Benjamin F. Davenport

Benjamin F. Davenport

Male Abt 1815 - 1884  (~ 69 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Benjamin F. Davenport 
    Nickname Bejamin, Devenport, Deavenport 
    Born Abt. 1815  Chorley, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christened 5 Feb 1815  Chorley, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • LDS FamilySearch England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975: "Benjamin Davenport, father Thomas Davenport mother Mary, christening date: 5 Feb 1815 Chorley, Lancashire."
    Gender Male 
    Died 8 Mar 1884  Frankfurt, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Old South Cemetery, Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • It is likely that Benjamin Davenport, b. Abt. 1815 Lancashire, England, boot maker, was not directly related to any of the Davenport families in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and was perhaps the only member of his family to emigrate to the United States.

      Davenport families in Jefferson County, KY after birth of Benjamin F. Davenport (Abt. 1815, Lancashire County, England):

      U.S.Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY 1830: "James Davenport, white males under-5 two, free white males 20-29 one, free white females 5-9 one, free white females 20-29 one, no slaves."

      Louisville, Jefferson County, KY 1832: "Richard Davenport, mason, Main & 10th Sts."

      U.S.Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY 1850: In the household of Josiah Bradley, age 27, bricklayer: "John Davenport, age 15 b. Abt. 1835 Kentucky, bricklayer [apprentice?]."

      Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884) was listed as a "boot" or "shoe maker" in the U.S. Census 1850, 1860, 1870. He probably learned the trade while a lad in England. In 1880, however, he worked in a livery stable, probably because of the industry's gradual switch from custom-made to factory-made shoes. His daughter, Hattie Davenport (1853-1939) worked during the 1890s in St. Louis in shoe factories.

      http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401800512.html

      "BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURING. Boot-makers and shoemakers arrived early in the history of each of the colonies to provide the settlers with much-needed products. After acquiring leather from nearby tanneries, cobblers, who frequently worked at home, used hand tools and centuries-old techniques to cut out the various parts, to sew together the pieces to make the upper, and to attach the upper to the sole, shaping each shoe over a wooden last or form."

      http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=1021

      Mark Sipson, "Shoe Making in Early Nineteenth Century Massachusetts,an Introduction" (January, 1980)

      "By the mid-1830s in the state of Massachusetts some 23,000 males and 15,000 females were employed in the shoe and boot trade. Together they produced fifteen million pairs of shoes and one and one-half million pairs of boots valued at some fourteen and one-half millions of dollars. More people were employed in this trade than in any other industry within the state. . . .

      Men, women and children worked at the trade either in their homes or in the small "ten-footer" shoe shops. Some, such as farmers, worked at shoe making in the winter, others worked at the trade full time and still others worked at shoes and other trades, as well. Census figures indicate that this was a young man's trade, the vast majority of men listed as "shoe makers" being under thirty. It was a good way to make ready cash, twenty-five cents a pair for "making," that is putting on soles and heels, four pairs a day if you were fast. . . .

      Traditionally shoes were made by custom shoe makers working out of their shops with their apprentices and journeymen. They would take orders from individuals and make up their shoes. All the work was done in the shop from start to finish. . . .

      True shoe factories started to come into existence during the early 1860s. The putting-out shops, [in which piece-work performed by several different workers in their homes was assembled into shoes], managed to survive up into the 1880s although by that time they had various types of machines to perform the work processes. During this period the custom shops pretty well disappeared as a major factor in shoe manufacturing. The men and women who had worked at shoes in their homes and small shops left these places for the shoe factories."

      Roy Richard Thomas March 2012

    • It does not appear that any member of the William Davenport (b. 1800 North Carolina) family of Johnson County, IN was related to Benjamin F. Davenport, b. Abt. 1815 England, since none of the children of Benjamin and Margaret (Abel) Davenport were placed, upon Margaret's death, with members of William Davenport's extended family. This fact also seems to confirm that Benjamin F. Davenport's sole relatives in Indiana were members of his wife's family, the Abel clan.

