French, Samson 1742

Samson FRENCH Jr (1742 - 1834) and Lusannah "Lucy" ROOT (1752 - 1829)

my 5g-grandparents

Unless stated otherwise, data on this page comes from [MEB]. There is an ancestor chart for Samson, and a map of the towns of MA on the Sampson FRENCH Sr page. A map of the Castle Creek, Broome, NY area is on the James EATON page.

Early Life

Samson/Sampson FRENCH Jr was born about 15 Sep 1742 in Dunstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and died on 3 Jan 1834 in Glen Castle, Broome County, New York. His gravestone is in the Lilly Cemetery, Broome County, NY. The engraving in the picture is hard to read in places, but I trust that the transcriber was able to see that the death date was 3 Jan 1834 and that he died at age 91 ys 3 ms, and must have had to guess on the number of days.

Samson FRENCH married Lusannah ROOT, daughter of Elisha ROOT and Mary SCOTT, on 19 Oct 1768, in Westfield, MA. Their shared gravestone gives her date of death as 11 Sep 1829. As before, I will assume that the transcriber has seen more than the photo makes clear. She was born on 20 Sep 1752, so she was just past her 16th birthday at the time of her marriage. Samson was 26. Their first child was born on 22 Dec 1768, just 2 months after marriage. Basically, Samson impregnated a 15-year-old girl, and married her when she was 7 months pregnant. They went on to have 13 children, including Sarah (FRENCH) LEE, my 4g-grandmother. See the Nathaniel LEE page.

There has been some discussion of Sampson's birthplace.

Dunstable is in northern Massachusetts, currently on the border with New Hampshire. The original Township of Dunstable was larger, and was split up when the border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was established in 1740, just before Samson was born. A more detailed description of Dunstable can be found on the John CUMMINGS page.

Military Service

Sampson Jr and Sr both fought in the French and Indian War. In 1758 they were both enlisted in Col. John OSGOOD's Regiment.

Samson Jr was listed as 17, but probably was only 15 or 16, and his father was 40. The record also says that they were both involved in a 1757 campaign in Lake George. This had been the scene of a major battle in 1755, and the 1757 campaign was probably just an occupation.

This establishes that they both resided at Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1758. Haverhill is in northeastern Massachusetts, not far from Dunstable.

It looks like the time intervals for the two Sampson FRENCHes overlap, so they must have both served past 1758. I don't know much about these military records, so maybe someone can tell me more.

Migration Summary

Samson FRENCH was born in Dunstable, MA and grew up in Haverhill, MA. Lucy ROOT was from Westfield. They were married in Westfield, 1768, and lived there until about 1790, when they appeared in Southwick, MA, just south of Westfield. By 1800 they were in Northampton, MA, and 1810 finds them in Florida, MA. In 1817 they moved to Decatur, Otsego, NY, and by 1820 they were in Chenango, Broome, NY, where they spent their old age.

Westfield, MA

On 19 Oct 1768, Samson FRENCH and Lusannah "Lucy" ROOT were married in Westfield, where most of their children were born. They moved several times in western MA, and NY.

Westfield was in Hampshire County until 1812, when Hampden County was formed. It is just 10 miles west of Springfield, on the west side of the Connecticut River. Westfield was first settled in 1660, so it was well-established by 1768. More discussion of Westfield can be found on the Thomas DEWEY Jr page.

The ancestors of Lucy ROOT had been in the Springfield area for several generations, including her great-grandfather Thomas ROOTE, who was in Westfield by 1670.

Southwick, MA

The First US Census in 1790 has the family in Southwick, just south of Westfield. Josiah, age 21 or 22, has already left home and started his own family, in Westfield. My comments are in brackets.

Samson had some property for sale in 1794. Maybe that's when he moved to Northampton.

Northampton, MA

Samson and family didn't stay long in Otsego County, as they are found in Broome County, NY in the 1820 US Census. Since his children were born in the period 1768-1795, they were all adults at the time of the move. It seems that at least Sarah, Thomas and Clement brought their families to Broome County, and many of their descendants are there to this day.

