Descendants of Henry Taylor Franks
Generation
No. 1
1. HENRY TAYLOR1 FRANKS1,2,3,4
was born March 1750/51 in Piscataway, MD, and died January 14, 1842 in
Beavertown, OH (small cemetery). He
married MARGARET VAN BUSKIRK5
September 14, 1779 in Frederick Co MD, daughter of JOHN VAN BUSKIRK and ELIZABETH SHOVER?. She was born Abt. 1760, and died April 26,
1844 in Beavertown, OH (small cemetary).
Notes for HENRY TAYLOR FRANKS:
(Information received
December 1999 from Teresa Howard < THoward964@aol.com> regarding possible
ancestry for Henry):
Your Henry was orphaned in
1761 and bound to Thomas Stump in Loudon Co. Va. The Stumps were witnesses on his marriage to Margreth
Buskirk. Reference the Historians Guide
to Loudon County, Virginia, Volume 1 Colonial Laws of Virginia and County Court
Orders 1757-1766. I believe my
ancestor Richard FRANKS born 1754 in Loudon County and taken in by the Barrett
family was his brother.
Richard was born in Loudon
Co. Virginia in 1754. This is stated in
his Revolutionary War pension application.
It also states that his family moved to Pittsylvania Co. Va. I have tried to find evidence of a FRANKS
family in Pittsylvania Co. and found none; except Richard who is often listed
as Richard Barrett. He lives with and near the family of John Barrett SR. John Barrett Sr. came from Loudon Co.
Va. Richard's pension application reads
Richard FRANKS alias Richard Barrett.
Tax lists in 1780's have him as Richard Barrett, but deeds list him as
Richard Franks ; who is commonly known as Richard Barrett. I have long thought that John Barrett may
have been his step father or that he was taken in by this family. However he is not mentioned in the will of
John Barrett Sr. or his wife Elizabeth.
When I looked in Loudon Co.
books for info I found Henry Franks listed with Thomas Stump Sr. on a couple of
tax lists in 1770 and 1771, Richard
named a son Henry. This has been a stumbling
block for many years. Yesterday, I went
to the Stump page on genforum. There
was a message by Barbara Martin about Thomas Stump Sr. of Loudon Co. I contacted her via email and she responded
giving me the references below.
1. Reference The Historian's Guide to Loudon
County, Virginia, Volume I Colonial Laws of Virginia and County Court Orders
1757-1766, by John T. Phillips, II,: "June 9, 1761 - Henry Franks, an
orphan 10 years and 3 months old, is bound to Thomas Stump, to learn 'The Trade
of a Cord Winder [sic - cordwainer].'Book A, p.453."
2. Reference Records of
Marriages and Burials in the Monocacy Church in Frederick County, Maryland and
in the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in the City of Frederick, Maryland
1743 - 1811. Translated and edited by
Frederick Sheely Weiser, pg. 24.Marriage date: " Sept 14 1779 39. Henry
Taylor Franks & Margreth Buskirk by license. Witnesses: Thomas and Janes
[Sic] Stump, William Macay, Thomas Knox, Margreth Macay, Betsy Price."
As far as the parents of
Richard and possibly your Henry. It has
been handed down in the families of two of Richard's descendants that the first
direct FRANKS ancestor in our line to come to U.S. got in trouble in England for stealng and was deported here. I do not know that this is a fact. This theory was researched by myself and
David FRANKS of FL and Janie Johnson of Ohio.
There was a Richard FRANKS ( We call him Richard I ) who got caught
stealing in England and was deported about 1741. He was on the ship the Forward Galley. I think that was the name.
I will have to dig out my records. That ship docked in Port Tobacco,
Maryland in 1741 or 42. He was 17 at
the time. We have found no further
record of this Richard. Most of the prisoners
died on board. They were to work on
Tobacco Plantations for a number of
years. Piscataway Md is not that far from
Port Tobacco.
From: Pat Duncan <p.duncan@worldnet.att.net>
The only other FRANKS entry
in the "Historian's Guide ..." by Phillips is:
13 Nov 1759 - The Loudoun
grand jury presents: ... John Barrett
for cohabiting with Mary Franks, ...
12 Jun 1760 - Mary English,
Rachel Duncan and Mary Franks, each being "Presented ... for having a base
Born Child ... [is fined, to] pay the Churchwardens of Cameron Parish ... [500
lbs.] of Tobacco ... or 50 Shillings."
John Barret, "Presented for Cohabiting with Mary Franks [is fined
500 lbs.] ofTobacco ...
The only entry in the will
books for a FRANK or BARRETT for that time period is: BARRETT, John Appraisal/inventory of 25 Dec 1804: farm and household items. Appraisers: Abner HUMPHREY, Jacob SILCOTT,
Samuel SMITH. Returned to Court 11 Feb
1805.[Will Book G, page 299]
From "Index to the
Tithables of Loudoun 1758-1786" by Hopkins:
FRANK (Franck, Franks) Henry 1770, 71Shelburne Parish (area west
of Goose Creek)
James 1786
William 1774 Cameron
Parish (area east of Goose Creek)
There are some FRANK
marriages, but nothing before the early 1800's.
(From Teresa Howard):
Since my Richard used the
alias Barrett and lived near the family
of John Barrett, You can get the implication.
John Barrett had an affair with Richard's Mom. Whether he was the father of all her children or just one born about 1760? I don't know. I think
there were 4 brothers Henry,
Richard,. William and
James.
