GAVIN

Family History

PLEASE
We need your help to continue GAVIN family research.
We ask that you commit to research and share your
family history so we can connect to one another.

Send photos, documents, and other findings to

smorgan@ourblackancestry.com

This booklet was developed by

Sharon Leslie Morgan
A descendant of Robert Lewis GAVIN and Bettie WARFE
Founder of Our Black Ancestry
Mississippi Roots Run Deep
www.OurBlackAncestry.com
 RELATED SURNAMES

Here are names of families who frequently married GAVIN:

BANKHEAD
BILLUPS
BREWER
BYRD
CARPENTER
CONNOR
COTTON
DANTZLER
DOUGLAS
DUNN
HORTON
KOGER
MACON
NICHOLSON
STRODE

If you have information about any of these families, please share.

 LOOKING FOR CONNECTIONS IN MEMORIAM
Dr. James Edward Baker
Research has made it clear that ALL GAVINs in MS are related.
With that in mind, here are some people we are researching
(1921-2014)
and hope to bring into the family fold:

Archer GAVIN of (Noxubee) MS (1855-????)

His parents were Edmund GAVIN (1820-????) and Caroline GAVIN (1818-
????) — both on the GAVIN slave list. He married Rebecca UNKNOWN
(1858-???). His children were Edmund (1877), Nathaniel (1879), and Green
(1883).

Calvin GAVIN of Laurel (Jones) MS (1875-1963)

His parents were Moses GAVIN (1845) and Harriet UNKNOWN (1841). He
married twice—Cordella DAVIDSON (1875) and Lucinda UNKNOWN
(1885). His children were: Quincy (1893), Herbert (1895), Mamie (1899),
Wannie (1900), Lee (1905), Corine (1905), Lurline (1906), Herman (1910),
Chalmus (1909), Beatrice (1910), and Geneva (1913).
Johnnie GAVIN of (Jasper) MS (1901-1987)
His parents were Bural GAVIN (????) and Ella UNKNOWN (????). He was
married to Lula CONNOR (1901). His children were Ella Mae (????), SL
(1930), JC (1935), Lucilla (1936), Virgan (1930), Arlethia (1931), and James
(1939).
Sandy T. GAVIN of Laurel (Jones) MS (1867-1902)
 Born, West Point MS
 BS, City College of New York
 MD, Meharry Medical College
 Psychiatry Residency, VA Hospital, Topeka KA
 Staff psychiatrist, VA Center, Togus ME
 Chief, Staff Training Program, VA Hospital, Lyons NJ
 Chief of Staff, VA Hospital, Northhampton MA
 Hospital Director, VA Hospital, Battle Creek MI
 Hospital Director, VA Hospital, Brockton MA
 Retired, Williamsburg VA

His parents are unknown. He was the principal of a city school. His children SOURCE: Living Legends in Black by J. Edward Baily III, 1976
included Sandy Jr. (1890-1974). There may be others that are unknown. Sandy
Jr. married Martha UNKNOWN. His children were Milton (1913), Marvin Dr. Baker grew up with his grandmother, Georgianna McGHEE GAVIN
(1916), Stella (1918), Fannie (1920), and Myrtle (1922). (wife of Sebern GAVIN), in West Point MS.

An avid genealogist, he paved the way for all of us to appreciate our legacy.
West GAVIN of Moss (Jasper) MS (1858-????)

His parents are unknown. He married May UNKNOWN (1878). His children
were Thomas (1887), Byot (1891), Rogers (1896), Henrietta (1898), Willie
(1904), and “Baby” (1910). “You are not dead as long as someone remembers your name.”
African Proverb
 JAMES GAVIN
(1865-1915)

James GAVIN remains a mystery.

There are two death certificates for him.

On both, his father is named as George GAVIN (son of John Edward GAVIN,
brother of Robert Lewis GAVIN).
His mother was Victoria HUBBARD GAVIN.

