Robert William Laforce was descended from Renald Rene Laforce I (”Rene I”) who came to this country as part of the Huguenot exodus from France in the 1600's. His exact line of descent from Rene I is unclear. There is a general consensus that he is the grandson of Rene I’s only son, Renald Rene Laforce II (“Rene II”), but it has never been conclusively determined which child of Rene II's was Robert William’s father. Some sources claim it was Rene II's son Samuel, but most believe it was either his younger son Renault Rene ("Rene III") or Robert.
Paul Traux in his book "LaForce Descendants in North America" shows Rene III as the father. He also gives substantial credit to researcher Louise Roberson for providing him with valuable leads. In her own research, however, Louise Roberson has indicated she believes the proper credit for parentage belongs to Rene II’s younger son, Robert who (according to the Douglas Register) was born Aug 27,1756. Louise Roberson refers to him as “Robert William Laforce Sr.”
Louise believes Robert William Sr. was killed during the Revolutionary War in Scott Co, VA ca 1780. "There is no way to document this,” she says, “but oral history of a branch of the La Force family has him in Militia at Blackmore's Fort on the Clinch River in that time frame." http://www.ilytreemaker.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/laforce/16/
Before he died, Louise states that she believes Robert William Sr. married and had a son by the same name, who she refers to as Robert William Laforce Jr. I will refer to him as Robert William Jr.**
This theory appears to be most plausible. Samuel did have a son named Robert b. ca 1770-77, but his middle name was Samuel and he m. Polly Nall. Also, Samuel and his children didn't seem to move in close proximity to Robert William Jr.'s children.
Rene III also had a son named William b. 1778-84 who d. 1812. But he went by his middle name "Robinson". We know that Robinson Laforce m. Sarah "Sallie" Shaw.
Perhaps most informative are the following two pieces of information:
1) Rene III married twice, his second marriage taking place in 1785. Since by most accounts, Robert William Jr. was b. ca 1774, he would have to have been the product of Rene III’s first marriage with Agnes Ann Robinson. By most accounts, Rene III and Agnes had four children (other than the speculated Robert William): Mary "Polly", David Rene (who went by David), William Robinson (who went by "Robinson") and Rene (known variously as "Raney", "Reney" and "Reynold"). Rene is often referred to by researchers as "Rene IV". All four were born before 1780.
After Rene III remarried, he made out a will (1804 Fayette Co., KY Will Book) in which he named as legatees his four children with Agnes. Specifically he named three sons: "David", "Robinson" and "Reynold" ("Rene IV"), and one daughter "Mary" (who was not yet married). By that point, Rene III had at least six children with his second wife, but none of them were included.
If one were to speculate, one might conclude that the purpose of the will was to preserve the rights of his children by his first wife. After all, Rene III didn't die for at least another 10 or so years. It is notable however, that Rene III doesn't mention a son by the name of Robert or William.
2) Ten years later in 1814, the brother of Rene III's first wife Agnes died. At his death, William Robinson left a will naming the children of his sister Agnes as legatees. (Clark Co., KY, Will Book D. P. 137) He specifically named named nephews "David Leforce" and "Reney Leforce" (Rene IV). He also named "Children of dec'd nephew, Robinson Leforce" - Robinson had died earlier. William Robinson also named his niece "Mary Duvall" (Mary Laforce by now was married to Thompson Duvall). He specifically disinherited Agnes' husband Rene III (who is referred to as "Reney Leorce") along with any of his children by his second wife. Presumably he wasn't happy about their divorce. It is notable that he fails to mention a nephew by the name of either Robert or William.
If Robert William Jr. was the son of Rene III and Agnes, we would expect him to have been named in either his father or his uncle's will.
For these reasons, it seems reasonable to conclude that Robert William Laforce is probably not the son of Samuel or Rene III, and that more likely, he is the son of Robert William Laforce Sr., who was the son of Rene II, who was the son of Rene I.
* In the Douglas Register -- the official birth record for Robert William LaForce (son of Rene II) -- his name is recorded as “Robert Laforce”. However in reference works and research notes on the LaForce family in early Virginia, he is referred to alternatively as “Robert” or “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Sr.
