Barnabas Branham and Lavina Davis
Barnabas Branham lived most of his adult life in Clinton County, apart from one relatively short period he moved his family to Missouri and another when he enlisted in the Confederate cavalry in Tennessee at the outbreak of the Civil War. Barnabas married Lavina Davis, probably around 1841 and probably in either Clinton or Cumberland Counties. We know from the entries for several of Barnabas and Lavina's children in the 1852-59 Clinton County birth register that her surname was Davis, and we have identified her parents as John Davis and Nancy Hamilton from Clinton County Deed Records.
Barnabas first appears in census records in 1840, when he is enumerated living alone in Clinton County; he may also have been enumerated in his father's household, as well, since George Branham's entry also shows a male, 15-20 (Barnabas's age). Around 1848, Barnabas moved his young family to Dodge (now Putnam) County in Missouri, where his family lived two houses away from his brother-in-law Hamilton Davis and about seven houses away from his wife's aunt, Elizabeth Davis McCollum. Barnabas was a farmer at this time, although he did not own his own land. His first son, George, was born probably in Putnam County in 1849. However, by 1855, Barnabas had returned to Clinton County, where his son James was born. Barnabas worked as a trader (possibly with the financial support of his father, George Branham, who loaned him $2,200).
At the start of the Civil War, Barnabas enlisted as a 40-year-old in Company F/A, 4th (Murray's) Tennessee Cavalry at Camp Myer, TN and by 31 August 1862 began appearing as a Bvt 2nd LT on the muster rolls. He also was listed on the muster rolls for Company D, 1st Confederate Cavalry in early 1863, as a 3rd LT. By 30 May 1863, he submitted a letter of resignation (which gives his birthdate), complaining that he had not been paid his bounty and that he was not well. He appears to have remained with his unit, however, because he was captured on 14 September 1863 at Ringgold GA; he was sent to Louisville with other prisoners and was discharged on 26 October 1863. According to "Early Times," which cites a letter from his daughter, Louisa Jane Branham Lee, Barnabas died on 18 September 1866 in Greenwood, Pulaski (now McCreary), KY; according to George Branham's 1873 will, Barnabas had already died.
We have not yet located Lavina Branham in the 1870 census, but in 1880, a Lavina Branam is enumerated in Overton County, TN (just over the state line), along with daughters Margaret E. Branham and Helen and grandson James P. Branam. According to "Early Times,", she died in 1898.
Barnabas Branham (27 Oct 1821, prob. Roane, TN - 18 Sep 1866, Greenwood, Pulaski (now McCreary), KY)
m. ca. 1841, probably Clinton Co KY
Lavina Davis (b. 1826, KY - d. Jul 1898, residence unknown)
Children:
i. Serena Angeline Branham (1842-1923); m. William Huff
ii. Louisa Jane Branham (1844-1932); m. Anderson Lee
iii. Savannah Malvina Branham (1847-1905); m. ?
iv. George Branham (1849-by 1900); m. Sarah E. Lawrence
v. Manirva Branham (1851-d. 28 May 1854, Clinton Co, KY)
vi. Milton Branham (Jun 1852-Dec 1852, Clinton Co, KY)
vii. John Branham (20 Jun 1853-12 Jul 1853)
vi. James K. Polk Branham (1855-aft 1860)
ix. Maryetta P. Branham (1858-aft 1860); m. John Pleasants
x. Margaret Ellen Branham (1863-aft 1880)
xi. Ruetta Helen Branham (1865-aft 1880)