ALVIS, David, of Hanover and other counties in Virginia

David Alvis was born about 1714 in Hanover Co VA, the son of George Alvis[1] and his third wife, Mary. He died before 4 Oct 1787[2] in Goochland Co VA. Sometime, possibly ca 1738, he married Elizabeth Stanley, whom this writer assumes to have been his only wife.

Elizabeth was born, say, about 1719, the oldest daughter of John Stanley and his first wife, Alice Ballard, and died probably after 11 Nov 1796.[3]

            David Alvis was a minor at the time of his father’s death. His “estate” refers to his property during this time. This document proves his relationship to George Alvis (probably the immigrant) and gives clues to the identity of his mother. I left the original punctuation and spellings but expanded unusual abbreviations to make this more legible.[4]

Estate of David Alvis in the hands of David Crenshaw his late guardian.

Sept. 2  23 yds. cloth  3/4 yd check 1.6; 1 Ell Brown Linen making a vest .3.9; Thread and Buttons, writing paper .2.10; 1 days attendance at the Orphans Court .5; man, horses to remove ye negros 7.6;

Dec. 1  27 Ells brown linen, 23 yds. plain .4.9

6th  8 pr. shoes, 101/2 yds cotton 3.8.8;

Jan. 4  3 old grubbing hoes 1 ax, 3 baggs .6.9; making 7 shirts, 7 new shirts .14; 1/4 ell thread making 7 pr. cotton stockings .14; 2 Ells Garlix, 5 yards Check linen 16.3; making 2 shirts, 400 lbs. pork 2.8; 1 iron wedge, 1 Day to carry the sick Negros .7; 1 day to meet Fras. James to take ye orphan necessarys;

11 Feb.  3 quarts of Rum, 1 qt Molasses, 41/2 Sugar; 3/4 Ells brown linen; curing his foot doses Tartar Emetir 1.1.4; altering a coat .11; a man brought to carry iron to the Smith .3;

March 1  making 7 Shirts 17.3; hilling hoes, making 4 pr cam britches .15; making 3 petticoats; 2 bushels salt .3; 1/2 Bushel Beans, 1 pr. Shoes 6.6; 2 pair stockings, 1 penknife 6.6; 500 Pins; 1 Sugar 10 lb. Cask; paid the midwife 1.2. 1; 1 pr. pottthooks, 1 meal sifter, 1 pot hook 7.8; 1 day to carry the Negros clothes, 1 Bagg 6.6; 22 lb. Beef, pork, peak 6.9; 1/2 bushel beans, making a linen frock 5.6; 1 Ditto a Vest, 2 pr. Breeches .8; making a frock 5; Bombays 3 ells Linen 13.8 pork salt, 1 spoon 2.6; hoe, tub, pail .18; 2 pr. linen britches 3.1.6; 2 handkerchiefs, 1 silk Ditto .4; 1/4 yd. muslin, 41/2 yds. Druget 19.6; 2 _____, Buttons and Mohair 9.4;

June 7  6 pounds of bacon, 41/2 Ells Doulas 1.3; making 2 Dowlas shirts .3; to Ditto a linen coat .5; thread felt hatt .6; 22 Ells brown Linen 1.5.8; 5 knives 2 pr mans shoes .12.6; 141/2 Bacon 1.5.8; 3 months schooling 8/; 6 pr. shoes 1. 13; 10 yds. cotton making 6 shirts 1.6.4; ___ Ells Dowlas, 7/8 Ells Garlix .12.81/2; shirts 1.8; making a womans suit 3; 2 pecks corn 2.17.8; 3 pecks salt, 31/2 barrels Ditto 1.6.9; 28 lbs. bacon; building a house 2.4.4; Rent of a plantation 600; 6 yds Cotton, making of a suit 16. 6; to making 2 pr stockings and 2 shirts .2; 16 barrels 1 bushel 3 pecks corn 5.4.10; carting 7 hogsheads Tobacco 2.16; 14 lbs. pork .2.4; 2 dates to see the Tobacco inspector .10; to carry to see the Commissioner .5; the overseers share 8811/2; the Negroes eating 25 barrels 4.7.6; 34 Coopers Nails .6; 2 dates to see the Commissioner .5; To Rolling part of a hogshead of Tobacco .2; County Levy 65; Copy Alvis Will 30; to Parish Leavy 175; Registering 2 births and 1 death 9; 1 Barrel of Corn given credit for 3.6; To his Trouble in selling the Tobacco bringing the necessarys for the orphan and laying out the money above 12 months 2.15; A Lawyer fee to attend the audit and business in Court 1.6; Crop of Tobacco Total 6168; 87 Barrels corn 15.6; abate ment on 12 pr. shoes .12; Ditto for carrying cloths 2.6; Ballance of Tobacco 36.15; Ballance to David Crenshaw 10.6

