Georgia: Wilkes County: Biography & Records of the Franklin Family ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Leatha A. Betts jlabetts@burgoyne.com ==================================================================== Earliest known ancestor in Wilkes Co. Georgia, is William Franklin (DAR Patriot Index, Vol. 1) b. 1733 Virginia, d. 13 Feb 1797, Georgia wife Mary_______, served Rev. War, Col. Virg. Soldiers, show a William Franklin serving under Capt Phillip Love's Co. volunteers from Botetourt Co. Virg. Seedbed of Rep. has son William Franklin Jr., serving under Capt. John Mills and Capt. Esom) William Franklin received first land survey 287 1/2 acres (Rev. War grant for privates) 16 Aug 1784 Washington Co. Ga. along with possible son, William Franklin Jr., then in 1789 William Franklin along with Philemon Franklin received headright grant in Wilkes Co. Ga, possible son, Philemon stayed in Wilkes, but purchased land in several surrounding counties. Philemon Franklin purchased 200 acres of land 2 Oct 1788 in Wilkes Co. William Franklin recieved another land headright grant for Washington Co. Ga. 1785, Philemon Franklin in 1787, and George Franklin in 1797 (another possible brother, George's son Josiah appears on 1820 Census, Washington Co. Ga.) Philemon Franklin received a headright grant in 1798 for Washington Co. Ga. (Seems this family moved back and forth from Wilkes to Washington in their business dealings.) Philemon Franklin sold land to 200 acres of land on Soap Creek, Wilkes Co. Ga. to Stephen Heard and Thomas Duke, 3 Nov 1786. Philemon Franklin paid taxes in Wilkes Co. 1788/1790 along with David Franklin...(possible brother) Philemon Franklin sold a piece of his land he obtained in Hancock Co. Ga. 5 Feb 1798, witnessed by brother Henry Franklin. Philemon's son, Esom "Davenport" Franklin who was living in Baldwin Co. Ga. (marriage to Martha Talbert, 19 Jul 1809, dau. of Benjamin Talbert of Millidgeburg, Rev. War veteran b. 18 Nov 1764, Spottsylvania Co. Virg, migrated as bricklayer to N. Car. then to Clark Co. Ga, then to Baldwin Co. Ga. had brother Jesse Talbert who served as Justice of Peace for Baldwin and Hancock Co. Ga. and performed marriage of Martha Talbert and Esom Franklin) Philemon Franklin received a land patent for Hancock Co. Ga. and is listed on another person's transaction as neighboring there 5 Feb. 1798. The 1807 (lottery) Esom Franklin along with uncle David Franklin received a grant in Hancock Co. Ga. (Esom Franklin served during War of 1812, and when he returned, took up his grant in Hancock Co. Ga., first wife died, he remarried Lydia Suzannah Stafford Howard, widow of Edward Lemuel Howard of Leon Co. Florida, 16 Mar 1834, Thomas Co. Ga. and died 1841/1842 in that area)....brothers Henry and son Philemon Jr. received land in Lincoln Co. Ga. in the 1807 land lottery. According to oral histories, possible wife of Philemon Franklin was Sarah Davenport, there were several Davenport families in Cumberland Co. Virginia, oldest known Davenport ancestors were 1733 Joseph Davenport, and 1755 Thomas Davenport, either of these could have been Sarah's ancestor. Esom Davenport Franklin and wife Martha Talbert (lived in Baldwin Co. Ga. 1820 Census, 1821 lottery won land in Henry Co. Ga. then appears on 1830 Census and had land deeds Houston Co. Ga.) Children: Tolbert Franklin b. 1810 Baldwin Co. Ga. (possible twin of) Elizabeth Davenport Franklin b. 2 Apr 1810 Baldwin Co. Ga. James Easom Franklin b.c. 1814 Baldwin Co. Ga Martha Ann Franklin b. c. 1815 Baldwin Co. Ga. Francis Marion Franklin b. 6 Sep 1817 Baldwin Co. Ga. Benjamin Dekalb Franklin b. 1818 Baldwin Co. Ga. Philemon Franklin (blacksmith) b. 1820 Baldwin Co. Ga. Christopher Franklin b. 1821 Baldwin Co. Ga. ******* Elizabeth Davenport Franklin married Thomas Whatley and they migrated to Coosa Co. Alabama (1850 Census) Martha Ann Franklin m. John "Red" Kelley and migrated to Coosa Co. Ala. (1850 Census) Philemon Franklinn (blacksmith) married Charlotte _______migrated to Coosa Co. Ala. (1850 Census) Christopher Franklin m. Milly and migrated to Coosa Co. Ala. (1850 Census) Francis Marion Franklin m. Gadsy/Gatsie Ann Sutton in Baker Co. Ga. and migrated to Gadsden Co. Florida, descendants lived in Calhoun Co. Florida, Liberty Co. Florida, and Vernon Parish, La. where he migrated in 1879 married 2nd wife Elizabeth Rebeccer Merritt 1879 and died there 1889. ******** Esom Davenport Franklin and 2nd wife Lydia Suzannah Stafford Howard (dau. of Ellis Stafford of Rose/Tallehassee, Leon Co. Florida) Children: Leonidas W. Franklin b. 1834 Thomas Co. Ga. served during Civil War as shoemaker, migrated to Russell Co. Alabama where he appears on 1870 Census, died before 1880 Census. Cicero Davenport Franklin b. 1836 Thomas/Baker Co. Georgia, served during Civil War, died in Lynchberg Virg. Factory Hospital of Fever, Civil War. Thomas J. Franklin b. 23 Jul 1840, was a steam boat steward, migrated with brother Leonidas to Russell Co. Alabama, appears there 1870 Census. Mary E. Franklin b. 1841 Florida, m. William Stephens, may have been killed by Seminole uprising. ********* This family biography compiled from records at FHL, SLC, UT by Leatha A. Betts jlabetts@burgoyne.com