T. Staton is Franklin's father. Very little is known as he is only mentioned in one record 1840 Lauderdale, Alabama Census (found at this time). About 1835 he has married Jennifer Teriza Waits but I have no official record of it. From the 1840 Census we know he lived in Lauderdale, Alabama, there were 5 children (Franklin L., Louisa Evaline, Marion, Elizabeth Angeline and Caroline H.) and 2 adults (Franklin and Jennifer Teriza) living in the household (Derril wasn't born yet).
John B. Waits, Franklin's grandfather, has died in 1861 and left an estate legal summary. In there he mentions T. Staton being noted on $75. John B. Waits moved to Smith County, Texas and may not have been aware of T. Staton's early death. I personally do not think he would refer to his daughter Jennifer Teriza as T. Staton. Note T. Staton looking as "Y" but confirmed as "T" in the word "Texas."
Jennifer Teriza Waits is Franklin's mother. She is the daughter of John Bennett Waits (1774-1861) and Mariam Cyempka (1775 - 1817). Jennifer was born in Georgia in 1808 and moved to Lauderdale, Alabama and then Lafayette, Mississippi with her family where she is recorded in both 1850 and 1860 Census. In the 1860 Census she is recorded to live with her 2 children Derril and Caroline next door to her daughter Angeline who married Matthew Lee Taylor (Nancy who married Franklin L. is the sister of Matthew Lee).
John Bennett Waits was born in South Carolina in 1774. He married Mariam Cyempka around 1802 in Georgia. He served in 2nd regiment W. Tennessee Militia. He had 9 children with Mariam Cyempka. Mariam died around 1817 and John re-married Nancy McLean around 1820. John's children are as follows:
Mariam Cyempka, Franklin's grandmother, is believed to have been born in Tennessee and to be a full blooded indian possibly Cherokee, Choctaw or Chipewah. That would make Franklin L. Staton ¼ indian.
