| State | Virginia |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Northampton |
| Other Counties | Accomack, Kent, Somerset |
| Family Name | Francisco/Sisco |
| Family History Notes | 1. John1 Francisco, born perhaps 1630, was the slave of Stephen Charlton for whom Charlton claimed a headright in Northampton County, Virginia, in August 1647 [DW 1645-51, 97 by Deal, Race and Class]. In July 1648 Charlton made a deed of manumission to free him ten years later in November 1658: and then the said Negro is to bee a free man. He was called "Black Jack" in Charlton's October 1654 will by which he received his freedom. Charlton also agreed to free John's wife, Christian, a "Negro woman," three years after his death or within six months if she paid 2,500 pounds of tobacco [DW 1645-51, 150-2; 1654-55, fol.57]. John and Christian were tithable in their own household in Northampton County from 1665 to 1671. Grace Susanna (Sebastian Cane's wife?) was in their household in 1667. In 1668 the court agreed to have the "Negro" child of Thomas Driggers, then living with him, bound to him until the age of twenty-one [Orders 1657-64, 198; 1664-74, fol.14, p.42, 53, fol.54, fol.115]. He was called "John Francisco Negroe" on 7 July 1685 when the Accomack County court ordered him to pay his debt of 5,090 pounds of tobacco to Colonel William Kendall [W&c 1682-97, 66a]. He was taxable in Accomack County from 1674 to 1695, called a "negro" in 1676 and 1686. In 1684 one of his three tithables was identified as his unnamed wife [Orders 1676-78, 33, 57; 1678-82, 18, 99; W&c 1682-97, 191, 258; Nottingham, Accomack Tithables, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42, 44, 47, 50, 52, 54, 60]. John was probably the ancestor of 2 i. Daniel1, born say 1680. 3 ii. Elizabeth, born say 1695. iii. Thomas1 Frisco, born say 1700, a Northampton County taxable with Ann Frisco in 1724 and tithable without Ann in Nathaniel Anders' household in 1725 [L.P. 1724, 1725]. He may have been identical to Thomas2 Sisco of Kent County, Delaware. 2. Daniel1 Francisco, born say 1680, was sued for debt in Northampton County, Virginia, on 28 November 1706. The case was dismissed because neither part appeared [Orders, Wills, Etc., 1698-1710, 308]. Daniel was probably in company with William Driggers because Daniel had a child by Mary Winslow in Somerset County sometime in 1708, and William Driggers helped him by carrying her out of county to avoid prosecution. Daniel was called a Somerset County planter when he admitted to being the father of Mary's child when he appeared in court seven years later in March 1713/4. He was probably living with Elizabeth Francisco, "of Somerset County," who was sued for a debt of 500 pounds of tobacco on 5 June 1712 by Samuel Daughty with whom she had contracted to pay by 7 May 1712 at Pocomoke. On 7 August 1712 her bail was forfeited to pay the debt [Judicial Records 1707-11, 94-6, 103; 1711-13, 167, 225; 1713-5, 5, 26]. Daniel was in Accomack County on 6 July 1715 when the court ordered that he, John Smith, John Martiall, and Richard Rowle/ Rowlin be summoned to the next court for disobeying Constable Hill Drummond while he was trying to break up a fight. The other parties were fined when they appeared at the next court on 4 October, but there was no further mention of Daniel [Orders 1714-17, 10a, 11]. He was sued for debt by Evan Jones in Kent County, Delaware court in November 1724, by Nicholas Greenway in May 1725, by Jonathan Griffin in May 1731 and Nicholas Nixon for a 16 pound debt in August 1731 [RG 3815.031, Dockets 1722-1732, frames 83, 84, 492, 498, 519, 593 ; MS case papers]. He was listed in the Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware tax assessments from 1727 to 1733 (listed near Winslow Drigers, Thomas Comsoloe, Julius Caesar, William Beckett, and Jacob Miller in 1727) [RG 3535, Assessments 1726-42, frames 346, 352, 358, 363, 369], apparently identical to David Francisco who died before 22 September 1732 when the inventory of his Kent County, Delaware estate was taken. (This inventory is not the original, but a copy made in 1752. Perhaps the clerk wrote David for Daniel). Daniel may have married the daughter of Thomas Consellor who mentioned his daughter Elizabeth Francisco in his 26 September 1739 Kent County will. "Elisabeth Siscom" was head of a household in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, in 1738, taxable on her son Thomas. Doctor Ridgely was allowed 7 pounds for her maintenance by the Kent County levy court on 18 December 1766 [Kent Count Levy List, 1727-67, frame 531]. Daniel and Elizabeth may have been the parents of 4 i. Daniel2, born say 1700. ii. Tabitha, born say 1705, sued by Jacob Miller in Kent County court but withdrawn in August 1731 [RG 3815.031, Common Pleas, Dockets 1722-1732, frame 509]. 5 iii. Thomas2, born say 1715. 