The History of Jack and Sylvia Davis
Many theories have been advanced about the origin of Jack and Silvy (aka Sylvia) Kelvin Davis. At least one version suggests that he came aboard the schooner La Clotilda which sailed into Mobile Bay in August 1860. The ship came in under cover of darkness because the importation of slaves had been outlawed in 1808. Those found guilty could be subject to the gallows. Notwithstanding, the Clotilda and other ships continued the slave trade with the tacit approval of border patrol personnel who merely winked at the practice. On the open seas, however, foreign gunner ships rigidly enforced the ban. Yet the ship was able to return with human cargo of about 118 Africans who had been bought in Ouidah in what we now know as Benin, West Africa.
The ship’s manifest which listed the cargo mysteriously disappeared as did the ship, which was burned to prevent discovery by federal troops. A few names are known because they later sought and obtained citizenship rights. The captives of the Clotilda were determined to be free people.
Approximately 40 of those Africans settled in the Magazine area of Mobile County. It is believed that the remainder were either sold to plantation owners on the Alabama River or they migrated north to nearby areas such as Clarke County.
Unfortunately, there are no sources that confirm or dispute this account. However, a search of census records revealed some information that is helpful in assembling this puzzle.
The Census was instituted in 1850 when the United States started individual enumeration of persons in a household. A major political consideration was how to count slaves. Native Americans were counted as a separate group in the 1860 census. The 1870 census was the first complete enumeration of African-Americans. Previously, they were counted as the property of their owners.
The 1880 census lists Jack’s age as 40 and Silvy’s age as 40 which assumes they were born in 1840. His occupation was listed as farmer. The 1900 census, however, lists a birth year of 1835 for Jack and May, 1844 for Silvy. The census data also indicates that Silvy was caring for some other children in the household. The identity of neither the informants nor the basis for the information is known.
It is reasonable to assume that the accurate dates probably fall somewhere in between. In any event, if Jack and/or Silvy were not on the Clotilda, they were probably slaves. Slavery was abolished in Alabama January 1, 1863, the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Census Tracts show that they resided in an area of Clarke County called the Salt Works District. One of the most acute shortages during the Civil War was salt. After the war started no more salt was brought to Alabama by ships from England. Salt was needed for everyday use but especially for curing meat to feed the Confederate troops. Salt was rationed to Alabama residents.
The primary salt manufacturing area in the state was located in Mobile and Washington counties also had small manufacturing facilities. The Clarke County Salt Works were located in three areas on the Tombigbee River. More than 5,000 men worked at the salt works. Most of the labor force consisted of slaves who had been impressed (drafted) by the state from their owners. The labor force also included white men who were unable to serve in the Confederate army due to medical problems. Many deaths occurred due to malaria, which was carried by mosquitoes in the swamp lands. The slaves generally performed the heavy labor in the salt works, although some helped keep the accounts, Salt manufacturing ended at the conclusion of the war.
The 1910 Census lists Silvy as age 65 and as a member of Matthew’s household. Since Jack does not appear, it can be assumed that he died between the time of the 1900 and the 1910 census.
It is unlikely that the true and complete story of Jack and Silvy Davis will ever be known. The only record of their lives is found in the legacies of their children. Every story is one of diligence, deep faith, resourcefulness, and victory over circumstances. If the old adage “the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree” is reliable, we can assume that Jack and Silvy lived examples that enabled their children to excel.
The rest of the story is yet to be told. The remaining voices must be captured.
Sources:
Alabama Archives(www.archives.state.al.us/teacher/civilwar/civ1.html)
Clotilda Captain’s Log, University of South Alabama(USA) Archives
Clotilda Trial Documents, United States District Court, USA Archives
United States Census Records, 1870 through 1910, Washington D.C.
Elvira Bramlett