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Mary Jane Brush DAVIS (b 1838)

Mary Jane Brush Davis was the eldest daughter of Steven Arthur Davis (b 1807) and Martha Conklin Brush (b 1814). Her parent's marriage is firmly established, but the date and place of the marriage, 25 May 1836 in Huntington (Suffolk) NY, Martha's hometown, are much less certain. Public records are little help in learning where her parents lived after their marriage and at the time of Mary's birth. On the web, there does seem to be a consensus about Mary's name and birth. Mary Jane Brush Davis was born in Northport (Suffolk) New York on 09 Nov 1838. I do not know what the source of that information is, but it is consistent with the date ingraved on her gravestone and the ages she reported to census enumerators. In 1900, she reported the month and year of her birth as November 1838.

There is little question that Mary was born in New York. That she was born in Northport does not seem unlikely, but it is not at all clear to me why that should have been. My hunch is that Mary's parents actually lived in New York City at the time of her birth. There were, however, a host of Brush families in Huntington Township and Smithtown Hamlet, any of whom could have been close enough relatives to have been a place of retreat for Mary's mother when her first child was born.

The first public record I have found the is unquestionably a reference to Mary's family is an 1845 baptismal record for Mary's sister, Laura Mead Davis. The record is from a registry of the Seventh Presbyterian Church in New York City, a church just across the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan from Brooklyn. The same genealogy referenced for Mary's birth states that Laura was also born in Northport.

The 1855 Census of New York provides the first reference to Mary Davis that I have been able to find. Her family is found in the 6th election district of ward 20 in New York City. The election district's boundaries were given as 35th Street and the Hudson River to 40th Street and 8th Avenue (Manhattan), an area to the east of the current location of Penn Station. Her father was reported to be working in an iron foundry. Mary B Davis was 15 years old and the record stated that she had lived in New York City for 15 years. Three sisters were also named, Sarah B Davis, age 12, Laura M Davis, age 10 and Clara I Davis, age 1. The household included a female servant only 18 years old, born in Ireland.

Three years later, in 1858, at the age of 19, Mary married Rinaldo Sammis of Huntington, Long Island. Again, there appears to be consensus on the date and place of the marriage, 09 Mar 1858 at West Neck, Long Island. West Neck was an area in Huntington township just to the north of Huntington village and the site of Rinaldo's parent's home. An unattributed and undated obituary for Mary published in her Find-A-Grave memorial states that the couple lived in West Neck for a year before moving to Northport in 1860.

Rinaldo was undoubtedly resourceful. In 1860, the Agricultural Census reported that he was farming 150 acres of a property of 400 acres in Northport. In addition to Mary and Rinaldo, the household that year included the couple's first child, Mary (age 1) and Mary's father, mother and three of her siblings, Laura (age 15), Charity (age 6), and Stephen (age2). Her father was apparently assisting Rinaldo with the farm work.

In Mary's family, only Rinaldo was of an age to serve in the Union Army, and there is no indication that Rinaldo was called away from his work as a farmer. The war years did take a toll on Mary's family. Her brother Stephen Arthur Davis, Jr died in August of 1864. (I know of Stephen's death at age six only through the genealogy posted on Long Island Genealogy.) In the 1865 Census, oddly, Mary's parents do not appear in the household and I cannot find any record of them in New York that year. In addition to the couple's two children, Mary (age 7) and Sarah (age 4) there are three servants in the household, two of them helping on the farm.

In 1870, Mary and Rinaldo have three children living at home, Mary J (age11), Sarah A (age 8), and Clarinda (age 4). Mary and Sarah were in school. Mary's parent's were still a part of the household and an 18 year old farm laborer, Henry Conklin, perhaps one of Mary's cousins on her mother's side.

Mary's family was complete by the time of the 1880 US Census. In June of that year the census accounted for all six of her children. Daughter Sarah had died on 03 Jun 1880, only weeks before the census was taken, and was among the children listed in the household. The balance of the six children were Mary J (age 21), Clara D (age 14), Richard R (age 5), Gilbert B, age 4) and Lawrence A (age 1). Daughter Mary married later in that year.

