| FRANCIS YONGE PORCHER HOMEPAGE |
| Francis Yonge Porcher was the son of Peter Porcher and Elizabeth Yonge Wilkenson. He was a descendant of Isaac Porcher and Suzanne Ferre. They were the parents of Isaac Porcher, who, with his wife, Claude de Cherigny, immigrated to South Carolina from France. They came with other Huguenot refugees seeking asylum after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Isaac and Claude had many descendants. As well as I can determine, all the Porcher's from South Carolina descended from this couple. In a short time, the Porchers were prosperous low-country planters with plantations growing rice, indigo and cotton. Theirs was a life of elegance and plenty for many generations. Francis' maternal grandparents, Francis Yonge and Sara Clifford descended from a long line of English nobility. Francis's father, Robert Yonge, together with Francis, are listed in the book 500 American Colonists of Royal Descent. Francis Porcher was a physician in Charleston, following in the footsteps of his great great grandfather, Isaac, who was educated at the University of Paris. His property included Oak Grove Plantation, as well as his house in Charleston. He first married Sarah Julia Pelot and had three children: Francis James Porcher, Julia Elizabeth Porcher and Caroline Susan Porcher. Sarah Julia died and is buried in the Circular Churchyard in Charleston SC. After the death of his first wife, Francis married Susan Elizabeth Postell. He was 60 years old at the time of their wedding on April 25, 1849. Susan Postell was the daughter of Edward P. Postell and Sarah Catherine Pelot Gignilliat. Susan was also related to Sarah Julia Pelot, Francis' first wife. Francis and Susan had three children: Julia, Laura, and Edward. Julia, the eldest, was only 12 years old, when Francis died in 1862. Francis Yonge Porcher is buried beside his first wife, Sarah, in the Circular Churchyard. Julia and Laura were sent to boarding school at Mt. de Chantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, West Virginia. The records there show that their tuition was paid by "The Southern Fund", which was set up by Robert E. Lee. Julia proved to be an exemplory student and later taught music at a girl's school in Richmond, VA for many years. Laura, according to family history, was more of a "party animal". She followed her sister to Richmond, but her occupation is not known at this time. Somehow, Laura met and married a Major in the Grand Army of the Republic, Thomas Henry Allen in 1874 in Salem, Virginia. The only information we have on Thomas is from their marriage license, on microfilm in the Virginia State Archives. He was the son of Walter and Susan Allen of New Bern North Carolina. He gave his occupation as Civil Engineer and place of residence as Greenville, SC. From old newspapers of Asheville, NC., I determined that he had been married before, but his wife and baby died before 1871. Laura's Mother, Susan, was incensed that Thomas was a member of an organization consisting of former Union Army soldiers and severed her relationship with her daughter.. It was only when Thomas died in 1881 that they reconciled. Their baby boy was born two weeks after his father died and Laura died of peritonitis only a few days later. The baby was christened Thomas Henry Allen, after his father, but Julia Porcher changed his name to Laurance Porcher Allen after Laura's death. Laura lies beside her father in the Circular Churchyard in Charleston. Julia adopted the baby and took him to live with her at the school where she was teaching. They stayed until the administration decided Laurance was getting too old to live among the female students. At that time, he and Julia went to Courteney Florida to live near her brother, Edward. Julia was an excellent photographer and a number of her pictures are online at The Florida Archives Photography Collection. Just type in "Porcher" in the search box. Edward Postell Porcher became a pioneer in the Florida citrus industry. His many endeavors include creating the first citrus washing machine. Today, his house in on the National Register of Historic Places in Cocoa Florida. Edward Porcher was married to Bernina Mona Peck and had ? children. He and his children, as well as Laurance Porcher Allen, were successful citrus growers on the Indian River, Brevard County, Florida. They are all buried at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Courtney, Florida. many thanks to family historian, Margaret Allen Funch |
| 1789-1861 |
| James Brewton Family History |
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