Francis Locke

Male 1722 - 1796  (74 years)


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  • Name Francis Locke  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Birth 1722  North Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 5
    Gender Male 
    Residence Bef 1751  Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Politics 1775 
    Politics 1776 
    Military 4 Apr 1776  North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Politics Between 1793 and 1799 
    Burial Jul 1796  Mill Bridge, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 5
    Death 27 Jul 1796  Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 5
    Notes 
    • Was appointed Colonel of the 1st Rowan Regiment.
      The Locke Family
      Matthew Locke, one of the first settlers of Rowan county, and the patriarchal head of a large family, was born in 1730. He was an early and devoted friend of liberty and the rights of the people. His stability of character and maturity of judgment caused him to be held in high esteem in all controversial matters among his fellow citizens. In 1771, during the "Regulation" troubles, he was selected by the people, with Herman Husbands, to receive the lawful fees of the sheriffs, and other crown officers, whose exorbitant exactions and oppressive conduct were then everywhere disturbing the peace and welfare of society. In 1775, he was a member of the Colonial Assembly, and in 1776 member of the Provincial Congress, which met on the 12th of November of that year, and formed the first Constitution. From 1793 to 1799 he was a member of Congress, and was succeeded by the Hon. Archibald Henderson. He married a daughter of Richard Brandon, an early patriot of the same county. He died in 1801, aged seventy-one years.

      Matthew Locke had at one time four sons in the Revolutionary war. Francis Locke, his eldest son, was appointed by the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax on the 4th of April, 1776, Colonel of the 1st Rowan Regiment, with Alexander Dobbins as Lieutenant Colonel; James Brandon, 1st Major, and James Smith, 2d Major. He was attached to General Lincoln's army when General Ashe was defeated at Brier Creek, and composed one of the members of the court-martial to inquire into that unfortunate affair. Colonel Locke commanded the forces which attacked and signally defeated a large body of Tories assembled at Ramsour's Mill, under Col. John Moore. (For particulars, see "Lincoln county"). Another son, Lieutenant George Locke, a brave young officer, was killed by the British in the skirmish near Charlotte, in September, 1780.

      Hon. Francis Locke, son of Francis Locke, the "hero of Ramsour's Mill," was born on the 31st of October, 1766. He was elected Judge of the Superior Court in 1803, and resigned in 1814, at which time he was elected a Senator in Congress in 1814-'15. He never married, and died in January, 1823, in the forty-fourth year of his age. His mortal remains, with those of his father, Colonel Francis Locke, repose in the graveyard of Thyatira Church, Rowan county, N.C.

      b138.Colonel/b bFrancis/b bLocke,/b born 1722 in Northern Ireland; died 1796 in Rowan county, North Carolina. He was the son of b276. John/b bLocke/b and b277. Mary/b bElizabeth/b bPatton/b. He married b139. Anne/b bBrandon/b.

      b139.Anne/b bBrandon,/b born 1722 in Lane, Pa. She was the daughter of b278. John/b bJr/b bBrandon/b and b279. Elizabeth/b bCathey/b.

      Notes for Colonel Francis Locke:
      Colonel Locke serve in the North Carolina Milita 1779- 1781 page 40, According to Pierce's Register, Page 27 Alphabetical List of Officer of the Continental Army by Heitman and Pierce's Register, Appendix , page 503, Rowan County 2 Companies , according to Lt Col John Dobbin (1st Major), and James Brandon (2nd Major) He is listed in the Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots as, Locke Francis, Rowan North Carolina Vol 3, Page-Serial 11393, Volume 3. He is buried in Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rowan county, North Carolina.

