Furnas

My Furnas Ancestors

Thomas Furnas was Born in 1701 in Aketon, Cumberland, England. He married Rebecca Atkinson in Nighton, England. Rebecca died on July 03, 1762 in Wigton, Cumberland, England.  They had 7 children together. 

John Furnas is the son of Thomas and Rebecca.  According to the Furnas Family genealogy book (1887) , "The first of the name of whom he has authentic record are John and Mary Furnas, who were born in Cumberlandshire, in the town of Standing Stone, which town  derived it's name from a large rock, fifty feet in height, which is just outside the corporation limits. According to the English custom the eldest son of the family falls heir to the estate. The father of John Furnas was the owner of extensive real estate holdings and because of his wealth he was known as a lord or peer. Among his children was John Furnas, but as he was not the eldest son he did not come into possession of his father's property. In the same village lived Mary Wilkinson, who was born September 19, 1742. She attracted the attention of John Furnas, who gave her his love, and on the 24th of March, 1762, they were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, in the Friends meeting-house in Standing Stone. In the following October they embarked for Charleston, South Carolina, and on the 18th of February, 1763, they reached their destination. John Furnas died at Bush River, South Carolina, on the 5th of August, 1777, and his wife, surviving him about five years, passed away at the same place on the 6th of October, 1782. He was a man of fine physique, strong and well built, and was famed for his athletic powers when a young man. The story is told of how he managed to escape piratical slavery by a marvelous feat of swimming. When the waters that washed the English shores were sailed by many a private ship, John Furnas and a companion were captured by a pirate crew. The former made a vow that he would not be a slave to such men nor remain on board their vessel very long. Accordingly one dark night he and his companion tied their clothing on their backs, jumped overboard and were soon swimming toward what they supposed to be an island. They were shot at, but miraculously escaped being hit. They swam for a long time and at last John's mate said he could go no farther and sank to a watery grave, while John swam on for a short distance and landed in safety on an island. Later he was picked up by a friendly ship and returned to his home."  The children of John and Mary are:
 

William Furnas is the son of John and Mary.  According to the book 1880 History of Miami County, OH , William Furnas was born May 29, 1775, in South Carolina, married in 1797 to Rachel Wesley (or Nesley), and died December 21, 1833. Soon after his marriage he came with his young wife to Miami county and entered land in Newton township, securing one hundred and sixty acres, all of which was still in its primitive condition. He was a blacksmith by trade, and as there were no rolling mills at the time, iron was in the rough and was hammered out into shoes, nails and other such articles as were used in a blacksmith shop.  A gristmill was erected not far from William Furnas' shop and he made all of the iron used in its construction. He was a poor man and had a hard task in providing for his family through the pioneer days, when many hardships were borne by all who lived upon the frontier. The family lived in a log cabin covered with a roof made from boards split from black walnut, and lasting many years. The house had but two rooms and was heated by a large old-fashioned fireplace. William Furnas died upon the farm which he there developed. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and in his political affiliations was a Whig."  The children of William and Rachel are:
 

Martin Furnas is the son of William and Rachel.  He was born in South Carolina, February 11 1801, was married, September 3, 1823, to Morsena Patty, and took up his abode southeast of Pleasant Hill, Ohio, dying of cholera on his farm in 1849.  Cholera also claimed the lives of several of his children and brothers and sisters.  Martin was enumerated on the 1827, 1830, 1836 census of Newberry Township, Miami County and the 1840 census of Newton Township Miami County Ohio. Land deeds show that he sold his property in 1845. He may be found on page 197/200 of the Furnas Genealogy by Tanzy Furnas, pub 1897.  Martin was a Quaker. His marriage to Morsena shows up in the Miami County Ohio Quaker meeting minutes.  The 11 children of Martin and Morsena are:
 

Rhoda Furnas, daughter of Martin and Morsena was born on September 01, 1824 in Miami, Ohio.  She married Thomas Marshall, son of William Marshall and Charity Wright on March 23, 1843 in Miami, Ohio.  They had 7 children.  I descend from their son William Frank Marshall who married Nancy Crewse.  The 7 children of Rhoda and Thomas are:
 

ATKINSON

PATTY

Furnas researchers and contacts

The following researchers I have made contact with
are descended from John Furnas  &  Mary Wilkinson

Esther Furnas  &  Benjamin Pearson

Susan Greene

Mary - William Miles - Rebecca - Bertha M. Wilson - Kathleen A. Maharry

John Furnas  &  Ruth Cook

James Hayes

Joseph - Orlando - Ruth Ellen - Herman Hayes

Joseph Furnas  &  Sarah Pearson

D.R. Herzog-Kraus

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Randall Furnas

John - Joseph Evans - Oliver Perry - William Glen - William Carlton

Madeline Olson

John - Sarah P. - Anna Mary Johnson

Rebecca Furnas  &  Samuel Teague

Ed Gentzler

Mary - Joseph Kelly - Anson Cook - Edna Marie

James C Coffman

Samuel Jr. - Allen - Lenora - Calvin - Grace Emma Beachler

Robert Furnas  &  Hannah Wilson

Joyce Hodges

Esther - Sarah Connor - Edward Stanley - Earnest - Dorothy

Lurose Landers

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David Lawson

Esther Furnas & Daniel Mills

William Furnas  &  Rachel Wesley (my line)

Jean McCombs

Martin - Mary Olive - Homer Clifford Hutson - Clifford Levi

Judith Furnas Smith

Martin - William - Benjaimin - James - Claud Raymond Furnas

Sally R. Goehring

Mary - Rachel Greenlee - Mary Jane Freeman - Orpha Tatman - Audrey Elaine Shepard

James C Coffman

Samuel Jr. - Allen - Lenora - Calvin - Grace Emma Beachler

Contact Randall Furnas for info on the next Furnas reunion or the "Furnas Families In America" newsletter.

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Furnas Family by Tanzy Reeder Furnas (1897) - this book is out of print and hard to get.  I am looking for a copy of it.