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Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 20/2/2022, 5:45 am

Hello, I'm trying to find more information on my GGGrandmother, Mary Jane Davis (or Davies) born in Devon (probably Tavistock) in October 1821. She emigrated to New York in August 1840 and married Friederik Probst possibly 1850? in Brooklyn NY. I would dearly love to find out who her Parents were. I live in Australia.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Peter Selley on 26/2/2022, 8:39 am, in reply to "Davis Family"

One possibility is Mary Davis of Torr in Newton near Newton Ferrers bapt Yealmpton 1822. Newton Ferrers is about 35k from Tavistock.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 26/2/2022, 8:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

Thank you Peter for your reply, it could be her, but she was definately born in October, 1821. Her Children referred to her as "Lady Mary Tavistock", but I think that was only to ad prestige to their Pedigree.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Judith on 28/2/2022, 3:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

She could have been baptised in 1822, not all babies baptised at or near birth, the ones which were likely to die or were very small more likely to be baptised quickly. Not unusual for couple to wait and have 1st one baptised with the second, or even a bulk job!! I have ancestors with 4/5 children all baptised together when no 5 has come along. Makes it all a bit harder!!
Should we be looking at Russell as a surname or is that a red herring?

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 1/3/2022, 2:24 am, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

Hello Judith, I'm not sure about the Russell Family, my Brother contacted the current Duke of Bedford some 12 years ago enquiring about Mary Jane Davis, but he emphatically said there was no record of her within the Russell Family, so I think that is a dead end. What I need to ascertain is where she is actually from, Devon or Kent, she sure is giving me a huge headache!

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Judith on 1/3/2022, 8:48 am, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

found her burial I think, together with daughter Abby Elizabeth Probst who was born 21.1.1852 died 17.2.1752 address YOnkers

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 1/3/2022, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

Hi Judith, yes that is her, she is buried in St. John's Cemetary in Yonkers NY. I would love to know where she was born, it's either Devon or Kent it seems and as I have limited resources to trace her it makes it so damned hard.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Judith on 2/3/2022, 7:57 am, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

This is a bit of a punt, found a couple married at Milton Abbott which is just outside Tavistock. William Davis married Elizabeth Percey 28.4.1818, he is a carpenter. they appear on the census in 1851 where they are aged 53 and 47 (she could have been lying about her age), he says he was born Devonport and she was born Lamerton.
Are there any grandchildren with those names?from Mary Jane's marriage.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 2/3/2022, 10:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

Hi Judith, no I don't think they are connected to Mary Jane Davis. She emigrated to NY in 1840 and married Friederik Propst (a German from Hamburg), they had 4 children Abby (died in infancy), Eustace Barron, Annette and Frederick Jnr. (my Great Grandfather). I have plenty of info on them but I just want to know where Mary Jane came from and who are her parents.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Judith on 3/3/2022, 6:29 am, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

The couple I found had a daughter Sarah (her father living with her in 1871), born 18222/23 cant find her either on the baptisms on line. There was a Weslyan chapel where they lived at Milton Abbot, records in the heritage centre in Exeter.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Deborah on 27/2/2022, 1:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

If your Mary was Lady Mary Tavistock, she would have been part of the RUSSELL family of the Duke of Bedford or Marquess of Tavistock. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Bedford
I note that your Mary was described as being born in Kent on her death registration.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Teresa on 4/4/2022, 1:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

I am looking for the Davis famile also. I have discovered the marriage record of George & Fanny, my 4 x grandparents recorded in East Stonehouse. I know where they were both born but cannot find a birth record for them with any confidence as I dont know George's parents names. I have tried the parish records on this website but the parish is not on the list.Can anyone make any suggestions. I belong to Ancestry and can't afford to join another site.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Roz Weitenberg on 28/2/2022, 12:05 am, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

Hello from Australia Deborah. Thank you for your reply, Mary Jane is really giving me the royal run-around! As far as I know she left Liverpool for New York in 1840. Do you mind if I ask you where you were able to find her Death Registration? All I've been able to find is a newspaper notification from Yonkers New York.

Re: Davis Family

Posted by Deborah on 28/2/2022, 8:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Davis Family"

I'm sorry, it wasn't her death registration but that of her son Eustace Barron PROBST in 1934 where his mother was transcribed as Mary Javis Jock, born in Tavis Jock, Kent. I didn't have the patience to go through all of the records to read the original document, but it is available on FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPJ6-GRC

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