Francis Thomas Anderson Sr (1808 - 1887)

Born 11 Dec 1808 in Walnut Hill, Botetourt County, Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Alexander) Anderson — married 8 Dec 1830 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1887 at age 78 in Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA

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Francis Anderson Sr is Notable.

Biography

Francis was born at 10pm, the Sunday evening of 11 Dec 1808^[1], in Botetourt County, Virginia, at the family plantation of "Walnut Hill". He was the son of William Anderson and Anne Thomas.

He was first educated at home by his mother, later attending the Curtis Alderson's school at Ben Salem in Rockbridge County. He then attended the Fincastle Classical School in the Botetourt before enrolling at Washington College. He graduated at the age of 19, then returned to his home and began the study of law without the advantage of an instructor.

At the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the Botetourt County Bar.

On 8 Dec 1830^[2], in Rockbridge, Virginia, he married Mary Ann Alexander. They had the following known children.

1. Anna Aylett Anderson b. 1833 - d. 1911, m. William F. Junkin
2. Mary Evelyn Anderson b. 1835 - d. 1916, m. Alexander Broadnax Bruce (brother of William & uncle of Rosa)
3. Frances Margaret Anderson b. 1836 - d. 1925, never married
4. Josephine Alexander Anderson b. 1838 - d. 1912, m. William Bowyer Poindexter
5. Fancie M. Anderson b. 1839 - d. aft. 1880 census
6. William Alexander Anderson b. 1842 - d. 1930, m1/wid. Ellen Graham Anderson, m2. Marie Louise Blair
7. Isabella Graham Anderson b. 1847 - d. 1927, m1/wid. Richard C Coleman, m2. William Ballard Bruce (brother of Alexander & uncle of Rosa)
8. Francis Thomas Anderson b. 1848 - d. 1893, m. Rosa Clarke Bruce (niece of Alexander and William)

In 1852, he retired from his law practice to personally supervise his property in Botetourt, where he utilized slaves for labor.

In 1855, he moved to Rockbridge County where he continued to own slaves.

When Virginia seceded from the Union, his son William enlisted in the Liberty Hall volunteers and fought at the First Battle of Manassas, and in September was discharged because of his knee wound.

In Dec 1861 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for Rockbridge. He served until Sep 1863, when he declined re-election.

At the end of the war, he received a presidential pardon on July 21, 1865, agreeing to not again use enslaved labor.

By 1869, he had resumed his legal practice.

He was elected a Judge on the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia for a term of twelve years from January 1st, 1871. In 1883, legislators refused to renew him, along with the other justices, and completely changed that appellate court. He returned to private law practice again.

From 1879 until his death, he served as a rector for Washington and Lee University.

Francis died on 30 Nov 1887, in Lexington. He was buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery.

A copy of his will can be viewed on ancestry [1][2].

Slaves

• On FamilySearch is an upload of the Anderson bible, with slaves listed[3]. The dates span from 1799-1832. It was originally Francis's mother's bible. It is thought those listed in this bible were owned by his father. Therefore, that information will be entered on his father's biography.

• 1850 census, Anderson owned twelve enslaved individuals, ranging from a 50 year old Black man and 36 year old mulatto woman to 3, 4 and 6 year old boys^[3].

• He continued to own slaves in Rockbridge County, their number increasing to 20 and age range from 58 and 52 year old Black men and 52 year old mulatto woman and a 46 year old Black woman to a one year old Black boy^[4].

• Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911: Library of Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912

Year 1858, Rockbridge County, Virginia[4]

1. Nash, male, died Sep 1858, Francis T Anderson, owner, cause dysentery, age 4, parents Jefferson & Tabby, born in Botetourt
2. Gilbert, male, died Nov 1858, Francis T Anderson, owner, cause typhoid fever, age 17, parents Jefferson & Tabby, born in Georgia
3. Terry, male, died Dec 1858, Francis T Anderson, owner, cause pneumonia, age 34, parents unknown, born in Bedford

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/181509202?cid=mem_copy
2. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66DL-WKYC
3. ↑ 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Western District, Botetourt County, Virginia p. 38 of 45.
4. ↑ 1860 U.S. Federal Census for District 3, Rockbridge County, Virginia p. 3 of 12.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_T._Anderson
• A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF THE ANDERSON FAMILY 1771-1952: https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu03869.xml

• Virginia Appellate Court History: https://scvahistory.org/scv/a-2/anderson-francis-thomas-1870-1882/bibliography-and-research-collections-francis-thomas-anderson-1870-1882/

• Judges of the Supreme Court. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/judges-of-the-supreme-court-of-virginia/

• https://150yearsago.library.virginia.edu/2011/07/06/1861-july-6-south-bend/

• The Green Bag, Boston Book Company, 1893, Volume 5, Pages 408-415 (biographical sketch of Judge Francis T. Anderson of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia).

