Dr. Davis Green Tuck

Narrative:

     Dr. Davis Green Tuck was born on 30 Dec 1793 in Halifax Co., Virginia.^4,5,6
     He attended the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in the 1812-13 and 1816-17 terms, but apparently did not graduate.^12,13 His education was interrupted by service in the War of 1912. He was nominated by President James Madison as a surgeon's mate in the U.S. Navy on 30 Nov 1814, one of 34 men nominated for that position that day. The U. S. Senate consented to all those nominations on Saturday, 10 Dec. He served in that position at least until the end of 1815.^14,15
     Davis married Elizabeth M. Toot, daughter of Adam Toot and Sarah King, on 11 Mar 1818 in Halifax Co., Virginia.^7,8

His Medical Practice --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     It is not clear to what extent he was engaged in the practice of medicine. A published genealogy mentions it, and his record in the 1850 census includes the title "Dr." But it appears farming was his primary occupation - that's what appears as his stated occupation in every source found. It is clear that he was very successful at that profession. In 1820, at the age of 26, he was recorded as farming, apparently a part of his father's property, and already owned six slaves. The extent of his holdings steadily increased. By 1850 his slaves numbered 41, and in 1860 his real estate was valued at $39,000, and other holdings at $55,200, both significant sums at that time.^{16,17,18,19,20,21}

Inventions in Flue Curing Tobacco --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He conducted experiments related to the cultivation of tobacco which received widespread recognition. Virginia farmers began experimenting with flue systems to cure tobacco as early as 1809, and Davis is recorded as a prominent inventor in the field. He received a patent 1 Oct 1830 for his method of drying and curing tobacco, "founded upon the principle, that in order to preserve the valuable qualities of vegetable substances, which are to be desiccated, the process ought to be effected within a limited time, in order to prevent spontaneous decomposition... and must be carried on at temperatures within the absolute control of the operator." His method, it was said, was "sufficiently simple to be carried into effect by ordinary hands.^22,23,24
     In 13 Jun 1831 he received a patent for the invention of a system of flues or stoves used to carry out his process. The system allowed applying heat to cure, or dry, the tobacco while keeping the smoke away from the product. He said he usually constructed his flues from common brick, but they could be made from stone, iron, fire brick, slabs, tiles, or other materials. Flue curing reliably produced the favored "yellow" cure which brought premium prices. Flue curing remains the most commonly used method, producing "bright tobacco" which is mainly used in cigarettes. Until his development the "fire curing" process was used, which exposes the tobacco to the smoke and produces a darker product. That method remains in use mainly for pipe mixtures, snuff, and chewing tobacco.^25,26,27
     An 1889 publication by the Virginia State Board of Agriculture called him the originator of the yellow tobacco industry for inaugurating the practice of curing tobacco without smoke. But it also acknowledged that his "Tuck Flue" design had serious defects – it tended to explode and burn the barns. As a result it was not widely used until improved designs made the practice safer some years later.^28,29 In fact it seems that the process was so little used that when William T. Ballow Jr., husband of a niece of his wife, introduced flue curing using tin flues in South Boston in 1869 he was given credit for discovering flue curing.³⁰
     Nevertheless, Davis continued to receive credit for his innovations into modern times. A 1953 article from a Rocky Mount, North Carolina newspaper stated "...it seems fairly certain that the first notable method of curing by such means was evolved by Dr. Davis G. Tuck of Love's Shop, Halifax County." It notes that Davis "recommended a close, well-built barn. For greater convenience in adding wood, the furnace was made to open outside the barn." It continues "For uniform regulation of the heat, Tuck, apparently the first to do so, used a thermometer which was attached to cords operated by pulleys so that the curer could stand on the outside and draw the thermometer from the center of the barn to a small glass window."³¹

