This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: scoobygert Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.francois/122.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: To update my own post: Walter Brooks Francois was born 12 NOV 1880 on the French ship Ferdinand de Lessepps, comgin from Benin, Africa via LeHavre, France. I still do not know his mother's name, she was simply listed as Mrs. Francois on the passenger list. His father was Louis Francois, born 1847 in France. Now the juicy part... Walter was an 'inmate' of the Burnham Industrial Farm in Burnham, NY. He was convicted of arson at this same facility at fifteen years of age. I am in communication with this school, which held the records on microfiche, for his records. He was admitted to the school when his father was convicted of murdering Walter's step-mother, they had been married only two years, Louis was imprisoned at Sing Sing prison in 1885, he is listed there on the 1900 Census. Upon reaching adulthood Walter added an H to the name, changing it to Franchois, he moved to Illinois, married Ruth Little and produced four living children the eldest: my grandmother, Helen Mildred Franchois in 1909. He died Oct 25, 1957, in Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.