The JOHN FRANCIS (FRANCESS) Family of Cavan Co. Ireland

The Francis family lived in and around the quiet little town of Ayr Scotland during the period of persecution in the 16th century, during the reign of Mary Stuart. John Francis, a native of England, married Jane McGregory, a native of Scotland. John Francis fled to Kings Court, County Cavan, Ireland in 1690 to enjoy religious liberty. The John Francis family lived in Ireland at a place called Muff [Cavan Co., a noted place where a great stock fair was held yearly. [Muff, Baillieborough, and Kingscourt are neighboring villages] The Francis's in Ireland were principally ministers and elders of the Presbyterian Church. Soon the Province of Ulster was half foreign population. The religious feeling between the Scot Protestants and Irish Catholics was very bitter. Intermarriage was considered a misfortune as well as a disgrace. This feeling kept both races pure and unmodified. A letter written to Edward Francis in Ohio in 1831 from his sister Esther (Francis) Mitchell in Ireland reveals the terrible religious friction of that period. - Information gleaned from Francis Family History


EDWARD FRANCIS 1780-1850 

"Edward and Eleanor Francess, emigrated to Brown County, Ohio, and settled at Ash Ridge, in what is now known as Jackson Township. They bought one hundred acres of land which was then comparatively a forest. They had to undergo the usual trials and self-denials to which those pioneers were subject. Edward had served as Justice of the Peace for Jackson Township and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was the father of eight children, five of whom are still living, and died in August, 1850." History of Brown County 1883, Page 238.

"[Edward and Eleanor Francess] emigrated to America; they came to Brown County, Ohio, about the year 1818, and settled in Jackson Township, near Ash Ridge. The neighborhood in which they settled, was at that time considerable of a forest; the hardships and self-denials which they were obliged to undergo, are too well understood by the intelligent reader to demand a minute delineation of the same." History of Brown County 1883, Page 277

[They] landed at Perth Amboy, New Jersey in August 1817, then on to Ohio same year.

The family home was near Ash Ridge, Brown Co., Ohio. The father (Edward) with the help of the older ones in the family gave them a common school education. -Francis History

"A noble Christian gentleman, an elder for many years in the Presbyterian Church, both in Ireland and America,". -Francis History

"In 1829, the members of the Presbyterian Church in Russellville and vicinity resolved to build a house of worship. In the summer of 1830, a brick building, 40x70 feet, was erected on a lot in the east part of Russellville. the cost of the building was supposed to be about $1,100. Prominent among the members of the church at that time were Aaron Wilson and wife, Benjamin Marshall and wife, John Parker, Edward Francis, .......etc.The first Clerk of the session was Dr. A. Beasley. Clerks since were SG Moore, J. Francis and present Clerk, Dr. JN Salisbury.......The Elders of the church from its organization have been William Evans, Benjamin Marshall, Edward Francis..............Joseph Francis............" History of Brown Co Ohio 1883, page 617-618

"Mt. Olivet Church has always been Methodist. Several of the surrounding families were descendants of Irish immigrants and they were Presbyterians. It was their desire that Mt. Olivet would be a Presbyterian House of Worship. In time, these differences were dropped and the congregation benefited. In 1894, Reverend Ulysses G. Humphrey held a revival and over forty new members were added to the church rolls....At one time, the early church had over 100 members on its roll. Some came from as far away as five miles. A few of the early families were the Campbells, Samuel Fenton, the Fitches, the Francises, the Houseworths, the Jacobs, the Kendalls, the Marshalls, the McNowns, the Rickeys, the Sidwells, and the Howlands" pg 1052, Historical Collections of Brown Co.

"The first election held in the township [Jackson Township] was at the house of Stephen Reynolds on the third Saturday (19th) of July, 1823. At this election the following first officers of the township were elected: Edward Francis.........." History of Brown Co. Ohio 1883, page 655

"Edward Francis served as treasurer of the township [Jackson] in the following years, 1829-1836, 1838-1842. (There is also an Edward Francis serving as Assessor in 1843.) page 656 History of Brown Co. Ohio 1883

For more information on FRANCIS ancestors, please click here.

Follow this link to the Francis Families of America website.