By the time of the 1900 US Census, Lawrence was the only child left at home. He was age 21 and gave his occupation as portrait artist. Rinaldo reported his occupation as brick maker in that year. He was no longer farming and the home in which they were living was classified as a house and not a farm. The couple reported that they had been married for 42 years. Mary reported that she was the mother of six children, five still living.

Mary died of pneumonia on 20 Nov 1907. She was 69 years old. An obituary stated that "she had long been an invalid and unable to walk, although she enjoyed riding about in her son Richard's automobile." Funeral services were held in the Northport Presbyterian Church. She was buried in Huntington Rural Cemetery on Sunday 24 Nov 1907.

Sources:

Long Island Genealogy Fact Sheet for Stephen Arthur Davis (b 1807): Citation: Long Island Surnames Maintained by Long Island Genealogy. Content: The genealogy for Stephen Arthur Davis has PersonID I23334. It references the book Descendents of Thomas and Richard Brush of Huntington, Long Island: A Source Book by Stuart Camp Brush and Russell B Brush. (Baltimore, Gateway Press; Reading Center, Conn., 1982). The reference is to page 115.

The 1840 US Census, Household of Stephen Davis: There is a household headed by Stephen Davis in Ward 12 of New York City in 1840. The composition of the household is almost a match for what one would expect this Stephen Davis's household to look like. However, the female child in the household is reported to be age 5-9 and not 0-4 as would be expected. The other anomaly is that the one person in the household with an occupation is working in agriculture.

The 1850 US Census: I am relatively confident that the Davis family was missed in the 1850 US Census. It is likely they were living in Manhattan at the time, but I can find no trace of them in the 1850 US Census records indexed on Ancestry.

1845 Baptismal Record for Laura Mead Davis (b 1845): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Presbyterian Historical Society; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1907; Book Title: 1818 - 1888. Content: A record of Seventh Presbyterian Church, New York, New York, reports the baptism of Laura Mead, daughter of Stephen A and Martha C Davis on 07 Sep 1845. She was born 19 Mar 1845. Note: This published genealogy gives the date and place of Mary Jane Brush Davis as 09 Nov 1838, Northport, Suffolk, New York.

1840 US Census, Household of Richard Sammis (b c1803): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1840; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: 343; Page: 180; Family History Library Film: 0017207, Content: The 1840 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York in June 1840 lists the household of Richard Sammis composed of males (3 under 5 yrs, 2 5 to 9 yrs, 2 20 to 29 yrs, 1 30 to 39 yrs) and females (3 under 5 yrs, 1 5 to 9 yrs, 1 10 to 14 yrs, 1 30 to 39 yrs. 5 employed in agriculture. 14 persons total.

1850 US Census, Household of Richard Sammis (b c1803): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1850; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: 601; Page: 89a. Content: The 1850 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York on 17 Dec 1850, shows dwelling (1284/1451) with a household composed of (1) Richard Sammis, age 49, male, farmer who values his real estate at $12K, born in New York, (2) Esther M Sammis, age 45, female, born in New York, (3) Edgar Sammis, age 20, male, farmer, born in New York, (4) Rinaldo Sammis, age 19, male, farmer, born in New York, (5) ?Adelia? Sammis, age 18, female, born in New York, (6) Charles Sammis, age 15, male, born in New York, attended school, (7) Elizabeth Sammis, age 14, female, born in New York, attended school, (8) Emily Sammis, age 12, female, born in New York, attended school, (9) Phebe Sammis, age 10, female, born in New York, attended school, (10) Juliette Sammis, age 8, female, born in New York, attended school, (11) Mary Comari, age 29, female, born Ireland.