Approximate dates for where
Henry Franks lived.
1751 Born in MD near the
Potomac River
1761 - June 9, Henry Franks,
an orphan 10 years and 3 months old, is bound to Thomas Stump, to learn the
Trade of a Cord Winder in Loudon Co, VA
1770 & 1771 In Loudon
Co, VA in Shelburne Parish (west of Goose Creek)
1775 - Spring - In Greene
Co, PA on the Big Whitely River about 20 miles from Beestown & volunteered
for Rev War service
1779 September 14, Marriage license is in Frederick Co MD
records shows Margaret Buskurk and Henry Taylor Francks Witnesses are Thomas
& Jane Stump, William Macay, Thomas Knox, Margreth Macay, Betsy Price.
1782 Moved to near Cline's
Fort on the Monongahela
1789 Moved back to MD lived
about 25 miles from Cumberland
1796 Moved to Hampshire Co,
VA
1813 Moved to Ohio Co, VA
1815 Moved to Washington
Co, OH Settled near Ohio River in Grandview Township
1834 June 25th Washington
Co, OH Made application for Rev War pension
1841 Henry Franks residing
in the HH of William Ellis Grandview Township age 91
6/25/1834 Applied for Rev War pension PA S8522
When asked by the court he
answered that he was born in Piscataway in the State of Maryland in the year
1751. He said in pension application
"I served, the nature of our service being the protection of the frontier
settlers from the barbarities of the Indians." He said he lived on Big Whitely River about 20 miles from Beeson
Town on the Monongahela River in what is now Greene Co PA in Rev War
period. At the time, this area was part
of Virginia. Henry Franks first volunteered in the spring of 1775 for Rev War
service. He said he lived about 7 years
near Clines Fort. (from "The Ten Mile Country & Its Pioneers")
Cline's Fort was where Jacob Cline, a Virginia justice, built his cabin about
1775 on Muddy Creek. on the
Monongahela; next in the state of MD about 25 miles from Cumberland about 7
years; next about 21 years in Hampshire Co, VA; next in Ohio County VA; from
thence he removed to Washington Co, OH where he had resided for 19 years.
Spring 1775
Entered service of United
States as a volunteer at his residence on Big Whiteley, about 20 miles from
Beeson Town, on the Monongahela River, State of PA. Served under Captain John
Minor.Marched to Gerrard's Fort where he served in garrison and on scout for
the term of three months for which term he had volunteered
June 1776
Entered service as a
volunteer under Captain Jesse Pigman for three months & served part of the
time at Ft Pitt.
(In The Tenmile Country
& Its Pioneer Families): We have
seen where Jesse Pigman Jr. was a member of Capt Michael Cresap's Co, which
joined General Washington at Boston.
When he returned to the frontier he was placed in command of a Co and
was actively engaged with the Frontier Rangers for the balance of the
Revolution. He was living in the
vicinity of Jefferson Township, Greene Co.
Many men who served with him were relatives. Captain Jesse Pigman, Jr. accepted a reduction in rank in 1782
and became a lieutenant.
(From Draper's interview of
William Harrod Jr, in 1845) "Captain
Jesse Pigman commanded a company at Wapatomika (in Ohio in Logan County near
Zanesville & Coshocton) in 1774, an
old Indian Fighter, who lived in Muddy Creek Section").
Capt Pigman is also
referenced in a letter from Morgan Jones to his parents. He was at Grave Creek
near Ft Henry (PA Archives, Vol V, pg 448)
" . . . we followed with all speed to our fort and was agreeably
surprised to find them a party of Cpt. Pigman's company that had been at the
Little Kanawha."
(From The Tenmile Country
& Its Pioneer Families page 353. In
Claim of Thomas Wells who says "he volunteered 4/1/1776 at Ft Jackson as
an Indian spy at a time when Colonel McFarland was commanding the fort. He served under Captain Jesse Pigman, with
the other officers being Charles Swan and Ensign Richard Swan . . who were
brothers, and nephews of Captain Pigman. . . With 8 or 10 fellow spies sprying
and defending . . from Fort Jackson to Swan's Fort and Muddy Creek, thence to
Strickler's Fort on the Monongahela River, thence to Redstone Old Fort and down
the Monongahela to Muddy Creek.. . to Vanmeters Fort on Muddy Creek . . to
Jenkin's Fort, (near Glades) to to Ft Jackson then going wilderness route to Ft
Wheeling, then to Fort Pitt, up the Monongahela to the mouth of Tenmile, then
back to Ft. Jackson. Thomas Wells says
they packed their provisions on their backs and frequently suffered from hunger
and fatigue."
From Ft Pitt Henry Franks
was ordered down the Ohio river to about 6 miles below Wheeling to bury a number of dead who had been
massacred by Indians. Afterwards, he
was stationed at Wheeling (Ft Henry) until the end of this term of service.
May 1, 1777 volunteered for
term of three months under Captain John Wetzel & proceeded from Big
Whitely, where he still resided, to the head of Dunkard 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. (From "Early
Settlement & Indian Wars of Western Virginia & Pennsylvania" by
Joseph Doddridge page 229) "The Wetsel family, John (a German) & his
five sons, Martin, George, John, Jacob & Lewis, with two daughters, Susan
& Christiana, settled in 1772 at the mouth of Wheeling Creek, in the WV
panhandle. All the men were hunters and
Indian fighters."
