Sarah Temperance “Tempiebell” Davis Gulledge 1851-1922

Sarah Temperance Davis “Tempiebell” was born around 1851 according to the 1860 census.

Sarah was the daughter of Elisha Davis (1821-1870) and Elizabeth Knight Davis.  Elisha’s parents were Jonathan Davis and Sarah Parker Davis.  Elizabeth ‘s parents were Moses Knight and Temperance Eddins.  She had six sisters.  They were:

• Mary Jane Davis 1852-1935
• Ellen Virginia Davis 1856-before 1897 married Alexander” Sandy” Campbell 1851-1913
• Melissa Emmaline Davis 1859-1935 married William George Deese 1857-1919
• Nancy Ardelia Davis 1866-1957 married Horry Franklin Campbell 1858-1942
• Jo Ann Davis 1867-1925 married William Hamilton Lewis 1867-1925
• Harriet Ellen “Hattie” Davis 1867-1930 married Daniel T Horne 1867-1927

In the 1860 census Tempiebell was living with her 36 year-old-father Elisha and her 27-year-old mother Elizabeth Knight Davis.  Her father was a farmer and had $2,000 in real property and $200 in real estate.  She was the oldest of four girls who were living in the home.  Her sisters were Mary Jane (7), Ellen (4) , and an unnamed girl,  (2) most likely Melissa Emmaline.  Her grandmother and namesake, Tempy Eddins Knight was also living with the family.

Mary Jane was a cripple.  She became crippled from age three with infantile paralysis.  This is evident from her death certificate.

Childhood illnesses and death were very common during this time. However, infantile paralysis seems to have been fairly uncommon. The most common childhood disease reported from the City of Charleston in the first week of July 1853 was Cholera Infantum. (The Charleston Daily Courier, 13 July 1853, page 4).

Sister Nancy Ardelia Davis Campbell lived to be 90, passing away in 1957.  This is a picture of her with her daughter Rachel Campbell Prevette and her daughter’s husband, Dewey Thompson Previtte.  The photo was shared on Ancestry.Com by Thompson_Elizabeth at https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/34712803/person/372018003172/media/08523da3-d8a8-4650-82b8-0adf911ec3de?usePUBJs=true.

 

In 1860 Tempiebell  and her family lived in Household #495.  The next door neighbors (Household 494) were John Privette and his wife Elizabeth with their family.  Mr. Privette was a farm laborer with only $50 in personal value listed on the census.  His wife Elizabeth Davis Privette was the first cousin of Tempiebell’s  Dad, Elisha.  In Household #496, James and Jane Dees lived with their children.  He was also a farm laborer with only $25 in personal value listed on the census.  In Household #498, Tempiebell’s paternal grandmother Sarah Parker Davis (age 60) lived with her daughter Jerusha Davis McBride (age 37) and her children.  The oldest son seventeen year old James McBride was a farm laborer.  Sarah had $100 in personal value listed on the census while Jerusha had $150.   The wealthiest neighbor was seventy-one year old Riley Smith (Household #499) who was a slave-owning farmer.  He had $10,000 in real property and $16,000 in personal property.  In Household #500 Andrew Jackson Eddins, a blacksmith was living with his family.  He was a cousin to Tempiebell  through her maternal grandmother, Temperance Eddins Knight.  Other neighbors include Wiley Morris and Charity Short (Household 490) and their family and William Short and Aisley “Alie” Ada White (Household #493) and their family.

In February of 1870, Elisha Davis, Tempiebell’s father  Elisha entered into a mortgage (Bond Agreement) with his neighbor William P Brock and Hugh Craig, the Probate Judge of ChesW.P. Brock & Elisha Davis to Hugh Craig Judge of Probate Mortgage

