French Family Association
The Official Website of the Surname French
Chart #179, Jeremiah French, 1759
Shamokin, Northumberland Co., and Middlebury, Tioga Co., PA;
Erin and Owego, Tioga Co., NY;
Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY
Bibliography and Records
This page was updated by Mara French on 10/24/16.
[1] Marion Scherer, email: Cludy52@aol.com. Marion sent the most data for this chart. See her file, last revised 5 Jul 2001. 4500 Overlook Drive NE, Unit 210, St. Petersburg, FL 33703. My material came from notes compiled by either my great aunt, Rosemary Willis French, Mrs. Irvin Deer or from her cousin. Aunt Rose researched from approximately 1920 to her death in 1946. Her cousin researched until into the 1970s. I am very fortunate that the daughter of this cousin was able to locate me through a geneaolgy posting of mine and we now are combining notes, photographs and heirlooms. We are also in contact with another French family cousin who is sharing with us as well. Has daughters in TN, Mountain View CA, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
SCHERER, Marion L., Membership #904. P.O. Box 551335, Jacksonville, FL 32255-1335. (904) 997-6228. Email: Cludy52@aol.com. Family names: CHURCHILL, DONSHEA, WILLIS, PERRIN, GORTON, SAMSON, FLAUDREAU, SECOR, WALLER, McNAIR. Connection: Connection: Chart #179, Jeremiah French (1), b. ca. 1752, m. Margarete Van Gorder, d. 4 May 1846 in Erin, Tioga Co., NY, lived in Sussex Co., NJ in 1778, Northumberland Co., PA in 1790, and Tioga Co., NY from 1800-1846; William French (2), b. 3 Jun 1790 in Northumberland Co. PA, m. Esther Martin, d. 11 May 1881 in Middlebury Center, Tioga Co, PA; Nehemiah French (3), b. 24 Jul 1818 in Horseheads, Cheming Co., NY, m. Margarete Shaff, d. 21 Mar 1906; John Churchill French (4), b. 1856, d. 1934 in Potter Co., PA, authored several books on Pennsylvania wildlife and folklore; Robert William French (5), b. 1893, d. 1971 in Olean, NY; Dorothy Gene French (6), b. 1924, d. 1990 in Ontario, Canada. From family notes, more than one Rev. War ancestor, several Civil War ancestors are in this line.
Universalit Church Cemetery, Sheshequin, Bradford County, PA
French Jeremiah
J.
1837
1918 Co F 6th Reg Pa R.C. Vol
French Ophelia
1843
1919 Aphelia Vangorder w/o Jeremiah French
The cemetery records are located on Joyce Tice's website. JoyceTice@aol.com
From: cludy52 <cludy52@aol.com>
To: JULIAFWOOD <JULIAFWOOD@aol.com>
Sent: Fri, Jan 28, 2011 5:41 pm
Subject: Re: Jeremiah French of New Jersey
Mara,
It is a flintlock and powder horn that is now in a museum. The flintlock does resemble the long rifle.
Edith French Waterman was Annette French Waterman's mother. Rhoda English Ladd and Edith French Waterman were cousins, who, along with another cousin read many of the cemeteries, including the French Hill Cemetery in Middlebury, PA. They also researched the French family as well as other family histories.
In a letter to my grandfather, Robert W. French, dated Nov. 26, 1962 from Edith French Waterman is written:
I have been trying to track down some family photos. Mrs. Dorothy Shremp who is the daughter of Edith French Hawley and granddaughter of my great great Uncle John French (for whom your father was possibly named) mentioned the picture of William French which was in the "Pigeon" book (she came across the book in a Philadelphia library. I told her that the Monks family on French Hill have the original and also its mate, the photo of Esther Martin French, daughter of John Gideon Martin. So she wanted a copy.
All my life (until 1942 when I married) those two photos hung in the living room of Ernest Monks' house which was the original house on French Hill. I had no idea the Monks family had sold the house. When I finally located the girls I found that they have also sold William and Esther and whoever bought the house has obviously sold the frames - so I don't know where they are. It was such a surprise that the Monks girls (only a year younger than I) didn't know who they were! And there they hung - day in and day out. My Dad would have a fit - and my Granddad would flip.
I wonder where your father got the photo of William, Sr.
