From Appendix to book: "Richard Dotson (1752-1847) and His Descendants" by Jim Dotson and Barr Wilson & published in 1992

Henry Franks Henry Franks was the father of Mary Franks Dotson, the wife of William Dotson (Chapter V) and the ancestor of several hundred Dotsons of this (Doddridge County, WV) and surrounding areas. He was a contemporary of Richard Dotson during the Revolutionary War in present day Greene County Pennsylvania, part of the time under the same fort commander, Capt. John Minor. We first learned the name of Henry Franks by accident when Sarah Ravencraft Jones made application for a pension; Mary Franks Dotson, in a supporting affidavit, states, "James Jones and Sarah Ravencraft Jones, ate their wedding supper at the home of my father, Henry Franks."

Michael Franks, married ca. 1725, is possibly the father of Henry Franks. We know very little of Henry Franks' ancestors. Abstract of Henry Franks' Military Record The following is a brief abstract of Henry Franks' military record compiled from his pension application of 1833 and other sources; a more detailed account follows later in this appendix.: Henry Franks first volunteered in the spring of 1775, while living on the Big Whiteley River near the Monongahela River about 20 miles from Beesons town (Note: now Uniontown). He served under John Miner (Minor) and was marched to Straitler's (Stadler's) Fort on Dunkard Creek, where he served in the garrison and on scouting duty. At that time, it was acceptable to volunteer for brief periods, so in three months he was mustered out. He volunteered the second time in June 1776 and entered the service under Capt. Jesse Pigman for three months serving part of that time at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh). From Fort Pitt his Company marched down the Ohio River to a spot six miles be-low Wheeling, near the mouth of Grave Creek (Moundsville), to bury a number of whites who had been massacred by a party of marauding Indians. After his duty, he was stationed at Wheeling, then Fort Henry. After being mustered out at Wheeling, Henry Frank immediately revolunteered ... his third enlistment.. in the Company of Rangers commanded by Captain John Wetzel. Henry Franks enlisted for the fourth term in the fall of 1777; this time he served with Captain Thomas Swain at Stadler's Fort. Many years later, when he applied for his military pension, he stated, "I served, the nature of our service being the protection of the frontier settlers from the barbarities of the Indians." Franks enlisted for the fifth time in June 1778. During the course of five enlistments, he evidently had no contact with the British. During his final term of duty, he served under Captain William Cross. Henry Frank's fourth child; Mary A. (Molly or Polly) Franks, m. William Dotson, a son of Richard Dotson and Mary -. (Doddridge Death record of William Dotson, Sr.) The following account of Henry Franks was written by Diana McMahan and appeared in The Parkersburg News. 1981 By Diana McMahn NEW MATAMORAS, OHIO ... One of the many Revolutionary war veterans who brought his family and settled on the wide Ohio river bottom lands in Grandview Township, Henry Franks, left an outstanding military record for he volunteered five separate times to serve in the Revolutionary war. Much of the surviving story of Henry Frank's life comes from his military record which is filed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In June 1834, he applied for a pension and at that time related his activities during the war. He could neither read or write at that time, but illiteracy was so common in those years that it was not counted as a handicap. He signed his name as a big sprawling "X" on the legal papers, with a broadtip quill pen that may have come from a local goose. MARYLAND NATIVE ......

There are conflicting stories on the birth of Henry Taylor Franks. He was most likely born in Picataway, Md., just south of Washington, D.C., in 175 1. This town is on an inlet of the Potomac river, diagonally opposite Mount Vernon. However, descendants of two of his children, Owen and Maria Louisa, have a family story that tells that he was of English origin. Very little is known of his early life.

In September 1777 he married Margaret Van Buskirk in Frederick, Md. She was said to have been a strongwilled, red haired woman of Dutch origin. Margaret's parents were John and Elizabeth (Shover?) Van Buskirk.

