French, William
Lieut. William FRENCH (1603 - 1681) and Elizabeth SYMMES (1601 - 1668)
my 9g-grandparents
Lieutenant William FRENCH, a tailor, was born in England, about 1601-5, and immigrated to America about 1635, with his wife Elizabeth SYMMES (or GODFREY) and 4 young children, settling first in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony. There they had 6 more children, including Samuel FRENCH, my 8g-grandfather. Then about 1652 the family removed about 30 miles northwest, to Billerica, where Elizabeth died in 1668. A year later, William married Mary LATHROP, and they had 4 children. William died in 1681. There has been some controversy about his family and origins, and here I will try to collect the evidence.
This 1806 map shows several places of interest in southern Suffolk, northern Essex, and the southwest corner of Cambridge Shire. Earles Colne, Essex, the home of Roger HARLAKENDEN, and probable home of William FRENCH, is in the lower central part of the map, near Halstead, Essex, the home of the other William FRENCH. Mistley, Essex, the birthplace of Isaac CUMMINGS, is near Manningtree, lower right. Assington, Suffolk, home of Thomas FRENCH (no known relation to either William) is just below Sudbury, in the central part of the map, and Boxford, birthplace of Susan RIDDLESDALE, is nearby. Wood Ditton, Cambridge, home of the ROOTEs and KILBOURNs, is in the upper left.
William reported his age as 30 on the ship's manifest in Jul 1635 (below), and his will, written on 5 Jun 1679, says he was about 76. He died in his 78th year, on 20 Nov 1681. So his birth was in the 1601-5 range.
It was long believed that he was the William FRENCH who was born and/or baptized on 15 Mar 1603 in Halstead, Essex, England. This appears in several works published in 1912 or earlier. However, a will from 1637 proved to be for the same William FRENCH, not the one who emigrated in 1635.
William FRENCH and his wife Elisa were among the servants of Roger HARLAKENDEN in the manifest of the ship Defense (below). Roger was of the HARLAKENDEN family of Earls Colne (Earl's Colne, Earles Colne), in northern Essex, England. This is next to Halstead, home of the other William FRENCH (above). It is also in the same general area as Assington, Suffolk (birthplace of Thomas FRENCH, no known relation) and also Mistley, Suffolk (birthplace of Isaac CUMMINGS). It seems likely that the William FRENCH family had lived in this area as well. So although our William FRENCH was not the one who was born on on 15 Mar 1603 in Halstead, he was probably born at approximately the same time and place, and the two Williams may very well have been related.
Roger HARLAKENDEN settled in Newtowne, which became known as Cambridge in 1638. He died in 1638, of smallpox. Perhaps it says something about him, that he brought his tailor's family along with him to the New World.
William's 1st wife was Elizabeth, who died on 31 Mar 1668 in Billerica. Their first child was Francis, who was 10 years of age in Jul 1635, so they were probably married by 1624, in England. Some researchers have said that she was Elizabeth SYMMES, daughter of Rev. William SYMMES. This information appears in [MF]. Others have said she was Elizabeth GODFREY, or perhaps she first married GODFREY, then William FRENCH. Elizabeth, or Elisa, is probably related to Sarra SIMES, who was 30 years of age in 1635, another servant of Roger HARLAKENDEN.
William and Elizabeth (Elisa) emigrated in Jul 1635 with 4 children, presumably their own children: Francis (10 yrs), Elizabeth (6 yrs), Marie (2.5 yrs), and John (5 mos).
[JCH, pp. 98-100]
The images above show part of the records of the Defence, with Captain Thomas BOSTOCK/BOSTOCKE. I am not sure how to read this; is 4 Jul 1635 the date when the trip was paid for? The records (not all shown) seem to span the period from 20 Jun to 14 Jul 1635. It is often claimed that Elizabeth was the wife of William, and the 4 children are their children. But it appears that the wife of William FRENCH is Elisa, separate from Elizabeth. It is also suggested that the listing of William as a servant of Roger HARLAKENDEN was a ruse, to get around the travel restrictions on those who were not members of the Church of England. This record [JCH], based on original records, was published in 1874, which is 239 years after the voyage, but I regard it as mostly accurate.
