WILLIAM L. HANCOCK Lewis Hancock, born in Goochland Co. Va. Nov. 14, 1792, oldest son of John Hancock and Frances Farrar. Frances Farrar, daughter of Perrin Farrar and Sally Lacy. Ancestors have been traced back to 1546 when Nicholas Farrar was born in France, and later left France for England, married Mary Wodenwoth and became one of the principle stockholders and officers in the London Company that sponsored the Jamestown settlement. Nicholas never came to this country, but his son, William, came to Jamestown about 1620. Much has been written about the Farrar families of Virginia. John Hancock, born in Virginia on June 18, 1766, married Frances Farrar December 14, 1791, was the son of Anne Thomas and Major Hancock who was the son of Benjamin Hancock who traces back to Bull Hancock who was a ship captain in the King's Navy in the early years of the Jamestown colony. After making many successful voyages between this country and England was given land in Virginia by King Charles I. When Lewis was about eight years old, the family left Virginia and settled in Franklin Co., Ky., where his father, John, died in 1827. He was one of 12 children. His mother Frances, died in Anderson Co. in 1837 (possibly living with one of her older children at the time). In 1812 he volunteered in Captain Dudley's company under General Harrison. On Feb. 17, 1819, he married Sarah Bradshaw, the daughter of Benjamin Bradshaw and Elizabeth Carter. Elizabeth was the sister to the mother of General Robert E. Lee. Some have said that at one time General Lee visited the Hancock's when they were living in Christian Co. Records indicate they lived in Mercer Co. in 1820 but by 1824 had moved to Christian Co. where they lived on the farm that is now the Pat Martin Farm off LaFayette Rd. south of Hopkinsville until 1852 when they moved to Hopkins Co. (now Webster Co.) after selling the farm. During the time they lived in Christian Co. Sarah's brother, Carter Bradshaw, also lived in the vicinity and some uncles lived in the southeastern part of the county. William Lewis Hancock made several trips to New Orleans via barge. After selling the crops, the barge was sold for lumber and the return trip to Ky. was by foot. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Church for over 60 years and was a founder of Hebron Methodist Church. Eighteen children were born of this marriage, 13 of whom lived to adulthood and 12 raised families of their own: Elizabeth married 1. Ottoway Moore, 12/1/1836 and 2. Andrew Hancock 8/3/1854. Shadarach married Mary Stewart 1/9/1849 Benjamin Married Roxanna Howell 5/28/1854 Martha married David Jackson 11/30/1853 June married John Timmons 3/1/1853 Cynthia married Peter Ashby II 2/1/1853 Lewis married Sarah Luck 12/20/1853 Susan married Ambrose Ashby 8/1/1852 Judy married David Luck 12/12/1850 James married Ann Carlisle 3/24/1859 Adeline married Benjamin Carlisle 2/8/1854 William married Catherine Ashby Frances married John Coleman 12/13/1860 Rena Wells rwells@apex.net My GENEALOGY PAGE http://www.angelfire.com/ky/bluegill7/