French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Rugby Market Place, Rugby, Warwickshire, England

Chart #E4, Edward French, 1595,
Rugby, Allesley, Alcester, all in Warwickshire, England

This page updated by Mara French on 12/6/10. Numbers in brackets [ ] show sources and refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. Send corrections or additions to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 1984, 2009, 2010.

Contents

Home Page

Descendants of Edward French in America

Edward French’s Origination

· Hall and Swayne Families

· Ship Angel Gabriel

· Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk

· Goodale Family

· Worcester Family

The Will of Joseph Worcester, Father of Anne and William
The Will of William Worcester, Brother of Anne
Marriage Record of Edward French and Anne Worcester
St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Rugby, Warwickshire, England
The Birth Record of Edward French
Ancestry Chart of the Worcester Family
Ancestry of Edward French

Outline

First Generation

Second Generation

Third Generation

Fourth Generation

Connection Between Richard and Edward French

French Family in Ilmington, Warwickshire, England

Map of Rugby, Allesley, and Alcester

DNA Connections, Group 3

DNA Test Results for Edward French, Group 3

Warwickshire Record Office

Source Documents in England of the Surname French

Immigration

Photos of French Family Homesteads in England (coming soon)

Bibliography

Edward French’s Origination

Researcher in Warwickshire, Christine Hodgetts, remarks that we are very fortunate to have the records of our ancestors for this line at such an early date. A large proportion of churches do not have registers surviving from before the English Civil War, and in many cases, they were poorly kept. This means that there is the possibility that, as a married couple, Edward and Anne lived somewhere for which there are no registers [17].

One approach in finding Edward’s baptismal parish is to find the ancestry of Edward’s wife, since Edward married in England, but first we need to verify her surname. Another approach is to study the people who were associated with Edward in the U.S. on the assumption that he accompanied these friends or associates from England, such as the Hall, Swayne, Goodale, and Worcester families.

Hall and Swayne Families

First Theory: Edward was related to the Hall and Swayne families, and could therefore be from Langford, Essex, England. There are several “gentlemen” associated with the Ipswich, MA, to Salisbury, MA move. One is Samuel Hall of Langford, near Malden, Essex, England. Edward may have been associated with him. John Hall, b. 18 Mar 1641-2, referred to Edward French as his uncle. He also correctly refers to his uncle James Hall in other correspondence. James Hall returned to London and died in Islington, just outside London. Samuel Hall refers to John Hall as his “adopted cousin” and made Edward French and his wife executors of his will. John Hall’s mother was Rebecca Swayne. William Worcester married Rebecca Swayne and referred to Edward French as his brother. Worcester also makes Edward French one of the overseers of his will. Worcester was the first minister of the Salisbury church in Salisbury, MA, and arrived there in 1639.

Conclusion: The FFA believes that Edward French of Salisbury, MA, did not marry Ann Swayne, daughter of Bennett Swayne and sister of the 5-times married Rebecca Swayne as stated in “Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury” by David W. Hoyt. “Genealogical Gleanings in England” by Henry F. Waters, Vol. 1 of the 2-volume 1643 page set, pages 680-681, published in 1901 gives the will of Bennett Swayne, father of Rebecca Swayne, dated 3 Dec 1630 and proved 27 Jan 1630/31, which mentions almost all his descendants, but does not mention Edward French. Rebecca came to New England and died at Ipswich, MA, on 21 Jul 1695. She m1. Henry Byley or Bylie, m2. John Hall on 3 Apr 1641, m3. Rev. William Worcester on 23 Jul 1650 until his death in 1662, m4. Samuel Symonds, the Deputy Governor of the Colony, who also proved the will of Rev. William Worcester on 2 Dec 1662 in the Norfolk County Court.

Conclusion from Roland Rhoades. Every mention of Edward French’s wife Ann that I have seen has named her either Ann Swayne or Ann Goodale. Harry Dana French and Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury say Edward married “Swayne,” sister of the much married Rebecca Swayne and daughter of Bennett Swayne. Rebecca was the third wife of Rev. William Worcester, who made “my brother Edward French” one of the overseers of his will. Edward could also have been just a church “brother.” The main reason I do not believe that Edward’s wife was a Swayne shows validity in Bennett Swayne’s will, proved in 1630. Edward and Ann may or may not have been married at that time, but Bennett leaves an extremely detailed will mentioning all his daughters, his sons, and his sons’ wives. There is no mention of an Ann. The FFA would appreciate other websites changing their websites to eliminate this supposition.

