DAVENPORT
The various recognized ways of spelling the Davenport family name have led to no little confusion, especially with the name Danforth. Although the name is derived from the town of Davenport on the banks of the river Dune is Cheshire, England, some of the variations of spelling have been Danport, Damport, Danfort, Danforth, Danford and Damford.
Most of these spelling are common in the Massachusetts colony records, printed by the state, and in the documents in the Mass. archives. In the single record of a deed given to Thomas Davenport, of Dorchester, in 1681, in vol. 12, p. 125, of the Suffolk Register of Deeds, recorded by Isaac Addington, clerk (whose adopted son and heir was his nephew Addington, afterward Judge Davenport) who must have been well acquainted with the correct spelling of the Davenport family name, the name is spelled in three several ways, Davenport, Danforth and Danfort, all within the space of six lines. This has led to confusion between the families of Thomas Davenport, of Dorchester, and Thomas Danforth, of Cambridge. In vol. ixviii, p 99, Massachusetts archives, is plainly written the name of Thomas Davenport Jr., of Dorchester, as among those who went in Captain Isaac Johnson's company in the attack on the Narragansett Fort, Dec. 19, 1675, while no Thomas Danforth appears anywhere on the list of enlisted men. On p. 194 of the same volume appears the name of Thomas Danfort, of Dorchester, as among the slain of Johnson's company, but no Danforth or Davenport. Captain Nathaniel Davenport, son of Captain Richard Davenport, was killed in the same attack. According to the Suffolk probabe record the will of Thomas Davenport Jr., of Dorchester, which was presented to the court and sworn to by its witness, Nov. 28, 1675, speaks of his "now being by the Providence of God called forth to the wars." The inventory of his estate taken Jan. 4, 1676, was sworn to in court by his brother, Charles Davenport, and mentions the clothing he had when he went into the service, besides his sword and belt. (See first generation).
The name is an ancient and honored one in England, dating from the time of William the Conqueror (1066). There is nothing known of the history of Thomas Davenport of Dorchester, prior to 1640, when he became a member of the church at Dorcester, Mass. It is supposed that he came from England with the other settlers of that town and was one of the founders.
(I) Thomas Davenport, born in England (date of coming to America unknown), was of Dorchester, Mass., where the records show that he joined the church Nov. 20, 1640. Just how much earlier he arrived in America is not shown. He was made a freeman in 1642 and constable in 1670. He died Nov. 9, 1685, leaving his widow Mary in charge of the homestead with one of his sons, John, who remained with her. She died Oct. 4, 1691.
Children:
1. Sarah, born Oct. 10, 1643; married Samuel Jones.
2. Thomas Jr., who was killed by the Indians during the Narragansett war, Dec. 19, 1675.
3. Mary, baptized Nov. 21, 1648; married Samuel Mansfield.
4. Charles, born 1651, died Feb. 1, 1719.
5. Abigail, baptized July 8, 1655.
6. Mehitable, born Dec. 14, 1656, died 1660.
7. Jonathan, see forward.
8. Ebenezer, born Feb. 26, 1661.
9. John, baptized Sept. 9, 1664.
(II) Jonathan, third son of Thomas and Mary Davenport, was born in Dorchester, Mass., March 6, 1659. About the time of his marriage he removed from Dorchester to Little Compton, Rhode Island, which was thereafter his home.
He married, Dec. 1, 1680, Hannah Warner (or Maner).
Children:
1. Thomas, born Dec. 10, 1681.
2. Jonathan, Nov. 3, 1684.
3. Hannah, Dec. 26, 1686.
4. Simeon, Dec. 27, 1688.
5. Ebenezer, Feb. 6, 1691.
6. John, Jan. 12, 1694.
7. Joseph, March 25, 1696.
8. Benjamin, see forward.
9. Sarah, Dec.10, 1700.
(III) Benjamin, youngest child and seventh son of Jonathan and Hannah Davenport, was born in Little Compton, R.I., Oct. 6, 1698, died in Spencertown, New York, 1785. In 1730 he removed from Rhode Island and settled at Spencertown, Columbia county, N.Y. He for a time lived at Andover, Conn., most likely stopping there on his way to New York.
He married, Nov. 21, 1730, Sarah Burr.
Children: Samuel, Hannah, Billa, Charles, see forward, Jonathan, Sally, Molly and Zerpiah.
(IV) Captain Charles, fourth child and third son of Benjamin and Sarah Davenport, was born April 15, 1751, died Dec. 12, 1812. He settled at Stow Square on a tract of land heavily timbered, which he cleared and improved. He became well known and one of the prominent citizens of that locality. During the revolution he served as a private in Captain John Salisbury's company, Colonel William Bradfor Whiting's regiment. He was commissioned a captain of the militia by Governor Clinton.
He married Elizabeth Taylor in 1778, and in 1798 settled in Lowville, Lewis county, N.Y., where he was one of the earliest settlers.
