William A. Pettit family bible contains inscription "David Allen Pettit Was Born Oct th 17, 1850". In light of the discrepancy in the marriage year between the same Bible record and the county marriage records (see notes for William Amos Pettit), the correct year may be 1851. The 1900 census says that he was born Dec 1850.

David was crippled at birth, with one leg shorter than the other.