Contents
FFA Home Page
FFA Chart 66 Home Page
History and Background
The Scotch-Irish Movement to Pennsylvania
Early Settlers to Pennsylvania
Naming Conventions
DNA Testing
Outline or Index
First Generation
Second Generation
Third Generation
Fourth Generation
Fifth Generation
Sixth Generation
Seventh Generation
Eighth Generation
Bibliography
First Generation
1.1* Samuel French. No documentation exists to prove
Samuel was the son of William nor the brother of his supposed siblings listed
here. The naming conventions match, i.e., he gave his first son the name of his
father, William, and the names of his children also match those of his
ancestors and descendants, and he lived in the same town at the same time as
the other French members, and they all were from Scotland. Furthermore, he was
in the Revolutionary War in the same unit and under the same captain as were
Alexander and Arthur French.
Only considering his first child’s birth in 1787, and
assuming Samuel was about age 18, he probably was born in 1769 or before. Samuel
is listed in the 1790 census of Fannet, Hamilton, Letterkenney, Montgomery,
Peters, and Franklin Counties combined in PA with 1 male under 16, and Samuel
was 16+, and with 2 females, one being his wife and the other probably his
daughter. These children both born in Fannett, Franklin, PA, were Mary French
born 22 Sep 1787 and Andrew French, born 1789.
The next child, John, was born after this census; therefore, this is the
correct document.
Abington Township is one of Montgomery County’s
oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704.
It is home to some of the county’s oldest transportation routes, industries,
and churches.
Determining Samuel’s birth year:
b. 1726-1767, the years soldiers were born who served
in the Revolutionary War
He married between 1783-1787 after the war
His wife Rebecca was b. ca. 1765.
Fannett Township is a township in Franklin County,
Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,548 at the 2010 census. The
township derives its name as an older variant spelling of Fanad, County
Donegal, from early Irish settlement in the area. Wikipedia
Fannett Township was founded in 1761, with nearby
townships of Newville, Newburg, Shippensburg, Rockhill, Shade Gap, Burnt
Cabins, and Carlisle.
Samuel French,
b. 1760-1765 best educated guess, or b. 1726-1767, the years soldiers were born
who served in the Revolutionary War, in Montgomery, Montgomery Co., PA
(historically in Abington, Lackawanna County now Montgomery County) [5], d. Jan
1816 intestate in Amberson Valley, Fannett Twp, Franklin Co., PA [6] and is
buried in the Amberson Union Cemetery [6]. His 11 children were very young when
he died, and he also left his widow Rebecca Woodrow French. Samuel served in
the Pennsylvania Militia and Continental Line in Cumberland County Militia from
1778-1783. He served under Capt. Thomas Askey, Capt. Noah Abraham and Col.
Samuel Culberson from 1780-1782, and Capt. John Campbell in 1778. He was a part
of the Protective Force. Later he became a land owner and a farmer of 220 acres
consisting of 120 acres farmland and 100 acres mountains. He married Rebecca
Woodrow in mid 1780 and had 11 children. “A” Samuel Woodrow m. Jean French on
23 Apr 1807 in the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in Middle Spring, PA. Jean
French was admitted to the church on 19 Oct 1806. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Spring_Presbyterian_Church.
From Conococheague Headwaters of Amberson Valley,
1968, by Harry E. Foreman: Samuel French served under Capt. Thomas Askey in
1780-81-82, and Alexander (from Springhill, Fayette, PA) and Arthur French
served as Rangers of the Frontier*. When Samuel French died in 1816, eleven
children were mentioned: Andrew, John, Polly (John Taylor), William, Sarah,
Jane, Else, Robert, David, Peggy, and Elizabeth. The tax list of 1786 lists a
Henry and James French. John French married Miss Young in 1817 and a David
French was married to Jane Devor in 1840. By 1858, Solomon and William French
lived near Laurel Grove. One of these older places near the stream was an
earlier Drake cabin where William French was born. Simon and Solomon French
served in the Civil War. Mrs. Blanch French Herrick was the last of the name in
Amberson. A son, Ira Herrick, recently removed from the valley. Mrs. Herrick
was a daughter of a William French and granddaughter of Solomon French.
