The Family of Mr. & Mrs.Francis M. Chancey
( Great Grandparents)
Francis Marion Chancey |
Mary "Molly" Susanne |
Francis Marion Chancey
Frank Chancey, my great grandfather, was born on the 7th of December 1852, in Georgia, to Alexander and Nancy Stalvey Chancey. Exactly where in Georgia he was born is not known; however, Homerville would be an educated guess. It appears that Great Grandfather Frank was the last of the Chancey family to own or operate a farm. He lived his pre-adult years on his father's farm in Clinch County Georgia, moving to Florida as a young man with his mother after the death of his father Elliott.
After settling down in Suwannee County, Frank met and married Miss Mary “Molly” Williams also of that county. Soon after their marriage, Frank and Molly purchased several large parcels of land in and around Suwannee County, especially in the area of Luraville. Land deed records in the Suwannee County Clerk’s office show that they also homesteaded 160 acres in Luraville in 1893. What crops they farmed is not known.
Great Grandfather Frank fathered eight children with Great Grandmother Molly but it seems that all was not well with their marriage. Raymond Driggers, Molly’s grandson, spoke to me in length about the problems that Molly experienced while living with Frank. It seems that (Molly’s story) Frank was a very heavy drinker and got quite mean after one of his all night binges. Molly told Raymond (Molly later moved in with Raymond and his family) that she tried many times to make a go of their marriage, but the time came when she could take no more abuse and left home. Papers found in the Court House in Live Oak indicate that Frank filed for a divorce soon after she left. Molly returned home to Frank before the divorce became final and tried to stay and raise their daughter Fanny, but left again in the fall of 1903. This time she left for good. Again, Frank filed a Bill of Complaint against Molly for desertion. An examination of court records indicates that Mary did not appear in court to defend her leaving home. The County Court granted Frank his final Divorce Decree in August of 1909.
On 11 January 1909, their twenty three year old son Calvin gave testimony before the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Suwannee County on behalf of his father Frank Chancey, Complainant vs. his mother Mary Chancey, Defendant. Great Grandfather Frank was fifty-six years old. The testimony of Grandfather Calvin stated that his mother left his father for no apparent reason other than they could not "get along together." He testified that his mother left home about 5 years before and had not returned since then. When asked if his father made any provision for his mother, Calvin replied, “Yes sir, he gave her part of the household furniture, and he gave my brother who lived with her, a horse.”
In 1910, at age 58 Great Grandfather Frank married Mary Magdalene Endenfield, a minor from Suwannee County. Land records and available court records of Frank's estate show that he and Mary purchased several lots in the town of Walmarth (near Luraville) before he died three years later of an unknown illness.
A list of the personal property for Frank Chancey's Estate, as listed by the court appointed appraisers, provides some insight into his last occupation. It appears that at the time of his death, he owned a small country store in the town of Walmarth. The perishable goods and furniture from his home were valued at 56 dollars and fifty-five cents. His merchandise, which included a mare and wagon, appraised at one hundred twenty six dollars and sixty-seven cents. Cash in possession of his widow Maggie, a minor, was one hundred fifty six dollars.
It was necessary for Maggie Chancey to have a court appointed guardian before she could inherit his estate because, at the time of Frank's death, she was only seventeen years old.
My Great Grandmother, Mary Susanne “Molly” Williams (Dad’s paternal 
grandmother) was born in Madison County on the 25th day of March 1855, to Jeptha and Harriet Sullivan.
Soon after Molly’s birth, the family moved to Live Oak, which at the time was the center of the Suwannee Valley farming region. It was in Live Oak, the largest city in Suwannee County, that she met and married Francis “Frank” Marion Chancey in the year 1876.
Molly and Frank Chancey after their marriage purchased several large parcels of land in and around Suwannee County, finally settling in the area of Luraville. Here they raised their eight children. Land deed records in Suwannee County show that they homesteaded 160 acres in Luraville in 1893. In January of 1900, or 5 years after the birth of their youngest child Fannie, Molly left home. After he was convinced that Molly was not returning, Frank filed for a divorce. Molly eventually returned home where she tried to make a go of it trying to live a normal life but to no avail. She finally left home again in the fall of 1903. Again, her husband Frank filed a Bill of Complaint against Molly for desertion. An examination of court records indicates that Mary did not appear in court to defend her leaving home. The County Court granted Frank his final Divorce Decree in August of 1909. Frank and Molly’s son Calvin, who was recently married, appeared as a witness for his father.