**There is no official birth record for Robert William Laforce, the subject of this memorial. In various land deed records in Clark Co., KY, he is referred to as “William Laforce”. However in reference works on the LaForce family, as well as in notes by various researchers of this family, he is referred to alternatively as “William” and “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Jr.
Paul Traux in his book "LaForce Descendants in North America" shows Rene III as the father. He also gives substantial credit to researcher Louise Roberson for providing him with valuable leads. In her own research, however, Louise Roberson has indicated she believes the proper credit for parentage belongs to Rene II’s younger son, Robert who (according to the Douglas Register) was born Aug 27,1756. Louise Roberson refers to him as “Robert William Laforce Sr.”
Louise believes Robert William Sr. was killed during the Revolutionary War in Scott Co, VA ca 1780. "There is no way to document this,” she says, “but oral history of a branch of the La Force family has him in Militia at Blackmore's Fort on the Clinch River in that time frame." http://www.ilytreemaker.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/laforce/16/
Before he died, Louise states that she believes Robert William Sr. married and had a son by the same name, who she refers to as Robert William Laforce Jr. I will refer to him as Robert William Jr.**
This theory appears to be most plausible. Samuel did have a son named Robert b. ca 1770-77, but his middle name was Samuel and he m. Polly Nall. Also, Samuel and his children didn't seem to move in close proximity to Robert William Jr.'s children.
Rene III also had a son named William b. 1778-84 who d. 1812. But he went by his middle name "Robinson". We know that Robinson Laforce m. Sarah "Sallie" Shaw.
Perhaps most informative are the following two pieces of information:
1) Rene III married twice, his second marriage taking place in 1785. Since by most accounts, Robert William Jr. was b. ca 1774, he would have to have been the product of Rene III’s first marriage with Agnes Ann Robinson. By most accounts, Rene III and Agnes had four children (other than the speculated Robert William): Mary "Polly", David Rene (who went by David), William Robinson (who went by "Robinson") and Rene (known variously as "Raney", "Reney" and "Reynold"). Rene is often referred to by researchers as "Rene IV". All four were born before 1780.
After Rene III remarried, he made out a will (1804 Fayette Co., KY Will Book) in which he named as legatees his four children with Agnes. Specifically he named three sons: "David", "Robinson" and "Reynold" ("Rene IV"), and one daughter "Mary" (who was not yet married). By that point, Rene III had at least six children with his second wife, but none of them were included.
If one were to speculate, one might conclude that the purpose of the will was to preserve the rights of his children by his first wife. After all, Rene III didn't die for at least another 10 or so years. It is notable however, that Rene III doesn't mention a son by the name of Robert or William.
2) Ten years later in 1814, the brother of Rene III's first wife Agnes died. At his death, William Robinson left a will naming the children of his sister Agnes as legatees. (Clark Co., KY, Will Book D. P. 137) He specifically named named nephews "David Leforce" and "Reney Leforce" (Rene IV). He also named "Children of dec'd nephew, Robinson Leforce" - Robinson had died earlier. William Robinson also named his niece "Mary Duvall" (Mary Laforce by now was married to Thompson Duvall). He specifically disinherited Agnes' husband Rene III (who is referred to as "Reney Leorce") along with any of his children by his second wife. Presumably he wasn't happy about their divorce. It is notable that he fails to mention a nephew by the name of either Robert or William.
If Robert William Jr. was the son of Rene III and Agnes, we would expect him to have been named in either his father or his uncle's will.
For these reasons, it seems reasonable to conclude that Robert William Laforce is probably not the son of Samuel or Rene III, and that more likely, he is the son of Robert William Laforce Sr., who was the son of Rene II, who was the son of Rene I.
* In the Douglas Register -- the official birth record for Robert William LaForce (son of Rene II) -- his name is recorded as “Robert Laforce”. However in reference works and research notes on the LaForce family in early Virginia, he is referred to alternatively as “Robert” or “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Sr.
**There is no official birth record for Robert William Laforce, the subject of this memorial. In various land deed records in Clark Co., KY, he is referred to as “William Laforce”. However in reference works on the LaForce family, as well as in notes by various researchers of this family, he is referred to alternatively as “William” and “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Jr.
