Francis Desern 
Francis was born about 1737 in Germany Prussia.1 Francis' father was Johann Frederick Desern and his mother is UNKNOWN Unknown. He had three brothers named Frederick, James and Nathaniel. He was the oldest of the four children. He died on March 12th, 1778 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.1 General Notes
[donalddezarn.ged]
The North Carolina Soldiers of the Revolution lists both a Frederick Dese
rn and a Francis Desern. Francis Desern, a private, enlisted in 1777 in Br
own's Company of the First Regiment commanded by
Col. Thomas Clark.
According to the Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Re
volution: Pierce'S Register; Reference: North Carolina State Records, Clar
k, Vol. XVI, 1782-1783, page 52: Name and Rank:
Disarn, Francis, Pt Company: Brown's Dates of Enlistment and Commissio
n: 1777 Occurrences: Died 12 March 1778.
There was a Francis De Sern counted in the 1779 Census/Enumeration Year f
or Orange County, North Carolina (also known as North Carolina Early Cens
us Index/Early Tax List) ID# NC5337943. This
conflicts with the information regarding his death in the American Revolu
tion.
Also in conflict with his reported death in the American Revolution is t
he fact that a Francis Decern appears on the 1786 Taxables, Atkins Distric
t, Surry County, North Carolina as owning 100 acres
of land. Captain Atkins' District was located in the southern region of p
resent-day Surry County along the Yakin River.
Francis Desern's reported death on 12 March 1778 seems to be in error sin
ce he was counted in the 1779 Orange County, North Carolina census and 17
86 tax record mentioned above.
Because no appropriate records have been found, it is believed that Franc
is Desern never married nor fathered any children.
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