FRANCE FAMILY
The France family is my dad's side of the family. I've tried to get as much information on this side of the family as I have mom's but, have had a bit harder time. There have been many other France descendants who have helped me while I tried helping them, so that we could get as much information on our France side of the family as we could. So here is a bit of history that I've found so far. As more is found I will add it in.
From what we have found so far and can be verified is, Jesse Francis b. abt. 1772 in VA. d. abt. 1818-1820. Jesse's wife Chloe (unknown) b. abt. 1772 was head of household in the 1820 census. I have seen other researchers have Jesse's father as being Thomas Francis Sr., I personally have yet to find a document to link them, but all clues do lead to that conclusion. Jesse and Chloe appear to have had 7 children: Andrew b. 1803, Allen b. 1811, David b. 1815, Owen b. 1819, Mary Ann b. ?, Anney b. ?, Morgan b. ?(have seen varying dates for Morgan so not sure at this time of an "abt" date.)
During the first years of Jesse and Chloe's marriage (I'm still in search of a marriage date for Jesse and Chloe) is when the area of VA that they were living was growing and dividing into different counties. So I'm unsure at this time which county each of the children were born. I didn't find Jesse in the 1810 census but he was listed in the Russell Co VA Personal Property Tax Lists. In 1820 Chloe Francis was head of household in Scott Co. VA. Living with her were : males - under 10 =3, 10-16 = 2, 16-18 = 2, females - under 10 = 3, 20-45 = 1, then there are listed, 2 columns over 4 foreigners not naturalized, I don't know who they may be. I did not find them in 1830 census records but in 1840 Chloe again head of household in Scott Co. VA, this time with the spelling of the name being FRANCE. From this time on the records of this family line the name used is FRANCE.
Now in 1840 is the first time in census records you see the children of Jesse and Chloe listed with their families. David listed next to Chloe in census with Allen next to David. Andrew is a few pages away with his family. At home with Chloe is males: 15-20 = 1, 20-30 = 1, Females 20-30 = 1, 60-70 = 1.
In 1850 is the time when census records gave the names and ages of all members of the household, not just the head. What a great asset. In Scott Co. VA is listed: Chloe France 78yrs old born in VA property value $160. This is the last census record I have for Chloe France. The only other records I've found for her is the Primitive Baptist Church Records where it was noted a couple times she was "reprimanded" for fighting with her sister Dicey Ray. There was mention of a shot gun.. gotta love family ! I will list the notes I have on this in an attached page.
I will try now, to give some information I have on each of the children of Jesse and Chloe. Some I have quit a bit on others not hardly any. In each child's line I will give the name of the person or person's I've gotten info from and with their permission, if you want to contact them, I will give you their current email address. I'm not going to list them here because I don't want spammers to get their address.
Andrew France (b. 1803 d. July 5, 1897) married Elizabeth Darter (b. March 11, 1805 d. June 12, 1889) on March 9, 1826 in Scott Co. VA. Elizabeth's parents are Nicholas Darter and Eve Roxanna Vinnerick. Andrew and Elizabeth had 11 children. This family stayed in Scott Co when the other boys moved into KY in the 1860's. Andrew and Elizabeth are both buried in France Cemetery, Scott Co VA. Andrew and Elizabeth's children are : Eva A. b. 1831 married Wm M Tipton Dec. 31, 1852 in Scott Co VA. Esther b. 1833 married James Henderson Tipton August 18, 1854 in Scott Co VA. Elizabeth M. b. August 25,1834 d. June 18, 1880, married John Vineyard March 12, 1853 in Scott Co VA. Lilburn J. b. 1838 married Mary Rudie Sept. 19, 1861 in Scott Co VA. Catharine b. 1847 d. Nov. 1923, married Wm M Bellamy Sept. 18, 1864 in Scott Co VA. James K. b. May 25, 1845 d. May 14, 1920 married Susan Arrena (Cesina) Lane April 1, 1862. Francis (Fanny) b. May 15, 1845 d. July 31, 1889, married George Peters May 6, 1868. Eliza Jane b. 1827 d. bef. 1867, married Benjamin Davidson. James W. b. 1852, Mary J. (Matilda) b. 1829 d. Aug. 13, 1855, married Francisco Peters. Phoebe b. 1829 d. Sept. 14, 1857 of consumption she married Drury Price Jr. Sept. 12, 1849. Most of the information I have gotten on this family line, other than census records, has came from Lisa France Simpson a descendant of this family. She has extensive information on this line. She has been a great help on this family.