* In order to get as much advance warning as possible
to the settlers that the Indians were coming, the men formed Ranger units. They
would take turns going on scouting expeditions and ride from farm to farm
spreading warnings to run for the forts. There were various Ranger units,
usually formed among men in an area where several forts and blockhouses were
located. These Rangers provided a valuable service.
Marriage
Samuel French m. Rebecca Woodrow in 1783, but at
least before 1787 before his first child was born, in PA. They had 11 children.
Rebecca was b. ca. 1765, d. 1840 in Roxbury, Lurgan twp., Cumberland Co. now
Franklin Co., PA [5].
Many of the children of Samuel French and Rebecca
Woodrow stayed in Amberson Valley, Franklin Co., PA, and others migrated to
Illinois [6]. The daughters married into the families of Ernst, Dredge, Eckman,
Seibert, Holland, and Gracy [3][11], none of which were the original settlers
of Amberson Valley.
Rebecca Woodrow French was a hardworking pioneer lady
who raised 11 children to adulthood. After the death of her husband Samuel in
1816, her son John assisted her in the Orphans Court keeping the family
together and dividing up the lands equally. Later, around 1820, she moved to
Roxbury to finish raising the remaining children. In 1830, still living in
Roxbury she was all alone. She was buried at age 74-75 in the Roxbury
Union Cemetery in Roxbury, Franklin County, PA. Her obituary as stated above
was written by Daniel Christopher French [16].
Woodrow and Stoneburner Families
Rebecca Woodrow was the daughter of William Woodrow
(1747-1777) and Hester Stoneburner (1743 in PA, d. 7 May 1814 in Germantown,
Philadelphia, PA, and was buried in the Upper Burial Grounds). Hester
Stoneburner married William Woodrow on 15 May 1765 [5]. The parents of Hester
Stoneburner were Leonard Stoneburner (1718-1794) and Mary Engle (1715-1783),
see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121582077/hester-woodrow.
Esther or Hester Woodrow died 9 Apr 1777 in Philadelphia.
“A” Samuel Woodrow is listed in the Pennsylvania Tax
and Exoneration Listing in 1779, 1780, 1781, and 1782 in Lurgan, Cumberland,
PA.
Samuel Woodrow Jr. married Jean French on 23
Apr 1807 at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Middle Spring Cumberland Co.,
PA. Jean French was admitted to the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church during
the ministry of Rev. John Moody on 19 Oct 1806. Samuel and Jean Woodrow had 4
children: Enoch, Jane Jean, Margaret, and Nancy (all born between 1808 and
1814). After 1814, they had these 7
children: William, Elizabeth, Polly, John, Martha, Rachel, and Samuel. All 11
children were named in an Orphans Court Action of 14 Jun 1825 relating to the
death of Samuel Woodrow in Jun 1824 in Lurgan Township, Franklin Co., PA [9].
Of these 11 names, 6 are the same names as Samuel French’s children of the main
focus of this website. Jean French may have been a descendant of Samuel French.
Samuel Woodrow was born in Lurgan Twp,
Franklin Co, PA in 1806 to a Samuel Woodrow and his first wife (her name is
unknown). Samuel Woodrow (the elder) had 7 children by his first wife: William,
Elizabeth, Polly, John, Martha, Rachel and Samuel (all born between 1790 and
1807). He then married as his second wife a Jean Gordon French and had 4 more
children: Enoch, Jane, Margaret and Nancy. Samuel Woodrow died in June of 1824
in Lurgan Twp, Franklin Co, PA.
Military
Samuel served as a Private in the Revolutionary War
in the Pennsylvania Militia and Continental Line in Cumberland County Militia
from 1778-1783. He served under Capt. Thomas Askey, Capt. Noah Abraham and Col.
Samuel Culberson (perhaps spelled Culbertson as this family owned a hotel in
Chambersburg) from 1780-1782, and Capt. John Campbell in 1778. He was a part of
the Protective Force. Later he became a landowner and a farmer of 220 acres,
120 farmland, 100 mountains [16]. Alexander and Arthur French served as Rangers
of the Frontier, relationship unknown [26]. The chart
for Birth Years of Veterans states that the Revolutionary War battle years were
1775-1783, and the birth years of the soldiers were 1726-1767.
