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     Russell Lathrop Davis was born in 1926. He is the son of Richard Henry Davis and Florence Isabelle Lathrop.

     Ruth Helen Wilson is the daughter of George L. Wilson and Helen Wagley. Ruth Helen Wilson married John Oliver Davis, son of James Oliver Davis and Rozina Phebe Fairchild, on 24 May 1917 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.

     Helen Merle Davis was born on 2 April 1918 in Oakland, Alameda County, California. She was the daughter of John Oliver Davis and Ruth Helen Wilson.

     John Wilson Davis was born on 14 August 1921 in Oakland, Alameda County, California. He is the son of John Oliver Davis and Ruth Helen Wilson.

     Phebe Ruth Davis was born on 26 March 1923 in Oakland, Alameda County, California. She is the daughter of John Oliver Davis and Ruth Helen Wilson.

     Richard Carter Davis was born on 1 June 1835 in Elm Grove, Ohio County, West Virginia. He was the son of Cephas Davis and Elizabeth Robinson.

Richard Carter Davis married Margaret Keyser, daughter of Andrew Keyser and Ann Harris, on 28 February 1858 at Paris, Cook County, Illinois. Richard Carter Davis died on 5 October 1915 in Elmwood, Illinois, at age 80 years, 4 months and 4 days.
     
Richard Carter Davis appeared on the census of 1840 in the household of Cephas Davis and Elizabeth Robinson at Ohio County, West Virginia. The census listed 2 males under 5, probably Cephas (3) and Richard Carter (5); 2 males 5-10, Alibinus (10) and not sure who other boy would be; 1 male 10-15 would probably be John R (14), and the male listed 40-50 would of course be Cephas who would be about 42. The females enumerated show one under 5 and two between 5 and 10: I find none under 5 but Frances who would be 7, Rosannah who would be 8, and Sarah who would be 12. The female enumerated between 20 and 30 must be Elizabeth.¹

Richard Carter Davis appeared on the census of 9 July 1850 in the household of Elizabeth Robinson at District 44, Ohio County, Virginia. Cephas had died in 1848 and Elizabeth (46) was now the head of the household which consisted of Rosannah (18), Frances (17), Richard C. (15 and occupied as a Farmer), Cephas (12 and in school), James W. (8 and in school), and Elizabeth (5 and in school). The value of real estate owned by the family was $1500. Missing from this census due to their deaths were Sarah who died in 1840 age 12, Arthur who died at 1 in 1841, and Albinus who died in 1848 aged 18. There is also a Black gentleman, William Tutely (age 70), enumerated with the family. This is very interesting because as one may note in correspondence included with data for Albinus and Sarah, Cephas and Richard C. Davis, this must be "Black Bill" who was discussed in those letters; he was originally one of Albinus Davis' freed slaves, although he stayed on with the family until his death. And now we know his last name and his age!²

Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser appeared on the census of 13 June 1860 at Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard is listed as head of household, age 24; occupation as a farmer, with value of personal real estate at $525. Margaret who would have been 26 is listed as well as their 1 year old son, John C. Also Richard's brother John R. Davis, age 33, is listed as living with them and his occupation appears to be "peddling."³

In 1869 they bought a house and the family settled at French Grove, Peoria County, Illinois.

Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser appeared on the census of 9 July 1870 at Millbrook, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard (35) and Margaret (36) appear on this census together with their family and a couple of employees. Richard's occupation is a farmer, listing the value of his real estate at $8,000 and his personal property at $1,700. The children enumerated with the family at this time are John C. (21), Oliver (18), William (8), Elmer (6), Sarah (4), and Ann (10).

A young man named Fayle Williams (18) from Isle of Man is listed as a farm laborer, and a young woman named something like Therfson Agnes (19) born in Illinois is listed as a servant.⁴

Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser appeared on the census of 14 June 1880 at Millbrook Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard Davis (44) is listed as head of household and a farmer. Margaret Davis (46) is listed as keeping house. The children are listed thusly: John C. (21) at school; Oliver (19) works on farm; Willie (18) works on farm; Elmer (16) works on farm; Sarah (14) at home; Anna (12) at home; Gertrude (9) and Elbert (9).⁵

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Letters from Family Records, mostly regarding "Black Bill"

Rozina writes that "Richard Carter Davis often spoke of Black Bill who took care of him in his boyhood" and Sarah Carter "is mentioned in her grandfather, Richard Carter's will, dated 1782 and bequeathed nego boy William or Bill. In 1796, on returning to Maryland from Kentucky, her husband [Sarah's husband Albinus I believe is who Rozina means] in a certificate to the Tax Collector of Washington County, MD lists "Negroe Bill, aged about 19 years, which would make him about 5 years old at death of Richard Carter" [Sarah's father]. This certificate can be seen with Albinus' records.

It appears that James Oliver and Rozina Davis, obviously were researching Black Bill, and following is a bit of correspondence they received concerning Bill, among other things.

From letter of Mrs. Amanda Davis written in 1923 when she was over 90 years of age to James Oliver Davis (great grandson of Albinus Davis):

"Isaac Davis had neither brothers or sisters. He was has mother's only child.

