French, Joseph
Joseph FRENCH (1687 - 1735) and Elizabeth Kinsley CUMMINGS (1687 - 1751)
my 7g-grandparents
6g – Sampson FRENCH Sr (1717 - 1785)
5g – Samson FRENCH Jr (1742 – 1834)
4g – Sara FRENCH (1770 – 1850)
3g – Sara LEE (1803 – 1888)
2g – Festus EATON (1829 – 1909)
1g – George W EATON (1870 – 1928)
Dora EATON (1905 – 1970)
Private
Gary Lee GAPINSKI (1956 – )
Joseph FRENCH was born 10 Mar 1687 in Dunstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony (later part of New Hampshire), the son of Samuel FRENCH and Sarah CUMMINGS.
He lived in Dunstable all his life. The area was inhabited by both friendly and hostile Indian tribes, and violence was common.
The garrison house of John FRENCH, uncle of Joseph, built about 1720. [MEB, p. 500]
"It is a matter of history that in 1706, when Joseph French was about nineteen years of age, he with his father, mother, brothers, and sisters, took refuge in the garrison house of his uncle, John Cummings. John and Elizabeth Cummings were the parents of four sons and four daughters. Joseph's cousin Elizabeth (born January 5, 1687) being about the same age as himself, their close association and companionship ripened into something deeper and more tender, and about 1711 they were married and established a home of their own. It was Elizabeth's mother, known as Goody Cummings, who was killed by the Indians, and her father wounded by them, when the garrison was surprised on the night of July 3, 1706. These were certainly cruel days, and it is hard for us to realize what must have been the suffering of these people, surrounded as they were by danger and death. Not until 1713 were the doors of the garrison thrown open and peace assured, and it was during this year that the first child of Joseph and Elizabeth was born." [MEQB, pp. 87-8]
Joseph married his first cousin, Elizabeth Kinsley CUMMINGS, about 1711. Elizabeth was the daughter of John CUMMINGS Jr and Elizabeth "Goody" KINSLEY. John CUMMINGS Jr and Sarah CUMMINGS were children of John CUMMINGS Sr and Sarah HOWLET, which is why Joseph and his wife Elizabeth were first cousins.
Home of Joseph FRENCH
" 'January 16th, 1717, voted that Henry Farwell and Sarg't Cummings are to endever to get a minister as soon as they can, and to see after Mr. Weld's place (the old parsonage) to by it if it be to be had. Also, Joseph French is to entertain the minister.' French lived at the first house on the main road northerly of the State line." [CJF, p. 97]
"In 1746 the great road to Tyngsborough was stated anew and recorded. There would seem to have been but few houses upon this road at that time. The following are all that are mentioned : — Capt. Joseph French's house was 8 rods north of the State line... "[CJF, p. 150]
[I think the second passage refers to Joseph FRENCH Jr.]
"Col. Joseph French's house was eight rods north of the state line after the change in the boundary lines. He owned a large tract of land consisting of 500 or more acres." [MEB, p. 502]
The town (or township) of Dunstable was first settled in 1656, and granted in 1661, containing about 200 square miles. This was split into two parts by the state line in 1740, leaving the northern part in the Colony of New Hampshire, and the southern part in the Colony of Massachusetts. Modern Dunstable, MA is a small part of old Dunstable.
A rod is 16.5 feet, so 8 rods would be 132 feet. The house of Joseph FRENCH Sr, and presumably the one inherited by Joseph FRENCH Jr, was just north of the state line, established in 1740, which was 5 years after the death of Joseph FRENCH Sr. The "Great Road to Tyngsborough" must have run north and south through this area, along the Merrimac River.
During Joseph FRENCH's lifetime, the English settlements in Massachusetts were under constant threat of attack by the Indians, often aided by the French. The community of Dunstable endured some of the harshest conditions, and many risked their lives just doing farm work, hunting or gathering. In 1724, Joseph's brother Ebenezer FRENCH was killed when pursuing Indians after an attack. In 1725, Joseph and his father Samuel were Selectmen, and they signed a letter asking for support.
