What was the name of Jefferson Davis' child who died while he was President of the Confederacy?

Answer 1

There were two: Finis Davis and Joe Davis.

Finis Davis:

Finis, an adult serving in the Confederate army, was Jefferson's first child by his second wife, Novella. Novella was the adopted daughter of Chief Black Hawk. In public Jefferson Davis never mentioned this wife. Finis was severely brain damaged when a Union saber struck him on the head. Days after the battle Colonel John Wilkes Booth (Booth was in the secret service serving under General Stonewall Jackson) found him and saw to it the he received medical attention. After he recovered, but brain damaged, Finis helped Booth with some of his one act plays. Finis lived for a couple of years.

Joseph Davis:

The Howell's and their daughter were frequent visitors at Joseph Davis' home. That is where the 17 year old Varina Howell met the 35 year old Jefferson Davis. Six weeks later they were engaged. They were married and after having several children Varina gave birth to a boy. Jefferson named the baby Joseph to the distress of Varina. Varina was no fan of Jefferson's older brother Joseph. She believed him to be a dangerous man with a violent temper. Varina had come so close to hating him that she couldn't call her son Joseph. She called him Joe. Five year old Joe fell from the second story balcony at their home and died. Some believe that he was pushed by his brother. There was no investigation.

Varina said, "I left my children quite well, playing in my room, and had just uncovered my basket in Jefferson's office when a servant came in for me. The most beautiful and brightest of my children, Joseph Emory, had in play climbed over the connecting angle of the banister and fallen to the brick pavement below. He died a few minutes after we reached his side."