French Family Association
The Official Website of the Surname French
Chart #8, Francis French, 1625
Derby, CT
First Generation
This chart updated by Mara French on 5/2/12. Numbers in brackets [ ] show sources and refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2012.
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Contents
Genealogies of Derby, New Haven Co., Connecticut
History of Derby, CT, 1675-1680
The First Division of Land in Derby
First
Generation
1.1 Francis French, Sr., b. 1625 in England, most likely near London.
Immigration
He immigrated to Boston, MA, in Jul 1635 from Fenchurch Parish in London at age 10 on the ship ÒDefenceÓ with William French, FFA Chart #2. You would think that, if one of the women named Elizabeth French on the ship Defence was the mother of Francis, she would have died in Massachusetts before Francis left for Connecticut, or she would have gone to Connecticut with him. Elizabeth Godfrey French was b. in 1605, d. 31 Mar 1668 in Billerica, MA, and is buried at the Old South Burying Ground. She most certainly was traveling with William French on the ship Defence as the Elizabeth French, aged 30. The other Elizabeth French traveling with William French, was aged 32, born in 1603, and could have been Elizabeth Symmes. No verification as to which one, if any, was the mother of Francis.
Marriage
Francis French m. Lydia Ann Bunnell, dau. of William M. and Ann (Wilmot) Bunnell of Milford, CT [19], on 10 Apr 1661 in Milford, CT. Lydia d. 1 Apr 1708 in Derby, CT [19] [31].
Lydia Bunnell was b. ca. 1640 in New Haven, CT, 15 years younger than Francis. She d. 1 Apr 1708 in New Haven, CT, about 18 years after Francis had died.
Home in Derby, Connecticut
As an adult, he removed to Milford in the Colony of Conn. in 1650
Francis moved from Boston to Billerica, MA, and then to Milford CT ca. 1650 with Edward Wooster who may have been his brother-in- law (having married Elizabeth French, dau. of William French of Billerica, MA, with whom Francis immigrated [19].
He removed to Derby, CT in 1654. d. 14 Feb 1690/1, age 66, in Derby, CT.
The house of Francis French, another of the first four families, was half a mile to the east on the hill; that of Edward Riggs, also of the first four, was about one mile east on the hill, the farm still remaining in the family; and the house of Thomas Langdon was near Edward Wooster's, in what was called the village, and known many years as Derby village; now Old Town. Here Edward Wooster resided until the close of life, July 8, 1689, his age being 67, which warrants the conclusion that he was born in England in 1622. Of his first wife nothing is definitely known, but there are indications that he was connected with Francis French, possibly by marriage. His first wife died, and he m. in 1669, Tabitha, dau. of Henry Tomlinson of Stratford. Twelve of his children shared in the distribution of his estate in 1694; Samuel Riggs being guardian for Edward, Sylvester and Ebenezer, and Ephraim Stiles for Jonas and Tabitha.
The township of Derby in the Colony of New Haven was
purchased from the Paugusset Indians and belonged to
Milford. The first planters of Derby were RICHARD BALDWIN and FRANCIS FRENCH in
about 1654. In the laying out of tracts for homelots,
Frances French received 1 1/2 acres plus one additional acre of land bounded
with the highway east. His house was built in 1661 on the hill above the old
cemetery.
Derby records show that for April,
1666, he received 8 shillings & 9 pence for 5 days of work.
Feb. 29, 1671 Frances French in the second division
of land received three acres more or less on the west side of the field.
On Dec. 30, 1678, at a town meeting "ffrances ffrench" and
Ephraim Smith were chosen fence viewers. Derby town records have many entries
with his name until his death in 1691.
Francis & Lydia were the parents of eight known children, one of them being my ancestor, FRANCES FRENCH, JR, and another is their daughter, Elizabeth (French) Holt.
Francis FrenchÕs Will and Estate
The New Haven Probate Records, II, 79 lists the inventory of his estate on 12 Mar 1690/91: mentions house, homelot and outland valued at 105.0.0 pounds with personal property and less debts of 60 pounds, net 76.10.0 pounds. Distribution to Lydia, widow, children - Elizabeth Holt, Anna Wheeler, Lydia ffrench, ae 20, Susanna, ae 16, Francis, ae 13, Jane, ae 11 [31].
