As I mentioned, there is more bits and pieces on-line; but I was trying to stick to a 'theme'. Judging by the other settlers in the area (as well as other hints) the Davenports came from NB. If true, this suggests a Loyalist family. I could only find one such, and there weren't that many Davenport's; so the idea is they are likely one family. In Aroostook Co., that last assumption isn't necessarily true.
I was intrigued by the fact that Samuel stated his father was from NY and mother from Rhode Island; combined with Gabriel's stay on Rhode Island as a young soldier. I may be way off-base, but the theory I would look at is:
Samuel in Westchester Co. had a son, Gabriel, who had a son, Samuel; and that Charles was the latter Samuel's son or grandson. This may explain why Charles married in Carleton Co.; he was there because he had relatives there. In the 1871 census of Carleton Co. I noted Davenport's, isolate instances, as farm labourers for example. In at least one case, the young man was b. US.
I think Davenport's in the Perth-Andover area of Victoria Co., NB are likely related. An example is a message at:
http://new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/guestbook/99.htmlFoster - Davenport Family Reunion Muniac Provincial Park, Muniac, N.B. July 3 & $, 1999. Camping Available. Looking for Descendants of Thomas Foster & Suzie Clark, Alex Foster & Joanne Hartsgrove, Timothy Davenport & Sarah Clark, Thomas Foster & Catherine Davenport.
There are, in 1901, a number of them in the Grand Falls and Drummond Parish, Victoria Co. area (perhaps the same area.) One notable example is the family of Maurice (b. 18JUL1849) and Marie (19JUL1865) Sirois. a grandmother is Marie Davenport (9MAY1820) and a brother-in-law is John Davenport (13SEP1846); so, presumably, Marie Davenport was Marie Sirois' grandmother.
On the other hand, the Davenport's in St. Mary's Parish. York Co., NB; judging by the 1881 census, were descended from William (b. Ireland ca. 1840) and Mary Ann (Young) (b. Ireland ca. 1845) Davenport. Their two eldest children were b. Australia, one b. at sea, and the younger in NB. William was an engineer; possibly working at the Marysville cotton factory. These would not appear to be connected; but a general rule-of-thumb may be that, before 1850, most, if not all, in NB were related.
Tmothy Davenport, in Kent Parish, Carleton Co., NB in 1881, b. NB ca. 1849 was likely related.
James Davenport b. NB ca. 1844 was described as Irish, but could be related.
Mary Davenport, in Drummond Parish, Victoria Co., NB in 1881, was b. Quebec ca. 1821. Her son, John M. Davenport was b. US (probably Maine) ca. 1851. Apparently this is Marie in 1901; and speaks to alliances to Acadian and Quebecois families.
Then in Gordon Parish (likely Arthurette), Victoria Co., NB is Mary Davenport, a widow, b. NB ca. 1811; living with Donald and Margaret Fraser and their children. Margaret is likely Mary's daughter.
In spite of these hints, there seems little to connect them; and little research seems to have been done.
A good web site to wade through is at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nbcarlet/I found a baptism of two children (un-named) of Gabriel and Mrs. Davenport, 3AUG1800. Not very informative, but indicates about when they had children.
The Carleton Co. web site is very good for census returns. For example, there are links to Maine returns. It takes time to find your way around. A transcription of the 1860 census includes:
http://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/me/aroostook/18...listing, with William and Mary Johnson, in Fort Kent, Aroostook Co., ME: Mary (12), Charles (10) and Ellen (6) Davenport; apparently without parents. Mary Johnson (25) may be an older sister or aunt? Mary, age 12, should be in the 1850 census. At:
http://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/me/aroostook/18...Is the family of Frederick (ca. 1805) and Mary (ca. 1820) Davenport; with a daughter, Mary, age 3. Note that Mary, Sr. was b. Quebec (Canada.) Was this the Marie in Victoria Co., NB in 1901?
14 3 3 Davenport Frederick 45 M farmer Me.
15 3 3 Davenport Mary 30 F Canada
16 3 3 Davenport Alonso 9 M Maine
17 3 3 Davenport Eunice 8 F Maine
18 3 3 Davenport John 6 M Maine
19 3 3 Davenport Mary 3 F Maine
If Mary and Marie were the same person, then John (b. ca. 1844) in 1850 should be John b. 13SEP1846 in 1901 and ca. 1851 in 1881. Considering the variances in census returns (the 1901 census particularly is usually a year off), it is possible.
A very confusing family. The only thing I can suggest is gather everything (even those persons not connected as they can help eliminate others) and piece the bits together.
Thomas