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French Family Association
The Official Website of the Surname French
The Wharf, Weymouth, MA (old postcard), Schooner at Rhines
Lumber Yard, Weymouth Land. At Weymouth Landing, a substantial number of wharfs
lined the shores of the Monatiquot River, the area
now generally called the Fore River. Image provided by Jodi Purdy-Quinian, Vice Chairman of the Weymouth Historical
Commission
Chart #7, Stephen French, born 1601,
Misterton, Somerset, England
Dorcester and Weymouth, MA
This chart was updated by Mara French on 7/28/18 – this date applies only to this webpage, but the entire FFA website itself is constantly being updated. Numbers in brackets [ ] show the source material number referred to in the Bibliography. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line in the next generation. Revisions: 1984, 2008, 2018. Although this is not my family, I will be updating it from time to time. I take no responsibility for incorrect data, Mara French.
Contents
Note: The following brief outline in a very rough draft format is in preparation for my trip to Misterton, Somerset, England in the Fall of 2018 (if all goes well and if I get enough response to do research there). Please send additional email regarding England only to marafrench@mindspring.com. At present, I lack the time to do further research on this family in America.
Early on, this entire family were Anglicans (Church of England).
Generation C
C.1 William French,
buried on 14 Nov 1591 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset
Burial Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
Generation B
B.1* John French, b. 1543 in Misterton, Somerset, England [21]. He m. Eme Faukner 19 Oct 1578 in Whaplode, Lincoln, England.
Currently, the earliest “French” listed on the Somerset Vital Records Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk), is Lawrence French who married Tamsina French on 16 Mar 1577 in Misterton, Somerset, England. This Lawrence French was buried on 9 Oct 1591 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, the son of John French. Tamsina French was buried 5 May 1610 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Burial Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
B.2 William/Willielmus French, buried in 1610 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Burial Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk). According to the Somerset Baptism Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk), “a” John French was baptized on 8 Mar 1606 in Misterton, Somerset, England, as an Anglican and son of William French. “A” William French was buried 20 May 1660 in Misterton.
Generation A
Children of John French and Eme Faukner, B.1
A.1* Richard French, b. ca. 1579 in Misterton, Somerset, England, d. 30 May 1638 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Burial Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk)
Richard French
m1. Alice Tomson on 2 Aug 1605 in Misterton,
Somerset, England. She died on 1 Dec 1628 in Misterton
as the wife of Richard French.
Richard m2. Judith Lucy Adams, daughter of John Adams and Agnes Stone. Judith was b. 1579-1581 in Barton, St. David. Somerset, England [21]. Judith Lucy Adams’s brother was the direct line of President John Adams & President John Quincy Adams. Weymouth boasts the house where Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother to President John Quincy Adams, was born. Descendants of Henry Adams.
“A” Richard French was buried on 30 Apr 1617 in Misterton, Somerset, England.
A.2 Eme/Emetam French, married John Norris on 19 Apr 1611 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk). John Norris was buried on 23 Mar 1627 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England.
A.3 Agnes French, married John Wellshe on 3 Jun 1596 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
A.4 Elizabeth French, married John Adams on 17 Jan 1599 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
A.5 Joan French, married Robert Browne on 19 Apr 1585 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
A.6 Judith French,
married Roger Turner on 15 Apr 1601 in Misterton,
Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
Judethe Turner was buried on 30 Aug 1603 in Misterton as the wife of Roger Turner.
Generation 1
Children of Richard French and Judith Adams, A.1.
1.1* Stephen French, b. 26 Dec 1600/01, Somerset, England, d. 1679, Weymouth, MA. Stephen French immigrated from England on the ship Mary and John of the Winthrop Fleet which arrived in Boston Bay 30 May 1630. He was the first person with the surname French to arrive in America. Stephen died in Weymouth, MA, between 17 March and 29 July 1679, the dates of his will. He married, Mary ______ on 1 Dec 1640; she died in Weymouth, MA, 6 April 1655.
There is no extant list of the colonists who arrived in the Winthrop Fleet of 1630, but by deduction it seems probable that Stephen French, his brothers Searle and Jacob, his wife Mary, and possibly others of his or Mary’s family traveled together from England.
Chronology
1600/01 Dec 26 – Stephen French was born in Somerset, West Country of England.
1630 May 30 -- Stephen
French immigrated from England on the ship Mary
and John of the Winthrop Fleet which arrived in Boston Bay 30 May 1630.