      Children of Colonel Locke and Anne Brandon are:
      intblu69 /u i. Rebecca Locke, born 1754; died 10 Jan 1841 in Granville County, North Carolina; married Thomas Howell 1775 in North Carolina.ntbl ii. John Locke, born Abt. 1762; married Margaret Locke 28 Jan 1779.ntbl iii. Elizabeth Locke, born 1756; married John Gibson 13 Jan 1776.ntbl iv. Margaret Locke, born 1758; married George Gibson 17 May 1780.ntbl v. Matthew Locke, born Abt. 1760; died Bef. 1810; married Ann Branson.ntbl vi. Anne Locke, born 1762; married Matthew Locke 20 Jan 1784.ntbl vii. Mary Locke, born 1764; married William Gibson.ntbl viii. Francis (Esquire) Locke, born 31 Oct 1766; died Jan 1823.
      ntbl Notes for Francis (Esquire) Locke: Was single,( Will shows two Illegitimate sons, Francis Locke or Cooper and William Hamilton )
      ntbl ix. William Locke, born Abt. 1768.

      /iSon of John Locke & Elizabeth.

      Grew up in Lancaster,Pennsylvania

      John Locke died in 1744. Elizabeth married John Brandon who moved the family to Anson County,NC

      Francis Locke purchased acreage from his step-father in 1753;building his home near Salisbury.

      He and his brother Matthew Locke owned a "fleet of wagons" used to transport deerskins & goods to Salem,Salisbury and Charleston,SC.

      1759,appointed Ensign in a Militia Company commanded by General Griffith Rutherford.

      1764 Opened a Tavern. Appointed "sheriff" the same year serving until 1766.

      During the early 1770's Francis Locke held many County Positions.

      1775 participated in the "Snow Campaign"
      1776 commanded the Rowan Militia in the expedition led by Gen. Griffith Rutherford against the Cherokee.
      1777-1778 remained in command near Salisbury, guarding military stores and arresting local Tories.

      June 20, 1780 Colonel of Whig forces victory over the Tories at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill.
      June,1780 Fought at "Colson's Mill.

      1781 Fought along "Grant's Creek" near Salisbury. Took part in Nathanael Greene's "Race to the Dan".

      1784 Resigned his commission;settling on his Plantation

      Elected as State Attorney to replace WILLIAM SHARPE.

      Father of Francis Locke,Jr. who became Superior Court Judge and United States Congressman.

      His brother MATTHEW Locke(Brigadier-General in the American Revolution. Member of the Provincial Congress. U.S. Congress, 1793-1799.) is buried in same cemetery.


      i
      /i
    Person ID I19130  McKenzie Genealogy
    Last Modified 19 Aug 2012 

    Father John Locke,   b. 1700, London, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1743, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 43 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Mary Elizabeth Patton,   b. 1705, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Aug 1760, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 55 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage 16 Feb 1719  London, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Family ID F08918  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Anne Brandon,   b. 1722, Thyatira, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1798, Thyatira, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years) 
    Marriage 1753  Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Children 
     1. William Locke   d. UNKNOWN  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Rebecca Locke,   b. 1754, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1824, Granville, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. John Locke,   b. 1755, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Apr 1833, , Bladen, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 78 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Margaret Locke,   b. 1758, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1792, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 34 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. Francis Locke,   b. 31 Oct 1766, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Jan 1823, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     6. Matthew Taylor Locke,   b. 1768, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Jan 1807, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 39 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F08917  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2011 

  • Sources 
    1. [S002949] Abstract Graves of Revoluntiary Patriots, www.ancestry.com.
      QUAY 3

    2. [S008907] Moody/Hodge Family Tree, www.ancestry.com.
      QUAY 3

    3. [S006821] Historical Sketches of North Carolina, Vol. II, Halifax County, Lincoln County, Cabarrus County, Mecklenberg County: Early North Carolina Settlers, 1, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.).

    4. [S010970] Sketches of Western North Carolina, Mecklenberg County, Rowan County: Early North Carolina Settlers, 1700s-1900s, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.).

    5. [S006057] FindAGrave.com.

    6. [S010384] Reminiscences and Memories of North Carolina, Martin County, Rowan County: Early North Carolina Setterers, 1700s-1900s, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland).

    7. [S005190] Documenting the American South, (Documenting the American South, University of North Carolina, 2010).

    8. [S012013] U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, (U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.).
      ancestry.com


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