Reuben (Long) Franklin (1714 - 1784)

Born 1714 in Essex County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Peachy) Franklin — married 1739 in Orange County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1784 at about age 70 in Augusta County, Virginia, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lisa Franklin [send private message]

Biography

Note: Y DNA tests (including 5 BigY DNA tests) indicates an NPE in this line. The male descendants of Henry Franklin Sr. and his brother Reuben Franklin have proven that that Henry and Reuben were sons of Henry LONG Jr born abt 1683, VA. and grandsons of Henry Long Sr born abt 1650, will in 1733 King George Co, VA. The wife of Henry Long Jr is unknown and it is theorized that she may have been a Franklin, but this is not proven.

Y DNA has proven that Henry Long Jr, had 4 sons - Henry and Reuben that carried the Franklin surname, and two other sons (whose first names are unknown) carried the surname of Long. These two Long sons were the progenitors of the a Long line in North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War, and one line of Longs that remained in the Orange Co, VA area.

The Henry Long Jr line has been proven via Y DNA to carry the R-BY40685 marker that is unique to these 4 sons’ lines, Long and Franklin in the Long DNA surname Group C/Henry Long Sr. ^[1]

DNA and documenation indicate that Reuben and his brother Henry were adopted by Lawrence Franklin after the death of their parents Henry Long Jr. and Ann of Essex/Spotsylvania County. Henry Long Jr. was born about 1685-90, and was the son of Henry Long Sr. and Miss Churchill. Broomfield Long was the brother of Henry Long Jr. Henry Long Jr. and his wife died probably died in the 1720s or early 1730s, and their children were adopted out. Lawrence Franklin took in Henry Long and Reuben Long, and they eventually became known as Reuben Franklin and Henry Franklin. ^[1][2][3] Reuben Franklin also frequently appeared in records with Edward Franklin, the brother of Lawrence Franklin (see below).

Note: This is not the Reuben Franklin who served in the Revolutionary War. The Reuben Franklin who in the Revolutionary War was a cousin of this Reuben; he was born in King George County, Virginia in 1755, and enlisted in Stafford County, Virginia.^[4]

Reuben Franklin probably married Margaret Peachy about 1739 in Orange County, Virginia. Reuben and Margaret had the following children:

1. Henry Franklin Jr was born about 1749 in Virginia.

The first record for Reuben Franklin appeared in 1747. In February and May 1747, Edward Franklin, Eastham (Esom) Franklin, and Reuben Franklin appeared in court record in Augusta county, Virginia. Edward Franklin was Reubin Franklin's uncle, and the brother of Lawrence Franklin. Eastham (Esom) Franklin was the son of Edward Franklin.

Edward Franklyne vs. Robert Turk.--Debt on account. Set off account vs. Eastham Franklyne to feeding Rubin Franklyn's horse one month on account of Eastham Franklyn. Account dated May 17, 1746. To my son's work for you (carpentering). (Signed) Edward Franklin. Agreement for work dated 17th December, 1745-6. Reubin Franklin provided testimony.^{[5] [6][7]}

In 1749, Reuben Franklin, Lawrence Franklin and Edward Franklin appeared on the list of tithables for Orange county, Virginia.^[8]

16 September 1749, List of Tithables, Precinct of Phillp Bush, constable, List of Tithables (Name, # of Tithables):

Edward — 1,

Lau. [Lawrence] Franklin — 2,

Reuben Franklin — 1

On 12 Nov. 1751 in Albemarle county, Virginia, Reuben Franklin, Patience Franklin and Ambrose Porter were made executors for the will of Benjamin Franklin. The deceased Benjamin Franklin was the son of Lawrence Franklin. Patience Franklin was Benjamin's wife.^[9]

In 1751 in Orange County, Virginia, Bentley Franklin filed a lawsuit against his brother Reuben Franklin. They settled prior to the hearing, and the suit was dismissed.^[10] Also in 1751, Reubin was appointed overseer for road work in the room of John Asher.^[11]

In 1752 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was added to the list of tithables. This implies he had moved from the county, and returned in 1752.^[12]

In 1753 in Orange County, Virginia,, Reuben, Barnet, and Lawrence Franklin were listed on a road work exemption order:^[13]

1 March 1753, Lawrence Franklin and others requests exemption from Road Order. “On the petition of John Haskew, John Foster, Lawrence Franklin, George Head, Moses Behoe, John Snell, Reuben Franklin, Barnet Franklin, and William Hamm setting forth the hardship they labour under in being obliged by the order of this court to work on there different roads. It is therefore considered and ordered that they be exempted from working on the Corss road that leads to John Douglass’s.

Reuben was a witness to a land deed between James Anderson and his wife and Richard Durrett in Culpeper County..^[14]

3 Feb 1753

James Anderson mason of St Thomas Parish, Orange Co and Margaret his wife

to Richard Durrett, planter. For 14 pounds current money. 250 acrs near the

Great Mountains, part of a deed granted to William McDonnaugh for 400 acres and

by him acknowledged to James Anderson and is the north end of the land.

James Anderson

Margaret Anderson

Wit. Richd Windlow, Reuben Franklyn Alexr Henderson.

