Raleigh "Rollo" Davis

Ancestry DNA Tree: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/101792086/person/4...

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"Rollo" Raleigh Montgomery Davis was the brother of the John Davis killed at the Alamo and he married Rachel Baker Clements whose brother Issac Baker also died there.

John Baker (brother-in-law of Rollo) kept a leather bound journal that was the last I heard in the possession of the Eckols family, his second wife was Sarah E. Eckols. His brother Isaac G. Baker died at the Alamo in 1836. His sister Rachael was first married to J. D. Clements, who executed the estates of Isaac Baker and Moses Baker. Rachael had children with J.D. Clements, who coming from Illinois, was already married and not divorced from his first wife. After J. D. Clements' death Rachael married Rollo Montgomery (Raleigh) Davis and had son Joel Hamilton Davis. Rachael died the same day Hamp as he was known was born. Rachael and J.D. Clements had children of their marriage and they stayed with Rollo Davis for a while. After Rachael died, Rollo Davis married Rachael's sister Margaret Baker, who had been married previously to a Nichols. Margaret had one daughter from her marriage to Nichols. At one time Rollo and Margaret had Rachael's children from her marriage with J.D. Clements and Margaret's daughter from her marriage to Nichols marriage living with them. Margaret and Rollo had children Parazade Elizabeth, Josephine Maria, Isaac Nathaniel, Amanda and Ann them being twins. Rollo was born in Kentucky as was his brother John Davis who also died at the Alamo, John also had a twin brother in Kentucky.

R M Davis received compensation for his Republic of Texas military services during 1842. Here is the history of the campaigns he served in:

Texas had only been a Republic for 6 short years and Mexico still did not recognize the new Republic as a Sovereign Country. During the spring and summer of 1842, a great interest was felt throughout the Republic for the annexation of Texas to the United States, and a plea was urged that the war with Mexico was about at an end. The Mexican authorities, of course, threw every obstacle in the way of this union that was in their power, and learning that this plea was made, sent out the expedition alluded to under General Woll. Their expressed intention was to march through the territory; but their real intention was to make a raid, and thus delay, and if possible thwart annexation, hoping in the end to induce Texas to submit to Mexican rule. On the eleventh of September 1842, a Mexican force, under General Woll, about thirteen hundred strong, captured the city of San Antonio, making hostile demonstrations towards other points farther east.

R M Davis participated in the Vasquez and Walls Campaigns in 1842.

The Vasquez Campaign which occurred in March was similar in nature to the Woll's expedition but with less fanfare. General Vasquez did not encounter any major forces by the Texans and was back across the border within a short time of capturing San Antonio.

R M Davis participated in the ousting of the Mexican forces commanded by Gen. Vasquez who had overrun San Antonio in the Spring of 1842 as well as the Walling Campaign in the fall of 1842. The Mexican General, Adrian Woll, with 8 hundred or a thousand Regulars Cavalry & Infantry 2 small pieces of Artillery captured San Antonio and then later attack a small force of Texans, about 200 men outside of San Antonio in what has come to be called the Battle of of Salado.

http://jack0204.tripod.com/gen/Heskew/battle_of_hondo_texas_1842.htm

R. M. Davis was wounded while fighting in the Battle of Salado and permanently disabled. The following quote about the Battle of Salado comes from the "The Journal of James Wilson Nichols 1820-1887":

"After rideing around a while and found [that] the Mexican army had scedadled and left us masters [of the] situation we went back to camp and reported our [discov]eries. I supose thare was a half dozen squads went [to bring] in the dead of Dawsons massacree, frying out greese [to make] lamps of their frying pans with the shirtsleeves [cut out to use] for wicks. The boddy of Jett was braught up [to the camp] and Wm. Hesskew taken charge of the boddy a[s they both had wor]ked on the same ranch togeather. Our w[unreadable] or and the men had satisfide their longin [unreadable] tasted nothing sence early morn s[??] silent slumber and nothing c[???] pawing and snorting of the impatiant and [???] horses. The next morning at roll call it was asser[tained] that our loss was one killed, Jett, and eight wound[ed], Simmonds in lower part of bowells, Simon Cockrell in shoulder, Creed Taylor in shoulder, Roller Davis in arm, Jesse Zumalt in shoulder, John Law in thigh, Sam Callaghan through both hips, Calvin S. Turner slight temple. These all recovered except Callaghan. He was tak[en] to Seguin and in a few days died."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Salado_Creek_%281842%29

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qfs01

http://jack0204.tripod.com/gen/Heskew/battle_salado_creek_1842.html

Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002

about Rollo M. Davis

Name: Rollo M. Davis

Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1846

Spouse: Rachael Clements (maiden name Baker) (Rollo M. Davis first wife and mother of Joel Hamilton Davis)

Marriage County: Gonzales

Marriage State: Texas

Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1310949

Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002

about Rollo M. Davis

Name: Rollo M. Davis

Marriage Date: 7 Jul 1847

Spouse: Mrs. Margaret Nicholas (2nd wife, a sister of Rachael Brown Davis and the Step-Mother of Joel Hamilton Davis)