Continuing on in the letter:
Mrs. Shremp, you and I are the descendants of the three children of William, Sr.
The rest of the letter regards Edith's desire to rewrite the "Pigeon" book as a children's novel, the flintlock and the fact that at that time, there were no longer any French families residing on French Hill.
Please note that I grew up with the books, letters and notes that John C. French, my great grandfather wrote and all of the wonderful old photographs, photo cards and "snapshots" that are now in my possesion.
The photograph is of William French, son of Jeremiah French. I only wish that I had a copy of Esther Martin French's photograph.
Yes, Joyce Tice has a wonderful website. I think very highly of Joyce Tice, she is a most amazing person.
I will continue at another time as my 4 year old granddaughter would like some of my attention. Also, I am the one who has daughters residing in Tennesse, Mountain View, CA and Toronto, Ontario Canada, not Annette French Waterman.
Regards,
Marion Scherer
[2] Florence Spencer, 699 W. Fern St., Palmer, Alaska 99645, then moved to R.R. #1, Box 416, Magazine, AK 72943. Other Frenches in Sussex Co., NJ: Mary French, m. David Hoys, Sussex Co., NJ, both of Westfield Twp. 2 Oct 1796. Hezekiah French of Sandyston, Sussex Co., NJ, 1781, with 02-01-03-00-00 in NH 1790. Aaron French of Sussex Co., NJ, Sandyston, 1793.
[3] Samuel French the Joiner, by Mansfield Joseph French, p. 30, Chart #11. (not part of this line)
[4] Dori Fulk. 117 Barnes Hill Road. Horseheads, NY 14845. sfulk@stny.lrun.com (old email)
[5] "Passenger Pigeon in Pennsylvania", by John C. French
[6] Elmira Gazette, March 12, 1846.
[7] History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Biographical Appendix, Middlebury Township. W.W. Munsell and Company, New York: 1883 page 25. Typed by Wilma Johns Sakowsky for the Tri-Counties Genealogy Sites by Joyce M. Tice, JoyceTice@aol.com.
[8] Milton L. French, Jr., frenchmilton34@yahoo.com (good in 2016). 366 N. Hamilton St., Painted Post, NY 14870-1231, and wife Moira French, moiragwen@yahoo.com.
[9] Biographies of Tioga County Civil War Soldiers extracted from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen, author unknown. Typed by John D. Campbell for the Tri Counties Genealogy Sites by Joyce M. Tice.
[10] The History of Roulette, Pennsylvania, by Robert R. Lyman, Sr., 1967, The History of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter Counties, printed in 1890, author unknown. The Potter Enterprise, obituary and news article Family correspondence and oral history.
[11] Marriages Abstracted from the Journal of the Reverand Richard M. Sandfaord, Erie County, New York. NSDAR, Katherine Pratt Horton, Buffalo Chapter.
[12] New York State Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics; Certificat of Birth, Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York. Document, Honorable Discharge from the United State Army. Document, United States Army Enlistment Record of Robert W. French.
[13] Erie Dispatch Herald, Wednesday, March 8, 1944. Certificate of Marriage, Church of England, St. Peter's Anglican Church, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
[14] Rosemary Willis French, b. 1889, research done on this line about between 1920 to 1946 when she died.
[15] Peggy Ann Felix, peggy_felix2003@yahoo.com
[16] Karen Mohr, mohr@buffnet.net (undeliveraable)
[17] Marsha, BudEOmine@aol.com (old email)
[18] Dee Zito, bdgzito@worldnet.att.net (old email)
[19] Keith Foster, Sr., kfoster@madbbs.com (undeliverable).
[20] J. Michael FrostÕs website on French, Frost, Gilchrist, and Related Families. Jeremiah's place of birth is shown here as NJ, based upon the 1880 census of Middlebury Township, Tioga County, PA, in which Jeremiah's son, William FRENCH, is shown as having been born in PA, and both of William's parents are shown as having been born in NJ.
[21] J. Michael Frost, frostinaz@cox.net
[22] Elmira [NY] Gazette, Thursday, March 12, 1846 - Died in Erin [Chemung County, NY] on the 4th inst., Jeremiah French, in the 97th year of his age. Mr. French was in and fought through the Revolution War in the army of General Washington. He was in the Battles of Monmouth, White Plains, Brandywine, and was in the army when Cornwallis surrendered.