• Find-A-Grave MEMORIAL ID :10603319
• [5] The Cabells and Their Kin: A Memorial Volume of History, Biography, and Genealogy Alexander Brown January 1, 1895 Houghton, Mifflin & Company: Child page 329

• "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M885-R97 : Thu Oct 05 17:31:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Francis F Anderson and Marge A Anderson, 1850. Location: District 8, Botetourt, Virginia. Occupation: Lawyer.

• Daughter Mary's marriage record. "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DT9-VB99 : Fri Nov 10 17:48:09 UTC 2023), Entry for Alexander Bruce and James C Bruce, 18 Apr 1855.

• Daughter Anna's marriage record. "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66KZ-P4B1 : Sat Oct 21 14:45:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Wm T Junkins and George Junkins, 31 Oct 1855.

• "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHMW-NWJ : Tue Oct 03 01:50:03 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank T Anderson and Mary A Anderson, 1860. Location: Rockbridge, Virginia. Occupation: Farmer.

• Daughter Josephine's marriage record. "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:86DH-H16Z : Thu Oct 05 09:39:39 UTC 2023), Entry for Wm. P. Poindexter and Geo. B. Poindexter, 25 Jul 1867.

• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFG4-CCS : Wed Oct 04 19:05:06 UTC 2023), Entry for F L Anderson and Mary Ann Anderson, 1870. Location: Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. Occupation: Judge Court of Appeals

• Son William's marriage record, 1st marriage. "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6N8C-KNNF : Tue Nov 07 15:38:43 UTC 2023), Entry for William A Anderson and Francis T Anderson, 19 Jul 1871.

• Son Frank's marriage record. "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68Y9-D3W4 : Tue Nov 07 16:10:21 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank T Anderson and F T, 19 Jun 1872.

• Son William's marriage record, 2nd marriage. "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:8ZGJ-P53Z : Thu Oct 05 10:20:26 UTC 2023), Entry for Wm A Anderson and F T Anderson, 9 Aug 1875.

• "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRS-T1M : Wed Oct 04 01:54:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Francis T. Anderson and Mary A. Anderson, 1880. Location: Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. Occupation: Judge Court of Appeals

• Daughter Isabella's marriage record. "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:86N3-2P3Z : Thu Oct 05 11:15:02 UTC 2023), Entry for William B Bruce and James C Bruce, 19 Aug 1880.

• Sister's obit. "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP1M-G8NG : Fri Oct 20 23:22:15 UTC 2023), Entry for Miss Margaret Glasgow Gordon and Glasgow, 22 Feb 1907.

• Daughter Mary's obit. "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP19-XHDN : Fri Oct 20 20:08:15 UTC 2023), Entry for Mrs Mary E Bruce and Captain Alexander Bruce, 05 Aug 1916.

• Daughter Frances death certificate. "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRW-3VBD : 16 August 2019), Francis T Anderson in entry for Fannie W Anderson, 11 Nov 1925; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing , Rockbridge, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

• Daughter Isabelle's death record. "District of Columbia Deaths, 1874-1961," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7RN-WDW : accessed 14 February 2024), Francis Thomas Anderson in entry for Belle Graham Anderson Bruce, 13 Mar 1927, District of Columbia, United States; citing reference ID 305061, District Records Center, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,116,027.

• Son William's death certificate. "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRW-GV61 : 16 August 2019), F T Anderson in entry for William A Anderson, 21 Jun 1930; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

• [6]Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900: Executor Bond Books, 1810-1889; Author: Virginia. County Court (Rockbridge County); Probate Place: Rockbridge, Virginia

Name Francis T Anderson

Residence Date Abt 1887

Residence Place Lexington, Virginia

Will Date 15 Oct 1887

Probate Date 15 Oct 1887

Probate Place Rockbridge, Virginia, USA

Inferred Death Year 1887

Inferred Death Place Virginia, USA

Item Description Will Book, Vol 26, 1887-1889; Will Book, Vol 27, 1889-1891