Frances R. Walker

Frances married Leroy Oldham Dameron on July 15th, 1820.² The 1820 census was taken the next month. There were two Leroy Dameron’s on the 1820 census in Northumberland County, and either could be a match.³

The 1830 census listed only one Leroy Dameron in Northumberland and included the middle initial "O." Household members were one male 15-20 and one 30-40, three females under 5, one 5-10 and one 20-30. Slaves were also listed; one male 36-55 and one female 10-24.⁴

Leroy appears on the 1840 census as L.O. Dameron. He was the only free white male, age 40-49. Children were given as one female under 5, two ages 5-9 and two ages 10-14. His wife was listed as one female age 30-39. Again two slaves were listed, one male 36-54 and one female under 10.⁵

The 1850 census gives a more complete picture of the family. Frances' name was listed and her age was given as 46. Leroy was listed as 53, a farmer, with real estate valued at $900. Children listed were, Frances 21, Rebecca 18, Ann 14, Susan 12, Leroy 10 and Richard 6. All family members were indicated as being born in Northumberland. They still owned two slaves who were listed as 53 Male, and 14 Female. ^{1 6}

Leroy died in 1852 and his will was recorded at Northumberland County court.⁷

The 1860 census showed Frances Dameron, age 50, as the head of the family. She wass marked as being born in Lancaster County, where ten years earlier all the family members were listed as born in Northumberland. She was also marked as being unable to read or write. Her real estate was valued at $1,000, with personal property worth $120. Her son Thomas was the only one marked as working, he was a farmer.⁸ The 1860 slave schedule for Northumberland showed F. Dameron as owning one slave, a 40 year old male.⁹ This census is the only document that lists her place of birth as Lancaster County, everything else lists Northumberland.

On the 1870 census Frances' youngest son Richard was recorded as the head of the family. At age 66, Frances, was marked as able to read, but not write. She is also marked as "insane," I think that could have indicated a condition like alzheimers. They were still in Northumberland in the Lottsburg township. Richard was marked as a farmer with land worth $500 and personal property of $100. His sister Susan, age 28, also still lived at home. Additionally an 8 year old Black male named Andrew Medley lived with them.¹⁰

The 1870 agricultural schedule showed Richard had 100 acres, 50 improved for farming. He had one horse, one milk cow and three swine all valued at $110. In the past year he had produced 100 bushels of corn. ¹¹

Frances died on March 10th, 1873 of consumption. Her death was recorded on the Richmond County death register. Her age at the time of death was given as 68. Unfortunately her entry is incomplete and does not include her parents names or the name of the person who reported her death.¹² She is most certainly buried at Gibeon Baptist Church beside Leroy, but their graves are marked with rough stones with no engraving.