French Family Association

Mara French, P.O. Box 1109, Sutter Creek, CA 95685-1109. 209-267-0649 marafrench@mindspring.com

Chart #3, John French, 1600, Cambridge, MA,
Text File Only

This chart updated by Mara French on 3/29/08.
The following charts now connect to Chart #3: Charts 13, 18, 75, and 83.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This file is for easy searching only and will not be maintained. It contains only the first four generations of this line. Please see main gedcom Chart #3 file for latest information.

First Generation

1.      John French:: b. about 1600, occupation Tailor, m. (1) Sarah, d. about 1635, m. (2) about 1635, Joanna, d. 1645/6, Cambridge, MA, buried: 20 Jan 1645/6, Cambridge, MA.  John died 1645/6, Cambridge, MA, buried: 16 Feb 1645/6, Cambridge, MA.¹        The baptism of all five children is indicated in the Cambridge, MA Vital Records (First Congregational Church) but no dates are included ⁽²⁾

Children by Joanna:

2.      i       John French: b. ca 1635, Probably Cambridge, MA, d. Feb 1645/6, along with his parents.²

3.      ii      Mary French:: b. ca 1635, Probably Cambridge, MA, m. 1654,² Theophilus Richardson:.

4.      iii     Sarah French:: b. Oct 1637, Probably Cambridge, MA, m. 11 Dec 1657, in Woeberne (Woburn) MA, John Trull:, b. about 1634, England, d. 15 Jun 1704, Billerica, MA.  Sarah died 26 Sep 1710.⁴   Sarah & John Trull had 12 children. She may also married Joseph Frost. John: He was the immigrant ancestor of the Trull family in America. 

+5.      iv      Joseph French: b. 04 Apr 1640.

+6.      v       Nathaniel French, Sr.: b. 07 Jun 1643.

Second Generation

5.      Joseph French:: (1.John¹) b. 04 Apr 1640, Probably Cambridge, MA, m. 04 Nov 1663, in Billerica, MA, Experience Foster:, b. about 1644,⁵ (daughter of Thomas Foster: and Elizabeth) d. after 1720.  Joseph died 1694, Taunton, MA.

        Joseph moved between 1678 and 1680  to the southern part Taunton, which became  Berkley in 1735, and took land next to James Phillips, Richard Burt and Elkanah Babbit. Here his last four children were born.  His will dated 24 April 1694, mentions the following children: Joseph, John, Nathaniel, Jacob, Ebenezer, Jonathan, Elizabeth, wife of Jas. Phillips; his wife, Experience, was the executrix of the will.

        Joseph saw active service in King Phillip's War in 1675, was a member of the 4th Sq. 1st Military Co. of Taunton,  in 1682, and was listed in the inspection return of King William's War of 1691.

Children:

7.      i       Joseph French: b. 25 Mar 1667, Billerica, MA, d. 25 Apr 1667, Billerica, MA.⁶

8.              ii      Elizabeth French:: b. 16 Jul 1668, Billerica, MA, m. 07 May 1691, in Taunton, MA, James Phillips:, b. 01 Jan 1661, Taunton, MA, (son of James Phillips Sr.: and Mary Hall:) d. about 1732, Taunton, MA.⁶   The information on their children come from "John French of Cambridge and Billerica, Mass. and His Descendants--Taunton and Berkley, Mass. James: Elizabeth was his 2nd wife. His will was probated on 23 Jan 1732/3 it mentions, wife Elizabeth and the following children. James, Nathaniel, Samuel, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary Paul, Abigail, Experience, Rebecca and Kezah.

Note:

Daughter, Kesiah Phillips, m. Ebenezer French (see person # 36)

Daughter, Abigail m.1 Joseph French Jr. (see person #23) m.2 Joseph Richmond Jr., 20 Apr 1736 in Berkeley, MA they had two children; Perez Richmond & Wealthy Richmond, who married Jacob French, Jr.

+9.      iii     Joseph French: b. 07 Mar 1669/70.

+10.     iv      John French: b. 30 Jan 1671/2.

11.     v       Nathaniel French: b. 06 May 1674, Billerica, MA, m. 07 Nov 1706, in Taunton, MA,⁶ Abigail Smith:.

12.     vi      Thomas French: b. 29 Feb 1675/6, Billerica, MA, d. 07 Mar 1676, Billerica, MA.

13.     vii     Sarah French: b. 06 Apr 1677, Billerica, MA, d. 14 Apr 1677, Billerica, MA.⁵

14.     viii    Jacob French: b. 26 Apr 1678, Billerica, MA.⁶

15.     ix      Thomas French: b. 12 Dec 1680, Taunton, MA,² d. 27 Dec 1680, Taunton, MA,⁷ buried: 29 Dec 1680.⁶

+16.     x       Ebenezer French: b. 27 Jun 1682.