OBITUARY of “Molly” Williams
Clearwater Sun 3 January 1938. Funeral services were to be held at the Church of God on Pinellas Street at four o’clock this afternoon for Mrs. Mollie Chancey of Clearwater, who is survived by 43 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. She is the mother of Mrs. A. H. Driggers and Mrs. Hattie Touchton, both of Clearwater. She died at 11 o'clock yesterday morning. She is also survived by two more daughters, Mrs. Othella Mercer and Mrs. Avey Tucker, both of Plant City, and by one son, A. E. Chancey. The Rev. H. L. Chesser, pastor of the Church of God, was to officiate, with burial following at Clearwater Cemetery. Six of her grandsons were to act as pallbearers. Moss Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Chancey was born in Monticello, Ga., March 25 1855. She came to Clearwater 20 years ago from her former home in Live Oak, Fla., and has since lived at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Driggers. Frank files for divorce a second time... 8 7 Although the above obituary gives Molly's place of birth in Monticello, Georgia, it is believed that her place of birth was in Madison County, Florida where her parents were living at the time of her birth. The 1920 and 1930 Census shows that Molly was born in Florida.
Children of Frank and Molly Chancey
Name: Francis Marion Chancey
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Birth: 7 Dec 1852 Georgia
Death: 16 Feb 1913 Suwannee County, Florida
Burial: Luraville, Suwannee County, Florida
Father: Alexander Elliott Chancey (1825-1875)
Mother: Nancy Sylvania Stalvey (1830-1919)
Other spouses: Mary Magdalene Edenfield
Marriage: 1876 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida
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Spouse: Mary Susanne "Molly" Williams
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Birth: 25 Mar 1855 Madison County, Florida
Death: 1 Jan 1938 Clearwater, FL
Burial: Municipal Cemetery, Clearwater, Pinellas, Florida
Father: Jeptha V. Williams (1825-1901)
Mother: Harriet Sullivan (1838->1901)
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Children
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1 F: Othelia Chancey
Birth: Feb 1878 Suwannee, Florida
Death: [Date Unknown] [Location Unknown]
Spouse: Franklin Arnold Mercer
Marriage: 12 Aug 1897 Suwannee County, Florida
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2 M: Arron Elliott Chancey
Birth: 16 Aug 1879 Suwannee Co, Florida
Death: 4 Jan 1941 Suwannee Co. FL
Spouse: Etha Davis
Marriage: [Date Unknown] [Location Unknown]
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3 M: Caley Waver Chancey
Birth: 8 Nov 1881 Suwannee County, Florida
Death: 1934 Suwannee Co. FL
Spouse: Ella Nora Lockey
Marriage: 6 Dec 1899 Suwannee County FL
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4 F: Unknown Chancey
Birth: abt 1884 Suwannee Co. FL
Death: bef 1909 Unknown Location
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5 M: Calvin Jessie Chancey
Birth: 24 Mar 1886 Suwannee County, Florida
Death: 26 Dec 1927 Clearwater, FL
Spouse: Nettie Florine Brookins
Marriage: 5 Dec 1906 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida
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6 F: Avey Chancey
Birth: Mar 1888 Suwannee Co. FL
Death: Location Unknown
Spouse: George Tucker
Marriage: [Date Unknown] [Location Unknown]
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7 F: Hattie Elizabeth Chancey
Birth: 23 Mar 1891 Suwannee Co. FL
Death: 30 May 1951 Clearwater, Florida
Spouse: Eulie S. Touchton
Marriage: 16 Oct 1910 Suwannee County FL
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8 F: Fannie Sylvania Chancey
Birth: 22 Feb 1895 Live Oak, FL
Death: 30 Apr 1989 Hillsborough Co. FL
Spouse: Addison Albert Driggers
Marriage: 27 Jan 1917 Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida
Spouse: Tan Curl
Marriage: 31 May 1910 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida