French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Chart #57, Edward French, 1737
(combined with former Chart #44)

French’s Cove, Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace, and Bareneed,
Newfoundland, Canada;
New Westminster, British Colombia, Canada

All born with the surname French from Bay Roberts,
in order by generation

This chart updated by Mara French on 9/8/13. 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: 2009, 2011, 2013.

Contents

Home Page of the FFA

Home Page of FFA Chart 57

Outline

Video of the Bay Roberts Heritage Trail

Bay Roberts East Shoreline Heritage Walk

Newfoundland Genealogical Websites

Map of Newfoundland

In Appreciation

Introduction

History and Research

DNA Tests

Bibliography and Records

GENEALOGY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

From the outline below, click on the matching generation to find your ancestor.

Outline

1.1 Edward French, b. ca. 1680 of Bay Roberts, NF.

2.1 William French, b. 1709, m. 1733, may have died in 1780.

3.1 Sarah French.

3.2 William French, may have m. Anne. He d. 1783.

3.3 Edward French, d. 1783, m. Elizabeth.

4.1 Mary French, b. 1763.

4.2 Edward French, b. 1766, d. 1829, m. Mary, she was b. 1767, d. 1855.

5.1 John French, b. ca. 1812; he may be the one who m. Emma Jane on 17 Dec 1841 of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

6.1 Edward French, mentioned in his grandmother’s will of 1852, b. 1843.

6.2 John French, b. 1845, mentioned in his grandmother’s will of 1852, b. 1845, m. Jane Lacey.

7.1 Abraham French, b. ca. 1870.

7.2 Florence French.

7.3 Selena French.

7.4 Mary Ellen French, b. 1895, d. 1973, m. Azariah Boone.

5.2 Elizabeth French, b. 1797 in Port de Grave, NL, oldest daughter, m. Hussey.

5.3 Joseph French, m. Grace Boone in 1829.

6.3 Abraham French, b. 1830, d. 1867 in North River, Conception Bay, NL, m. Mary Newell in 1858, she was b. 1836, d. 1897.

7.5 Joseph French, b. 1859.

7.6 Lavinia French, b. 1861, m. William Morgan.

5.4 Ann French, m. Dawe of Ship Cove.

5.5 Abraham French.

5.6 Mary French, m. Batten.

5.7 Edward French, youngest son at his father’s death in 1829.

6.4 Mary French, mentioned in her grandmother’s will of 1852.

6.5 Edward French, d. 1839, mentioned in her grandmother’s will of 1852.

6.6 Thomas French, mentioned in her grandmother’s will of 1852.

6.7 Grace French, mentioned in her grandmother’s will of 1852.

6.8 Joseph French, mentioned in his grandmother’s will of 1852.

4.3 William French, b. 1768.

5.8 Edward French, of Bay Roberts, made will in 1839, had son William.

6.9 William French, mentioned in his father’s will of 1839.

5.9 child French, mentioned in the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed, living with parents.

5.10 child French, mentioned in the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed, living with parents.

5.11 John French, b. 12 Mar 1810 in Brigus, Newfoundland, mentioned in the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed, living with parents. He m. Amy Batten on 5 Dec 1837 in Bareneed, Newfoundland.

6.10 Stephen Augustus French, b. 1837, m. Mary Ann Stevens, d. 1915.

7.7 Alice French, b. 1869, d. 1873.

7.8 William John French, b. 7 Aug 1871.

7.9 Stephen Augustus French Jr., b. 1873, d. after 1917.

7.10 Daughter French, b. and d. 1877.

7.11 Reuben French, b. 1880.

7.12 James Henry French Sr., b. 1880, d. 1948 in Acton, MA, m. Ada Mae Wambolt in 1902.

8.1 Harry H. French, b. 1903, d. 1983.

8.2 Kenneth “Ted” Gordon French, b. 1904 in Nova Scotia, Canada.

8.3 Beulah H. French, b. 1905 in Nova Scotia, Canada, d. 14 Oct 1937 in Acton, MA. She m. George M. Hardy.

8.4 Charles Benson French, b. 12 Jan 1908 in Acton, Middlesex Co., MA, d. 9 Nov 1988 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., MA. He m. Annabell and had at least 3 children. He d. 9 Nov 1988 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., MA. He m. Annabel B. Doucette in Jul 1928.