17.     xi      Nathan French: b. 1686, Taunton, MA.  He is not included in the Taunton Vital Records, it could be that Nathan and Jonathan are the same person.

18.     xii     Jonathan French: b. 28 Jun 1686, Taunton, MA,⁶ m. Hannah.  Jonathan died before 10 Jan 1726.⁶

6.      Nathaniel French, Sr:. (1.John¹) b. 07 Jun 1643, Cambridge, MA, m. 09 Jan 1676, in Taunton, MA, Mary Tisdale:, b. 1658, (daughter of John Tisdale: and Sarah Walker:) d. 18 May 1731, Taunton, MA,³ buried: Walker burial grounds Taunton, MA.  Nathaniel died 14 Jun 1711, Taunton, MA,⁹ buried: Walker burial grounds in Taunton, MA.  He settled in Taunton as early as 1675. He served as a member of 3rd Sq., 1st Military Co. of Taunton in 1682.⁽⁸⁾ Mary: She was 73 when she died.

Children:

+19.     i       Nathaniel French, II: b. 1678.  

20.     ii      Sarah French:: b. 04 Oct 1680, Taunton, MA, m. 1697,¹⁰ Grenfill Hanover:.  Sarah died 04 Jun 1711.⁷

21.     iii     Hannah French:: b. 1682, Taunton, MA,¹⁰ m. 04 Jan 1721/2, in Plainfield, NH,¹⁰ Thomas Gallup:, b. 30 Apr 1682, Stonington, CT,¹⁰ d. NH.  Hannah died 30 Apr 1733, Plainfield, NH.¹⁰   Thomas: His parents were John and Elizabeth (Haris) Gallup, per inscriptions from Plainfield, NH Cemeteries.

Third Generation

9.      Joseph French:: (5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 07 Mar 1669/70, Billerica, MA, m. Sarah.  Joseph died 27 May 1735, Berkley, MA.  His will made on 2 Jul 1725 and probated 16 Oct 1735 lists Sarah and five children, but only two, Mary and Seth are included in the Berkley, MA Vital Records. (Were the other children by wife #1?)

 Children:

22.     i       John French: d. before 1752.

23.     ii      Joseph French Jr.: b. 1698,⁸ m. Abigail Phillips:, b. 1699, Taunton, MA,⁸ (daughter of James Phillips: and Elizabeth French:) d. after Jun 1772.  Joseph died 01 Mar 1724.¹¹   No children. Joseph and Abigail were 1st cousins.

24.     iii     Sarah French:: b. c 1703,⁸ m. Jonathan Davis:, d. 1753.⁶   Jonathan: The children of this couple, are listed on his will. He was from Freetown.

25.     iv      Mary French:: b. 01 Sep 1707,¹¹ m. 04 Oct 1729, in Berkley, MA,⁶ Archibald Foggison:.

+26.     v       Seth French: b. 23 Mar 1713.

10.     John French:: (5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 30 Jan 1671/2, Billerica, MA, occupation Farmer/ Tavern Keeper, m. (1) Elizabeth, d. 01 Jul 1707, Taunton, MA,¹¹ m. (2) Hannah, b. about 1680, d. 12 Nov 1749, Berkley, MA.⁶   John died 06 Sep 1760, Berkley, MA.¹¹   He was a soldier in the King Williams War of 1692 and member of the 1st Military Co. of Taunton in 1700 and the First Foot Co. of Taunton in 1710. He settled in the southern part of Taunton that was incorporated as Berkley in 1735.  There he and Hannah assisted in forming the Congregational church there. ref. History of Taunton, MA by S. H. Emory, Syracuse, NY 1893. All his children births are recorded in the Berkley, MA vital records. Elizabeth: She probably died of child birth complications. Hannah: The recorded date of her death looks like 1749, but has also been interpreted as 1744. John sold property to his son Israel, the deed dated 18 Apr 1748 does not show a wife participating.

Children by Elizabeth: ⁽⁸⁾

27.     i       Elizabeth French:: b. Oct 1699, Berkley, MA.¹⁰

+28.     ii      John French: b. May 1700.

29.     iii     Experience French:: b. Sep 1705, Berkley, MA.