[23] Christine Karns, chriswest@penn.com (undeliverable).
[24] Annette French Waterman, Afwaterman@aol.com, has photos of William FrenchÕs long rifle and powder horn. Both are now in a Museum in PA.
[25] Dick French, dickfrench37@gmail.com, email good in 2011, Carson City, NV.
[26] Steppler, Glenn A. "The Uniform of Lieutenant Jeremiah French 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Regiment of New York 1780-1783." Military Collector and Historian, 32 (Winter 1980), pp. 160-163. Website regarding Jeremiah French: http://www.history.army.mil/reference/revbib/loyalp.htm
[27] Larry Stanley, email: theorist1@hotmail.com (good in 2011).
[28] Journey to Day Before Yesterday, by Rhoda English Ladd.
[29] Middlebury Township, Tioga County, PA, Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice
[30] Website: http://www.archive.org/stream/censusofpensione00unit/censusofpensione00unit_djvu.txt
[31] Website: http://www.archive.org/stream/pennsylvaniaarc01librgoog/pennsylvaniaarc01librgoog_djvu.txt
[32] Shirley, shirleycorp@gmail.com (good in 2011). Website: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=040738-80&id=I36138.
[33] Bonnie Staughton, bonniess71@aol.com (good in 2016).
[34] French Hill Cemetery, Middlebury Township, Tioga Co., PA.
[35] History of the town of Horseheads, Chemung Co., NY.
[36] Phyllis Norton, pwinnorton@hotmail.com (good in 2011). 48 Norhill Dr., Rochester, NY 14625. 585-586-8265.
[37] Pioneer & Patriot Families of Bradford Co., PA, website: http://www.joycetice.com/heverly/h2p083.htm
[38] Ethel and Jeff French, FFrenchEJ@aol.com.
[39] Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church, email: srchurch258@gmail.com. Reverend Julia H . Williamson, Pastor, 258 Slippery Rock Drive, Ellwood City, PA 16117, 724-752-8892.
[40] Pennsylvania State Archives contains the Civil War Database, 1861-1866, of John W. French and Reuben French. This link also includes searchable databases for the PA National Guard Veterans Card File of 1867 to 1921, the Mexican Border Campaign Veterans Card File which begins on 18 Jun 1916, the WWI Service Medal Application Cards in accordance with the Act of 21 Apr 1937, the Spanish American War Veterans Card File of US Volunteers, the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, and the Militia Officers Index Cards of 1775-1800.
[41] The 1880 census of Middlebury, Tioga Co., PA, lists a David French, 32, farmer, and wife Dellia, 30, dau. Bertha, 6, and son Dwight, 4. All were born in NY and their parents were born in NY, except for Dwight who was born in PA. These are members of this chart, but more research needs to be done to place them.
[42] Fulton History newspaper, Owego, Tioga Co., PA, Tuesday, July 20, 1905. The names are correct, but the timeframe to tie into the early French family of this line is too late.
[43] Jeanette S. French, email: jfrench1@earthlink.net.
[44] Jeff French, email: frenchfamily@bresnan.net.
[45] Dave Dardinger, email: dedmod@msn.com.
[46] Jan McCabe, email: jmccabe@mymccabes.net.
[47] Jan Rieke, email: JRieke@msn.com.
[48] National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Patriot Grave Search website: https://memberinfo.sar.org/patriotsearch/search.aspx
[49] Pennsylvania State Archives contains the Civil War Database, 1861-1866, of John W. French and Reuben French. This link also includes searchable databases for the PA National Guard Veterans Card File of 1867 to 1921, the Mexican Border Campaign Veterans Card File which begins on 18 Jun 1916, the WWI Service Medal Application Cards in accordance with the Act of 21 Apr 1937, the Spanish American War Veterans Card File of US Volunteers, the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, and the Militia Officers Index Cards of 1775-1800 [1].
