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
History of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church
Middle Spring (named
for its location between Big Spring and Rocky Spring) has been the site of
Presbyterian preaching since at least 1736. The Middle Spring Presbyterian
Church was formally established in 1738 by a group of Scots-Irish immigrant
families who settled in the region in the 1730s.
There have been four church
buildings in Middle Spring's history: the first log church, built in 1738; the
second log church, erected during the 1760's; the Old Stone Church, completed
in 1781 and demolished in 1847 owing to a structural defect; and the present
church which was completed and dedicated in 1847. A Christian Education
building was added to the church building in 1964.
A number of monuments grace the
church grounds. The first of these was the Pastors' Monument,
originally erected to honor Dr. John Moody, who served the Middle
Spring congregation for 50 years and eight months. The names of subsequent
deceased Middle Spring pastors have also been added to the monument. Shortly
after the Civil War's conclusion the Civil War Monument was dedicated to
commemorate the twelve men from the Middle Spring area who died during that
conflict. The Soldier's Monument (dedicated in 1905) and Tablet (dedicated in
1910) honor the men from the Middle Spring area who served in the French and
Indian, the Revolutionary, the 1812 and the Mexican Wars.
Having celebrated its 275th
anniversary in 2013, the congregation of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church
is aware of its distinguished heritage, and as its members look toward the
future, they can hope that "we may our ends by our beginnings know"
(John Denham). We carry on this notable legacy of our spiritual
forebearers as we too come together to seek and know God both as
individuals and as a community of believers.
Middle Spring possesses four
cemeteries: the Lower Cemetery, the Upper Cemetery,
the Modern Cemetery and Hanna's Cemetery (located outside of
Newburg). Entombments date back to 1738, and thanks to the efforts of church
members and historians, the grounds and records are well-preserved. Click here to view a PDF copy of the
cemetery records.
Second Generation
Children of Samuel and Rebecca (Woodrow) French, 1.1
All children, except for the oldest daughter Mary, were living at the family
home in Fannett in 1810: 5 sons and 5 daughters [16]. Samuel and Rebecca did
not use the naming convention of the time for their 11 children. See Naming Conventions. Also, they
didn’t name any of their children Samuel or Rebecca. Children are: Mary
(Polly), Andrew, John, William, Sarah, Jane, Else, Robert, David, Margaret
(Peggy), Elizabeth.
2.1 Mary (Polly) French [6], b. 22 Sep 1787
in Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [17], m1. John R. Perry (1781-1862) and had 8
children: John Perry III, Jesse Magee Perry, Oliver Hazard Perry, Hamilton
Perry, James Pearson Perry, Ephraim Perry, David Perry, and the only daughter
Eliza Jane Perry, all between 1809-1830. Some research needs to be done on this
line because her second married to John Taylor occurred by 1810 [9], as John
Taylor is listed as head of household in the 1810 census of Fannett, Franklin
Co., PA, with a newborn son, Samuel Taylor. She had at least 2 children: Samuel
Taylor 1815-1831, and James M. Taylor. Mary d. 1 Jan 1858 in Union, OH. The
probate took place on 1865 in Westmoreland, PA. Another record says that Mary Taylor was born 15 Jan
1791 and died 17 Jan 1865 in Roxbury, Franklin, PA, and is buried in the
Roxbury Union Cemetery.
Another research states that Mary m. John R. Perry
and had 8 children. She d. 1858. Because I research only the surname “French” due
to time constraints, I need to move on to Mary’s siblings.
2.2 Andrew French [6], b. 1789 in Fannett, Franklin
Co., PA [17], m. Betsy Baylie or Bayle [9] on 4 Aug 1816 in the Middle Spring
Presbyterian Church, Middle Spring, PA, 135 Middle Spring Rd., Shippensburg, PA
17257, the year that his father died, marriage performed by Rev. John Moody,
same church where his brother David married. Andrew married 4 months after his
father died. The actual marriage was performed in Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA.
Andrew is listed as living in Fannett in 1842 in the Septennial Census. Also
listed in this census are William French and David French, two of his brothers.
