Lost woman found: Rachel Savannah Davis McKinney Barnes

To be clear: there is no direct proof that this woman is related to Mary Ann Green McKinney (MAGM) or Britta Ann Green McGuire Flinn (BAGMF). DNA  and other documentary evidence have revealed other Green family members, but so far, nothing firm on this branch. I wish...

Yet—lots of circumstantial evidence lead me to believe that Savannah is the niece of Mary Ann and Britta. One fact may be a co-incidence. Two, same. But when you start hitting three, four and five facts that connect, there are enough connections to form a good theory. My experience has been that these theories usually turn out to be true. 

First, some background:

I believe that Mahala Green is the sister of MAGM and BAGMF. I have shared very little about Mahala Green, who was born 1826 in NC and married James B. Davis May 26, 1844, in Shelby County. I've kept her info close, wanting to be the one who "found" her and proved her connection to the Mary Ann and Britta. More on Mahala in another post. This blog entry is about Mahala's daughter.

The person I found was Savannah Davis:

Rachel Savannah (or vice versa) Davis was born born in Alabama in 1859. I have yet to find the Green-Davises in the 1850 Census. NP because Rachel Savannah doesn't even appear till 1859. Here's the entry for the 1860 Census:

In the 1860 US Census for AL, James B. Davis is in Talladega County, AL. He is 37, a laborer, born SC, no money. Also in the household are Mahala, 34, born NC, Mary, 15, Geo. W., 12, William, 10, Atlanta, 4, and Rachel, 1. All children born AL. 

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4211197_00406?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&lang=en-US&pId=12662155

By 1870 Mahala and Savannah are living in Shelby County by themselves. James B. died early in that year. I have yet to find anyone else from that family living. Moreover, Mahala and Savannah are living next door to Edward Carleton, where Britta was living in 1866. 

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7163&iid=4257737_00244&fn=Mahala&ln=Davis&st=d&ssrc=&pid=12428438

You may remember from earlier posts that MAGM had probably died around 1872, because her husband John P. McKinney married Mrs. L. F. Morgan April 14, 1872. Son Abraham Early (A.E.) McKinney appeared as a bondsman on the license. 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-YCST-4V?i=929&cc=1743384&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXTWK-XZ1

The McKinneys had moved to LeFlore County, MS, by 1876, because in that year Savannah Davis married A. E. McKinney (probably her first cousin) in Leflore County, MS. 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-N751-7?i=402

The McKinneys are in LeFlore County for the 1880 Census. (Digression: L. F. McKinney is in LeFlore as well, but living separately). This is the entry:

In the 1880 US Census for MS, K.P. McKinney is 71, born SC, in LeFlore County, Beat 3, District 135, widowed. Parents born SC. Also in the household are daughter J or I Quinnon and son-in-law John Quinnon. Both born AL. Daughter Sarah Ellen and husband J. Pinkney Lemly are on the page after them in LeFlore County. Daughter J. is born AL, parents born SC, John Quinnon is born AL, parents born AL. 

http://interactive.ancestry.com/6742/4241783-00560/9502153?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3d1880usfedcen%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dms_db%26gsln%3dmckinney%26msrpn__ftp%3dLeflore%252c%2bMississippi%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn%3d1733%26msrpn_PInfo%3d7-%257c0%257c1652393%257c0%257c2%257c3246%257c27%257c0%257c1733%257c0%257c0%257c%26dbOnly%3d_83004005%257c_83004005_x%26dbOnly%3d_83004006%257c_83004006_x%26dbOnly%3d_F000279A%257c_F000279A_x%26uidh%3dwy5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

Mahala Antoinette McKinney had married John Quillan in 1879.

So, knowing that Abraham had married Savannah in 1876, where were they in 1880?

Best guess is that Abraham Early died around 1878. Because: 

In 1879 Mrs. Savanah McKinney (listed as Lavinah, reads as Savanah) married James Frank Barnes:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-N7BX-8

And, further:

In the 1880 Census Savannah is living as Savannah Barnes with Frank in Leflore County, MS. They have a son James, 1:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4241783-00559?backlabel=ReturnSearchResults&queryId=c5554da8c1fd41382bc58a4f9bf5ae9d&pId=8647898

FOUND HER!

That’s as far as I have gotten. 

Everything needs more research. 

But isn’t that the fun of genealogy???