Charles Roland Francis

   Another name for Charles was Buck.

  General Notes:

Charles R. Francis enlisted as a private in Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment Virginia on April 23, 1861. He was detailed to remain with the wounded on September 17, 1862 at Sharpsburg, MD and taken POW on September 27, 1862 at Sharpsburg, MD (and later paroled).

He was detailed as a cook on 10 September 1864 and returned to regular duty in the infantry on 15 December 1864 (Estimated day). Charles remained with his unit and served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war. He surrendered with Company E, 15th Infantry Regiment of Virginia on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, VA.

Charles France[i]s first appears in census records in the 1850 Federal Census for the Western District, Hanover Co., Va., page 365A. Charles Francis (13) is in the household headed by James T. Francis (24). Also in the household, besides Charles, are Jane M. Francis (40) and children Martha J. (21), Emmaline (18), Thomas (11), and Samuel (8). The family has real estate valued at $1,800 and owns 5 slaves. Since the 1840 Federal Census for Hanover Co., Va. lists John B. Francis (40-50) with family members as follows: 2 males under five, 1 male & 2 females 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 15-20, and 1 female 30-40 (Jane) as the only Francis in Hanover, one can assume John to be the father of the Francis clan of Hanover. It is of interest that John B. Francis and family are listed in the 1830 Federal Census for Hanover Co., Va. (see notes on John B. Francis for earlier Francis family records.)

The 1860 Federal Census for St. Pauls Parish, Ashland, Hanover Co., Va., St. Paul's Parish, page 4A, dated July 30, 1860 records Charles R. Francis (22 - Carpenter) living in the home of J. J. Davis: J. J. Davis (47 - VA) [John J. Davis], M. E. Davis (20 - female) [Mary Elizabeth Francis Davis - aged 36], M. A. Davis (14 - female) [Mary], J. M. Davis (11 - male) [John Minor], J. C. Davis (8 - female), E. J. Davis (7 - female), Nancy J. Davis (5 - female), L. N. Davis (3 - female), M. H. Davis (2 - female), and M. D. Davis (1 - female). J. J. Davis is the husband of Charles' sister and is a farmer with real estate valued at $1,800 and a personal estate valued at $2,700 including 7 slaves (5 children under the age of 5). Charles is a few doors down from his brother, J. T. Francis (34), and his wife Sarah (34) and daughter M. J. (7/12). See general notes on Charles' sister, Mary Elizabeth Francis for 1850 census facts.

The 1870 Federal Census for Ashland, Hanover Co., Va., Lower Revenue District, page 4A, records Charels R. (34) and Mary A. (23) Francis with children John (3), and Wallace (8/12). The family is living next door to Charles' brother, James Francis (44), his wife Sarah (45) and their children Mary (10), Anna (7), and Samuel (1).

The 1880 Federal Census for Ashland, Hanover Co., Va. District 63, page 46A, records Charles R. (43) and Mary A. (32) Francis with children Wallace L. (10), Charles (8), Herbert (6), Harriet J. (5), Bettie (3), and Robert H. (1). The family is living next door to his Charles' bother's widow, Sarah (55) Francis and her daughter Annie (16) and son West (12).

The 1900 Federal Census for Ashland, Hanover Co., Va. District 17, page 172B, records Charles R. (53 - July 1836) and Mary T. (Mar 1862) Francis with children Jeter H. (July 1882), Elizabeth (Apr 1885), and Thomas E. (Aug 1889). Charles and Mary have been married 3 years with no children.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Carpenter (1860) / Farmer (1900).

Charles married Mary Ann (Molly) Parish about 1865. (Mary Ann (Molly) Parish was born about 1848 and died about 1890 in Ashland, Hanover Co., VA..)

Charles next married Mary Susan Lane about 1897 in Ashland, Hanover Co., VA. (Mary Susan Lane was born in Mar 1862 in Virginia and died on 29 Aug 1939 in Richmond, VA.) The cause of her death was Chronic Myocarditis.