The Futch line after years of religious persecution by the rulers of their native lands, thousands of Palatine Germans fled to England in 1708. When Queen Anne, whose husband was German, issued a proclamation promising them land there. The living conditions were less than satisfactory and the allotment of land was slow in coming. At this Christophle De Graffenreid and Lewis Mitchell of Bern, Switzerland, contracted with the Lord Proprietors of Carolina for 10,000 acres of land, lying between Neuse and Cape Fear. De Graffenreid forthwith contracted with the commissioners of England to transport and settle 100 Palentine families on the land, allotting to each 200 acres of land. De Graffenreid received the title of Baron.

In 1709, ninety two families from Heidelberg Germany and its environs arrived on the Carolina shores. They named their settlement New Bern, after Bern, Switzerland, the home of De Graffenreid. Although title to the land was promised to the Palentines, it was once more postponed. Lewis Mitchell was killed by Indians and Baron De Graffenreid, in great financial difficulty, returned to Switzerland without bestowing these titles. Instead he mortgaged the land to Thomas Pollock.

Baron De Graffenreid, Anxious to start another colony, Soon returned to America. This time he entered the Chesapeake Bay and explored the Potomac river to a point above Great Falls. The Potomac river now forms the border between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Despite his enthusiasm no colony was founded. His travels produced a journal and a map, drawn in 1711, that are valuable early records of the history of the area. On a French version of his map in 1716 De Graffenreid noted Sugarloaf Mountain, which he possibly named, located in what is now Montgomery County, Maryland. It is transcribed there as " Mont de Sugarloaf".

In 1716 Baron De Graffenreid wrote, "I believe that there are scarcely any places in the world more beautiful and better situated than this of the Potomac..there is a very pretty island (today's Theodore Roosevelt Island) of very good ground, facing it, an angle between the great Potomac River and another little river named Gold Creek (now Rock Creek)..suited to receive everything that comes up the river, the greatest merchant vessels being able to sail there as well as that which comes down from above the falls or from the surrounding country.

Meanwhile, the controversy over the lands of the Palentines at New Bern, North Carolina continued. After several unsuccessful petitions to the court, opposed by Pollock, finally in May of 1742 the Palentines successfully petitioned the Council at New Bern to take up title to 400 acres per family. To prove their rights to the land they cited their agreement with Baron De Graffenreid and Mitchell, on one hand and appointees of Queen Anne, on the other, in relation to their being transported to this province and settled there. One of the signers to this petition was JACOB FUTCH, the immigrant of the Futch line. Thus proving him to be one of the original Palentines who arrived with Baron De Graffenreid from England in 1709.

The first record of the Futch family in America was that of JACOB FUTCH, a signer of the Palatine petition to the Council of New Berm, North Carolina, asking for the right to own land and permission to take up 400 acres at 10 pounds per 1000 acres, allowing two years to pay. On May 5, 1742, Jacob Futch again appeared before the North Carolina court at New Bern to prove his right to own land. For the record, he stated that he had "eight whites and no blacks" in his household. Since Jacob is the first Futch to be recorded in America, it is safe to assume that he was the first emigrant.

Jacob Futch and Daniel Futch (thought to have been Jacob's single brother) signed another petition at Craven County, North Carolina on Aug.2, 1740 to build a house of worship or chapel on the south side of the Trent River for the use of "the High Germans and Church of England". Deeds of record in North Carolina show that Jacob bought land on the south side of the Trent River on Nov.4, 1743. Then on Aug.2, 1746, he and his wife Margaratha sold 100 acres of their land in North Carolina. It was to the Orangeburg District of South Carolina that our Futch ancestors moved after selling their land in Craven County, North Carolina. They may have been seeking others who spoke the German language, although they probably learned the English language since that had chosen English or Scotch-Irish wives. The first US Census in 1790 finds only one Futch family - Martin Futch - left in North Carolina, with the rest of the members' names showing up in the south part of what is now Barnwell County, South Carolina, where their wills are recorded.