Marriage County: Guadalupe

Marriage State: Texas

Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1035072 item 2-4

Texas Census, 1820-90

about Rollo M. Davis

Name: Rollo M. Davis

State: TX

County: Gonzales County

Township: Guadalupe River Ss

Year: 1850

Page: 524

Database: TX 1850 Slave Schedule

1850 United States Federal Census

about Rollo M Davis

Name: Rollo M Davis

Age: 38

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1812

Birth Place: Kentucky

Gender: Male

Home in 1850(City,County,State): Guadalupe River, Gonzales, Texas

Household Members:

Name Age

Alexander Clemons 12

Augustus Clemons 6

I B Clemons 9

Joseph Clemons 6

Joel Davis 3

Margarett Davis 34

Parazade Davis 0

Rollo M Davis 38

Edmund G Gay 31

Louisa Nieles 5

Joint Resolution for the relief of Christopher Troute and R. M. DAVIS.

Whereas, Christopher Troute and R. M. DAVIS, have been wounded in fighting the battles of Texas, and thereby permanently disabled: therefore,

Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the Commissioner of the General Land Office be. and he is hereby authorized and required, to issue to Christopher Troute and R. M. DAVIS, a certificate for one league of land, each: to be located on any of the vacant and unappropriated lands in this State, and upon the return of the field-notes, to issue patents for the same, as in other cases provided by law.

Sec. 2. Be it further resolved. That this joint resolution take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved. February 5, 1850.

For pensions to Henry Tierwester, James M. Day, ROLLA M. DAVIS, James W. Nichols, John B. Thacker, David Cole, Michael Short, Thomas Barnet, Thomas Norris, David Webb and Joana Navarro Allsbery, each $100 annually, to be paid semi-annually to the pensioner in person, or his legally authorized Attorney. Also, for Henry M. Smith, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250 00) annually, to be paid semi-annually to the Pensioner in person, or his duly authorized Attorney.

Approved February 15, 1858.

Source: The Laws of Texas 1822 - 1897

1860 United States Federal Census

about Rolla Davis

Name: Rolla Davis

Age in 1860: 49

Birth Year: abt 1811

Birthplace: Kentucky

Home in 1860: Gonzales, Texas

Gender: Male

Post Office: Belmont

Household Members:

Name Age

Rolla Davis 49

M D Davis 34

Louisa Davis 15

Hamelton Davis 12

P E Daves 9

Joe M Daves 8

Nathaniel Daves 6

Amanda Daves 4

Ann Prins

Texas Land Title Abstracts

about R. M. Davis

Grantee: Whitaker Crabtree

Certificate: 40

Patentee: R. M. Davis

Patent Date: 18 Apr 1861

Acres: 480

Adjoining County: Kaufman

District: Nacogdoches

County: Rockwall

File: 3409

Patent #: 437

Patent Volume: 32

Class: Nac. 3rd

Adjoining Acres: 100

Texas Land Title Abstracts

about R. M. Davis

Grantee: R. M. Davis

Certificate: 1474/1573

Patentee: R. M. Davis

Patent Date: 24 Jan 1863

Acres: 4428.40

District: Fannin

County: Montague

File: 1212

Patent #: 142

Patent Volume: 17

Class: Fan. 1st.

1870 United States Federal Census

about Raleigh M Davis

Name: Raleigh M Davis

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1807

Age in 1870: 63

Birthplace: Mississippi

Home in 1870: Belmont, Gonzales, Texas

Race: White, Listed as Mulatto on the actual census

Gender: Male

Post Office: Belmont

Household Members:

Name Age

Raleigh M Davis 63

Margarett Davis 40

James H Davis 21 (probably our Joel Hamilton Davis)

Parsade Davis 19

Joe Maria Davis 17

Isaac Davis 16

Ann Davis 14

Nannie Davis 14

Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 about Raleigh M Davis

Name: Raleigh M Davis Locality: Belmont Precinct 2 County: Gonzales State: Texas Enumeration Date: 9 Jul 1870 Schedule Type: Agriculture

1880 United States Federal Census

about Rolla Davis

Name: Rolla Davis

Home in 1880: Precinct 2, Blanco, Texas

Age: 68

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1812

Birthplace: Kentucky

Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)

Spouse's Name: Margaret

Father's birthplace: Virginia

Mother's birthplace: Kentucky

Occupation: Farmer

Marital Status: Married

Race: White

Gender: Male

Household Members:

Name Age

Rolla Davis 68

Margaret Davis 58

Ann Davis 24

Texas Land Title Abstracts

about R. M. Davis

Grantee: R. M. Davis

Patentee: R. M. Davis

Patent Date: 12 Feb 1887

Acres: 160

District: Travis

County: Hays

File: 1521

Survey/Blk/Tsp: 496

Patent #: 298

Patent Volume: 19

Class: Travis Pre.