A preacher & farmer, he fathered 19 children with two wives —

Emma NICHOLSON & Rose JORDAN

Nickolson (1885)
Pearl (1885)
Ebner (1887)
Queenette (1888)
Ella (1889)
Naida (1892)
Loreen (1892)
Alberta (1894)
James (1895)
Nina (1897)
Gus (1899)
George (1899)
Sadie (1902)
Iona (1902)
Napolean (1903)
John (1909)
Ernest (1911)
Joseph (1914)
Curtis (1914)

There is no researcher dedicated to James GAVIN.

However, information can be sent to
smorgan@ourblackancestry.com
 COLUMBUS (Lum) GAVIN
(1868-1937)

The African American GAVINs of Noxubee County MS descend from

enslaved people — with a large admixture of genes inherited from
The above photo is NOT Columbus GAVIN but his son Claude (1885-1961). white GAVIN men who fathered children with enslaved women.
Although there is a death certificate for Columbus GAVIN, The white GAVINs with whom we are associated likely originated in
the names of his parents are not recorded. Ross & Cromarty County in Scotland. Their patriarch, Charles GAVIN
It is likely he was the brother or half-brother of James GAVIN.
I came to America in 1695. Led by Dennis MacCLENDON, he was in a
A farmer, he fathered 18 children with two wives — party of 12 who migrated from Scotland/Ireland > Barbados > America.
Mary HUBBARD & Margaret SMITH.
Charles I married Dennis’ daughter, Mary. The men in the party were
Claude (1885) granted “headrights” — 100 acres of land — that put them on the road
Abbie (1888) to prosperity. Charles settled in (Bertie) NC, where Charles grew his
Fannie (1891) bounty by accumulating more than 1,000 acres of land. His descendants
Mollie (1892) dispersed to Bertie, Lancaster and Colleton counties in NC/SC and then
Chatman (1897) onward to AL, MS, and FL where they owned plantations and enslaved
Chappell (1898) many people. After the Civil War, some moved to Brazil, where they
Columbus B (1898)
established a community of “Confederados”.
Richmond (1899)
Lula (1903)
Frank (1903) The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which ceded Choctaw lands to the
Moses (1905) US government in 1830, provided the impetus for GAVIN migration to
Alberta (1908) MS. Eight GAVIN brothers settled in Green, Perry, Clarke, Jasper, and
Lucinda (1912) Noxubee counties. Brothers who moved to MS/AL were John Edward,
Woodrow (1915) Charles Smith, Absolom Andrew, Allen, Abraham Andrews, Bartlett
Lillie (1916) Smith, Augustus, and Gabriel West. Collectively, they enslaved a core
Lubertha (1917) community of 183 people.
Bessie (1922)
Columbus (Kinch) (1923)
At least three GAVIN brothers (or their sons), fathered children with
enslaved women: Robert Lewis GAVIN, Gabriel West GAVIN, and
Clevlyn Bankhead ANDERSON is the primary researcher for Lum GAVIN. George Poindexter GAVIN. There are likely others who have not yet
Please send any information you have to been identified.
clevlyn@bellsouth.net

Gavan, Gaven, Gavin is an English, Welsh, Scottish, and sometimes Irish

surname. The most famous association of the name is with Sir Gawaine, one of the knights of
the roundtable at the court of King Arthur.
 People Enslaved by the GAVIN Family SEBORN (Sebe) GAVIN
(1846-1901)
When Charles GAVIN V died in Perry County MS in 1824, he willed slaves to
his wife Margaret HORGER. When she died in 1853, they were distributed to
his children. These are people named in the will and distribution reports of the
Charles GAVIN estate. People colored in green have been added to our
GAVIN family tree. People noted in red are Mulatto = mixed race.

