Sometime last year I heard from a "new" cousin, Patrick Cecil. He very kindly
sent me all kinds of information on Reuben and Francis Cecil. I have been slowly going
thru each page of this information and much to my delight came across this information in
Reuben's pension papers and applications. I have always had some confusion about his
wife/wives so this was VERY interesting. I have only copied the relevant information from
these many pages and hope it will be helpful to someone.
In an affidavit sworn by Francis Cecil before a notary in Neosho County,
Kansas states: "My maiden name was Francis Fortner and not Uprania Sapp as the
records show. There was a mistake made in the name when marriage license were procured.
I do not know how it occurred and that my present name is Francis Cecil, widow of the late
Reuben Cecil of Co. K 47th Ill Vol. The above was written by Dr. W. C. Cecil from the
oral statement of my mother ." May 27, 1897
In a sworn statement given by John Twidwell, aged 79 years and William H. Kennedy aged
66....."Francis Cecil, the claimant, and Uprania Sapp named in the certificate of
Marriage hereto attached is the same person. That Uprania was a nickname and that she was
called by both names and that the person who secured the marriage license used the
nickname. That they have been both personally acquainted with the said Reuben Cecil and
Frances Cecil ever since this marriage. That the said Reuben Cecil and Frances Cecil have
resided ever since their marriage in Lemoine Township, McDonough County, Illinois except
the first year after this marriage when they resided in Plymouth." May 1897
In another affidavit given by Francis: "I was born in Stokes County, North Carolina
and I lived there until I was nearly grown up. Then I came to this township where I now
live and I have lived here ever since except I lived in Plymouth, Illinois, about seven
miles from here for two years. My fathers name was John Fortner and my mothers name was
Priscilla Fortner. Her maiden name was Priscilla Sapp. My father and mother died here
near where I live a good many years ago but it was a number of years after I married
Reuben Cecil, the soldier. Then of course my name was changed to Francis Cecil. I was
never married to any man until I married Reuben Cecil the soldier and I was never divorced
from Reuben Cecil. Reuben Cecil was never married to any woman until he married me. I
was acquainted with Reuben Cecil from his boyhood. He lived in Stokes County, North
Carolina while I lived there and he came here to Illinois at about the same time I came
out. I was married to Re!
uben Cecil on July 1, 1847 at my fathers home in this township by Samuel Dark a minister
of the gospel."
Francis also states further that "I have a brother Frank Fortner at Robinson Crawford
County, Illinois and one sister Elizabeth Fortner who I think lives some where in Iowa...I
don't know just where . I also have a brother Joseph Fortner who lives in Omaha or
Lincoln, Nebraska. I have no other sisters or brothers."
I hope you find this as interesting as I do and that I have offered a little bit of info
you didn't have.
Sincerely,
Lynn Cecil
P.S. It does offer up, to me at least, a question again about the birth of Henry Austin
Cecil, noted as eldest son of Reuben. They are buried next to each other so I really
don't question that Reuben is his father. But he was born before they came to
Illinois....before they were married. Perhaps that's WHY they all came to Illinois?
A question we may never answer...someday I will make it to North Carolina for some
research...my dream.