Ship Angel Gabriel

Second Theory: Edward emigrated on the ship Angel Gabriel, or so they say. The Angel Gabriel left Bristol, England, in April 1635, and floundered off the coast of Maine at Pemaquid, now Bristol, ME, in the great storm of August 15, 1635. John Bailey (Bayley), a weaver on board, came from Chippenham County, Wiltshire, England, and was, like Edward French, part of the 1640 “first division” of Salisbury. The original 12 men of the town of Salisbury were petitioned before 1640; neither Bailey nor French were among them. Five or more of the men were from Wiltshire, England. The known names of the passengers on the Angel Gabriel were Captain (Robert) Andrews, John and Thomas Burnham, John Bailey and his two children, Ralph Blaisdell with his wife Elizabeth and son Henry, John Cogswell and his wife Elizabeth and eight children, William Furber, Samuel Haines, Henry Sampson, and John Tuttle. That makes 23. Taken from “Excerpts from a Thesis” by Warren Curtis Riess from Claire Cogswell Doyle, 21 Old Belchertown Road, Ware, MA 01082. This list gradually changes as more research is accomplished. See the Wikipedia website; however, the name French has never been added.

Conclusion: The FFA doesn’t believe this theory either. Edward did not immigrate with families who originally settled in Salisbury. Edward immigrated about 1635 to Ipswich and is first mentioned in Ipswich land records in 1637. In 1640 he removed to Salisbury, MA. See Settlement of Salisbury. His son Joseph is mention in 1652, son John in 1654, and son Samuel in 1658. The FFA would appreciate other websites changing their websites to eliminate these suppositions. See FFA Angel Gabriel website.

Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk

Third Theory: Many online genealogies of Edward French state that the Edward French of Salisbury was born or lived in Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. Supposedly, Edward was the son of Thomas French who married Ann or Agnes Olmstead of Stanstead Hall, Halstead, Essex, England, FFA Chart #EB. This particular Edward French never immigrated to the U.S., was bp. 13 Aug 1598 in Halstead as the child of Thomas French. He lived in Thorpe Morieux in 1624 when he was 26 years old, and is mentioned in his brother William’s will of 1621 in London. This particular Edward was living in England on 15 Jul 1639 to handle his brother John’s estate, which was turned over to his sister Dorothy in 1642. This particular Edward is mentioned in his father’s will of 1614. This family never emigrated to the U.S. See proof.

Conclusion: Edward’s father was John, not Thomas. Substantial sources find him both born and married in Worcestershire, England (see Worcester Family below). Edward was also not born ca. 1612 in Assington, Suffolk, England. These were other men with the name Edward French who did not immigrate to Salisbury, MA. In particular, the Assington French family is in DNA Group 6; whereas, Edward French of Salisbury, MA is in DNA Group 3. The FFA would appreciate other websites changing their websites to eliminate these suppositions.

Goodale Family

Fourth Theory: Edward married Ann Goodale of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Co., England, a great seaport. The following theory is by Roland Rhoades with help from Bailey Rogers and Sid Emmons. If Edward married Ann Goodale, who were her parents? Many places say she was the daughter of John Goodale, son of Thomas and Bridgett Porter/Portler, but we find no record of a daughter, Ann.

Family group sheets from the LDS Library show John Goodale (1565-1625 of Downham Market and Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, son of Thomas) who married Bridget Portler 21 Sep 1588 and had 7 children including Richard Goodale, b. 1594, but no Ann. Richard Goodale came from Yarmouth, County of Norfolk England to Newbury MA 1638; removed to Salisbury MA 1639. Richard Goodale Sr. in his will dated 7 June 1660 ".....I do desire my loving bretherin edward french and Phillip Challis. and Richard wels to ouerse the equall deuiding of this estate unto my son and daughter......"Essex County Probate Files, Docket 11,135. If this is used as evidence that Edward French, Phillip Challis and Richard Wells are brothers-in-law of Richard Goodale, it fails with Phillip Challis. ... his wife was Mary Sargent, daughter of William Sargent and Elizabeth Perkins.

However, Bridgett died in 1607 and John married second Elizabeth Parlett, b. ca. 1583 of Stradsett, Norfolk, England, and died 8 Apr 1647 in Newbury, MA. Elizabeth had previously married a Mr. Taylor. She married third, after John Goodale’s death, the well-known Percival Lowell of Newbury, MA.

John and Elizabeth had, according to this family group sheet, ten children including Ann Goodale, b. 1608, m. 1627 to Edward French. Bailey Rogers says that Ann is not mentioned in John Goodale’s will. We can see from the chart below that at the time John died (1625), Ann had not yet married Edward French (ca. 1627). Supposedly, Edward’s and Ann’s first child, Joseph, was born in 1631 in England.

The following is from a 1983 letter to member Francis Jenne from Lorraine Latimer: James Atkins Noyes in his “Noyes Pedigree” says Edward married Ann Goodale. A Richard Goodale, Sr., called Edward French and others as his “brethren.” Richard was a planter, turner, of Newbury, MA in 1638 and in Salisbury, MA in 1639. Lorraine says that Ann Goodale was the sister of Richard Goodale.