In particular, the record seems to indicate that Elisa and Elizabeth were different people: Elisa (32) being the wife of William FRENCH (30) and Elizabeth (30) the mother (or at least, guardian) of Francis (10), Elizabeth (6), Marie (2 1/2) and John (5 mos.). However, most biographers seem to conclude that Elisa and Elizabeth are the same person, listed twice for some reason. The children - Elizabeth, Marie and John - appear in later records of this family. The oldest child, Francis FRENCH, born about 1625, does not.
The most comprehensive study of this FRENCH family is [MEQB], which treats William FRENCH and family on pp. 22-62.
William FRENCH
In the winter of 1634, the Defence sailed from Hartwick (footnote: This seaport was at the mouth of the Stover in Essex, having a spacious and safe harbor.), for the New World, but the ship being driven back on account of bad weather, the journey for the time being was abandoned, and it was not until August 10, 1635, that this vessel finally embarked upon the voyage that was to land her passengers on the shores of the then almost unknown continent. The Defence, being old and unseaworthy, sprung a leak in the first storm encountered, which exposed those on board to such great danger that they were about to return to port. However, they finally succeeded in repairing the damage and continued their journey, encountering many storms during their thirty-four days upon the sea, came in sight of land October 2d, and the following day, October 3, 1635, landed at Boston. Thomas Bostacke of London was master of the ship. Among the passengers is found the name of William French, his wife Elizabeth, and four children, they being the first of this family to set foot on American soil.
William French was born in Halstead, County Essex, England, March 15, 1603, and married Elizabeth, surname not known, about 1623, her age being given as thirty or thirty-two in the record in the customs house, London, England.
On reaching Boston, William French purchased property and settled in the Newe Towne, called New Town or Newtown until May 2, 1638, when the General Court "Ordered That Newtowne shall henceforward be called Cambridge," (footnote: Paige's History of Cambridge.) and no other act of incorporation is found on record. His home was on the westerly side of Dunster street, about midway between Harvard Square and Mount Auburn street, the site now being occupied by a bank. He bought this property in 1639 and sold it to William Barrett June 10, 1656, after his removal to Billerica.
[MEQB, p. 28-9]
Now we find that the Defence attempted to sail in the Winter of 1634, departing from Hartwick, Essex, England. It was turned back by storms, and eventually departed on 10 Aug 1635. So the records above, ranging from 20 Jun 1635 to 14 Jul 1635, were recording passengers re-registering, or perhaps new passengers. They arrived at Boston on 3 Oct 1635, after a harrowing 34-day voyage. Which sounds more like 54 days to me.
The site of William FRENCH's home, "on the westerly side of Dunster street, about midway between Harvard Square and Mount Auburn street," in Cambridge, MA, which was occupied by a bank in 1912, is now occupied by The Hourly Oyster House.
From the records of First Church, Cambridge
William French and Elizabeth his wife, both members in full communion. Their children — Elizabeth now Eliot and now joyned at Dedham. Mary baptized in England between two and three years old at her father's joyning. John baptized by Mr. Hooker in Cambridge. Sarah, Jacob, Hannah, born and baptized in this church.
[MEQB, p. 33]
The First Church of Cambridge, of which William and Elizabeth FRENCH were members, was "Congregational in doctrine" at that time. Church records indicate that William and Elizabeth had children: Elizabeth and Mary, born and baptized in England; John, born in England and baptized here; Sarah, Jacob, Hannah, born and baptized here. The record is not dated, but it was after Elizabeth was married, since she was now Elizabeth ELIOT, now a member of a church in Dedham.
The following biography was published in 1908. It has the same birth date and place for William FRENCH. Again, the birthdate of 15 Mar 1603 in Halstead has been discredited, although he was probably born at about that time and place.
