Thomas Archer Davidson was born on February 15, 1850, in Buckingham County, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Cornelious Davidson and Vitula Sandridge. While his official death certificate recorded his birth as February 14, his family records and traditions maintained he was born on February 15, a date that persists in family history despite the official record.
Thomas was born during an era in Virginia history when the state did not yet strictly mandate the recording of births, marriages, and deaths—a practice that only became standard in 1853. Genealogists researching his early life face a significant challenge: Buckingham is a "burnt county." The county courthouse records were tragically destroyed by fire in 1869, erasing many primary documents related to births and land ownership from Thomas's childhood. Consequently, researchers must rely on census data and family bibles to reconstruct his earliest years.
Though born in the rural landscape of Buckingham, Thomas spent much of his adult life in the growing industrial hub of Richmond, Virginia. Thomas’s career reflected the shifting economic tides of Virginia:
- The Stone Cutter: In the 1880 Census, he was working as a stone cutter in Richmond.
- The Salesman: The 1900 Census lists him as a Salesman, while the 1910 and 1920 Censuses list him as a Salesman for a feed store.
- The Auto Industry: In his final years, he transitioned into the burgeoning automotive world, serving as the sales manager for the McGlamery Auto Company.
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| The census record that changed everything: revealing a fifth child in the Davidson household. The 1900 Census also shows Thomas' career and that his widowed mother was living with him. |
On July 9, 1878, Thomas married Ada Lee in Richmond. Together, they built a life in the Manchester area of Southside Richmond, where their household grew quickly. While a later family tree focused only on the children who lived to adulthood, the full story of their home actually included five children:
- Lee Patterson Davidson: Born May 26, 1879
- Edna Davidson: Born November 28, 1880
- Jayne Davidson: Born November 11, 1882
- Thomas Archer Davidson Jr.: Born May 23, 1885
- Gladys Davidson: Born October 9, 1889
The 1900 US Census provides a poignant record of the tragedy that followed; in the columns for "children born" and "children living," Ada reported she had given birth to five children, yet only four remained. We now know that the fifth child was little Gladys, who passed away on July 16, 1890, in Henrico County at just nine months old. Her cause of death was recorded as typhoid fever, a stark reminder of the public health challenges families faced in the late 19th century.
Thomas Archer Davidson passed away at his home at 4509 Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond on the morning of Tuesday, July 15, 1924, at the age of 74. He had remained in good health until shortly before his death. His funeral was held at the family residence at 4:00 PM on July 16, 1924. He was laid to rest in the family lot in Hollywood Cemetery (Section 10, Lot 97), a historic Richmond landmark where many generations of the Davidson family remain. Thomas was a devoted member of the Woodland Heights Baptist Church, a landmark institution in his Southside Richmond neighborhood.
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| The Davidson family plot (Section 10, Lot 97) is located under the sweeping branches of these magnolia trees. This serene spot of Hollywood Cemetery serves as the final resting place for multiple generations, including Thomas Archer and Ada Lee Davidson. Photo Credit:©️Edward R. Olsen, 2014. |
Key References:
- 1900 US Federal Census, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia; Roll: 1713; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0101.
- Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-1987, Certificate Number: 1924016664 (Thomas Archer Davidson).
- Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), July 16, 1924, Page 12, Obituary for T. A. Davidson.
- Virginia Birth Register (1889) and Death Register (1890) for Gladys Davidson.
- Find A Grave Memorial: Thomas A. Davidson (41037519)
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