That's right...that's what this site is...our online home. If you register/join...you become an online member of this family/home. I talk elsewhere about our sites/the benefits of them. Here's where we'll both tell & discuss our family history. And what a history!

LaForce/LeForce history starts back in France. Thanks to our first American ancestor Renald Rene LaForce I...we know we come from Caumont de la Force's. Eventually Dukes, Marshals, & Peers of France.

Why do we have a coat of arms? Because we were considered nobility by France & England. What does that mean? Basically...when the Kings looked to marry their sons & daughters off it was the sons & daughters of nobility they looked to. Plus I suppose if the Kings entire line were to die out...it was from nobility they replaced them with.

We had at least 3 castles that I know of. Of course there's info/pics when possible around here somewhere. ;)

We were also French Huguenots. At least 2 of our ancestors were murdered by Catholics in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Their friend & fellow Huguenot King Henry IV of France was also almost murdered. Our surviving ancestor Jacques-Nompar de Caumont helped King Henry IV & eventually became duc de la Force...as well as Marshal & Peer of France.

King Henry's greatest work (in our case) was the Edict of Nantes. A fool...King Louis XIV...would come along & revoke it. Almost the minute he did all hell broke loose. Thousands upon thousands of France's cream of the crop Huguenots left their titles & their castles & fled for other countries.

When this filled the other countries up & started hurting their own...we were sent here to America. Which is evidently what happened to our ancestor Dr. Renald Rene LaForce I. Dr. LaForce was in charge of around 200 French Huguenots. They bought land from land agents in another country before coming here...only to learn their new land was unsuitable for them. So they had to buy more land near Manakintowne, Va. Dr. LaForce made his group's land payments to Gov. William Byrd II. He is mentioned in Gov. Byrd's secret diary.

From Dr. Renald Rene LaForce I we eventually have John Bradley LeForce...my great great grandpa. He moved to Indian Territory where 3 of his 4 sons...including my great grandpa...married partial Cherokee Indian women. These partial Cherokee Indian women were the descendants of Chiefs including Maj. George Lowrey Jr. He was President/Chief of the Eastern Cherokees while his cousin...Sequoyah...was President/Chief of the Western Cherokees...both under Chief John Ross. Their descendants started/ran/taught in mission schools for Indian children both in the old country & in the new Indian Territory (Oklahoma). They were here before the old settler Cherokees came along on the Trail of Tears. They helped start Ft. Gibson & Tahlequah, OK.

Again...what a history! If you're a LaForce/LeForce or someone we married...please join our home & add to it. ;D