2.3* John French, b. 6 May 1791 in Amberson
Valley, Franklin Co., PA [1], or, b. 6 May 1793 [6] [8] [11] in Amberson
Valley, Franklin Co., PA, d. 27 Dec 1862 [6] [8] 7 months after his wife died,
in North Henderson, Mercer Co., IL, where he’s buried in the Mount Vernon
Cemetery [4] [11]. He m. Sarah Young in Franklin Co., PA in Jan 1817 [4], the
year after his father died. Sarah was b. 1 May 1797 in Ireland, d. 5 May 1862,
about 7 months before the death of her husband [6]. They immigrated to Illinois
in April 1851 [11]. They are both buried at Mt. Vernon Cemetery near N.
Henderson, Mercer Co., IL [10].
Marriage
John m. Sarah Young in Spring Run, Franklin Co., PA
in Jan 1817 [4]. Sarah was b. 1 May 1797 in Ireland, d. 8 May 1862.
John French, b. 6 May 1793 in Amberson Valley,
Franklin Co., PA, d. 27 Dec 1862, in North Henderson, Mercer Co., IL, m. Sarah
Yon (Young?) in Franklin Co., PA in Jan 1817. Sarah was b. 1 May 1797 in
Ireland, d. 5 May 1862, about 8 months before the death of her husband. They
had 10 children. They immigrated to Illinois in April 1851. Their son was
Samuel French, b. 25 Aug 1817 in Metal Twp., Franklin Co., PA, d. 5 Nov 1881,
aged 64 years, in East Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA, m. Elizabeth Ziegler
on 5 Mar 1840. Elizabeth was b. 19 Jun 1821, d. 26 Mar 1862, almost 41 years of
age. They had at least 6 children.
John was the administrator of his father’s estate,
which consisted of 120 acres of farmland adjoining the land of Robert
Culbertson, Herman Myers, Adam Piper (witness to Samuel French’s probate),
Edward McVitty, and John McVitty, and 100 acres of mountain land adjoining
lands of Robert Culbertson, John Emery, and widow Ruth. John also assisted in
the Orphans Court for Rebecca French (his mother), as seven of his brothers and
sisters were minors in 1816 when his father died [10]. This acreage is located
to the northwest of the Van Scyoc Mill on the west side of the stream. The mill
was still standing in 1996 [10].
In 1820 John was in Metal Twp. in Franklin Co.
according to the census records. In 1830 he had moved to Newton Twp. in
Cumberland Co., PA, and was also there in 1840 and 1850. Sometime after this,
he and his family moved to the Pittsburg area, probably during the fall of
1850, as the younger children attended school there. In April of 1851, they
apparently left Pittsburgh by riverboat to make the long journey to Illinois
down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi River to the Illinois River to
Peoria, IL.
Death
John and Sarah French are both buried at Mt. Vernon
Cemetery near N. Henderson, Mercer Co., IL [10]. d. 5 May 1862, age 65 years
and 7 days, about 8 months before the death of her husband [6] [16]. John d. 27
Dec 1862.
2.4* William French [6], b. Oct 1795 in
Amberson Valley, Fannett Twp., Franklin, PA, a cooper, d. Jan 1874 in Amberson
Valley, m. Jemima Deavor / Devor in 1817. See the 1868 map of Conococheague Creek showing the
lands of S. French, William French, and J. French. William’s name is on this
1868 map and in the 1870 census in Amberson Valley, and remained there until he
died 4 years later. The only French family who lived in the 1870 census, 2
years after this map was drawn, in Fannett, Franklin, PA, (out of 26 Frenches
living there at that time), “S French” could only have been Solomon French, b.
1830; or Simon French, b. 1834 – both sons of William French. “J French” could
only have been Joseph French, b. 1842; or Jane French b. 1842 after her husband
David died the previous year.
1817 – William French married Jemima Deavor / Devor;
she was b. 1796, d. 1865 [15]. Jemima Devor was the daughter of James Devor who
lived in the household of William’s father, Samuel. James Devor was the son of
Joseph Daver (or Devor) from Scotland. The brother of James Devor was Jesse
Devor, b. in 1771 and died in 1833. Jesse was a farmer in Path Valley, which is
in Metal and Fannett townships in PA. Jesse Devor m. Amy Peterson in 1815.
