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- 81 - . CHAPTER 10 FRANCIS COLEMAN by J. P. COLEMAN Born, Virginia, August 16, 1744. Died, Washington County, Alabama, August 13, 1823. Age 79. On March 13, 1761, Robert Coleman, who died late 1795, bought 100 acres of land from William Roberts on the west side of Rocky Swamp, Halifax County, NC. This we have seen in a previous chapter. Francis Coleman was a subscribing witness to the deed, but he signed by mark. Since the Francis Coleman to be discussed in this chapter wrote a beautiful hand and signed his own name to documents still in existence, and since he was only seventeen years old in 1761 and thus not of legal age to be a lawful witness to the execution of documents, the Francis Coleman who witnessed the deed of 1761 was most likely the father of Robert Coleman. However, for reasons immediately to appear, it seems absolutely clear that the Francis Coleman now about to be discussed was a son of the Robert Coleman who died in Fairfield County, South Carolina, in 1795, and a brother of Charles Coleman, who died in 1788, as well as a brother of Robert Coleman who died in 1809, in addition to being a brother or half brother to all the other children of the first named Robert. Francis Coleman purchased land in Fairfield County, SC, from William Martin on January 23, 1772. On February 11, 1773, he was granted 150 acres on Sandy Fork of Beaver Creek, on which all the other Fairfield Colemans later lived. The patent, signed by Lord Montague, described the land as being bounded on the Northeast by lands already owned by Francis Coleman, on the South by land of Clement Moberley, and on all other sides by vacant land. As shown by the Fairfield County land records, on March 25, 1788, Francis Coleman purchased other land which had been granted to William Moberley (Mobley) on March 4, 1760. Robert Coleman was a witness to this deed. As we have already seen in the chapter on Charles Coleman, who died in 1788, Francis Coleman was the executor of the last will and testament of Charles Coleman. Moreover, Robert Coleman, who died 1809, was a subscribing witness to that will, which was dated December 31, 1787. - 82 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY February 5, 1791, Land Deed Book N, Page 15, Fairfield Records, Francis Coleman sold to Jhn Coleman 200 acres of land originally granted to Charles Coleman, reciting that he did so as "lawful attorney for Charles Coleman." Strictly speaking, he should have described himself as the Executor of the last will and testament of Charles Coleman. Robert Coleman, Sr. and Robert Coleman, Jr. were witnesses to this instrument of 1791. Nearly ten years later, February 5, 1800, David Coleman, son of Robert Coleman who died in 1809, made Oath that he saw Francis Coleman sign this deed and that he also saw Robert Coleman, Sr. and Robert Coleman, Jr. subscribe their names as whitenesses. On March 16, 1801, Francis Coleman, Sr., of Jefferson County, Georgia, for five hundred pounds sterling, sold to Hartwell Macon 410 acres of land in Fairfield County, on Sandy Fork, Beaver Creek, originally obtained by Francis on January 23, l771 and February 11, 1773, bounded by the lands of Liles and Hampton. Robert Coleman, Sr. was one of the subscribing witnesses, so evidently Francis had returned to Fairfield to consummate this transaction. On April 23, 1803, Francis Coleman and Margaret, his wife, of the State of Georgia and County of Jefferson, conveyed to Henry I. Macon, 266 acres of land described as being part of the tracts sold by John Marlin to Francis Coleman on January 23, 1772, and granted to Francis Coleman on February 11, 1773, by Governor Charles G. Montague. It was further recited in 1803, that the land adjoined Ephriam Lyles, Hampton, and Thomas Means (Land Deed Book O, Page 191, Fairfield County Records). Of course, this quite positively shows that the Francis Coleman in Jefferson County, Georgia, in 1803, was the same Francis Coleman who patented land in Fairfield County adjoining the Moberleys in 1773, and who purchased land from one John Martin in the first month of 1772. It also proves that his was the same Francis Coleman who acted as Executor for the Estate of Charles Coleman in Fairfield County in 1788. Francis Coleman received