9.1 Charles Melvin French, b. 19 Mar 1930 in Hanover, NH, d. 29 Dec 1993 in Kittery, Maine. He m. Beulah Alice Kolvig.

9.2 James “Jim” Edward French, b. 1932.

9.3 Maurice French, b. 1935.

8.5 Elsie L. French, b. 1913 in MA.

8.6 Mary Helen French, b. 17 Sep 1915 in MA.

8.7 James H. French, Jr., b. 1817 in MA.

8.8 Edith G. French, b. 1920 in MA.

8.9 Marjorie L. French, b. 1925 in MA.

8.10 Robert George French, Jr., b. 23 Apr 1930 in MA.

7.13 Charles Samuel French, youngest son in his father’s will, b. 18 Sep 1883, m. Minnie Bradbury, d. 1966.

6.11 Reuben French, b. 1844, m. Leah.

6.12 Patience French, b. 1846, d. 1931.

6.13 Leah French, b. 1850, d. 1931, never married.

6.14 Caroline Irene French, b. 1853, d. 1931 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

6.15 Emma Jane French, b. 1859, m. Wilcox, d. 1915.

6.16 Jacob French, b. 1859, d. 1890.

6.17 Esau French, b. 1862, d. 1931, m. Sarah Patience Earl in 1892.

7.14 Eliza French, b. 1903.

7.15 Edgar Garfield French, b. 16 Jun 1908, m. Edith Benson, d. 1981.

8.11 Fred French, died before 1939.

8.12 Don French, living in 2010.

8.13 David Benson French, b. 1939, d. 2010.

9.4 Gareth French.

9.5 Mary French.

8.14 Wallace Cecil French, b. 1940, moved to Jersey City, NJ.

8.15 William French, b. 1940.

7.16 Doris French, b. 1910.

6.18 James French, b. 1882, d. 1891.

4.4 Gordon French, b. 1770.

4.5 Samuel French, b. 1772, d. 1781, age 9.

4.6 John French, b. 1774.

4.7 Abraham French, b. 1778, m. Frances Mercer in 1805. He had daughter Mary, mentioned in her grandmother’s will of 1852.

4.8 Joan French, b. 1780.

4.9 Nathaniel French, b. 1782, m. Charlotte Ann Bradbury in 1806, d. 1851.

5.12 Abraham French.

6.19 Charles French.

6.20 Abram French, b. 1842, d. 1903, m. Patience Louise Crane.

6.21 Samuel French, moved away from Bay Roberts before 1903 when his father died.

6.22 George French.

6.23 Emma French.

6.24 Isabelle French.

6.25 Patricia French.

6.26 Elizabeth French, m. John Richards in 1860?

6.27 Francais French.

5.13 Charles French, m. Jane in Harbour Grace, NF.

6.28 Sarah French, dau. of Charles and Jane, b. 14 Feb 1842, bapt. 14 May 1843.

5.14 Edward French, minor when his father died in 1851, born after 1833.

6.29 William French.

5.15 Isaac French, minor when his father died in 1851, born after 1833, m. Mary Jemima.

6.30 William John French.

5.16 Nathaniel French, inherited very little due to misconduct.

3.4 Elizabeth French, b. 1747.

3.5 Mary French, b. 1749.

3.6 William French, b. 1753.

3.7 John French, b. ca. 1755, m. Mary Badcock in 1777, both from Bay Roberts.

4.10 Rebekah French, christened 28 Nov 1781 (or as early at 1778).

4.11 Mary French, christened 28 Apr 1783 (or as early 1780).

4.12 John French, christened 18 Sep 1785 (or as early as 1782), m. Mary Willicocks in 1806. Mary Willicocks’ parents, Benjamin Willicocks and Mary Norman, moved from St. John’s to Brigus sometime after Mary was born which was in the mid-1780s.

