Day Family¶
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by Jill & Lennart Holmquist
Jill Holmquist, wife ofLennart Holmquist, is a descendant of the Day family of North Carolina and Kentucky, USA.
1. John Day, I (1725 - 1767) married Bethlehem (or Behethlem) Bowling (c1725 - c1767) on February 23, 1748 in King George County, Virginia, United States.
John was born in the Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, USA. Bethlehem was also born in Virginia.
At some point in time both moved south to the neighboring state of North Carolina. Both died in Person County, North Carolina, USA.
NOTE : The connection between John and Bethlehem (or Behethlem) Day (or Dey) and the Day family of North Carolina is not absolutely conclusive at this time.
NOTE: On this page we have four different persons by the name of 'John Day'. Assuming they are all related, I have labeled the first John Day I, his son John Day II. John Day II had a grandson by the name of 'John Day'. He is John Day III. John Day III had a son named John Thomas Day. Considering John Thomas has a middle name, and so can be easily differentiated from the others named John Day, we will not give him a number.
Bethlehem Bowling overview. 
John 'Dey' and Behethlem Bowling, marriage 23 Feb 1748
NOTE : Marriage record gives the spelling of 'Behethlem' rather than 'Bethlehem'.
See John Day Facts. Note: Not all entries in 'John Day Facts' are correct.
John and Bethlehem (or Behethlam) Day are possibly the ancestors of the individuals in the numbered sections below. In support of this possibility:
Possibly both John Day I and his wife Bethlehem died in Person County, North Carolina. [Currently trying to verify that Bethlehem died in North Carolina] .
John Day, II was born in Person County around 1760 when John Day I was about 35 years old, thus the timing lines up well.
Also, a possible grandson of John Day I and the son of John Day II, and his wife Bethlehem was Bowling Day (c1795– ????). 'Bowling' was Behethlem's maiden name. Thus, we have a possible connection of generations by dates, place, the name 'John Day', and the name 'Bowling'.
In 1777 a 'Bethlehem Day' and a 'John Day' are listed in the '1777 Tax List of Caswell County' for the St. James District'. Both q and John had died by this time. However, it may be that the tax list was not up-to-date. Further, both Bethlehem and John died in Person County. (Two other Days are listed, a 'Thomas Day' for the Nash District, and a 'William Day' for the St. James District. See Caswell County North Carolina: Land Grants, Tax Lists, State Census, Apprentice Bonds, Estate Records, compiled by Katherine Kerr Kendall, 1977, page 25 and 27. We do not know who Thomas and Michael might be.)
1.1 John Day II (c1760 – c1825) married twice. His first wife was possibly Amelia Clairborne (17?? - ????). If so, her children by John Day II were Francis, Ambrose, Francis, Isaac, Elijah, Elizabeth, Nancy, Philip and Bowling.
John's second wife was Barbara (Barbary) Denny (c1750 or c1760 - c1832). They married on September 8, 1802. They had two children, Sarah Ann and William.
See Barbary Denny in the North Carolina, Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868.
John and Barbary lived in Person County.
The possible year of death of John Day II of 1825 is based on the transcribed document Person County, North Carolina Estate of John Day 1825.
John and Ameilia's residences were in Caswell County and Person County, North Carolina including the town of Hillsboro (Hillsborough). Caswell and Person counties are adjacent to one another. Further, Person County was part of Caswell County until 1791/1792.
NOTE: The boundaries of North Carolina counties sometimes changed. Further, counties were sometimes broken up into smaller counties and sometimes counties or parts of counties were combined. See counties, main roads and railroads in the 1854 map below.
See Outline Map of North Carolina 
A 'John Day' was recipient of a land grant of 200 acres on a branch of the Tar river in Caswell County, North Carolina on November 10, 1784. However, we don't know for sure if the John Day who received the land grant is the same John Day, a family member. If it is the same person, John received the land grant when he was about 24 years old.
For more information see this screen shot.
See also:
NC Land Grant Images and Data: John Day
John Day II's name appears in a 1793 Tax List.
See also this conversation on RootsWeb.
See also John Day NC Early Census Index 1793
'John Day' appears in various records during the next several years. We will assume this is John Day II unless proven otherwise.
Records show that John Day was living in Person County, Nash District Township in 1793.
Records show that John Day II was living in Caswell County in 1779-80.