William FRENCH biography
William French, the immigrant ancestor of this family, was born in Halsted, county Essex, England, March 15, 1603. and died at Billerica, Massachnsetts, November 20. 1681. aged seventy-seven. He married first. Elizabeth ---- (surname believed to be Symmes, sister of Rev. Zachariah Symmes). and had four children born in England. He came to America on the ship "Defense," with Rev. Thomas Shepard and his brother Samuel, Roger Harlakenden and George and Joseph Cooke, in the summer of 1635. He settled first in Cambridge, and in 1652 was one of the original proprietors and first settlers of Billerica. He was lieutenant of the militia, and afterwards captain ; was the first man chosen to sit in the "deacon's seat," 1659: commissioner to establish the country rates in 1659 ; selectman in 1660. and for nine years in all; was on a committee to examine children and servants in reading, religion and the catechism in 1661 ; was the first representative or deputy to the general court at Boston, elected 1660, and taking his seat 1663. A tract written by him, entitled "Strength out of Weakness," in which he gives a detailed account of the testimony of an Indian convert to Christianity, was published in London and afterward republished in the "Massachusetts Historical Society Collections." He bought part of the old Dudley farm in Billerica. and his house stood near the turnpike, east of the Bradford road, near Ralph Hill's house. Hill called him brother in his will. French was a tailor by trade. His wife Elizabeth died March 31, t668, and he married second, May 6, 1669, Mary, widow of John Stearns, daughter of Thomas Lathrop, of Barnstable, Massachusetts. His widow married, June 29, 1687, Isaac Mixer, of Watertown. His estate was divided December 6, 1687, between the widow and three daughters—Mary Sharp, and Sarah and Hannah French.
Children of William and Elizabeth French:
1. Frances, born about 1625.
2. Elizabeth, born 1629-31 : married ---- Ellis, of Watertown.
3. Mary, born 1633.
4. John, born 1635 ; mentioned below.
5. Sarah, born March 1638.
6. Jacob, born March 16, 1639-40.
7. Hannah, born February 2, 1641-2; died June 20 following.
8. Samuel, born December 3, 1645; died July 15. 1646.
9. Samuel, born after 1646. pioneer in Dunstable, Massachusetts.
Children of William and Mary French :
10. Mary, born April 3. 1670; married Nathaniel Dundee.
11. Sarah, born October 29, 1671 ; married ---- Sharp, who died in military service ; married second, Joseph Crosby.
12. Abigail, born April 14, 1673; died April 13, 1674.
13. Hannah, born January 25, 1676; married October 5, 1693, John Child, of Watertown.
[WRC, Vol. I, p. 280]
If Elizabeth's maiden name was SYMMES, then perhaps she was related to Sarra SIMES, who was listed as another of Roger HARLAKENDEN's servants, in the Defence manifest, above. She was 30, so born about 1605. I don't see a Rev. Thomas SHEPARD in the manifest, but there is a Samuel SHEPHERD, and a SHEPPARD family. This is one of several resources that refers to William as Lieutenant William FRENCH, which is useful for identification. He attained that rank on 26 May 1647 in Cambridge. [GM, Vol. II, p. 588] William was a tailor by trade, so it is interesting that Adam MOTT, another tailor, and his family were also with them on their journey across the Atlantic.
The year 1652 is when William FRENCH moved his family to Billerica, where they were among the original settlers. They had lived in Cambridge 17 years, and their older children were grown. Daughter Elizabeth's married name was ELLIS, not ELIOT, as recorded in the Cambridge church records, above. Or perhaps she was married twice.
Many Indians in New England were encouraged (or forced) to adopt Christianity. Often called "praying Indians" and other colorful names, they had a better rate of survival in the Indian Wars than their "heathen" friends. William FRENCH wrote an article relating an interview with a converted Indian, which appeared in a pamphlet called Strength out of Weakness, first published in 1652.
This article by William FRENCH was published in 1652. [SOW] Click to enlarge.
Elizabeth, wife of William FRENCH, died 31 Mar 1668, in Billerica. She was the mother of 9 children, at least 2 of whom died in infancy. William remarried on 6 May 1669, to Mary LATHROP, when William was 66, and they had 4 more children.
Another FRENCH family is easily conflated with this one. John FRENCH was born about 1612 in England, and settled in Braintree, MA. His descendants can be found in all corners of New England. I don't know if John is related to William. See [WRC, Vol III, pp. 1250-1] for this family. In [GM, Vol. II, p. 592] it is claimed that William was the brother of John FRENCH, who appeared in Cambridge in 1637. It seems that they went in opposite directions from Cambridge!
Possible brothers of William
William French was brother of JOHN FRENCH {1637, Cambridge} [Pillsbury Anc 489]. On 2 April 1650, the “Court granted W[illia]m French right and power of administration on the estate of his brother John French deceased, and do confirm and allow of his disposal of the children.” [MCR 1:9]. The Sarah French who married at Billerica 11 October 1657 John Trull [Bailey 3:9] was daughter of John French.