Descendants

1 Samson FRENCH b: 15 Sep 1742 in Dunstable, NH (now MA), d: 03 Jan 1834 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY
+ Lusannah Lucy 2987 ROOT b: 20 Sep 1752 in Southwick, MA, m: 19 Oct 1768 in Westfield, MA, d: 11 Sep 1829
......2 Josiah FRENCH b: 22 Dec 1768 in Westfield, Hampden, MA, d: 01 Jan 1857 in Westfield, Hampden, MA
...... + Lucinda PARKER m: 08 Oct 1789 in Westfield, Hampden, MA
......2 Sara FRENCH b: 15 Nov 1770 in Westfield, MA, d: Aft. 1850 in Kane, IL
...... + Nathaniel LEE b: 1764 in Great Barrington, Berkshire, MA, d: Abt. 1845 in Chenango, Broome, NY
......2 Thomas FRENCH b: 13 Feb 1773 in Westfield, Hampden, MA, d: 21 Aug 1861 in Chenango, Broome, NY
...... + Elizabeth m: 1842 in Chenango, Broome, NY
...... + Polly HISCOCK b: 1774 in Southwick, Hampden, MA, m: 1793 in Westfield, Hampden, MA, d: 1839 in Chenango, Broome, NY
......2 Rebecca FRENCH b: 23 Dec 1774, d: 19 May 1776
......2 Ira FRENCH b: 24 Feb 1777, d: 11 Dec 1778
......2 Submit FRENCH b: 14 Dec 1778, d: Glen Castle, Broome, NY
...... + Festus MORGAN m: 20 Feb 1800, d: 23 Sep 1800 in MA
...... + Phineas MERCHANT m: Aft. 01 Aug 1800
......2 FRENCH b: 03 Jun 1780, d: 12 Jun 1780
......2 Lucy FRENCH b: 02 Jun 1781, d: 28 Feb 1821 in MA
...... + Michael TUTTLE m: 21 May 1799 in West Springfield, Hampden, MA, d: 21 Aug 1816
......2 Clement FRENCH b: 01 Sep 1783 in MA, d: Oct 1865 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY
...... + Elizabeth HAWKS b: 1786, m: 1803, d: 01 Nov 1864
......2 Clara FRENCH b: 07 Sep 1785, d: 06 Mar 1786
......2 Clarissa FRENCH b: 22 Feb 1788 in West Springfield, Hampden, MA, d: 11 Jan 1827 in West Springfield, Hampden, MA
...... + Henry Harry TUTTLE b: 04 Sep 1783 in Holyoke, Hampden, MA, m: 26 Dec 1805 in West Springfield, Hampden, MA, d: 05 Sep 1851 in Holyoke, Hampden, MA
......2 Julia FRENCH b: 25 Aug 1792, d: 29 May 1793
......2 Charlotte FRENCH b: 10 Jan 1795
...... + Ezra WILLIAMS of Westford, NY, m: 12 Sep 1814 in Northampton, MA

1. Josiah FRENCH was born 22 Dec 1768 in Westfield, MA. He married Lucinda PARKS/PARKER on 8 Oct 1789, in Westfield. [MEB, p. 105] Josiah's will was probated on 11 Sep 1857 in Albany, NY.

2. Sara FRENCH was born 15 Nov 1770 in Westfield, MA. She married Nathaniel LEE. They moved to Chenango, Broome, NY and later Kane, IL.

Sara and Nathaniel were my 4g-grandparents. See the Nathaniel LEE page.

3. Thomas FRENCH was born on 13 Feb 1773 in Westfield, MA. He married Polly HISCOCK on 8 Jul 1793 in Westfield. They lived in Southwick, but moved to Cambridge in 1795, and back to Southwick in 1798. The cost of these moves is recorded in Samson FRENCH's account book.

Thomas and Polly had 8 children (see [MEB, p. 143 ff.]) and Polly died in 1839, around age 65. Thomas FRENCH married (2) Elizabeth BROCKWAY, widow of Reed BROCKWAY, of Lisle, NY. Her maiden name is unknown.