Adam and George Piper were brothers born in 1798 and
1792; therefore in 1816 when Samuel French died, they were quite young.
1780-81-82 – Samuel was a Private with Capt.
Thomas Askey in the Continental Line of the Cumberland County Militia. He was a
6th Class Member of the 8th Company of the First
Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, Commanded by Captain Charles Maclay. He
was also a 6th Class Member of the 8th Company of the
Sixth Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, commanded by Captain Thomas
Askey, as of May 10, 1780. As of April 10, 1781, he was a member of the 6th
Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, part of Captain Thomas Askey’s Company,
overall command of unit was Colonel James Dunlap. As of August 27, 1781, he was
a member of the 6th Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, part of
Captain Thomas Askey’s Company, overall commander was Colonel James Dunlap. As
of August 14, 1782, he was a member of the 8th class of the 6th
Battalion of Cumberland County, Militia, part of Captain Thomas Askey’s
Company, overall commander was Colonel James Dunlap. Another commander
associated with the Revolutionary War and Samuel French was Colonel Samuel
Culbertson, servicing during the 1780-1782 timeframe.
1781 Apr 10 – A class roll of Capt. Thomas
Askey’s Company of the Sixth Battalion of Cumberland County Militia commanded
by Col. James Dunlap.
Chronology
1750 -- A hardworking pioneer lady who raised 11 children to
adulthood. After the death of her husband Samuel, her son John assisted her in
the Orphans Court keeping the family together and dividing up the lands
equally. Later, around 1820 she would move to Roxbury to finish raising the
remaining children. Possibly she had a lover who helped her or maybe he was
just a friend or hired hand, however in 1830, still living in Roxbury she was
all alone.
1750 Oct 27 – Samuel French born in Fannett,
Franklin, PA. No record whatsoever.
Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, PA.
1760 –
n “An”
Elizabeth was born in 1760 in Ireland (another record says 1751), marries John
Brown, dies 29 Sep 1824
in West Pennsboro, Cumberland, Pennsylvania.
Could be a sister of Samuel? She belonged to the Big Spring Presbyterian Church
in Newville, PA, as did Samuel.
n “An”
Elizabeth French married James Campbell on 3 Oct 1809 at the same church.
n “A”
Barbara French married George Nave on 17 Jun 1841 at the same church.
n “A”
James French married Jane Cowen on 5 Apr 1826 at the same church.
n “A”
Samuel French is listed as attending or a member of the same church on 30 May
1824.
n “A”
Martha French is listed as attending or a member of the same church as age 45;
since she was born in 1765, she was attending the church in 1810.
n “A”
William French is listed as attending or a member of the same church on 2 Jun
1822.
n
“A” Mary French and “a”
John French are listed as attending or a member of the same church on 20 Oct
1816. This date is close to the date when Samuel died, so it would seem
possible that Mary and John were his children, as they were the same names of
his older children. Samuel French didn’t use most of these names when he named
his children, specifically Barbara, James, nor did he use the names Samuel or
Rebecca. Of these names, he did use Elizabeth, John, Mary (Polly). From https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/14512/?name=_French&count=50&name_x=1_1.
1764 – Rebecca Woodrow was born in PA.
1766-1767 – Amberson Valley warrants. Samuel French
had 100 acres adjacent to William Watson in Amberson Valley on 28 Oct 1767.
1783-1787 -- Samuel French m. Rebecca Woodrow in
1783, but at least before 1787 before his first child was born, in PA, and had
11 children. Most unofficial records state 1783.
1780 – Samuel is on the Fannett, Cumberland, Tax and
Exoneration List. This could be the first official record for Samuel French.
1784 Sep 9 -- Franklin County was formed on
September 9, 1784 from Cumberland County. It was named in honor of Benjamin
Franklin. The county seat is Chambersburg.
1786 Apr 10 – Certificate of Military Service.
1786 -- Samuel is on the Fannett Township Tax and
Exoneration Listing for 1786 as the only adult male with the surname
French in Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [18].
