The Francis Family of St-Regis | Francois Xavier Otenhakte and Catherine Korokwas

Summary: A Francis family descendant would like to know more about her family history.

Hello all,

I’ve been doing family history research on and off for years now, and have (finally) made a break through on my mothers side, and am hoping that someone here may be able to help me further. I have a lot of names (information) but not much history and so any help you can offer to fill in the blanks about family I’ve just learned and am so incredibly excited to know would be awesome. And if we happen to be related, even better!

I am the third great granddaughter of Felecite Kaawis who would eventually be known as Christina M Francis, Adams, Thomas, and Herihaketi though I could be mistaken about the Thomas and Herihaketi part. She was the daughter of François Xavier Otenhakte/ Francis and Catherine Korokwas/ Francis. She had six siblings, Marie Konsaionhake/ Karhakens/ Francis being one of them who was the mother of John Baptiste Arhakentiake Anewario Sawatis.

Felecite married a French man (I believe, though he lived on the reservation) named Benjamin John Franklin Major and they had ten children, one of which was Margaret “Maggie” M Major, my great great grandmother.

Wading through French records is difficult for me as I can’t read French, and many times the records aren’t written very clearly to begin with. Also the continuous change in surname makes keeping track of the line challenging,

So if any of these names seems familiar to you, and you have any more information on my family, please contact me at  Hdburge06 (at) gmail (dot) com (or leave a message in the comment boxes below)

Any help is appreciated.

INFORMATION

My fourth great grandparents

François Xavier Otenhakte   –  Would eventually change his and his family’s surname to Francis born about 1813 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side was married to

Catherine Korokwas/ Francis –  Born about 1818 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

 They had seven children that I know of:

 Jean Onganente/ Francis  Born about 1835 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

 Therese Konsansense/ Francis  Born about 1838 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

Louise “Eliza” Tionsentseaite/ Francis  Born about 1848 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

 Pierre Kasonhiaklata/ Francis  Born about 1851 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

 Thomas Francis  I’ve not found any records on him but suggested to be born about 1860 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side

Marie Konsaionhake/ Karhakens/ Francis  Born about 1842 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side.

Félicite (Christina M Francis) Kaawis/ Adams/ Thomas/Herihaketi  Born Nov 1845 on St. Regis on the French Canadian side and died on 4 January 1920 in Lowville, New York, USA. She married a French man named: Benjamin John Franklin Major  Benjamin would go by John Major in a lot of the records.

They had 10 children I believe, 5 of which I actually have dates for:

Marie Charlotte Major  Born July 1868 on St. Regis.

Peter L Major  Born about April 1883 believed to have been born in New York State.

Frank Major  Born August 1885 in Lowville, New York and died 1o January 1954 in Buffalo, New York.

Emma Major  Born 1888 in New York.

Margaret “Maggie” M Major  Born 10 September 1880 on St. Regis I believe, and died 2 October 1961 in Lowville, New York.  Margaret was my second great grandmother who married: Edward Thomas   Lawrance. They had five children together: Margaret Elizabeth, Sylvia M, Loua E, Frank B Lawrance and:

Jessamine Frances “Jessie” Lawrence  Born 20 September 1914 In New York and died in 2005 in Oneida, New York.  She was my great grandmother.

If you have additions or corrections to this information please leave a comment or contact Heather directly.

Check comment boxes below for more information.