Francis Marion Millsaps

His name is sometimes found as Francis Marion, which is probably his actual birth name. geni.com had a reference to his birthdate being March 15, 1834. I only had it as 1834 originally.

Marion Millsaps is on the 1850 U.S. census but has his place of birth as SC (which is wrong.)

The 1860 census lists an M.L.Millsaps (26) who is the only one close in age who was born in North Carolina. This M.L.Millsaps is listed with a female N.C. (Nancy?) but no relationship is listed. (note: this is probably the second Marion Millsaps in my note below about the Civil War veteran on the Confederate side.)

The 1870 U.S. Census and 1880 Census has Marion's birthplace as NC and the birth years match. Marion stated his parents were born in TN; his father Thomas was, but his mother Polly stated she was born in VA. In Ancestry.com, Marion is listed as Marion Francis Millsaps (1835-1906.)

Marion and Sarah's children varied depending on census dates: 1870 lists: Andrew (14); Martha (12); Hester (10) note: "Hester" is listed as a male and is probably Chester who later married Mary Jane Sparks's sister Parilee as told in our family history; Celia (6); James (4); and, Mary M. (1). 1880 census lists: (no Andrew); Martha (21); (no Hester/Chester); Eada (16) who is probably the "Celia" of the previous census; James (as 11 this time); (no Mary, died?); Luiza (9); Joseph (7); and, William (3). Ancestry.com states that Sarah (Scott) and Marion had nine children, which matches the above.

Their Joseph is my family line.

Ancestry.com lists Marion as Marion Francis Millsaps; his wife as Sarah Scott and his parents as Thomas James Millsaps and Mary Polly Sutton

I found convincing evidence that Marion's first name was Francis and middle name was Marion but that he went by Marion (see gravestone photo.) Francis Marion Millsaps was a Civil War Veteran, Union side, and was a Corporal, US Army, Company C 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry who died in 1906. (His headstone reads 1834-1906). There is also a report that this same "Marion Millsaps" was denied a pension as an invalid veteran in the 45th Congress, 2nd session House of Representatives Report #566 which claims that Marion Millsaps was a private in Company C 1st Regiment Arkansas infantry who sustained a wound in the right arm below the elbow which caused the loss of the right hand and wrist and other wounds in the neck which were received while at his home in Newton County, AR. It states that he was denied the Pension because "it was not shown that the soldier was absent from his command by proper authority ... at the date of the reception of the wounds on account of which a pension is claimed..." He didn't get the pension.

On webpage www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/1arinf_usacoc.html, is a list of the 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment with its companies. Under “C” Francis M. (Marion) Millsap and his brother Jessie are listed as well as two Sparks': Balis (as company cook) and his brother Jesse (as regimental gardener.) The connection between the Millsaps and Sparks’ was almost certainly forged here!

In Marriage Licences issued in Arkansas (line #65), Joseph S. Millsaps, 20, lists his parents as Francis Marion and Sarah Scott Millsaps, confirming the Francis as first name. (Joseph married Mary Jane Sparks, 18 in the same record.)

Beware: There is also an account of a Marion Millsaps at age 80 in Feb 1922 giving a "Civil War Questionnaire" in Iredell Co, NC, (Abstracts of TN... Vol. 4, 1922, file #3717, p. 1543-Marion Millsaps.) This would put year of birth at about 1842 (not 1834) and year of death much later than the headstone said of 1906. Obviously, there are TWO different Marion Millsaps here; This Marion Millsaps was in Wilkes, NC, Company D, 7th NC, TN on the Confederate side. He stated is Father was Cyrus McQueen of Alexander Co, NC (step-father?) and mother was Elizabeth Millsaps, daughter of Richard and ___(LIPART) Millsaps of Wildesburo, NC. Why did he take his mother's last name if his father was McQueen? (illegitamate? raised by mother? was he mulato or black?) There are so many inconsistancies with this second Marion that I am SURE that he is NOT my family's Marion Millsaps so care must be taken not to mix the two up.