Your great grandfather Albinus and a brother Isaac was born and raised at Hagarstown, Maryland. Isaac was a hatter by trade. He went to Baltimore a young man. Visited at my grandfather Askew's home, married my mother's oldest sister, Kezia Askew, brought her to Hagarstown, then I think they, the two, Albinus and Isaac decided to come to Virginia. Your great grandfather brought several slaves. Isaac brought one man and one woman. Albinus' slaves to be freed at his death --- Well, the slaves scattered out. Bill, I think was a small boy. Freedom was not so much to him. He often came back to the old place. Later he came back and made his home with them and after your grandfather died, he staid with your grandmother. Helped her raise the family. He never had any name but Black Bill, Mrs. D's colored man. He died at her home and she gave him a decent burial. Our folks and Askews did not bring any slaves with them. My aunt Kezia and Uncle Isaac, he was half brother to your great grandfather, they had a large family: Albert G. oldest, Hanson, Joshua, then seven girls, I know Albinus was oldest -- your great grandfather. He was dead before I was old enough to mind. Uncle Isaac and Aunt Kezia was living till I was grown."

From a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stewart [Elizabeth Jane Davis], daughter of Cephas Davis:

I can't tell you how old Black Bill was and don't remember the date of his death but it must have been in the early 50's, I was quite small, could not have been more than 10 or 11 years old. You wanted to know when the slaves were freed and by whom. Albinus Davis freed them before he died. I don't know why he freed them but Black Bill would never leave father and after Father's death he staid with Mother until his death.

NOTE: It turns out that Bill's name was William Tutely and he was born in about 1777 -- this was discovered as he was enumerated with the family on the census of 1850 -- see Albinus' daughter-in-law Elizabeth Davis or grandson Richard Carter Davis. (KSD 18 October 2006).⁶

For a wee bit of early history of Carters in the Kent Island area of Maryland, try this link to the Family History section on the Davis-Bean Trees website.

     Margaret Keyser was born on 16 April 1834 two miles from Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, on the Ohio River. She was the daughter of Andrew Keyser and Ann Harris.

Margaret Keyser married Richard Carter Davis, son of Cephas Davis and Elizabeth Robinson, on 28 February 1858 at Paris, Cook County, Illinois. Margaret Keyser died on 2 May 1911 in Elmwood, Illinois, at age 77 years and 16 days.
     

Margaret Keyser and Richard Carter Davis appeared on the census of 13 June 1860 at Brimfield Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard is listed as head of household, age 24; occupation as a farmer, with value of personal real estate at $525. Margaret who would have been 26 is listed as well as their 1 year old son, John C. Also Richard's brother John R. Davis, age 33, is listed as living with them and his occupation appears to be "peddling."¹

In 1869 they bought a house and the family settled at French Grove, Peoria County, Illinois.

Margaret Keyser and Richard Carter Davis appeared on the census of 9 July 1870 at Millbrook, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard (35) and Margaret (36) appear on this census together with their family and a couple of employees. Richard's occupation is a farmer, listing the value of his real estate at $8,000 and his personal property at $1,700. The children enumerated with the family at this time are John C. (21), Oliver (18), William (8), Elmer (6), Sarah (4), and Ann (10).

A young man named Fayle Williams (18) from Isle of Man is listed as a farm laborer, and a young woman named something like Therfson Agnes (19) born in Illinois is listed as a servant.²

Margaret Keyser and Richard Carter Davis appeared on the census of 14 June 1880 at Millbrook Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard Davis (44) is listed as head of household and a farmer. Margaret Davis (46) is listed as keeping house. The children are listed thusly: John C. (21) at school; Oliver (19) works on farm; Willie (18) works on farm; Elmer (16) works on farm; Sarah (14) at home; Anna (12) at home; Gertrude (9) and Elbert (9).³

     Elmer Ellsworth Davis was born on 28 April 1864. He was the son of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser.
     

Elmer Ellsworth Davis appeared on the census of 9 July 1870 in the household of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser at Millbrook, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard (35) and Margaret (36) appear on this census together with their family and a couple of employees. Richard's occupation is a farmer, listing the value of his real estate at $8,000 and his personal property at $1,700. The children enumerated with the family at this time are John C. (21), Oliver (18), William (8), Elmer (6), Sarah (4), and Ann (10).

A young man named Fayle Williams (18) from Isle of Man is listed as a farm laborer, and a young woman named something like Therfson Agnes (19) born in Illinois is listed as a servant.¹

Elmer Ellsworth Davis appeared on the census of 14 June 1880 in the household of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser at Millbrook Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard Davis (44) is listed as head of household and a farmer. Margaret Davis (46) is listed as keeping house. The children are listed thusly: John C. (21) at school; Oliver (19) works on farm; Willie (18) works on farm; Elmer (16) works on farm; Sarah (14) at home; Anna (12) at home; Gertrude (9) and Elbert (9).²

     William Davis married Nettie Wasson. William Davis was born on 30 May 1862. He was the son of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser.
     

William Davis appeared on the census of 9 July 1870 in the household of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser at Millbrook, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard (35) and Margaret (36) appear on this census together with their family and a couple of employees. Richard's occupation is a farmer, listing the value of his real estate at $8,000 and his personal property at $1,700. The children enumerated with the family at this time are John C. (21), Oliver (18), William (8), Elmer (6), Sarah (4), and Ann (10).

A young man named Fayle Williams (18) from Isle of Man is listed as a farm laborer, and a young woman named something like Therfson Agnes (19) born in Illinois is listed as a servant.¹

William Davis appeared on the census of 14 June 1880 in the household of Richard Carter Davis and Margaret Keyser at Millbrook Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Richard Davis (44) is listed as head of household and a farmer. Margaret Davis (46) is listed as keeping house. The children are listed thusly: John C. (21) at school; Oliver (19) works on farm; Willie (18) works on farm; Elmer (16) works on farm; Sarah (14) at home; Anna (12) at home; Gertrude (9) and Elbert (9).²