30.     iv      Silence French:: b. Jun 1707, Berkley, MA, m. (1) 29 Feb 1727/8, in Scituate, MA,⁸ David House:, b. Mar 7, 1697, Scituate, MA,⁸ (son of Samuel House: and Sarah Pincin:) d. about 1740,⁸ m. (2) 29 May 1746, in Middleboro, MA,⁸ Caleb Jenne:, b. Jun 20, 1709, Dartmouth, MA, d. Aug 25, 1761.  Silence died 1776.  Her mother probably died as the result of her birth. Silence died between Mar and June 1776.. David: He died between Jun 14, 1740 and Oct 2, 1744

Children by Hannah: ⁽⁸⁾

31.     v       Abigail French::” b. 25 May 1711, Berkley, MA,⁶ m. 20 Aug 1737, intention to marry.,⁶ Noah Staples:, (son of Jacob Staples: and Mary Briggs:).

+32.     vi      Samuel French: b. 03 Dec 1714.

+33.     vii     Israel French: b. 21 Jul  1717.

34.     viii    Hannah French:: b. 19 Jun 1720, Berkley, MA, m. 23 Dec 1742,⁶ George Caswell:, b. about 1710, d. 22 Oct 1786.  All their children’s births were recorded in the Berkley, MA Vital Records.

35.     ix      Rachel French:: b. 20 Apr 1723, Berkley, MA.

16.     Ebenezer French:: (5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 27 Jun 1682, Taunton, MA, occupation Carpenter,¹⁰ m. (1) Mehitable Burt:, b. about 1690, (daughter of James Burt: and Mary Thayer:) d. 1715/16, Taunton, MA, m. (2) 31 Jan 1716/7, in Bridgewater, MA, Elizabeth Orcutt:.  Ebenezer died 1725, Taunton, MA.  His will was dated 2 May 1725 and probated 15 Jul 1725 in Bristol, all seven of his children are mentioned.  He made his home in Taunton. He was impressed in Queen Ann's War on Jul 2, 1705 and was a member of the First Foot Co. of Taunton in 1710. Elizabeth: Her children may have settled in Norton.

Children by Mehitable Burt:

+36.     i       Ebenezer French: b. 31 Jan 1708.

+37.     ii      Jacob French, Sr.: b. 16 May 1712.

+38.     iii     William French: b. 1715.

39.     iv      Mehitable French:: m. 12 Sep 1738, Joseph Pratt:.

40.     v       Elizabeth French:: m. 11 Nov 1740, Jonathan Pratt:.

Children by Elizabeth Orcutt:

41.     vi      Jane French: b. Taunton, MA.

42.     vii     Unknown French: b. 1725, Taunton, MA.  He was born after his father's death.

19.     Nathaniel French, II:: (6.Nathaniel², 1.John¹) b. 1678,¹⁰ d. Plainfield, NH.

Children:

+ 43.     i       Nathaniel French III: b. about 1720.

44.     ii      Mehitable French:: b. 1725, Plainfield, NH, d. 30 Oct 1777, Plainfield, NH.¹⁴   Unmarried.

Fourth Generation

26.     Seth French:: (9.Joseph³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 23 Mar 1713,¹¹ m. 17 Dec 1741, in Dighton, MA, Phebe Walker:, b. 29 Sep 1713, Dighton, MA,¹⁰ (daughter of Nathan Walker: and Abigail Richmond:). Seth died 09 Jun 1756, Berkley, Bristol Co., MA.¹¹   All the children's births were recorded in the Berkley MA Vital Records. The first 6 children and 9th child were baptized by Rev. Samuel Tobey. Phebe: She is a descendant of Pilgrim Thomas Rogers, through the Richmond's. Her father settled in Taunton MA as early as 1675 and obtained a land grant there the next year.

Children:

                45.     i       Abigail French:: b. 11 Oct 1742, Berkley, MA.⁸   Unmarried.

         +      46.     ii      Joseph French: b. 06 Mar1743/4.

                47.     iii     Thomas French: b. 05 Jul 1745, Berkley, MA.¹¹

                48.     iv      Phebe French:: b. 18 Oct 1746, Berkley, MA.  Unmarried mother.

                49.     v       Nathan French: b. 23 May 1748, Berkley, MA.¹¹   unmarried

                50.     vi      Sarah French:: b. 05 Feb 1749/50, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. 12 Aug 1773,¹⁵ William Briggs:.  Sarah died 08 Feb 1831, Minot, ME.  She was William's 2nd wife. All births, except Henry’s recorded in Dighton Vital Records. Other information is from NEHGR Vol. 125 and 126. William: He was from Taunton; he was a Mayflower descendant of Thomas Rogers. They had 8 children

1.      Ruth Briggs, b 26 May 1774

2.      Seth Briggs b. 13 Nov 1776

3.      Nathan Briggs b. 5 Sep 1778

4.      George Briggs b. 9 Jan 1781

5.      Daniel Briggs b. 21 Mar 1783

6.      John Briggs b. 25 Mar 1785

7.      Sarah Briggs b. Feb 1788

8.      Henry Briggs b. 17 Sep 1801 (date is probably incorrect)        

                51.     vii     Seth French: b. 26 Apr 1752, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. Sarah Pratt:.  Sarah: She was from Taunton.

