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, North Carolina. 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, South Carolina,
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.
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
On 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 wit-
nesses 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
witnesses.
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.
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
Mr. G. Duffield Smith, 3520 Drexel Drive, Dallas, Texas, a descend-
ant of Francis Coleman through his daughter, Frances Womack, un-
earthed a record of Francis Coleman in Wilkes County, Georgia, 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 Sher-
man'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
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
acres of land in West Florida on a point immediately above the Black
Rock on the River Tombeckby about 112 miles above the Town of
Mobile, 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 pass-
ports 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 Tombigby 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
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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, Ala-
bama.
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.
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
Margaret Coleman, b. January 6, 1774.
Married Robert Tillman, Jefferson County,
Georgia, 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,
Carolyn, and Daniel Mobley. 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
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
place in Choctaw County, and died May 21, 1926, at Laurel, Missis-
sippi. 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, Mississippi, 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.
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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.
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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,
later Prince Edward 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, N.
C. 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.
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