Petition addressed to the Governor and Council of Massachusetts
"The Petition of the Selectmen of Dunstable, Humbly Sheweth:
"That whereas your Honors hath found it necessary to order Col. Tyng and his men into the woods, on the sad occasion of Capt. Lovewell's defeat, we are extremely exposed and weak, by reason of so many of our fighting men being cut off last summer, and so many killed now in the Province's service. We would beg leave to represent to your Honors our case as very sad and distressing, having so many soldiers drawn out, and our inhabitants reduced to so small a number by the war. Several families have removed, and more are under such discouragement, not daring to carry on their planting or any other business, that they fully design it. We hope your Honors will take our deplorable circumstances into your compassionate consideration, and order such measures to be taken for our defence and support, until our men return, as you in your wisdom shall think fit. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Samuel French, |
Joseph Snow, | (Selectmen)
Joseph French, |
John Lovewell,
John French,
John Cummings,
John Cummings, Jr.,
Nath'l Cummings.
Jonathan Cummings,
Jonathan Combs.
Dunstable, May 20, 1725.
[CJF, p. 121]
Also signing were Joseph's brother John FRENCH, his father-in-law John CUMMINGS Jr, and some others of the CUMMINGS family.
Joseph French was on March 31, 1719, chosen to make coffins "where there be need for the year ensuing." Friendly Indians still lived here and this singular vote may have referred to them, as we find a charge made by him not long after "for Jacob Indians coffin 7s."
The selectmen and other persons in the employment of the town at this period charged 5s per day for their services.
Joseph French died intestate, leaving a large estate to be divided among his children. [MEB, p. 503]
Joseph FRENCH's estate was inventoried, 29 Sep 1735, and valued at £1738. It included several large properties in the vicinity of Dunstable. Joseph's widow, Elizabeth, gave bond as guardian to her sons Sampson (18), Benjamin (9), and Samuel (5), who were minors. No bond was given for the eldest son, Joseph Jr (22), or the others. [MEQB, pp. 91-3]
The following inscriptions from the old burial-place at Little's Station were copied by Benjamin French, Esq.: —
Here Lyes Buried the Body of Mr. Ebenezer Cumings, who Deceased Sept. ye 5th, 1724, in ye 29th year of his age.
Here lies Buried the Body of Deacon Jonathan French who departed this life Nov. 17, 1757, in ye 54th year of his age.
Erected in memory of Capt. Benjamin French whose remains are here interred, who departed this life Dec. 15, A. D. 1779, in the 74th year of his age.
Memento More — Here lyes the body of Mr. Benjamin French, son of Capt. Benjamin French, and Molly, his wife. He departed this life Oct. 29, 1776, in the 23d year of his age.
Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary French, wife of Capt. Benjamin French, who departed this life Dec. 17, 1774, aged 44 years, 7 mos. And 8 days.
Here lies the body of Colonel Joseph French, who departed this life March 21, 1776, in the 63d year of his age.
Here lies ye body of Mrs. Elizabeth French, wife of Capt. Joseph French, who deceased Jan. 20, A. D. 1753, in the 44th year of her age.
Here lyes the body of Deacon Thomas Cumings, aged 64 years and 17 days, Deceased Jan. 20, 1722-3
Here Lies ye Body of Isaac French, ye son of Capt. Joseph French and Mrs. Bridget French, his wife, who Died Aug. ye 4th, A. D. 1753, in ye 20th year of his age.
Here lies the Body of Mrs. Bridget French, the wife of Capt. Joseph French, who Departed this life October 29, 1735, in the 20th year of her age.
[EN, p. 232]
Note: This says that Captain Benjamin FRENCH died 15 Dec 1779, in his 74th year, so he was born about 1706. From [MEQB, pp. 86-7] we find that Benjamin FRENCH, son of Joseph FRENCH and Sarah CUMMINGS, had the same death date, 15 Dec 1779, but was born 6 July 1726, so he died at age 53, in his 54th year. I think the mistake is in [EN], and 74th should be 54th.
Descendants
Joseph and Elizabeth (CUMMINGS) FRENCH had 8 children (7 daughters and 1 son), presumably all born in Dunstable, in the house mentioned above. Only 4 had offspring, that I have found. The sections below will cover each of the 8.
Since Joseph and Elizabeth were both grandchildren of John CUMMINGS and Sarah HOWLETT, they were 1st cousins, and their children were double great-grandchildren of John and Sarah.
1. Col. Joseph FRENCH Jr was born 28 Jul 1713, in Dunstable, and died 21 Apr 1776, in Dunstable age 62.
His first wife, Bridget, had 1 child and died 29 Oct 1735, age 29.
His second wife, Elizabeth, had 7 children and died 20 Jan 1753, age 44.