1632/33 Jan 16 -- Stephen is found in Dorchester, MA, by 16 January 1632/3 where he received a 16-acre lot granted to him and an additional 8 acres granted in the same location on 1 Dec 1634.
1634 May 14 -- Stephen was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 14 May 1634 in Wessagusset, signifying he was a member of the stated church and had a right to vote in town meetings.
1636 -- Stephen removed to Weymouth where he received various land grants through the following years which by 14 December 1663, the date of the Second Division, totaled well over 100 acres. He had ten acres granted to him in the “East field” and fourteen acres in the “greate lotes” bounded on the east with Hingham line. (Weymouth Land Grants, 276.) Lot No. 15 or 21 acres was granted to him in 1636. His public record shows Stephen to have been trusted by the community in which he had settled.
1637-1638 – On 12 Mar 1637/8, 6 Sep 1638, and 15 Mar 1638/9, Stephen was elected a Deputy from Weymouth. In 1638 he was appointed a magistrate in Weymouth and a member of the Dorchester Town Council in February in Feb 1638/9.
1638 – Stephen was appointed a magistrate in Weymouth and a member of the Dorchester Town Council in Feb 1638/9. That he was also a successful farmer is attested by the terms of his will: To the church in Weymouth 4 pounds; to his sister Mary Randall 3 pounds; to his two grandsons [children of Stephen] Stephen and Samuel, minors, land in Hingham and Weymouth at age 21; 10 pounds at age 18 to each of his granddaughters [children of Stephen] Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth; the residue of the estate to his son Stephen; and he confirmed a prior deed of land in Weymouth to “my brother Searle.”
1640 Dec 1 --
Stephen married Mary ______. Mary may have been the first wife of Abraham
Randall of Dorcester. There were no children in her
supposed marriage to Abraham Randall.
1655 Apr 6 – Mary, Stephen’s wife, died in Weymouth.
1663 Dec 14 -- Stephen
had lots in the First Division and in the Second Division granted to him, 14
Dec 1663, totaled well over 100 acres.
1679 – Stephen died in Weymouth, MA, between 17 March and 29 July 1679, the dates of his will. His will: To the church in Weymouth 4 pounds; to his sister Mary Randall 3 pounds; to his two grandsons [children of Stephen] Stephen and Samuel, minors, land in Hingham and Weymouth at age 21; 10 pounds at age 18 to each of his granddaughters [children of Stephen] Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth; the residue of the estate to his son Stephen; and he confirmed a prior deed of land in Weymouth to “my brother Searle.”
Stephen French of Weymouth, "being weake of body", made his will as follows: To the Church in Weymouth 4 Pounds. To his sister Mary Randall 3 Pounds. Unto his two grandsons Stephen and Samuel his land in Hingham, and land in Weymouth "neere Hockley," at 21 years. To his three granddaughters Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth 10 Pounds apiece at 18 years. The residue of his estate he gave to his son Stephen whom he appointed executor. The deed lately made to his Brother Searle of a part of the Spring lot in Weymouth he confirmed, 17 Mar. 1678-79. William Torrey and John Whitman witnesses; proved 29 Jul, 1679. Further explanation of his will was made by the testator, 18 Mar. 1678-79. (Suffolk Probate Records, 6:302.)
1.2 John/Johannes French, b. ca. 1599 Misterton, Somerset, England. Unverified records as to who these men named John/Johannes were, according to the Somerset Vital Records Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk):
“A” John French married Eleanor/Elnoram Wellman/Welman on 4 Oct 1611 in Misterton.
“A” Johnnes French married Margaret Sneadon on 20 Jan 1620 in Misterton; and another record is listed showing Margeria French was buried on 27 Jun 1620 in Misterton and listed in connection with her relative Richard French; yet another Margerie French is listed as unmarried or widowed (vidua) and buried on 12 Aug 1610 in Misterton.
“A” John French was baptized 7 Jun 1637 in Misterton, son of John French; as far as this son is concerned, this French family did not immigrate with Stephen French to Massachusetts in 1630.
“An” Annis French was baptized 17 Mar 1638 in Misterton, daughter of John and Joane French. “A” Joane French died a widow and was buried in 1627 in Misterton, which conflicts with the previous statement. “A” Joane French was buried on 3 Jun 1638 in Misterton as the daughter of John/Johannes and Joanna French. “A” Joane French was baptized on 30 Jan 1641 in Misterton as the daughter of John and Joane French.
“A” Johannes French and his wife Anne had daughter Hester French who was baptized 10 Jan 1635 in Misterton. “A” John French and his wife Anne had son Samuel French who was baptized on 12 Mar 1625 in Misterton.
