OUR OLD FAMILY STORIES AND PUBLICATIONS
Express News San Antonio: Lifestyles
THIS WAS PRINTED SOMETIME AFTER THE REUNION IN JUNE OF 1986. I HAD MY WIFE TYPE THIS UP FOR ME AND BACK THEN THEY MUST NOT OF HAD AN EDITOR BECAUSE THERE WERE NUMEROUS MISSPELLINGS THOUGHOUT THE WHOLE STORY BUT HERE IT IS IN IT'S EDITTED FORM. Davenport – Robinson Reunion The first annual Davenport – Robinson Reunion was held June 13-15, 1986 at Bee’s Resort in Concan. Registration indicated 300 family descendants and friends attended. Davenport reunions have been held since 1939 at various places and times. However, this was the first combined reunions for the Davenports and Robinsons families. Ella Vee Mask owner of Bee’s Resort and also direct descendent of both the Davenport and Robinson families prepared a year for the reunion and constructed a large pavilion at the resort which was used for the first time. Ella Vee dedicated and named the pavilion in honor of the Davenport and Robinson families. The pavilion is now open to the public. A traditional open pit BBQ dinner was held June 14th with covered dishes and desserts brought by all attending. Many of the dishes were recipes handed down through generations of family cooking. Games, floating down the Frio, swimming, and music and many other activities were enjoyed by all beginning Friday, which was registration, getting up camps and preparing for the following days. The crowd was entertained with great music by Bob and Walt Davenport of Roswell, NM; Edgar Earl Hill of Brownwood, TX; Dane Brown of Center, TX; Milton and Timmy West of Sabinal, TX; and Virginia Davenport of San Antonio, TX. Honors were given to Lillie Gibbs Davenport, Uvalde, TX being 95 years of age. Followed by Mrs. Velma (Robinson-Davenport) Gilpin, of San Antonio, TX. Mrs. Nina (Robinson-Davenport) Gulley, Uvalde, TX; Mrs. Doris (Davenport) Robinson, Sabinal, TX; and Ms. Eunis (Robinson) Bookout, Crystal City, TX. Church services were held Sunday morning in the pavilion conducted by Joe Charles Davenport of Del Rio, TX along with other family members. A covered dish dinner followed the church services. The reunion adjourned Sunday afternoon after making many plans and forming committees for the 1987 Davenport and Robinson reunion. |
Many records and artifacts were brought and displayed by family members during the reunion, such as the survey instruments that were used during the survey of Uvalde County. Also, the earliest genealogy records revealed the Davenport ancestry was of Ormus De Davenporte of 1086 County of Cheshire, England. The earliest genealogy records of the Robinson ancestry was Adam LaGrone of Luxembourg, Germany in 1705. Early records also revealed the first Robinson descendent born in America was in Berkley district in South Carolina in 1710.
After the Davenport family came to America they continued to be in the records of history such as founding the town of Cambridge, MA and establishing Harvard University in 1636 and Ratcliffe College. John Davenport’s statue still stands on the grounds of Harvard University. Current historic records revealed that John Davenport Sr. was the largest land owner of Uvalde County, obtained by his courage and pioneer blood as did the other Davenport and Robinson families that came to Texas. The Davenport family was one of five original families that established Uvalde and the surrounding counties. Early historic records revealed their courage and determination through stories written. A few among the many examples was the cattle drive from the Uvalde area to California that took three years. The men actually wore their pants to the bare skin and made other pants from wagon sheets. James B. Davenport was the first sheriff of Uvalde County. James Allen Robinson was the first Post Master of Concan along with being preacher, carpenter, and having a grist mill for the corn grown which now stands at the banks of the Frio river. The legend of Henry B. Robinson still continues as he was the most wanted Indian scout hunted by the Indians. They painted pictures in their caves, telling one another of their search to ambush him. The day finally came at Chalk Bluff where the historic marker now stands. The Indians not only scalped his red hair but also his beard which was good spirits for the Indian belief. Still another record written about courage was that of John Crane, the father of Mary Jane Davenport, who was boyhood friend of Sam Houston and later fought by his side at the battle of San Jacinto. These are a few historical facts about the Davenport Robinson families in their quest to settle the Uvalde area territory. Their courage and determination was as written in the many records and books, landmarks, library of Congress, Washington, D.C., and many others across the land. All of the above making it possible to the sons and daughters of the war of 1812, American Revolution, Civil War, Texas Revolution, Spanish-American War, and the Colonial Dames. |