Home of
Washington County's
first senator, Daniel Davenport
Daniel
Davenport
 aniel Davenport
was born in 1760 to William and Mary Elizabeth Davenport of
Tyrrell County, North Carolina. He had two brothers, James and
David, and one sister, Mary. In 1786 he married Sarah
Nichols and the two were blessed with five daughters, Unice,
Elizabeth, Priscilla, Nancy and Asenath.
Daniel's occupation was listed
as farmer. He owned 1,211 acres of land, part of it being from
grants. He owned 996 acres in the Davenport Community (now
known as Mt. Tabor) north of Scuppernong River. Cotton,
wheat, flax and tobacco were grown on the farm. Livestock
included oxen, mules, horses, hogs, chickens, geese, cattle,
goats and sheep. Wildlife was plentiful and animals were
hunted and trapped for both food and hides.
From the Colonial Record, we
know that the State House of Representatives ordered that Daniel
Davenport, a soldier in the 5th Regiment commanded by Col.
Edward Buncome, be discharged from his six month's inlistment
(sic) in the said regiment, and which expired 21st day of
November last, provided that this order shall not prejudice
andy claim the officer may be able to make appear indifferent
testimony of any inlistment for a longer time.
Daniel represented the newly
formed Washington County (and helped survey the lines that
carved the new county from Tyrrell County) in the North
Carolina Senate in 1800 and from 1803–1807 He died before
taking office in 1808 and was replaced by Thomas Johnson.
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 the Scuppernong River at the landing of Dempsey Spruill.
The bridge replaced the wooded bridge on the road leading to
the mill on Lake Phelps. A drawbridge was necessary so that
vessels could travel up the river to Cherry landing laden with
goods.
Daniel later married Lucretia
Comstock. After his death, the Davenport land was divided
among the five daughters. Davenports lived on the land over
200 years. |