March 21 1733 [This was March 21 1734 according to our calendar. New Year's Day at that time was March 25.] To estate of Mary Alvis  May 25th 1732 [Is this the date of her death?]

one gallon of Rum, 1 sheet, 15; a cart and team to move the goods 10. a day to fetch her clothes, 1 day to Court Administration .5; 1 day of a man and horse to fetch her corn .3; 1 day to get the praisers .3; 2 quarts of rum for the praiser 2.6; 1 days tendance of the priser; 1 day to Court to return the Inventory .5; Cash pd. Tho. Johnson, John Williamson for Somon the Jury .5; Cash pd. the Coroner; cash pd. James Philips .19; cash pd. John Utley; Cash pd. Michael Holland  .8; Cash pd. James Filips; cash pd. John Bowie .10; Cash pd. Richard Starmer (?) to redeem a ring .13.1; cash pd. James Filips .18; Clerks fee for administration Tobacco 1.5; Clerks fee copy Alvis will 30 Tobacco .5; cash to Mr. Thos. Prosser 1.15; cash pd. John Bowie 1.5.0; the administration fee at 5 per cent 1.15; a fee Mr. Walker .15

May 25th 1732  By the appraisement 22.7.6; by Thomas Grant 7.6; 2 lbs of picked cotton 2.6; 11/2 lbs. sugar .1; 2 old casks without hogshead .2; James Filips for rent .7; by Cash for a Ring sold .17.6; cash of Mr. Thos. Proser .15;

_____ 25.1.0

By wheat 12 bushels reaping and thrashing .16

Ballance due to Mary Alvis 10.15

In obedience to the order wee the subscribers met Michael Holland and being absent the parties viz. David Crenshaw late guardian of David Alvis Infant and Edward Harris his present Guardian consented that we should settle all account to the Estate of said Orphan and accordingly wee find to be due from sd. orphans Estate unto David Crenshaw Ten pounds 6 pence 3 farthings current money and that the said parties did agree that wee should settle an account hereunto annexed to the estate of Mary Alves deceased. Wee find to be due from David Crenshaw administrator of said Mary unto David Alves Orphan Ten pounds-15 sterling.

David Chiswell   Richard Cough

Oct 4 1734 Settlement of the Estate of David Alvis Orphan of George Alves dec’d was recorded.

            David’s sons are assumed to be the Alvis men who appear from 1761 in the Virginia records, specifically those who are listed in Hanover and Goochland Co VA tax lists. These include a David, a George (for his father), and a John (presumably for Elizabeth Stanley’s father). The names Shadrach and Ashley occur in Elizabeth Stanley’s family, as well as the obvious Stanley. No source has been noted for the name Forester; youngest sons Zachariah and Elijah may relate to religious interests in the family (or not).

            It is not at this time known what happened to the estate of David Alvis, who as a child was wealthy. By a few years after his presumed marriage, this was not the case. From 1742, a David Alvis was frequently insolvent.[5]

            From surety data, it seems Elijah, Zachariah, David, Shadrach and Ashley were brothers, almost certainly sons of this elder David. Many Alvis families used all five of these given names; for example, the early TN family mentioned above had sons with four of the names. Other possible brothers were George, John, Stanley, Forester.[6]

            Quite a few of the following family groups are speculative, but I believe them to be fairly reliable. The children of David Alvis, probably all by his wife, Elizabeth Stanley were:

1. John ALVIS Sr. John was born say in 1742 and died in VA in 1805-10. John had the following possible children:

                        i.            Jesse (1757-1841)

                        ii.            Nancy (1766-)

                        iii.            Lucy (1768-). She married Reuben Cosby 15 Sep 1788 in Goochland Co VA, that is, three months before another Lucy married James Ryan.

