WILLIAM BENJAMIN LAUGHTER was born September 03, 1782 in Bute/Warren County, North Carolina-War 1812 veteran-had 18? children, and died September 03, 1837 or September 28, 1837 in Fayette County, Tennessee-grave is on a private farm.  He married FRANCES (FRANKEY) HUNT May 04, 1807 in Granville County, North Carolina, daughter of JAMES HUNT and ANN SATTERWHITE.  She was born about 1787 in Granville County, North Carolina, and died before October 23, 1861 in DeSoto County, Mississippi.

 Notes for WILLIAM BENJAMIN LAUGHTER:

FROM "OUR HERITAGE-DESOTO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI" BY PAM MCPHAIL IVY CA. 1975

 LAUGHTER FAMILY, BY ELLEN B. FLINN, P. 139

 The Laughter family originated in England, where the first recorded listing was found in Suffolk Shire, 1638.

 The DeSoto County Laughters have been traced to Henry Laughter, who was born 1710 in England, and came to America.  He married about 1739 to Mary Hogan, daughter of William Hogan, in Brunswick County, Virginia.  The first record of him in America was March 20, 1742, in Edgecomb County, North Carolina.  (NOTE:  This information is likely in error as there are 2-3 earlier generations of Henry Laughters.)

 Henry Laughter was a hatter by trade.  Two of his four sons, John and Benjamin, followed his trade.  John was born March 17, 1745, in Granville County, N.C.  He married Mary Langford, the daughter of John Langford.  Both are buried in Warren County, N.C.

 John who was a manufacturer, served in the Revolutionary War, under General Sumner at Guilford Courthouse and Eutaw Springs in 1781.  He later was detached from the Army and given a large contract to supply the Army with hats.  He continued to manufacture hats for the government through the war.  he died in 1817 and is buried in Warren Co. NC.  (NOTE:  I have not been able to document his Revolutionary service.)   John had two sons, John Langford and William B. Laughter and 3 daughters.

 William B. Laughter was born in Warren County, N.C. 1788.  He married Frances Hunt, daughter of James and Ann Satterwhite Hunt in Granville County, N.C. 1807.  They moved to Fayette County, Tenn. where William B. died in 1837.  Frances moved to DeSoto County in 1849 where she died 1861.  Legend has it that William B. and Frances had a family of 18 children.  Fifteen are known.

 FROM "THE LAUGHTER FAMILY GENEALOGY" BY DOUGLAS LAUGHTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

 William served under his brother in the War of 1812.  He was listed as a Pvt. in Capt. John L. Laughter's Co. of Infantry, 1 Regiment North Carolina Militia, McDonald's Regiment.  He sold his land in Warren County to his brother in 1825 and moved to Fayette County, Tennessee near the present city of LaGrange.  He died 28 Sept 1837 in LaGrange, Tennessee (Raleigh Register, 16 Oct 1837).  Frances moved to DeSoto County, Mississippi in 1849 and remained there until her death - see probate on page 146.

 PROBATE RECORD BOOK 7 - PAGE 675 & 676, DESOTO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

 In the matter of the petition of E.T. Laughter, admr. of Francis Laughter, decd. for sale of land

 It is ordered by the court that G.E. Haris be and he is hereby appointed guardian, ad litem of Mary Baird, Lucy Baird, Happy Baird, M. Thornton, William Mayfield, Thos. Mayfield and Columbus Mayfield, minor defendants herein, and that he make answer in their behalf immediately.

 In the matter of the petition of E.T. Laughter,  admr. of Francis Laughter, decd. for sale of land

 It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that J.H. Laughter, Sophia Briskill and Wm. Briskill, her husband, Georg A. Laughter, John Baird, M.H. Laughter, T.M. Laughter, Claudia McVay and Bass McVay her husband, D.T. Laughter, Eliza Boothe and G.W.P. Boothe her husband, Benjamine Laughter, R.W. Laughter, Caroline M. Powers and William Powers her husband, J.J. Laughter, and M. Thornton have been regularly cited to appear at this term of Court and show cause if any they could why the prayer of the petition of E.T. Laughter, administrator of the estate of Francis Laughter decd. praying for sale of certain land described therein should not be granted and decree be made thereon accordingly, and none of them having appeared to answer plead or demur to the said petition.  It is now therefore ordered that the several allegations therein contained be taken for confessed as to them.

 In the matter of petition of E.T. Laughter, adm. of Francis Laughter, decd. for a sale of certain real estate vs. Michael Laughter et al defendants and heirs

 Be it remembered that this cause come on again to be heard at the present term of this court upon the petition and proofs in the cause presented by said administrator and the Court being satisfied from an examination thereof that Francis Laughter intestate of petitioner died in DeSoto County, Mississippi, some time in 1861 leaving no personal estate whatever except some $10 or $15 and that her estate is justly indebted to the amount of $50, as shown by the schedule exhibited by petitioner and that the only real estate left by said intestate consists of a small tract of some 50 acres taken of the west side of the North West quarter of Section 33, in Township 2 and Range 6 West of the Basis Meridian, Chickasaw Survey as described more fully in the petition in this cause (to which reference is here specifically) and that a sale of said land is absolutely necessary to raise means with which to pay the debts of said decd. and the Court being further satisfied that all parties interested in said land have been duly summoned to contest said petition and that the minors interested have all been properly represented by guardians and guardians ad litem, in this matter and that no valid objection to such sale exists or can be made.  It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that said administrator do proceed to sell said tract of land at the Court House door in Hernando for one half cash and the balance in 12 months from the day of sale first giving 30 days notice of said sale by posting notices thereof at three or more public places in the County where said land lies and advertising the same in some Newspaper printed in the same for 4 successive weeks preceding said sale and that he take good security for the defered payment and report said sale to the next succeeding term of this Court.  All other matters connected therewith are reserved to the coming in of said report of sale.  Ordered, adjudged and decreed October 23rd, 1861.

 J.B. Morgan, Judge of Probate