      Roy Richard Thomas April 2012
    Person ID I12973  Complete
    Last Modified 15 Jan 2018 

    Father Thomas Davenport,   b. Chorley, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Mary Booth 
    Married 28 Mar 1786  Prestwich, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • LDS FamilySearch England Marriages, 1538-1973: "Thomas Davenport & Mary Booth, m. 28 Mar 1786 Prestwich, Lancashire."
    Family ID F18044791  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Margaret Abel,   b. Abt. 1819, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Mar 1862, Medora, Carr, Jackson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 43 years) 
    Married 18 May 1843  Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Kentucky Marriages, 1783-1865: "Margaret Abel & Benjamin Davenport, m. 18 May 1843, Jefferson County."

    Children 
     1. Henry K. Davenport,   b. Abt. 1844, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Mar 1865, Behind enemy lines, Confederate States of America Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 21 years)
     2. David Abel Davenport,   b. Abt. 1847, District 1, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 May 1880, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 33 years)
     3. Mary Ann Davenport,   b. Abt. 1849, District 1, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt. 1877, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 28 years)
     4. Catherine Davenport,   b. Abt. 1852, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location
    +5. Harriet Davenport,   b. 28 Feb 1853, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jun 1939, Bridgeport, Lawrence County, Illinois, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)
     6. John Davenport,   b. Abt. 1856, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. Greenup Davenport,   b. Abt. 1857, Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef. 1900  (Age ~ 42 years)
     8. Benjamin F. Davenport,   b. Mar 1862, Medora, Carr, Jackson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef. 1920, Johnson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 57 years)
    +9. Addie Davenport,   b. 15 Jun 1862, Medora, Carr, Jackson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Oct 1928, Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
    Last Modified 15 Jan 2018 
    Family ID F5776  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Sarah Ann Kiser 
    Married 12 Feb 1866  Johnson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941: "Benjamin F. Davenport & Sarah A. Williams, m. 12 Feb 1866 Johnson County."
    Last Modified 14 Feb 2012 
    Family ID F18042882  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Mary D. Davis,   b. Abt. 1826, Ohio, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Nov 1895, Frankfurt, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 69 years) 
    Married 30 May 1872  Frankfurt, Clinton County, Indiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941: "Benjamin Davenport & Mary D. Sellers, 30 May 1872 Clinton County."
    Last Modified 8 Mar 2012 
    Family ID F5780  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 18 May 1843 - Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.A. Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Feb 1866 - Johnson County, Indiana, U.S.A. Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 30 May 1872 - Frankfurt, Clinton County, Indiana, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 8 Mar 1884 - Frankfurt, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A. Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Old South Cemetery, Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A. Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Documents
    Benjamin F. Davenport, 67th Inf Regt, Indiana, Notice to Report, Monday, 11 Aug 1862
    Benjamin F. Davenport, 67th Inf Regt, Indiana, Notice to Report, Monday, 11 Aug 1862

    Jackson County, Indiana History Center web site:

    "'The Jackson (IN) Union,' then edited by William Frysinger, in its issue of April 18, 1861 reported:

    'A large meeting of the citizens of Jackson County, irrespective of party, was held in the court house in Brownstown on Tuesday evening, to take into consideration the present critical condition of our country. Hon. John F. Carr was called to the chair, and W. T. Dobbs and Thomas Robertson chosen secretaries. After a few brief explanatory remarks, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That we will, with all the means in our power, maintain the Government of the United States, and protect its flag. RESOLVED, That we will form a company of volunteers in this county to meet the requisition of the President of the United States upon the governors of the several States. After this, the meeting was addressed by Maj. J. J. Cummins, Jason B. Brown, Thomas B. Tanner, D. H. Long and S. W. Holmes. The meeting then adjourned, to meet on Saturday following.