Genealogies of Derby, New Haven Co., Connecticut
FRANCIS, son of William French, came to Milford, probably in 1650, with Edward Wooster. who may have been his brother-in-law, and settled in Derby with Wooster in 1654, being then twenty-nine years of age. Here he continued, working to establish his home in the wilderness, until 1661, when, on April 10th, he married Lydia Bunnell, of Milford, and brought her to his home; which constituted the third or fourth family in the plantation. It is uncertain whether Thomas Langdon was at Paugasuck at that time; the two who were there being Edward Wooster and Edward Riggs. His house was located on the hill east of the old Jonathan Jackson farm, near Merritt Clark's, who now owns most of the old farm, which remained in the family until some time in the present century. Here on the hill he toiled to clear the forests to make the beautiful fields as they now appear on that western slope. His almost solitary axe sounded over the spreading valley to the opposite hills, several years when scarcely another sound of the kind could be heard across the whole amphitheatre, which is now become a marvelous wonder of life and business. How lonely then, yet how grand the mighty forests stood, covering all those beautiful hills; but how magic-like the change to the present animated theatre of gayety, refinement, riches and enjoyment, as well as marvelous skill of toil and industry. No prophetic poet could have pictured to Francis French and his bride, in his new home, a hundredth part of the royalty of useful learning, art and skilled science that should, within two hundred years, sit in the valley at. their feet and touch with the thrill of business life the utmost ends of the earth. The gold of India, China, Japan and the islands of the sea springs into life at the skilled movement of the ready hands of the people of this beautiful valley. Francis French did his work faithfully and manfully, without show or public notoriety, and left the stage of action Feb. 14, 1691, aged 66 years. His widow Lydia continued some years the care of those committed to her love, and departed this life April 1, 1708.
Early Settlers of Derby, CT
Francis then moved to Derby, CT in 1654 with Edward Wooster. Francis was probably the second landowner of Derby, CT, a town set off from Milford, the first being Edward Wooster. Francis was the third or fourth settler in Derby [7], the others being Edward Wooster, Edward Riggs, and perhaps Thomas Langdon. The first division of land was divided into 10 lots in Derby: John Smith, Henry Botsford, Robert Denison, Edward Riggs, Isaac Platt, John Brown, Edward Wooster, Francis French, Richard Baldwin, Ed. Wooster (North to South along river, about 3 acres each). Francis settled in Derby in 1654, the land was divided in 1655, and he married 7 years later in 1661.
After 16 years on the land, Francis had 5 children. His house was built on Derby Hill, half a mile east of the village [7]. All neighbors helped build and pay for a railing so that the pigs and horses would not eat the corn. In 1675 the General Court of Hartford named the plantation of Paugassett or Paugasuck be named Derby after a town in England, 127 miles NW of London from where some of the settlers came [7].
Francis was a selectman of Derby in 1666 and located on Sentinel Hill; or what is now known as Derby Hill. His house was located on the hill east of the old Jonathan Jackson farm near Merritt ClarkÕs. Here on the hill he toiled to clear the forests to make the beautiful fields as they now appear on that western slope. His almost solitary axe sounded over the spreading valley to the opposite hills, several years when scarcely another sound of the kind could be heard across the whole amphitheatre, which is now a marvelous wonder of life and business. How lonely then, yet how grand the mightly forests stood, covering all those beautiful hills; but how magic-like the change to the present animated theatre of gayety, refinement, riches and enjoyment as well as marvelous skill of toil and industry. No prophetic poet could have picture to Francis French and his bride in his new home, a hundredth part of the royalty of useful learning art and skilled science that should, within two hundred years, sit in the valley at their feet and touch with the thrill of business life the utmost ends of the earth. Francis did his work faithfully and manfully, without show or public notoriety [7]. The farm there remained in the French family for over 200 years, ca. 1860. Francis became a large landowner [19] [22].
See: http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/derby_ct2.htm
See: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ctcderby/books/hotod015.html
The First Division of Land in Derby
Work done upon the general account April 1666 for the first
division of land:
Samuel Riggs three days and a half £0 7s 6d
John Brown three days and a half £0 7s 6d
Francis French two days £0 5s 0d
John Brown one day £0 2s 6d
Samuel Riggs one day £0 2s 6d
John Brown and his son Joseph each half a day 1s 8d
Francis French half a day 1s 3d
Joseph Riggs half a day 1s 3d
John Bruer for goodman
Wooster half a day 1s 3d
Francis French one day 2s 6d
Joseph Riggs one day 2s 6d
1667. Work done on the general account
Setting up that fence which was bought of Samuel Riggs
Francis French 3 days and a half 8s 9d
Samuel Riggs 3 days and a half 8s 9d
Abel Gunn 3 days and a half 8s 9d
Francis French 1 day more 2s 6d
Samuel Riggs 1 day more 2s 6d
It is Stated as preliminary, to the
division that John Burwell sold his right to Thomas Hine, and he to Henry Lyon,
and he to Henry Botsford. Also that Samuel Hopkins,
one of the ten, sold his to John Smith, and then the division was made.