The 1790 Federal United States Census, the first census performed by the United States, records John Day living in Caswell County, North Carolina.
The 1800 Federal United States Census records John Day living in Hillsborough, Person County, North Carolina. In this census the household numbers fourteen people including two slaves. John must have been doing well for himself during the next ten years. The 1810 Federal Census tells us that John's household now included eight slaves.
1810 United States Federal Census - John Day
1810 United States Federal Census - Original
On January 11, 1822, 640 acres was to be laid off and surveyed in North Carolina to the heirs of John Day, a private. Again we don't know for sure if this John Day a member of the family.
See North Carolina and Tennessee, Revolutionary War Land Warrants: John Day
John died in Person County, North Carolina, circa 1825.
In 1825 Barbary Day, John Day II's second wife, brought legal action against the heirs of her husband regarding his property. See Person County, North Carolina Estate of John Day 1825. According to this court record: "The petitioner states, that she is the widow of John Day, Sr, late of this county, who diede Intestate, seized & possessed of a tract of land in said county on the waters of Tar River adjoining the lands of Jaas Webb, _____, containing about 555 acres." [Note that the text includes some typos].
Among the property sold on March 16, 17 and 18, 1825 are ten slaves. The names of the slaves are given including the price for which they were sold. They are:
1 negro man Squire by name 412.00
1 negro woman Ailsey 183.00
1 negro woman Lucy 35.50
1 negro woman Sally & child 500.00
1 negro gal Jane 303.25
1 negro Boy Solomon 315.50
1 negro man Moses 401.25
1 negro girl Mary William Oakley 17__
1 negro girl Elisha
The administrator for the sale of these people, and other possessions, is apparently John Day II's grandson John Day III though he would have been only nineteen at the time.
(The following year in March of 1826 an agreement was drawn up to purchase 177 and 1/4 acres from the heirs of a John Day for $234.50 by N. Rochelle, Northampton County, North Carolina. However, this is not a county even adjacent to Person county where the Day family lived. The date and name of John Day is coincides, but the name of the county does not. This is still to be researched.)
Agreement front
Agreement back
Barbary's date of death is an approximation based on the date of an inventory listing her possessions, assuming they are listed due to her recent death. The inventory is interesting too in that it gives a window into a person's life in North Carolina in the first half of the 1800s. Among the items listed are eight head of hogs, spinning wheel, soap stand, pewter basins, hymn book and a side saddle.
Inventory of Property 1
Inventory of Property 2
Inventory of Property 3
Inventory of Property 4
By coincidence a descendant of John Day I and II and III, Jill Ann Holmquist, moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a twenty minute drive from Hillsborough, in 2005 from Switzerland. (She and her husband are both Americans). Her husband Lennart Holmquist often went to the coffee shop 'Cup o' Joe' in Hillsborough on Saturday and Sunday mornings for coffee, and both have visited and had dinner with Jill's friend Jude and her French husband Freddie on three or four occasions at their home in Hillsborough. Jill and Lennart did not know about this, probable, Day family connection with Hillsborough until doing research on the Day family in 2015.
[NOTE : A John and Amelia Day are buried on Cedar Island, Carteret County, North Carolina. However, we can find no documents that associate our Day family with Cedar Island Also, other people with the name of Day do not seem to match up with any known family members. More research is needed.]
See Find a Grave: John and Amelia Day
1.1.1 Nancy Day (1783– 1836).
1.1.2 Francis Day (1790 - ????).
1.1.3 Elijah Day (1790– ????).
An Elijah Day married a Betsey Cate on October 27, 1810 in Person, North Carolina. We do not know yet if this particular Elijah Day is a member of the family.
North Carolina, Marriage Records: Elijah Day
Elijah Day and Betsey Cate marriage bond original
See also:
1.1.4 Sarah Ann Day (1790 - 1841).
1.1.5 Ambrose Day (c1793 - July 14, 1853) married Mary Polly Tapp (c1804 - c1872) on October 1, 1823 in Person County, North Carolina.
Mary and Ambrose were born in North Carolina. In 1830 she, and by assumption, Ambrose, were living in Person, North Carolina, USA, but by 1850 or earlier they were living in District 2, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA. Ambrose's occupation is given as 'farmer' and his property valued at $600.