1 Thomas FRENCH b: 13 Feb 1773 in Westfield, Hampden, MA, d: 21 Aug 1861 in Chenango, Broome, NY

+ Polly HISCOCK b: 1774 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA, m: 1793 in Westfield, Hampden, MA, d: 1839 in Chenango, Broome, NY
......2 Marietta FRENCH b: 1794 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA
...... + David STEVER m: 1830 in Chenango, Broome, NY
......2 Samson FRENCH b: 19 Jan 1796 in Cambidge, MA
...... + Elizabeth SEAWARD b: 07 Feb 1798, m: 03 Mar 1818 in Decatur, Otsego, NY
......2 Nancy FRENCH b: 1798 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA
...... + Philo FERRIS
......2 Polly FRENCH b: 1801 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA
...... + Marcena MCINTYRE
......2 Hiram FRENCH b: 1804 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA
...... + Amanda WATERMAN m: 1826 in Chenango, Broome, NY
......2 Thomas FRENCH b: Bet. 1806–1807 in Southwick, Hampshire, MA
...... + Polly TEMPLE
......2 Chauncey FRENCH b: 20 Sep 1812 in Tyringham, Berkshire, MA
...... + Catherine BISHOP b: 06 Apr 1811, m: 11 Sep 1833
......2 Harriett FRENCH b: 1816 in Decatur, Otsego, NY, d: 22 Jun 1861
...... + Edwin LEE m: 1839 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY

+ Elizabeth m: 1842-3 in Chenango, Broome, NY

Children of Thomas FRENCH and Polly HISCOCK: Samson, Chauncey, Harriett [MEB, p. 146]

Left: Elizabeth SEWARD, wife of Samson FRENCH [MEB p. 244]

Right: Polly TEMPLE, wife of Thomas FRENCH [MEB p. 145]

There is an obvious error, as Elizabeth has aged only 1 year from 1850 to 1860. I don't know which is correct.

Thomas FRENCH signed his will on 24 Apr 1860, and he died 21 Aug 1861, in Chenango, at age 88. In his will he states that he has been married to his present wife about 17 years, so they were married around 1842-3. Thomas would have been about 70 and Elizabeth about 51 or 60 at marriage.

4. Rebecca FRENCH was born 23 Dec 1774, and died 19 May 1776, age 17 months.

5. Ira FRENCH was born 24 Feb 1777 and died 11 Dec 1778, age 21 months.

6. Submit FRENCH was born 14 Dec 1778. She married (1) Festus MORGAN in Easthampton, Hampshire, MA on 20 Feb 1800, who died 23 Sep 1800. Their son was born 8 days later, on 1 Oct 1800, at the home of Samson FRENCH. Submit married (2) Phineas MERCHANT, born 1770-75, by whom she had more children. The family lived many years in Otsego county, New York; afterwards at Glen Castle, where Submit (FRENCH) MERCHANT died. [MEB, p. 106]

The 1800 US Census has Submit and Festus in Northampton, just before the birth of their son. Listed on the same page of the census were Josiah FRENCH, Sampson FRENCH and Nathaniel LEE.

Festus MORGAN was born 12 Jan 1776, son of Judah MORGAN and Elizabeth SHIVOY. [M, p. 73] They were close relatives of John Pierpont "JP" MORGAN, but I have not worked out the precise relationship.

There has been some conflation between Festus and his cousin, also Festus MORGAN. In [M, p. 80] Festus married Submit FRENCH in 1779, which is impossible since she was born in 1778. Also [M, p. 80] refers to the Festus who was born in 1759. Our Festus was "16 thru 25" in 1800, thus born approximately between 1775 and 1784.

The son of Submit and Festus was William Festus MORGAN, born 1 or 6 Oct 1800 in Northampton, MA. He "learned the trade of cloth finisher with Thaddeus Clapp, East Hampton. Mass., and began business as woolen manufacturer near South Milford, Mass., in Bellingham, where he resided at the formation of the Oxford Woolen Company, becoming part owner thereof in 1821.... was trustee of the Lynn Hospital, and five years its president; president of the Associated Libraries; director of Security National Bank and the Security Safe Deposit and Trust Co.; Trustee of the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank." [M, p. 83]

I have not found Submit or Phineas MERCHANT in the 1810 US Census. The household of Sampson FRENCH doesn't have a female aged 32.

