Contents
FFA Home Page
First Generation
Second Generation
Third Generation
Bibliography
History
Even though Arthur French, Alexander French, and Samuel
French all served under the same Captain at the same time, they may not be
related; in fact, no connection has been found. Arthur’s parents were living in
Pennsylvania in 1750 when he was born, but they cannot be located. Searching
for them on ancestry.com turns up mostly Quakers; one would imagine his father’s
name could have been Arthur or Alexander or George (the name of his son), the
names Richard, Robert, Thomas, Joseph appear. No
further ancestors are known. The ancestors of Alexander and Samuel French are
from Scotland (see FFA Chart #26), plus another
French line in the same area at the same time was Ayres French (click here). One might
imagine that, because Arthur named his children Elisabeth, Barbary, and George,
these could be the names of his parents. The parents of his wife, Rebecca Fox, are
also unknown; there were many women named Rebecca Fox and Rebecca French at
that time, but none of them is appropriate for this line.
The first European settlers in Philadelphia
were Swedes, who established a community at the mouth of the Schuykill not later than 1643. England, however,
established its control over the entire region, and in 1681, King Charles
II made William Penn a grant of land that became Pennsylvania.
First Generation
1.1 Arthur French, b. ca. 1750 in
Philadelphia, PA, lived in 1788 in the town of Upper Delaware, Philadelphia
County, Pennsylvania. Arthur probably died ca. 1793 in Delaware where he was
buried. Capt. Thomas Askey was of Shippensburg, Cumberland, PA in 1786, 1787,
and then of Fannett, Cumberland, PA in 1778, 1782. Capt. Thomas Askey was also
a member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in Middle Spring, PA.
Chronology
1750 – Arthur French was born in Philadelphia, PA.
His parents are yet unknown, but they both must have lived in Philadelphia in
1750. Many people with the surname “French” in Philadelphia between 1740-1760
were Quakers, but Arthur was probably not a Quaker. The earliest Quaker was
Thomas French who lived in Philadelphia on 19 July 1739.
1778 Feb 17 – Arthur French age 28 married Rebecca
Fox (or Fuchs if German) in Philadelphia, PA, and had at least 3 children after
the Revolutionary War. They were married at the Gloria Dei Swedes’ Church in
Philadelphia. Furthermore, Andrew French, who married Rachel Harper on 11 Aug
1788, was also married at the Swedes’ Church in Philadelphia, relationship if
any is unknown. Other French marriages close to the marriage date 1778 and also
at the Swedes’ Church in Philadelphia possibly indicating marriages of Arthur’s
possible siblings were Jane French married William Knowls
on 28 Jul 1779; Margaret French married William Hamilton on 6 Mar 1780; Robert
French married Barbara Kinch on 6 Jun 1784; William French married Ruth Higby on 26 May 1783 [3].
Gloria Dei is the oldest church in Pennsylvania and second oldest Swedish church in the United States after Holy
Trinity Church (Old Swedes) in Wilmington,
Delaware. Swedish pioneers of New Sweden were the first to settle the area in
1646. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Dei_(Old_Swedes%27)_Church. The church is located at 929 South Water
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1781 – Arthur French was a Private and a Drummer in
the Revolutionary War serving under Capt. Thos. Askey and as a Ranger on the
Frontiers.
1781 Feb 10 – from History of the County of
Westmoreland, PA, p. 461.
1784 Feb 26 – Colonial Records of PA, Minutes
of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, from its organization to the
termination of the revolution.
1784 –
Muster roll of the 2nd Company, 6th Battalion,
Philadelphia Militia commanded by Lieut. Col. Joseph Dean. Arthur French was a
Private.
1785 Aug 30 -- After the war, Arthur was entitled to
200 acres of land through a donation for being a soldier. He received an
additional 50 acres of land on 30 Aug 1785 in Westmoreland County, PA.
1786 –
Arthur French served as a Private in Philadelphia of Sixth Company, Fifth
Battalion, Philadelphia Militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Benjamin G. Eyre Esqr. Then he served as a Private for the Sixth Company,
Fifth Battalion of the Philadelphia Militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Benjamin
G. Eyre Esqr.
1787 May 20 – Daughter Elisabeth Catharina
French was born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA, at Saint Michael’s
and Zion Church.
1787 – Arthur French paid Pennsylvania Tax and
Exoneration in the town of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia County, PA.
1788 – Arthur French lived in the town of Upper
Delaware, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
1791 – Daughter Barbary French was born in Sherman’s
Valley (in Hopewell, Beaver Co.), PA, d. 6 Sep 1877 in OH. She was orphaned and
later lived in Ohio with Colonel John Johnston, an Indian agent.