1860 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1860; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll M653_864; Page: 232; Image: 237; Family History Library Film: 803864. Content: The 1860 US Census of Huntington Township (Post Office: Northport), Suffolk County, New York on 05 Jul 1860 lists dwelling (501/508) with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, age 23, male, farmer, (real: $10,000; pers: $1500), born New York, (2) Mary Sammis, age 21, female, born New York, (3) Mary Jane Sammis, age 1, female, born New York, (4) Stephen A Davis, age 52, male, farm laborer, born New York, (5) Martha C Davis, age 44, female, born New York, (6) Laura M Davis, age 15, female, born New York, (7) Charity J Davis, age 6, female, born New York, (8) Stephen A Davis Jr, age 2, male, born New York, (9) Jonathan ?White?, age 45, male, no occupation given, born New York.

1860 US Ag Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A18; Roll: 18; Page: 9; Line: 9; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Content: The 1860 US Agricultural Census of (Post Office Northport) Huntington (Suffolk) New York taken in June 1860 lists Ronald [Rinaldo] Sammis at line 31 on page 9. The record shows that he had 150 improved acres and 250 acres unimproved. The farm is valued at $10,000, one of only three on the page of 40 farms with a valuation over $6000. The farm produced 300 bushels of corn and oats, 125 bushels of wheat 400 lbs of butter.

1865 New York State Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Content: The 1865 New York State Census of Huntington (Town 2nd Election District), Suffolk County, New York on 09 Jun 1865 lists dwelling 53, a farm, with a household composed of (1) Rilando (sic) Sammis, age 34, male, born in Suffolk County, married (once), farmer, native voter, land owner, (2) Mary B Sammis, age 27, female, wife, born New York, two children, married (once), (3) Mary J Sammis, age 7, female, child, born Suffolk County, single, (4) Sarah A Sammis, age 4, female, child, born Suffolk County, single, deaf and dumb, blind, or insane, (5) John White, age 45, male, servant, born Suffolk, single, farmer, native voter, (6) Jane ?Muia?, age 20, female, servant, born Suffolk County, single, (7) Henry ?Clay?, age 24, male, servant, born Kings County, NY, single, farmer, native voter.

1870 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Year: 1870; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll: M593_1100; Page: 533B. Content: The 1870 US Census of Huntington (Post Office: Huntington), Suffolk County, New York on 23 Jul 1870 lists dwelling (951/1002) with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, age 39, male, farmer, (real: $13,000; pers: $2,000), born New York, eligible to vote, (2) Mary B Sammis, age 31, female, keeping house, born New York, (3) Mary J Sammis, age 11, female, at school, born New York, (4) Sarah A Sammis, age 8, female, at school, born New York, (5) Clarinda D Sammis, age 4, female, born New York, (6) Stephen A Davis, age 63, male, no occupation, born Connecticut, eligible to vote, (7) Martha C Davis, age 56, female, keeping house, born New York, (8) Henry Conklin, age 18, male, farm laborer, born New York.

1870 US Ag Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A29; Roll: 29; Page: 7; Line: 38; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Content: The 1870 US Census of Huntington (Suffolk) New York on 12 Jul 1870 lists Rinaldo Sammis at line 24 on page 7. He is farming 130 acres of improved land and has 400 acres of unimproved forest and woodland. He values the farm at $13000, the third highest evaluation on a page listing 40 farms. He has a stand-out number of sheep (69) and produced 200 or more bushels of wheat, corn, and oats.

1880 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Roll 935; Family History Film: 1254935; Page: 273D; Enumeration District: 320; Image: 0275. Content: The 1880 US Census of Huntington (Suffolk) New York enumerated on 18 Jun 1880 shows dwelling 357/381 with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, [head], male, age 47, married, farmer, born in NY, parents born in NY, (2) Mary B Sammis, wife , female, age 41, married, born in NY, both parents born in NY, (3) Mary J Sammis, daughter, female, age 21, single, at home, born in NY, (4) Clara D Sammis, daughter, female, age 14, single, at home, in school within the year, born in NY, (5) Richard R Sammis, son, male, age 9, at school within the year, born in NY, (6) Gilbert B Sammis, son, male, age 4, born in NY, (7) Lawrence A Sammis, son, male, age 1, born in NY, (8) Sarah A Sammis, daughter, female, age 18, born in NY, both parents born in NY, died on 3 Jun 1880.

