From what I have been able to determine, I believe these letters were written by Joseph Madison Davis to (#1) his IN-LAWS in Anson County, North Carolina, Burrell S. Lowthorp and wife Francis, and the 2nd one was to his sister-in-law Ellen Lowthorp who married Edmund Horn.
Burrell Lowthorp's 1st wife died in the 1850's and then he married Francis "Fanny" ____ before 1860. His children from his 1st wife were: Rosean Lowthorp (md. Isaac Davis), Eliza Ellen Lowthorp (md. Edmund Horn), Sarah Minerva Lowthorp (md. Joseph M. Davis), Stacy Jane Lowthorp (md. Martin M. Bowers).
The 1870 census of Henderson Co, TN shows
Joseph M. Davis-28 b.NC with son
Burrill-3, b.TN. Apparently his wife
Sarah Minerva Lowthorp Davis had died between 1867-1870. It would appear that his son was named
Burrell Andrew Davis in honor of both of his grandfathers,
Burrell Lowthorp and
Andrew Jackson Davis.
The
Isaac mentioned in the letters is more than likely
Joseph's brother
Isaac Davis who also lived in Henderson Co, TN in 1870. He married
Rosean/Rosanna Lowthorp.
Joseph and
Isaac were just two of the 14 children of
Andrew Jackson Davis and his 2 wives: 1)
Pruella Newsome, 2)
Eliza Ellen Griffin.
Andrew Jackson Davis and
Pruella were in Union Co, NC in 1850. He and 2nd wife were in Alexander Co, NC in 1860 and then in Henderson Co, TN in 1870. It has been suggested that
Andrew Jackson Davis was the "
Pap" mentioned in the letter that was killed by the Ku Klux Klan. One of his descendants says that he was killed by a stray bullet during a duel, so it's possible that the Ku Klux was after someone else and accidentally shot him.
Any additional information on these families would be appreciated - Send me an email!