Francis O'Day
Francis O'Day was born in Ireland about 1826. There is only one record that I can find of him coming into the United States and it is a "list" only document. Betty J Camin's North Carolina Naturalization List 1792 - 1862, has Frances O'Day sailing from Great Britain and being Naturalized in Halifax County, North Carolina in 1844.
Francis was a rock mason and was responsible for building many of the chimneys in Franklin County, NC during his lifetime.
The next record I have found for him is his marriage to Elizabeth Rebecca Leonard "Jennie". They were married on 3 March 1852. Jennie was the daughter of Bennett H. Leonard and Nancy Vincent Pearce. Bennett was the son of Frederick Leonard and Elizabeth Westray. Nancy was the sister to Plummer Pearce and the daughter of John Alexander Pearce and Rebecca Allen.
Francis and Jennie had a daughter, Nancy Virginia O'Day. She was born 11 December 1856. Her nicknames were Ginnie and Puss.
In the 1860 Federal Census we find that Francis has real estate that is valued at $900 and his personal estate is valued at $5400. He clearly states that he was born in Ireland.
One day after 1860, Elizabeth and Francis went fishing. A storm came up rapidly and they were hurrying to gather their belongings. The rifle discharged and killed Elizabeth.
In 1870, their daughter Nancy, was living in the household of her grandparents, Bennett and Nancy. Nancy married George Thomas Colbert in 1891.
In 1861 on May 20th Frances volunteered for the confederate army.
When he volunteered he claimed to be 36 years old!
In May of 1862 Francis was in the hospital in Petersburg suffering from a fever.
By August 20th he was discharged from the army due to his age. But Francis did not return to Franklin County.
He has a citizen file for the Civil War. He supplied the hospital in Petersburg, VA with supplies. Above is a receipt for 12 chickens and 6 dozen eggs. I wonder how he came to have 12 chickens?? I can only imagine..
After the war Francis was back in Franklin County, NC again. On 29 October 1866 he married Amanda "Mandy" Washington Pearce. Amanda was the daughter of Plummer Pearce and Martha Ann Leonard.
Francis and Amanda had the following children:
- Mary Frances O'Day born 11 Dec 1867. She married James Hilliard Gupton on 23 Jul 1898.
- Doctor Buck O'Day born 17 Oct 1870. Named for Amanda's brother.
- Lera Fannie O'Day born 28 Oct 1877. She married William T. Short of Warren County, NC on 27 Nov 1896. She was a seamstress and he was a carpenter.
- Martha born around 1877 and died 1880.
- James Henry O'Day born 15 Jul 1879.
Amanda died on 18 May 1881.
Francis died around 1900. In 1901 there was a case tried in Superior Court over his land. The land was divided between his heirs.
Francis's daughters Nancy and Mary were his only children to have children.
Hope you enjoyed the story of Francis O'Day. I hope one day I will be able to trace his family in Ireland.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pattie
