This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jlisle Surnames: Davidson, Brevard Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.davidson/1222.1237.1238.1.1.1.3.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi, I have been studying the Iredell and Mecklenburg Davidson families for many years. There is no issue more contentious that the relationship between the family of Maj. John Davidson of Rural Hill and Gen. William Lee Davidson of Iredell. The problem is that 19th and early 20th century histories suggest they were cousins. Those histories seem to be based on family letters that date from a time and culture when cousin meant any sort of relationship. Maj. John and Gen. WLD defintiely had several family relationships based on Gen WLD's wife Mary Brevard. The issue is "Was there a Davidson relationship?" I have not found one definitive piece of evidence in years of looking that Robert Davidson was related to John and George Davidson of Iredell county, although it seems very likely. Correspondingly, no paper trail evidence also is known that shows that Samuel Davidson of Beverly Manor and father of Col. Wm. Davidson of Buncombe County was related to John Davidson of Beverly Manor and father of Major Wm. Davidson of Swannanoa and uncle of Gen. William Lee Davidson. However, DNA testing has proven they are related. We suspect they were brothers but we have no formal evidence. I, and several other Davidson family researchers, consider that the DNA testing a Robert Davidson descendant is one of the most important tasks for the Davidson DNA project because it will clear up, once and for all, one of the major controversies in Davidson family genealogy. On a side note, I believe George, John, and Samuel to have been brothers because the first known son of each of them is named George. By Scot naming tradition, this would indicate that their father was named George. Based on the suspected marriage dates for each of these three, John would be the oldest. We normally see his birth date reported as about 1709. That is actually the latest likely date for his birth. I suspect that "about 1700" would be more reasonable given that his first son was born in 1728. Robert Davidson's first and only son was named John. This would indicate that his father was likely named John. Based on the birth date of his son John in 1735, Robert was likely born 1705-1710. I welcome comments and corrections. I would also welcome a male Davidson descendant of Maj. John Davidson to agree to a DNA test. John Lisle Nashua, NH http://johnlisle.org/davidson/tng 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.