From "The Tenmile
Country and Its Pioneer Families" Howard L. Leckey (reprinted September
1997 by Closson Press, Apollo, PA) (pp. 20-30) Frontier Rangers:
Frontier Rangers were the
Minute Men of the Frontiers. They
formed regular Militia Companies, under elected officers, and were subject to
call at a minute's notice. Their
service was not continuous . . . but many of these men experienced more actual
warfare than did their regular comrades.
At each alarm a certain number or class would be called on to patrol the
lines between the forts or penetrate deep into Indian territory to recover
captives or punish a depredation.
Always a certain number were held at Forts or strong points to make a
show of strength and prevent incursions, with Scouts or Spies continuously
moving from one Fort to another. During
harvest time, and other busy days on the frontier farms, old men or boys often
took up the job, to release their able-bodied fathers or sons for the heavy
work. Examination of pension records
show many boys of fourteen went out in place of the father and learned the
soldier's job by experience. At times
in Western Pennsylvania, the Rangers were called on to make real campaigns in
considerable force, such as Williamson's expedition, Lockry's expedition,
Crawford's ill-fated expedition and the
George Roger's Clark Expedition.
Fall 1777
Entered as a volunteer
under Captain Thomas Swann for 3 months all of which time he served in the
garrison at Stradler's Fort on Dunkard Creek.
June 1778
Volunteered under Captain
William Cross: From 'Frontier Defense
On Upper Ohio' the Muster Roll 3NN6 List of 20 officers and men under Lieut.
William Cross of Monongalia Pennsylvania Militia, under command of Major James Chew
at Fort Pitt,
Oct 1, 1777:John Mills,
Lieut., Aug 15, on command at Wheeling; Samuel Blackford, Sgt.; Henry Yoho,
Aug. 15; Stephen Gasper, Aug. 15; Peter Goosey, Aug. 15; William Hall, Aug 16; Henry Franks, Aug. 16; Roger
Barton, Aug. 19; John Yoho, Sept 1; James Flynn, Sept 1; Bastian Keener, Sept
2; James Purdie, Sept 4; Aron Flowers, Sept 4.
He served under in Gen
McIntosh's Campaign & was stationed part of the time near the mouth of
Beaver on the Ohio river at Fort McIntosh. Part of the term he was in the State
of Ohio and employed in the erection of a Fort on the Muskingum River.
(From: "Early
Settlement & Indian Wars of Western Virginia & Pennsylvania" by
Joseph Doddridge page 184 )"In the spring of the year 1778, government
having sent a small force of regular troops under the command of Gen. McIntosh,
for the defense of the western frontier, the general, with the regulars and
militia from Fort Pitt, descended the Ohio about thirty miles and built Fort
McIntosh on the site of the present Beavertown. The fort was made of strong stockades, furnished bastions and
mounted with one six pounder. This
station was well selected as a point for a small military force, always in
readiness to pursue, or intercept, the war parties of Indians who frequently made
incursions into the settlements on the opposite side of the river, in its
immediate neighborhood. The fort was
well garrisoned and supplied with provisions during the summer."
He also said he served at
Statler's Fort. Fort Statler was built
about 1770 on Dunkard creek in Clay district, Monongalia county.
December 1778
Discharged, having served 6
months. Officers in command were
Colonel Daniel Broadhead and Col. William Crawford.
After the war, he lived
near Clines Fort on the Monongahela in what is now Greene Co PA, then in the
State of Maryland about 25 miles from Cumberland for about 7 years, and then
for about 21 years in Hampshire Co, VA, then to Washington Co, Ohio where he resided
from about 1815 until at least 1834. He
is buried in Beavertown which is where he was first in 1778 while helping to
erect the fort. He returned to
Beavertown around 25 years later and spent the rest of his life there.
From a write-up in
"The Parkersburg News" 9/13/1981
"There are conflicting
stories on the birth of Henry Taylor Franks.
He was most likely born in Piscataway, MD just south of Washington DC in
1751. This town is on an inlet of the
Potomac River, diagonally opposite Mt Vernon.
However, descendants of two of his children, Owen and Maria Louisa, have
a family story that tells that he was of English origin.
Some sources say that Henry
& 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 (Margaret Franks
Ankrom). It is probable that they had
12 children.
Henry Franks b ca. 1781; he
m and had 3 children, and moved to MO
Ann Franks b ca. 1783 m a
Judge Flannigan. No record.
Isaac Franks (1785-1880) m
Sarah Harris and lived in Dekalb Co, IN.
They had 5 children.
Mary A (Molly or Polly)
Franks, born ca 1785 or 1786 m. William Dotson and lived in Doddridge Co,
WV. They had four children, one of
whom, William Buskirk Dotson, married his first cousin Louisa Ankrom, dgtr of
Margaret Franks Ankrom.
John Franks born in VA
Wesley Franks b ca. 1787 in
VA
Clarissa Franks m a
Waite. No other information
Elizabeth Franks b ca
1791. She m 1) a Mr. Jitt m 2) a
Kilpatrick and m 3)a Dupre
Margaret E Franks, b ca
1797 m Lindsey Ankrom (1792-1851) Washington Co, OH in 1816. They had 10 children and she died in
1833. It was her children that Henry
& Margaret Franks raised.
James Van Buskirk Franks
(1799-ca 1886) married Edith Irene Marsh, moved to Iowa. His second wife was Mary Genung.
Maria Louisa Franks, b ca
1805 m. 1) John Newton Wick then m 2) his brother, Samuel Tate Wick. They had four children.