Name Parent Color Bdate Bplace

Seborn GAVIN was the son of Gabriel West GAVIN (brother of planter John
Chloe SC Edward GAVIN) and Harriet GAVIN (held in slavery by his brother Abraham
Aaron Nancy (1828) B 1842 MS Andrews GAVIN in Jasper County). His stepfather was Martin GAVIN, who
Abby Friday (SC) B 1825 VA was enslaved by Bartlett Smith GAVIN in Choctaw County, Alabama.
Abel B 1821
Abner B 1831
Abram Rose (1821) B 1849 Seborn farmed his own land in Noxubee County and had two wives —
Abram B 1830 MS Martha Ann JONES & Georgie Anna McGHEE
Adney America (1830) male 1846 with whom he fathered 12 children:
Ailsey B 1842 MS
Albert John (1820) B 1858 MS
Aletha Caroline (1823) B 1852 Seborn (1862)
Alice Russel (1837) B 1863 MS William (1871)
Amanda B Emma (1872)
Amanda B 1843 MS
Amanda B 1862 MS Charley (1874)
Amandy B 1845 Mary (1875)
America Joseph (1822) B 1856 MS Fanny (1877)
America Peg (1798) B 1830 Emmet (1881)
Amos Russel (1837) B 1862 MS
Anabel B 1833 Johnnie (1887)
Ann B 1831 Lula (1889)
Ann B 1832 MS Rachal (1890)
Ann B 1834 MS Lillie (1892)
Ann B 1841 NC
Ann B 1855 MS Susie (1893)
Anna Perry (1813) B 1852 MS
Anna Joseph (1822) B 1865 MS When Seborn’s land holdings were challenged after his death, a third wife
Archer B 1855 MS (Nancy GAVIN) was presented in court. Proof of marriage has not been found.
Betsy Nathaniel (1835) B 1858 MS
Betty B 1840 VA
Bill Peg (1798) B 1811 Seborn had three siblings (fathered by Gabriel GAVIN with Harriett GAVIN):
Bill B 1805 John Henry (1854), Gabral (1856), and Ider (1862)
Bill B 1844 There were also three more siblings fathered with Harriet by husband Martin:
Booker B 1842 MS
Caroline Rachel (1802) B 1823 Melissa (1865), Charles C. (1870), and Adna (1883).
Caroline B 1818 AL
Catherine Betty (1840) Mu 1859 MS Now that Dr. Baker has passed on, research on Seborn is continued by
Charles B 1785 SC smorgan@ourblackancestry.com
Charles B 1793
Chloe B 1845 MS
Clara B 1859 MS
Clarissa Cloe (1819) B 1849
Cloe Peg (1798) B 1819
 Name Parent Color Bdate Bplace
BETTIE WARFE/GAVIN David B 1859 MS
(1840-1917) Delilah
Dicey
B
B
1829
1844
MS

Dick B 1832
Edd Ann (1831) B
Edmond Nathaniel (1835) B 1860 MS
Edward B 1820 AL
Edward B 1820 MS
Edward B 1825 MS
Edwin Mu 1860 MS
Ella B 1863 MS
Bettie WARFE was born in Virginia and brought to Noxubee County as a nine Ellen/Ellender Hannah (1788) B 1828
year old slave of John WARF, who sold her to Allen GAVIN. Emily Ann (1831) B 1852
Emily Joseph (1822) B 1852 MS
Evaline B 1830 TN
She had a 38 year relationship and bore 17 children with Robert Lewis GAVIN Evan B
(son of John Edward GAVIN and nephew of Allen and Gabriel GAVIN). Fayette Henry (1842) Mu 1861 MS
Flora B 1835 VA
Frances Cloe (1819) B 1846
She lived next door to Allen, Gabriel & Robert Lewis GAVIN. Frances B 1827 GA
In the 1870 census, she was noted as “farmhamd.” George Henry (1842) Mu 1865 MS
In 1880, her status was elevated to “housekeeper.” George B 1838
Green Cloe (1819) B 1847
Hannah B 1815 NC
These are 12 children of Bettie who have been identified and researched. Hannah B 1850 MS
It is assumed that 5 others died, unrecorded in public documents. Hannah B 1788
Harriet Rachel (1802) B 1819
Catherine (1858) Harriet B 1832
Harriet B 1844 AL
Owen (1861) Harriet B 1845 MS
Mary (1864) Harriet B 1858 MS
William Henry (1868) Harris B
Bettie Pauline (1869) Henry B 1842 MS
Henry B 1853 MS
Ella (1870) Horace Caroline (1823) B 1848 MS
Augustus (1874) Isabella B 1810 VA
Margaret (1876) Isham B
Fee (1878) Jackson Nathaniel (1835) B 1863 MS
Jane B 1825 MS
Ida (1879) Jane B 1838-1840
Essie (1880) SC
Pattie Pearl (1883) Jim B 1780
Jimmy M. Victory (1838) Mu 1865 MS
Jinny Phebe (1830) B
Joanna B 1864 MS
The researcher for Bettie WARFE/GAVIN is Sharon Leslie Morgan, Joel Hannah (1788) B 1824
her great great granddaughter. Joel Phebe (1830) B 1848
smorgan@ourblackancestry.com John B 1820 VA
Joseph B 1822 MS
Joshua Peter (1820) B 1861 MS
Julia Edward (1820) B 1856 MS
Kate/Josephine Abraham (1830) B 1865 MS
Name Parent Color Bdate Bplace Name Parent Color Bdate Bplace

