie Broadway. James Howell Davidson would become a Methodist Minister and the last record found for him is in Albion, Edwards, IL where he and his wife were living in the "parish." William's son, Jesse Thomas Davidson, married Amanda Williams and they had a large family which I suspect may still have descendants in the area. Jesse and Amanda died in the 1940s in Creal Springs, Williamson County, IL where I know several of their children relocated with them. Another son of William's, John W., appears to have perished as a young adult. I believe he was the father of a Benjamin Eugene Davidson who served in the navy, married a woman named Edna and moved to Arkansas. I'd like to hear from anyone with better insight to earlier Davidson family members in Pope IL, the Stewart County documentation that exists, or other information that would help me sort out further information from this area. I have obtained the first of the records for lands obtained by Jesse Davidson in this county. Both were obtained via bounty warrants. The first was for a warrant awarded to a man by the name of James M. Stanphill. I've no idea of a connection to this man. The second was for a warrant awarded to Sarah Davidson (was this Jesse's mother or another Sarah Davidson)? Any insight or information appreciated. Robin Garland Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.