Owen Franks (1806-1881) m
Catherine Parr, dau. of Nathan and Mary Daugherty Parr and had 11
children."
____________________________________________________
From GJones6206@aol.com
(Gay Jones-descendant of Jacob)
I looked into your Henry
Taylor Franks and "think" I can relate him to our clan. We feel perhaps he is the son of Michael
Franks who was born in Rhineland Germany in 1725. Died March 1793 in German Twp
(Fayette) PA and buried at Jacobs Lutheran Church Cemetery in Fayette Cty
PA. Do not have a
mother's name but do have
two brothers and a sister. We cannot positively link him to our family but the
conditions (location, etc.) are correct. That would be nice to link him
positively.
The other children of
Michael are: Jacob Franks I, born 27 May 1743 in Alsac Lorrain Germany, d. 5
Feb 1802 in German Twp. Fayette Cty PA. He married a Barbara Brandenburg
(Brandenbery) in 1763;
Michael Franks II b. Abt
1745 in Rhineland Alsac Lorain Ger.and d. 3 Feb 1814 in German Twp PA. He
married an Elizabeth Livengood Abt 1763; Catherine Franks, b. Abt 1747 in Alsac
Lorrain
and she married a John
Baccus (about all the info on her)., then your Henry T.; born 27 June 1753 in
Prince George MD and d. 14 Jan 1842 in Washington Cty OH; marrying a Margaret
Van Buskirk on 14 Sept 1779.
____________________________________________________________
E--mail I received from
Brian Smith ( brian@aesp.nasa.okstate.edu ):
There is a book on the
Franks Family called THE MICHAEL FRANKS FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY (Six
Generations). It is out of print and very hard to find, but a reprint (with
corrections) is in the works.
Here's what I know:
1 Michael Franks I b. 1725
- his wife's name is not known. He had 4 children:
Jacob Franks, Sr. b. May 27, 1743 m. Barbary Brandenburg
Michael Franks, II b. 1745
Catherine Franks b. c 1747 m. John Baccus
Henry Franks b. c 1749 d. January 14, 1842 m. Margaret Van Buskirk
It is not certain that
Henry was one of his children, though, since he is not mentioned in Michael's
will.
________________________________________________
The following is from: "The Tenmile Country & Its Pioneer
Families" pp. 657-658 and appears
to be a different family (although probably very closely related):
The Franks Family of Greene
County, is descended from Michael Franks, an immigrant from Franconia, probably
the same Michael Franks who arrived at Philadelphia on the ship Priscilla, William
Meier, Captain, and took Oath of Allegiance to the British at Philadelphia on
September 11, 1749. From there he
proceeded to Baltimore where he probably spent the remainder of his life. He brought with him to America two sons and
a daughter, the latter, of whom all records are lost. The sons, Michael and Jacob Franks, born in 1782, removed to what
is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1753, the date being established by the
fact that Michael's eldest son was born at one of their camps on the Youghoigheny,
during the course of the journey. This
son, Henry Franks, was born on June 11, 1753.
His mother was a Livengood. The
second Michael Franks settled on Brown's Run, Fayette County, as did his
brother, Jacob, and both Michael and his son Henry were soldiers in the
Revolution. (Penn Arch. Series III, Vol 23, pp. 228-285-321-335 and Series VI,
Vol 2 pp 400). The family of Michael
and Sarah (?) (Livengood) Franks as given in Haddon were:
Henry Franks, born June 6,
1753
Charlotte Franks; married
Jacob Furst and remained in Fayette Co
Abraham Franks
John Franks removed to
Wayne Co OH
Mary married Nicholas
Helmic and went to Ohio
Elizabeth Franks married
Phineas Flaherty and went to OH
Dorothy Franks married
Jacob Miller
Catherine Franks married
Jacob Hatfield
George Franks, who married
Wlizabeth ___, of whom later. Settled
in Greene Co PA
Michael Franks born in 1773
married Amy Furst
(Haddon's History of
Fayette and Greene County pp. 560)
_____________________________________________________
Family of George Franks:
There is evidence that one
of the Franks crossed the Monongahela before 1771, and had some sort of title
to land on Smith Creek, possibly only a squatters claim, but in due time George
Franks, son of Michael and __Livengood Franks, removed from Fayette County and
made a permanent settlement in the vicinity of Blacksville. His wife was Elizabeth _________. George Franks died in Whiteley Township,
Greene County, before 1857, as shown by O.C. Docket 4, pp 236 which shows his
wife was Elizabeth and that he had these children: Alexander, Jacob, George (living in in Wood Co, WV), James K and
Matilda Franks who married James Moore, born 1806, died 1884 (their son, Thomas
Moore settled in Wood Co, WV); Sarah Franks married Alexander McDougal and
Margaret Franks married John Mapel.
More About HENRY TAYLOR FRANKS:
Fact 4: marriage record
shows Margaret Buskurk
Notes for MARGARET VAN BUSKIRK:
Unknown if related, but in
June of 1792 Captain Lawson Van Buskirk was leading a party of about 40 experienced
frontiersmen, some of whom were Indian
Hunters. Capt Van Buskirk was
killed. His wife had been killed 11
months previously. They had lived about
3 miles from West Liberty.
(From De Hass page 320)
Vol.34: "American
Monthly Magazine." Query # 1391. Wanted ancestry of Martha Van Buskirk,
wife of Henry Franks. He was born in Piscataway, Prince Geo. Co., Md. in 1751.