                        iv.            Matthew (1772->1795)

                        v.            Robert (1765-)

                        vi.            John Jr (1775-1847)

                        vii.            Mary Ann (ca1770-1840)

                        viii.            Charles Dabney (1777-1861)

                        ix.            David (~1780-1840)

2. George ALVIS. George was born say in 1744 and died in Goochland Co VA, before 1806; he had the following children:

                        i.            David (~1770->1840)

                        ii.            Henry (1775-<1830)

                        iii.            Mary (1782-)

                        iv.            Elizabeth (1786-)

                        v.            Matthew (1795-)

3. Forester ALVIS. Forester was born say in 1746 and died in Chesterfield Co VA, before 1805; his wife was Ann –?–. They had the following children:

                        i.            James (1775-<1830)

                        ii.            Woodford (1775-1830)

                        iii.            (1-4 others) (<1782-)

                        iv.            Joshua (1784-1854)

                        v.            Zephaniah (1780-1840)

                        vi.            Barbara (1785-)

                        vii.            Marinda (1790-)

                        viii.            Edmund Jordan (1792-1821)

                        ix.            Abimelech (ca1794-1814)

4. David ALVIS. David was born say in 1748 and died probably in Buckingham Co VA, before 1814. On 20 Aug 1768, he first married Mary CAUTHON, daughter of John CAWTHON & Agnes HARRIS, in Goochland Co VA. They had the following proposed children:

                        i.            Henry Harris (1769-<1854)

                        ii.            Agnes (1775-)

                        iii.            Elizabeth/Betsy (1777-)

                        iv.            David (ca1790-1848)

                        v.            Zachariah C (1783-1868)

                        vi.            Mary (1784-)

                        vii.            Moses (1790-)

On 27 Dec 1784 when David was 36, he married a second wife in Goochland Co VA; the marriage bond does not give her name, but she may have been Carolina.

5. Ashley ALVIS. Ashley was born say in 1750 and died in Sumner Co TN, after 29 Aug 1808. On 17 Dec 1772, he first married Elizabeth KNOLLING in Goochland Co VA. They had the following children:

                        i.            Edmund (1778-1864)

                        ii.            John (1780-)

                        iii.            Abraham (1781-1854)

                        iv.            Charles (1780-)

                        v.            Shadrach (~1788->1860)

About 1790 when Ashley was 40, he second married Martha [NOWLIN?]. Martha died in 1815 in Sumner Co TN. They had the following children:

                        i.            Ashley (1791-1883)

                        ii.            Nancy (1793-)

                        iii.            Elizabeth (<1795-)

                        iv.            Mary (1796-)

                        v.            Elijah (1801-)

6. Shadrach ALVIS. Shadrach was born say in 1752 and died in Goochland Co VA, in 1806. On 23 Sep 1773, he first married Nancy ADDISON in Goochland Co VA. Nancy died after 21 Aug 1780 in Goochland Co VA. They had the following children:

                        i.            Elizabeth (1774-)

                        ii.            Nancy (1775-)

                        iii.            Meredith (1777-)

On 27 Dec 1784 when Shadrach was 32, he second married Judith HANCOCK, daughter of Major HANCOCK & Ann THOMAS, in Goochland Co VA. Born on 17 May 1768. Judith died in Goochland Co VA, on 16 May 1856; she was 87. They had the following children:

                        i.            Mary/Polly (1785-)

                        ii.            Sarah (1786-)

                        iii.            Martha/Patsie (1791-)

                        iv.            (daughter)

                        v.            Major (1792-)

                        vi.            Robert (1798-1878)

                        vii.            Henry Franklin (1804-1861)

                        viii.            Susannah (1800-)

