Caviels/Cavils - Roots in Virginia
I make no guarantees to the accuracy of the following information. This is mainly bits and pieces of information I have gathered from public records, family members, and others over the last few years. Please feel free to contact me with additions, corrections, and/or deletions if you possess info to the contrary, or if you stories to share about the family.
My initial focus was my great-great-great grandfather, Patrick Cavil (Caviel) who was born in Virginia in the late 1820s, and resided most of his life in Victoria, Texas. I wanted to find out as much as possible about Patrick, his descendants, and extended family members. I have discovered that great grandfather Patrick and his wife, Isabelle (Isabella), had at least seven children - Adam, Andrew (Andy/AB), Houston, Ann, William P., Cora, and Patrick. I am in the branch of Houston Caviel (wife Louisa). In the process of researching, I discovered many branches of this family dispersed throughout Texas and other states. So as I locate descendants, I add more information to my research, which continues to be a work-in-progress. Click here for Patrick Cavil (Caviel) descendants.
The surname has several variations - Cavil, Caviel, Cavel, Cavell, and Cavill are just a few. I use the spelling of the surname according to the way it appears in various public records. The first appearance of this surname in Texas came in the 1870 Census. There were four males with the surname of Cavil. Jim (or John) Cavil (born 1830?), Addison (or Anderson) Cavil (born 1833?), Patrick Cavil (born 1828?), and Peter Cavil (born 1797). All four men claimed that they were either born in Virginia or that their parents were born in Virginia. According to the 1870 census record, Jim and Patrick Cavil were born in Virginia as were their parents. Addison Cavil reports that he was born in Alabama but that his father was born in Virginia. Peter Cavil reported that he was born in Tennessee. These are families that I believe are connected to those mentioned above, and one or more may be a brother or sibling to my great grandfather, Patrick Cavil (Caviel):
Robertson County, 1900 census
Morris Cavil, black, age 26 with wife, Inez age 18, father, Bill Cavil age 54, and stepmother, Lucy Cavil age 60. VIRGINIA is listed as the birthplace for Bill and his parents.
Montgomery County, 1900 census
Jim Calvin (Cavil), black, age 60 and wife, Rebecca age 57, children Campbell (21 yrs), Bennie (24 yrs), Nadava(?, Bennie's wife), Jim Jr. (19 yrs), Hood (17 yrs), Charley (13 yrs) and Johnny (11 yrs). Jim listed VIRGINIA as birthplace for him and his parents. Rebecca lists Alabama as her birthplace.
Robertson County, 1910 census
Morris Cavil (listed as Calvin), black, age 36 with wife, Ada age 26, and children Allie (dau, age 5), McKinley (son, age 9), Sadie (dau, age 6), Ethel (dau, age 2) and Inez (dau, 5 mos).
William Cavil (listed as Cavall) is 76 years old living with his wife, Maria. They have been married for 6 months and this is William's 3rd marriage. William's stepson, Dave Williams and his family are also living in the household.
Montgomery County, 1910 census
Campbell Cavil, age 31, with nephew, John (age 21), Lizzie (John's wife, age 18), daughter, Ruth (age 7), son, B????? (age 5), mother, Rebecca (age 65), and sister Annie O???? (age 37). Family's race is listed as Mulatto. VIRGINIA is listed as the birthplace for Campbell's parents.
Falls County, Perry, TX - 1920 census:
Morris Cavil, black, age 48 and wife Ada, age 34 with daughters Sadie Bell Ray (?), age 16 and Ethel Mae Cavil, age 11. Father and mother listed as being born in VIRGINIA and Georgia, respectively.
Milam County, 1920 census:
Charlie Cavil (Mulatto)age 33 and wife, Cora age 27 with their children William - 7, Zenova - 6, Dora - 5, and Dorthy - 2 months. Charlie lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Jafus Cavil (Mulatto) age 36, widowed (wife was Addie Pearl) with his eight children - Marcella, Fred, Corrine, Marta J., Itasca, Marie, Apple, Addie Pearl. I believe that Jafus had a brother, William, who also resided in Milam County. On the Milam County website, there is information that William Cavil was a founder of the Griffin AME Church in the Milano and Griffin community. Jafus is mentioned as being an old settler in the community. William Cavil and wife Lizzie with children William L. (Paul), Ida J., Ora, Ruthie, Jafus.
Jafus lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Montgomery County, Willis, TX - 1920 census:
Campbell Cavil, black, age 41 with wife, Cerl (?) age 36, and children - Ruth, dau, 15; Bessie, dau, 16; and Bennie, son, 14. He lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Johnnie Cavil, black, age 31 with wife Blanche age 30 and daughter, Lou Etta age 1. His parents are listed as both being born in Texas.
Lawrence Cavil, black, age 30 with wife Frances age 31. His parents are listed as both being born in Texas.