His third wife, Rebecca, had 2 children and died 21 Mar 1776, one month before Joseph.
Joseph and his first wife, Bridget, are buried in Old Dunstable Cemetery, Nashua, Hillsborough, NH. The bio on FindaGrave says her parents were Thomas and Mary (FARWELL) COLBURN, but no evidence is given.
1. Col. Joseph FRENCH b. 28 Jul 1713 in Dunstable, d. 21 Apr 1776 in Dunstable, age 62
+Bridget b. 20 Aug 1717 in Dunstable, d. 20 Oct 1735 in Nashua, Hillsborough, NH, age 20
i. Isaac FRENCH b. 26 May 1734 in Dunstable, d. 4 Aug 1753 in Hillsborough, NH, age 20
+Elizabeth b: abt. 1709, d. 20 Jan 1753
ii. Joseph FRENCH b. 1 Nov 1739 in Dunstable, d. 1770, age 30
+Sybil RICHARDSON b. 19 May 1744, m. 3 Mar 1768 in Dunstable
iii. Josiah FRENCH b. 27 Jun 1741 in Dunstable, d. 1741 in Dunstable, died in infancy
iv. Josiah FRENCH b. 17 Jun 1743 in Dunstable, d: 2 Nov 1833 in Vassalboro, Kennebec, ME, age 90
+ Hannah COLBURN/COBURN b: 1752 in MA, m: 1765
v. Thomas FRENCH b. 4 May 1745 in Dunstable
vi. Elizabeth FRENCH b. 6 Mar 1746/47 in Dunstable
vii. Bridget FRENCH b. 30 Aug 1749 in Dunstable, d: 27 Jun 1808 in NH, age 58
+ Moses HASELTINE b: 18 Feb 1745 in Chester, Rockingham, NH, m: 1 Jun 1775 in NH, d: 19 Aug 1807 in NH, age 62
viii. Mollie FRENCH b. 30 Aug 1749 in Dunstable, d: 17 Jan 1774 in Dunstable, age 24
+Rebecca d. 21 Mar 1776
ix. Susannah FRENCH b. 16 Oct 1757 in Dunstable
x. Theodore FRENCH b. 6 Jun 1759 in Dunstable
+Rhoda DANFORTH b. 22 Apr 1769, m. 4 Oct 1781 in Dunstable
+Katy Honey LOVEWELL b. 2 Mar 1759 in Dunstable, m. 3 Feb 1791 in Dunstable
2. Elizabeth FRENCH was born about 1715, and died 2 Jul 1793 in Dunstable, age 78 or 79. She married about 1736 to Capt. John CUMMINGS, who was born 14 Jan 1698 in Dunstable, MA (now NH), and died 15 Aug 1770 in Dunstable, age 72. So Elizabeth was about 21 and John was about 38 when they married. They had 9 children.
As mentioned above, Elizabeth was a double great-granddaughter of of John CUMMINGS and Sarah HOWLETT, Her husband, Capt. John CUMMINGS, was a son of Nathaniel CUMMINGS and Abigail PARKHURST, and grandson of John and Sarah. So Elizabeth and John were double 1st cousins 1x removed. The family tree of one of their children would have John and Sarah 3 times.