Richard French, who appeared in Cambridge by 1647 [CaTR 63], was probably related to William and John in some way. He also obtained land in Billerica, and he named a son Samuel, as did William French. Samuel French, son of Richard and Martha, born at Cambridge 13 July 1653, is apparently the man of that name who married at Chelmsford on 28 December 1682 Sarah Cummings.
[GM, VOl. II, p. 592-3]
John and William were brothers
He [William French] had a brother, John French, who also came to this country. John French had by a wife Joanna: John, born about 1635; Sarah, born Oct. 1637; Joseph, born 4 Apr. 1640; Nathaniel, born 7 June 1643. John French was a tailor. He was buried 16 Feb. 1645-6, and his wife Joanna was buried 20 Jan. 1645-6, in Cambridge.
[MLH, p. 195]
Billerica, MA originally included a large area, which was broken up into several smaller communities in 1734. John FRENCH, the infant immigrant, lived on the south side of Fox Hill, center of the map. From [HAH], between pages 15 and 16. (It's pronounced Bill-Ricka.)
In 1911, Elizabeth FRENCH published an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, which challenged the accepted ancestry of William FRENCH. She showed that the William FRENCH who was baptized 15 Mar 1603 at Halstead, Essex, England, the son of Thomas FRENCH, died there before 1638, so he could not have been the William FRENCH who emigrated on the Defence in 1635 and settled in New England. If true, this invalidates the 3 generations of Thomas FRENCHes that are listed as ancestors of William in [MEQB]. However, there was another William FRENCH in Halstead, born about 1606, about whom much less is known, and he is probably our William.
[NEHGR, Vol. 65, pp. 285-6]
The will and estate of William FRENCH
In his will, dated 5 Jun 1679 and proved 20 December 1681, “W[illia]m French of Billerica, aged about seventy & six years,” declared that “I have already given to all my children that have already married their portions, I only add to them as followeth: to the eldest son of John French, to W[illia]m the son of Jacob French, to Elizabeth daughter [of] Richard Ellis, to Jonathan the son of Jonathan Hides, to the eldest daughter of Jonathan Peake, to Marah the daughter of John Brackett, which are all my grandchildren, to each person aforesaid twenty shillings”; residue to “my beloved wife, & to those children born to me by her, to be divided to each at the discretion of our honored country court after my decease”; “my beloved wife & my son Jacob French” executors; at the time of probate, there was “allowed to the [illegible] of the children £6 13s. 4 d., to the widow 1/3 of the remainder, to the widow the remainder 2/3 equally to be let out by Lt. Jonath[an] Danforth, Joseph Thompson & Josiah Convarse to each his part & the widow to have the benefit of the children’s portion for the bringing up & education until they come of age to choose their guardians” [MPR 5:250-51].
The inventory of the estate of “Lt. W[ilia]m French of Billerica who deceased 20 November 1681 being his 78 year of his age,” taken 6 December 1681, totalled £231 12s. 10d. (against which were debts of about £25), of which £104 was real estate: “house & barn, homestead, meadows & outlands,” £104; presented 8 December 1681 by Mary French executrix to the estate of Lt. French her deceased husband” [MPR 5:251-53].
On 6 December 1687, “the estate of Lt. William French of Billerica (who deceased 20.9m.1681)” was divided, “to the widow one-third part of the whole estate and to the three children the remaining two-thirds, equally,” the widow receiving £60 14s. 10d., “Mary French (now Sharp),” £40 10 s., “Sarah French,” £40 10 s., and “Hannah French,” £40 10 s.; this division was acknowledged on 20 August 1722 by Sarah Crosbey, Mary Dunklin & Hannah Child (daughters of the within mentioned Will[ia]m French deceased)” [MLR 16:413-14; MPR Case #8528].
[GM] The Great Migration, Vol. II, p. 590-1
Lieut. William FRENCH wrote his will on 5 Jun 1679. Then on 18 Dec 1680, his wife and son Jacob asked permission of the Court of Billerica for authority to dispose of his estate, stating that he was "by God's hand through impotency and weakness unfit to manage his domestic concerns." [GM, Vol. II, p. 590] William died on 20 Nov 1681 in Billerica, at age 78, his estate was inventoried on 6 Dec 1681, and his will was proved 20 Dec 1681. The estate was finally settled on 6 Dec 1687.
