In this section I will briefly discuss the families descending from Robert Francis of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Researchers have done quite a bit of work on this family, and many of the modern Francis families descended from this man.
“Among the early residents of Wethersfield,” according to Charles E. Francis, in his book entitled Francis, Descendants of Robert Francis of Wethersfield, Connecticut, written in 1906, “we find Robert Francis. His name appears,” the book continues, “as a resident of the town in 1645, but
it is not stated at what time he first located there. It is, however, probable that he was one of a party of adventurers who came from Plymouth Colong in Massachusetts several years earlier, to establish homes in the Connecticut Valley.
The name of Richard Francis also appears on the Wethersfield records in 1645. He was probably a brother of Robert, for his name was recorded as a resident of the town the same year; but as nothing further is stated of him it is presumed that he did not remain there any great length of time.”
William F. J. Boardman, in his history of this family entitled Francis, Goodrich, Boardman wrote, “Robert Francis the first of the name in Wethersfield (perhaps son, either of John of Braintree, Massachusetts, or Richard of Cambridge, Massachusetts), is first mentioned when the birth of his daughter Susanna is recorded in 1651. His first land, including a house-lot of three and a half acres, is recorded 29 March, 1652. The lot is still the homestead of one of his descendants (the book I am quoting here was written in 1896).”
Robert Francis married Joane (?). The children of Robert and Joane Francis were: Susanna (born 1651), Robert (born 1653), Mary (born 1656), John (born 1658), Abigail (born 1660), James (born 1662), and Sarah (born 1664).
The only surviving son of Robert and Joane Francis was John Francis. He was born 4 September, 1658. He first married Sarah (?) in 1680. She died two years later leaving no children.
John Francis then married Mercy Chittenden (?) in 1683. The children of John and Mercy Francis were: John (born 1684), James (born 1685), Siberance (born 1687), Mary (born 1689), Thomas (born 1690), Robert (born 1692), Abigail (born 1695), Robert (born 1697), Joseph (born 1698), Daniel (born 1700), Hannah (born 1703), Sarah (born 1705), Prudence (born 1708), and Mercy (born 1710).
It is from this family that many of the Francis families in Illinois and Ohio spring. There are also descendants of this family in Western New York.
I have literally hundreds of pages of information on this family. There is no way to include even a sketch of the material here. However, I am including below information submitted by descendants of this family.
The following information was submitted by Carolee Chapman.
I'm a direct desc. of Robert and Joan Francis of Wethersfield, CT It goes:
Robert and Joan(?) Francis, b.1629
John & Mercy(Chatterton) Francis b. 1658
Robert & Eliz.(Butler) Francis b.1696/7 CT
Samuel and Joanna(Brigden) Francis b.1722/3 CT
Samuel & Dorcas (sexton)Francis b. 1752CT
Alvin & Betsey(Soper)Francis b. 1797 NY
Henry & Mary Jane(Pope)Francis b.1823NY
Perry D.& Emily(Smith)Francis b. 1851PA
Henry & Crystal(Reynolds) Francis b.1893KS
Cora Francis & Peter Simmons b 1925 MT (My line). There are cousins in VT and NE and OR and probably all the other states.