"The laying out of this tract of land above mentioned,
and the number of acres both of upland and meadow:
Home Lot.
Upland. Meadow.
John Brown 1 1-2 acres
4 acres 3 acres
Isaac Piatt 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
Edward Riggs 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
Richard Baldwin 2 "and a rod 6 "
4 1-2 "
Edward Wooster 1 1-2 " 4
"
3
"
Francis French 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
Henry Botsford 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
Robert Denison 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
John Smith 1 1-2 "
4 "
3
"
Thomas Langdon 1 1-2 " 4 "
3
"
Thomas Langdon hath his home lot where his house
stands."
After this plan was adopted and before the land was laid
out, it was recorded that Alexander Bryan had bought of Thomas Langdon all his
right at Paugasuck, and Edward Wooster had bought the
same of Mr. Bryan; upon which Thomas Langdon seems to have removed from the
place.
The description of the laying of these lots is important in
order to know where the settlement first began, and thereby to know many other things which transpired in the town.
"At the laying out of the meadow, Edward Wooster
accepted the lower end of the meadow, for his meadow lot, bounded with Richard
Baldwin north, with Naugatuck river west, with a creek south and a creek east.
"Richard Baldwin hath a piece of meadow bounded with
Edward Wooster south, Naugatuck river west, and Francis French north, and a
creek running under the hill east.
"Francis French hath his meadow lot bounded with the foot
of the hill east, with Richard Baldwin south, with Naugatuck river west, with
Edward Wooster north."
In this manner they continue to measure out the meadow lots
until they came to John Smith, the last of the ten, when they declare that his
meadow and upland are joined together, (as in the accompanying plan), that is,
his upland joined the east end of the meadow and then went up the hill east,
making the southern boundary of the village as then arranged at the place known
now as Up Town or Old Town.
The house of Francis French was located on a hill, half a mile and one mile respectively to the east. The township of Ansonia has streets named for both French and Riggs.
This was the first formal laying out of land by the company.
Edward Riggs had selected him a farm on the hill, and Francis French also.
Edward Wooster and Thomas Langdon had built their houses, at this place, near
the river, but all this was done without a formal division of land. When this
division was made Edward Wooster and Thomas Langdon received lots where their
houses stood, and these houses were probably built in 1654, and Edward Riggs
built at the same time on the hill. Francis French built his later, that is, in
1661, when he was married.
Soon after this division was made Richard Baldwin died and
his widow sold all her interest in Paugassett to
Alexander Bryan, and then followed an interesting time in buying and selling
lots as in many other real estate enterprises since that day; the most
important of which was that of John Brown, who sold all his land on the east
side of the river and with Joseph Hawkins bought the Wheeler farm, on the
point; but which purchase Mr. Brown soon gave up and removed to Newark, N. J.
Here then was the village of Paugassett
as laid by authority in 1665-6, containing two houses, perhaps more, inhabited,
and the house on the Wheeler farm; and Edward Riggs's and Francis French's
houses on the hill east. Edward Wooster's house stood on the lot laid at the north end of the plot, as it is said the road
began "at his gate," and then went south between the two tiers of
lots. Mr. Wooster was a farmer and made a specialty of hop raising
in Milford, as indicated by the following town record: "A General Court,
Oct. 24, 1651. Considering the pressing need of hops, the town grants to Edward
Wooster an acre, more or less, lying up the Mill river,
to be improved for a hop garden, according to his request. This is not to pay
rates while improved for hops." [Lambert's History of Milford.] It is
probable that the raising of hops on the meadow land
at Paugassett was a leading object in Edward
Wooster's settling here in 1654, as he did.
Francis French was another of these settlers of 1654.
but was not married until 1661. His house, no doubt,
was built on the hill half a mile east of the village, and it is probable that
his lot as laid in the village, joined at the foot of the hill, his land on the
hill.
The best information thus far obtained leads to the
conclusion that the first settlers came in 1654, and were Edward Wooster, Thomas
Langdon, located at Old Town; Edward Riggs, located on the hill east; and
Francis French on the hill in 1661; Lieut. Thomas Wheeler lived on the Point
from 1657 or 8 to 1664, and returned to Stratford.
AGREEMENT
"Paugasset inhabitants met
together and have made the following agreement to secure their corn which was
as followeth, that they were to measure their fence
to the mouth of the creek that goeth into Naugatuck
river and set so much upon the hill, and Joseph Hawkins and John Brown is to
measure theirs (or as much) and set it upon the hill,' and if any be wanting of
their railing they are ail of them to join together and make it up and then to
divide it equally. They have also agreed that every man's yard shall be a pound
and that any cattle that are found in the meadow without a sufficient keeper
shall bepoundable except when the meadow is common;
and it shall not be laid common without a joint consent; and if any swine come
into it and take the corn, the owner of them shall shut them up and keep them
up after they have warning till the meadow is common; and if any man shall
willingly put in any beast, horse or any other beast into the meadow he shall
forfeit five shillings for every such offence. This agreement is to stand
authentic till we see cause to alter it."This
agreement was made
this 4th of Sept., 1667.