The will (1679) mentions 6 grandchildren:
(unnamed eldest) son of John
William son of Jacob
Elizabeth daughter of Richard ELLIS [and Elizabeth]
Jonathan son of Jonathan HIDES
(unnamed eldest) daughter of Jonathan PEAKE
Marah daughter of John BRACKETT
The settlement document (1687) mentions 3 daughters:
Mary SHARP
Sarah FRENCH
Hannah FRENCH
and 3 who acknowledged the settlement in 1722:
Sarah CROSBEY
Mary DUNKLIN
Hannah CHILD
so presumably these are the 3 daughters from his second wife, Mary. (A 4th daughter, Abigail, had died in infancy.) In that case, Mary must have been married at least twice; once to SHARP and once to DUNKLIN.
Putting together information from [MEBQ], we have the following:
1-Lieut. William FRENCH b. Abt 1604 in England, d. 20 Nov 1681 in Billerica, MA
+Elizabeth SYMMES m. Abt 1623, d. 31 Mar 1668
2-Francis FRENCH b. 1624, England, d. 14 Feb 1681
+Lydia BONNELL m. 10 Apr 1661, d. 1 Apr 1708
2-Elizabeth FRENCH b. 1629, England
+Robert ELIOT
2-Mary FRENCH b. 1633, England, d. 27 May 1672
+Jonathan HYDE
2-Col. John FRENCH b. 1635, England, d. Oct 1712 in Bedford, NH, age 77
+Abigail COGGAN b. Abt 1638, m. 21 Jun 1659, d. 5 Apr 1662
+Hannah BURRAGE b. Abt 1644, m. 3 Jul 1663, d. 7 Jul 1667
+Mary ROGERS m. 14 Jan 1668, d. 16 Jun 1677
+Mary LITTLEFIELD m. 16 Jan 1678, d. 7 Oct 1719
2-Sarah FRENCH b. Mar 1638, Cambridge, MA
+Jonathan PEAKE
2-Jacob FRENCH b. 16 Mar 1640, Cambridge, d. 20 May 1713
+Mary CONVERS d. 18 Jun 1686
+Mary d. 9 Jun 1709
+Ruth d. 6 Nov 1730
+Mary CHAMPNEY m. 20 Sep 1665, d. 11 Apr 1681
2-Hannah FRENCH b. 12 Apr 1641, d. 20 Jun 1642
2-Hannah FRENCH b. 16 Feb 1644, d. 9 May 1674
+John BRACKETT m. 6 Sep 1661
2-Samuel FRENCH b. 3 Dec 1645, d. 15 Jul 1646
2-Lieut. Samuel FRENCH b. 3 Dec 1645, Cambridge, MA, d. 4 Nov 1727
+Sarah CUMMINGS b. 27 Jan 1661, m. 28 Dec 1682, Dunstable, MA
+Mary LATHROP b. 1640, m. 6 May 1669, d. After 1735
2-Mary FRENCH b. 3 Apr 1670
+Nathaniel DUNLKLIN
2-Sarah FRENCH b. 29 Oct 1671
+Joseph CROSBY m. 6 May 1691
2-Abigail FRENCH b. 14 Apr 1673, d. 13 Apr 1674
2-Hannah FRENCH b. 25 Jan 1676
+John CHILDS m. 5 Oct 1693
1. Francis FRENCH was born about 1624 in England, the first child of William and Elizabeth, and died 9 months before his father, on 14 Feb 1681, at age 56 or 57. He married Lydia BONNELL on 10 Apr 1661. She died 1 Apr 1708.
2. Elizabeth FRENCH was born about 1629 in England. She married Robert ELIOT.
3. Mary FRENCH was born about 1633 in England, and died 27 May 1672, at age 38 or 39. She married Jonathan HYDE.
4. Col. John FRENCH was born about Apr 1635, in England, and came to America at age 3 months, with his parents and older siblings. He died in Oct 1712, at age 77. He married 4 times: Abigail in 1659, Hannah in 1663, Mary in 1668, and another Mary in 1678.