The Futch family most likely became slave owners while living in South Carolina. Being white southerners, our ancestors saw plantation life as the better way to live in America. For the most part, the Futch Families were just small family farmers and worked alongside their slaves. Slavery is not something for our family to be proud of, but to deny the African-Americans who share our name, would strip them of their own identity. After the Civil War when slaves were given their freedom, many chose to keep the Futch name. For this we can take a small measure of pride, as they must have liked and respected their masters or they would not have wanted his name. With most of the Futch family being southerners, it is not difficult to understand why so many joined and fought on the side of the South in the Civil War. For the North, the war was a struggle to save the Union and free the slaves, but to the South the war was to preserve state sovereignty and for the fundamental constitutional principle of self-government.

From the south part of South Carolina, the Futch family moved to south east Georgia, mostly to Bulloch and Bryan County. Many members of the family fought in Indian wars and some were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Onesimus Futch Sr. was born 1740-1750 in North Carolina. He died in Bulloch County, Ga. He married before 1769 in Orangeburg District, South Carolina to Ann Dukes, born about 1750's in North Carolina. She died 1835 in Bulloch County, Ga. Onesimus Sr. served as a private in South Carolina Regiment in the Revolutionary war, moved to Bryan County, Ga. After 1790, is listed in Bryan County Ga. 1820 Census age 70-80. He also appears in the same county 1830 Census.

In the Georgia Land Grants for Military Service Revolutionary War, in the Secretary of State Office, Atlanta, Ga. is the following document:

STATE OF GEORGIA

By his excellency, George R. Gilmer, Governor and Commander In Chief of the Army and Navy of this state and of the Militia thereof; TO WHOM ALL THESE PRESENTS SHALL come GREETING:

Know ye that in pursuance of the several acts of the General Assembly of this state, passed the 9th of June and 24th of December, 1825 and the 14th and 27th of December 1826, to make distribution of the land acquired of the Creek Nation of Indians by treaty, concluded at The Indian Springs, on the 15th day of February 1825, and forming the Counties of Lee, Muscokee,Troup,Coweta, and Carrol in this state I have given and granted, and by these present do give and grant unto

ONESIMUS FUTCH, R.S. (Revolutionary Soldier) of Harvey's District, Bryan County; his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land containing two hundred and half acres, situated, lying and being in the eleventh district of first section in the county of Lee in said state, which tract or lot known and distinguished in the plan by district as number eleven, having such shape, form or lot, together with all and singular and rights, members and appurtenances thereof whatsoever unto the said ONESIMUS FUTCH his heirs and assigns, to his and their proper use, benefit and behold forever in fee simple.

Given unto my hand and seal of the said state the twenty-second day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty and the INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE FIFTY-FIFTH. Signed by his excellency the Governor 22nd day of November 1830.

GOVERNOR GEORGE R. GILMER
R.H.PIERCE, S.E.D.
Registered the 22nd day of November, 1830.

The Georgia Rester of Revolution Compiled by " LUCIAN LAMAR KNIGHT " lists ONESIMUS FUTCH as having drawn this in the 1827 Lottery of Bryan County. The Georgia Department of Archived in the 1966 stated that this was the land shown in the transaction of the 22nd of November 1830, when the state recognized the legality of the lottery drawing.

DAR records #280567 of Mrs Sara Emily Jackson Hanna, 235 Sterling Ave. Winter Park, Fl. Dated January 15, 1934: ONESIMUS FUTCH MILITARY RECORD: GEORGIA ROSTER OF THE REVOLUTION, KNIGHT, PAGE 352. Vol.5th PAGE 334 NSDAR REPORT; GEORGIA LAND GRANTS FOR MILITARY SERVICE, REVOLUTION WAR OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, ATLANTA, GA.

Married Anne Dukes of Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Children of Revolutionary Ancestor:
Jacob, Died 1824 Married Jane Deloach
John, Died 1811 Married Lavinia
Celety Married Stephen Lewis 1815
Issac
Onesimus, Jr Married Juith Works
Thomas Married Elizabeth
Solomon Married Sara Davis
Rowan
James
AND 3 others

Dar Records #502322, Peggy Lewis Leeton, 6321 Waverly Way, Fort Worth, Texas, Dated April 7, 1964

Ancestor; ONESIMUS FUTCH, Born 1750, South Carolina, Died Bulloch (Bryan) County Georgia after November 22, 1830. Wife Ann Dukes, Born 1751, Died 1825, Married 1769.