Bailey Rogers, who has been trying to solve this puzzle for some time, just recently sent me a family group sheet with another Ann Goodale that might be ours. Ann, bpt. 16 Sep 1599 in Dennington, Suffolk, England, no further information, was the daughter of Robert Goodale/Goodall and Joan Artys. This Ann’s brother, Robert, settled in Salem, MA.

Yet another record shows John Goodale and his wife Elizabeth came from Yarmouth, England, on the ship Mary Ann in 1637 to Boston, MA. No French is listed on the Mary Ann. Their daughter, Ann, m. Thomas Millerd (Milward). Richard Goodale (who referred to Edward French and others as his “brethren”) had a daughter, Ann, who married William Allen.

Conclusion: I believe that John Goodale and Elizabeth Parlett were the parents of Ann Goodale. However, insufficient sources indicate that Ann Goodale married Edward French. To use the will of Richard Goodale Sr, to establish the relationship between Goodale and Edward French, the key question would appear to be the meaning of the word "bretherin". Phonetically, it sounds to me like an archaic spelling of the modern word "brethren." If so, was "brethren" the plural of "brother," or was it used, as it is today to denote either "brothers in Christ" or simply members of the same church? The FFA would appreciate other websites changing their websites to eliminate this supposition, after concluding that Edward’s wife was Anne Worcester, below.

Worcester Family

Fifth Theory: Edward’s wife was Anne Worcester, not Anne Goodale. Anne Worcester was a sister of Rev. William Worcester, the first minister of Salisbury, Essex County, MA. The proof of Anne’s maiden name is as follows, thanks to the extensive research by David Worcester and John P. Worcester of Aspen, CO, email: john@worcesterfamily.com.

Two documents contain almost irrefutable evidence that Anne was, in fact, Rev. William's sister.

The Will of Joseph Worcester, Father of Anne and William

The first is the will of Joseph Worcester the elder of Rugby, dated February 10, 1644/5, identified by Sarah Alice in her 1914 edition of the family history. It contains bequeaths to his sons William and Joseph, and to his daughters Anne French and Susanah Mason. What are the odds that more than one William Worcester would have a sister named Anne French in 1644? This seems to be pretty good evidence that Rev. William Worcester had a sister named Anne. Edward French was not living in Rugby in 1644/5, but in Salisbury, MA. Edward was living in Rugby in 1626 when he married Anne Worchester. Their children were not born in Rugby. The French family immigrated ca. 1636 to Ipswich, MA.

Will of Joseph Worcester of Rugby – 1644/5

In the name of God Amen.
The tenth daie of Februarie Anno Dom 1644 And in the twentieth yeare of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God of England, Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith be. I Joseph Worcester the elder of Rugbie in the Countie of Warw yeoman being in good health and perfect memory (I praise God therefore) doe make constitute and... ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say First I comend my soule into the hands of Allmightie God my Creator and his sonne Jesus Christ my onlie Saviour and Redeemer hopeing assuredlie to obtaine pardon and remission of all my sins and transgressions and finallie eternall life and Salvacon of my soule by faith in him And my bodie I remitt to the earth whereof it was formed. And I dispose of my worldly goods as followeth. And first I give and bequeth unto my eldest sonne William Worcester twelve pence of lawfull English money. And likewise to my sonne Joseph Worcester twelve pence of like lawfull money. Item I give unto my daughter Anne French twelve pence Item I give unto my daughter Alice Cave twelve pence. Item I give to my daughter Susanna Mason twelve pence. Item I give unto evrie one of my grandchildren six pence Item I give unto the poor of Rugbie aforesaid five shillings to be distributed in white bread by penny dose at my buriall by my executrix hereafter named. All the rest and residue of my goods shepe money Cattle and Shattells whatsoever I give and bequeth unto my loving wife Alice my debts and funerall expenses being discharged. And I doe make the said Alice my wife full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. Sealed with my seale and Dated the daie and yeare first above written. Joseph Worcester. Sealed read published and declared in the presence of John Hiccock of Bilton his marke Fawkes(?) Newbolde

The Will of William Worcester, Brother of Anne

The second is William Worcester’s will, which was witnessed by Edward French, refers to Edward as William’s “brother.” See Worcester, John P., "The Worcester Family" http://www.worcesterfamily.com/misc1.htm. Presumably the term “brother,” as used in this will, means “brother-in-law.” The reference to Mr. French being his brother has caused many to speculate about their relationship. Could it mean that he considered him a "church brother" or a brother-in-law? There are examples of the use of the term in wills of this time period with both meanings. If Rev. William intended to refer to Edward French as a "church brother," one has to wonder why he did not similarly refer to Robert Pike as "brother." Robert Pike was also a prominent member of the Salisbury community and parish. If Edward French was, in fact, Rev. William Worcester's brother-in-law, it opens up the possibility that Ann was Rev. William's sister. And, that Anne French arrived in America before Rev. William!

