French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Chart #67, Judith French, 1620
Weymouth, Norfolk Co., MA

This chart updated by Mara French on 4/29/09. Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2009. Back to FFA Home Page.

Introduction

When I first started numbering FFA charts, I included both male and female lines; hence, this female line of a former FFA member. I’ve decided to keep these female lines in place so as not to confuse the numbering system.

History

Judith French was the sister of Stephen French, FFA Chart #7. She m. John Rogers [1] ca. 1636 in Weymouth, Norfolk Co., MA [6]. Judith was b. ca. 1615/16 at Chelmsford, Essex, England [6]. Judith was b. 1605 in Misterton, Somerset, EnglandJudith emigrated from England to Weymouth, MA, on 19 Mar 1635, age 20, a servant. Judith is the only one with the surname French on this arrival, and there are no Rogers listed.

Judith’s lineage continues with Lydia Rogers (2), b. 17 Mar 1642 in Weymouth, m. Joseph White on 19 Sep 1660; Mary White (3), m. Ebenezer Hill; David Hill (4), m. Sarah Thayer; Mary Hill (5), m. John Aldrich; Penelope Aldrich (6), m. Thomas Bowen; Nathan Bowen (7), m. Rachel Stoddard; Ezra Bowen (8), m. Lois Aldrich; Los Bowen (9), m. Preston Peake [4].

Also, Lydia Rogers (2), m. Joseph White; Thomas White (3), m. Mehitable Thornton; Mehitable White (4), m. Benjamin Darling; Thomas Darling (5), m. Rachel White; Rachel Darling (6), m. Reuben Holbrook 1777 in Menden, MA; Anna Holbrook (7), m. Samuel Fairbanks in 1801 of Tioga Co., NY; Samuel Fairbanks (8), m. Sarah Mantanye 1823; Susan Fairbanks (9), m. William Rudy; Olive Rudy (9); Mary Leonhardt (10); Herman Weiland (11) [7].

Mary French was another sister of Stephen French, and she m. Robert Randall.

From Roger Finch [9]

That is the correct marriage date for John Rogers (Thomas1, John2) – but to Anna Churchman, not Judith French. What is your source?

This interchange again raises the questions about Deacon John Rogers of Weymouth MA, his parentage, and his marrige(s). In order to provide a point of reference for further discussion, I will quote from "The Ancestry of Eva Belle Kempton 1878-1908 Part I" 1996 by Dean Crawford Smith, CG and edited by Melinde Lutz Sanborn, F.A.S.G. published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Nothing more recent than this has come to my attention.

"Deacon JOHN ROGERS, linen weaver, born say 1610, died Weymouth, MA 11 February 1660/1 ((Vital Records of Weymouth, Massachusetts To The Year 1850, 3 vols. NEHGS 1910 2:334); married JUDITH (_____), living 30 April 1660 when her husband's will was proved (Suffolk Probate #264). It has been suggested that Judith was Judith French, age 20, who embarked for New England at Weymouth 20 March 1635/6 with Joseph Hull, minister of Somerset, in whose family she was a servant (Hotten's Lists, 285). If this is the case, then John Rogers must have met and married her in a very short time after his arrival in New England. No independent evidence supports this identification." His will mentions his wife as "Judeth." Their first child John was born about 1639.

Much more about Deacon John Rogers and Judith appears in Volume 19 West Country Ancestries, 1620-1643 Part III "Search for the Passengers of the MARY & JOHN 1630." 1993 The Mary & John Clearing House. Many of the key conclusions in this material are qualified as to their proof.

None of the above references has proved the following

1. That Deacon John Rogers was a son of any Thomas Rogers.

2. That Deacon John Rogers married Anna Churchman on 16 April 1639.

3. That Deacon John Rogers married Judith (FRENCH?) on 16 April 1639.

Certainly any proven additions or corrections to the above would be welcome because they do relate to a possible Mayflower lineage.

Richard French and Son Stephen

Stephen French was born on 26 Dec 1600/01 in Misterton, Somerset County, England, the son of Richard French, b. 1575 in England, m. ____ Adams. Richard had probably four children: John b. ca. 1599, Stephen, b. 1601, Mary b. 1603, Judith b. 1615.

Stephen had a lot of 16 acres granted to him in Dorchester towards "Naponsett," 16 Jan 1632-33, and another of 8 acres granted 1 Dec 1634. (Dorchester Town Records; Register, 21: 166, 276.) He was made a freeman to Wessagusset. 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. He also had lots in the First Division and in the Second Division granted to him, 14 Dec 1663. He was a Deputy from Weymouth, 12 Mar. 1637-38, 6 Sep 1638, Weymouth 6 Sept. 1638, and a member of the Dorchester council in Feb. 1638-39. His wife was Mary ____, who died at Weymouth, 6 Apr. 1655. He died at Weymouth between 17 Mar and 29 Jul 1679. They had at least two children, Stephen b. ca. 1640, and Josiah, died young.

There is now proof that Stephen French (1600-1679 of Weymouth, MA, was the brother of Judith French (wife of John Rogers) & Mary French (wife of Robert Randall, all of whom came to New England.

Richard French, b. 1575 in Misterton, Somerset, England, was Stephen’s father. Richard m. Judith Lucy Adams whose brother was the direct line for 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. Judith was b. ca. 1581 in Barton, St. David. Somerset, England [10].

Richard French’s father was John French, b. 1543 in England [10].

Stephen French’s Will in Abstract

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 apppointed 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.)

Stephen’s Sisters Mary and Judith

Stephen's sister, Mary, who arrived on the same ship as Stephen in 1630, married Robert Randall, born 1608, of Windover, Buckinghamshire. They married in Weymouth, MA. Robert was born ca. 1606, married in 1641, died 3 May 1691 in Weymouth, MA. Mary died 7 Mar 1690 in Weymouth, MA [10].

Stephen's sister, Judith, also immigrated to America. She was born about 1615 and married 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 [10].

Bibliography

[1] Olive Hoffman, grannygoose3@mchsi.com, good in 2005.

[2] FFA member #444, Chuckie R. Blaney, 11 Hollis St., Sherborn, MA 01770-1254.

[3] FFA member #2, Roland Rhoades, Jr. in Maine.

[4] FFA member #512, Dorothy Augusta Pearson (passed away).

[5] FFA member #381, Penelope L. Baldauff.

[6] FFA member #161, Wilma F. Haynes.

[7] FFA member #598, Herman Lewis Weiland, 2511 N. Waverly Dr., Bossier City, LA 71111-5933, (318) 746-5811.

[8] FFA member #244, Amber T. Winters.

[9] Rogers Finch, jvmcgovern@mindspring.com or ka2hsu@earthlink.net

[10] Susan Johanson, scjohanson5@comcast.net.