The first known Davenport in our line is John Davenport who married
Melinda McCarty, 25 December 1845 in Madison (Jefferson County) Indiana. Melinda
was a daughter of William McCarty and Nancy Fields who married 18 March 1811 in
Pulaski County, Kentucky.
The 1827 tax list for Jefferson County, Indiana, Saluda Township, shows a
James Davenport with one horse and paying a tax of 62 ½ cents, 37 1/2 cents-
being a state tax and 25 cents- being a county tax.
The 1830 Federal census for Jefferson County, Indiana shows:
|
James Davenport |
|
2 |
males |
5-10 |
1 |
female |
30-40 |
|
1 |
male |
20-30 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
male |
40-50 |
|
|
|
There is no Davenport in Jefferson County in 1840 census. However, there is a
marriage for Julia Ann Davenport to William McColly on 2 October 1838 in
Jefferson County.
The 1850 Jefferson County, Indiana census, North Madison;
|
John Davenport 29 no trade listed born Ky |
|
Melinda |
" |
25 |
Ind. |
|
Martha J |
" |
2 |
Ind. |
|
Mary |
" |
49 |
Ky |
The 1860 Census for Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana, Third Ward:
|
John Davenport 35 engineer Ky |
|
Melinda |
" |
34 |
Ind. |
|
Martha J |
" |
12 |
Ind. |
|
*William |
" |
10 |
Ind. |
|
John |
" |
8 |
Ind. |
|
Samuel |
" |
3 |
Ind. |
|
Belle |
" |
7/12 |
Ind. |
John and Melinda had one more child, Sarah, born in 1863 or 1864. John
was apparently dead by 1870. Melinda remained in Indianapolis where others of
her family had also moved. She died there in 1893.
The name is sometimes found as “Devenport”. The census never indicates that
John could not read or write…it does say Melinda could not. The children were
always in school and tended to enter into trade, mechanical type employment.
This aptitude has come down in the family.
My line is William Davenport who died in Indianapolis of consumption. He had
one son, my grandfather, who died in Oregon, as did my father. I live in Ct. and
have three children. I have one son who lives in Calif.