John
Brown*
Francis French
Samuel Riggs
Ephraim Smith
Abel Gunn
Joseph Hawkins
Edward Wooster."
*This is the last appearance of John Brown's name on the
records.
THE FIRST ENTRY
"March 15, 166, 70: The Trew
And Right Proprietares of Pagaset,
That Have the sole Dispose of all Lands That are By Them Purchased, They Are as
Foloeth, Mr. Haly [Hawley]:
Ed. Wester: Frances French: Samuel Rigs: Abell Gun: Ephram Smith: Joseph
Hawkins: Hen. Boxford."
THE SECOND ENTRY
"March 15, 166, 70. The inhabitants of Pagaset are as followeth: Ed Woster: Francis French: Joseph Hawkins: Samuel Rigs: Ephram Smith: Abell Gun: Stephen
Person: Jeremiah Johnson."
The result of the settlement at the end of sixteen years as
to resident families
and number of persons may be supposed as follows:
Families. Children.
Families. Children.
Edward Wooster 9
Ephraim Smith 0
Francis French 5
Abel Gunn 0
Joseph Hawkins Jr. 2
Stephen Pierson
2
Samuel Riggs 1
Jeremiah Johnson Jr.
4
In February, 1672, it was "voted that Francis French,
Samuel Riggs, Henry Botsford, Ephraim Smith, Abel
Gunn, Mr. Hawley, are to be made up equal in lands with Edward Wooster,
according to proportion. Edward Wooster gave in his land which he had more than
those above mentioned, and he gave it in as twenty acres of sizable land, and
it was agreed that those men should have forty acres of sized land on Sentinel
hill; they are to have ten acres for one; forty for a double share and twenty
for a single share; and they are to take this land upon Sentinel hill where
they see cause, provided highways be not obstructed." There was already a
fenced lot on Sentinel hill inclosing lands laid out to ten persons, the older
owners.
Wooster / Worcester Family
The Worcester Family in America describes Rev. William Worcester. Also see the internet web site, www.worcesterfamily.com.
The name Worcester was also spelled Worster, Wooster, and Worcester; therefore, Ed Wooster also enters into the picture at this time with Francis French as the two first settlers of Milford, CT.
Tradition points very strongly to three brothers, William,
Thomas, and Edward, the latter of whom went to Connecticut and founded what is
called the Connecticut line. Thomas is supposed to have remained in
Massachusetts with William. I therefore told my genealogist that he must look
for a family where there were three sons, bearing the names William, Thomas,
and Edward. On the 29th of July, a few days before I sailed for America, he greeted
me with the welcome news that he had found the will of William Worcester of Chedington, Buckingham Co., dated 1623, in which he
bequeaths to "Willyam his eldest sonne tenn pounds, to his sonne Thomas 10 pds. and to his sonne Edward 10 pds." To his sons George and Francis he gives all his
lands after his wife's decease. To each of his two daughters, Mary and Rebecca,
he gives 100 pds. It is worthy of note that he cuts
his three eldest sons with only10 pds. each, bequeathing them no land. This would seem to point to
some estrangement on the part of the father from these sons, and this may have
led later to their embarking for America. Judging from the data at hand at
present it would appear that William Worcester, our progenitor, was Vicar of
the church in Olney, Buckingham Co., some years before sailing to
America. Those conclusion we draw after considering the claims of the three
lines which have presented themselves: First, the son of the Vicar of Watford,
baptized in 1595; second, the Willesden line, offering names of children born
in England coincident with those recorded in our genealogy; and third, the Chedington line, which gives us the names of the three
brothers, William, Thomas and Edward, data which neither of the other lines
possess, and which we have a right to insist upon from the traditions which
have come to us concerning Thomas and Edward.
A word in regard to these traditions may not be out of order. In the Connecticut Magazine, Vol. XII., No. 1, Spring of 1908, is an article on "The British House of Worcester in America." From this it would appear that Edward Wooster and his brother came to this country in 1651, several years after William; that the brother remained with William in Massachusetts, and that Edward settled in Connecticut. This article does not give the name of the brother that came with Edward, but the latter calls his eldest son, born in 1656, Thomas, which seems to point towards his wish to thus keep in mind the brother who accompanied him to the new world.
Contents
Chart #8 Records (Wills, Court Cases, etc.)