ORIGINAL ENLISTMENT ...... Henry Franks first volunteered in the spring of 1775, while living on the Big Whitely (sic Whiteley) near- the Monongahela river about 20 miles from Beesons town (Note:now Uniontown). He served under John Miner (Minor) and was marched to Straitler's (Stadler's) Fort on Dunkard Creek, where he served in the garrison and on scouting duty. At that time, it was acceptable to volunteer for brief periods, so in three months he was mustered out. He volunteered the second time in June 1776 and entered the service under Capt. Jesse Pigman for three months serving part of that time at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh). From Fort Pitt his Company marched down the Ohio river to a spot six miles below Wheeling, near the mouth of Grave Creek (Moundsville), to bury a number of whites who had been massacred by a party of maurauding Indians. After his duty, he was stationed at Wheeling, then Fort Henry. (note...This ambush occurred 29 September 1777 ... See, Page 12, Wilson, Barr The Descendants of John Wilson, Printed by McClain Printing Co. Parsons W.Va. Barr Wilson Toll Gate WV 26442 1975) JOHN WETZEL'S COMPANY . ..... After being mustered out at Wheeling, Henry Frank immediately revolunteered ... his third enlistment ... in the Company of Rangers commanded by Captain John Whitsel (Whetzel). John Wetzel is best remembered as the father of Lewis Whetzel, the legendary Indian fighter, frontiersman and border scout, whose center of operation was Fort Henry. However, John Whetzel was a presence on the frontier in his own right, risking his life many times during the Indian wars. He was finally shot and killed by an Indian bullet in June 1786, and was bufied nearby at Baker's Station, Marshall Co.,W.Va. While serving with John Whetzel, Henry Franks and the rest of the company proceeded to Big Whitley, still his home, to Ten We Creek, and along the frontiers of western Pennsylvania and Virginia. Other officers in John Whetzel's Company were: William Crawford, Lt.; John Madison, Ensign; Peter Miller, Sergeant; Christian Copley, Sergeant; and John Province Jr., Quartermaster. RE-ENLISTMENT ....... Henry Franks enlisted for the fourth term in the fall of 1777; this time he served with Captain Thomas Swain at Stadler's Fort. Many years later, when he applied for his military pension, he stated, "I served, the nature of our service being the protection of the frontier settlers from the barbarities of the Indians." Franks enlisted for the fifth time in June 1778. During the course of five enlistments, he evidently had no contact with the British. During his final term of duty, he served under Captain William Cross.

In his own words, "Served under him during General McIntosh's campaign, was stationed part of the time near the mouth of Beaver on the Ohio river at Fort McIntosh." The remainder of his enlistment the company ranged, "through what is now the State of Ohio and were employed at the erection of a fort on the Muskingum river." And, during McIntosh's campaign, we were under the command of Colonel Evans, Col. Daniel Broadhead and Col. William Crawford; also commanded at that time. In 1834 when Henry Franks was applying for a government pension for his Revolutionary war service, he described where he lived after the war. "I resided about seven years near Clines Fort on the Monongahela, next in the State of Maryland about 25 miles from Cumberland about seven years, next for about 21 years in Hampshire Co., Va., next in Ohio Co., Va., and from thence I removed to Washington County, Ohio, where I now reside and have resided for the space of about 19 years last past." Two friends testified that he had served in the war as stated, Rev. Charles Talbot of the Methodist Church and James Williamson. Henry Franks was granted his Revolutionary War pension, which came to $40 per year.

FRANKS GENEALOGY ..... Some sources say that Henry and Margaret Van Buskirk Franks had as many as 17 children and others say that the number is confused because of several grandchildren they raised after the death of their daughter, the children's mother. It is probable that they had twelve children. 1.-Henry Franks born circa 178 1. He m. and had three children, and moved to Missouri. 2.-Ann Franks born circa 1783, m. a Judge Flannigan. No record. 3.-Isaac Franks (1785-1880), m. Sarah Harris and lived in DeKalb Co., Ind. They had five children. 4.-Mary A,(Molly or Polly) Franks, born ca 1785 or '86. She m. William Dotson and lived in Doddridge Co., W.Va. (For this family, see, Chapter V). They had four children, one of whom, William Buskirk Dotson, married his first cousin, Louisa Ankrom, daughter of Margaret Franks Ankrom. (Note ... Parents of 14 known children). 5.-John Franks, born in Virginia. 6.-Wesley Franks, born circa 1787 in Virginia. 7.-Clarissa Franks, m. a Waite. No other information. 8.-Elizabeth Franks, born circa 1791. She m(l) a Mr. Jitt; m(2) a Kilpatrick; and m(3) a Dupre. 9.-Margaret E. Franks, born circa 1797, m. Lindsey Ankrom (1792- 1851) Washington Co., Ohio in 1816. They had 10 children and she died in 1833. It was her children that Henry and Margaret Franks raised. 10.-James Van Buskirk Franks (1799-circa 1886). Married Edith Irene Marsh, moved to Iowa. Ms second wife was Mary Genung. 11.-Maria Louisa Franks, born circa 1805, m(l) John Newton Wick, then m(2), his brother, Samuel Tate Wick. They had four children. 12.-Owen Franks (I 806-188 1), m. Catherine Parr, dau. of Nathan and Mary Daugherty Parr and had 11 children. He was an eminent man in Marietta, Ohio, where he made his home. He founded Leidecker Tool Works.Henry and Margaret Van Buskirk Franks are buried in a small cemetery near the northeast comer of the government property and what was once Lock 16 at Beavertown, Ohio. Henry Franks died Jan. 14, 1842 and his gravestone remains, mostly shared away and broken. Margaret's marker is unreadable, but it is thought that she died April 26, 1844, aged 84 years. The footstone for the couple can still be plainly read, "H.F. & M.F." Other stones are those of Margaret (Franks) Ankrom, died January 1833, age 36 years; Linzey Ankrom, died July 23 1851; and Peter Dailey, died April 28, 185 1, age 34 years 6 months, 11 days. There are several other graves in the Cemetery, the stones broken away so that they are unreadable. Thanks for much of the Franks information goes to Rosalind Davenport Gibbs of Tampa, Florida." End of article by Dianna McMahan in Parkeriburg News.