The State of South Carolina

To whom all these presents may concern. We William P Brock & Elisha Davis in and by our certain bond or obligation bearing date the third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred seventy st and firmly held and bound into Hugh Craig Judge of Probate for Chesterfield County in the final sum of one hundred and forty two dollars and fifty cents conditioned for the payment of the full and just sum of seventy one dollars and twenty-five cents in two annual instalments with interest payable annually the first payment payable Jany 5 1871 and the second payment on the 3rd day Jany 1872 as in and by the said Bond and condition thereof. reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear. Now Know all men that we the said Wm. P. Brock and Elisha Davis in consideration of the said debt and sum of money aforesaid, and for the better securing the payment thereof to the said Hugh Craig Judge of Probate according to the condition of said Bond; and also in consideration of the further sum of three dollars to us the said Wm. P. Brock and Elisha Davis in hand, well and truly paid by the said Hugh Craig at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged. We have granted, bargained, sold and released, and by these presents do grant bargain, sell and release unto the said Hugh Craig Judge of Probate, all that certain piece or parcel of land on Westfield Creek, bounded by Wm. Short, Estate of Richmond White and others, known as the mill seat on Indian Branch, containing five acres, more or less. Together with all and singular the rights, members Hereditaments and appurtances unto said Hugh Craig, Judge of Probate his Heirs and assignees, from and against us and our Heirs, executors, administrators and assignees & all other persons lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Provided always nevertheless, and it is the true intent and meaning of the parties to these Presents, that of the said Wm. P. Brock and Elisha Davis do and shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Hugh Craig the said debt or a sum of money aforesaid and the interest thereon, if any shall be due, according to the intent and meaning of the said Bond and condition thereunder written there this deed of bargain and sale, shall cease and be null and void or else remain in full force and virtue. And it is agreed by and between the said parties that the said Wm. P. Brock and Elisha Davis are to hold and enjoy the said premises until default of payment shall be made. Witness my hand and seal this third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and seventy.
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of
W E Craig
E B Smith Sr.
Wm. P. Brock Seal
Elisha Davis Seal

U.S. Stamps amounting to Fifty cents
properly recorded

State of South Carolina
Chesterfield County

Personally appeared Wm. E. Craig before me and made oath that he saw Wm P. Brock and Elisha Davis sign, seal and deliver the written instrument of writing for the purpose thereon containe and that he with Elisha B Smith saw signed the same as witnesses to the due execution thereof.

W. E. Craig
Sworn before me
the 28th day of Feby 1870
T F Mulloy
Clk Recorded 2nd March 1870
Original Dlvd to H. Craig
Chesterfield County

 

On August 15, 1870, the Elisha Davis Household is listed as Dwelling #1, Family#1 in the Courthouse Township of Chesterfield South Carolina.  Father Elisha is listed as a farmer (age 46)  with a personal estate of $110 and real estate worth $500.  Elisha passed away sometime between 1870 and 1880 as he is not listed in the 1880 census and his wife is a widow.  No record has been found of his tombstone.  Tempiebell  is listed as being a fifteen-year old which would have made her born in 1855.  Her sister Mary Jane is sixteen.  Other sisters include E B (Ellen Virginia age 12), M E (Melissa or Margaret Emmeline age 10), JS (Joe Ann age 4), A (Nancy Ardelia age 3), and H E (Harriett Ellen “Hattie” age 2).  Although some of the girls were too young, none of the older girls could read or write.  Tempiebell’s grandmother Sarah Elizabeth Parker Davis lived next door.  Other close neighbors included Gardeners and Burrs.  Elisha’s nephew and Sarah Elizabeth Parker Davis’s grandson, Fred Davis (Richard Frederick) lived nearby in Dwelling #10 with his family.

In the 1880 census , Sarah Temperance”Tempiebell” is a twenty-four year old married lady.  She has married Eldred “Dred” Gulledge around 1873.  There are three children in the household:  Mary E (age 5), Thomas (age 3), and Fanny possibly Rebecca (age 2).  Eldred is a farmer and Tempiebell  works on the farm.  The family lived in Dwelling #284 in the Courthouse District 5 in Chesterfield South Carolina.  Her next door neighbor in Dwelling #283 was her sister Margaret Emmeline Deese and her husband William George Deese.  Next door is Alexander Sandy Campbell and his wife Ellen (Tempiebell’s sister) in Dwelling #282.  He would later marry Dred and Sarah Temperance Davis Gulledge’s daughter, Rebecca.  In Dwelling #281, Tempiebell’s mother, Elizabeth Knight Davis is living with her four daughters, Mary, Joe Ann, Nancy, and Harriet.  In Dwelling  #285, Jenet White Lang is living with her family and Fred Davis (Richard Frederick) is still a close neighbor with his family in Dwelling #286.

