Francina Leisler Lewis Staats
by
Stefan Bielinski

Francina Leisler was born in December 1676. She was the daughter of Jacob and Elsje Tymens Leisler. Her father's rapid ascendancy in New York society was cut short by the so-called "Leisler's Rebellion," which cost him his life in 1691.

In November 1694, Francina married Thomas Lewis in New York City. This Lewis family lived in New York. After several children, he died - leaving her full use of his estate during her widowhood. However, before long, she married widower Joachim Staats - an Albany native who, by that time, was based in New York as well. Perhaps that union produced a daughter (christened in Albany in 1712). The marriage ended with Staats's death also in 1712.

Widowed again, she lived the remainder of her life near her family in New York City.

Stating that she was sick, Francina Leisler Lewis Staats filed a will in August 1728. She probably died later that year. After years of dormancy and dispute, her will finally cleared probate on August 31, 1765.



notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Francina Leisler Lewis Staats has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Online material!




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first posted 5/15/05; revised 12/10/17