    At a Union meeting held in Woodmansee's Hall in the town of Seymour, Jackson County, on the 16th of April, 1861, J. L.Ford was chosen president; Samuel Smith, Sr., and S. L. Beal, vice-presidents; W. E. Marshall and G. Woodmansee, secretaries. On motion of F. A. Jones a committee was appointed by the chair to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. F. A. Jones, S. L. Ewing and John Allen being appointed said committee, reported the following: WHEREAS, The flag of our Union has been desecrated by those in armed rebellion against the Government of the United States; and WHEREAS, All loyal citizens have been called upon to vindicate the national honor; therefore, RESOLVED, That we, as loyal citizens of Jackson County, without distinction of party, pledge to the support of the Government our resolved, That, sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, we are for the Union and the Constitution, now and forever.'"
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)Certificate #1 20 Nov 1925 of Civil War Service
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)Certificate #1 20 Nov 1925 of Civil War Service

    This document includes his physical description and place of birth as well as his unit and dates of service. "Union privates were paid $13 per month until after the final raise of 20 June '64, when they got $16."

    The military record of Benjamin F. Davenport is well documented in his application for a Civil War Pension, which was drawn after his death by his third wife, Mary D. Davis. His birthplace of Lancashire, England was also written on a scrap of paper which my father, Roy Elmer Thomas, said was all his mother, Addie Davenport, told him about his grandfather B. F. Davenport's origins.

    Military Service, Union Army, 1862-1865:

    "20 Aug 1862, Medora, Carr, Jackson, IN, enrolled Private, Co. F, 67th Inf, Indiana, 3 years, bootmaker, age 44, complexion: fair, eyes: blue, hair: dark, height: 5'7. May-June 1863 hospital & Nov 1864-Jan 1864 Vicksburg MS, military hospital: treated for rheumatism, chronic diarrhrea, affection of lungs. 19 Jul 1865 Galveston TX, mustered out with his company."

    Indiana Adjutant General's Office, 20 Nov 1925, official record: "Benj. Davenport, nativity, Lancashire Co., England."

    American Civil War Soldiers: "Benjamin Davenport, enlisted 20 Aug 1862 Union Co F, 67th Inf Indiana; transfered 21 Dec 1864 to 24th Regt Indiana; mustered out 19 Jul 1865 24th Inf Indiana at Galveston TX."
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)Certificate #2 20 Nov 1925 Civil War service
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)Certificate #2 20 Nov 1925 Civil War service

    This second affidavit documents the Civil War service of Benjamin F. Davenport. This affidavit identifies two units with which he served.

    HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, p. 550:

    "Company F, 67th Inf Regt, was raised in the vicinity of Medora, and was officered by William C. Hall as captain, his commission being dated August 20, 1862. The first lieutenants were James W.Owen, August 20, 1862; Lewis W. Peck, April 25, 1863. Second lieutenants, Charles D. Prow, August 20, 1862; John M.Henderlider, April 25, 1863. The original enrollment was 83,and its recruits were 4. Of these 1 deserted and 11 died."

    National Park Service Civil War Soldiers & Sailors: "UNION INDIANA VOLUNTEERS. "67th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. Organized at Madison, Ind., and mustered in August 20, 1862. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., and attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio. Siege of Munfordsville, Ky., September 14-17. Captured September 17, paroled and sent to Indianapolis, Ind. Reorganizing at Indianapolis till December. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., December 10. Attached to 1st Brigade, 10th Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 10th Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Reserve Division, Military Division West Mississippi, December, 1864.

    SERVICE.-Sherman's Yazoo Expedition December 20, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Expedition from Milliken's Bend to Dallas Station and Delhi December 25-26. Chickasaw Bayou December 26-28. Chickasaw Bluff December 29. Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark., January 3-10, 1863. Assault and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, January 10-11. Moved to Young's Point, La., January 17, and duty there till March 8. Expedition to Greenville, Miss., and Cypress Bend, Ark., February 14-29. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., March 8, and duty there till April 25. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Big Black River Bridge May 17. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Ordered to New Orleans, La., August 24. Duty at Carrollton, Brashear City and Berwick till October. Expedition to New and Amite Rivers September 24-29. Western Louisiana "Teche" Campaign October 3-November 30. Action at Grand Coteau November 3. Moved to Algiers December 13, thence to Texas December 18. Duty at Du Crow's Point, Matagorda Bay, till March, 1864. Reconnoissance on Matagorda Peninsula January 21, 1864. Moved to Algiers, La., March 1. Red River Campaign March 10-May 22. Advance from Franklin to Alexandria March 14-26. Battle of Sabine Cross Roads April 8. Monett's Ferry, Cane River Crossing, April 23. Constructing dam at Alexandria April 30-May 10. Retreat to Morganza May 13-20. At Morganza and Baton Rouge till August Operations in Mobile Bay against Fort Gaines and Morgan August 2-23. Siege and surrender of Fort Gaines August 3-8. Capture of Fort Morgan August 23. Duty at Morganza till December. Expedition to mouth of White River November 12-20. Consolidated with 24th Indiana Infantry December 21, 1864.

    Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 194 Enlisted men by disease. Total 249."
    Mary D. Davenport (1826-1895), Affidavit of William P. Graham
    Mary D. Davenport (1826-1895), Affidavit of William P. Graham

    This affidavit is witness to the date of the marriage of Mary D. Davenport to Benjamin F. Davenport in 1873.

    Headstones
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)

    Find-A-Grave:

    Old South Cemetery, Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana, U.S.A.

    It appears that the engraver may have erred in the inscription of this monument.

    CORRECT service: Co. F, 67th Inf Regt Indiana & Co. I, 24th Inf Regt Indiana

    Census Records
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884), U.S.Census 1850-1880
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884), U.S.Census 1850-1880

    The U.S. Census data transcribed below, the birth dates/places of his nine children, and the dates/places of his military service suggest that Benjamin F. Davenport, Sr., boot/shoe maker, between 1857 and 1860 moved his family from Jefferson County, KY to Medora, Carr Township, Jackson County, Indiana. In August 1861 his oldest child, Henry K. Davenport, enlisted in the Union Army. When his wife Margaret died after the birth in Mar 1862 of their ninth and last child, Benjamin (Ben) F. Davenport, Jr., some of the eight children at home were "put out" by their father with the families of his late wife, the Abel clan. Once his younger children were secure in their new homes, he enlisted in August 1862 for three years in the Indiana Volunteers and stayed in the Union Army until July 1865. Benjamin moved steadily northward from Jefferson Co., KY to Jackson Co. IN, Johnson Co., IN (married Sarah Ann Kiser), and finally to Clinton Co., IN (married Mary D. Davis), where he died and was buried in March 1884.

    Roy Richard Thomas, 2018
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)

    U.S. Census District 1, Jefferson County, KY, 1850:

    "B.F. Davenport, age 35, b. Abt. 1815 England, shoe maker, real estate owned: none, wife Margaret, age 32 b. Abt. 1818 Kentucky; three children b. Kentucky: H.K. 6, Abel 2, M.A. 1."
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)

    U.S. Census Medora, Jackson County, IN 1860:

    "D.S. Devinport [B.F. Davenport], age 44 b. Abt. 1816 England, shoe maker, real estate owned $225 other property $100, wife Margaret, age 40 b. Abt. 1820 Kentucky; six children b. Kentucky: Abel 12, Mary Ann 11, Catherine 8, Harriet 7, John 4, Greenup 3."
    Denjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)
    Denjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)

    U.S. Census Jackson, Clinton County, IN 1870:

    "D.B. Davenport, age 47 b. Abt. 1823 England, parents b. outside U.S.A., shoe maker;" in the household of: "George & Mary Wilson, hotel keepers," evidently a rooming house occupied by eight adults with surnames other than 'Wilson.'
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)
    Benjamin F. Davenport (1815-1884)

    U.S. Census Frankfort, Clinton County, IN 1880:

    "Benjamin Davenport, age 65 b. Abt. 1815 England, parents b. England, works in livery stable, wife Mary, age 59 b. Abt. 1821 Ohio, father b. Virginia mother b. Kentucky. Step-son, child of Mary, b. Indiana: Harvey Davenport [sic; actually Sellers], age 19 b. Abt. 1861, single, printer."