                52.     viii    John French: b. 13 Feb 1754, Berkley, MA.  Unmarried

                53.     ix      Silence French: b. 22 Apr 1756.¹¹   Her father died shortly after her birth.

28.     John French:: (10.John³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. May 1700, Berkley, MA,³ m. Marcy, d. 18 Jul 1787, Middleboro, MA.  John died 05 Aug 1794, Oakham, MA.³   His father deeded him 39 acres of land in So. Taunton Feb 28, 1731/2. This land became part of Berkley in 1735. He was a member of the Berkley church in 1738. Elected Selectman of the town in 1740. He sold his property in 1749 and removed to Middleboro, MA, where he lived until 1792. He spent his last two years in Oakham, MA

                                Children:

                54.     i       Hopestill French:: b. 13 Nov 1733, Taunton (Berkley), MA,¹¹ m. 01 Apr 1769,  Intention to marry., Rowland Gavins:.

         +      55.     ii      John French: b. 11 Aug 1735.

                56.     iii     Mercy French:: b. 13 Sep 1737, Berkley, MA, m. 05 Oct 1757,¹⁰ Joseph Turner:.

         +      57.     iv      Lieut. Asa French: b. 28 Oct 1740.

                58.     v       Azubbah French: b. 25 Sep 1742, Berkley, MA, m. 06 May 1769,  Intention to marry., Ebenezer Barden:.

                59.     vi      Lyddie (Lydia) French:: b. 22 Mar 1746, m. 30 Jun 1768,¹⁰ Ebenezer Stephens Jr.:.

                60.     vii     Rhode French: b. 07 Sep 1749.  Died young.

32.     Samuel French:: (10.John³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 03 Dec 1714, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. 21 Nov 1744, in Berkley, MA,¹¹ Freelove Andrews:, b. May 1722, Berkley, MA,¹⁰ d. 1816.⁶   Samuel died 20 Aug 1775, Berkley, MA.⁶   He was prominent in the town and church affairs of Berkley, MA. Was commissioned Capt. of Militia in Berkley in 1762. Was Assessor 4 years, Town Clerk 13 years. He died from camp fever contracted while enlisting his son in the Patrol Army. Freelove: All their children births were recorded in the Berkley Vital Records.

                                Children:

                61.     i       Freelove French: b. 19 May 1747, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. 08 Oct 1765,⁶ Seth Paul:.  Seth: Of Taunton, MA

                62.     ii      Hannah French:: b. 05 Jan 1749/ 50, Berkley, Bristol Co., MA,¹¹ m. 07 Feb 1778,⁶ Zebedee Redding:.  Zebedee: of Dighton, MA

         +      63.     iii     Samuel French: b. 04 Sep 1751.

                64.     iv      Edward (Edmond) French: b. 03 Mar 1754, Berkley, MA, d. 09 Jan 1769, Berkley, MA.⁶

         +      65.     v       Cyrus French: b. 17 May 1756.

                66.     vi      Rachel French: b. 15 Feb 1758/9, Berkley, MA, m. 10 Dec 1787,⁶ James Nichols:.

         +      67.     vii     Roger French: b. 18 Sep 1760.

                68.     viii    Matilda French: b. 27 Jun 1764, Berkley, MA, d. 13 Nov 1765, Berkley, MA.⁶

                69.     ix      Abner French: b. 24 Jan 1767, Berkley, MA, d. 08 Jan 1769, Berkley, MA.⁶

33.     Israel French:: (10.John³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 21 Jul  1717, Berkley, MA, m. 18 Mar 1737/8,¹⁰ Mary Derby/ Darby:.  All their children’s births are recorded in Berkley, MA Vital Records. His Estate was settled in 1801.

                                Children:

         +      70.     i       Israel French: b. 25 May 1740.

         +      71.     ii      Elijah French: b. 15 Jun 1742.

         +      72.     iii     Ephraim French: b. 17 Sep 1744.

         +      73.     iv      James French: b. 02 Aug 1746.

                74.     v       David French: b. 21 Aug 1749, Berkley, MA, m. 08 Jul 1775, Intention to marry.,⁶ Mary Atwoood:.  David died before 1801.

