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On 10 December 1909, Walter Ryland Davis was born in Ozeana, Essex County, Virginia. He was male, 3rd child in order, both parents were married to one another. Father was Joseph Davis; white; 37; born in Essex County, Virginia; occupation carpenter. Mother was Laura Belle Croxton; white; 28; born in Essex County, Virginia. Parents married on 10 August 1905 in Essex County, Virginia. Certified by Celia Mitchell of Upright, Virginia; aunt; age 81. Supported by transcript of 1910 Federal Census. Applicant signed Ryland Davis, Upright, Virginia. [Commonwealth of Virginia, Delayed Certificate of Birth, 6295, 29 August 1959.]

1910 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Enumeration District 40, Rappahannock District, on Ozeana Road, Dwelling 23, Family 23
Davis, Joseph, head, male, white, age 37, second marriage, married 4 years, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, farmer on general farm, can read and write, owns farm, mortgaged, farm schedule 20
Davis, Laura B., wife, female, white, age 25, first marriage, 3 children born, 3 children living, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write
Davis, Grayson, son, male, white, age 15, single, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school
Davis, Lilian, daughter, female, white, age 13, single, born Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school
Davis, Harold, son, male, white, age 11, single, born Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school
Davis, Roland, son, male, white, age 9, single, born Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, can read and write, in school
Davis, Pearl, daughter, female, white, age 7, single, born Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation, cannot read or write, not in school
Davis, Allie, son, male, white, age 3, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, no occupation
Davis, Warren, son, male, white, age 2, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, no occupation
Davis, Ryland, son, male, white, age 4/12, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, no occupation

1920 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Rappahannock District, Dwelling No. 189, Family No. 199
Enumerated on 21 February 1920
Davis, Joseph, head, owned free, 46, born in Virginia, farmer, general farm, own account
Davis, Lucila A., wife, 49, born in Virginia
Davis, Allie C., son, 13, in school, born in Virginia
Davis, Warren P., son, 11, in school, born in Virginia
Davis, Ryland W., son, 10, in school, born in Virginia
Davis, Virginia H., daughter, 8, in school, born in Virginia
Davis, Lillie M., daughter, 6 or 7 [overprint], born in Virginia
Davis, Robert S., son, 5, born in Virginia
Davis, Elmer D., son, 3, born in Virginia

1930 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Roll T626-2441, Page 4B
Rappahannock District
Enumeration District 27-6
Enumerated 6 and 7 May, 1930
Dwelling 92, Household 95
Davis, Joseph H., head, owner, lives on farm, male, white, age 55, first married at age 19, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, carpenter in building trade, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Davis, Celia M., wife, female, white, age 59, first married at age 28, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation
Davis, Ryland, son, male, white, age 19, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, laborer of odd jobs, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Davis, Warren P., son, male, white, age 21, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, laborer of odd jobs, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Davis, May, daughter, female, white, age 17, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, house keeper for private family, wage worker, at work previous day, not a veteran
Davis, Samuel, son, male, white, age 14, single, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation

Marriage information from an article about the Davis’ 50th wedding anniversary. Also: Walter Ryland Davis married Nannie Gay Brooks on 26 September 1931 (marriage license issued 23 September) in Essex County. He was 21; she was 18. Both were born in Essex, both lived in Contra. He was a mechanic. His parents were Joe and Laura Croxton Davis; hers were Jno. W. and Annie Brizende [sic] Brooks. M. F. Roberts performed the ceremony. [King and Queen County Marriage Register 2, page 68, entry 33.]

On 16 October 1940, Walter Ryland Davis registered for the military. He was a resident of Upright, Essex County, Virginia; age 30; born on 10 December 1909 in Ozeana, Essex County; citizen of U.S.A.; person who will always know address Mrs. Nannie Gay Davis, wife, of Upright, Essex County, Virginia; self employed; place of employment or business Upright, Essex County, Virginia; white; height 5’10”; weight 145 pounds; gray eyes; brown hair; light brown complexion; no other obvious physical attributes; signed W. Ryland Davis. [National Archives, Selective Service Registration Card, Roll 44044-04-00037.]

Pearl Irene Davis Kopp [Walter Ryland Davis’s half-sister]: “And when he came along, I remember my stepmother was so disappointed that she didn’t have a girl! There was three boys. So she decided she was going to dress him like a girl, and she got him a beautiful little eyelit [?] dress and a curly/cutsy [?] little straw bonnet with a lot of pink ribbons. And he was about six months old, she took him to church. And everybody says, ‘Oh, what a beautiful little girl!’ She wanted a girl so bad she decided to dress him like a girl and take him to church. I though that was the funniest thing, though. Dressed up with his little curls stickin’ all around his little straw bonnet. He had beautiful curls, little blond head.”