Their daughter Jane was b. in 1816 and d. in 1893, and m. David French on 31
Dec 1840. David was the son of James A. French, who is a descendant of Samuel
French of this line. David and Jane had issue:
Joseph, William, Melvina who m. James McCain, Margaret who m. Solomon Crouse,
Amy who m. William Richardson, Lucinda who m. John Sanno, Mary, and Jemima Jane
[21].
1822 Jun 2 – “A” William French is listed in the
June 2, 1822 list of worshippers at the Big Spring Presbyterian Church,
Newville, PA, along with Andrew Thompson of FFA Chart #26.
1828 – William French is listed as age 33.
1830 census – Fannett, Franklin, PA.
1 male under 5, Solomon age 1
1 male, 5-9
1 male, 15-19, David French, age 12
1 male 30-39, William French, b. 1795
1 female under 5, Nancy French age 2
1 female 10-14, Ann French age 11
1 female 30-39, wife Jemima Deavor French, b. 1796
1850 census -- Fannett, Franklin, PA, William and
Jemima were both 54, Solomon was 21, Robert 18, Simon 13, Nancy 22, and William
14.
1870 Census – Fannett, Franklin, PA, showing William
age 73, a farmer, living with Eveline French 22, Stake Franklin 14, and Nancy
Wilson 1/12. And living next door to William was his son Simon 36, Angeline 38,
Mary 13, Barbara 11, Robert 9, Porter 6, David 3, and newborn Clinton 2/12. William
and Simon lived in the Amberson area of Fannett along the West Branch of the
Conococheague Creek in Franklin County, as their names appear on the 1868 map
of that area along with J. French, who was probably James. See the 1868 map. Today in 2020, Pennsylvania
Turnpike Toll Road 76 runs along that area.
1874 Jan – William died in Amberson, Franklin, PA. A
record exists of “a” William French who died in 1872 and is buried in the
Torresdale, Philadelphia, PA Cemetery, but he could have been a different
person.
2.5 Sarah French [6], b. 13 Jul 1799 in Amberson
Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [17].
2.6 Jane French [6], b. ca. 1801 in Amberson Valley,
Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [17].
2.7 Else French [6], b. ca. 1803 in Amberson
Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [17].
2.8* Robert French [6], b. ca. 1805 in Amberson
Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [16]. The 1850 census of Freedom,
Beaver Co., PA, shows a Robert French, age 50, the only Robert French listed on
ancestry.com in PA. He is married to Nancy, and living with his children Martin
16, Hannah M. 10, and Martha I. 5. He was a ship carpenter with his son Martin,
both born in PA. His wife Nancy was born in Ireland.
2.9* David French [6], b. ca. 1806 in Amberson
Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [16], m. Sally Toughhead [9] on 27 Mar 1834,
in the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Middle Spring, PA, marriage performed
by Rev. John Moody, same church where his brother Andrew married. Sally was
born 1810 and died 1840; they had daughter Margaret Ann French, 1834-1896.
After Sally died in 1840, David m. Jane Devor who was b. 1816, d. 1893. They
had 11 children between 1841-1867. 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].
1867 Mar 11
– David French died in Spring Run, Franklin, PA. The year after he died, in 1868,
a map of Amberson Valley was drawn showing the initial of J. French which
probably was David’s wife Jane; as she was living in the Amberson Valley in the
1870 census. See the 1868 map.
1870 Census -- listed in the 1870 census of
Fannett, Franklin, PA, as head of household after her husband died, age 54,
living with her children. Living next door to them in 1870 was the Devor
family, most likely Jane’s brother Jacob aged 42, as Jane was 54.
2.10 Peggy (Margaret) French [6], b. ca. 1808
in Amberson Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [16].
2.11 Elizabeth French [6], b. ca. 1809 in Amberson
Valley, Fannett, Franklin Co., PA [16].