“A” Johannes French was buried on 12 Jul 1621 in Misterton.
“A” John French married Mary Saint on 26 Jan 1641 in Misterton.
“A” Mary French was buried on 3 Mar 1649 in Crewkerne as the daughter of John French of Sumerset.
1.3 Grace French, married John Addams in May 1625 in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk).
1.4 Hugo French,
baptized on 26 Mar 1608 in Misterton, Somerset,
England, as the son of Richard French, according to the Somerset Baptism Index
(on www.findmypast.co.uk),
D/P/MIS 2/1/1.
1.5 MaryMarie French, baptized on 26 Dec 1611, daughter of Richard French, in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Baptism Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk). She married Robert Randall ca. 1634 in Misterton, Somersetshire, England. Robert was b. 1608 in Wendover, Buck, England and d. 3 May 1691 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA. Robert deposed 2 July, 1688, that he aged Eighty yeares or thereabouts, "and that he was living for u S within the Realm of -,me time in Wendover in the county of Bucks~ ... and did well know Enoch Hunt of Titenden in the parish ,76`aena out two miles distant from Wendover," etc. (Massachusetts State Archives, 129: 16,) The parish registers of Wendover begin in 1632, and a careful search of them revealed no trace of any person of the name Randall. He married (1) Mary -, who was buried at Weymouth, 3 Sept. 1640. He married (2) Mary French, sister of Stephen French, who calls her "my sister Mary Randall` in his will in 1679. He was admitted a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 26 May, 1647. He had three lots granted to him "in the East field," and seven acres in the First Division, and twenty-one acres in the Second Division, the latter granted 14 Dec. 1663. (Weyrnouth Land Grants, 258, 293.)
Robert Randall of Weymouth, "being weake of body," made his will 27 Mar.1691, and it was probated 25 May, 1691. To his eldest son John he gave several lots, one "in the Range Field," another in the First Division. To his youngest son Thomas he gave his dwelling house, etc. To his daughters Mary, wife of Abraham Staples of Mendon, and Hannah, wife of John Warfield of Mendon, to each Es. Son John to be executor. Witnesses: Mary Wning, Joseph Dyer and William Chard. Inventory taken 16 May, 1691, by John Shaw and Joseph Dyer. (Suffolk Probate, 8: 41, 42.)
“A” marriage record is listed for Robert Randall on 30 Sep 1615 in Martock, Somerset, England, to Joane Richards according to the Somerset Marriage Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk)..
1.6 Searle French, born in Misterton, Somerset, England. The deed lately made to Stephen’s Brother Searle of a part of the Spring lot in Weymouth was confirmed, 17 Mar. 1678-79. William Torrey and John Whitman witnesses; proved 29 Jul, 1679. Further explanation of his will was made by the testator, 18 Mar. 1678-79. (Suffolk Probate Records, 6:302.)
1.7 Judith French, b. before 1615 in Misterton, Somerset, England. She m. Deacon John Rogers ca. 1635. From “More Passengers for New England”, she is listed as bound for New England from Weymouth on 20 Mar 1635 as a servant to Joseph Hall. Her age is listed as 20, and is therefore 15 years younger than her brother. Joseph Hall was a minister of Somerset, aged 40, immigrating with his large family. No one on this ship (106 passengers) was named Rogers. Judith and John had five children; only one was a son, John. Mary, b. ca. 1636, John b. 1638, Hannah, b. 1640, Lydia, b. 1642, Sarah, b. ca. 1644 [21].
Deacon John Rogers settled in Weymouth, MA, before 1643. He is probably the John Rogers who was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 17 may 1637. He was deacon of the First church and a townsman (selectman) in 1645, 1646, 1652, 1654, 1655, 1657 and 1659. He was elected “town recorder” in 1651. He died at Weymouth, 11 Feb 1660-61.
He had his will 8 Feb 1660 and it was proved 13 Apr 1661. To his wife Judith French he gave the new end of his dwelling house with one-third of his estate for life. To his son John Rogers he gave care of his estate. To his daughter Mary Rane and his son-in-law John Rane, his great lot of 12 acres and 40 schillings and 10 pounds. To his daughter Lydia White six acres of 5 pounds. To his daughter Hannah Pratt 5 pounds. To his daughter Sarah 15 pounds after marriage or at 18. Refers to his son-in-law joseph White, his son-in-law John Rane, and Samuel Pratt, and to his apprentice William Richards. Overseers, Thomas White, John Holbrook and Thomas Dyer. Inventory taken 20 Feb 1660-61. (Register, 10: 265, 266). All children (5) born in Massachusetts [16].