Living in Halifax Co. --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Marseilles, Halifax Co., Virginia, with a household consisting of one white male age 16-18 (unknown), and one age 18-26 (himself), one female under age 10 (daughter Sarah), one age 16-26 (wife Elizabeth M. Toot), and one age 26-48 (probably Rebecca, who may have been his mother but is more likely his aunt). There were also 4 male slaves and 2 female slaves. One person in the household was reported as engaged in agriculture.³
     Davis was named one of the executors in the will of Coleman Tuck, relationship unknown, dated 5 Jan 1821. Among the listed duties of the executors was to collect "the balance of the money due me" from Davis.³²
     On 14 Oct 1822 Davis and Elizabeth were given 280 acres of land in Halifax Co. by her parents, Sarah King and Adam Toot.^33,34 Curiously, the deed was not recorded until 8 Aug 1826, and the property, on Miller Rd., remained in Adam's name in the tax lists until the following year. Perhaps his continuing to pay the taxes, $1.62 per year, was part of the gift? The property was appraised at $7.20 per acre, including the buildings, for a total value of $2,016, of which $360 was the value of buildings.³⁵
     Davis and Elizabeth seem to have adopted William, who was born three years before their marriage, between 1820 when he was not included in their household and 1830 when he apparently was. It was likely an informal adoption, as he used the surname Edmondson through college, but after that used Tuck. As adults he and their other children referred to each other as siblings.^{36,37,38,39,40}
     Davis seems to have been regarded as an upstanding member of the community, and acted as a trustee in a number of transactions. On 20 Jan 1827 he was made trustee for Mary Carlton and her children. She had deeded her half interest in a parcel of land in Sussex Co. that she had inherited from her father, Thomas Asent, to John Y. Mason. In exchange, her husband, Edward, of Sussex Co., gave Davis six slaves, to be held in trust for Mary and her children. But the slaves were to remain in the possession of Edward until Mary "required" that they be transferred to her and the children. There is no indication why Davis was acting as trustee for parties living three counties to the east.⁴¹ The Virginia General Assembly, noting that Davis had moved out of state and had been succeeded as trustee by John S. Lewellen, passed an act on 12 Dec 1833 authorizing the Halifax Co. court to approve the sale of the slaves if it found that to be in the best interests of the mother and children.⁴²
     On 10 Mar 1828 Davis and Benjamin Hunt were given a mortgage by Miles Hall on ten horses, two road waggons, and associated gear, to secure debts totaling $375 Hall owed to William Fitzgerald. If Hall failed to pay the debts Davis and Hunt were to auction the property and pay off the debts with the proceeds.⁴³
     On 25 Jan 1830 Davis took a deed of trust from Royall Daniel for 298 acres formerly belonging to William C. Tucker on the waters of the Banister River in Halifax Co., to secure a debt of $1,699.37½ that Daniel owed Tucker. If the debt was not repaid by 1 Sep 1833 Davis was to sell the property at auction and use the proceeds to settle the debt.⁴⁴ About the same time Davis took a similar deed of trust from Frances Daniel for 150¾ acres formerly belonging to Tucker on the waters of the Banister River in Halifax Co. to secure a debt of $678.37½ that she owed Tucker. The relationship between her and Royall Daniel is unknown, but he was one of the witnesses to her deed. They appear separately in the 1830 census, so were not spouses but perhaps siblings or in-laws.^45,46 Davis released the deed of trust by Royall Daniel 10 Aug 1831, because the debt had been repaid.⁴⁷
     Davis appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Halifax Co., Virginia, with a household consisting of one white male under age 5 (son Walter), two age 15 - 20 (adopted son William and another) and two age 20 - 30 (too old to be his sons, perhaps brothers?), one age 30 - 40 (himself), one female age 5 - 10 (daughter Rebecca), one age 10 - 15 (Sarah) one age 20 - 30 (wife Elizabeth), and one age 50 - 60 (probably Rebecca, who may have been his mother or his aunt). There were also 11 male slaves and 11 female slaves.⁴⁸

