Rubuta ci gaba ga wannan sakin layi - An haifi Davidson a Fairfax County, Virginia. Shi ne dan William B. Davidson, wani jami'in bindiga a rundunar sojojin Amurka, da kuma tsohon Elizabeth Chapman Hunter. Shi ne ɗan fari na 'ya'ya maza huɗu; 'yan uwansa Hunter, Roger, da Charles. Mahaifinsa ya mutu daga cutar yayin da yake aiki a Florida a lokacin yakin Seminole na biyu.
a shekara ta 1840. Mahaifiyarsa ta mutu bayan shekara goma, ba da daɗewa ba bayan ta sake yin aure.