The 1820 US Census has Phineas MERCHANT as the head of a household of 8, in Worcester, Otsego, NY. Recall that Submit's parents had lived in Otsego county around 1817. Phineas was in the "45 and over" category in 1820, and "50 thru 59" in 1830, so he was born about 1770 to 1775.

By 1830 Phineas and his family of 8 were found in Chenango, Broome County, NY. Listed consecutively in the census were heads-of-household: Phineas MERCHANT (8), Sampson FRENCH (2), Nathaniel LEE (4).

This gravestone for William F. MORGAN (1800 - 1839) in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Essex, MA may be for the son of Festus and Submit (FRENCH) MORGAN.

It looks like Submit and Phineas had about 7 children, but I have not yet found their names. Phineas may have been a son of Capt. Jedediah MERCHANT, who settled in Cole's Hill, Colesville, Broome, NY in 1795.

7. A daughter, not named, was born 3 Jun 1780, and died 12 Jun 1780, age 9 days.

8. Lucy FRENCH born June 2, 1781, and died 28 Feb 1821. She married Michael TUTTLE on 21 May 1799 in West Springfield, MA. Michael was born 8 Aug 1773, and drowned August 21, 1816, while bathing in the Connecticut River. His gravestone in Elmwood Cemetery, Holyoke, Hampden, MA says he died at age 4?. Lucy's gravestone is next to Michael's. They had 2 children: Lois, who died at age 14, and a son. Lucy's gravestone has "Augustus, son of" at the bottom.

Records of West Springfield, MA have the death of Lucy French TUTTLE on 10 or 11 Sep 1842, age 22. She could have been a child of Lucy, but not of Michael, if he died in 1816.

The family of 4 is found in NH in 1810, but they must have gone back to MA shortly after.

9. Clement FRENCH was born 1 Sep 1783 and died in Oct 1865. In 1803 he married Elizabeth HAWKS, born in 1786 and died 1 Nov 1864.

1 Clement FRENCH b: 01 Sep 1783 in MA, d: Oct 1865 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY
+ Elizabeth HAWKS b: 1786, m: 1803, d: 01 Nov 1864 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY
......2 Franklin FRENCH b: 29 Jan 1804 in Deerfield, MA
...... + Sally JOHNSON m: 1827
...... + Olive POPE m: 25 Feb 1830
...... + Phebe LAMOREE m: 20 Mar 1834
......2 Ira FRENCH b: 19 Sep 1805 in Rodman, NY
...... + Hepsibah LYON m: 28 May 1829
.........3 Aaron FRENCH b: 29 Mar 1831
...... + Sally HARRINGTON m: 21 May 1834, d: Jul 1837
.........3 Dwight FRENCH b: 13 May 1835
.........3 Salphronius Henry FRENCH b: 16 Jul 1837
...... + Delia BROOKS m: 12 Jul 1838
.........3 Francis FRENCH b: 12 Jun 1839
.........3 Mary FRENCH b: 09 Dec 1840
.........3 Ellen FRENCH b: 02 Dec 1842
.........3 Lucy FRENCH b: 24 Apr 1845
.........3 Jane FRENCH b: 02 Jun 1847
.........3 Emma FRENCH b: 23 Mar 1851
......2 Root FRENCH b: 27 Feb 1807
...... + Amanda SPENCER m: 16 May 1830
......2 Ebenezer Smead FRENCH b: 08 Apr 1810 in Zoar (now Claremont), MA
...... + Anna SEWARD b: Jul 1811 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY, m: 04 Jul 1830
.........3 Lucius FRENCH b: 02 Feb 1832, d: 10 Sep 1910 in Davenport, IA
......... + Ellen COOK m: 29 Dec 1864, d: 11 Dec 1865
......... + Agnes NORVAL m: 25 Apr 1867
.........3 Hepzibeth "Hepsey" FRENCH b: 16 Sep 1833, d: 19 Apr 1885
.........3 Olive FRENCH b: 20 Nov 1835, d: 22 Apr 1900 in Binghamton, Broome, NY
......... + Charles A. WOOD m: 23 Sep 1859
.........3 Betsey FRENCH b: 09 Feb 1838
......... + Henry Martin STANFORD m: 22 Mar 1857
.........3 Mary FRENCH b: 04 Aug 1841
......... + Isaac HOWLAND m: 20 Jun 1866
.........3 Orin FRENCH b: 23 Sep 1844, d: 23 Oct 1844
.........3 Kit Carson FRENCH b: 20 Aug 1854 in Glen Castle, Broome, NY
......... + Mina Nina E. KEELER m: 01 Jan 1876
......2 Salphronius Henry FRENCH b: 26 Aug 1811 in Zoar (now Claremont), MA
...... + Cynthia HARRINGTON m: 06 Oct 1834
.........3 Augusta E. FRENCH
......... + James SQUIRE