John French biography
John French, son of Lieutenant William French was born in England early in 1635, and was brought over when but five months old by his parents. He died in Billerica, Massachusetts, October, 1712. He resided on the south side of Fox Hill, on the east road. He was a soldier in King Philip's war and was a corporal in the fight at Brookfield, 1675. He was wounded in this assault at Quaboag (Brookfield), and in petition subsequently describes himself as a "poor, wounded'' man. He was poor enough for a time, and was harassed by the constable before he recovered from the losses of the war. He was an influential citizen of Billerica, and held many town offices from time to time. [WRC, Vol. I, p. 280]
John French was a colonel in the militia, and served in King Philip's War.
John's first wife was Abigail COGGAN, born about 1638, daughter of Henry COGGAN of Barnstable. They married on 21 Jul 1659, when they were about 24 and 21. No children are known. Abigail died on 5 Apr 1662, at age 23 or 24.
Almost 15 months after Abigail's death, John married (2) Hannah BURRAGE, daughter of John BURRAGE of Charlestown. Hannah was born about 1644, and they married on 3 Jul 1663, when they were about 28 and 19. They had 2 daughters, in 1664 and 1665. Hannah died on 7 Jul 1667, at age 22 or 23, leaving John with daughters Hannah, age 3, and Abigail, 18 months. Hannah married Dr. John KITTREDGE, and they were the progenitors of a long list of medical men.
Col. John FRENCH married (3) Mary ROGERS, daughter of John ROGERS, on 14 Jan 1668, about 6 months after the death of his second wife. They had only one known child. Mary's birth date is not known, but she died on 16 Jun 1677, after less than 9 years of marriage, leaving John with 3 daughters, aged 13, 11 and 7. John must have been anxious to have a stepmother for his children, as he married again after 6 months.
On 16 Jan 1678, John married (4) Mary LITTLEFIELD, daughter of John LITTLEFIELD, of Woburn, and widow of John KITTREDGE, of Billerica. I don't know the relationship between this John KITTREDGE and the one who married Hannah FRENCH (above). This marriage produced 3 sons and 3 daughters. A great-grandson of John and Mary was William FRENCH, who was killed at the Westminster Massacre, of 13 Mar 1775, and is called the first casualty of the Revolutionary War. A grandson of John and Mary, also named William FRENCH, became a Brigadier General. Mary (LITTLEFIELD) (KITTREDGE) FRENCH outlived her husband John FRENCH by 7 years, and died on 7 Oct 1719.
General William FRENCH
Gen. William French, son of Deacon William and Mehitable Patten French, was born in Billerica, Mass., January 25, 1713, residing on the homestead during his youth, manifesting a lively interest in military affairs. He rose through all the grades from a private to Brigade General. He married Tabitha ----- in January, 1737.
General French was an administrator of his father's estate in 1745, retaining the homestead until October 8, 1766, when he sold it and removed the next year from Billerica to Monson, which was afterward Hollis; first settler of a place since known as Cobbett's mill on Witch brook. Mr. French had a sister, Sarah, who married a Kittredge and a Kidder that lived in the neighborhood. Mr. French built a saw mill, which he operated until about 1785, when he and a number of his sons went to Bedford, N. H., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was the ancestor of many of the Frenchs. Mr. French died in 1793, aged 80 years.