At the time of the Revolution enlisted from Big Whitely, two miles from
Melsonton, Pa. on the Monogahela River.
From write-up by Rosalyn
Gibbs: "Margaret Van Buskirk, daughter of John and Elizabeth (probably
Shrover) Van Buskirk, is through to have been born about 1760. She was a strong-willed, red haired woman, a
notable midwife who attended her own daughters. . . Margaret's granddaughter
"Kitty" Southland said that Margaret's mother wore black satin and
spoke only Dutch."
Addressed to Charles Harold
Hatton from his grandmother's sister, Catherine Virginia Wick Southland, who
was the granddaughter of Henry and Margaret (Van Buskirk) Franks. Charles Hatton was the family genealogist.
Boulder, Dec 28, 1903
My Dear Charles,
Your postal card letter received. I will tell you what I know about my people - beginning at the
other end. Our Mother's side
first. I have been told that your great
Grandmother (given name not known) Van Buskirk wore black satin and talked
nothing but Dutch. If there was great
great Grandfather Van Buskirk, I never heard of him, but there must have been
because there was your great grandmother Margaret Van Buskirk. Red of hair - strong of will, and a notable
midwife - always attending her daughters at their accouchement.
Children of HENRY FRANKS and MARGARET VAN BUSKIRK are:
i. MARY ANN2 FRANKS, b. Abt.
1781, PA or VA-(age 74 on 9/5/1854); d. Aft. 1860, Probably in Doddridge Co,
WV; m. WILLIAM DOTSON6,7,
Abt. 1797, Probably in Hampshire Co, VA; b. June 1776, probably what is now
Hampshire Co, WV 1850 Census says PA; d. January 08, 1865, Doddridge Co, WV.
Notes for MARY ANN FRANKS:
Franks family information
shows Mary A Franks married William Dotson, lived in Hampshire Co, VA at least
in 1798 & 1799 and moved with William and his father Richard around 1800 to
what is now Doddridge Co., WV.
Franks records show her DOB
as 1785 or 1786, but 1850 census shows William as age 75 and Mary as age
69. She signed an affidavit on
September 5, 1854 and swore that she was aged 74. If correct, she would have been born around 1781. In the 1820
census of then Wood County 18 people were showing in the family. In the 1830 census, there were 9 children
still at home. There was one boy
(Squire b 1825) and one girl (Mary Jane
b 1828) still at home. Two ages 5 to 10
(Cynthia b 1822 and Eliza Margaret b 1820). In 1850 census of Doddridge Co, she
is showing as age 69 and born in PA. In
1860 census she is showing as Mary Ann age 79 born in VA, which would make her
date of birth about 1781.
William Buskirk Dotson, son
of William and Mary Ann Franks, married his first cousin, Louisa Ankrom,
daughter of Margaret Franks Ankrom, Mary Ann's sister
She signed an affidavit
January 9, 1855 regarding Sarah Jones who was applying for a pension as a widow
of James Jones and said: On or about
16th of May 1791 and that the same day they (James Jones & new wife Sarah
Ravencraft) came to the house of her father (Henry Franks) and ate their
wedding supper and resided in the same county for some years after their
marriage and had several children.
Her exact date of death is
unknown. Ralph Sayre reports she died
in Ritchie County of consumption August 8, 1850, with no other documentation of
this. She signed an affidavit after
this date, and she is in the 1860 census, so this date appears to be in error.
Notes for WILLIAM DOTSON:
William's place of birth is
reported as being in PA and VA. In
the 1850 Census of Doddridge Co William
is showing born in PA, age 75, and is a farmer. In the 1860 census of Doddridge Co William is showing born in VA,
age 85, and "does nothing".
Since Greene Co PA was still part of VA in 1776, this may be explanation
why different censuses show both VA & PA as birthplaces. His birth date is estimated from both the
census reports and his death record. He
signed an affidavit on September 5, 1854 swearing that he was aged 79.
William married Mary Ann
Franks about 1796 probably in Hampshire Co, VA. Henry Franks, her father, said his family was in Hampshire County
at that time as were William and his father, Richard. Per Jim Dotson book,
Hampshire County was much larger and encompassed present day Mineral County and
much of Western Maryland. Hampshire lay
on the route between Shenandoah Co VA and Greene Co PA.
William appears on property
tax rolls of Hampshire Co VA in 1798 & 1799. According to "Hardesty's History of Doddridge County",
William was living in Greenwood (now Doddridge Co) area in 1804.
Notes from "Greenwood
Information" by Barr Wilson states that William Buskirk Dotson's father
and mother were William & Mary Franks Dotson and settled here in 1804.
In 1810 census for Wood Co,
VA William is listed as head of household.
(W)VA Land records for
William Dotson:
6/12/1815 William Dotson 100
acres Wood Co Land Grants Bk 1, Page 171; Treas. Warrant 5177 issued the 25th
of January 1814; in conformity with a survey made the 24th day of May 1814; One
hundred acres, situate in the county of Wood on the State raod leading from
Clarksburg to the Ohio river and bounded as followeth to wit: Beginning at a a
white oak marked "MD" on a line of a survey of Hugh Ferguson's on the
dividing ridge between the waters of Arnold's creek and Hughs' river thence
N88E 128 poles to a white oak and red oak, thence N2W 128 poles to a hickory
and dogwood pointers S88W128 poles to white oak and two hickories on the
aforesaid line of Hugh Ferguson's and thence with his line S2E 128 poles to the
beginning with its appurtenances.