[50] Earliest Moses French in the New World, Immigrated from Sussex, England -- 1682
From ÒThe Pennsylvania Magazine of History and BiographyÓ, website: http://www.archive.org/stream/pennsylvaniamaga29histuoft/pennsylvaniamaga29histuoft_djvu.txt
[51] ÒNew World Immigrants: a Consolidation of Ship Passenger ListsÓ, Volume 1, by Michael Tepper
ÒGenealogical Gleanings in EnglandÓ, p. 663, by Henry F. Waters, 1901, which indicates that Moses French was responsible for disposing of William Wade. Also responsible for disposing was Samuel Webb who appears in Chester County, PA, from 1752-1761 as follows: ÒUpon the petition of Samuel Webb the Court appoints Nathaniel John Allen and Samuel Webb to be his Guardians for Samuel, Margaret & Sarah Webb legatees of George & Eliz. Wier deceased.
William Wade:
1st will dated 24 Aug 1682 in England
2nd will dated 20 Sep 1682 aboard the ship ÒWelcomeÓ
Death date: 28 Oct 1682
Moses French, a friend, for disposing and for the poor friends at Alfurstone in Sussex, England
ÒAÓ William Wade was married in 1603 to Alice Akeherst in Lewes, Sussex, England.
ÒAÓ William Wade was married on 2 Jul 1611 to Joane Standen in Sussex, England.
ÒAÓ William Wade was married in 1624 to Judi Tomas in Lewes, Sussex, England.
Samuel Webb:
ÒAÓ Samuel Webb died on 10 Jul 1671 at St. Andrew, Alfriston*, Sussex, England, the son of Samuel.
ÒAÓ Samuel Webb died in 1766 at St. Lawrence, Catsfield,
Sussex, England.
ÒAÓ Samuel Webb died on 5 Sep 1773 in Newick Sussex,
England.
ÒAÓ Samuel Webb was born 1769 and died on 18 Dec 1825 at age 56 at SS Peter
& Paul, Ashington, Sussex, England.
Moses French:
The youngest Moses French would have been would have probably been 20 years of age at William WadeÕs death in 1682; therefore, born 1662 or before. Only 5 results show for a Moses French in Sussex:
ÒAÓ Moses French died on 27 May 1690 in St. Andrew, Alfriston*, Sussex, England, son of Thomas.
ÒAÓ Moses French died 20 Sep 1705 in SS Simon & Jude, East Dean Esx, Sussex, England.
ÒAÓ Moses French died 28 Jul 1708 in Lewes, Chichester, Sussex, England. He was a Quaker.
ÒAÓ Moses French married Anne Proier
in 1726 in Lewes, Sussex, England.
ÒAÓ Moses French died on 10 Feb 1741 at St. Andrew, Alfriston*,
Sussex, England.
*Alfriston is the city where William Wade had lived; therefore, it is most probable that Moses French did not immigrate to America.
No surname French is listed among those on the ship ÒWelcomeÓ
that William Wade was on.
The French family may have come from Westham, East Sussex, England and first immigrated into Pennsylvania and then immigrated to New Jersey. The ties in Pennsylvania connect Moses French in 1682 as a friend of William Wade who died while immigrating to Pennsylvania. The village in England in William WadeÕs will, Alfurstone in Sussex, is actually spelled Alfriston and is in the District of Wealden, the same district where Westham is located, also mentioned in the will. William Wade immigrated on the ship ÒWelcomeÓ with William Penn in 1682. Wade was from the parish of Hankton, Sussex, England, per the History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by Gilbert Cope and John Smith Futhey. Also see http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FRENCH/2005-03/1112140827. This link is copied below just in case it gets removed from the internet. No Moses French is listed.
Source Information:
Lineages, Inc., comp. Philadelphia County Wills, 1682-1819. [database
online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Taken from Philadelphia County
Wills, 1682-1819 published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in
1900.
Name: John French
Residence: Bucks Co., PA
Description: Decedent
Date: 26 Apr 1748
Prove Date: 3 May 1748
BookPage: G:259
Remarks: French, John. City of Philadelphia. April 26, 1748. May 3, 1748.
G.259. Exec and Friend: Stephen Cesna.
Name: Robert French
Description: Executor
Date: 8 May 1736
Prove Date: 8 Jun 1737
BookPage: F:37
Remarks: William Clay. Philadelphia. Mariner. ""St. Christopher is
Memorandum of Will."" May 8, 1736. June 8, 1737. F.37. Nephew: Salter Clay.
Exec: Salter Clay and Robert French. Signed at Basseterre.