7. Stanley ALVIS. Stanley was born say in 1756 and died in VA after 1806. About 1780 when Stanley was 26, he probably married a woman named Rhoda. They probably had the following children:

                        i.            Walter (1780-<1831)

                        ii.            Thomas Spencer (~1783-)

                        iii.            Stephen (1797-)

                        iv.            Sarah (1799-)

                        v.            Peter Meredith (ca1794-1849)

8. Elijah ALVIS. Elijah was born say in 1758 and died in Goochland Co VA, in Oct 1822. On 15 Oct 1784, he married Elizabeth CLARKE in Goochland Co VA. Born in 1767 in VA. Elizabeth died in Goochland Co VA, about 16 Feb 1846; she was 79. They had the following children:

                        i.            David (~1785->1850)

                        ii.            Mary (1786-)

                        iii.            Stanley (1789-1850)

                        iv.            Nancy (1790-1860)

                        v.            William E (1793-1863)

                        vi.            Shadrach “Sr” (~1794-<1845)

                        vii.            Jane (1797->1850)

                        viii.            Ashley (1802-~1873)

                        ix.            Elizabeth (1804->1846)

9. Zachariah ALVIS. Zachariah was born in 1761 and died in Goochland Co VA, after 1833. On 15 Dec 1789, he married Elizabeth WEBSTER, daughter of David WEBSTER & Judith CARTER, in Goochland Co VA. They had the following children:

                        i.            Shadrach “Jr” (~1795-)

                        ii.            (daughter)

                        iii.            Woodson (1790-1822)

                        iv.            William Woodson (1803-1856)

                        v.            Charles (~1800-<1842)

                        vi.            Sarah (1800-)

                        vii.            Elijah (~1817-)

                        viii.            John W Sr (1817-1878)

                        ix.            Mary (1817-)

10. Lucy ALVIS. Lucy married James Ryan 11 Dec 1788 in Goochland Co VA. Since John Alvis was surety at her marriage and Zachariah Alvis was surety at the possible second marriage of James Ryan, 19 Oct 1795, Lucy may have been a daughter of the first David Alvis.

© 2009, Kathy Alvis Patterson

---

[1] George Alvis (or Alves) originally came to America sometime before 1682 (George m. bef. 1682, Alice (—) Harris, wid. of Maj. William. Henrico Orphans’ Court, 1 Feb 1682), but returned to Great Britain ca 1710 (the St. Paul’s Parish Vestry Book shows clearly that he was in Great Britain in 1711). He came back to America in 1712: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Vol. 1, Gale Research: ALVIS, George, n.a. Boston, Mass., 1712. Boyer, Ship Passenger Lists, National and New England, p. 178 with three servants. George’s wife Alice was living in 1700, but may have died before George’s trip to Great Britain. She does not appear on his entry at Boston Harbor in 1712, although three servants were listed. He probably remarried about 1713 or later, and died in 1734 leaving one minor son, under 16, named David. If David was born in, say, 1714, his father would have been about 60 or 70.

[2] Hanover County VA Deeds 1783-1792, p. 53: p. 251 Rec’d of William Thomson of Hanover one mare, 1 cow & calf, 5 Barrels of corn & 5 bushels of wheat which I acknowledge as full compensation for my third part of the tract of land sold by my late husband David Alvis of Hanover Co to Moses Harris. Elizabeth (X) Alvis, Wit: John Norvell, Wm. Hendrick, John Norvell Junr. 4 Oct 1787 proved by oath of John Norvell.

[3] If she was the Elizabeth Alvis who was deposed in 1796 concerning Forester’s wages, she was still living in that year and likely was Forester’s mother.

[4] Hanover Co VA Court Records 1733-35, pp. 35-36, page 123-126 of the original record book.

[5] Amelia Co VA 1742-5; insolvent 1746 (Amelia Co order book, p 38); witness Louisa Co 1761; Goochland Co tax list: 1785, and possibly other years, indistinguishable from his son and several grandsons named David.

[6] See my post on this blog, “The Importance of Naming Patterns in Determining Early Alvis Families,” http://alvispat.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/the-importance-of-naming-patterns-in-determining-early-alvis-families/.