                75.     vi      Mary French:: b. 27 May 1751, Berkley, MA, m. 15 Oct 1786,⁶ Lovel Head:.

36.     Ebenezer French:: (16.Ebenezer³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 31 Jan 1708, Taunton, MA,¹¹ m. (1) 09 Feb 1735, Keziah Phillips:, b. 18 Nov 1706, Taunton, MA,⁸ (daughter of James Phillips: and Elizabeth French, #8 :) d. 14 Oct 1791, m. (2) Elizabeth.  Ebenezer died Jan 30,1797, Berkley, MA.  His will probated 7 Mar, 1797, his wife Elizabeth was named in the will. He made his home in Berkley MA. He was listed as a Revolutionary Soldier in the 1790 Census.  He was a Sgt. in Capt. Joseph Batt's Co. during the Revolutionary War. Keziah: Keziah & Ebenezer were 1st cousins All their children’s births were recorded in Berkley, MA Vital Records.

                                Children by Keziah Phillips:

         +      76.     i       Sylvester French: b. 11 Jun 1735.

         +      77.     ii      Ebenezer French: b. 27 May 1737.

         +      78.     iii     Daniel French: b. 31 Jul 1739.

                79.     iv      Jonathan French: b. 03 Jul 1742, Berkley, MA, m. 04 Feb 1773,¹⁰ Mrs. Rachel or Anna (Williams) Godding:, b. 1747, d. 1833.  Jonathan died 19 Jul 1788.¹⁰   On muster roll to Camp Warren, Apr 1777, Mrs.: Her middle name may have been Hanna.

         +      80.     v       Gideon French: b. 09 Oct 1743.

                81.     vi      Charity French: b. 07 Jun 1745, Berkley, MA, m. 26 May 1772,⁶ x, Levi French:, b. 12 Jan 1739, Berkley, MA,¹¹ (son of Jacob French, Sr.: and Mary Cowing/Cowen:) d. 25 Jan 1824.  Charity and Levi were 1st cousins

                82.     vii     Kesiah French: b. 07 Feb 1750, Berkley, MA.

37.     Jacob French, Sr.:: (16.Ebenezer³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 16 May 1712, Taunton, MA,¹⁰ occupation Shoemaker, m. 09 Aug 1734, in Rochester, MA,⁶ Mary Cowing/Cowen:, b. Apr 1705, Scituate, MA, (daughter of John Cowing:). Jacob died 11 Feb 1800.⁶   Jacob was still living when his son Jacob Jr. died in 1783, He was a selectman for 1 yr. in Berkley. In 1765 was given title of Sealer of the  Leather.  He was referred to as Major Jacob French, it is unknown whether this title was obtained in the Revolutionary War or the French & Indian War.

                                Children:

                83.     i       Mehitable French:: b. 06 Apr 1735, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. 11 Oct 1752,⁶ Phineas Hathaway:.

         +      84.     ii      Jacob French Jr.: b. 16 Dec 1738.

         +      85.     iii     Levi French: b. 12 Jan 1739.

                86.     iv      Mercy French: b. 21 Apr 1743, Berkley, MA.¹¹

                87.     v       Chloe French: b. 02 Mar 1746/7, Berkley, MA,¹¹ m. 13 Oct 1785,⁶ Calib Briggs:.

38.     William French:: (16.Ebenezer³, 5.Joseph², 1.John¹) b. 1715, Taunton, MA, m. 28 Jan 1739,¹⁰ Lidia (Lydia) Cobb:.  William died Sep 1776.

                                Children:

         +      88.     i       William French: b. ca 1740.

43.     Nathaniel French III:: (19.Nathaniel³, 6.Nathaniel², 1.John¹) b. about 1720, Plainfield, CT, m. Sarah Walker:.  Nathaniel died 15 Sep 1753, Plainfield, CT.  Lived in Plainfield, CT and was a member of the First Congregational Church. All their children were born in Plainfield, CT. Sarah: After Nathaniel died she remarried in Plainfield, CT on 29 Dec 1757 to Jonathan Parker.

                                Children:

         +      89.     i       Hezekiah French: b. 01 Sep 1744.

                90.     ii      Harriet French:: b. Dummerston, VT, m. in CT, John P. Belknap:.  Harriet died 26 Apr 1894, Claremont, NH.  I don't think she belongs to Nathaniel and Sarah, as Nathaniel would have been 91 when she was born, Harry Dana French's records say she was born in 1812.

                                  I have only listed her because maybe someone will let us know where she really belongs. Judi Assony