Several of the descendants of Clement FRENCH became notable physicians. Dr. Salphronius H. FRENCH (the one born in 1811) was a physician and surgeon, and his namesake nephew (born in 1837) was an even more famous surgeon, and banker. Dr. Lucius FRENCH was also a prominent physician in Davenport, IA. Dr. Kit Carson FRENCH was a physician in Lisle, MA.

10. Clara FRENCH was born 7 Sep 1785, and died 6 Mar 1786, at age 5 months.

11. Clarissa FRENCH (second) was born 22 Sep 1788, in West Springfield, and died on 11 Jun 1827, also in West Springfield. She married on 26 Dec 1805 in West Springfield, to Henry TUTTLE, brother of Michael TUTTLE. Henry was born 4 Sep 1783 in Holyoke, Hampden, MA, and died 5 Sep 1851, also in Holyoke. Their gravestone in Forestdale Cemetery, Holyoke, Hampden County, MA also has birth and death dates for two single daughters, Almeron and Lucy.

Clarissa and Henry were 17 and 22 when they were married. They lived in West Springfield, and raised a large family. Clarissa died at age 38, leaving Henry with 8 children still living. Henry then married Lydia BRACKETT, and they had 1 more child.

They are called Clarissa and Henry in most records, but in [MEB, p. 119] they are Clara and Harry.

Incidentally, Harry TUTTLE is the name of a fictional character in the 1985 movie Brazil, played by Robert De Niro. No connection, I'm sure!

For brevity: Holyoke, Russell, West Springfield, Springfield and Westfield were in Hampshire County, MA until 1812, when they were part of newly formed Hampden County, MA. Hadley and Easthampton remained in Hampshire County.

1 Henry TUTTLE b: 04 Sep 1783 in Holyoke, d: 05 Sep 1851 in Holyoke

+ Clarissa FRENCH b: 22 Sep 1788 in West Springfield, m: 26 Dec 1805 in West Springfield, d: 11 Jan 1827 in West Springfield

......2 Almeron Atwater TUTTLE b: 16 Feb 1808 in West Springfield, d: 26 Mar 1828 in West Springfield

......2 Worster H. TUTTLE b: Dec 1811 in MA, d: 21 Feb 1910 in Hadley

...... + Margaret E. HELMSING b: 1823 in Germany, m: 27 Aug 1842 in West Springfield, d: 10 Jul 1872 in Hadley

...... + Caroline Burt CLAPP b: 1821 in Easthampton, m: 22 Oct 1845 in Easthampton, d: 12 Apr 1887

......2 Hubbard Bellows TUTTLE b: 07 Nov 1815 in Springfield, d: 05 Sep 1850 in CA

...... + Lucy LOOMIS b: 11 Jun 1822 in Russell, m: 16 May 1843 in Westfield, d: 20 Oct 1890 in Spanish Fork, Utah, UT

