James Davenport of Dorchester MA Family Line

Revolutionary War See Davenport Family Papers Memorial for James Davenport is in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection at Williamsburg. It reads: In Memory of James Davenport of Dorchester who died July 15th 1824 aged 64 years and 9 months and Mrs. Esther Davenport his wife who died May 18th 1834 aged 68 and 8 months. Peace to Their Departed Spirits. It has a grave monument with urn and weeping willow over it with a women crying over the monument purchased in Boston in the 1930's by Rockefeller. The photo of the booties and epaulets, a silver spoon by a Boston silversmith and a Pine Tree Shilling framed dated 1779 that James had. The spoon has the initials ID - the I is the old form

James Davenport notes My Great Grandfather, Thomas Davenport lived in Quincy (Srgt. James, James, William, Thomas, Harold) James used to sit in the wing chair in front of his fireplace with the andirons and when they got hot spit on them so the spit sizzled - lots of hatred for the Hessians as well as the British soldiers. His brother Issac (also one of Washington's Lifeguards) was killed at the massacre at Tappan, NJ of Baylor's Dragoons (3rd Continental Dragoons) by General Grey's redcoats. Their Father was Issac and James had a son he named Issac.
An Historical Sketch of Union Lodge, from 1796 to 1876The history of Dorchester gives the names of the citizens of the town who served in the Revolutionary War and among them quite a number are identical with those which appear on the Lodge books The dates and the concurrent circumstances together with the fact that Masons have always been patriotic citizens render it more than probable that several of our ancient Brethren in Dorchester were soldiers in the Continental army in the days that tried men's souls The history mentioned informs us that James Davenport then the Senior Warden of the Lodge was presented with a sword by General Lafayette and our Senior Past Master has heard the second James Davenport speak of the sword as in possession of his father.

From History of Dorchester 
Three worthy townsmen James Davenport Stephen Badlam and Wm Badlam were in the army and that the former received the present of a sword from Lafayette Prince Darby was a slave and the name Cesar Thacher seems to denote that he was one also The former was purchased by Dea Edw Pierce and Samuel Howe and his freedom given to him on the condition that he would enlist for three years

James D. (1759-1824,  8th and 9th Mass Continentals and Lafayette's Light Infantry Brigade) and wife Esther Mellish. They had 11 children.  Dorchester

James D. (1796-1852, cabinet maker), wife Abigail Dean Lord (b.1801). Dorchester

William (1831-1902), wife Abigail Newcomb Billings (1834-1907). Quincy

Thomas Billings D. (1863-1945), wife Flora Arabella Lee. Quincy

Harold Lee D. (1887-1970's), wife Miriam Hopkins Cook. Longmeadow

Miriam Davenport  (1907-2001), husband James B. Richardson Jr (1907-1995). Longmeadow

James B. Richardson (1936-). Longmeadow and Pittsburgh.

Davenport Tileston House Dorchester, MA

Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 1929 Tileston House by Earl Taylor



The Tileston House at 13 River Street was built ca. 1770 and ranks among the oldest houses in the Lower Mills West area. Although altered by vinyl siding, this house's distinctive 5-bay, 2-pile, gambrel roof form provides clues to its early origins. During the 19th century, this building was owned and occupied by Charles Tileston whose stove, heating, and plumbing store was next door on the very busy corner of River and Washington Streets.

Reader's comment:

When we look at architectural features evident in the photo, the gambrel roof, single room depth, and 5 bay facade especially the early gambrel roof) all suggest ca. 1740-1780 18th century English Georgian Style features, compatible with the proposed circa 1770 first build date. The gambrel roof first made its appearance in Massachusetts in the early 18th century Georgian Style buildings [such as the Derby and Cabot houses here in Salem]--and then was later re-introduced most strongly in the Colonial Revival (also called Georgian Revival) period after the 1876 U.S. Centennial.

The 6/6 windows, and nice Federal Style fence were evidently installed later, in the ca. 1780-1830 period after America won the Revolutionary War, to give the Tileston House the more up-to-date Federal Style associations, which became the most preferred fashion once the United States achieved Independence. Charles Bulfinch in Boston and Samuel McIntire here in Salem were two of the most influential architects and designers who helped introduce and popularize the Federal Style after the Revolutionary War, although of course others like Asher Benjamin, Jabez Smith, Samuel Melcher III and Alexander Parris (who typically worked as housewrights and builders as well as architects and designers) were also influential. Jabez Smith is known mostly here in Salem, just as fellow Federal Style housewright and designer Samuel Melcher III who also helped spread the new fashion north of Boston is known now mostly in Mid-Coast Maine. Several of Asher Benjamin's pattern books have been reprinted and are easily consulted. For a nice web site devoted to interpreting Parris's work, see
--John Goff, September 2005

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 Marriage of James Davenport and Grace Tileston

Ben Franklin portrait for Miss Sally Davenport of Newburyport

New York Times April 18, 1906

Mezzotint found and another Davenport family member Dorcas Stickney Davenport received one as well. In the library of the Masonic Temple Boston is preserved Fisher's mezzotint of Chamberlin's portrait of Franklin on the reverse of which in Franklin's hand is the inscription For Mrs Dorcas Stickney in Newbury Mrs Stickney who was his niece received Franklin's gift from Paris in 1778 with the word that the sender considered it his best portrait FRANKLIN THE BOY

Anthony Stickney eldest son Anthony Stickney was born in Newbury May 12 1724 married in Boston May 7 1747 Dorcas Davenport daughter of James and Sarah Franklin Davenport He was a Captain in the expedition to Canada under General Amherst in 1760

Stickney, Anthony (1727-1774)

Franklin’s nephew by marriage.
Chairmaker of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Franklin visited the Stickneys on his journey between Boston and Portsmouth (1763). They subsequently moved to Chester, New Hampshire (by 1772). Jane Mecom reported Stickney’s reputation as “a good for nothing Impudent Lazey Felow” (1787).
Married Franklin’s niece Dorcas Davenport (1747); six children, including Anthony Somersby Stickney, who later applied to Franklin for assistance in educating his son.