8/1/1818 William Dotson, 100
acres, Wood Co Land Grants 1,216; Treas. Warrant 5177, issued the 25th day of
January 1814; in conformity with a survey made on the 20th day of September
1816; 100 acres situate in the County of Wood on Cabin run a branch of the N.
fork of Hughs's river adjoining lands of Dr. Joseph Spencer and bounded as
followeth to wit: Beginning at a
hickory lynn and beech thence running S52W 34 poles to a white oak, thence S67E
22 poles to a hickory, thence S29E 80 poles to a beech, thence S84E 132 poles
to a beech, N22E 60 poles to a gum, N57W102 poles to hickory on Joseph
Spencer's' line and thence with the same 100 poles to the beginning.
7/2/1822 William Dotson, 50
acres, 1,263; Treas. Warrant No. 6593, in conformity with a survey made on the
1st day of April 1820; Fifty acres, situate in the County of Wood, on both
sides of Cabbin run, adjoining above other land of said Dotson and bounded as
followeth, to wit: Beginning at a beech
and gum on a line of said Dotson's land and running thence S22W89 poles to an
ash, thence leaving said line S68E 90 poles to a poplar and white oak, N22E 89
poles to a white oak and thence N68W 90 poles to the beginning.
10/26/1832 Deeds Bk 8 p. 328
Wood Co. William Dotson from Emanuel
Dotson and Mary his wife of Harrison Co 77 acres Wood Co. for $200. Bounded --
Beginning at a stake on a line of Richard Dottson's and corner of said Dottsons
and running with his line N155 poles crossing a branch of Hughes River and the
State Road to a stake on the Old line.
Thence W 80 poles to a Stake.
Thence S 155 poles crossing the Road to a stake on the Old line. Thence E 80 poles to the beginning.
11/19/1846 Doddridge Co
Deeds Bk 1 p. 126 William Dotson of Doddridge County from Nancy Triplet and
other Triplet heirs of Wood Co, 100 acres on Dotson run , for one dollar, being
one undivided half of 200 acres patented to Robert Triplett and James Compton.
1/24/1849 Sold land to son
William B on South side of NW turnpike
5/14/1849 Sold 140 acres to
William C Ellefritt for $300 this land was subsequently sold 12/8/1855 for $630 to Hiram S & Susan J Dotson
(grandson of William, son of Emanuel & Hannah Dotson)
5/14/1849 Sold 7 acres to
William B Dotson for $7
5/28/1850 Sold 1/8 interest
of 200 acres to James F Kelley part of 200 acres on Dotson Run in DoddridgeCo
(it being the same land now occupied by the said William Dotson).
5/21/1858 William Sen. &
Mary his wife to William C Ellifritt and Mary Jane Ellifritt 101 1/2 acres on
waters of Dotsons run
7/6/1863 James T Ellefritt
paid back taxes of $1.99 for year 1859 and was deeded 99 1/2 acres owned by
William Dotson in said county of Doddridge eight miles west from the court
house on Gum run a branch of Cabin run.
1850 census of Doddridge Co
shows William as age 75 (showing as Wm. Sr) and birthplace as PA.
1860 census of Doddridge Co
shows William born in VA, age 85 and "does nothing".
September 5th, 1854 William
and Mary Dotson made their marks on an affidavit regarding their knowledge
about James Jones and his widow Sarah Ravencraft Jones. At the time William said he was aged 79
years and Mary was age 74 years. James
P Kelly said both William and Mary Dotson were personally known to him and that
"they are creditable persons and their statements are entitled to credit."
Doddridge Co death records
show his age of 88 years 7 months at death on 1/8/1865. This register (Vol. 3,
page 8) shows his birthplace as Hampshire Co, VA & his parents as Richard
and Mary Dotson; information given by son William Dotson.
ii. HENRY FRANKS, b. 1781.
Notes for HENRY FRANKS:
married, had 3 children
& moved to Missouri
iii. ANN FRANKS, b. 1783; m. JUDGE FLANNAGAN.
iv. JOHN FRANKS, b. Abt. 1785, Virginia.
v. ISAAC FRANKS, b. March 12, 1785, Hampshire co, VA; d. 1880, deKalb
Co, IN; m. SARAH HARRIS.
Notes for ISAAC FRANKS:
had 5 children and live in
Dekalb Co, IN
I am a descendent of the
Isaac Franks & Sarah Harris family.
These are the generations
down to me:
Isaac Franks & Sarah
Harris
David S. Franks & Elizabeth Huntsman (David married 2nd
Elizabeth Hickman)
Silas Franks & Alice H. Huntsman
Howard M. Franks & Blanch Baughman
Joanna Franks & Roy Sindel
& me--Carol (Sindel) Schad
I am intensely working on
this line. Hope we can share more info.
Carol
<cschad@bright.net>
vi. WESLEY FRANKS, b. Abt. 1787.
vii. CLARISSA FRANKS, b. Abt. 1790.
viii. ELIZABETH FRANKS, b. 1791.
ix. MARGARET E FRANKS, b. Abt. 1794; d. January 01, 1833, Old Beaverton
Cemetary, Washington Co., OH; m. LINDSEY ANKROM, August 22,
1816, Washington Co, OH; b. 1792, VA; d. July 23, 1851, Old Beaverton
Cemetary, Washington Co., OH.