In the 1900 census Sarah Temperance Davis Gulledge “Tempiebell”  reports she is 46 years old, has thirteen children, eight of which are living.  Her husband Samuel “Dred” Gulledge is 53.  The children in the household are Mary E (age 25), John (age 16), Moses (age 15), Joan (age 14), Minnie (age 11), Harley (age 9), Kate A (age 4) and granddaughter Sarah (age 2).  Sarah is the daughter of  twenty-five year old Mary Elizabeth or “Mollie”.  “Dred” is a farmer and the family lives in the Court House District 21 in Dwelling #319.  Sarah’s sister Margaret Emmeline lives next door with her husband William George Deese and their five children in Dwelling #319.  Sarah’s sister Joan lives in Dwelling 316 with her husband William H. Lewis and their five chidren.  Sarah’s mother Elizabeth Knight Davis lives in Dwelling #315 with her daughter Mary Jane and granddaughter Hattie J. Dees.  Sarah and Dred’s daughter Rebecca is living in Morven with her husband Alexander “Sandy”Campbell and his two teen-age sons, John Washington Campbell and Daniel Campbell.    Rebecca reports having been married three years and has no children.   John Washington Davis and his wife Malissia Pittman Davis live in Dwelling #314 with their family.

In 1902, Mother Elizabeth Knight Davis divides up her husband’s Elisha’s estate lands.  There was 269.50 acres of land  on the waters of Big Westfield Creek joining the North Carolina line which she divided up among her daughters and some of their husbands.

• 37 acres of land to Joanne Davis Lewis
• 41 acres of land to William Hamilton Lewis (Joanne’s husband) on the caveat that he provide and maintain her and daughter Mary Jane throughout their lifetimes
• 50 acres of land to William George Deese on the caveat that he provide and maintain her and daughter Mary Jane throughout their lifetimes
• 28 3/4 acres of land to Sarah Temperance Davis Gulledge
• 37 acres of land to Melissa Emmaline Davis Deese
• 42 acres of land to Nancy Ardelia Davis Campbell
• 33.75 acres of land to Hattie Ellen Davis Horn

Nancy Ardelia Davis was the last deed completed by Elizabeth Knight Davis and it was done on May 1, 1902.  Sometime after that, Elizabeth Knight Davis passed away but there is no record of where she was buried.

The following is a copy of the deed which was made to Sarah Temperance Davis Gulledge.  It is in Book 17, page 486, 487, and 488 of the Chesterfield County Register of  Deeds.

The State of South Carolina

Know all men by These Presents, That, We Elizabeth Davis, Mary Jane Davis, ME Davis, Joanne Lewis, NA Campbell and HE Horn in the state aforesaid, and Chesterfield County in consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars to us in hand paid at and before the serving of these presents by S T Gulledge in the State aforesaid and Chesterfield County the receipt whereof is hereby accomplished have guaranteed, bargained, sold and released and by these Presents do grant bargain sell and release unto the said S T Gulledge all of that certain piece parcel or tract of land situate lying and being in the aforesaid County and State on the waters of Big Westfield Creek commencing at stake West of a small branch and running S 1 1/2 degrees West 81 chains and 50 links to a Stake Thence S 88 degrees E 9 Chs 15 links to Stake at corner of field, thence N 12 degrees E 81 chs 50 links to Pine stake + 111, thence 9 chs to the Beginning Corner. The same being marked Lot No 7 on a plat made by WR Robeson in the Division of the Estate lands of Elisha Davis Deceased, Containing Twenty Eight and three fourth (28 3/4) acres more or less, The some being a portion of land alloted to hem in the division of the said Estate land. References For the aforesaid plat will more fully show boundaries to Some.
Together, with all and singular the rights, members, hereditaments and appurtances. To have and to hold all and singular the said premises belonging or an anywise incident or appertaining. To Have and To Hold all and singular the said premises before mentioned unto the said S.T. Gulledge and her Heirs and assigns forever.
And we do hereby bind ourselves and our Heirs, Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said Premises unto the said S.T. Gulledge and her Heirs and Assigns against ourselves and our Heirs and all other persons lawfully covering or to cover the some, or any part thereof. Witness our Hand and serve this 9th day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and one and in the one hundred and 25 year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Elizabeth Davis her mark Seal
J.R. Stacy M E Deese her mark Seal
J.A. Irving Joanna Lewis her mark Seal
N A Campbell her mark Seal
M E Horne her mark Seal
The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield County
Personally appeared before me J.A Irving and made oath that he saw the within named persons sign seal and as their act and deed deliver the within written deed and that he with J.R. Stacy witnessed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me this 9th Day of March A.D. 1901
R.E. Rivers Clerk of Court J.A. Irving