2. Elizabeth FRENCH b. 1715, d. 2 Jul 1793 in Dunstable, age 78
+ Capt. John CUMMINGS b. 14 Jan 1698, Dunstable, m. 1736, d. 15 Aug 1770, Dunstable, age 72
i. Olive CUMMINGS b. 15 May 1738 in Dunstable, d: 26 Jan 1817 in Dunstable, age 78
+ Capt. Leonard BUTTERFIELD b. 17 Nov 1740, Dunstable, d: 17 Nov 1800 in Dunstable, age 60
ii. Rebecca CUMMINGS b. 4 Aug 1740 in Dunstable, d: 1790, age 49-50
+ Asahel WYMAN b: 1735 in Groton, MA, m. 28 May 1761, d: 1784, age 49
iii. Elizabeth Betty CUMMINGS b. 28 May 1744, Dunstable, d: 13 Oct 1831 in Hollis, NH
+ Jacob JEWETT b. 1744, Hollis, NH, m. 27 Nov 1766 in Dunstable, d: 1 Nov 1813 in Hollis, NH, age 69
iv. Esther/Easter CUMMINGS b. 21 Aug 1745, d: 16 Feb 1824, age 78
+ Jonas BUTTERFIELD b. 12 Sep 1742 Dunstable, m. 11 Jan 1767 Dunstable, d: 22 Jun 1826 Farmington, ME, age 83
v. Molly CUMMINGS b. 1 Aug 1747 in Dunstable, d: 24 Aug 1758 in Dunstable, age 11
vi. Lucy CUMMINGS b. 6 Jun 1748 in Dunstable
+ Abijah WRIGHT m. 30 Apr 1772 in Dunstable
vii. John CUMMINGS Jr b. 13 Jan 1753 in Dunstable, d: 5 Jun 1808 in Tyngsborough, NH, age 55
+ Sarah HOWARD b. 24 May 1751 in Chelmsford, MA, m: 3 Oct 1776 in Chelmsford, d: 15 Mar 1845, age 93
ix. Katy CUMMINGS b. 21 Oct 1755 in Dunstable, d: 7 Feb 1797 in Dunstable
+ Joseph FLETCHER Jr m: 1 Sep 1774 in Dunstable
Jacob JEWETT, husband of Betty CUMMINGS, was on the roll of soldiers of 26 Jan 1775, and was in Capt. John GOSS's Co., in the Battle of Bennington. He was Selectman of Hollis, NH in 1773, 1775, and 1776. [JA, Vol 1, p. 114]
Sisters Olive and Esther CUMMINGS married brothers Leonard and Jonas BUTTERFIELD, both sons of Ebenezer BUTTERFIELD and Sarah "Sary" HOUSTON, of Dunstable.
Molly CUMMINGS died at age 11. But [MEBQ p. 86] says that Molly CUMMINGS married Joseph FLETCHER and had 5 children. This is explained in the FindaGrave memorial for Joseph FLETCHER. Joseph married Katy CUMMINGS, not Molly, and they had 5 children, in Dunstable. After Katy died in 1797, Joseph married Abigail READ. They had one more child, Joseph FLETCHER Jr, in Dunstable.
In Farmington, on the 20th ult. Jonas Butterfield, aged 83 years; formerly of Dunstable, Mass. He served as a soldier in the French war with much credit, and was at the battle of Ticonderoga. He was one of the first settlers of Farmington, and was ever an industrious and useful citizen, until confined by sickness and disease. He was a believer in the doctrine of universal salvation, and looked forward to the period of his death with calmness; his mind was composed and death to him was not unexpected or undesired. He was an honest man and always possessed the esteem and friendship of all who knew him.
American Advocate (Hallowell, ME) 1 Jul 1826
3. Sampson FRENCH was born 28 Jul 1717. He was my 6g-grandfather. See the Sampson FRENCH Sr page.
4. Josiah FRENCH was born 24 Feb 1723 in Dunstable, and died 28 Jan 1742 in Dunstable, age 18.
5. Thomas FRENCH was born 29 Jun 1724 in Dunstable.
6. Captain Benjamin FRENCH was born 6 July 1726, and married (1) on 28 Jan 1751 in Dunstable, to Molly/Mary LOVEWELL, born 26 May 1732 in Dunstable, daughter of Col. Zaccheus LOVEWELL. They were 24 and 18. Molly died 17 Dec 1774, age 42, leaving 11 children, ages 2 to 20.
Benjamin married (2) Mary (PARKHURST) CUMMINGS, 1 Feb 1776. Mary was the widow of Jeremiah CUMMINGS, Benjamin's 2nd cousin.
Benjamin died 15th. Dec, 1799, aged 74. His 11 children, all by his first wife, were aged 7 to 25. Benjamin and his first wife are buried in the Old Dunstable Cemetery.