1880 US Agricultural Census, Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Census Non-Population Schedules, New York, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Huntington Enumeration District 320, Suffolk, New York; Archive Collection Number: A68; Roll: 68; Page: 25; Line: 6. Content: The 1880 US Agricultural Census of Huntington (ED 320), Suffolk County, New York (page 25) on 12 Jun 1880 lists (line 6) Rinaldo Sammis, 130 acres of tilled land, 400 acres of woodland and forest, 8 horses, 9 cows, 18 calves dropped, 6000 gallons milk, 400 lbs butter, 60 sheep, 35 lambs dropped, 240 lbs of fleece, 16 swine, 100 poultry, 300 dozen eggs, 1 acre buckwheat producing 20 bushels, 14 acres indian corn producing 400 bushels, 15 acres of oats producing 500 bushels, 8 acres of rye producing 100 bushels, 17 acres of wheat producing 400 bushels, 10 tons of straw, 3 acres of potatoes producing 300 bushels, 1 acre of apples with 500 producing trees producing 250 bushels, 100 cords of wood.

1900 US Census, Household of Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Year: 1900; Census Place: Huntington, Suffolk, New York; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0763; FHL microfilm: 1241165. Content: The 1900 US Census of Huntington, Suffolk County, New York on 19 Jun 1900 lists dwelling (256/269), a home, owned with mortgage, with a household composed of (1) Rinaldo Sammis, head, male, born June 1831, age 68, married 42 years, born New York, father born New York, mother born Connecticut, brickmaker, can read/write (2) Mary B Sammis, wife, female, born Nov 1838, age 61, married 42 years, 6 children, 5 living, born New York, father born Connecticut, mother born New York, can read/write, (3) Lawrence H Sammis, son, male, born Oct 1878, age 21, single, born New York, portrait artist, can read/write.

1915 New Jersey Census, Household of Gilbert B Sammis (b 1875): Citation: Ancestry.com. New Jersey, U.S., State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1915; Reference Number: L-10; Film Number: 48. Content: The 1915 New Jersey State Census of Freehold Township on 12 Jun 1915 lists dwelling 124, owned with mortgage, with a household composed of (1) Gilbert B Sammis, male, born Sep 1875, age 39, married, born New York, parents born New York, farmer, can read/write, (2) Mildred R Sammis, female, born Jun 1874, age 40, married, born New York, parents born Maine, can rea/write, (3) Howard C Sammis, male, born Oct 1897, age 18, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (4) Merton D Sammis, male, born Apr 1893, age 17, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (5) Byron T Sammis, male, born Dec 1899, age 15, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (6) Henrietta Sammis, female, born Jun 1902, age 13, single, born New York, in school (Freehold, public), (7) Henrietta Robbins, female, born Oct 1871, age 43, single, born New York, parents born Maine, missionary, can read/write, (8) Rinaldo Sammis, male, born June 1821, age 83, widower, born New York, parents born New York, retired, can read/write, (9) William Polkoskey, male, born May 1867, age 48, single, born Russia, parents born Russia,18 yrs in US, alien, laborer, can read/write.

1919 New Jersey Death Index Record for Rinaldo Sammis (b 1831): Citation: Ancestry.com. New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1901-2017 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Year Range: 1916-1919; Surname Range: 1916-1919. Content: A New Jersey Death Index record for Somerset County shows that Rinaldo Sammis died there in Oct 1919.

Find a Grave Memorial 63396217 for Mary Brush Davis (b 1838). .

1964 Application for Membership in Sons of the American Revolution, Sammis Lewis Kirby (b 1958): Citation: Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com.