Jane Davies Wallis Willcox (1815-1885)

Robert J. Willcox’s widow, Jane Davies Wallis Willcox, was born on September 4, 1815, in Columbia, Tennessee,¹ to Virginia natives Robert Wallis² and Margaret “Peggy” Davies Morriss.³  Jane was related to some notable people through her mother’s side of the family.  Her great-grandfather, Samuel Davies, was the fourth president of Princeton University and a Presbyterian minister.⁴  Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, was one of her distant cousins and contemporaries.⁵

Jane was 37 years old when Robert died.  She had several children still living at home and it is likely that she was pregnant with their youngest child, Josephine, at his death.  No doubt the older children were required to help their mother with many things, including caring for the younger children.  Ann, the oldest, was 20 years old and Chiles, the oldest son, was 18. 

WIDOWHOOD

It wasn’t long before Jane pulled up stakes in Louisiana and made her way back to Dallas County, Arkansas, with her children in tow.  In 1853 (month unknown), less than a year after Robert’s death, Jane bought 480 acres in western Dallas County, Arkansas, in sections 1, 12, and 13 of Township 9 South, Range 15 West.⁶ Some of this land stayed in the Willcox family until 1998.  That’s 145 years! This property was about 25 miles due west from the property Robert bought near Princeton in 1845.

In November 1853, Jane executed her rights under Robert’s will and loaned “a certain negro girl named Ursa of dark color and aged about ten years” to her daughter, Martha E. Cox, with the stipulation that the girl be returned “for the purpose of making the equal distributions among the heirs” of Robert J. Willcox or “for any other purpose.”⁷

The following year, Jane received three disbursements on behalf of Robert from the estate of Nancy Ann McGee totaling $3,617.  The last disbursement was made in November 1854.⁸ This was a considerable amount of money in 1854.

In 1857, Jane bought 80 acres for $100 from the United States under the Land Act of 1820.  The land was located in Section 12, adjacent to land she already owned in Section 12.⁹

In January 1859, Jane again executed her rights under Robert’s will and gave her newly married daughter, Margaretta (Margaret) J. Pride, “a certain negro boy named Frederick, aged about twelve years.”  This was a portion of Margaretta’s share of Robert’s estate.¹⁰

By 1860, two of Jane’s daughters, Ann¹¹ and Margaret,¹² had married and Chiles, Robert, Harriet Ella, Elizabeth, and Josephine are still living at home with their mother.  The 1860 U.S. census records show that Jane was a farmer and a slaveholder.  Her real estate was valued at $5,000 and her personal estate valued at $7,850.¹³ She also owned six slaves and three slave houses.¹⁴

WAR TIME

The 1860s started out joyfully when Jane’s son, Chiles, married Susanna Rambo in 1861.¹⁵  By this time, six grandchildren had entered Jane’s life and I’m sure she was expecting to have more on the way.  But clouding this joy was the Civil War looming over the country.  All three of Jane’s sons joined the effort for the South but only two returned home.  Jane’s youngest son, Robert Willcox, was killed on the battlefield at Corinth, Mississippi in October 1862.¹⁶  He was only 22 years old.  This terrible news came right on the heels of the marriage of his sister, Harriet Ella, in September.¹⁷  Tragedy struck again when Harriet died just a few short years after her marriage and birth of her two children.

With the Civil War over, Jane no longer had slaves to work her land.  In 1867, Jane entered into employment contracts with Freedmen Nelson Heflin and Frank Morgan under the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.  Most likely, these men were Jane’s former slaves. Under the terms of the contract, she furnished the land, team (mules for plowing), farming tools and food for the team. The employees were to keep the farm in repair, care for the stock, cultivate the garden and keep the family in wood.  They could keep half of what they raised on Jane’s land.¹⁸

As the farming had been taken care of by the Freedmen, Jane’s profession in 1870 is “keeping house” instead of “farmer.”  Living with her in the 1870 census are her daughters Annie (presumably a widow) and Josephine.¹⁹  Jane’s daughter, Bettie, had married her first cousin, Robert Strother Wallis, earlier that year.²⁰ 

ROBERT’S ESTATE IS SETTLED

The Dallas County Chancery Court records a decision in 1871 whereby the final distribution of Robert’s estate takes place and Jane satisfies a debt to her son, Chiles.²¹  Jane and her two youngest children, Bettie and Josephine, are the plaintiffs in the case.  The defendants are Jane’s remaining children, Chiles, Ann, Martha, Margaret and James plus Susan and William Holloway, the children of Jane’s deceased daughter, Harriet.