Notes for MARGARET E FRANKS:
Apparently Margaret's
parents help raised Margaret's children when she died in 1833. They had 10 children.
Notes for LINDSEY ANKROM:
Had 10 children. When wife died her parents help raise
children.
From Internet site:
69. Lindsey5 ANKROM (Aron Wells4, Richard3 Ancrum
(ANKROM)II, Richard2) was born 1792 in VA, and died July 23, 1851 in Old
Beaverton Cemetary, Washington Co.,
OH. He married Margaret Franks August
22, 1816 in Washington Co., OH.
Children of Lindsey ANKROM
and Margaret Franks are:
i. John6 ANKROM, born Abt. 1817 in Washington Co., OH.
ii. Louisa Ann ANKROM, born March 03, 1820.
iii. Clarissa ANKROM, born October 05, 1822 in Washington Co., OH;
died August 26, 1893 in Metamoris Cemetary, Washington Co., OH. She married William McGee Ellis August 29, 1840.
iv. Owen Franks Ankrim, born April 18, 1827 in Washington Co., OH.
v. Cascindra ANKROM, born May 20, 1827 in Washington Co., OH;
died June 13, 1885 in Washington Co., OH.
x. JAMES VAN BUSKIRK FRANKS, b. 1799; m. (1) EDITH IRENE MARSH8, June
17, 1824, Hardy Co, VA; b. Abt. 1803; m. (2) MARY GENUNG, Aft. 1845; m. (3) HANNAH LEOANS, May 14,
1879, LeClaire, Iowa.
Notes for JAMES VAN BUSKIRK FRANKS:
Addressed to Catherine
Hatton Welcome, from Edgar Alfred Davidson, great grandson of Henry and
Margaret (Van Buskirk) Franks. He was
born in 1853 and died in 1938.
910 Louisiana Street,
Houston Texas and Bay City Texas
Feb 5, 1935
(James was) Grandma Wick's
brother. He was born in the eighteenth
century, about 1798 at or near Marion.
He raised a large family of 4 boys and 2 girls, all remarkable for extra
fine physique. They were by his first
wife, "Aunt Edith". They were
divorced and he married the widow Genung and she was our Aunt Mary. We visited and were on cordial terms with
both these "aunts". Uncle Jim
died at my mother's home and was buried at the side of Grandma Wick in the
LeClaire Cemetery. I do not have his
age but was, I think, about 90. He
always carried a cane and had the airs of an old Colonial gentleman.
--------------------------
From:
Andy Franks
706 E Cherry St
Duncanville TX 75116
Andy_Franks@bigfoot.com
I am searching for
information on JAMES V B FRANKS. Born
in Virginia (Port Byron?) about 1799.
In June 1824 he married EDITH IRENE MARCH (b 1803). Their second child LAFAYETTE was born in
November 1830 in Washington County, OHIO.
James and family moved west to LeClaire, Scott County, Iowa in 1837
where a 'G W FRANKS' had settled the year before. My ancestor, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FRANKS was born April 1836
supposedly in Illinois and delaying their arrival in Iowa by a year. We assume (i.e. no proof) that James and G W
were brothers and were traveling together and that G W continued on while James
and family remained temporarily in Illinois.
We suspect that "G W" stands for 'George Washington' because
James and Edith named their seventh child 'George'.
Many of the descendants of
James VB Franks live in and around Cedar Rapids, Iowa and are Jewish. James son Benjamin F Franks (my great
grandfather) was supposed to have been a Rabbi in Cedar Rapids. His wife (Mary Bundy) was a Catholic
novitiate and nurse during the Civil War - they developed a relationship while
'Franklin' was a wounded soldier under her care. Supposedly they were known for
having very long, very loud theological discussions that entertained the entire
neighborhood! (Maybe that's why they
only had one child!) Ben (never Jr
because his father was called 'Franklin') did what any good child would do -
his father went to Synagogue, his mother went to Mass, so he attended the only
other house of worship and became Episcopalian and never chose one parent over
the other!