5.17 Rebekah French, b. Aug 1808 in Bay Roberts, m. Thomas Earle.

5.18 John French, b. 1810, may have m. Emma Jane??

5.19 William French, b. 1810, d. 1870, m. Penelope.

6.31 William John French, b. 1829, d. 1910, m. Elizabeth Snow in 1864.

7.17 Elizabeth Anne French, b. 1865, m. Jake Fillier.

7.18 Julia French, b. 1870, m. E. Kelly in 1900.

7.19 Robert Charles French, b. 1872, d. 1950, m. Bessie H. Brown in 1905.

8.16 Edward W. French, b. 1908, m. Josephine Caswell in 1939.

8.17 Albert G. French, b. 1910, lived in Watertown, MA, d. 2009.

8.18 Lily B. French, b. 1912 in Watertown, MA.

7.20 Caroline French, b. 1875, m. Abram Mugford.

7.21 William Aquilla French, b. 1877, d. 1948, m. Mary Jane Kelly in 1902.

8.19 Myra French, b. 12 Dec 1902.

8.20 William Frederick French, b. 23 Jun 1905, d. 8 Sep 1905.

8.21 Harold French, b. 17 Mar 1911.

6.32 James French, m. Anne, d. 1885.

6.33 John French, m. Jane Bradbury in 1862.

6.34 Henry French.

6.35 Robert French, m. Elizabeth, d. 1926.

7.22 Martha Jane French, m. Greenland and had son Ernest Allan Greenland.

6.36 Elizabeth French, m. James Bradbury in 1875.

5.20 Benjamin French, b. Nov 1812 in Brigus, Newfoundland, d. 1833, m. Mary Anne Bartlett.

6.37 Mary French, b. 1832/4, d. 1910, m. Christopher Bishop.

6.38 John French, b. 1835, died at sea in the late 1880s, m. Hannah Mary Snow.

7.23 Emma French, b. 1862, d. 1957 in San Diego Co., CA.

7.24 Ann French, b. 3 Sep 1864, d. 28 Jan 1867.

7.25 James Knight French, b. 8 Jul 1869, d. Jan 1870.

7.26 Benjamin French, b. 19 Jun 1871 in Newfoundland, Canada.

7.27 John Charles French Sr., b. 18 Sep 1873 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland, d. 7 Apr 1960 in Burlington, Chittenden Co., VT, m. Gertrude Mae Marson.

8.22 Ralph H. French, b. 12 Nov 1901 in Jamaica Plain, MA. He d. 16 Sep 1994 in Millinocket, Penobscot Co., ME. He m. Marion Elizabeth Pearson.

9.6 Edwin R. French, b. 13 Nov 1929 in MA.

9.7 Peter A. French, b. 16 Aug 1933 in MA.

8.23 John Charles French, Jr., b. 1 Sep 1903 in Mansfield, MA. He d. 27 Dec 1989 in Burlington, Chittenden. He m. Helen Margaret Campbell.

9.8 John C. French III, b. 1929 in VT.

9.9 Richard A. French, b. 1931 in VT.

9.10 Sylvia French, b. 1933 in VT.

7.28 Mary Patience French, b. 1876, d. 1964.

7.29 Louise Bartlett French, b. 1882, d. 1972.

6.39 Ann French, b. 1838, m. John Tippett or Typett.

6.40 Emma French, b. 1841, m. George Pack of Bay Bulls.

6.41 Abraham French, b. 1855, d. 1922, Mary Jane Dawe.

7.30 Mary Susanna French.

7.31 Annie French, b. 24 Mar 1877 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada, m. James Knight Earle, moved to Gardner town, Worcester Co., MA.

7.32 Ethel French, b. 21 Jul 1879 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland, Canada.

7.33 Emma French, b. 1 Oct 1881 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland, Canada. She m. John Mercer in Bay Roberts.

