American School, Dated 1824, (of Southern Interest)

Inscribed on the back of the portrait Sarah Jane DeFrance, Aged 4 years, 1824

Relined (with window showing inscription on the back of the original canvas). Appears to retain its original stretchers. Scattered in painting in extreme background. In paint small area around hair line on right side of her head.
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Sarah Jane DeFrance was born on March 7, 1820 in Washington, Mississippi and died on July 9, 1855 in Natchez, Mississippi. She married Joseph Bradley on July 12, 1840 and her five children were John Robert Bradley, Elizabeth Bradley, William C. Bradley, Mary E Gertrude Bradley and Ada Bradley.

Sarah Jane DeFrance's mother was Elizabeth Neall who was born on January 9, 1780 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died on March 4, 1845 in Natchez, Mississippi.  Her father was Charles DeFrance, the son of John Henry DeFrance and Elizabeth Boone. He was born March 10, 1765 in Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania and died on August 16, 1820 in Washington, Mississippi. He married Elizabeth on July 15, 1800.  They had four children, Mary Chambers DeFrance, Eliza Ann DeFrance, Caroline Neall DeFrance and Sarah Jane DeFrance.

This is one of the earliest surviving paintings from Mississippi.