Allen France (b. 1811 d. aft. 1880 Bell Co KY) married Mary Ann Simamon (b. 1816 d. aft 1880 Bell Co KY) on August 27, 1839 in Scott Co VA. Allen and Mary Ann had 9 children. Allen took his family and left Scott Co VA after the civil war. They moved to Josh Bell Co KY, later becoming Bell Co. KY. I have found records of Allen and Mary Ann in 1870 and 1880 census records but not after that. I have yet to find their final resting place. Allen and Mary Ann's children are : Elizabeth b. 1840 Henry b. 1843 married Nancy Buckner 5-13-1867 in Scott Co VA., James Francisco b. 1845 d. 1902, Calvin b. 1846 married Amy North, Andrew Jackson b. 1848 d. 12-1-1937, Lilburn b. 1849, James Patton b. Nov. 1853 d. 2-20-1915 married Mahala Jackson 9-26-1872 in Knox Co. KY, William Allen b. 10-12-1856 d. 8-9-1942, Sarah S. b. 1857. Allen's children, after getting families of their own, started to spread out around Bell Co. They moved into Knox, Lee, and James Patton ended up in Clay Co. (my line) For Allen the other researchers are Arby Durham, is descended from James Francisco (Cisco), Ron Crew, his line is Calvin, and then mine is James Patton. New addition to our group of France researchers is Jack Sam France, great grand son of William Allen's line. (Oct. 2005)
David France (b. 1815 d. pre 1860) married Judith Gibson in Pike Co. KY on Oct. 4, 1836. Judith b. 1818 was the daughter of William Gibson. David and Judith had 13 children. In 1840 David was head of household in Scott Co. VA with 4 children and wife. It is possible that 2 of these children passed pre 1850 census because in 1850 census only 2 children show born pre 1840. Again in 1850 David was head of household in Scott Co. VA but by 1860 Judith was head of household with 12 of the children at home in Scott Co VA. I don't have much more on this family. By 1870 census I couldn't find Judith anymore. Now I do know that 4 of the boys were in the Civil War, Owen and Morgan, both show fighting for the Confederacy in the 48th Infantry Regiment VA and William and Elijah were in the 64th VA Infantry. Here are the children I have for this couple and spouses I know of so far. William C. b. 1837 married Rachel Johnson 9-12, 1857, Owen b. 1839 married Elizabeth Frazier 6-15-1862, Morgan b. 1841 married Rebecca Rose 12-18-1860, Elijah b. 1842, Elizabeth b. 1844 married Jackson Ray 11-4-1864, Eliza J. b. 1845, Matilda b. 1847, Tillman b. 1849, Vina Emily b. 1851 married Samuel Clark 7-13-1865, James C., 1853, Dinah b. 1854, John M b. 1856, George W. b 1859. Some of the information on this family group was passed on to me and said to have come from Roxanne Davis but I don't have a current email for her. Would love to find out more on this family if anyone has more info.
Morgan France (b. 1817) married Sarah Lane 2-8-1843. Sarah b. 1803 in VA. In 1850 they were in Owsley Co KY. In 1860 also in Owsley Co with children John M b. 1848, Fielding & Clarinda twins b. 1850, Virginia b. 1852. This is pretty much all I have on Morgan that I can verify.
Owen Wesley France (b. 1819) married Polly Prewitt in 1841. In 1850 census they lived in Scott Co. VA. I have the following children for Owen and Polly, Isabel b. 1842, Roanna b. 1844, Elbert S. b. 1846, Lewis S. b. 1848, Nancy b. 8-2-1850, Amanda & Hellen twins b. 1856, Owen Wesley b. 1859, Martha b. 1861, Rodah b. 1864, James b. 1867. On this family I've gotten help from Larry Gregory and Mary Alice Pare.
Mary Ann France married Joseph Prooner 3-9-1833. I have found no other records on this family at all.
Anney France married William Courtney 1819, also no more records found on this family.
Now if you see anyone above that you know and can link to I am more than happy to share what I may have. I have much work to do on my France family. If you see anything listed here that you feel is in error please feel free to let me know because I want this to be as accurate as can possibly be. Look forward to sharing info.
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