7.34 Selina French, b. 4 Mar 1885 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland, Canada, d. 17 May 1885 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada, in infancy.

6.42 Selena French, b 1846, d. 1866 (never married).

6.43 Elizabeth French, b. 1848, d. 1906, m. William Batten or Batton.

6.44 Benjamin French, b. 5 Mar 1850.

6.45 Isaac French, b. 1852, d. 6 Mar 1935, m. unk.

6.46 William French, b. 1856, d. 1940, m1. Rebecca Stevens, m2. Rachel Elizabeth Taylor in 1897, by whom he had all 4 children. 

7.35 Maxwell Leslie French, b. 1898, m1. Florence Morrison, m2. Marguerite Pearl Clarke.

8.24 Wilma French (from first marriage).

8.25 Karen French (from second marriage).

8.26 Maxwell French (from second marriage).

7.36 Eva Maud French, b. 1900, d. 1906.

7.37 Florence Marion French, b. 1902, d. 1923.

7.38 Stella Myrtis French, b. 1906, d. 1977.

4.13 Sarah French, m. Lockett.

3.8 Thom French, b. 1758.

1.2 Stephen French.

2.2 Mary French, b. 1718.

1.3 Ioan French, Sr., name pronounced Yo-Ann and is Welsh for John. He died in 1737.

It is unknown where this family fits in, submitted by Debra J. Aubin, debra.aubin@gmail.com.

3.9 Thomas French, b. 1740 unknown location, d. 1810 Harbour Grace, m. Anne, d. 1784.

4.14 William French, b. 1781 Harbour Grace, d. 1872 Harbour Grace, m. Mary (1793-1865).

5.21 William French, b. Oct 1814 Harbour Grace, d. Mar 1894 Harbour Grace, m. Ruth Ash (1819-1896).

6.48 Matthew French, b. 1841.

6.49 George French, b. 17 Aug 1843, baptized 30 Dec 1844, d. in 1901, m. Mary Sheppard.

7.37 Emily French, b. 1870, may be Emily Jane French, b. 15 Jul 1861 in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, Canada and d. 9 Mar 1945 in Harbour Grace, m. James Simmoms Wells.

7.38 Belinda (Bell) French, b. 1871 in Harbour Grace, d. 1925, m. John Twambley.

7.39 Mary Jane French, m. Simeon Janes, d. ca. 1930.

7.40 Alice French, b. 1873 in Newfoundland, d. 1942 in Quebec, m. Ernest Marlow in Quebec ca. 1895 and they had 8 children.

7.41 Ambrose French, b. 25 Nov 1882.

7.42 Rachael French, b. 19 Jul 1882.

7.43 George “Wallace” French, b. 28 Sep 1884.

7.44 William “Kenneth” French, b. 25 Mar 1887, m. Agnes Twigg.

7.45 Else Maude French, b. 14 Nov 1890, m. Alex Clark.

6.50 Frederic French, b. 5 Sep 1846, baptized 10 Sep 1846.

6.51 Martha French, b. 1849.

Map of Newfoundland

Map of Harbour Grace (to the north) and Bay Roberts, French’s Cove, Coley’s Point, Port de Grave, The Dock, and Bareneed (to the south), homesteads of this French Family

In Appreciation

This chart will hopefully be researched and put together by Marian Craft, email: emcraft@shaw.ca. This chart is very sketchy and needs a lot more research, if and when I have time to do it. Any help appreciated. The current Bibliography has many notes that can be incorporated into the family line. The most difficult part is separating these perhaps 4 to 5 different French family lines. Those emailers listed in the Bibliography will be notified when this chart is ready for announcing to the public. There seem to be a lot of Frenches in the 1800-1900 in this line; I did not concentrate on these. Thank you, Marian, for your offer to research this line.