Children of Revolutionary Ancestor:
Celety Born about 1795 Married Stephen Lewis
Jacob Born 1790 Married Jane DeLoach
John Married Lavinia
Isaac
Onesimus Jr. Married Judith Works
Thomas Married Elizabeth
Solomon Married Sara
Bowan
James

Dar Record #437292, Rose Eylea Bell, 305 Beachland Dr. Atlanta, Ga. 30305 dated November 14, 1969.

Ancestor: ONESIMUS FUTCH, Born South Carolina, Died Bulloch County Ga. About 1839.

Wife Anna Dukes, Born 1751, Died Bulloch County Georgia 1835.

Married 1769.

Thomas Futch, a son of Solomon Futch, and his wife Elizabeth was born in Bulloch County , Georgia. Thomas and his family moved from Bulloch County to Lowndes County, Georgia about 1823 and settled in the 9th District. His home place was on lots 414 and 415. This territory was cut out of Lowndes into Berrien County in the latter's creation in 1856. Thomas lived there unitl his death in 1865. His wife died January 6, 1882. Both are buried in the Futch graveyard on the old home place. Solomon made Thomas a deed of gift for fifty acres of his home place lands in Bulloch County, dated July 11, 1818 (Deed Book A., Page 417). Thomas owned and operated Futch's Ferry on the Withlacoochee River. He made a deed of gift for this property, being lot 413, 9th land District of Berrien County (now Cook) to his son Thomas D. Futch (deed book B., Page 39) Berrien County. This property has been in the Futch family for well over 100 years.

Some members of the Futch family migrated to Florida, others to Alabama, a few to Louisiana, some to Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. About the time of the Civil War, many of the Futch family in Mississippi began to emigrate to Texas, some even joined the Confederate Army in Texas. After the war ended, most of these Futch family members returned to their newly adopted home of Texas, settling in the east, west and central parts of the state.

Thomas Futch, a son of Onesimus Futch, who is the first of the proven ancestors of the Futch Family of Mississippi, came to Mississippi in 1812, having a 'Georgia Passport', a document necessary before a traveler could pass through the Indian countries of Georgia and Alabama en route to Mississippi. His parents was Onesimus Futch and Ann Dukes. Thomas Futch, a son of Onesimus Futch, is known to have come to Mississippi from Bulloch County, Georgia. He was married to Elizabeth Cook, daughter of John Cook. Thomas Futch was mentioned in the will of John Cook, who died in Bulloch County Georgia in 1809. He first settled in Marion County Mississippi, in the part that is now known as Walthall County, leaving there about 1824 for Hinds County, where he lived until his death in 1842.

John Isham Futch the son of Thomas Futch was apparently born in Georgia, sometimes before 1811. He was old enough to wed in 1825. The available records on this family are largely in the Marion County courthouse, and show that he used both John, spelled 'Johann' and 'Isham' in signing records. His grandson, Flem Futch, (my grandfather) residing in Victoria, Texas. In 1965, says that he had lived in Rankin county (referred to as Hinds also, so it is not clear in which county the Futch family lived.) He also says that he remembers his grandfather as Isham or Isaam Futch and has no memory of his name being Johann Futch.

The records of Marion County, Mississippi, County marriage records, Book B, page 15, for the years of 1825-1832, show that Isham Futch was married on August 4, 1825 to Eliza Ann Tynes. One can find her name in various ways, such as Eliza Ann, on her marriage record, Anna when she married her second husband, Jackie Magee, in 1839; also as Eliza Jane Futch, and in various other names or nicknames, she was born June 2, 1806 and was still alive in 1860. She was the daughter of Fleming Tynes Jr. and Jane Warren, and the grandchild of John Warren and Elizabeth Perkins, and of Fleming Tynes Sr.