1930 census:
CAVIL CAMPBELL 51 M B TX TX MONTGOMERY 1 J-PCT (NORTHWEST PART)
CAVIL CHARLES 41 M B TX TX BEXAR 6-WD SAN ANTONIO
CAVIL JOHN A 40 M B TX TX MONTGOMERY 1 J-PCT (NORTHWEST PART)
CAVIL LIZZIE 38 F B TX TX MILAM 1 J-PCT (EAST PART)
My initial focus was my great-great-great grandfather, Patrick Cavil (Caviel) who was born in Virginia in the late 1820s, and resided most of his life in Victoria, Texas. I wanted to find out as much as possible about Patrick, his descendants, and extended family members. I have discovered that great grandfather Patrick and his wife, Isabelle (Isabella), had at least seven children - Adam, Andrew (Andy/AB), Houston, Ann, William P., Cora, and Patrick. I am in the branch of Houston Caviel (wife Louisa). In the process of researching, I discovered many branches of this family dispersed throughout Texas and other states. So as I locate descendants, I add more information to my research, which continues to be a work-in-progress. Click here for Patrick Cavil (Caviel) descendants.
The surname has several variations - Cavil, Caviel, Cavel, Cavell, and Cavill are just a few. I use the spelling of the surname according to the way it appears in various public records. The first appearance of this surname in Texas came in the 1870 Census. There were four males with the surname of Cavil. Jim (or John) Cavil (born 1830?), Addison (or Anderson) Cavil (born 1833?), Patrick Cavil (born 1828?), and Peter Cavil (born 1797). All four men claimed that they were either born in Virginia or that their parents were born in Virginia. According to the 1870 census record, Jim and Patrick Cavil were born in Virginia as were their parents. Addison Cavil reports that he was born in Alabama but that his father was born in Virginia. Peter Cavil reported that he was born in Tennessee. These are families that I believe are connected to those mentioned above, and one or more may be a brother or sibling to my great grandfather, Patrick Cavil (Caviel):
Robertson County, 1900 census
Morris Cavil, black, age 26 with wife, Inez age 18, father, Bill Cavil age 54, and stepmother, Lucy Cavil age 60. VIRGINIA is listed as the birthplace for Bill and his parents.
Montgomery County, 1900 census
Jim Calvin (Cavil), black, age 60 and wife, Rebecca age 57, children Campbell (21 yrs), Bennie (24 yrs), Nadava(?, Bennie's wife), Jim Jr. (19 yrs), Hood (17 yrs), Charley (13 yrs) and Johnny (11 yrs). Jim listed VIRGINIA as birthplace for him and his parents. Rebecca lists Alabama as her birthplace.
Robertson County, 1910 census
Morris Cavil (listed as Calvin), black, age 36 with wife, Ada age 26, and children Allie (dau, age 5), McKinley (son, age 9), Sadie (dau, age 6), Ethel (dau, age 2) and Inez (dau, 5 mos).
William Cavil (listed as Cavall) is 76 years old living with his wife, Maria. They have been married for 6 months and this is William's 3rd marriage. William's stepson, Dave Williams and his family are also living in the household.
Montgomery County, 1910 census
Campbell Cavil, age 31, with nephew, John (age 21), Lizzie (John's wife, age 18), daughter, Ruth (age 7), son, B????? (age 5), mother, Rebecca (age 65), and sister Annie O???? (age 37). Family's race is listed as Mulatto. VIRGINIA is listed as the birthplace for Campbell's parents.
Falls County, Perry, TX - 1920 census:
Morris Cavil, black, age 48 and wife Ada, age 34 with daughters Sadie Bell Ray (?), age 16 and Ethel Mae Cavil, age 11. Father and mother listed as being born in VIRGINIA and Georgia, respectively.
Milam County, 1920 census:
Charlie Cavil (Mulatto)age 33 and wife, Cora age 27 with their children William - 7, Zenova - 6, Dora - 5, and Dorthy - 2 months. Charlie lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Jafus Cavil (Mulatto) age 36, widowed (wife was Addie Pearl) with his eight children - Marcella, Fred, Corrine, Marta J., Itasca, Marie, Apple, Addie Pearl. I believe that Jafus had a brother, William, who also resided in Milam County. On the Milam County website, there is information that William Cavil was a founder of the Griffin AME Church in the Milano and Griffin community. Jafus is mentioned as being an old settler in the community. William Cavil and wife Lizzie with children William L. (Paul), Ida J., Ora, Ruthie, Jafus.
Jafus lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Montgomery County, Willis, TX - 1920 census:
Campbell Cavil, black, age 41 with wife, Cerl (?) age 36, and children - Ruth, dau, 15; Bessie, dau, 16; and Bennie, son, 14. He lists his father and mothers' birthplaces as VIRGINIA and Alabama, respectively.
Johnnie Cavil, black, age 31 with wife Blanche age 30 and daughter, Lou Etta age 1. His parents are listed as both being born in Texas.
Lawrence Cavil, black, age 30 with wife Frances age 31. His parents are listed as both being born in Texas.
1930 census:
CAVIL CAMPBELL 51 M B TX TX MONTGOMERY 1 J-PCT (NORTHWEST PART)
CAVIL CHARLES 41 M B TX TX BEXAR 6-WD SAN ANTONIO
CAVIL JOHN A 40 M B TX TX MONTGOMERY 1 J-PCT (NORTHWEST PART)
CAVIL LIZZIE 38 F B TX TX MILAM 1 J-PCT (EAST PART)