1793 Dec 8 – Son George French was born in Delaware,
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He was also orphaned as his father died the
same year. Daughter Barbary French was baptized at the same time as George on 8
Dec 1793 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, the daughter of Arthur and
Rebecca French, at the Holy Trinity Church, also known as Old Swedes Church, in
Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware.
The following document shows the same date for the
baptisms of Barbary and George French, but as the children of William and
Rebecca French instead of Arthur and Rebecca French, also from the Old Swedes
Church, in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware. Another record shows “a” William French
born 20 Dec 1758 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of John and Hannah French.
1793-1800 –
Both Arthur and Rebecca French died, leaving 3 small orphans. The definition of
“orphan” is a child (not of adult age) whose both parents died, but later records
could reveal Arthur’s dead record. See Ref. [6] for possible answers.
Colonel John Johnston
Colonel John Johnston and his wife, Rachel Hoping Robinson,
were the family who, besides their own family, took in various orphan children;
in particular, Elizabeth French, Barbary French, George French, and John J. Peck
who marries Barbary French. No further records have been found for Elizabeth French
and George French, supposedly children of Arthur French.
1775 Mar 25 --
Colonel John Johnston was born on 25 Mar 1775 in Ballyshannon,
Donegal, Ireland. He immigrated and was living in Franklin, PA.
1790 census --
Colonel John Johnson was living in North Huntington, Westmoreland, PA, and was
only 15 years of age; he also lived near Eres (Ayres) French in 1790 with only
5 females living with him (connection, if any, to this family is unknown). The
census states that he and a female were age 16+ living alone.
1802 Jul 15 -- Colonel John Johnston married Rachel
Hoping Robinson on 15 Jul 1802 in Lancaster, PA. Therefore, Elizabeth, Barbary
and George French could have lived with the Colonel since 1802 when he left for
Ohio and probably took them with him. In 1802, Barbary and George would have
been only 11 and 9 years old.
1815 Jun 24 – Barbary married John J. Peck in Miami
County, OH, and had 7 children in 19 years. John J. Peck was also an orphan and
raised as his parents by Colonel John Johnston and Rachel Hoping Robinson.
From Colonel John
Johnson’s Cemetery page: 25 Mar 1775-18 Feb 1861.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8653107/john-johnston.
Farmer, Public
official and Indian Agent from 1802-1829. He was born in Northern Ireland and
immigrated in 1786 at age 11, settling in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Johnston became a wagoner with the army during General Wayne's campaign, then
entered the mercantile business for a brief time. He was a participant in the funeral
procession of President George Washington, being a fellow member of the
Washington Lodge No. 59 of Free and Accepted Masons. He married Rachel Robinson
July 15, 1802 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. On July 1, 1802, John Johnston was
appointed Factor at Fort Wayne under William Henry Harrison, Indian Agent and
Governor of the Indian Territory, and Secretary of State Henry Dearborn. In
1811, he resigned as Factor and Indian Agent at Ft. Wayne and relocated to Pigua, Ohio. About 6 months after moving to the farm, John
& his neighbor Richard Winans donated adjoining
tracts of land for a Methodist church, burying grounds and school. He continued
working with the Shawnee, Miami, Wyandot and Seneca Indians until the early
1840s, negotiating treaties and often traveling between Piqua and Washington
City (D.C.). He was responsible for the negotiations with several Ohio tribes
that were moved to the West, the last being the Wyandot. He was a close friend
of General (President) Harrison as well as many of the Indian Chiefs, including
Black Hoof and the Little Turtle. He also played a major role in the early
transportation of Northwest Ohio, contributing to the creation of the first
road from Wapaghkonetta to Fort Meigs, as well as the
building of the Miami-Erie Canal. The Johnston Farm (Piqua Historical Area) is
owned and maintained by the Ohio Historical Society. http://johnstonfarmohio.blogspot.com
Second Generation
Barbary French was b. 1791 in Sherman’s Valley (in Hopewell,
Beaver Co.), PA, d. 6 Sep 1877 in OH. She was orphaned and later lived in Ohio
with Col. John Johnston, an Indian agent, and in the family of her daughter,
Mary Peck’s husband. Barbary French m. John J. Peck on 24 Jun 1815 in Miami
Co., OH. John Peck was b. ca. 1793, served in the War of 1812, and d. 25 Dec
1851 in Shelby Co., OH. They had 6 children: Elizabeth, Mary, Johnston, Julia,
Samuel, and Catherine Peck, all lived in Shelby Co., OH.
