Profile Text
Birth Name: Frances Elena Farmer
Date of Birth: September 19, 1913
Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Date of Death: August 1, 1970
Place of Death: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, one quarter Cornish, Dutch, smaller amounts of German, distant French and Scottish
Frances Farmer was an American actress and television hostess. She starred in the films Too Many Parents , Border Flight , Rhythm on the Range , Come and Get It (1936), The Toast of New York , Exclusive , Ebb Tide (1937), Ride a Crooked Mile , South of Pago Pago , Flowing Gold (1940), World Premiere , Badlands of Dakota , Among the Living (1941), Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake , and The Party Crashers , hosted the show Frances Farmer Presents ; and appeared on the show Studio One . She was also known for her mental health issues, and the horrendous treatment and commitment to psychiatric hospitals that she endured involuntarily. She was played by Jessica Lange in the film Frances (1982).
Frances was the daughter of Cora Lillian, a boardinghouse operator and dietician, and Ernest Melvin Farmer, a lawyer. She had deep lines in the U.S., except for her maternal grandmother, an emigrant from Cornwall. Frances was raised in Los Angeles and Chico, California, as well as Albany, Oregon, and Bremerton, Washington.
Frances’ paternal grandfather was John Quincy Farmer (the son of Hiram D. Farmer and Selina J. Snow). Frances’ grandfather John was born in Burke, Caledonia, Vermont, and had mostly English ancestry. Hiram was born in Burke, the son of The Rev. Benjamin Farmer, whose paternal grandfather was born in Ansley, Warwickshire, England; and of Sarah Lipinwill. Selina was born in Chesterfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire, the daughter of James Snow and Abigail Farr.
Frances’ paternal grandmother was Susan C. Sharpe (the daughter of Jacob Van Alstine Sharpe and Mary Chatfield). Susan was born in Ohio. Jacob was born in Fonda, New York, of Dutch and German descent. He was the son of Jacob Scherp, whose paternal grandparents were from Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; and of Harriet/Arriaantje/Arriantje Van Yeveren/Yveren/Everen. Frances’ great-grandmother Mary was born in Onondaga, New York, the daughter William C. Chatfield and Susannah Coy, who were of mostly English descent.
Frances’ maternal grandfather was Zacheus Van Ornum (the son of Henry Harold Van Ornum and Maria Marsh). Zacheus was born in Ashville, Chautauqua, New York. Henry was born in Essex, New York, the son of Hendrick/Hendrik Van Aernam/Ornum, who was of Dutch and English descent, and of Lois Sawyer, who was of English ancestry. Frances’ great-grandmother Maria was born in Massachusets or New York, the daughter of John H. Marsh/Mersch and Susanna Marie William.
Frances’ maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Jane Rowe (the daughter of John Pearce Rowe and Jemima Lavinia Skewes/Skews). Elizabeth was born in Cornwall, England. John was born in Kenwyn, Cornwall, the son of Hannibal Rowe and Elizabeth Pearce. Jemima was also born in Kenwyn, the daughter of Peter Skewes and Mary Elizabeth Williams.
Sources: Genealogies of Frances Farmer – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.findagrave.com https://www.wikitree.com