1 James VB Franks b: 1799
. +Edith Irene March b: 1803
. 2 Malvina C Franks b: 1825 d: Unknown
...... +Samuel A Leonard
. 2 Lafayette Franks b: November 3, 1830 d: October 6, 1907
...... +Sarah Ann Jones b: April 6, 1834 d:
January 25, 1926
...... 3 Alvador (Ted) (Theo) Franks b: February
25, 1855 d: January 16, 1892
.......... +Mary Isabelle Blaine b: April 17, 1859 d:
March 24, 1911
.......... 4 Ira Franklin Franks b: April 4, 1876 d:
December 19, 1946
.............. +
.......... *2nd Wife of Ira Franklin Franks:
.............. +Mary Randall
.......... 4 Ernest Franks b: November 3, 1877
.......... 4 Martha Franks b:February25,1880
d:Decemberl8,1881
.......... 4 Grover Franks b: October 23, 1884 d:
June 21, 1885
.......... 4 Claude Franks b: November 29, 1886
.............. +Eva McClain
.......... 4 Thomas Franks b: May 9, 1888 d: March
16, 1961
.............. +Francis McClain
.............. 5 Jack Franks
.............. 5 Richard Franks
.............. 5 Ronnie Franks
.............. 5
Robert Franks d: 1995
.............. 5 Jerry Franks
.............. +Gwen
.......... 4 Franks b:May9,1888 d:May9,1888
...... 3 Oliver Franks b: December 19, 1858
.......... +Hattie
...... 3 Sherman Franks
...... 3 Adrian H Franks b: July 29, 1867
...... 3 William Franks b: July 29, 1868 d:
September 1961
.......... +Lydia Renard
...... *2nd Wife of William Franks:
.......... +Rosetta McCune
...... 3 George W Franks b: August 26, 1871
.......... +Florence
...... 3 Irene Catherine Franks b: March 3, 1874
.......... +August Hultgren
...... 3 Charles A Franks b: August 7, 1876
.......... +Bessie Wharton
...... 3 Alonzo Franks b: March28, 1879
.......... +Emma
. 2 Benjamin Franklin Franks b: April 12, 1836 d: April 22, 1913
...... +Mary J Bundy b: October 11, 1845 d:
September 16, 1903
...... 3 Benjamin Franklin Franks b: September 7,
1867 d: October 6, 1952
.......... +Lell Irene Kent b: November 5, 1868 d: November
20, 1958
.......... 4 Warren Franks b: August 15, 1888 d:
Unknown
.......... 4 Clifford Dale Franks b: May 22, 1894 d:
December 18, 1958
.............. +Catherine Hogan b: August 2, 1891 d:
April 1950
.............. 5 Mary Wilma Franks b: January25, 1919
.................. +Joe
Draley
.................. 6 Daniel Edward Draley b: May 8, 1949
.................. 6 Marcia Louise Draley b: October 25,
1953
.............. 5 James
David Franks b: January31, 1921
.............. 5 Ruth Ann Franks b: October31, 1923
.................. +James Arth d: Unknown
.............. 5 John Eugene Franks b: 1925 d: 1925
.............. 5 Rita Marie (Peggy) Franks b: November
4, 1927
.................. +William Burgmeier
.......... *2nd Wife of Clifford Dale Franks:
.............. +Doris Edith Marquardt b: February 19,
1927
.............. 5 William Benjamin Franks b: July 26,
1951
.............. 5 Jeffrey Dale Franks b: November 24,
1952
.................. +Coleen Walther b: July 20, 1949
.................. 6 Sarah Roseanne Franks b: August 10,
1980
.................. 6 Leah Juheanne Franks b: June 16, 1987
.............. 5 Andrew Kent Franks b: March 19, 1954
.................. +Gayle Irene Davis b: March 12, 1957
.................. 6 Melissa Dawn Franks b: April 12, 1981
.............. 5 Clifford Earl Franks b: June 5, 1958
.................. +Debra Jeanne Olson b: August 12
. 2 Margaret E Franks b: 1837 d: Unknown
...... +Milton B Chase
. 2 Edith Josephine Franks b: 1838 d: Unknown
. 2 James M Franks b: 1841 d: Unknown
...... +Catherine Calverts
. 2 George S Franks b: 1843 d: Unknown
. 2 Erastus Hayden Franks b: August 3, 1845 d: Unknown
...... + b: September20, 1852
*2nd Wife of James V B
Franks:
. +MayGensen
Notes for EDITH IRENE MARSH:
(From Minnie Kendall
Lowther's History of Ritchie County)
James Marsh was another very early settler on this river in the
Tollgate vicinity. Nothing definite as to the origin of his family in America
is in our possession, except that they came from England in Colonial times and
settled in Maryland, where James Marsh was born. However, he married Miss
Eleanor Hurst, a beautiful English maiden, who crossed the deep to Baltimore
with her parents in her girlhood, and was the founder of one of the oldest and
best families of the county.
Near the beginning of the
nineteenth century, he came from
Baltimore, and purchased
(of Richard Dotson) the farm
that is now owned by J. M. Wilson, near one-half mile east of
Tollgate, and took up his
residence here, where he died in 1810. And only a few paces from the
scene of his settlement on
his own homestead, he lies in his last sleep. After his death, his
widow became the wife of
John Garner, senior, and at Tollgate she reposes.
The family of James and
Eleanor Hurst Marsh consisted of five girls and five boys; viz., Eli,
Enoch, Elias, Elijah, James,
Epha, Elizabeth, Eliza, Edith, and Charlotte Marsh. James died in
childhood, and Elijah, in
youth, but all the rest married and reared families.
Eli Marsh was born on April
4, 1794, and with his parents came to this county in his boyhood.
On March 1, 1825, he was
married to Miss Drusilla Turner Israel, who was born in Harrison
county, on June 17, 1811,
and at the old Israel homestead, six miles from Clarksburg, they
lived and died.
He was one of the prominent
men of his day, and his wife was noted for her many beautiful traits
of character, and their
comfortable home at "Roselawn farm" was known far and wide for its
hospitality. Mrs. Marsh died
on March 13, 1873, and he followed her to the grave on November
twenty-seventh of the same
year.
Their little family
consisted of two daughters; viz., Mary Rebecca, and Susan Jane Marsh.
In March 1844, Mary Rebecca
became the wife of Criel M. Turner, a lawyer, of Culpepper county,
Virginia, who practiced his
profession at Clarksburg after their marriage; and the one child of
this union was the late
Prof. Eli Marsh Turner, of the Morgantown University, who died on March
1, 1908, at the age of
sixty-four years, leaving a wife, (nee Miss H. Georgia Jackson, of
Newark, Ohio) and four
children; viz., Mary R., Phoebe, James J., and Wirt M. Turner, all of
Morgantown.
The other daughter, Susan
Jane Marsh, was married to Col. Benjamin Wilson,Junior, of Clarksburg,