1787 -- Samuel is on the Fannett Township Tax and
Exoneration Listing for 1787 as the only adult male with the surname
French in Fannett, Franklin Co., PA. This is the year he probably married. Samuel
owned 120 acres of land in Amberson Valley and 100 acres of mountain land [5].
1790 census -- Samuel is listed in the 1790 census
of Fannet, Hamilton, Letterkenney, Montgomery, Peters, and Franklin Counties
combined in PA with 1 male under 16, and Samuel was 16+, and with 2 females,
one being his wife and the other probably his daughter. These children both
born in Fannett, Franklin, PA, were Mary French born 22 Sep 1787 and Andrew
French, born 1789. The next child, John,
was born after this census; therefore, this is the correct document.
1790 Franklin County, Pennsylvania census
1 free white male under 16, Andrew, born after 1774
1 free white male 16+, Samuel French, born before 1774
2 free white females, daughter Mary and wife Rebecca Woodrow French
21 head of
households with the surname French lived in Pennsylvania. See: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5058/?name=_French&count=50&name_x=1_1&residence=_pennsylvania-usa_41&residence_x=_1-0
1798 -- Samuel is listed on the 1798 Tax Lists of
Metal, Franklin County, PA.
1800 Franklin County census, Fannett Twp., page 3
out of 4 pages.
Samuel French is listed with 3 males plus himself and
4 females plus his wife, 9 in all.
2 free white males under 10, born between 1790-1800, John and William
1 free white male age 10-15, born between 1785-1790, Andrew
1 free white male 26-44, Samuel French, born 1756-1774*
3 free white females under 10, born between 1790-1800, Sarah, Jane, Else
1 free white female 10-15, born between 1785-1790, Mary
1 free white female 26-44, Rebecca Woodrow French, born 1756-1774
*This indicates that Samuel was born in 1756 or
afterwards, not in 1750 as most researchers indicate. He could have been born
in 1756, 1757, but in 1758 Alexander was born, in 1759, but not in 1760 as
Nancy was born then. His first child was born between 1785-1790; therefore, the
birth date of 1765 could also be possible which agrees with the 1810 census.
1810 Franklin County census, Fannett Twp., page 6
out of 11 pages.
Samuel French is listed with 5 males plus himself and
5 females plus his wife.
2 free white males under 10, born 1800-1810, Robert and David
1 free white male 10-15, born 1795-1800, William
2 free white male, 16-25, born 1785-1794, Andrew and John
0 free white male, 26-44
1 free white male, 45+, born before 1765, Samuel French, which indicates he
could very well have been born in 1756 as the 1800 census indicates.
3 free white females under 10, born 1800-1810, Else, Peggy, Elizabeth
2 free white female 10-15, born 1795-1800, Sarah, Jane
0 free white female, 16-25
1free white female, 26-44, born 1766-1784, Rebecca Woodrow French
0 free white female, 45+,
Daughter Mary married and moved out of her parent’s household.
15 Apr 1816 – Samuel French died in Amberson,
Franklin, PA. He is buried at the Amberson Union Cemetery there. Letters of
Administration on the Estate of Samuel French were granted to his son John
French, 15 April 1816 [12], before the 1820 census.
When Samuel French died in 1816, eleven children were
mentioned: Andrew, John, Polly (who m. John Taylor), William, Sarah, Jane,
Else, Robert, David, Peggy, and Elizabeth [26]. His will and probate were
recorded on April 15, 1816, naming his son John as the executor and
administrator, Franklin County, PA.
Petition of John French, one of the heirs of Samuel
French, late of Fannett township, deceased, names his widow Rebecca and 11
children: Andrews, John (executor), Polly, William, Sarah, Jane, Else, Robert,
David, Peggy, Elizabeth.
Samuel French 1818 Volume B Page 274, translation from above.
