October Ancestry Challenge 2013: Ancestor #9

http://loricrane.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/october-ancestry-challenge-2013-2/

I missed posting on Friday, so this is an attempt to catch up. 🙂

Ancestor #9

Rebecca Davidson Wilaby, my 3rd great-grandmother, was born on July 20, 1820 in Tennessee to James Davidson and Elizabeth (Gunter or Toney) Davidson. The 1880 U. S. Census states that Rebecca’s Father was born in Kentucky and her Mother was born in South Carolina.

Documentations show Rebecca Davidson married John W. Wilaby on February 3, 1839 in Guntersville, Marshall County, Alabama. John and Rebecca had ten children; 6 girls and 4 boys.

John and Rebecca Davidson Wilaby lived in Marshall County, Alabama until they passed away. Rebecca passed away on March 17, 1899 at the age of 78. John lived as a widower until he passed away on December 8, 1901 at the age of 86.

Rebecca is buried in Asbury Cemetery in Marshall County. John was probably buried in Asbury Cemetery, also, but I have no documentation on his burial.

I was lucky enough to have the help of several cousins helping in my research. The following was sent to me by one of them.

FAMILIES OF MARSHALL COUNTY

Submitter:
Jeffrey J. Lape
Cicero, NY 13039

Debra: This is taken from a book about families in Marshall Co…..Hope it helps.

Mary Wilabay (b.1855) m. David E. Beam. Her parents were John Wesley Wilabay (b.1818) and Rebecca Davidson of Bedford Co., TN. They were married in Marshall Co. on Feb 3, 1839. Their children were:
Sarah (1840-1920); Elizabeth (b.&d. 1841); Nancy Adeline (b.1842)m. James Terrell; James (1845-1905) m. Burma Wilbank; Rebecca (1847-1875)m. Jackson Tucker; Martha (1851-1880) m. John Hughes;Charles Wesley (1853-1934)m. Millie Caroline Beam; C. W. (twin to Charles b.&d. 1853); Mary (b.1855) m. David E. Beam;Isaac (1857-1921) m. Ruthie Elizabeth Lackey..

Rebecca Davidson was the dau. of James and Elizabeth Davidson of Bedford Co., TN. It is recorded that Elizabeth was Cherokee. Rebeccca’s siblings, also of Bedfrod Co., TN were Josiah, William, James Isaac, John Matilda, Unity, Edness and Elizabeth. This article states that some of Rebecca’s family also migrated to Marshall Co….possibly the whole family.

I am looking for connections to James Davidson of Beford County, Tennessee. According to a Cherokee Land Ap from 1908. Several descendants of this family listed the same information reagrding the DAVIDSONs on their applications..

James Davidson was married to either an Elizabeth Toney or Gunter. Their children include: Edness, Elizabeth, Issac, James, John, Josiah, Matilda (m.1842 Samuel Fane), Unity, William and REbecca DAVIDSON(b 1821-d 1898 Marshall County AL)who married James Wesley WILABAY in Marshall County..

It appears that Rebecca Davidson came to Marshall County AL with some other Davidson family.

Tombstone for Rebecca Wilaby

Asbury United Methodist Church, as it looks today.

DOCUMENTATIONS

1850 United States Federal Census

1860 United States Federal Census

1870 United States Federal Census

1880 United States Federal Census

Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969

Web: Alabama, Find A Grave Index, 1755-2012

Web: RootsWeb Marriage Records Index