DANIEL DAVENPORT
DANIEL DAVENPORT was born (ca 1760) to William and
Mary Elizabeth Davenport of Tyrrell County, North Carolina. He
had two brothers, James and David and one sister, Mary. He married
Sarah Nichols (ca 1770) in 1786. They were blessed with five daughters,
Unice, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Nancy, and Asenath. His second marriage
was to Lucretia Comstock. The Davenport Land was divided among
the five daughters after his death. Davenports' lived on the land
over 200 years.
Daniel Davenport's occupation was listed as a farmer. He owned
1,211 acres of land. Part of it was from grants. He owned 996
acres in the DAVENPORT COMMUNITY north of SCUPPERNONG RIVER. (now
known as MT. TABOR) He raised cotton, corn, wheat, flax, and tobacco.
The homestead had oxen, mules, horses, hogs, chickens, geese,
cattle, goats and sheep. Trapping was popular both for food and
the hides. Wildlife was plentiful at that time.
There was also a DAVENPORT SCHOOL in the community. During
this time children attended school only three months out of the
year. They helped with farming the rest of the time.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1776 - 1783
State House of Representatives ordered that Daniel Davenport,
a soldier in the 5th Regiment commanded by Col. Edward Buncombe,
be discharged from his six months' Inlistment in the said Regiment,
and which expired 21st. day of November last, provided that this
order shall not prejudice any claim the officer may be able to
make appear by indifferent testimony of any Inlistment for a longer
time. -- Colonial Records.
Daniel represented the newly formed Washington County in the
N.C. Senate in 1800 and from 1803-1807. He died before taking
office in 1808 and was replaced by Thomas Johnson.
He helped survey the division line between Washington and
Tyrrell county. While in office, Daniel was instrumental in getting
many bills passed concerning Washington County. Most noteworthy
was a bill to authorize Ebenezer Pettigrew to erect a drawbridge
across Scuppernong River at the landing of Dempsy Spruill. This
bridge replaced the wooden bridge on the new road leading to the
Mill on Lake Phelps. It had to be a drawbridge so that vessels
could travel up the river to Cherry Landing with their goods.