[JSS, pp. 54-5]
Descendant was a famous martyr in Rev War
A descendant of Lieutenant William French through his second son, John, himself named William French, a resident of Dummerston in the New Hampshire grants, was the celebrated victim of the Westminster massacre in 1775. As this was the direct result of the first organized resistance to British authority in the American colonies, William French has been claimed as the first martyr to the cause of American independence. [WRC, Vol. I, p. 280]
1 Col. John FRENCH b: 1635 in England, d: Oct 1712 in Bedford, NH, age 77
+ Abigail COGGAN b: Abt. 1638, m: 21 Jun 1659, d: 05 Apr 1662
+ Hannah BURRAGE b: Abt. 1644, m: 03 Jul 1663, d: 07 Jul 1667
......2 Hannah FRENCH b: 20 Jan 1664 in Billerica
...... + John KITTREDGE m: 03 Aug 1685
......... 3 John KITTREDGE
......... 3 Jacob KITTREDGE
......2 Abigail FRENCH b: 06 Dec 1665 in Billerica, d: 13 Mar 1728
...... + Benjamin PARKER
+ Mary ROGERS m: 14 Jan 1668, d: 16 Jun 1677
......2 Mary FRENCH b: 04 Mar 1670 in Billerica, d: 21 Aug 1740
...... + Nathan SHED d: 18 Jun 1736
+ Mary LITTLEFIELD m: 16 Jan 1678, d: 07 Oct 1719
......2 John FRENCH b: 15 May 1679 in Billerica
......2 Elizabeth FRENCH b: 24 Jul 1681 in Billerica
...... + Thomas ABBOTT m: 25 Dec 1706 see [LAA, vol. 2, p. 909]
......2 William FRENCH b: 26 Nov 1683 in Billerica, d: 21 Apr 1685
......2 Sarah FRENCH b: 15 Sep 1685 in Billerica
...... + FLINT
...... + Joseph FROST m: 05 Apr 1710
......2 Deacon William FRENCH b: 08 Aug 1687 in Billerica
...... + Mehitable PATTEN
.........3 Gen. William FRENCH b: 25 Jan 1713 in Billerica, d: 1793 in Bedford, Westchester, NH
......... + Tabitha m: Jan 1737
............4 Jonathan FRENCH b: 10 Oct 1737 in Billerica
............ + Abigail HOSLEY m: 1761
............4 William FRENCH b: 16 Feb 1739 in Billerica
............ + Lucy REMICK m: 25 Jul 1776
............4 Joseph FRENCH b: 10 Dec 1740 in Billerica
............ + Mary YOUNGMAN m: 01 Feb 1771
............4 Tabitha FRENCH b: 31 Dec 1742 in Billerica
............ + CARLETON
............4 Benjamin FRENCH b: 18 Feb 1744 in Billerica
............ + Bethsheba HILL m: 06 Nov 1776
............4 Nehemiah FRENCH b: 29 Mar 1746 in Billerica
............ + Submit m: 1771
............4 Stephen FRENCH b: 31 Dec 1748 in Billerica
............ + Dolly COLBURN b: 10 Jun 1754, m: 7 Jan 1773, of Dracut, MA
............4 Ephraim FRENCH b: 10 Nov 1751 in Billerica
............ + Hannah MELENDY m: 1777
............4 David FRENCH b: 15 Sep 1754 in Billerica, d: 13 Jun 1790
............ + Lydia PARKER m: 05 Mar 1778
............4 Mehitable FRENCH b: 18 Aug 1756 in Billerica
............ + Job BAILEY m: 18 Aug 1776
............4 Elizabeth Betsey FRENCH b: 18 Aug 1756, d: 25 Jul 1817
............ + Daniel BAILEY m: 04 Mar 1784
............4 Mary FRENCH b: 1758 in Billerica
.........3 Elizabeth FRENCH b: 03 Apr 1716 in Billerica, d: 30 Nov 1755
......... + Ephraim KIDDER b: 15 Feb 1710 in Billerica, m: 30 Dec 1735 in Billerica, d: 30 Aug 1756 in Lake George, NY
.........3 Mehitable FRENCH b: 29 Aug 1718 in Billerica
......... + John WHITE
.........3 Nathaniel FRENCH b: 02 Feb 1721 in Billerica
......... + Elizabeth FROST
............4 Nathaniel FRENCH
............4 Joel FRENCH
............4 William FRENCH b: 27 Mar 1753, d: 13 Mar 1775 in VT, "first blood of the Revolution"
.........3 Jonathan FRENCH b: 28 May 1724 in Billerica, d: 20 Jun 1725
.........3 David FRENCH b: 28 May 1724 in Billerica
.........3 John FRENCH b: 27 May 1730 in Billerica
......... + Mary FRENCH
......... + Priscilla MACE
......2 Hannah FRENCH b: 18 Feb 1693 in Billerica, d: 12 Sep 1769
...... + Jonathan RICHARDSON d: 13 Aug 1720
...... + Benjamin FROST m: 15 Feb 1726
5. Sarah FRENCH was born in Mar 1638, in Cambridge, MA. She married Jonathan PEAKE.
6. Jacob FRENCH was born 16 Mar 1640, in Cambridge, and died 20 May 1713, at age 73. He married 4 times:
+Mary CONVERS d. 18 Jun 1686
+Mary d. 9 Jun 1709
+Ruth d. 6 Nov 1730
+Mary CHAMPNEY m. 20 Sep 1665, d. 11 Apr 1681
7. Hannah FRENCH was born 12 Apr 1641, and died 20 Jun 1642, at age 14 months. Her parents used the same name for their next child.