Name: William French
Description: Witness
Date: 8 Nov 1753
Prove Date: 7 May 1755
BookPage: K:297
Remarks: Quee, Alexander. Co. of Philadelphia. Yeoman. Nov. 8, 1753. May 7,
1755. Wife: Sarah. Children: Alexander, Jonathan, Seth, Sophia (Beventon),
Margaret (Ridgway), Mary (Cunnrads), Kattrin (Jenins), Sarah (Morton),
Rachel, Esther and Abigal. Exec: Archibald McClean and son Seth.
Name: Charles French
Description: Witness
Date: 21 Jun 1697
Prove Date: 18 Mar 1697
BookPage: A:378
Remarks: Goss, Charles. Phila. Merchant. Jun. 21, 1697. A. 378. Estate to
Elizabeth Hooten, widow, who is sole Executrix. Legacies to Mary Bradsall,
widow, and to John Crapp.
Name: Moses French
Description: Trustee
Date: 20 Sep 1682
Prove Date: 6 Jun 1684
BookPage: A:12
Remarks: Wade, William. Late of parish of Hankton, Sussex Co. Yeoman. Sep.
20, 1682. A. 12. Legacies to brothers Edmond and Thomas, Edmond and Thomas
Wade sons of his brother Edmond. Samuel Webb, Moses French and Maskcoll
Picknoll are trustees of a fund for poor Friends. Philip Ford of London,
merchant, is executor for the English portion estate. Executors: John
Songhurst, Benjamin Chambers.
Name: Robert French
Residence: Newcastle
Description: Heir
Date: 12 Feb 1701
Prove Date: 8 Apr 1702
Title: Merchant
BookPage: B:166
Remarks: Donaldson, John. Newcastle Co. February 12, 1701/2. Children Mary
and Catherine. Brother William. Friend Dorcas wife of George Hogg. Robert
French and Richard Halliwell, both of Newcastle, merchants, and Thunis
DeKey of New York, merchant.
Name: John French
Description: Executor
Date: 12 Jan 1700
Prove Date: 14 Nov 1704
BookPage: B:405
Remarks: William Morton of Kent Co. January 12, 1700. John Richardson son
of his lately deceased wife, at John French's school. William and Margaret
children of Simon and Perues Hirons. Servants Samuel Smith, Patrick and
James Herriot and Thomas Oberille. Friend Esther, widow of William
Freeland. A protest was entered on the ground that after the execution of
the will the testator had married a young woman. Executors: Simon Hirons,
Samuel Berry, John French and Robert Porter.
Name: Mary French
Residence: New Castle
Description: Heir
Date: 23 Oct 1714
Prove Date: 10 Nov 1714
Title: Mrs.
BookPage: D:10
Remarks: John Baily of Philadelphia. Mariner. October 23, 1714. Wife,
deceased, name is not given. Sister Elizabeth Waterford of Bristol in
England. Sister Sarah Huer late of Lawfords Gale, Gloucestershire. Mr.
Phillips, the minister of Philadelphia; Mrs. Mary French of New Castle;
Dorothy Hogsflesh of this place. Executors: John Porterfield, Josiah Rolfe
and Clement Plumstead, all of Philadelphia, merchants.
Name: John French
Description: Witness
Prove Date: 11 Dec 1759
Book Page: A:65
Remarks: Thomas Lockart of Carlisle. 18 July 1759. Wife Elizabeth. Four
children, unnamed. Exs. wife and William Graham.
Judith Jane French
EarthLink TotalAccess 2005
William Wade info from J. Michael Frost, email frontinaz@cox.net, dated 2011:
Following are extracts from The Pennsylvania
Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 29, Philadelphia, PA: The Historical
Society of Pennsylvania, 1905, together with my comments:
pp. 317-318:
WILLIAM WADE, late of Westham,
County Sussex, Yeoman. Will 24 August 1682; proved 28 October,
1682. Being bound to Pennsilvania in America. To Philip Ford, living in London in Bow Lane, Merchant, to be my
executor, £10. To my Brother Edmund Wade £5. To my Brother Thomas Wade £5. To my
Brother Edmund Wade's eldest sonne Edmund Wade £100.