Children of Arthur and Rebecca (Fox) French, 1.1
2.1 Elisabeth Catharina French, b. 20 May
1787 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. She was baptized on 23 Sep 1787. No
further information can be found.
2.2* Barbary French, b. in 1791 in Sherman’s Valley,
Armstrong County, PA (as stated on her death certificate), was orphaned, and
came to live with Colonel John Johnston, Indian Agent in Piqua, Ohio, when she
was just a child. She met John J. Peck there before he went off to serve in the
War of 1812. They both lived at the home of Colonel John Johnston and his wife
Rachel in Miami County, OH.
John J. Peck was
born 1787, in Virginia. He was an orphan when very young, and lived among
strangers. When he was a young man he came to Ohio, and lived and worked for
Colonel John Johnston also as an orphan. John Peck also served in the War of
1812 under General Harrison. When John returned from the war, he realized how
much Barbary had grown up and soon after married. They married on 24 Jun 1815
in Miami County, Ohio, at the home of Colonel Johnston and his wife
Rachel. John Peck d.
in 1851, and Barbary d. 6 Sep 1877 in Shelby County, Ohio, and is buried
in the Johnston Cemetery in Piqua, Miami County, OH, stating her father was
Arthur French, spouse was John J. Peck, and children were John Johnston Peck,
Julia A. Mayginnes, Elizabeth Johnston, and Mary
Johnston.
1775 Mar 25 – John Johnston was born in Germanagh, Northern Ireland to Stephen and Elizabeth
(Bernard) Johnston. He died 18 Feb 1861 in WDC, but was buried in Piqua, OH.
1791 – Barbary French was born in Sherman’s
Valley, Armstrong Co., PA.
1800 census –
John Johnston lived in Philadelphia North Ward, Philadelphia, PA.
1810 census –
The 1810 census included one new state: Ohio. Many records were lost; however,
John Johnston was living in Miami, OH.
War of 1812 --
John
Peck served in the War of 1812 under General Harrison. Colonel John Johnston
also served in this war. When John Peck returned from the war, he realized how
much Barbary French had grown up and soon after married. This indicates that
Barbary was living with Colonel John Johnston, as was John Peck (both orphans),
prior to 1812.
1815 Jun 24 – Barbary married John J. Peck in Miami
County, OH, and had 7 children in 19 years. John J. Peck was also an orphan and
raised as his father by Colonel John Johnston and Rachel Hoping Robinson.
1820 census –
Barbary Peck lived in Staunton, Miami County, OH. She is listed as age 16-25
when in reality, she was 30. She is living only with one other person, a
female, aged 10-15. Living nearby her is a man named Ezekiel French with a
family of 11; the Staunton census is only 3 handwritten pages. “An” Ezekiel
French was the son of Aaron and Mary (Clarke) French of NJ who migrated to
Pennsylvania and then Ohio, FFA Chart #21, b. in 1775; he was buried in the Raper Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Miami County, OH; he moved
to Ohio in 1811 and served in the War of 1812 as a Pvt. in Adam’s Battalion
Ohio Militia. He was not a Quaker.
1830 – Barbary and John Peck lived in Grayson,
Shelby, OH.
1 male under 5
1 male 5-9
1 male 30-39, John Peck
1 female 5-9
2 females 10-14
1 female 30-39, Barbary Peck
1840--1870 – Barbary lived in Washington, Shelby, OH.
1850 census – Barbara (Barbary) Peck 55, is living
with her husband John Peck 60, and 2 of their children: Samuel Peck 22 and
Catharine Peck 19 in Washington, Shelby, OH.
1851 – John J. Peck died and is buried in the
Johnston Cemetery in Piqua, Miami County, OH.
1860 census – Barbary Peck is widowed, age 62,
living with her son John Johnston Peck, 38, and his family in Washington,
Shelby, OH.
1870 census -- Barbary Peck appears in the 1870
census of Washington, Shelby, OH, aged 80 (therefore born ca. 1790), living
with her daughter Elizabeth Johnston 53 who married John Johnston 53, and had
children Samuel P. Johnston 28, Stephen Johnston 17, Martha Johnston 13, and
Emma Johnston 8.
1877 Sep 6 – Barbary French Peck died in Shelby
County, OH, aged 86, and is buried in the Johnston Cemetery in Piqua, Miami
County, OH.