We don't know why they moved from North Carolina to Kentucky. It likey that Mary had family in the area. The 1850 United States Federal Census lists Tapp families living near Ambrose and Mary. The Ambrose Day family lived at number 207 (a street name is not given by the census). At number 208 lived John, Susan and Washington Tapp. At number 212 lived Jesse, Elizabeth and Sarah Tapp.
1850 United States Federal Census - Ambrose & Mary Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
1860 United States Federal Census - Mary Day - Original
Ambrose died in Hopkins, Kentucky, USA in 1853.
By 1860 Mary was living in Webster, Kentucky. See the overview of Mary Tapp.
According to research done for the Perkins family tree Mary was the daughter of William Tapp (1725 - 1810) and Rebecca (Fowler) Tapp (1760 - 1810). This information needs to be confirmed by original documentation much of which is linked to the Perkins family tree. See:
Interestingly, in 1750 William served as a foot soldier in the Culpepper County Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War.
Many of the Days in this branch of the family are buried in the Day Cemetery near Slaughters in Webster County, Kentucky.
1.1.5.1 William H. Day (1825 – 1903) was born in North Carolina according to the 1850 census, but eventfully moved with his parents and siblings to Kentucky.
1850 United States Federal Census - William H. Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
In Kentucky he lived very near his younger brother Phillip Brown Day and his family.
1900 United States Federal Census Results: Neighbors of William Day
According to the 1900 United States Federal Census when William was 75 years of age he was widowed, but in his household included Nolie Day age 34 (daughter), James P Day age 30 (son), Ealey N. Day age 13 (grand-daughter), Ethel H Day age 8 (grand-daughter), Mollie (Day) Cavanaugh age 44 (daughter), and Fines Day age 20 (grandson).
1900 United States Federal Census - William Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.1.1 Nolie Day (???? - ????).
1.1.5.1.2 James P. Day (???? - ????).
1.1.5.1.3 Mollie Day (???? - ????) married a Cavanaugh (???? - ????).
1.1.5.2 Rebecca Day (1827 - ????).
1.1.5.3 Ruth Day (1836 – 1913) was born in District 2, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA.
1850 United States Federal Census - Rutha Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.4 Nancy Jane Day (September 4, 1838 – March 26, 1894) was born in District 2, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA and died in Webster County. She married Samuel Champion Winstead (1843 - 1921) who was born in Kentucky, and as died in Webster County.
Both are buried in the Winstead Cemetery, Webster County, Kentucky, USA. The Winstead Cemetery is near Slaughters, Kentucky and and a five minute drive from the Day Cemetery. Map
1.1.5.4.1 William Ambers Winstead (1865 - 1940).
1.1.5.4.2 Samuel Bushard Winstead (1875 - 1934).
1.1.5.4.3 Benie W. Winstead (1884 - 1905)
1850 United States Federal Census - Nancy Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.5 Elizabeth Francis (Betty) Day (January, 16 1841 – July 9, 1933) was born in District 2, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA. She married William Taylor "Bill Dickie" Winstead (March 16, 1841 - 1933).
1850 United States Federal Census - Elizabeth Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
Elizabeth and William are buried at the Winstead Cemetery in Webster County, Kentucky, USA.
1.1.5.5.1 Thomas Winstead (1881 - 1881).
Thomas is buried in the Winstead Cemetery in Webster County, Kentucky, USA.
1.1.5.6 John Day, III (May 21 1843 - September 26, 1896) married Mary Jane Winstead (January 11, 1843 - February 25, 1916) in 1863.
Note that 'III' is not officially part of John's name. It is added here simply to distinguish John from the other members of the family named 'John Day'.
John was born in District 2, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA. Mary Jane was also born in Kentucky.
1850 United States Federal Census - John Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
In 1880 they, together with their children, were living in Vanderburg, Webster, Kentucky. John and Mary were both 37 years old. Mary's occupation is given as 'keeping house'. John is a farmer.
According to the census, John Day III's parents were both born in North Carolina. Mary's father, A. T. Winstead, was also born in North Carolina and her mother Ann (Trice) Winstead, was born in Kentucky.
In 1880 the family was living in Vanderburg, Webster, Kentucky, USA.
1880 United States Federal Census - Mary J. Day
1880 United States Federal Census - John Day
According to the 1900 United States Federal Census Mary was living in Slaughterville, Webster, Kentucky. She was a widow by then. She had given birth to eleven children, nine of whom had survived.
1900 United States Federal Census - Mary J. Day
Mary died in 1916 at 73 years of age of gall stones. Her death certificate, issued in Vanderburg, Webster, Kentucky, USA, also states that her occupation as 'house keeper'.
John and Mary's eleven children are:
1.1.5.6.1 Sarah E. Day (December 6, 1863 - January 2, 1884).
1880 United States Federal Census - Sarah Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.2 John Thomas Day (August 17. 1865 - July 1944).
In 1880 John Thomas was 14 years old.
1880 United States Federal Census - John T Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.3 William Henry Day (June 1, 1867 - ????).
1880 United States Federal Census - William H. Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.4 Mary Susan Day (November 27, 1868 - 1935).
1.1.5.6.5 Martha J. Day (September 15, 1870 - ????).
1.1.5.6.6 Ruthy (Ruthie, Rutha) Ann Day (May 30, 1872 - June 25, 1900). Ruthie could read and write according to the 1900 United States Federal Census.
1900 United States Federal Census - Ruthie A. Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.7 Lonous (Lone) Yannsey Day (June 10, 1874 - 1943).
1880 United States Federal Census - Lonous Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
Lone could read and write according to the 1900 United States Federal Census. He was a farmer laborer.
1900 United States Federal Census - Lone Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
Lone is buried at the Townsend Cemetery in Webster County Kentucky, USA.
1.1.5.6.8 Nancy Jane Day (1878 - ????).
1880 United States Federal Census - Nancy Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.9 Noah R. Day (May 11, 1879 - ????). Noah could read and write according to the 1900 United States Federal Census. He was a farm laborer.
1880 United States Federal Census - Noah R. Day
1880 United States Federal Census - Original
1900 United States Federal Census - Noah R. Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.6.10 Queen Tiny Day (October 8, 1881 - August 25, 1960) married Arlington Randle Penn (Nov 26, 1887 - 1959) on June 1, 1908 in Vanderburgh, Indiana, USA. Arlington died in California, USA.
Queen Tiny was born in Kentucky, and according to the 1900 United States Federal Census Queen Tiny was living in Slaughterville, Webster, Kentucky. She died in San Mateo, California. The census also shows that the Penn family had a neighbor, 'Queen Newton' who was thirty-one years old. Perhaps Queen Tiny was named after her.
1900 United States Federal Census - Queen Tiny Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
Note: The ancestry.com transcription of Orlington Penn in the Indiana, Index to Select Marriages, 1780-1992 incorrectly spells his name as 'Orlington'. His name was 'Arlington'.
Queen Tiny had a daughter when she was almost twenty years old. Lena Mae was born out of wedlock. She was six years old when her mother married Arlington. Lena Mae's last name became 'Penn'.
Also living in the Penn household eventually was Arlington's younger brother, Robert E. Penn who was about two years younger than Queen Tiny. We do not know why Robert moved in with his older brother and his wife.
1.1.5.6.10.1 Lena Mae (Day) Penn (September 15, 1901 - February 10, 1957) married Norwood E. Covert (???? - ????).
Lena Mae was born out of wedlock. I am assuming she took her mother's last name (Day). Later her last name changed to 'Penn' after her mother married Arlington Penn.
1910 Federal Census gives Lena's age correctly as nine. Along with her father, Arlington, and her mother, Queen Tiny, she is also living with her brother Robert. No mention is made of a Dorothy.
NOTE: The ancestry.com transcription of the census incorrectly spells Lena Mae's name as 'Lenamay' and the family name as 'Renn' rather than 'Penn'. The ancestry.com transcription of the California, Death Index, 1940-1997 spells her middle name as 'May'. Perhaps the names were misspelled in the original documents. This as yet to be researched.
The family's home was in Evansville Ward 4, Vanderburgh, Indiana.
1910 United States Federal Census - Lena Mae Penn
Lena Mae was born in Kentucky, and died in San Mateo, California as did her mother, Queen Tiny, and Lena Mae's daughter Dolores.
1.1.5.6.10.1.1 Dolores (???? - ????) Covert married Frank A. Pfeffer (???? - ????) at Holy Trinity, Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, USA on June 2, 1943. (The Ancestry.com record gives Dolores' father's first name as Orlington. His name is Arlington.) Delores died in San Mateo, California. Her grandmother, Queen Tiny Day, also living in San Mateo, died two years later.