Robert William Laforce was descended from Renald Rene Laforce I (”Rene I”) who came to this country as part of the Huguenot exodus from France in the 1600's. His exact line of descent from Rene I is unclear. There is a general consensus that he is the grandson of Rene I’s only son, Renald Rene Laforce II (“Rene II”), but it has never been conclusively determined which child of Rene II's was Robert William’s father. Some sources claim it was Rene II's son Samuel, but most believe it was either his younger son Renault Rene ("Rene III") or Robert.
Paul Traux in his book "LaForce Descendants in North America" shows Rene III as the father. He also gives substantial credit to researcher Louise Roberson for providing him with valuable leads. In her own research, however, Louise Roberson has indicated she believes the proper credit for parentage belongs to Rene II’s younger son, Robert who (according to the Douglas Register) was born Aug 27,1756. Louise Roberson refers to him as “Robert William Laforce Sr.”
Louise believes Robert William Sr. was killed during the Revolutionary War in Scott Co, VA ca 1780. "There is no way to document this,” she says, “but oral history of a branch of the La Force family has him in Militia at Blackmore's Fort on the Clinch River in that time frame." http://www.ilytreemaker.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/laforce/16/
Before he died, Louise states that she believes Robert William Sr. married and had a son by the same name, who she refers to as Robert William Laforce Jr. I will refer to him as Robert William Jr.**
This theory appears to be most plausible. Samuel did have a son named Robert b. ca 1770-77, but his middle name was Samuel and he m. Polly Nall. Also, Samuel and his children didn't seem to move in close proximity to Robert William Jr.'s children.
Rene III also had a son named William b. 1778-84 who d. 1812. But he went by his middle name "Robinson". We know that Robinson Laforce m. Sarah "Sallie" Shaw.
Perhaps most informative are the following two pieces of information:
1) Rene III married twice, his second marriage taking place in 1785. Since by most accounts, Robert William Jr. was b. ca 1774, he would have to have been the product of Rene III’s first marriage with Agnes Ann Robinson. By most accounts, Rene III and Agnes had four children (other than the speculated Robert William): Mary "Polly", David Rene (who went by David), William Robinson (who went by "Robinson") and Rene (known variously as "Raney", "Reney" and "Reynold"). Rene is often referred to by researchers as "Rene IV". All four were born before 1780.
After Rene III remarried, he made out a will (1804 Fayette Co., KY Will Book) in which he named as legatees his four children with Agnes. Specifically he named three sons: "David", "Robinson" and "Reynold" ("Rene IV"), and one daughter "Mary" (who was not yet married). By that point, Rene III had at least six children with his second wife, but none of them were included.
If one were to speculate, one might conclude that the purpose of the will was to preserve the rights of his children by his first wife. After all, Rene III didn't die for at least another 10 or so years. It is notable however, that Rene III doesn't mention a son by the name of Robert or William.
2) Ten years later in 1814, the brother of Rene III's first wife Agnes died. At his death, William Robinson left a will naming the children of his sister Agnes as legatees. (Clark Co., KY, Will Book D. P. 137) He specifically named named nephews "David Leforce" and "Reney Leforce" (Rene IV). He also named "Children of dec'd nephew, Robinson Leforce" - Robinson had died earlier. William Robinson also named his niece "Mary Duvall" (Mary Laforce by now was married to Thompson Duvall). He specifically disinherited Agnes' husband Rene III (who is referred to as "Reney Leorce") along with any of his children by his second wife. Presumably he wasn't happy about their divorce. It is notable that he fails to mention a nephew by the name of either Robert or William.
If Robert William Jr. was the son of Rene III and Agnes, we would expect him to have been named in either his father or his uncle's will.
For these reasons, it seems reasonable to conclude that Robert William Laforce is probably not the son of Samuel or Rene III, and that more likely, he is the son of Robert William Laforce Sr., who was the son of Rene II, who was the son of Rene I.
* In the Douglas Register -- the official birth record for Robert William LaForce (son of Rene II) -- his name is recorded as “Robert Laforce”. However in reference works and research notes on the LaForce family in early Virginia, he is referred to alternatively as “Robert” or “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Sr.