the following land grants in the State of Georgia: 1790, 250 acres of land in Burke County; 1795, 400 acres in Burke County; 1795, 153 acres in Warren County; 1797, 75 acres in Warren County. - 83 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Mr. G. Duffield Smith, 3520 Drexel Drive, Dallas, Texas, a descendant of Francis Coleman through his daughter, Frances Womack, unearthed a record of Francis Coleman in Wilkes County, GA, in 1790, when Peter Spencer collected tuition for teaching Isaac, Frank and John Coleman . In the 1805 Land Lotteries in the State of Georgia, Francis Coleman had two draws. The records of Jefferson County, Georgia, were destroyed in Sherman's March to the Sea. The writer has found an old jury list in the Courthouse at Louisville, Georgia, which shows that Francis Coleman was number 19 for jury duty in Jefferson County, Georgia, July 4, 1799. Isaac, John and William were noted for jury duty on November 13, 1798. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA Louisville August 14, 1799 Sir: At the request of Mr. Francis Coleman the bearer hereof I address you to present to inform you of his wish to remove his property to the Don or Tombigby River, through the Creek Nation. I have informed him that this liberty can only be granted by you, who know the feelings and sentiment of the Indians on such occasion. I will therefore only further add that Mr. Coleman's seems to be a peculiar case--he sometimes since sold out his land here, and purchased land in exchange on that River. He is a citizen of repute, and I believe, if indulged, would give no trouble to the United States or offense to the Indians. I am, Sir, with respect, your obt. servt. JAMES JACKSON. Addressed to Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, Superintendent of Indian Affairs North of Ohio. This letter is of record at Page 396 of the Minutes of the Executive Department of the State of Georgia for the period 2/6/1799-11/7/1799. Land Deed Book A,'Washington County, Alabama, Pages 3-8. 1799. Joel Walker for $3,000 cash sold to Francis Coleman a plantation of 500 - 84 - . THB ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY acres of land in West Florida on a point immediately above the Black Rock on the River Tombeckby [Tombigbee - WDC] about 112 miles above the Town of Mobile, [Now in Alabama - WDC] bounded by the river on the north, east, south and southwest, granted to Charles Walker by the Province of West Florida, January 27, 1777. American State Papers-Public Lands-Volume 1, Page 683. Francis Coleman's case. Land claims in the Mississippi territory, case No. 116, Land on the Tombigbee River. Recites that Francis Coleman was of Jefferson County, Georgia. Application made by William Coleman as Attorney in fact for Francis Coleman. States that the land is about 112 miles above Mobile. This proves, of course, that Francis Coleman of Jefferson County, Georgia, formerly of Fairfield County, South Carolina, was the same man who moved to Washington County, Alabama. On November 19, 1799, William Coleman and John Coleman, sons of Francis, were granted passports to go through the Creek Nation to the Tombigbee and return. Francis Coleman's daughter, Frances, married John Womack. On April 12, 1802, Jesse Womack and John Womack were granted passports to the Creek Nation in the western country. On April 23, 1804, Francis Coleman, Jr, son of Francis Coleman, Sr, was granted a passport to remove to the western country. Benjamin Coleman given a passport to the Tombigbee Country, April 30, 1803. December 30, 1807, on the recommendation of Isaac Coleman, of Jefferson County, passport ordered prepared for William Coleman to pass through the Creek Nation. On Tuesday, May 12, 1812, a passport was ordered to the Mississippi Territory (which included present day Alabama) for messrs Francis Coleman, Isaac Coleman, and David Rowe, of the County of Jefferson. The passport included 11 negroes, the property of Francis Coleman. Mississippi Territorial Census of 1816 listed the following: Washington County Francis Coleman Jesse Coleman Clarke County Jesse Coleman William Coleman Francis Coleman was a soldier in the American Revolution. This fact has been too clearly handed down in the family from generation to generation to be denied now. In