Her death certificate states that Barbary was born
in Sherman's Valley, PA. She and John are buried in the Johnston Cemetery in
Miami County, Ohio. She died 6 Sep 1877 in Washington, Shelby Co., OH, in the
county where they had lived since at least 1850. Barbary and John also had
children John “Johnston” Peck, Juliette A. “Julia” Peck, Samuel Peck, Catherine
Peck, and an unnamed son. Barbary’s parents were Arthur French and Rebecca Fox
of Philadelphia.
From Barbara Peck’s cemetery biography
at the Johnston Cemetery:
Barbara or Barbary
French was born in 1791 in Sherman's Valley, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Barbary's parents were Arthur French and Rebecca Fox of Philadelphia. She was
orphaned when she was a child and Colonel John Johnston, Indian Agent in Piqua,
Ohio, took her in to raise her. There she met John J. Peck. John was born 1787,
in Virginia. He was an orphan when very young, and lived among strangers. When
he was a young man he came to Ohio, and lived and worked for the Colonel. John
also served in the War of 1812 under General Harrison. When John returned from
the war he realized how much Barbary had grown up and
soon after married. They married on 24 Jun 1815 in Miami County, Ohio, at the
home of Colonel Johnston and his wife Rachel.
Barbary and John had children Elizabeth Peck
Johnston, Mary Peck Johnston, John "Johnston" Peck (named in honor of
the Colonel), Juliette A. "Julia" Peck McGinnis, Samuel Peck,
Catherine Peck Neal, and an unnamed son. The oldest two of Barbary's and John's
daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, married two Johnston brothers, Christopher and
John. The Johnston brothers were cousins of Colonel John Johnston. John died in
1851. She died 6 September 1877 in Washington, Shelby County, Ohio. She had
become blind many years before her death. Barbary and John are buried in the
Johnston Cemetery in Miami County, Ohio.
2.3 George French, b. 1793, in New Castle, Delaware,
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. No further information can be found for him. See Ref. [5]
for further research.
Third Generation
Children of John J. and Barbary (French) Peck, 2.2
The oldest two of Barbary’s and
John's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, married two Johnston brothers,
Christopher and John. The Johnston brothers were cousins of Col. John Johnston.
3.1 Elizabeth Peck, b. 30 Sep 1816 in Washington,
Shelby County, OH, d. 10 Sep 1900 in Washington, Shelby County, OH, m. John
Johnston, and had children Sarah Johnston, Samuel P. Johnston, Stephen
Johnston, Barbara Johnston, Martha Johnston, Jane Johnston, Mary Johnston, and
Emma Johnston. Elizabeth was buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua,
Miami, OH. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14398317/elizabeth-johnston.
3.2 Mary Peck, b. 19 Mar 1820 in Shelby County, OH,
d. 24 Aug 1905 and buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua, Miami, OH. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14401029/mary-johnston.
She m. Christopher Johnston, of Shelby County, OH.
3.3 John Johnston Peck, b. 5 Oct 1821 in Washington,
Shelby County, OH, according to the 1850 census of Franklin, Mercer, OH, d.
1883 in Washington, Shelby County, OH. He m. Martha M. Gillespie on 18 Nov 1856
in Shelby, OH, and had children Mary Marcella Peck 1858-1891, and Emma Amanda
Peck who married Roberts, 1860-1922. John Johnston Peck was head of household
in the 1860 census of Washington, Shelby County, OH, living with his wife
Martha age 36, and their 1-year old child Mary Peck,
and John’s mother Barbary age 62. In the 1880 census, John states that his
father was born in Virginia and his mother in Pennsylvania. John Johnston Peck
died 1 Feb 1900 in Lockington, Shelby County, Ohio, and is buried in the
Johnston Cemetery in Piqua, Miami County, OH, the son of John J. Peck and
Barbara Peck, and the husband of Martha M. Peck. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44747635/john-johnston-peck.
3.4 Julia A. Peck, b. Dec 1823 in Shelby County, OH,
d. 21 Apr 1914 and is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Council Grove, Morris
County, Kansas, see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100621682/julia-a-mayginnes.
She m. Mayginnes, of Shelby County, OH
3.5 Samuel Peck, b. 1826 in Shelby County, OH, d. 31
Mar 1900 and is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Nevada City, Nevada
County, CA. From the
Genealogical Abstracts from Old Mortuary Records Grass Valley-Nevada City,
California, Volume 2 prepared by Capt John Oldham
Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, page 5:
"Peck, Samuel, age 74 yrs, bp Ohio. Res Blue
Tent. Single white male. Occupation miner. Died Mar 31, 1900. Buried IOOF
Cemetery, Nevada City."
3.6 Catherine Peck, b. 1831, d. 1896, of Shelby
County, OH.