**There is no official birth record for Robert William Laforce, the subject of this memorial. In various land deed records in Clark Co., KY, he is referred to as “William Laforce”. However in reference works on the LaForce family, as well as in notes by various researchers of this family, he is referred to alternatively as “William” and “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Jr.
Paul Traux in his book "LaForce Descendants in North America" shows Rene III as the father. He also gives substantial credit to researcher Louise Roberson for providing him with valuable leads. In her own research, however, Louise Roberson has indicated she believes the proper credit for parentage belongs to Rene II’s younger son, Robert who (according to the Douglas Register) was born Aug 27,1756. Louise Roberson refers to him as “Robert William Laforce Sr.”
Louise believes Robert William Sr. was killed during the Revolutionary War in Scott Co, VA ca 1780. "There is no way to document this,” she says, “but oral history of a branch of the La Force family has him in Militia at Blackmore's Fort on the Clinch River in that time frame." http://www.ilytreemaker.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/laforce/16/
Before he died, Louise states that she believes Robert William Sr. married and had a son by the same name, who she refers to as Robert William Laforce Jr. I will refer to him as Robert William Jr.**
This theory appears to be most plausible. Samuel did have a son named Robert b. ca 1770-77, but his middle name was Samuel and he m. Polly Nall. Also, Samuel and his children didn't seem to move in close proximity to Robert William Jr.'s children.
Rene III also had a son named William b. 1778-84 who d. 1812. But he went by his middle name "Robinson". We know that Robinson Laforce m. Sarah "Sallie" Shaw.
Perhaps most informative are the following two pieces of information:
1) Rene III married twice, his second marriage taking place in 1785. Since by most accounts, Robert William Jr. was b. ca 1774, he would have to have been the product of Rene III’s first marriage with Agnes Ann Robinson. By most accounts, Rene III and Agnes had four children (other than the speculated Robert William): Mary "Polly", David Rene (who went by David), William Robinson (who went by "Robinson") and Rene (known variously as "Raney", "Reney" and "Reynold"). Rene is often referred to by researchers as "Rene IV". All four were born before 1780.
After Rene III remarried, he made out a will (1804 Fayette Co., KY Will Book) in which he named as legatees his four children with Agnes. Specifically he named three sons: "David", "Robinson" and "Reynold" ("Rene IV"), and one daughter "Mary" (who was not yet married). By that point, Rene III had at least six children with his second wife, but none of them were included.
If one were to speculate, one might conclude that the purpose of the will was to preserve the rights of his children by his first wife. After all, Rene III didn't die for at least another 10 or so years. It is notable however, that Rene III doesn't mention a son by the name of Robert or William.
2) Ten years later in 1814, the brother of Rene III's first wife Agnes died. At his death, William Robinson left a will naming the children of his sister Agnes as legatees. (Clark Co., KY, Will Book D. P. 137) He specifically named named nephews "David Leforce" and "Reney Leforce" (Rene IV). He also named "Children of dec'd nephew, Robinson Leforce" - Robinson had died earlier. William Robinson also named his niece "Mary Duvall" (Mary Laforce by now was married to Thompson Duvall). He specifically disinherited Agnes' husband Rene III (who is referred to as "Reney Leorce") along with any of his children by his second wife. Presumably he wasn't happy about their divorce. It is notable that he fails to mention a nephew by the name of either Robert or William.
If Robert William Jr. was the son of Rene III and Agnes, we would expect him to have been named in either his father or his uncle's will.
For these reasons, it seems reasonable to conclude that Robert William Laforce is probably not the son of Samuel or Rene III, and that more likely, he is the son of Robert William Laforce Sr., who was the son of Rene II, who was the son of Rene I.
* In the Douglas Register -- the official birth record for Robert William LaForce (son of Rene II) -- his name is recorded as “Robert Laforce”. However in reference works and research notes on the LaForce family in early Virginia, he is referred to alternatively as “Robert” or “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Sr.
**There is no official birth record for Robert William Laforce, the subject of this memorial. In various land deed records in Clark Co., KY, he is referred to as “William Laforce”. However in reference works on the LaForce family, as well as in notes by various researchers of this family, he is referred to alternatively as “William” and “Robert William”. In this discussion, I refer to him as Robert William Jr.
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