Lauler B 1828 Sam B 1813

Letty B 1812 Sandy male B 1811
Lila B Sandy B 1833
Lilly Henry (1842) Mu 1859 MS Sarah Cloe (1819) B 1848
Lilly John (1820) B 1863 MS Sarah B 1845 MS
Lissie Mu 1857 MS Sarah B 1858 MS
Louisa Perry (1813) B 1855 MS Seaborn Phebe (1830) B 1847
Louisa B Sebern Harriet (1832) Mu 1845 MS
Lucinda B 1839 Sedee America (1830) B
Lucy John (1820) B 1853 MS Silas B
Lydia Perry (1813) B 1851 MS Simon B 1845
Manda Silas & Lila B 1849 Sisle B
Margaret B 1858 MS Susan Joseph (1822) B 1854 MS
Martha B 1838 Susan B 1820 GA
Martha B 1845 MS Susan Nicy (1810) B 1822 AL
Martha B 1855 MS Susan B 1830 SC
Martin Hannah (1788) B 1822 Susy B 1822
Mary Betty (1840) Mu 1864 MS Thomas B 1845 MS
Mary Perry (1813) B 1849 SC Thyer B 1832
Mary B 1831 Tune B 1812
May male B 1816 Victory B 1838 MS
Mildred B 25 Feb 1831 Virginia Phebe (1830) B 1851
Milley B 1813 Virginia B 1848 VA
Mingo B 1837 William B 1856 MS
Mose B 1832 MS William John (1820) B 1855 MS
Moses Peg (1798) B 1828 MS William Silas & Lila B 1853
Nancy Rachel (1802) B 1828 William B 1856 MS
Nancy B 1822 MS William B 1814 SC
Nancy B William B 1843 VA
Nancy Abraham (1830) B 1863 MS William B 1810 SC
Nancy B 1868 MS Wilson Edward (1820) B 1862 MS
Nathan Peg (1798) B 1824 MS
Nathan B 1847 MS
Nathaniel B 1835 LA
Nicy B 1810 GA
Owen Betty (1840) Mu 1860 MS
Patience Rose (1821) B 1851
Patsy B
Peg B 1798
Perry B 1817 MS
Peter Cloe (1819) B 1852
Peter B
Peter B 1820 TN
Peter B 1848 MS NOTE
Phebe Hannah (1788) B 1830
Preston Joseph (1822) B 1861 MS
Primus B 1839 Dates in parenthesis are birthdates.
Rachael John (1820) B 1861 MS
Rachel B 1803 SC Throughout this booklet, there are discrepancies in ages/
Rachel B 1822 birthdates because public documents vary in their information.
Rebecca B 1858 MS
Richard Aaron (1842) B 1863 MS
Robert Edward (1820) B 1864 MS
Robert John (1820) B 1865 MS
Rose Rachel (1802) B 1821
Rufus John (1820) B 1857 MS