ROLLO MONTGOMERY (RALEIGH) DAVIS was born in 1812 In Ohio county Kentucky. Who married Margaret Baker, from this union they had children Parazade Elizabeth, Josephine Marie, Isaac Nathaniel, Amanda and Ann ( the twins) Rollo also had son JOEL HAMILTON DAVIS from a previous marriage to Margarets sister, RACHAEL BAKER. Isaac Nathaniel was married several times, the last being to Ida Bell Clark, of this union they had my father in law, James Monroe Davis who married Rosalie Stafford and had 2 daughters and one son of their marriage. Dad, James Monroe could sit for hours and tell the stories that were told to him by his father Isaac Nathaniel, he being the youngest. He told of the stories of his grandfather ROLLO and the wars in which he fought. He once told of the time that his grandfather and Tom Hancock had been captured by the Mexicans , they were forced to pick beans everyday, if they got a black bean they were killed, if they picked a white bean, they got to live another day. Tom Hancock managed to pick their locks and together they escaped, they came to a small creek or body of water and they were so thirsty, Tom Hancock, rolled down the bank into the stream, ROLLO cautious of all the noise went further down to a spot where he could get to the water and drink. Tom Hancock came walking down the creek to where ROLLO was. They came to a town, ROLLO said they should go around, but Tom Hancock being more daring, said they should go through. Well, they parted ways and ROLLO went back to fight. Years later on a street corner in San Antonio, they ran into each other again. Tom Hancock reiterated to ROLLO that he was right about that town, he was captured again and went back to drawing beans, but that he picked the locks again and escaped. ROLLO was a good shot and so was his son Isaac Nathaniel, Isaac also taught his son James Monroe to shoot well, which held him in good stead as he fought in the second WW and received a marksmanship medal and also a Bronze star. Dad also had said that his grandfather grew extra corn which he shared with the Indians, as they were raiding the camps of the settlers for food, they were evidently starving and felt it their just due, since the settlers were taking so many of the resources. He said his Dad would tell him the Indians used the guadalupe river and would come down in canoes, ROLLO would leave the extra corn for them to get, and they pretty much left them alone. When the last of them were leaving the area, the Indians brought ROLLO a Paint pony, and said it was for his kindness to them. Isaac, said his fathers statement was, it was the best piece of horseflesh he had ever seen. ROLLO'S brother JOHN DAVIS along with RACHEL'S and Margarets brother ISAAC BAKER were lost at the Alamo. ROLLO had learned to play Monte, a card game from the Mexicans, He was playing with his fellow soldiers before the battle of Goliad, ROLLA had won 300 silver dollars from the other troops. When the Mexicans were going to execute them, they told them to turn around, but ROLLA would not turn around, the Mexican that was assigned to shot him, could not shoot him, with him looking him in the eye. In the confusion ROLLA ran and was across the river before the Mexicans began to pursue him, as he ran the silver dollars started falling out of his pockets, the Mexicans would stop to pick them up, so when they would start gaining on ROLLA, he would throw out some more of the money, after the money was gone, he started with his jacket pants, boots, everything, but his underwear and his socks. He came upon a bramble patch and just dove into it. The Mexicans looked around a while, and when night fell, ROLLA started back to Gonzales. He arrived cut up, bruised and bleeding, but he was alive. His son Isaac said his dads only regret was that he threw his boots away, as the grass had been burnt and the stubble tore his feet up. ROLLA'S father was DANIEL DAVIS, he had brothers George Washington, John and James the twins, Zachariah and sister Elizabeth. His mother's name was ELIZABETH. His father DANIEL DAVIS had been born in Virginia, but had moved to many different places, Cincinnati, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, then he was with the original colonizers of the Dewitt Colony on the Gudalupe in Gonzales and had Spanish Land Grants. He also aquired much land, as payment for the extensive battles he was in. Since Texas was broke, They paid in land. They also gave script at one time, but at the time was considered worthless. ROLLA'S father DANIEL DAVIS died in the 1850's it is believed, Isaac Nathaniel also was a Texas Ranger and told his son James Monroe Davis many stories of the rangers. Once he said they were staking out a house of a known outlaw, his father Isaac was standing in the corner of the house, and it was pitch black outside, he said a woman came out of the house and squatted down and went on his boots. He did not realize until the lady had went back inside that he had been holding his breathe that whole time. He once also told his son the story of a young mexican boy that they had brought in for stealing a horse. He did not believe the boy to be guilty of the crime. and the boy being naive, thought since he was innocent that he would not be hung. Well, Isaac Nathan knew they meant to hang the boy, so he would send him to town to get the mail, thinking the boy might run. But the boy bought the mail back to him. Every day for a week he sent the boy to get the mail, and every day he brought it back. Isaac just could not stand to see them hang that boy, so he mustered out of the rangers. James Monroe, Isaac Nathaniels son, served in world war 11, and received the bronze star, along with many other medals, he came from a stock, of brave and industrious men, and was very proud of his heritage. He could sit for hours and tell the stories his father had told him of his forefathers.

Source: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1234717/person/-1967198412/media/1?pg=