6 iv. John2, born say 1723. v. Rebecca, sued in Kent County court in August 1748 by John Clayton in a case decided out of court [RG 3815.031, Common Pleas, Dockets 1744-1750, frame 423]. 3. Elizabeth Francisco, born say 1695, was a "negro" who bound out her daughter, Rachel, to Robert Nottingham in Northampton County on 17 March 1717/18 [Orders 1716-18, 84]. She bound out her daughter, Sabra, "a Negro Child" to Abraham Bowker on 18 August 1719 [Orders 1719-22, 31]. On 13 September 1722 she was accused of murdering her child but was acquitted of the charge [Orders 1719-22, 183]. In November 1722 Bowker sued her to recover his costs for looking after her during her childbirth. She may have left the county since Ralph Pigot forfeited the bail he posted for her appearance in court to answer Bowker [Milhalyka, Loose Papers 1628-1731, 37, 42]. Her children were 7 i. Rachel1, born perhaps 1715. ii. Sabra, born perhaps 1717. 4. Daniel2 Francisco, born say 1700, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1748, listed next to John Francisco [Assessments 1743-48 (RG 3535-2), frame 51], but not listed in later assessments, so he may have been the brother of John Francisco who petitioned the Kent County Orphans Court on 26 February 1756 stating that his brother had died "some years ago," as had his brother's wife Catherine, leaving an infant. Perhaps Daniel's widow was Ruth Fransisscoe who was being maintained by James Starling on 18 November 1766 when the Kent County levy court allowed him 10 pounds for her maintenance [Levy List 1727-67, frame 530], and perhaps he was the father of 8 i. Ephraim Sisco, born say 1745. 5. Thomas2 Francisco, born say 1715, was taxable in the Little Creek Hundred, Kent County household of his mother Elisabeth Siscom in 1738 and taxable in his own household from 1740 to 1745. He died before 16 July 1748 when his widow Patience Sisco was granted administration on his Kent County estate. The 29 November 1750 account of his estate included the payment of a bond to Daniel Durham for 18 pounds [WB I-1:231; RG 3845.000, roll 80, frames 332-3]. Thomas and Patience may have been the parents of 9 i. Benjamin, born say 1735. 6. John2 Francisco, born say 1723, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred from 1743 to 1758 [1743 to 1767 Levy Assessments, frames 16, 24, 43, 51, 107, 136, 143, 187, 226]. On 26 February 1756 he petitioned the Kent County Orphans Court stating that his brother (Daniel?) had died "some years ago," as had his brother's wife, Catherine, leaving an infant in the care of John Swaney who was unable to care for it. The court placed the child in his care. He married Sarah Durham, the Sarah Sisco who was mentioned in the 9 April 1788 Kent County will of her father John Durham [WB M-1, fol.170-1]. John Francisco died before 24 October 1798 when administration of his Kent County estate was granted to (his son?) Charles Francisco. The inventory of his estate totaled over 942 pounds and included 80 acres of wheat worth 90 pounds and another 35 acres of crops worth 20 pounds. On 10 November 1800 the estate was divided among his widow Elizabeth Francisco and Charles, Lydia, and Esther Francisco [RG 3845.000, roll 80, frames 196-208]. His children were most likely i. John3, Jr., born say 1738, taxable in Little Creek Hundred from 1758. ii. James, born say 1740, sued Isaac Carty in Kent County in a case discontinued by the plaintiff before trial in February 1762 [RG 3815.031, Common Pleas, Dockets 1760-1762, frame 406]. taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1770. 10 iii. Lydia, born say 1743. 11 iv. Charles, born say 1745. v. Esther, born say 1752, called herself a "free woman of color" when she made her 11 February 1813 Kent County will, proved 21 March 1815, by which she left 4-1/4 acres and her personal estate to Geloco Lockerman, requiring her to pay George Derham's wife over a period of four years [WB P-1:69]. 7. Rachel1 Sisco, born perhaps 1715, was bound apprentice by her mother, Elizabeth Francisco, in Northampton County, Virginia on 17 March 1717/18. She was tithable in Ann Batson's Northampton County household in 1738. Her children were i. Phillis1, born about 1737, five year old "Negro" daughter of Rachel Sisco, bound apprentice in Northampton County in March 1741/2 [Orders 1732-42, 484]. ii. Bridget, born about 1739, three year old "Negro" daughter of Rachel Sisco, bound apprentice in September 1742 [Orders 1732-42, 484]. iii. ?Rachel2, born about 1760, nine years old when she was bound apprentice in August 1769 [Minutes 1765-71, 306]. Other likely descendants of Rachel Sisco were i. Phillis2, born about 1758, a five-year-old "Negro" bound apprentice in Northampton County on December 1763 [Minutes 1761-65, 111]. She was the mother of Isaiah Sisco, born about 1776, nine years old when he was bound apprentice by the Northampton County court on 1 May 1785 [Orders 1783-87, 284]. ii. James, born about 1768, four years old in July 1772 when he was bound apprentice in Northampton County [Minutes 1771-77, 44]. iii. Daniel3 Cischo, born about 1771, five years old on 19 August 1776 when he was bound apprentice in Northampton County [Minutes 1771-77, 372]. He was head of an Accomack Parish, Accomack County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 2:14]. 