1.1.5.6.10.1.2 Mary Alice Covert married Jay W. Martin (???? - ????).
1.1.5.6.10.1.2.1 Jay Martin ( - ).
1.1.5.6.10.1.2.2 Jill Ann Martin ( - ) married Lennart John Holmquist ( - ). They have a son, Kristofer John Martin Holmquist. Note: Lennart, Jill and Kristofer will not recorded in the 2000 census. Apparently, they were out when the census taker came to their home. Lennart later called the census bureau saying that they had been missed, but the census rep said it was too late for the family to be recorded.
1.1.5.6.10.1.3 Jesse Alene Covert (???? - ????) married Jerry Schumacher (???? - ????).
1.1.5.6.10.1.4 Carol Gene Covert (???? - ????) married Walter Lary (???? - ????). Walter was of Russian descent as told by Walt to Lennart Holmquist. His family may have emigrated to the United States as a result of the Russian Revolution, but this needs to be researched.
1.1.5.6.11 Charley or Charlie T. Day (February 8, 1883 - ????).
1900 United States Federal Census - Charlie Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
1.1.5.7 Phillip Brown Day (September 14, 1846 – June 27, 1913) married Martha Deliah Day (June 17, 1857 - March 8, 1949) in 1878.
Note that Phillip's date of birth above is based on his Certificate of Death. Phillip's grave marker gives 1844 as his date of birth.
Martha's maiden name was Gentry. Her birth and death dates are taken from her grave marker in Westlawn Cemetery Hanson, Hopkins County, Kentucky, USA.
Phillip was born in Webster, Kentucky. He was a farmer.
He died in Hopkins, Kentucky, USA of chronic gastro intestin... (last word difficult to read).
Note that in at least one record his first name is spelt 'Philip'.
1850 United States Federal Census - Phillip Day
1850 United States Federal Census - Original
The 1900 US Federal Census tells us that Phillip and his family were living in Slaughterville, Webster, Kentucky. He and his wife Martha's children were Lora Day (age 8 or 12 - record is unclear), Leslie Day age 21, Alonzo Day age 19, and Verlie Day age 9.
1900 United States Federal Census - Philip Day
1900 United States Federal Census - Original
The same census gives us the neighbors of Phillip and Martha. Among these neighbors is the Winstead family. John Day III married a Mary Jane Winstead. Also, among the Winstead family is a 'Queen Winstead'. A daughter of Phillip and Martha was named Queen. Perhaps Queen Day was named after Queen Winstead. This possible family connection is still to be researched.
Also, among the neighbors is 'William Day' who is probably Phillip's older brother.
1900 United States Federal Census Results: Neighbors of Philip and Martha Day
Phillip Brown Day: Kentucky, Death Records
Phillip's death certificate gives his parent's names as Ambros [Ambrose] and mother as Mary Tapp, and that he and his parents were born in North Carolina.
Phillip Brown Day: Death Certificate
Children of Philip and Martha were Leslie, Alonzo, Verlie and Lora.
1.1.5.7.1 Leslie Day (???? - ????).
1.1.5.7.2 Alonzo Day (???? - ????).
1.1.5.7.3 Verlie Day (???? - ????).
1.1.5.7.4 Lora Day (???? - ????).
1.1.6 Philip B. Day (1785 – ????).
1.1.7 Isaac Day (1795 – ????).
An Isaac Day married a Polly Bumpass on March 4, 1822 in Person, North Carolina. We do not know yet if this particular Isaac Day is a member of the family.
North Carolina, Marriage Records: John Day
John Day and Polly Bumpass marriage bond original
See also:
A self-published book on the Bumpass family was produced in 1972. Day, Tapp and Winstead families are mentioned, but not enough data to tie the Bumpass family with any of these families. See:
Bumpass, Anne Shirley and James Richard Townsend, compilers. The Bumpass Family: from Person County, North Carolina, 157 pages. Available in the references section of the Orange County Public Library, 137 W. Margaret Len; Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone 919.245.2525; Fax 919.644.3003 (Contact info as of 2018)
1.1.8 Bowling Day (1795– ????).
1.1.9 William Day (1805 - ????).
For potential sources of more information on the Day family see:
Email corrections, additional information or questions to Jill at:
family@earthwander.com
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