Recorded this 9th Day of March 1901 in Book 1 Page 45
Fee $.25
E. G. Mulloy
Chesterfield County S.C.
Record 9th March 1901

 

This plat was registered at the Chesterfield Register of Deeds in Book 36, page 25 on December 4, 1912 as the result of some unknown dispute. Of interest is Lot 2 which shows 42 acres belonging to Alex Campbell.  Alexander “Sandy” Campbell married Ellen Virginia Davis, Tempiebell’s sister.  She died before 1897.  He had two sons with Ellen Davis.  Alex “Sandy” died in 1913 but not before he remarried is first wife’s niece, Rebecca Gulledge, Tempiebell’s daughter,  Of this union was born, Bessie, Coyt, Cliff, and Ruth.

In the 1910 census Sarah Temperance reports she is 53 years old, has fifteen children, eight of which are living.  She must have been counting her two grandchildren that unmarried Mollie had (Sarah and Bill).  The children in the household are Moses (age 21), Minnie (age 18), Harley (age 15), Katie (age 13), and Bill (age 7).  Bill is a grandson but is reported as a son.  John Washington Campbell and Daniel Campbell,  Daughter Rebecca’s step sons were next door neighbor on one side.  Harry and Maggie Marshall, a young black couple were neighbors on the other side.  Also living nearby was the Mark Morris family.  Mark Morris was the son of Joseph Morris and Mary Elizabeth Burr.

In the 1920 census, Sarah Temperance Gulledge and her husband Dred Gulledge are living with her daughter Kate and her son Moses Jonathan Gulledge and his wife Maggie Culley Gulledge and son David and daughter Geneva “Tempie Belle” Gulledge.  The next door neighbors are a black farming family, Luke and Carry Bennett Marshall and their children Lila J, Louisa, and Robert L.  Niece Nancy L Marshall and nephew Arlis Marshall are also living with this family.  On the other side, the neighbors were another black family Neal McKhan and his wife Emma Little McKhan and children James, Willie and Clara.  He was also a farmer.

Tempiebell’s husband Samuel “Dred” passed away on May 10, 1921 in South Carolina at the age of 81.  His death certificate  says he is buried at the Davis Burying Ground.

Sarah Temperance “Tempiebell” Davis Gulledge died on March 9, 1922.  Her obituary  reads as follows:

From Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1928
Chesterfield County, South Carolina
James C Pigg

March 9, 1922, page 4, col.4: Mrs Temple Gulledge, who had been sick for quite a while died Tuesday night at the age of 66. She left three sons, five daughters. She is missed by a number of friends. She was laid to rest Thursday afternoon. She is gone but not forgotten. May God bless every one of her children.

There is no known tombstone for Sarah Temperance “Tempiebell” Davis or her husband, Samuel Eldred “Dred” Gulledge.  However, indirect evidence on death certificates indicates that they are buried at the Davis Family Cemetery which is located on Water Plant Road in Chesterfield.  The Cemetery is on the right in the edge of the woods where the pavement ends.  There are only a few readable tombstones in this cemetery.  These pictures were made at the cemetery on January 12, 2020.

There are several depressions where it looks like there are graves and some tombstones that are unreadable.  Other family members who are likely in this cemetery are Tempiebell’s sister Mary Jane Davis and sister  Joan Davis Lewis and her husband William Hamilton Lewis.

Children of Sarah Temperance “Tempiebell” Davis and Samuel Eldred “Dred” Gulledge are

• Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Gulledge 1875-1959 married William Benjamin White 1858-1941
•  Thomas Gulledge 1877-before 1900
•   Fanny Gulledge 1878-before 1900
•   Rebecca “Becky” Gulledge” 1878-1953 married Alexander “Sandy” Campbell 1851-     1913 and John Amos Polson 1859-1921
•   Moses Jonathan Gulledge 1881-1943 married Margaret Ann Culley 1898-1936
•   John Samuel Gulledge 1883-1930 married Massey Katherine Brock 1866-1930
•   Joan Gulledge 1886-1953 married Calvin T Tucker 1883-1942
•   Harriett Ellen “Hattie” Davis 1867-1930 married Daniel T Horne 1867-1927

References available at Rogers Family Tree on Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/34712803/family
and at Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LML8-X2P