8. Ephraim Sisco, born say 1745, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, from 1765 to 1783 when he was crossed off the list [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1743-67, frames 509, 521, 553, 566; 1768-84, frames 27, 129, 185, 223, 263, 310, 335, 341, 367, 368, 443, 503, 542, 583]. He was indicted by the Kent County court in November 1765 for having an illegitimate male child by Rachel Sisco, Jr., about May 1764. The court ordered Ephraim to support the boy for five years. Daniel Durham was his security [DSA, RG 3805.002, 1734-79, frame 446; MS case files November 1765]. He was a "Mulatoe" taxable on a mare, two horses, eight cows, two calves and eight sheep in Little Creek Hundred in 1800 [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1800-1, frame 413] and head of a Little Creek Hundred household of 11 "other free" in 1800 [DE:36]. He was the father of i. John5, born say 1764, called "son of Ephr." from 1788 to 1790 when he was taxable in Little Creek Hundred [RG 3535, Kent County Levy List, 1785-97, frames 75, 107, 191]. He was head of a Little Creek Hundred, Kent County household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [DE:33]. ii. ?Amelia2 Cisco, born say 1770, married Jeremiah Shad in July 1790. Jeremiah was head of a New Castle County household of 8 "other free" in 1800 [DE:161]. 9. Benjamin Sisco, born say 1735, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, from 1754 to 1756, taxable in Duck Creek Hundred from 1761 to 1767 and taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1768 [DSA, RG 3535, 1743-67, frames 136, 143, 168, 187, 315, 345, 354, 381, 396, 427, 436, 491, 518, 534, 551, 566; 1767-84, frames 10, 26]. Benjamin Wynn sued him in Kent County court in November 1769 [DSA, RG 3815.031, 1769-71, frame 43]. He may have been the father of i. William, born say 1750, taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1770 and 1771, in Duck Creek Hundred in 1773, in Little Creek Hundred in 1776 and 1778 and in Dover Hundred in 1778 [DSA, RG 3535, Assessments 1768-84, frames 66, 129, 180, 263, 335, 341]. ii. Amelia1, born say 1755, married Hanser, perhaps the Nehemiah2 Hanser who was taxable in Dover Hundred from 1785 to 1788. Amelia died before 9 December 1814 when administration on her Kent County estate was granted to John Francisco [WB P-1:61]. iii. Mary, born say 1758, had an illegitimate male child in Little Creek Hundred in December 1775 [RG 3805.0, MS case papers, May Term 1776]. She died before 29 May 1808 when administration papers were filed on her estate which amounted to $41.61 [DSA, RG 3845.000, roll 80, frames 325-8]. iv. George, born say 1763, had an illegitimate daughter by Ann Munt in Duck Creek Hundred in 1782 [DSA, RG 3805.0, MS Kent County Court case papers, August 1782 Indictments]. He was taxable in Little Creek Hundred from 1785 to 1789, a taxable "Mulattoe" in 1797 and 1798. By his 10 November 1814 Kent County will, proved two weeks later on 26 November, he divided his estate between his sister Emela (Amelia) Hanser and his brother William Sisco. Jacob Trusty paid cash to the estate [RG 3845.000, roll 201, frames 819-24; WB P-1:59]. 10. Lydia Francisco, born say 1743, was charged in Kent court in February 1770 with having an illegitimate child [DSA, RG 3805.002, 1734-79, frames 547, 551]. She was named in her brother Charles' 20 January 1798 Kent County will. By her 7 November 1798 Little Creek Neck, Kent County will, proved 18 December 1798, she left her daughter Elizabeth all her interest in her father's estate [WB N-1, fol. 221-2]. She was the mother of i. Elizabeth, born say 1770. 11. Charles Sisco, born say 1745, was taxable in Little Creek Hundred from 1765 to 1785. He was granted administration on the estate of (his father?) John Francisco on 24 October 1791 [WB N-1, fol. 5]. By his 20 January 1798 Little Creek Neck, Kent County will, proved 9 February 1798, he gave his sister Lydia his part of his father's estate and all his own estate to his sister Lydia's daughter Elizabeth Francisco [WB N-1, fol. 195-6]. Charles was the father of i. John4, born say 1764, taxable in Little Creek Hundred in 1785 and called "son of Chrls." in the list for 1787. Other Delaware descendants were i. Comfort, head of a Little Creek, Kent County, Delaware household of 2 "other free" in 1800 [DE:37]. ii. Isaiah, husband of Rachel Sisco who died before 13 February 1826 when John Carney, Jr., of New Castle County was granted administration on her Kent County estate [WB Q-1:78]. |
| Additional Notes | – |
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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