The petition of John French one of the heirs of
Samuel French late of Fannett Township deceased who died intestate was received
setting forth, that the petitioner’s said father died intestate in January one
thousand eight hundred sixteen leaving a widow named Rebecca and eleven
children, viz, Andrew, John (the petitioner), Polly intermarried with John
Taylor, William, Sarah, June, Else, Robert, David, Peggy, and Elizabeth, the
last seven of whom were in their minority And that the petitionary said father,
Samuel French, died seized in his (demise?) as of fee of an in a certain tract
of land, situated in Amberson Valley, in the township a foresaid adjoining
lands of Robert Culbertson, Herman (Myers?), Hiram Piper, Edward McVitty, and
John McVitty containing one hundred twenty acres or thereabouts and also one
hundred acres of mountain land in the same valley adjoining Robert Culbertson,
John (Emery?), and the widow Ruth, that the petitioner is desiring of having
his share in the said real estate as ascertained and set apart for him-And
thereupon prays for the courts to award and an inquest to divide the said real
estate to and among the widow and all the heirs of the said
intestate of the same can become without prejudice to or spoiling the whole, but
if the same cannot be so divided, that the said inquest shall (?)
whether the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of said heirs
without prejudice to spoiling the whole. If the same will so accommodate more
than one of said heirs that the said inquest divide the same as many as it will
conveniently accommodate a value and appraise each per part, but if the same
will not accommodate more than one said being that the said inquest appraise
and evaluate the whole undivided and make return of their proceedings to the
court. The Petitioner (?gested) the minority of seven of the children aforesaid
and prayed the court to appoint guardians to receive notice of the said
inquest- Where upon the court order and direct that the sheriff in his proper
person with twelve good and lawful men of his (?) in the presence of all the
parties that shall chose to attend a guardian of the minor children having due
and previous notice thereof do hold an inquest on the premises of aforesaid
with the appartence and divide the same to and among the widow and all the
heirs of the said intestate if the same can be done without prejudice to or
spoiling the whole thereof but if the same cannot be so divided. that the said
inquest shall inquire whether the same will conveniently accommodate more than
one of the said heirs without prejudice and to spoiling the whole and if the
same will so accommodate more than one of the said heirs that the said inquest
divide the same among as many as it will conveniently accommodate value and
appraise back (?), but if the same will not accommodate more than one of the
said being that the said inquest appraise and value the whole undivided and
make return of their proceedings to the most orphan court after such
inquisition (?) be taken as well under hand and seal of the said sheriff as
also under the hands and seal of jurors or inquest of aforesaid by whose oath
or affirmation such inquisition shall be taken and the court appoint Edward
McVitty guardian of the minor children for the purpose of receiving notice of
the inquisition and proceeding there some. [Edward McVitty was born 1771, died
1833, both in Amberson, PA]
1820 Census, Lurgan, Franklin, PA
Rebecca moved back to where her parents lived after her husband died in Jan
1816.
1 free white male under 10,
1 free white male 10-15,
1 free white male 26-44,
1 free white female under 10,
1 free white female 10-15,
1 free white female 45+, Rebecca Woodrow French, b. 1765
Also living as head of household in
Lurgan was Adam French.
1830 Census,
Roxbury, Franklin, PA
1 male age 5-9
1 female, age 50-59
1840 Roxbury, Franklin County, PA
Rebecca French died aged 74-75, born in 1765, buried in the Roxbury Union
Cemetery, wife of Samuel French, mother of John French. From the cemetery
website: A hardworking pioneer lady who raised 11 children to adulthood. After
the death of her husband Samuel, her son John assisted her in the Orphans Court
keeping the family together and dividing up the lands equally. Later after 1820
she would move to Roxbury to finish raising the remaining children. No birth
nor death date appears on her gravestone.
Devor Family
In Fannett Township, home of Samuel French, belonged
to James DEVOR, son of Joseph DAVER from Scotland. His daughter Jemima
married William French, son of Samuel French (page 696) [21].
His brother Jesse DEVOR, (born in 1771, died in 1833)
son of Joseph DAVER was a farmer in Path Valley...which is in Metal and Fannett
Townships. He married Amy Peterson in 1815. Their
daughter Jane (born in 1816, died 1893) married David French on
December 31, 1840. David French, son of James A. French. The
researcher has written at the bottom of the page "This David French is
likely a descendant of Samuel French."
David French and Jane Devor French had Issue:
Joseph; William; Melvina married James McCain; Margaret married Solomon Crouse;
Amy married William Richardson; Lucinda married John Sanno; Mary; Jemima
Jane, deceased (page 697) [21].