Bibliography
[1] Soldiers of the War of 1812 in Shelby County, OH,
website: http://ohshelby.ancestralsites.com/war1812.html
[2] FFA member #364, Sharon B. Bledsoe, 110 E. Monument,
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359, email: sbb212@hotmail.com
(good in 2002 and 2020). She was born Sharon B. Arthur and m. Joe Bledsoe. Her
father was Gilbert Franklin Arthur, her grandfather was Everett Archur who m. Mary Johnston, and Mary Johnston’s mother was
Julia Johnston b. 15 May 1853 in Montezuma, Mercer Co., OH. Barbary French (1),
m. John J. Peck on 24 Jun 1815 in Miami County, OH and had 7 children in 19
years, Barbary died 6 Sep 1877 in Shelby County, OH; Mary Peck (2), m.
Christopher Johnston; Julia Johnston (3); Mary Johnston (4), m. Everett Arthur;
Gilbert Franklin Arthur (5); Sharon B. Arthur (6), m. Joe Bledsoe. See http://person.ancestry.com/tree/1562986/person/1126496946/story
[3] Pennsylvania, U.S., Compiled Marriage Records,
1700-1821 for the surname French, 33 hits, website: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2383/?name=_French&count=50&name_x=ps_1.
Other surnames include Starkey, Bendelow, Gordon,
Harper (FFA
Chart #26), Richkey, Higby, Thompson, Davies, Robinson, Heimer, Cust, Ker,
Stanton, Voight, Knowls, Gray, Kinch, Hamilton,
Parsons, Cratter, Kerr, Clark, Eakin, Stackhouse,
Stokes, Wayne, Fox, Ferguson, Sparron, Thomson,
Lawrence, O’Neal. Because Arthur was born in 1750 Philadelphia, his parents
probably married in Philadelphia ca. 1745. The only possibilities of marriages
in Philadelphia and to unvale the parents of Arthur
would be the marriage of Samuel French to Mary Thomson on 11 Jun 1736 at the
Presbyterian Church, or Cherry John French who married Patience Cust on 18 Jul
1730 in the First Presbyterian Church. No marriages exist in the 1740s or
1750s. Alexander French married Ann Cratter on 2 Mar
1761 in Christ Church, all in Philadelphia.
[4] https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/85866785/person/40529972800/facts?_phsrc=wfF767&_phstart=successSource
[5] “A” George French was living in Pennsylvania, born 1795 in
England, and was a Rigger in Pennsylvania; he is not the George French from
this line. Needs further research to prove he was a son of Arthur French.
[6] NOTE: These sources could be erroneous.
1806 Nov 3 –
“A” Rebecca French was a Quaker and died on 3 Nov 1806, aged 55, therefore born
1751; she was a member of the Northern District Monthly Meeting in
Philadelphia, PA. Searching further, her husband was Charles French which
totally negates this theory, so disregard the following. It is left here so
that no one makes the same mistake I made. If this Rebecca is the correct one,
it would fit in with her children becoming orphans, plus it would fit it with
the “French” Quaker line of New Jersey, FFA Charts #20, #21, and #22. Rebecca’s daughter
would have been 15, and son would have been 13, so they would have qualified as
orphans. The Quaker Meetings website shows 177 notices of women named Rebecca
French, mostly from Philadelphia. No notices show for Arthur French or Barbary
French, but 32 show for Rebecca Fox, all at much later dates when her name was
French. The names Alexander and Andrew do not show, but Samuel does, which is
not a good indication that this family is the correct one at all. See https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2189/?name=Rebecca_French&count=50&name_x=1_1.
1800 census
– Arthur French is aged 26-44, head of household (1756-1774), living in
Christiana Hundred, New Castle, Delaware, with various children who could be
from the Johnston family:
1 male under 10, George French
1 male aged 10-15
2 females under 10, Barbary French
2 females 10-15
2 females 16-25
1 female aged 26-44, perhaps Rebecca French
1810 census
– Rebecca French was aged 45+ (born before 1765), living with 1 male, aged
16-25 (1785-1794, could have been her son George
French, b. 1793), in Wilmington Hundred, New Castle, Delaware????
Another record states that Arthur French died in 1810 in Wilmington, Delaware,
at the age of 54, indicating he was born in 1756.
1820 – Rebecca French died in
Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 70. Her parents are unknown. It is unclear
how Arthur and Rebecca French’s children could have been orphans as they were
born in 1791 and 1793. Clearly, an orphan is defined as a child whose parents
are dead.
[7] The family of Colonel John Johnston. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26851673/person/12059900353/story.