                                   Engraved by J.B. Longacre, from a painting by Martin

Judge Franklin Davenport

Originally posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 By Bryan Bonfiglio Village Green Preservation Society Blog I also included a genealogy portion after the article to include his lines from: NEHGS Volume 32

1798 Portrait of Deborah Davenport of Woodbury, NJ courtesy of  Library Company of Philadelphia's Digital Collections

It is my understanding that the Deborah Davenport pictured here is the sister of "Gloucester County's Most Famous Citizen", Franklin Davenport. Nephew of Benjamin Franklin, a Senator and a Representative from New Jersey; born in Philadelphia, Pa., in September 1755; received an academic education; studied law in Burlington, N.J.; admitted to the bar in 1776 and commenced practice in Gloucester City, N.J.; clerk of Gloucester County Court in 1776; during the Revolutionary War enlisted as a private in the New Jersey Militia, later becoming brigade major, brigade quartermaster, and in 1778 assistant quartermaster for Gloucester County; appointed colonel in the New Jersey Militia in 1779 and subsequently major general, which rank he held until his death; prosecutor of pleas in 1777; moved to Woodbury, N.J., in 1781 and continued the practice of law; appointed first surrogate of Gloucester County in 1785; member, State general assembly 1786-1789; colonel in the New Jersey Line during the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794; appointed brigadier general of Gloucester County Militia in 1796; appointed to the United States Senate as a Federalist to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Rutherfurd, and served from December 5, 1798, to March 3, 1799, when a successor was elected and qualified; elected to the Sixth Congress (March 4, 1799-March 3, 1801); was not a candidate for renomination in 1800; resumed the practice of law; appointed master in chancery in 1826; died in Woodbury, Gloucester County, N.J., July 27, 1832; interment in Presbyterian Cemetery, North Woodbury, N.J. (Stewart) Franklin Davenport was also responsible for introducing Freemasonry to Woodbury in July 1792 with the Woodbury Lodge No. 11. More on that later... (Maurada & Stewart, 1928)

The Library Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin as a subscription library supported by its shareholders, as it is to this day.

James Davenport (Ebenezer, Thomas), born Dorchester, March 1,1693; administration on his estate granted June 13, 1759 ; m. first, Sept. 30, 1715, Grace, dau. of Onesephorus Tileston, of Dorchester. She died Oct. 24, 1721, let, 27. He m. second, May 3,1722, Sarah (b. July 9, 1699), dau. of Josiah and sister of Benjamin Franklin. She d. May 23, 1731, set. 32. He m. third, Nov. 12, 1731, Mary Walker, of Portsmouth. He was an innkeeper and baker in Boston; was of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co.; appointed coroner, Jan. 7, 1741. His children, said by son John to have been twenty-two, all born in Boston, were: Sarah, b. Oct. 10, 1716; d. Dec. 6, 1716. William, b. Oct. 19, 1717; d. Sept. 2, 1773; m. April 3, 1740, Sarah, dau. of Moses Gerrish, of Newburyport, where he settled, and where most of his Davenport descendants live.Sarah, b. Jan. 2, 1719; m. March 6, 1738, Samuel Bowls, apothecary, of Boston. Elizabeth, b. March 8, 1723; d. March 15, 1809; m. first, Joseph Chapman; m. second, Col. Joseph Ingersols, from Falmouth, pub. Oct. 12, 1789. Dorcas, b. Aug. 26, 1724; m. May 7, 1747, Anthony Stickney. See history of Stickney family. Jliev, b. March 7, 1725; m. March 13,1745, John Rogers, of Boston, son of Ichabod. She had John and Anna. Josiah, h. Dec. 18, 1727; pub. June 29, 1749, to Sarah Billings, of Boston. Shed, in Philadelphia, April 1, 1751, aat. 23, ana was buried side of Dr. Benj. Franklin. He m. second, Dec. 13, 1751, Anna Annis, at Philadelphia. His son, Judge Franklin Davenport, of Woodbury, N. J., was U. S. Senator, 1798-9. Abiah, b. Oct. 2, 1729 ; pub. June 20, 1751, to John Griffith, Jr., of Portsmouth. Eleazer, h. Sept. 21, 1732. Lucy, b. Nov. 17, 1733; pub. March 27, 1745, to John Doane, of Boston. James, b. June 12, 1735. Rebecca, b. May 23, 1737; pub. June 4, 1755, to John Tucker. Ann, b. May 18, 1739. George, b. Dec. 9, 1740. Addington. b. March 17, 1742; d. May 27, 1743. Esther, b. April 19, 1744 ; d. March 18, 1801; pub. April 13, 1762, to Daniel Crosby, of Boston. Jane, b. Dec. 16, 1745; pub. Jan. 10, 1768, to Reuben Ingram. Mary, b. June 3, 1747. Addinoton, b. Feb. 6, 1749; d. June 24, 1821, Boston; m. June 16, 1805, widow Mary Barron, who d. Nov. 25, 1854, set. 90. She ne'e Melntire, of Salem, had m. first, William Brock, and m. second, William Barron. John, b. Aug. 4, 1752; d. Portsmouth, N. H., March 28, 1842. He ui. first, Elizabeth Hull, of Portsmouth; m. second, widow Elizabeth Welch, nee Pendexter, June 21, 1780; m. third, Sally Bradley, of Haverhill. His Davenport descendants in Haverhill and New York city.