1.8 Jacob French, baptized 22 Aug 1615, the son of Richard French, in Misterton, Somerset, England, according to the Somerset Baptism Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk) D/P/MIS 2/1/1.
1.9 Margaret French, was buried on 17 Jun 1623 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, as the daughter of Richard French, according to the Somerset Baptism Index (on www.findmypast.co.uk) D/P/CREW 2/1/1.
Generation 2
Children of Stephen French and Mary, 1.1
2.1 Sarah French, b. 1623, Misterton, Somerset, England, d. 14 Jan 1642/43, Weymouth, Mass, m. John Holbrook; he was b. before 1617; d. November 23, 1699, Weymouth, MA.
2.2* Stephen French, b. 1640, d. 1717 in Abington, Massachusetts. He inherited the residue of his father’s estate who was appointed executor. He m. Hannah Whitman who was born in 1641 and died in 1673.
2.3 Josiah French, died young.
Generation 3
Children of Stephen French and Hannah Whitman, 2.2
3.1* Stephen French, was born 1640 in Massachusetts, and died 1717 in Abington, Massachusetts. He married (1) Hanna Whitman, daughter of John Whitman and Ruth. He married (2) Hannah Jacobs Loring. Stephen inherited land in Hingham from his grandfather Stephen French, and land in Weymouth "neere Hockley," at 21 years.
3.2 Samuel French, inherited land in Hingham from his grandfather Stephen French, and land in Weymouth "neere Hockley," at 21 years.
Generation 4
Children of either Stephen French and Hannah Loring, 3.1
4.1* Stephen French, b. 1 Jun 1664. He m. Abigail Beam on 24 Sep 1691. He d. 1741/2. Abigail was b. 1671 and d. ca. 1716.
4.2* Samuel French, b. May 05, 1668, Weymouth, MA; d. September 23, 1735, Abington, Massachusetts. He married Silence Torrey on 3 Feb 1714/15 in Weymouth, MA, daughter of Micajah Torrey and Susanna. Silence was born ca. 1683, and died 29 Oct 1755 in Danbury, Connecticut.
The original vital statistics of Danbury were burned during the Revolutionary War. Thereafter those families which had preserved their private records turned them in for recording and the present first volume was started. For this reason, the entire family record of Rev. Ebenezer White, including the death of his mother-in-law Silence, is entered as a group on the same page, as follows:
Silence Torrey French dob 169? Vol. 58, p. 471, Des. of John Whitman of Weymouth, Mass. by C.H. Farnham of New Haven, Conn. 1889.
Samuel French & Silence Torrey are listed in “American Genealogist” Periodical, Vol. 25, #1 (Jan. 1949).
4.3 Mary French, inherited 10 Pounds apiece at 18 years old from her great-grandfather, Stephen.
4.4 Hannah French, inherited 10 Pounds apiece at 18 years old from her great-grandfather, Stephen.
4.5 Elizabeth French, inherited 10 Pounds apiece at 18 years old from her great-grandfather, Stephen.
Generation 5
Children of Stephen French and Abigail Beam, 4.1
5.1* Stephen French, b. 30 Dec 1696 in Weymouth, MA, d. 1772, m1. Bathsheba Beal on 14 Apr 1724, m2. Sarah Marsh on 14 May 1760.
Children of Samuel French and Silence Torrey, 4.2
5.x Daniel French. Need to add his family, but first check references. He may belong in 5.1.
Dr. Daniel French
(1712-17 ) 1744 Mary Lane
(1723-1765)
Samuel French
(1753-1832) 1775 Lydia Warner
(1759-1875)
Rev. Justis French
(1793-1862) 1822 Elizabeth (Eliza) Goss
(1795-1875)
Rev. Edward Warner French
(1829-1885) 1859 Julia Norton Dey
(1832-1919)
Albert French
(1863-1935) 1889 Elizabeth B. Short
(1863-1931)
Elizabeth Bassett French
(1890- ) 1918 Frank Lusk Babbott
(1891-1970)
5.2 Mary French, b. May 09, 1726, Abington, Massachusetts; d. August 24, 1807, Danbury, Connecticut. She married (1) EBENEZER WHITE. He died September 11, 1779 in Danbury, Connecticut.
5.3 Samuel French, b. August 29, 1722; d. October 12, 1722, Abington, Massachusetts.
Generation 6