the DAR Lineage books it is stated that - 85 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY he served as a Private in General Elijah Clark's Georgia troops. Although Francis was a resident of South Carolina at that time, General Clark did much fighting in South Carolina, so Francis would have had every opportunity to have joined General Clark's forces. There is no record of his Revolutionary service in National Archives in Washington but he died before Revolutionary pensions were common except for the indigent, so the writer has concluded that this is not significant. The writer has encountered writings to the effect that this Francis Coleman was the son of Francis Coleman of Caroline County, Virginia, the burgess, who was the son of Samual Coleman, of the Mobjack Bay Coleman line. Since Francis of Caroline was not grown and married until long after 1744 it is obvious for this reason alone that he was not the father of Francis Coleman of Washington County, Alabama. The family connections of Francis of Caroline are elaborately covered in the writings of Judge S. Bernard Coleman. FRANCIS COLEMAN FAMILY RECORDS Francis Coleman, b. August 16, 1744, Virginia. d. August 13, 1823, Washington County, Alabama. Margaret Coleman, b. December 29, 1750. His Wife, d. April 17, 1804. CHILDREN Isaac Coleman, b. September 25, 1768. d. 1841. Had a daughter named Vashti, and a son, Hamilton J. F. His widow, Nancy, died at Cahaba, April 28, 1856. William Coleman, b. May 13, 1770. Married, Nancy (Dean) Lawrence. d. 1847. Lived in Perry County, Alabama. Had ten children. Francis Coleman, b. June 8, 1772. Married Mary Womack. d. September 10, 1835, Butler County, Alabama. - 86 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Margaret Coleman, b. January 6, 1774. Married Robert Tillman, Jefferson County, GA May 5, 1793. Nine children. John Coleman, b. January 3, 1776. Benjamin Coleman, b. April 29, 1778. d. December 24, 1816. Frances Coleman, b. February 14, 1781. Married John Womack (son of Jesse Womack, Revolutionary soldier. He was born December 25, 1776). Eleven children. Abner Coleman, b. January 17, 1783. d. April 10, 1787. Elias Coleman, b. December 9, 1784. d. October 9, 1786. Vashti Coleman, b. December 19, 1786. Married (1) John Williamson (2) Matthew Shaw. Robert Coleman, b. March 9, 1789. d. October 1, 1789. Daniel Coleman, b. September 5, 1792. Married Sarah Hawkins. Three children. It will be noted that Francis Coleman had a daughter named Vashti, as did Charles Coleman who died 1788. He had sons named William, Francis, John, and Robert, as did Robert Coleman who died 1809. He had a son named Abner, as did William Coleman of Fairfield. Children of John Williamson and Vashti Coleman were: Charles Fox Williamson, Carolyn Williamson, and Daniel Mobley Williamson. Daniel Mobley Wiliamson was born April 10, 1816, near old St. Stephens, Choctaw County, Alabama, and died at the old home place, Millry, on April 30, 1899. He married three times and had twenty-three children. His second wife was Telitha Worsham. Octavia Chaney Williamson was a child of this marriage. OCTAVIA CHANEY WILLIAMSON, daughter of D. M. W. and his wife, Telitha Worsham, was born January 24, 1853, at the old home - 87 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY place in Choctaw County, and died May 21, 1926, at Laurel, MS. She married (1) John Glenn Whitselt, born October 22, 1851, died April 14, 1874. They had one child, Mary Olivia. MARY OLIVIA WHITSETT, daughter of John Glenn Whitsett and his wife, Octavia Chaney Williamson, was born June 16, 1873, in Cherokee County, Texas. At this writing, July 24, 1959, she is living at Laurel, Mississippi. On June 14, 1888, she married James Dumont Duvall, who died December 28, 1928. Of this union were nine children. The fifth child was Howard Gibson. HOWARD GIBSON DUVALL, was born February 1, 1903, at Lumberton, MS, and is now living at Oxford, Mississippi. On March 10, 1927, he married Clara Mae Wilson, daughter of Samuel Dee Wilson and Clara Alice Barnes. They had two children: Samuel Dee Wilson and Howard G., Jr. SAMUEL DEE WlLSON DUVALL, son of Howard Gibson Duvall and his wife, Clara Mae Wilson, was born May 31, 1928, at Tupelo, Mississippi. On December 5, 1948, he married Faye Lewis, daughter of Walter