Notes for Franklin Stearns

Notes for Franklin Stearns

!US Census 1850 (28 August) Virginia, Henrico Co., Richmond (Independent City), Roll M432_951, Sheet 505, Page 251A, House No. 238, Lines 12-17: Franklin Stearns (b. 1815 - 35 - in VT - Property Value $10,000) married to Caroline V. (b. 1820 - 30 - in VA). Children listed (born in VA) are: Zenus B. (son b. 1846 - 4); Franklin (son b. 1848 - 2); and Daniel B. (son b. Jun 1850 - 2/12). ALSO LISTED is: Jane G. Willy (b. 1805 - 45 - in ME)

!US Census 1860 (16 July) Virginia, Henrico Co., Eastern Division, Richmond PO, Roll M653_1353, Sheet 48, Page 710, House No. 372, Lines 10-16: Franklin Stearns (b. 1815 - 45 - in VT - Occ: Farmer & Distiller - Property Value $155,000 + $200,000) married to Caroline V. (b. 1821 - 39 - in VA). Children listed (born in VA) are: Zenus B. (son b. 1846 - 14); Franklin, Jr. (son b. 1849 - 11); Erastus W. (son b. 1852 - 8); and Areene L. (dau b. 1854 - 5). ALSO LISTED is: Jane G. O'Mallie (b. 1807 - 53 - in VA)

!US Census 1870 (15 July) Virginia, Henrico Co., Madison Ward Richmond City, Richmond PO, Roll M593_1654, Sheet 78, Page 39B, House No. 430, Lines 13-21: Franklin Sterns (b. 1816 - 54 - in VT - Occ: Retired Merchant) married to Caroline (b. 1821 - 49 - in VA). Children listed are: E. Barnum (b. 1846 - 24 - in VA - Occ: Clerk Grocer) married to Lizely (dau-in-law b. 1853 - 17 - in England); Erastus W. (son b.1854 - 16 - in VA - Occ: Clerk); and Louisa (dau b. 1856 - 14 - in VA). ALSO LISTED are: Jane Willy (b. 1808 - 62 - in ME); M. L. Chocke (b. 1818 - 52 - in MA); and Fanny Ann Chocke (b. 1841 - 29 - in CT)

***Wife Caroline is dead by 1880 - Franklin is listed as WIDOW***
!US Census 1880 (3 June) Virginia, Henrico Co., Richmond City, Roll T9_1371, SD 3 ED 83, Sheet 21, Page 155A, House No. 509 N. 6th Street, Lines 47-50: Franklin Stearns (b. 1816 - 64 - in VT - WIDOW - Occ: Fertilizing Mill - Fa: VT and Mo: VT). Children listed (born in VA as was mother) are: I. Louisa Halsey (dau b. 1855 - 25) married to J. Marlin Halsey (son-in-law b. 1853 - 27 - in VA - Occ: Fertilizing Mill - Fa: NJ and Mo: VA) with their child listed as: Caroline V. Halsey (granddau b. 1879 - 1 - in VA); and I. Louisa Halsey, Jr. (granddau b. Mar 1880 - 2/12 - in VA). ALSO LISTED are: M. Louisa Chalk (sister-in-law b. 1818 - 62 - in MA - WIDOW - Fa: MA and Mo: MA); and Fannie N. Chalk (dau-in-law b. 1842 - 38 - in CT - WIDOW - Fa: CT and Mo: CT)

!Some information from web site of R. Kohin: Franklin Stearns was one of the wealthiest men in Virginia. His occupation from the 1850 US Census at Richmond, Henrico Co., as a financier and distiller with real estate worth $155,000 and personal property worth $200,000. He lived in Richmond and at his country residence "Tree Hill" on the banks of the James River, and his distillery was on 15th Street between Main and Cary Streets. During the Civil War he supported the Union cause and was confined to house arrest after his country home was raided by Confederate officials at 3 AM on Sunday, March 3, 1862. After the war he served in the Virginia State Legislature and was a member of the Republican National Committee from Virginia, 1868-1872.