......2 Maria Emily TUTTLE b: 04 Jan 1818 in West Springfield

...... + John R. ROOT

......2 Lucy French TUTTLE b: 22 Mar 1820 in West Springfield, d: 10 Sep 1842 in West Springfield

......2 Augustus Titus TUTTLE b: 1822, d: 1900

...... + Sarah Hane SMITH b: 1824, m: 1845, d: 1899

......2 Clarissa Louisa TUTTLE b: 03 Apr 1824 in West Springfield, d: 03 May 1844 in Hadley

...... + Roswell SMITH b: 05 Apr 1815 in MA, m: 11 Nov 1843 in West Springfield, d: 1893 in Hadley

......2 Ezra Williams TUTTLE

+ Lydia BRACKETT b: 05 Feb 1791, m: 09 Feb 1828 in West Springfield, d: 25 Nov 1874 in Holyoke

......2 Almorin TUTTLE b: 1830 in MA

......2 Lydia Lorania TUTTLE b: 07 Oct 1832 in West Springfield, d: 07 Apr 1900 in Boston, MA

The 1850 US Census has two TUTTLE families in one dwelling, in Holyoke. Henry TUTTLE and his 2nd wife, Lydia, appear to have two children, Almorin and Lydia L. Also Henry's daughter Marie (TUTTLE) ROOT is without her husband, but she has a son, his namesake, John R. ROOT. Henry's daughter Charlotte (TUTTLE) WILLIAMS is also without he husband, but has a daughter, Elizabeth WILLIAMS. Henry's son Augustus F (or T) TUTTLE has a wife and son. Henry is owner of a good-sized farm.

12. Julia FRENCH was born 25 Aug 1792, and died 29 May 1793, at age 9 months.

13. Charlotte FRENCH was born 10 Jan 1795, and died 1853 in Washington, D.C. On 12 Sep 1814 at Northampton, MA, she married Ezra WILLIAMS, born 31 May 1790.

The family moved to Westford, Otsego, NY between 1816 and 1819, then to Detroit, Wayne, MI in the mid 1820s, and on to Washington, DC in 1845. [MEB, p. 119] It seems that they tried again with the name David.

Daniel and David were either twins, or the same person. David's gravestone, in Elmwood Cemetery, Holyoke, Hampden, MA appears to read: "DAVID son of EZRA and Charlotte Williams died May 2, 1816 ?? 6 months". So he was born in Oct or Nov 1815. Daniel, according to [MEB, p. 119], was born 14 Nov 1815, and died 26 May 1816.

In 1810 Ezra WILLIAMS was single, but head-of-household. The family of 6 included a female 26-44, probably Ezra's mother.

By 1820 Ezra and Charlotte had a family of 6, in Westford, Otsego, NY. Of the 6, there were 2 young adults, probably a brother and sister of Ezra or Charlotte. So they had a boy and a girl, both under 10.

In the 1830 US Census, it looks like the same family is in Chautauqua County, NY. The household still has 4 adults, about 10 years older than they were in 1820.

The 1840 Census has the family in Detroit. In 1850 Charlotte was living with her sister Lydia (FRENCH) TUTTLE's family in Holyoke (see above). Ezra had probably died before 1850.

DNA Evidence

My close matches (i.e., distant cousins) on AncestryDNA include 20 members who trace their ancestry back to Samson FRENCH and Lucy ROOT. Of these 20, 15 were descendants of Sara (FRENCH) LEE, my 4g-grandmother. The other 5, shown in the chart below, provide good evidence that I am also a descendant of Samson and Lucy.

Sources

[JPR] Root genealogical records. 1600-1870. Comprising the general history of the Root and Roots families in America (1870) by James Pierce Root

[BR] Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Broome County, New York (1894)

[GWC] History of Haverhill, Massachusetts (1861) by George Wingate Chase

[M] A history of the family of Morgan, from the year 1089 to present times (1902) by Appleton Morgan

[MEB] A genealogical history of the French and allied families (1912) by Beyer, Mary Elizabeth Queal

[MB] A Brief History of the French Family, by M. Q. Beyer (1910)

[ VL] Samson French in the Vasil Lee Family Tree

Updated 4 May 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.