After years of exhaustive research, we have absolutely no documented evidence regarding the parentage of Mark Martin Franklin (1 Jan 1800 - 23 Jan 1873 Butler Co, AL).

Nancy was born in SC and we have seen Mark's place of birth listed as TN, NC & SC (the 1850 Butler Co, AL census says it was TN). I have all 3 listed in my file until we find proof certain. We do, however, know exactly where he & Nancy are buried and who their children were.

We have Mark's military records & his will/estate records, but after years of research by numerous people who are his descendants, we have been unsuccessful in finding documented proof of his parentage. I'm doing this research for my husband as Mark & Nancy are his paternal 3rd GGrandparents, however, over the years I've come to claim them as my own & they are both very special to me. It is extremely frustrating to my husband that we've been unable, to this point, in determing who "Grandpa" Mark's parents were, but I can't give him information that I don't have & I refuse to make up a fairy tail just to give him an answer. He knows that finding an answer to this question has become a quest for many of Mark & Nancy's descendants.

If anyone has any documentation proving who Mark's parents were, you'd be answering the prayers of a lot of people. Any and all help is much appreciated.