Introduction

FFA Chart #44 now connects with this chart, and has been renamed Chart #57. William John French, b. 1829 was the son of William and Penny, in Bareneed, Newfoundland, Canada. William French (1); William John French (2), m. Elizabeth Snow; Robert Charles French (3), m. Bessie H. Brown; Edward French (4), m. Josephine Caswell. Elizabeth Snow was b. 4 Nov 1838, d. 11 Nov 1924 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland. Their son, Robert Charles French d. 10 Oct 1950 in Watertown, MA. They also lived in Rye, NH. Their descendant was Hannah French, b. 19 Jun 1720, m. George Caswell 23 Dec 1742 in NH. Children: Joseph, George, John, Abner, and Love.

History and Research

Robert’s Bay Shield

French’s Cove was named after the Edward French family who claimed land here going back to 1634. It was destroyed by the French Army under Le Moyne d’lberville during the raids of 1697 and 1705. At the turn of the century, it was a bustling fishing community. After the WWII, most young people moved elsewhere to seek employment, and with the arrival of outboard motors, fishing families moved up the bay to more sheltered locations. Most houses were moved out of the Cove by men using wood poles for rollers, an anchor, and block and tackle. The slow process was repeated until the house reached its new location (see photo in the first generation). See Video of the Bay Roberts Shoreline Heritage Walk. As an afterthought, I’m wondering if the many documents on the internet that claim that French’s Cove was named after Edward French actually mean it was named after the French (nationality) as that is part of the French section of Canada. It is especially questionable when they talk about the French Army under Le Moyne d’lberville.

The French (Edward French) family operated a West Indies Trading Co. out of Bay Roberts from abt. 1700 to 1800. Ref [25] is a log book kept by the shipping company belonging to Edward French (1737-1783). After Edward died in 1783, his son Edward carried on the company until ca. 1800. The company's headquarters was at Bay Roberts, Newfoundland [25]. The log is for several ships and covers from the early 1700s to ca. 1800. It includes several birth entries for the French family as well as one marriage and one death entry [25], see log in the first generation at the bottom of the page. This info was sent by Ref. [3].

Overseas Ancestry: Edward French, b. 1853 in Supperton, Hampshire, England, is listed at Alverstoke for many generations in the “vessel log” for Edward French’s Shipping Company of Bay Roberts [3]. Alverstoke is in Hampshire, England, just west of Portsmouth and just across the channel from the Isle of Wight. His ship was in Alverstoke port in 1881 when he was 28 years old and unmarried. The record indicates that this Edward French was born in Supperton, Hampshire, England, a Leading Stoker in 1881 of the “H M S Victoria & Albert” at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. According to ancestry.com, the Edward French who was b. ca. 1853 in Alverstoke was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth French, b. 1819 and 1817 respectively, who were from Marcham, Hampshire, England and moved to Alverstoke before the 1861 census shown below when the family lived on Hadar? Street:

Thomas was 42, Elizabeth was 44, dau. Jannette was 12, son Edward was 8, and son Joseph was 11.

DNA Tests

Ancestry.com has done at least 19 tests on this family who have their roots in Bay Roberts or the French’s Cove region of Newfoundland, Canada. Go to http://dna.ancestry.com/welcome.aspx and type in the surname French. Because this group is so far the only French DNA group on Ancestry.com, we suggest you join the larger group at Family Tree DNA. Jim French is the Site Administrator for the NFLDFrench DNA website on Ancestry.com. His email is NFLDFrench@shaw.ca. If you would like to join the DNA French website with a connection to Newfoundland, see http://groups.ancestry.com/group/35579388.

Important

If you took your DNA test thru Ancestry.com, please transfer these DNA results to the Family Tree DNA FRENCH website where over 100 DNA tests are listed at
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/french/default.aspx?section=yresults.

The 19 or so French males who took the test through Ancestry can transfer their tests individually; there is a small charge for converting your results. The info is on the front page at FamilyTreeDNA.com. If you have any questions, contact marafrench@mindspring.com.

Be part of one big combined database! Transferring your 23andMe© or AncestryDNA™ autosomal test results to Family Tree DNA is easy. Click here.