The only asset left in Robert’s estate was the 560 acres that Jane owned.  The slaves belonging to the estate had been freed and all other assets had been advanced to the heirs.  All of Robert’s heirs except for his youngest children, Bettie and Josephine, had received advances on the estate more than equal to their whole interest in the estate.  In addition, Jane was “largely indebted” to Chiles with no means to repay other than the land.

The decision was for Jane to give Chiles 80 acres to settle the debt, which he consented to accept, and to give the remaining 480 acres to Bettie and Josephine.

JANE’S REMAINING YEARS

It would seem that Jane was now at the mercy of her children to continue to live on the land that she gave to them and perhaps she did for a time.  The two daughters that were living with her in 1870 married and presumably moved away with their husbands.  Ann married in 1873²² and Josephine married in 1877.²³  By the 1880 census, Jane is living with her daughter and son-in-law (Robert and Bettie Wallis) in Arkadelphia²⁴ where she remained until her death on December 3, 1885.²⁵  I have not found an obituary for Jane.

BURIAL

Jane is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in line with her daughter, Josephine Willcox Anderson, and son-in-law, Thomas Franklin Anderson.

(See posts in chronological order)

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1. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6839859/jane-davies-willcox: accessed 26 August 2026), “Jane Davies Wallis Willcox” (1815 – 1885), memorial created by “Pat Hall,” with tombstone image by “PWP”; citing Rose Hill Cemetery, Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas. ↩︎
2. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16543996/robert-wallis: accessed 26 August 2026), “Robert Wallis” (1765 – 1846) memorial created by “Mary Bob McClain,” with tombstone image by “Marilyn Whittemore Adams”; citing Rose Hill Cemetery, Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee. ↩︎
3. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16544021/margaret_d-wallis: accessed 26 August 2026), “Margaret D Wallis” (1785 – 1858) memorial created by “Mary Bob McClain,” with tombstone image by “Marilyn Whittemore Adams”; citing Rose Hill Cemetery, Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee.; Davis, Harry Alexander, Wallis & Willcox, descendants of Martha (4) Davies; supplement to The Davis family (Davies & David) (Washington, D.C.: Typewritten copy, 1928), 1, 3; digitized at FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/43233-wallis-walcox-descendants-of-martha-4-davis-a-supplement-to-the-davis-family-davies-david : accessed 30 June 2026) ↩︎
4. Encyclopedia of Virginia; William Bland Whitley (Charlottesville, Virginia) Samuel Davies (1723–1761) (https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/davies-samuel-1723-1761/ : 26 August 2026). ↩︎
5. Davis, Harry Alexander, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: Genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania, (Washington, D. C.: Compiled and Published by Harry Alexander Davis, 1927), 79, 96; digitized at FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org/library/books/idviewer/931783 : accessed 26 August 2026). ↩︎
6. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Chancery Record, v. A,” 344, J. D. Wilcox, 19 April 1871; imaged “Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957,” database with images FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6GYZ-GQ4/: accessed 26 August 2026) > 004326326 > image 247 of 325; citing Dallas County Chancery Court, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
7. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Deed Record B, Dallas County,” 413-4, Jane Wilcox, 18 November 1853; imaged “Deeds, 1845-1887; index, 1845-1931,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37F-Y3PK-5: accessed 29 July 2026) > Deeds, v. B 1847-1855 > image 278-9 of 361; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
8. “Tennessee, Probate Court Files, 1795-1955,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-6H9N-XH/: accessed 26 August 2026) > Maury > Probate Court, Estate records > 1808-1950 > White, George W. – Wilson, William H. > image 1773 of 3038 > entry for Robert J. Willcox, 30 June 1854; citing county archives, Tennessee. ↩︎
9. “United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-HRFP/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Arkansas > Vol 42 > image 75 of 198, Jane D. Wilcox, 15 July 1857; citing Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, Washington D.C. ↩︎
10. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Deed Record D, 1858-1861,” 167-8, Jane D. Wilcox, 1 January 1859; imaged “Deeds, 1845-1887; index, 1845-1931,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37F-YQDS-V/: accessed 26 August 2026) > Deeds, v. C-D 1855-1861 > image 583 of 755; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
11. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book A, Whites, 1845-1854,” 151, Benjamin Abbott and Ann J. Wilcox, 7 September 1854; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DBGS-282/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. Marr. records, whites (index with this vol. not filmed due to copyright; partially indexed [from Aug. 1846] above), v. A, 1845-1854 > image 538 of 887; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
12. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book B, 1854-1895,” 44, Jno H. Pride and M. Wilcox, 28 January 1858; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DHP9-YTH/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. marr. records, colored, v. A, 1866-1874; Dallas Co. marr. records, v. B, 1854-1895 > image 158 of 335; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
13. 1860 U.S. Census, Dallas County, Arkansas, population schedule, Manchester, page 12 (unmarked), dwelling 83, family 83, Jane D. Willcox; imaged, “1860 United States Federal Census,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1473181/ : accessed 26 August 2026). ↩︎
14. 1860 U. S. Census, Dallas County, Arkansas, slave schedule, Manchester, page 42, Jane D. Willcox, owner; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7668/: accessed 26 August 2026). ↩︎
15. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book B, 1854-1895,” 102, Chiles M. Wilcox and Susanna C. Rambo, 28 February 1861; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DHP9-YTN/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. marr. records, colored, v. A, 1866-1874; Dallas Co. marr. records, v. B, 1854-1895 > image 193 of 335; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
16. Compiled Military Service Record, Robert W. Willcox, Sergeant, Co. B, 18 Arkansas Infantry, Civil War; imaged, “US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – Arkansas, 1861-1865,” Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/223727623/willcox-robert-w-page-3-us-civil-war-service-records-cmsr-confederate-arkansas-1861-1865 : accessed 29 Oct 2024); citing NARA microfilm publication M317, records from NARA catalog ID 586957: Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations , compiled 1903 – 1927, documenting the period 1861 – 1865, Record Group 109. ↩︎
17. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book B, 1854-1895,” 124, Thom Holloway and H. E. Willcox, 19 August 1862; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DHP9-YRJ/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. marr. records, colored, v. A, 1866-1874; Dallas Co. marr. records, v. B, 1854-1895 > image 207 of 335; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
18. “U.S., Freedmen’s Bureau Records, 1865-1878,” database with images Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62309/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Field Offices > Arkansas (M1901) > Princeton > Roll 022, Contracts and Monthly Statements of Property, 1866-1868, image 91 of 116, Jane D. Willcox, 1867, numbers 26 and 27; citing The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. ↩︎
19. 1870 U. S. Census, Dallas County, Arkansas, population schedule, Manchester, page 10 (penned), dwelling 70, family 69, Jane D. Wilcox; imaged, “1860 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/: accessed 26 August 2026. ↩︎
20. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book B, 1854-1895,” 221, Robert Wallis and B. Wilcox, 2 June 1870; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DHP9-YTT/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. marr. records, colored, v. A, 1866-1874; Dallas Co. marr. records, v. B, 1854-1895 > image 266 of 335; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
21. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Dallas County Chancery Record, v. A,” 344. ↩︎
22. Dallas County, Arkansas, “Marriage Record, Book B, 1854-1895,” 275, A. Timberlake and A. M. Abbott, 10 August 1873; imaged “Marriage records, 1845-1954, index, 1846-1976, 1980-1985, 1845-1985,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DHP9-Y5V/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Dallas Co. marr. records, colored, v. A, 1866-1874; Dallas Co. marr. records, v. B, 1854-1895 > image 300 of 335; citing Dallas County Courthouse, Fordyce, Arkansas. ↩︎
23. Clark County, Arkansas, “Marriage Records, v. H,” 15, T. F. Anderson and Josie R. Willcox, 18 September 1877; imaged “Marriage records, 1818-1970; indexes, 1818-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-Y6SK-XF/ : accessed 26 August 2026) > Marriage records, v. H 1877-1890 > image 38 of 616; citing Clark County Clerk, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. ↩︎
24. 1880 U. S. Census, Clark County, Arkansas, Arkadelphia, population schedule, enumeration district 33, page 28 (penned), R. S. Wallis; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : accessed 26 August 2026). ↩︎
25. Find a Grave, imaged gravestone for “Jane Davies Wallis Willcox” (1815 – 1885). ↩︎