Moving to Kentucky --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Davis and Elizabeth sold the 280-acre parcel given them by her father, to Daniel L. Dunscomb for $1,680, on 9 Nov 1830.⁴⁹ On 13 Mar 1832 Davis and Elizabeth sold a 33½-acre parcel on a branch of the Banister River in Halifax Co. to Sarah Tuck for $54.37. He had previously purchased this parcel from her, apparently in 1831 since it first appears in his name on the tax lists the following year. It is not known how she was related to him. The land was valued at $3.60 per acre for a total of $120.60, with no value for buildings.^50,51
     On 29 Sep 1831 Davis purchased two parcels in southern Christian Co., Kentucky, a little over a mile east of the town of Lafayette, and about a mile north of the Tennessee state line. He purchased 180 acres from Edward Boyd, for $900, and 210 acres from Miller Woodson, for $1,050.⁵²
     Davis and Elizabeth moved to Christian Co., Kentucky, in 1832 or early 1833.^53,54 Davis bought 633 acres in Christian Co., Kentucky, from Malcom McNeill on 15 Nov 1835, which Davis where already "in possession and cultivating," for $3,165.⁵⁵ It seems clear that Davis was farming the property as early as the growing season of 1833. He appeared on the 1833 tax list of Christian Co., reporting 1,023 acres, one adult white male, 20 Black males over age 16, a total of 31 Blacks, 10 horses and mules, and a carrage.⁵⁶
     On 17 Oct 1840 Davis and Malcom McNeill exchanged two parcels in separate transactions. Davis bought a parcel of 44 acres, for $309, while Malcom bought a parcel of 94 acres for $660.⁵⁷
     Davis appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of two white males under age 5 (sons Henry and Richard), one age 5 - 10 (Walter), and one age 40 - 50 (himself), one female under 5 (daughter Elizabeth), two age 15 - 20 (Rebecca and Sarah, although Sarah was then 22 years old), one age 30 - 40 (wife Elizabeth), and one age 60 - 70 (Rebecca, who may have been his mother or his aunt). There were also 24 male slaves and 15 female slaves. Twenty-four members of the household were reported as engaging in agriculture.⁵⁸
     Davis and Elizabeth appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 7 Aug 1850, reporting $19,500 in real estate and 41 slaves, of which 13 were females. Their children Walter, Henry, Elizabeth, Richard, Paul, Martha and Virginia were listed as living with them, as was Rebecca, age 74, who may have been his mother or another relative.^59,20
     Davis and Elizabeth appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky, enumerated 9 Aug 1860, reporting $39,000 in real estate and $55,200 in personal property. He also reported owing 30 slaves, ranging in age from 11 months to 60 years, housed in 7 slave houses. Their children Richard, Paul, Martha and Virginia were listed as living with them.^60,61

His Will --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Davis left a holographic will (handwritten by the testator and not witnessed) dated 25 Mar 1861. In it he left $8,000 each to his youngest children, Jennie, Martha and Paul. He left Richard $6,000 and Henry $5,000 in addition to the girl Chaney and other property he had already received. He left his daughter Elizabeth $4,000 in addition to the fellow Jordan and woman Betsy and her child and other property she had already received. His wife, Elizabeth M. Toot, was to receive all the balance of his estate for her life, after which it was to be equally divided between the six named children. He said that his daughter Sarah and the children of his daughter Rebecca were already well provided for and were to receive nothing more. He named his son, Richard and his son-in-law, Thomas Herbert Elliott, as executors.⁶²
     Davis died on 3 Feb 1863 in Christian Co., Kentucky, at age 69.^4,9,10 He was buried in the Tuck-Elliott Family Cemetery, Lafayette, Christian Co., Kentucky.¹¹
     His will was proved on 23 Feb 1863 in Christian Co., Kentucky, County Court.⁶² An inventory of his accounts and debts owed him was filed on 20 Apr 1863. It listed 13 notes and three certificates of deposit, totaling $44,899.80, due between Jan 1861 and Nov 1862.⁶³ Settlements were filed by the executors on 25 Feb 1865 and 26 Aug 1867, showing that all the debts except four of smaller the notes totaling $2,700, were collected. With interest, over $55,000 was collected. After expenses, all the bequests were paid except to Virginia, who was not yet of age, with additional payments of $2,700 to each of them.⁶⁴