Francis Lucas Sr. (1782 - 1843)

Born 22 Mar 1782 in Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 May 1843 at age 61 in Lebanon, Warren, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Francis Lucas was born on 22 Mar 1782 in Washington, Pennsylvania. He married Christena (Christiana) Keever on 25 Sep 1800 in Ohio. Children (All born in Warren County, Ohio): Sarah (md. Daniel Wooley), Daniel (md. Hannah Meeker), Aaron (md. Phebe Hewitt), Francis (md. Susannah Batterson), Rhoda (md. John McCurdy), Elizabeth (never married), Mary (md. Asa M. Warren), Christiana (md. James H. Dill), George Andrew (md. Mary Monfort), Samuel M, Melinda. He died on 11 May 1843 at Deerfield (now South Lebanon), Warren, probably in Union Township. He was buried in Old Deerfield Cemetery, Warren County, Ohio.

"Francis was the youngest son and lived much of his early life north of Lebanon but later sold out there and moved to Deerfield (now South Lebanon) (D49). Francis was a juror in 1803 at the first session of the Court of Common Pleas (D52). He was listed as a resident of Turtle Creek Twp. by 1800 and in 1810 (B20). Census records list Francis and family in Clear Creek Twp. in 1820 (A6) and again in 1830 (A34) but in Union Twp., Warren Co., in 1840 (A35).

Francis Lucas of Warren Co. bought 50 a. on Caesar's Creek in Greene Co. from Josiah Hunt in 1804, located in survey #1174; this tract was sold by Francis and Christena of Warren Co. to William Hartsuck on 10 Oct 1814 (B10, 1:74, 4:237). However, it is believed that Francis and family remained in Warren Co. and never resided in Greene Co. Francis purchased four tracts in Clear Creek Twp. totaling 278.6 a. in 1813 and 1814 (B21, 4:285, 286, 391, 417). Following his death his executors, Daniel Crane and A. Stokes, on 30 May 1846 sold four tracts totaling 576.5 a. in T5 R3 in Sec. 25, 26, 27, and 32 located in Union Twp. just east of South Lebanon (B21, 27:115); these lands were sold to Matthew Coosa.

From Francis's estate his wife Christena retained 100 a. dower rights in 320 a. located in Sec. 25 on the banks of the Little Miami River near Deerfield (B21, 27:115); this was apparently Francis's last place of residence. Their home on this property was located on River Road and was of the Greek Revival style, socalled Carpenter Gothic; in the 1970's this house was removed to the Sharon Woods restoration village at Sharonville, Hamilton Co., Ohio. The 320-acre tract had been sold to Francis Lucas in 1837 by Nathan Kelly for $1,200; the historical house thereon had been built either by Nathan Kelly, who held title from 1799 to 1837, or by Francis Lucas after 1837 (D61, citing Western Star newspaper, 18 July 1973 issue).

On 16 Nov 1823 Francis Lucas of Warren Co. purchased from his father Thomas Lucas the latter's 50-a. home farm (B21, 11:173), this being shortly before the latter's death. Francis and his brother Caleb were appointed executors of his father's will. Following the decision not to probate the will, Francis was appointed administrator of his father's intestate estate. (For further details on the settlement of his father's estate, refer to a subsequent discussion.)

Francis's will was dated 1 June 1842 and was probated in Warren Co. on 26 May 1843 (B26, 9:452); it conveyed 1/3 of his estate to his wife Christena and divided the remainder amongst his children, all named in the will. Francis owned 782 acres of land at the time of his death, located in LaPorte Co., Ind., as well as in Warren Co., Ohio. The large size of his estate required a rather extensive probate settlement (B27, File No. 12); the total estate was valued at $34,000. In her will dated 21 Oct 1848 and probated 10 Apr 1849 in Warren Co. (B26, 11:292), Christina Lucas of Warren Co. appointed her son George executor and devised her estate in equal third parts to Mary Lucas Warren's heirs, George Lucas, and Christina wife of James H. Dill.

A transcription from Francis's tombstone in old Deerfield Cem. states that Francis died 11 May 1846 aged 61y 1m 19d (C21), suggesting his death took place in 1785. However, another source gives his death as occurring on 11 May 1845 aged 64 years (D49), suggesting his birth took place in 1781. The year of death from both sources is obviously wrong since his will was probated on 26 May 1843. This has led to the conclusion that his death occurred on 11 May 1843. This death date is confirmed--either 10 or 11 May 1843-by a newspaper entry dated Friday, 12 May 1843: "Died on Wednesday last, at his residence near Deerfield, at an advanced age, Mr. Francis Lucas, for more than thirty years a citizen of this county" (D67). His birth date has been calculated on the basis of his being 61y 1m 19d on 11 May 1843. It is suggested Francis could not read or write based on both he and his wife Christena making their marks on a deed dated 24 Dec 1825 (B21, 14:13), but his serving as county treasurer in Warren Co. from 1819 to 1821 (D52) makes this doubtful." --John Vallentine

Francis Lucas was living in Pennsylvania during the time it became the second state in the union.

Sources

• US Federal Census 1820, 1830, 1840

• Ohio County Marriages

• Ohio Wills and Probate Records

• History timeline found in Soliday family Bible

• Lebanon Ohio Western Star, 12 May 1843 Friday

• John Vallentine

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16494485

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Cheryl Rothwell for creating WikiTree profile Lucas-1687 through the import of Ancestors of Ethel Ryan.ged on Jan 20, 2013