To my Brother Edmund Wade's younger son Thomas Wade all my estate in lands and
goods in Pennsilvania in America, paying each servant
£5 when they have served their times out. To the
meeting at Asen £5 at Moscal
Picknols and Moses French
and Samuel Webb's disposing, and what remains in England to be divided between
my two Brothers Edmund and Thomas, except the £100 I have in the Sosiets Stocke which is to be
divided among my said Brother's children Edmund and Thomas Wade. Witnesses: Daniell Marten, John Epsley, Thomas Hollyman. Cottle, 124.
[Notes by JMF:
It appears that William WADE and Moses FRENCH may
have been Quakers, based on the reference to "the
meeting at Asen."
"Asen" may be
Alfriston, Suffolk. Alfriston
and Westham are about 8 miles apart.
I have found a number of extracted IGI records of FRENCHes who were
christened in Alfriston, including a Moses FRENCH who was christened there on 21 Oct
1700.]
p. 318:
FRANCIS BROWN of Philadelphia, Pennsilvania. Will 29 July,
1728; proved 30 March 1738. My dear Friend Robert Kirwan
to take possession of all my books and papers relating to the Moderate Head
into his possession to recover my debts. After my Creditors are paid the
remainder to go to Charitable uses. Executor: Robert Kirwan.
Witnesses: John Richason, Edward Pleadwell.
[In Probate act appear Robert French a
creditor of Francis Browne late of the Maderas, but
at Philadelphia, also father Andrew Browne, Brother Andrew Browne, Sister Mary Browne.] Brodripp, 57.
pp. 421, 422-423:
"A LIST OF THE FFREEHOLDERS
FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF BURLINGTON AND IN EACH RESPECTIVE TOWNSHIP TAKEN
THIS 15TH DAY OF APRIL 1745."
CONTRIBUTED BY CARLOS E. GODFREY, M.D.
[Copied from the original manuscript return of
Thomas Hunloke, Sheriff of Burlington County, at
Trenton, New Jersey.] . . .
The Township of Mansfield.
Isaac Homer
Preserve Brown (Mercht)
Robert Field
Joshua Quicksell
Joseph Shreive
Joseph English
(torn) Imley Esqr
Francis Ellis
Thomas Tuley
Godfrey Hancock
Josiah Wright
Parnal Clayton
Jobe Ridgway
John Pancoast
John Harvey
Nathaniel Potts
Isaac Bolton
William Hamell
Michael Butsing
John Butsing
Joseph Pope
George Folwell
William Hancock
Isaac Gibbs
Joshua Scattergood
Caleb Scattergood
Francis Gibbs
John Antrum
Jo (torn)
John Gibbs
John King
Hugh Hutchias
John Curtis
Joseph Pancoast
Benja Shreive
Barzilla Newbold
Richard French
Wm English
John Jackson
Wm Folwell
Henry Allen
Eber DeCow
Isaac DeCow
Joseph Arinson
David Rockhill
Benja Tallman
Jobe Tallman
John Hamell
John Folwell
Robert Rockhill
John Rockhill
William French.
pp. 421, 425:
"A LIST OF THE FFREEHOLDERS
FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF BURLINGTON AND IN EACH RESPECTIVE TOWNSHIP TAKEN
THIS 15TH DAY OF APRIL 1745."
CONTRIBUTED BY CARLOS E. GODFREY, M.D.
[Copied from the original manuscript return of
Thomas Hunloke, Sheriff of Burlington County, at
Trenton, New Jersey.] . . .
The Township of Chester.
John Hollinshead Esqr
Joseph Stoakes
Thos Lippincott
Thomas Hackney
Samuel Atkinson
Henry Warrington
Joshua Whright
Phillip Waffle
Joseph Heritage
Thos Cowperwaite
John Rudderow
Thos French Junr
Edmond Hollinshead
Jonathan Borden
Samuel Stoakes
Joshua Humphrys
Nathan Middleton
Peter Phillips
Nehemiah Haines
Richard Heritage
Mathew Allen
James Leconey
David Walker
Wm Leconey
Samuel Davis
Robt French
Ezekell Harding
John Ward
Mathias Brackney
Tho Stokes
Edward Clemmens
Tho Moor (Tavern
keeper)
Arthur Burdell
John Means
George Matlock
Daniel Morgan
Thos Ffrench junr
Joshua Bispham.