8. Hannah FRENCH was born 16 Feb 1644, and died 9 May 1674, at age 30. She married John BRACKETT on 6 Sep 1661.
9. Samuel FRENCH was born 3 Dec 1645, and died 15 Jul 1646, at age 7 months.
10. Lieut. Samuel FRENCH was born 3 Dec 1645, in Cambridge, MA, and died 4 Nov 1727, at age 81. He married Sarah CUMMINGS on 28 Dec 1682, in Dunstable, MA. Sarah was born 27 Jan 1661.
Samuel and Sarah were my 8g-grandparents. See the Samuel FRENCH page.
11. Mary FRENCH was born 3 Apr 1670, the first child of William FRENCH and his 2nd wife, Mary LATHROP. She married Nathaniel DUNLKLIN.
12. Sarah FRENCH was born 29 Oct 1671. She married Joseph CROSBY on 6 May 1691.
13. Abigail FRENCH was born 14 Apr 1673, and died 13 Apr 1674, one day before her 1st birthday.
14. Hannah FRENCH was born 25 Jan 1676. She married John CHILDS on 5 Oct 1693.
Sources
[CF] Isaac Cummings, of Topsfield, Mass., and some of his descendants (1899) by Marietta Clark
[CFU] Colonial Families of the USA
[CG] Cummings genealogy : Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677 of Ipswich in 1638 and some of his descendants (1904) by Albert Oren Cummins
[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
[CM] The Cummings memorial, a genealogical history of the descendants of Isaac Cummings, an early settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts (1903) by George Mooar
[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
[FFA] French Family Association
[GFF] Genealogy of the French family (1903)
[GMB] The Great Migration Begins/Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 by Robert Charles Anderson (1995) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[GM] The Great Migration/Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 by Robert Charles Anderson et al (1999) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[GWC] History of Haverhill, Massachusetts (1861) by George Wingate Chase
[HAH] History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register (1883) by Henry Allen Hazen (The 2nd part of the book is a Genealogical Register, with its own page numbering.)
[JF] An historical memoir of Billerica, in Massachusetts (1816) by John Farmer
[KW] History of Hudson, NH (1913) by Kimball Webster
[LAA] Descendants of George Abbott, of Rowley, Mass (1906) by Lemuel Abijah Abbott Vol 1 Vol 2
[MEQB] A genealogical history of the French and allied families (1912) by Beyer, Mary Elizabeth Queal
[MF] Elizabeth (Symmes) French in the Millenium File
[MLH] The Scott Genealogy (1919) by Holman, Mary Lovering
[NAFH] North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
[NEHGR] New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 65
[PM] The Pioneers of Massachusetts, 1620-1650
[SOW] Strength out of weakness : or A glorious manifestation of the further progress of the gospel among the Indians in New England by Society for Propagation of the Gospel in New England; Eliot, John, 1604-1690; Wilson, John, 1588-1667; Leverich, William, d. 1677; Bessey, Anthony, 1609?-1657?; Mayhew, Thomas, 1621-1657; Endecott, John, 1588?-1665; French, William, 1603?-1681; Allen, Thomas, 1608-1673; Whitfield, Henry, 1597-1660?; White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918
[TFW] Ipswich village and the old Rowley road (1914) by Thomas Franklin Waters
[VL] Samson French in the Vasil Lee Family Tree (requires Ancestry.com license)
[VRD] Vital records of Dunstable, Massachusetts : to the end of the year 1849 (1913)
[W1681] Will of William French, 1681 (3 pages, including cover page. Next is the 1723 will of his grandson, William French.)
[WRC] Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts (1908) by William Richard Cutter Vol I Vol II Vol III Vol IV
[ZGW] The history of the ancient and honorable artillery company (1842) by Zachariah G. Whitman
Updated 25 Aug 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.