Sgt. Francis Marion Thrasher was born 06 April 1836 (another record states 1834) in Gwinnett Co., GA, and died 05 August 1911 in Newell, Randolph Co., AL. He was the son of Thomas and Mahala Elliott Thrasher of Georgia and grandson of George and Casia Thrasher. He was first married to Catherine Walters in 1849 and they had two children, Martha Susan, born 12 Dec 1859, and John David, born 08 Dec 1860. Catherine died 22 November 1906 and Francis married Narcissa C. Gray 15 Dec 1906 in Newell, Randolph County, Alabama by J.F. Worthan, Justice of the Peace. This marriage record is on file in Marriage Record Book 4, Page 279 in Randolph Co., AL and the Marriage Certificate is in file with the Webmaster. Narcissa had never been married before.
Francis Marion Thrasher enlisted and mustered in Company K, 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV in Rome, GA as a Private at the age of 31. On 20 October 1864, he was promoted to Sergeant and he was reassigned to Company E. On 20 June 1865 and 20 July 1865 he was shown as absent with leave, probably because he was sick with Mumps in Thunderbolt, Georgia, near Savannah. He mustered out 20 October 1865 in Huntsville, Alabama with the rest of the regiment.
On 01 October 1887, he filed for and was granted a pension, Number 430-257. After his death 05 August 1911, his widow, Narcissa, filed for a pension but was rejected. It is unclear if she was ever awarded his pension.
(Researched & written by Glenda McWhirter Todd) Please advise if you have corrections or additions.
Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit
can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.