[Note by JMF: Could the
Thos French Junr and the Thos Ffrench junr
in this list be the same person?]
p. 497
[Note by JMF: "The library of the late Louis E. French, Esq." is mentioned.]
[52] William French, Immigrated in 1773 to Connecticut from Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
William French, a native of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, born October 8, 1752, came to America in 1773 and settled in Litchfield County, Conn. In 1775 he enlisted in the American army and served seven years and three months, being with Washington's army at Valley Forge and in many engagements. In 1785 he married Lucy Hatch of New Fairfield, Conn., who was born, 1759 in Scotland. He removed with his family from Connecticut in 1803 to Franklin township where his eldest son had located the year previous. Here he died May 8, 1814 and his remains repose in the old cemetery at Franklindale in Franklindale, Bradford County, PA. The only French listed in this cemetery is David French, dates unknown, however his gravestone has a Revolutionary War marker and flag.
Also buried here is Juliet French who married Thomas Doud; she was b. 1822 and d. 5 Jan 1904.
Aaron French was b. Feb 1767 and d. 1 Jan 1851 and is buried in the Ghent Cemetery in Bradford County, PA, located in Ghent in Sheshequin.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=French&GSiman=1&GScnty=2248&GRid=41876020&
Those from Sheshequin were Chart #22 Moses, Chart #179 Jeremiah, Aaron b. 1767 Chart #112, William French served seven years, was with Washington's army at Valley Forge and in many engagements. Three of his sons, Erastus, James and William B., were soldiers in the War of 1812.
The seven children of William and Lucy French were:
William B French., born May 16, 1786 at New Fairfield, CT, in 1802 made a trip West on foot through the wilderness, arriving at Towanda. Going back on the hills near the line between Franklin and Monroe he purchased a possession right of Isaac Allen for $25. Returning East, he worked out until he had earned enough money to purchase a pair of oxen. Hitching these to a sled with an ax and auger he proceeded to his new home in Franklin. After making some improvements and putting in his first crops, he exchanged his oxen for a horse team, then went to Connecticut for the remainder of the family, moving them here in 1803. Mr. French gained considerable distinction as a hunter and trapper. About 1805, while in quest of his cows he found three young animals playing about a windfall and not knowing what they were, picked up two of the kittens when the mother, an animal the like of which he had never seen, pounced down upon him. He stood his ground well but was required to let one of the kittens go. Upon reaching Absalom Carr's, he found that his kitten was a young panther. After a while, he made an exhibiting tour across the country, carrying the animal upon his back. In the East he traded his menagerie for bear traps and other hunting paraphernalia. He afterwards had an adventure with a panther, which did not result as profitably to him as the first one did. He struck the track of the animal just before dark and followed it until darkness had fully set in when the game took refuge in a tree. It was too dark to aim with certainty, so he took the lock from his gun to strike a fire with the flint and by accident built the fire over it; the heat took the temper out of the lock and his design was defeated. He resolved to wait till morning and then make a new attempt on the game. But Morpheus soon engaged his attention and he fell asleep, the panther still over his head in the tree. When French awoke the next morning, the panther was not to be seen, having decamped during the hunter's sleep. Instead of returning home after his mishap, French took across the mountains to Wilkes-Barre to get his gun repaired. The family became alarmed and the neighbors turned out to make a search before his return. Mr. French was a soldier, War of 1812. He married, August 9, 1818, Nancy D. Avery of Granville, died August 13, 1865; Mrs. French died June 13, 1890 at a very advanced age. Their children were Eliza (Mrs. Ezra Carter), Juliette (Mrs. Thomas Dowd), Nancy (Mrs. D. W. Harvey), Harriet (Mrs. Timothy Dugan), Lucy (Mrs. David S. Miller), Melissa R. (died young), William W. and George W. [37]. The 1850 census shows William B. French (63) with N. French (48), W. W. French (16), G. W. French (12), and Francis S. French (8).
James French served in the War of 1812, afterwards went to New York where he lived and married, following the printer's trade.
Clarinda French married W. B. Whitney of Whitney's Point, N.Y.
Francis F. French married Polly Smith.
Sophia French married Ondius Carter.
Lucy French married a Mr. Gough.
Erastus French enlisted in the War of 1812 and was killed in an engagement with the enemy.
For more information on this line, see http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12782224/person/704972860.
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