William Jefferson David

William Jefferson David was born October 25, 1834, in Campbell County, Tennessee, the son of Sampson David and Mary Brown Bridgman.

The 1840 Campbell County, Tennessee census shows William as a male 5-10 years old.

The 1850 Campbell County census shows 15 year old William at home with his parents and siblings.

William married Rachel Stanfield about 1858, probably in Tennessee. Rachel was born December 8, 1840, in Campbell County, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of James Sampson Stanfield and Hannah Rosanna Broyles.  

James Stanfield was born May 8, 1815, in Knox County, Kentucky, the son of Sampson Lafayette Stanfield (b. 1768, NC; d. 1837, KY) and Nancy Elizabeth Thomas (b. 1770; d. 1855).  James Stanfield died September 12, 1886, in Sebastian County, Arkansas.  Hannah Rosanna Broyles was born in 1818. 

Children of James Stanfield and Hannah Broyles included: (1) Sampson L. Stanfield, b. abt 1837, KY; (2) Nancy Stanfield, b. abt 1838, TN; m. James F. David (William's brother); (3) Rachel Stanfield, b. 1840, TN; (4) Elizabeth Stanfield, b. abt 1842, TN; m. William T. Bridgman (my great grandfather); (5) Aaron Allen Stanfield, b. 1844, TN; m. Annie Elizabeth David (William Jefferson's sister); (6) Mary Ann Stanfield, b. abt 1846, TN; (7) Sarah Jane Stanfield, b. abt 1848, TN; (8) Felix Stanfield, b. abt 1850, TN; (9) Susan Josephine Stanfield, b. abt 1856, GA and (10) William Calvin Stanfield, b. abt 1859, AR.

William's parents moved to Walker County, Georgia prior to 1860.  William and Rachel were also in Georgia for a short time around 1858-1859, before moving to Arkansas about 1860.  Census records indicate that William's brother James was also in Georgia during that time.

William and Rachel settled in Izard County, Arkansas.  The 1860 Izard County census, Sylamore Township, shows William J. David, 25, a farmer, real property valued at $200, personal property valued at $125, born in Tennessee; Rachel, 20, born in Tennessee and Sampson, 1, born in Georgia. Living next door was William's brother, James F. David and his family.   (James was married to Rachel's sister Nancy.)

Records show that both William and his brother James enlisted in the 27th Arkansas Confederate Infantry in Izard County.

William was captured and held as a POW in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  He died in the POW camp at Indianapolis on February 20, 1864.  William's brother died in Missouri during the War.

Rachel married James A. Copeland about 1867, in Arkansas.   James Copeland was born about 1840, in Tennessee. 

Rachel and James appear on the 1870 Washington County, Arkansas, Cane Hill Township.  The census shows  J. A. Copeland, 30, laborer; Rachel, 30; S. L., 11, male, b. GA; J. M., 9, male, AR; A. A., 7, male, AR; M. F. David, 9, female, AR; W. A. Copeland, 2, male, AR and W. E. Copeland, 5/12, male, AR.   At this time we do not know the identity of M. F. David.

The 1880 Sebastian County, Arkansas census, Washburn Township, shows James Copeland, 40, carpenter; Rachel, 40, wife; Wesley, 12, son; William, 10, son; Preston B., 6, son and Nettie M., 4, daughter.   Rachel's three oldest children were living and working on farms not far from where Rachel and James were living.   Rachel's father was also living in the area.   The census shows  Sampson David, 20, born in Arkansas, working as a farm laborer, listed with the William Awalt family.  Listed as living near-by and working on the farm of the widow Mary McKelly was Thomas David, 17, born in Arkansas.  They were living near their grandfather, James Stanfield, who had settled in Arkansas about 1860.  Living and working on the farm of Joseph Parker a short distance away was their brother James David, 19, born in Arkansas.

James Copeland died prior to 1900.  Rachel moved to Texas prior to 1900.

  The 1900 Wise County, Texas census shows  Rachel Copeland, born January 1840, 60, married 2 times, had given birth to 7 children, 6 children were still living, owned her house free of debt.  Living with her was her son Preston B., born May 1873, 27, single, a day laborer. 

The 1910 Young County, Texas census shows Preston B. Copeland, 37, married 1 time, married 1 year, in his own retail drug business, rented his house; Neva, wife, 23, married 1 time, had given birth to no children, b. AR; Rachel, mother, 70, widowed and Homer David, nephew, 23, single, b. AR, worked in the coal mines.

Rachel died January 18, 1912, in Texas.

 Children of William David and Rachel Stanfield

Children of James Copeland and Rachel (Stanfield) David