Person:Francis Scypeart (1)

Documentation for Francis Scypeart is exceptionally weak, at least as presented in the online genealogical materials currently (December 2011) available. While there are undoubtedly original source materials available for him, they are not routinely cited. Extant records that are referred to (but not identified with traceable sources) include a will, and Quaker church records for Orange/Chatham County, NC. The following is a concensus summary of his life, based on Ancestry World Trees.

Francis last name is commonly given as "Scypeart", but is sometimes given as Scypert, and Sypert. His parents, when identified are consistently given as (variants of)"Lawrence/Lorenz" and "Margaret", and his wife is consistently identified as Charity Townsend. Francis' DOB is typically given as 1718, 1724, or 1726 but is occasionally given as something in between these dates. His place of birth is typically given as Germany, sometimes as France, and sometimes as Alsace Lorraine, which would be consistent with a POB of either France or Germany.

Most genealogies have him coming to Pennsylvania sometime before 1743, about which time he is said to have married Charity Townsend. Four children are commonly listed for this couple, though occassionally as many as eight are given. Commonly identified children include

Margaret b: 15 Aug 1744 in , Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Thomas b: 1746 in , Chatham, North Carolina

Francis b: 1750 in , Chatham, North Carolina

Robert b: 5 Sep 1755 in , Chatham, North Carolina

John

Lawrence b: ABT 1750

Sometime about 1750 or a bit later, the couple relocated to Orange County NC, settling on New Hope Creek in modern Chatham County, NC, where he died in 1788. Details of his estate dispersion are cited in some genealogies, suggesting that a will or at least probate record is available for him.

Some genealogists identify him as a Quaker, a point consistent with his wife's given name "Charity", a name common among Quakers, though not exclusive to them. Documentation for all of the above "facts" is needed. If Francis was indeed a Quaker, then Meeting House records (most likely the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting may be available which could be used to establish some of the facts of his life.

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Minority View

It is possible that Francis Scyeart of Chatham NC, is the same person as "Person:Francis Cyphers (1)" of North Fork of Roanoke (NFR), in the New River ValleyMontgomery County, VA. That person appeared in the New River Valley about 1748, settling on the SFR. He is commonly identified as remaining there until at least 1800 when his property is sold. However, we have no documentation for him after about 1753. It is possible that he fled the area during the period of hostilities during the French and Indian War. Many other settlers did likewise, many of whom settled in Orange County, NC. Its possible that he (or his family) retained ownership of the land on the SFR until 1800 when the last of it was sold. On the otherhand there may be no relationship at all between Francis Scypeart and Francis Cyphers, beyond similarity in their name.