W. Lewis and his wife, Belle Carrington. At this writing he is living at 735 Beach Boulevard, Pascagoula, Mississippi. DETAILS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF FRANCIS COLEMAN, WILLIAM C. COLEMAN, EXECUTOR (FURNISHED BY WILSON DUVAL, OF PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI) Margaret Tillman received the household goods. DanieL W. Coleman, of Butler County, received his portion. A. W. Coleman, of Butler County, received his portion. Jasper W. Coleman, of Butler County, received his portion. Evidently these were the children oF Benjamin Coleman. Vashti Williamson received her share on November 29, 1823. Lucy W. Whiting, Martha Evans, of Dallas County, Alabama. Francis Coleman, Jr., acknowledged his share on November 29, 1823. Isaac Coleman received his share June 25, 1824. May 13, 1843, Washington County, Vashti Shaw, formerly Vashti Williamson, acknowledged receipt of her share of negroes left her by Francis Coleman. - 88 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Margaret B. Hawkins, formerly Margaret B. Coleman, sister of William H. Coleman, acknowledged receipt of six slaves, two mules, and yoke of oxen. Margaret B. was wife of James G. Hawkins. John Womack acknowledged his legacy, May 17, 1843. William H. Coleman filed his receipt May 17, 1843. ALABAMA CENSUS OF 1830 CLARKE COUNTY William Coleman, born between 1760-1770. Abner Coleman, born between 1800-1810. MARENGO COUNTY Isaiah Coleman, born between 1810-1815. DALLAS COUNTY Isaac Coleman, born between 1760-1770. Isaiah Coleman, born between 1t770-1780. William Coleman, born between 1790-1800. Robert Coleman, born between 1790-1800. Allen Coleman, born between 1800-1810. Land Deed Book N, Page 258, Greene County, Alabama, shows that William Coleman, son of Francis, was granted 640 acres of land in Greene County on September 24, 1835, pursuant to the Act of Congress of March 3, 1811, for the Relief of William Coleman and others. His wife was named Nancy, and the records recited that he was of Dallas County, Alabama. On a farm now belonging to John Henry Mosely, on the North side of the Farm to Market Road from Millry to St. Stephens, Washington County, Alabama, about one mile East of the Bigbee Community, are to be found the graves of Dr. William Harris Coleman, born September 20, 1820, died October 28, 1883; his wife, Caroline V., born May 30, 1837, and died September 17, 1888. He is said to have been married twice and had six children: Maggie, Lena, Frank, Jim, Dan, and Felix. I do not know which of the Colemans was his father. I have been much assisted in my researches on Francis Coleman by Donald B. Clayton, of Birmingham, who has done so much of the spade work which has gone into this book, and without whose work this book really would not have been possible. I have also been greatly assisted by Mr. G. Duffield Smith, of 3520 Drexel Drive, Dallas, Texas, as well as by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Duval, of Pascagoula, Mississippi. - 89 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY From Mr. Smith I received the following information as to Frances Coleman, who married John Womack. John Womack died at Womack Hill, Choctaw County, Alabama. Thereafter, his widow, Frances Coleman, went to Texas and lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Aurelia Womack Baker and Isaac Baker at Plantersville, Grimes County, Texas, where all are buried. Jesse Womack, son of John Womack and Frances Coleman, was a citizen of the Republic of Texas. His daughter, Eugenia Womack, married James Ledbetter Smith, who was the father of Jesse Philip Smith, who was the father of Mr. G. Duffield Smith. There is considerable evidence to the effect that Margaret Coleman, wife of Francis, was the daughter of James Daniel of Amelia County, VA later Prince Edward County, VA when it was formed of Amelia. His will was probated April 19, 1763, in which he mentions his daughter, Margaret, wife of Francis Coleman. I believe this to be correct because on Jan. 10, 1762, James Matthews, Sr. and Ann, his wife, in Halifax County, NC sold to William Daniel 142 acres of land. Francis Jones and James Matthis were witnesses to the deed. James Daniel had a son named William. - 90 - .
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