15 March 1753 Prowed by Richard Winslow and Alexander Henderson.

16 Sept 1756 Prowed by Reuben Franklyn

In November 1754 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin, Edward Franklin, and Lawrence Franklin were on a list of Orange county tithables. ^[15]

On 29 August 1755 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was a juror in a case between Robert Duncanson & William Minor.^[16]

On 27 Nov 1755 in Orange County, Virginia, John Askew was appointed overseer of the road in the room of Reuben Franklin and that he with the gang that was under Reuben keep the Road in repair.^[17]

In July 1756 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin, Lawrence Franklin, Edward Franklin, and Barnett Franklin were on a list of Orange county tithables. ^[18]

On 24 Nov 1757 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was paid £1550 for building the bridge over Blue Run in Orange County.^[19]

Also in November 1757 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin wason a list of Orange county tithables. ^[20]

On 28 April 1758 in Orange County, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was selected as a juror in a case between Charles & Peter Copland v. Tully Choice.^[21]

In 1760 in Orange County, Virginia, Edward Franklin and Reuben Franklin were buyers at the estate sale of John Lucas.^[22] This was the last time Reuben's name appeared in Orange County, Virginia records.

It is believed that Reuben Franklin moved to Halifax county after 1760, and he appears in several court records between 1765 and 1771.

In 1765 in Halifax, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was the defendant in a case brought by James Duncanson et al. It was a jury trial, the defendant Reuben Franklin was ordered to pay damages.^[23]

In 1768 in Halifax, Virginia, Reuben Franklin, John Seaggs and William Boram, the tithables of James Watts, were ordered to maintain the road; John Armstrong was the surveyor.^[24]

In 1771 in Halifax, Virginia, Reuben Franklin was the defendant in an attachment of property by John Salmon. Case was dismissed. ^[25]

When their son Henry Jr. died in 1782, a male guardian was required for each of his minor children. A guardian was financially responsible for the children they took on. On 15 Oct 1792, Reuben Franklin was made legal guardian of minor children Jasper Franklin and Henry Tarlton Franklin , orphans of Henry Franklin. It is unclear from the record whether the Reuben Franklin appointed guardian of Jasper and Henry Tarleton was Reuben, the father of Henry Jr, or Reuben, the 23 year old son of Henry Jr (and brother to Jasper and Henry Tarleton).^[26][27]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Y DNA Testing at Family Tree DNA in the Franklin Y DNA Project.
2. ↑ Article from The Virginia Genealogist, pages 118-120, “Henry Long and some descendants of Colonial Virginia" by Paul Buchanan published in
3. ↑ Book, LONG Journey West By JL Brannon, the key reference is on page 19 when the author states: “Henry's wife’s name, Ann____, turns up in a land transaction in 1738, when the land they had been living on was sold [as well a piece of land given Henry by his father in 1716]. There are no further records pertaining to Henry and Ann. It has been found that several Franklin descendants' DNA matches the Henry Long line. Court records [Spotsylvania 1737/38] have turned up a case with Henry M. Franklin b. 1715 in Essex county cited as aka “Harry Long”, who would have been 21 at the time, indicating “Harry’s” parents had died and Harry was adopted by the Franklyns. The land sold in 1738 was most likely his inheritance from his father, Henry, which he sold when he reached majority."
4. ↑ See the Revolutionary War pension application for Reuben Franklin, #S13082. A transcription is available online at: Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters, http://revwarapps.org/s13082.pdf
5. ↑ Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia,1 Volume I, County Court Judgements, Augusta County, pg. 300
6. ↑ County of Augusta, Virginia, Court Order Book 1, pg 214, online at FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-HQZQ-Q?i=117&cat=275633
7. ↑ County of Augusta, Virginia, Court Order Book 1, pg 215, online at FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-HQZW-D?i=118&cat=275633
8. ↑ Orange County, Virginia, tithables 1734-1782 by Barbara Vines Little, pg 26
9. ↑ Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Albemarle County, Virginia, 1748-1800, Pg. 3
10. ↑ 1752, Orange County Virginia Court, Order Book 5, pg 290.
11. ↑ 1752, Orange County Virginia Court, Order Book 5, pg409.
12. ↑ 1752, Orange County Virginia Court, Order Book 5, Pg 395
13. ↑ Orange County Order Book 1747-1754, page 515
14. ↑ Deed: Pages 489-92 Culpeper Co Va Deeds, Vol 2 1755-1762
15. ↑ Orange County, Virginia, tithables 1734-1782 by Barbara Vines Little, pg 34
16. ↑ 1757, Orange County Virginia Court Abstracts by Ruth Sparacio, pg 83
17. ↑ Orange County, Virginia Order Book Abstracts 1753-1763 by Ruth Sparacio, pg. 88
18. ↑ Orange County, Virginia, tithables 1734-1782 by Barbara Vines Little, pg 41 and 45
19. ↑ 1757, Orange County Virginia Court, Order Book 6, pg 358
20. ↑ Orange County, Virginia, tithables 1734-1782 by Barbara Vines Little, pg 48
21. ↑ 1757, Orange County Virginia Court, Order Book 6, pg 375
22. ↑ Orange County Virginia Court, Will Book 2, pg 306
23. ↑ County of Halifax, Virginia, Court order and Plea Book 5, pg 223, online at FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-99FG-M?i=128&cat=401169
24. ↑ County of Halifax, Virginia, Court order and Plea Book 6, pg 161, online at FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-99XF-J?i=403&cat=401169
25. ↑ County of Halifax, Virginia, Court order and Plea Book 7, pg 161, online at FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-31C?i=107&cat=401169
26. ↑ See attached court record Reuben Franklin appointed guardian for Henry Tarleton Franklin, son of Henry Franklin Jr.
27. ↑ See attached court record Reuben Franklin Appointed Guardian for Jasper Franklin, son of Henry Franklin Jr.