Children:
1. Benjamin, born Nov. 15, 1778.
2. Alexander, Oct. 25, 1780.
3. Sally, Nov. 7, 1782.
4. Charles, see forward.
5. Ira, May 9, 1787.
6. Betsey, Nov. 17, 1791.
7. Ashley, Aug. 1, 1796.
8. John, Feb. 8, 1798.
(V) Charles (2), fourth child and third son of Captain Charles (1) and Elizabeth (Taylor) Davenport, was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, New York, Oct. 23, 1783. When fourteen years of age he came with his parents to Lowville, where he was reared on the frontier farm and helped to reclaim a home from the wilderness. At one time he kept at hotel at Stow Square.
He married, May 29, 1814, Anna Cole, of Carthage, N.Y., born in Pelham, Mass., Aug. 26, 1796, died April 3, 1870, daughter of John and Sarah (Thompson) Cole, formerly of Vermont.
1. Caroline, born April 18, 1815, died Feb. 15, 1890; married July 29, 1845, Carter Blinn.
2. Harriet, born Aug. 1, 1816; married, May 31, 1853, Stephen Brigham, who died Nov. 28, 1892; Harriet died Jan. 4, 1909, the last survivor of her family.
3. Charles, 1819.
4. Ira, born Jan 19, 1820, died in Boston, Nov. 6, 1892; married Sarah Barnett.
5. Charles Duane, born Jan. 26, 1822, died Feb. 11, 1891; married March 29, 1860, Maria Arthur, born Jan. 13, 1834, died April 12, 1881, daughter of Warren Arthur.
6. Leonard Cole, see forward.
7. Margaret Thompson, born Feb. 23, 1826, died March 14, 1861; married, June 6, 1848, Henry Edwin Smith, who was born in Cheshire, Mass., Aug. 6, 1822, son of William Walker and Polly (Segreave) Smith, who settled in Lowville about 1825; Henry E. Smith was a farmer, and died in Red Lands, California, June 1901; he married (second) Mrs. Cornelia Rich Fox.
Children of Margaret T. (Davenport) Smith:
Anna Louise, born July 5, 1852. Charles Davenport, Oct. 10, 1854. Williston Henry, Oct. 23, 1856. Herbert, Sept. 5, 1860.
8. Louisa, born June 27, 1828; died Jan. 13, 1847.
9. Anna, born July 17, 1831; died same day.
(VI) Leonard Cole, sixth child and fourth son of Charles (2) and Anna (Cole) Davenport, was born in Lowville, Lewis county, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1823, died July 31, 1885. He was educated at Lowville Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar, and became one of the leading attorneys of the Lewis county bar. After the close of the civil war he made a specialty of the laws governing the granting of pensions. He was an able and skillful general practitioner, and had a large clientage as well as the confidence and respect of the community. He was a member of the Lewis County and State Bar associations, trustee of Lowville Academy, director of the Black River National Bank, memeber of Lowville Lodge, No. 134, Free and Accepted Masons, and an attendant at the Presbyterian church. Politically he was a Democrat.
He married, Dec. 29, 1857, Jerusha Lydia Avery, born in Watson, Lewis county, N.Y., March 25, 1829, daughter of Isaac and Mary Ann (Beach) Avery. Isaac Avery was born in Westfield, Mass., died in Lewis county, N.Y., Oct. 18, 1832, aged thirty-four yeas. Mary Ann (Beach) Avery was born in Litchfield, Conn., Sept. 11, 1802, married Isaac Avery, Nov. 6, 1823, died Oct. 4, 1891; she was a daughter of John and Lydia (Porter) Beach, the former of whom died May 15, 1845, aged seventy-three years, and the latter died in 1835.
Children of Isaac and Mary Ann (Beach) Avery: Irene L., born Sept. 23, 1824, died Feb. 19, 1892; Sidney J., born Sept. 24, 1827, died Jan., 1889; Jerusha Lydia, aforementioned as wife of Leonard C. Davenport.
Mary Ann (Beach) Avery married (second) March 26, 1840, Charles D. Morse.
Children of Leonard Cole and Jerusha Lydia (Avery) Davenport:
1. Anna Louise, born June 18, 1864; died Aug. 26, 1908; married Charles E. Pelton.
2. Mary Elizabeth, born June 6, 1867; married Leon S. Miller.
3. Leonard Charles, see forward.
Their eldest son died in infancy.
(VII) Leonard Charles, son of Leonard Cole, and Jerusha Lydia (Avery) Davenport, was born in Lowville, Lewis county, N.Y., March 6, 1869. He was educated at Lowville Academy, and prepared for the practice of law in the office of T. Miller Reed. He was admitted to the bar at the April term, 1891. He at once began the practice of his profession in Lowville, which he still continues (1910). He enjoys the confidence of his numerous clients, and is a leading man of the town. He is a safe counsellor and an exact, careful man of business. He has served the village as clerk for the past twelve years. He is a director of the Black River National Bank, trustee of Lowville Academy, Lowville Rural Cemetery Association, member and treasurer of the Lowville Club, and a communicant of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Democrat.