6. Capt. Benjamin FRENCH b. 6 Jul 1726 in Dunstable, d. 15 Dec 1779 in Dunstable, age 53
+ Molly LOVEWELL b. 26 May 1732 in Dunstable, m. 8 Jan 1751, d. 17 Dec 1774 in Dunstable, age 42
i. Sgt. Benjamin FRENCH Jr b. 11 Dec 1752 in Dunstable, d. 29 Oct 1776 in Dunstable, age 23
ii. Esther FRENCH b. 7 Jan 1754 in Dunstable, d: 1 Jul 1843 in Norwalk, OH, age 89
+ Dr. Allin TOOTHAKER b: 1 Aug 1747 in Billerica, MA, d: 12 Jun 1775 in Merrimack, NH, age 27
+ Timothy TAYLOR b: 1754 in Merrimack, NH, m: 7 Feb 1776 in Dunstable, d: 26 Feb 1851 in Norwalk, OH, age 96
iii. Mollie FRENCH b. 18 Oct 1755 in Dunstable
iv. Katherine FRENCH b. 19 Aug 1758 in Dunstable, d: 7 Aug 1842 in Canada, age 83
+ John BOWEN b: 29 May 1744 in Salisbury, NH, d: 2 Sep 1832 in Canada, age 88
v. Augustus FRENCH b. 16 Jul 1760 in Dunstable
vi. Betsey/Betty FRENCH b. 16 Jan 1762
+ Israel INGALS/INGALLS b: 27 Dec 1754 in Andover, MA, m: 26 Aug 1779 in Dunstable, d: 1836 in OH, age 81
vii. Charlotte FRENCH b. 21 Sep 1763, d. 27 Sep 1787, age 24
+ James CUMMINGS b. 26 May 1759 in Dunstable, m. 12 Jul 1779 in Dunstable, d. 26 Sep 1839, age 80
viii. Frederick FRENCH b. 26 Sep 1766 in Nashua, NH, d. 28 Mar 1824 in Amherst, NH, age 57
+ Grace BLANCHARD b: 1768, m. 30 Dec 1790 in Dunstable, d. 6 Feb 1845 in Lowell, MA, age 76
ix. Thomas FRENCH b. 7 Aug 1768 in Nashua, NH, d. 3 May 1846 in Lowell, MA, age 77
+ Elizabeth BLANCHARD b: 1774, m. 7 Jan 1796 in Dunstable, d. 4 May 1843 in Nashua, NH, age 69
x. Lucy FRENCH b. 7 Nov 1769 in Dunstable, d: 14 Dec 1839 in Passadumkeag, Penobscot , ME, age 70
+ James CUMMINGS, m. 5 July 1787
xi. Bridget FRENCH b. 14 Jan 1772 in Dunstable, d: 26 May 1828 in Anderson, Madison, IN, age 56
+ Daniel WARD b: 1764 in Plymouth, NH, m: 30 Jun 1793 in Plymouth, NH, d: 1841 in Marion, IN, age 77
+Mary PARKHURST m. 1 Feb 1776
Sgt. Benjamin FRENCH Jr served in Capt. Stephen RUSSELL's co., Col. GREEN's regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 3 days. [MSS] He died 29 Oct 1776. This was the day of, or the day after, the Battle of White Plains, NY.
Grace BLANCHARD was daughter of Hon. Jonathan BLANCHARD.
7. Samuel FRENCH was born July 14, 1728 and died 11 Jan 1730, age 18 mos.
8. Samuel FRENCH was born 10 Aug 1730.
8. David FRENCH
8. Ebenezer FRENCH
Tradition speaks of two other sons, David and Ebenezer, the latter of whom, according to the tradition, kept a tavern in the valley of the Merrimac, and while trading with the Indians for furs, upon refusing them more rum when they had already drunk freely, was murdered by them. [MEB, p. 502]
Sources
[CJF] History of the old township of Dunstable : including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N.H. ; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass (1846) by Charles J. Fox
[EEP] History of the city of Nashua, N.H. (1897) by Edward Everett Parker
[EN] A history of the town of Dunstable, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year of Our Lord 1873 (1877) by Elias Nason
[GWC] History of Haverhill, Massachusetts (1861) by George Wingate Chase
[JA] History and genealogy of the Jewetts of America; a record of Edward Jewett, of Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and of his two emigrant sons, Deacon Maximilian and Joseph Jewett, settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1639; also of Abraham and John Jewett, early settlers of Rowley, and of the Jewetts who have settled in the United States since the year 1800 by Frederic Clarke Jewett (1908) Vol I Vol II
[KW] History of Hudson, NH (1913) by Kimball Webster
[MEB] A Brief History of the French Family (1910) in The Annals of Iowa 9(6-7), p.493-514, by Mary Elizabeth Queal Beyer
[MEQB] A genealogical history of the French and allied families (1912) by Beyer, Mary Elizabeth Queal
[MSS] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, 17 Vols.
[VL] Samson French in the Vasil Lee Family Tree
[VRD] Vital records of Dunstable, Massachusetts : to the end of the year 1849 (1913)
Updated 9 Sep 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.