Those wacky ancestors
So I found the following story when researching my family tree. I am not directly related to them. They are related a few generations back to my granddaddy (from the previous post) by marriage. I am wildly curious to know the whole story about what happened. This is a tiny town though (pop. about 1000; the whole town is one square mile) and I doubt their records are more complete than what I have here. But dude!
Martha, Michael Jr's second wife, was first married to Michael's younger brother
John, who may have passed on before 1843.
In January of 1843, Michael & Martha French were charged with "Open and Notorious
Lewdness". In other words, they were living together without benefit
of a marriage license. Michael paid a $400 fine, and Martha disappeared for a short while.
She was pregnant with their son Thomas at the time.
In November of 1876, their son Thomas was arrested on suspicion of being
the head of a plot to burn down the city of Linden, Perry Co TN. He was placed
in jail for his own safety, and by his request. Later that night, a mob of 50 men
broke into the jail and shot him countless times, leaving him for dead.
Martha, Michael Jr's second wife, was first married to Michael's younger brother
John, who may have passed on before 1843.
In January of 1843, Michael & Martha French were charged with "Open and Notorious
Lewdness". In other words, they were living together without benefit
of a marriage license. Michael paid a $400 fine, and Martha disappeared for a short while.
She was pregnant with their son Thomas at the time.
In November of 1876, their son Thomas was arrested on suspicion of being
the head of a plot to burn down the city of Linden, Perry Co TN. He was placed
in jail for his own safety, and by his request. Later that night, a mob of 50 men
broke into the jail and shot him countless times, leaving him for dead.