He married, June 21, 1893, Grace E. Boshart.
Children:
Elizabeth, born Oct. 11, 1900, and Charles Boshart, Jan. 26, 1904, died Jan. 4, 1907.
SECOND ENTRY:
(cont.)
(IV) Billa Davenport, son of Benjamin Davenport (q.v.) was born about 1750, and married ____ Townsend. He came from Spencertown to Lowville, N.Y. with his brother Charles, in 1798, and was among the first settlers there. He settled on a tract of heavily timbered land in what is now (1910) Stow Square. He was the first overseer of the poor in the county.
Children:
John, born Nov. 5, 1772.
Zerviah, Dec. 3, 1775.
Molly, Sept. 9, 1778, died April 9, 1782.
Weltha, Oct. 31, 1780, died March 19, 1808.
Billa, born Oct. 13, 1783 (mentioned below).
Lydia, Sept. 14, 1785, died May 29, 1794.
Ralph, Aug. 29, 1790, died May 3, 1791.
Lydia, June 6, 1793, married ____ Dickinson.
Irene, born June 20, 1795, married ____ Dickinson.
(V) Billa (2), son of Billa (1) Davenport, was born Oct. 13, 1783, and married Nancy Conyne, of Johnstown, N.Y.
Children:
1. Addison, born Sept. 2, 1809, mentioned below.
2. Peter Conyne, Oct. 1, 1811; died Feb. 7, 1814.
3. Son, Sept. 22, 1813, died at age of five weeks.
4. Irene Maria, Dec. 14, 1814; married Grandison Hargie.
5. John Townsend, Jan. 5, 1817; married Martha Hastings.
6. William H., July 14, 1820; married Louisa Cheney.
7. Platt Wakeman, Sept. 17, 1822; married (first) Emily Rogers; (second) Amelia Potter.
8. Catherine, July 15, 1824.
9. David P., June 15, 1826; deceased.
10. Adaline M., May 11, 1829; deceased.
11. Lydia Zerviah, Sept. 12, 1831.
(VI) Addison, son of Billa (2) Davenport, was born Sept. 31, 1809, in Lowville, and married, Nov. 17, 1847, Hester Ann, daughter of Jacob Ward, of St. Lawrence county, N.Y. She was born Feb. 5, 1817, and died July 4, 1904. She married (second) April 25, 1864, R. D. Williams.
Addison Davenport was educated in the common schools, took up farming as an occupation, and succeeded to the homestead, which had been cleared and improved by his father and grandfather.
In politics he was an old-time Whig. He died April 19, 1860.
Children:
1. Addison Clark, born June 17, 1849, mentioned below.
2. Zerviah Lydia, April 16, 1852; married (first) Oscar Nelson, Jan. 10, 1871; child: Anna Eugenia, born Jan. 25, 1872; he married (second) Wayne [sic?] Stewart, Feb. 20, 1884; child: Mayme, born Aug. 14, 1886; resides at Evans Mills, Jefferson county, N.Y.
3. Amos Jacob, Aug. 31, 1853; died Oct. 27, 1869.
4. Ashley Ward, born Feb. 1, 1856.
5. Hester Ann, Aug. 31, 1857; died April 4, 1858.
(VII) Addison Clark, son of Addison Davenport, was born June 17, 1849, and was brought up on the home farm. He was educated in the commons schools and Lowville Academy. After leaving school he went west (1871) to Nevada, Montana, where he remained until 1875. He then returned to Lowville, and has since been engaged in agriculture on the old homestead. He makes a specialty of dairy farming, in which he has been highly successful.
He married, Feb. 8, 1882, Ella A., daughter of William D. and Charlotte Elizabeth (Lewis) Wallace. She was born in Lowville, Oct. 15, 1850. Her father, William D. Wallace, was born in Lowville, son of Lewis Wallace, of an old Lewis county family.
Mr. Davenport is a member of Lowville Lodge, No. 134, F. and A.M., of which he is past master; also of the Independent Order of Foresters, a charter member, and the first chief ranger. He and his wife are members of the Patrons of Husbandry.
In politics he is a Democrat.
(VII) Ashley Ward, son of Addison Davenport, was born Feb. 1, 1856, and was educated in the Lowville Academy. After leaving school he became a farmer in Martinsburg. At the end of ten years he gave up farming for the mercantile business in Lowville; later he went into the produce business, which he has since followed.
In politics he is independent; in religion, an Episcopalian.
He married (first), Jan. 16, 1878, Anna, daughter of Solon Gordon, of Lowville. She died in 1880, and he married (second), Feb. 8, 1887, Sarah E., daughter of William Pollard, of Utica, N.Y.