Henry Franks Application for a Pension "STATE OF OHIO WASHINGTON COUNTY. On " 25 day of June 1834 personally appeared before the Court of Common pleas of the County and State aforesaid; Henry Franks, a resident of the Township of Grandview, in the County of Washington and State of Ohio, aged eighty three years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, in the spring of the year 1775 at his residence on Big Whiteley, about 20 miles from Beeson Town, on the Monongahela river, State of Pennsylvania, under Captain John Miner (Minor); was marched to Gerrards Fort on Dunkards Creek ( sic Fort was on the Big Whiteley) where he served in garrison and on scout for the term of three months, when he was discharged the time for which he had volunteered having expired. In the month of June 1776 he again entered the service as a volunteer under Captain Jesse Pigman for the term of three months and served part of the time at Fort Pitt at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, from thence they were ordered to proceed down the Ohio river to a place about 6 miles below Wheeling, for the purpose of burying a number of dead who had been massacred by the Indians. (note ... This is the massacre of Captain Foreman and his men on the 29 of September 1777, at the Narrows ... See, page 12. "Descendants of John Wilson"). After performing that service he was stationed at Wheeling until the end of his term of service. On the first of May 1777 he again volunteered for a term of three months under Captain John Whetsel and proceeded from Big Whitely, where he still resided, to the head of Dunkird Creek, and from there to the head of Ten Mile Creek and ranged along the frontier of Pa. and Western Va. for the protection of the inhabitants against the Indians, until his term of service expired. Again in the fall of the same year he entered as a volunteer under Capt. Thomas Swann for the term of three months, all of which time he served in garrison at Stradler's Fort on Dunkard Creek. In the month of June 1778 he again volunteered under Captain William Cross and served under him through Gen. McIntosh's Campaign, was stationed part of the time near the mouth of Beaver on the Ohio river at Fort McIntosh, the remainder of the term they were ranging through what is now the State of Ohio, and employed in the erection of a Fort on the Muskingum river in the month of December he was discharged and returned home having served six months on this tour. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Attest. Geo, Cumlevy Clerk. his HENRY FRANKS mark And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary war soldier and served as he stated. We Charles Talbott a clergyman & James Williamson residing in the Township of Grandview, County of Washington and State of Ohio, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Henry Franks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty three years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Charles Talbott. James Williamson. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Attest Geo. Cumlevy Clerk.

INTERROGATORIED PROPOUNDED BY THE COURT: 1st. Where and in what year were you born? Answer ... Picataway in the State of Maryland in the year 1751. 2nd ... Have you any record of your age and if so what is it? Answer ... I have no record. 3rd ... Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live? Answer ... I was living on Big Whiteley about twenty miles from Beeson Town on the Monongahela river, in the State of Pa...after which I resided about seven years near Clines Fort on the Monongahela; next in the State of Md. about 25 miles from Cumber- land about seven years; next about 21 years in Hampshire County, Virginia; next in Ohio County, Va., from thence I removed to Washington Co., Ohio, where I now reside and have resided for the space of 19 years past. 4th ... How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom? Answer ... I entered as a volunteer in each case. 5th ... State the name of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services? Answer ... Except in General McIntosh's campaign I have no recollection of their being any regular officers other than the Captains under which I served, the nature of our service being the protection of the frontier settlers from the barbarities of the Indians did not bring us in company with regular officers, or Continental or Militia Regiments during McIntosh's Campaign We were, under command of Colonel Daniel Broadhead and Col. William Crawford also commanded at the time. 6th ... Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what became of it? Answer...l never did receive a written one. 7th ... State the names of persons by whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution? Answer ... Charles Talbott a clergyman and James Williamson both reside in my neighborhood. HENRY his mark FRANKS Sworn and published the day and year aforesaid. Attest. Geo. Conlevy Clerk. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he stated. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Charles Talbott is a clergyman & James Williamson - - who have signed the proceeding certificate, are residents of the Township of Grandview in this County, and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credil " The next and last paragraph is blurred and not readable. The date 1834 is readable and it is signed by the Clerk.