I doe giue vnot my servant mayde Hannah Hendrick : tenn shillings It: I doe appoint my loueing freinds Capt Robert Pike my brother Edward ffrench : Richard wells & mr Tho : Bradbury to bee overseers of this my will & testamt & for the care & paynes theirin I doe bequeath vnto each of them twenty shillings to bee payd vnto them: out of my library in some good || English || authors, as they shall like off Lastly my will is that my dearly & welbeeloved wyfe : rebecka worcester to bee my sole Executrix vnto this my last will & testament It: my will is that after my wyfe hath taken hir owne books out of my library & wt others shal think meet for hir vse; and ye * * ond x ryd in books to my overseers as afore (remainder of page torn to bottom) books shalbe sold s willia: Timathie portion: It: my will is that all discharged & pay'd the remayne & bee to ye utrix afore named In wittness wherof hervnto sett my hand wittness


Tho: Bradbury

Robert Pyke

Edward ffrnch

Richard Wells


wheras it is be reaminder of giuen to my Sonns to each an equall p that my books shalbe yte : to disposof a 
I haue gaiven to my wittness to this last addicon of the will this 18th day of Octobr


Tho: Bradbury

John Severance

Marriage Record of Edward French and Anne Worcester

Anne Worcester’s marriage to Edward French is recorded in the parish register of St. Andrew’s Church, Rugby, Warwickshire, England, which reads as follows:

"3 November 1626 Marryed Edward French and Anne Worcester."

See Worcester, John P., "The Worcester Family" http://www.worcesterfamily.com/intro.htm. This is a critical piece of evidence as it conclusively shows that Edward French married Anne Worcester in 1626. Perhaps more importantly, however, the discovery also provides the link to prove that Joseph Worcester, the elder of Rugby, was Rev. William Worcester's father. It is assumed that Rugby was the home of the Worcester family and not the French family because no French records exist in Rugby other than this marriage.

Note: Edward Wooster (varied spelling) was the brother of Rev. William Worcester according to “Genealogy of Woosters in America” Ref. [17]. Edward Wooster accompanied Francis French (FFA Chart #8) to Connecticut from Boston, and they were the first two settlers of Milford, CT, and later Derby, CT. Francis French immigrated on the ship Defence with William French, FFA Chart #2, and was thought of as a relative, but not a son. This needs further research. These French and Wooster families emigrated from London to Massachusetts during the Puritan Great Migration.

The Wooster Family of Massachusetts

See Worcester Family in America describes Rev. William Worcester. Also see the internet web site, www.worcesterfamily.com.

Rev. William Worcester's will contains an interesting and, until now, perplexing reference to an Edward French. The relevant portion of the will reads as follows: "I doe appoint my loueing freinds Capt Robert Pike my brother Edward ffrench : Richard wells & mr Tho : Bradbury to bee overseers of this my will & testamt."  The reference to Mr. French being his brother has caused many to speculate about their relationship. Could it mean that he considered him a "church brother" or a brother-in-law? There are examples of the use of the term in wills of this time period with both meanings. Some members of the French Family Association have concluded that the term was simply a term of religious brotherhood and did not refer to an actual family relationship. In their family history they report that the progenitor of their family branch in America, Edward French, married a woman with a first name of Ann, but are uncertain of her last name. Edward French was born in England in 1595, and died in Salisbury, Mass., on December 28, 1674. He is believed to have immigrated to New England from London, in 1635 with his wife Ann and three children, arriving first in Ipswich, Mass. and after two years removing to Salisbury. He is known to be, along with Rev. William, one of the first settlers of Salisbury. Anne Worcester French d. 9 Mar 1683 in Salisbury, Essex Co., MA.

The Genealogical Dictionary of New England, by James Savage, Boston, 1860-2, reports that Edward French was living in Ipswich, Mass. as early as 1636. He was a tailor by trade, helped establish the first church in Salisbury, was a selectman between 1646-48, and a sheriff. He was an extensive landowner having purchased land in 1642 and was reported to be the third wealthiest man in Salisbury. Edward and Ann had four children: Joseph, born in England about 1631, died in Salisbury, June 6, 1710, married Susanah Stacy; John, born about 1632, died in Salisbury, May 4, 1706, married Mary Noyes; Samuel born about 1633, died in Salisbury, July 26, 1692, married first Abigail Brown, and second Esther (Jackman) Muzzey; and, Hannah, born after their arrival in MA, ca. 1636, who married first John White and second, Thomas Philbrick. If Rev. William Worcester intended to refer to Edward French as a "church brother," one has to wonder why he did not similarly refer to Robert Pike as "brother." Robert Pike was also a prominent member of the Salisbury community and parish. If Edward French was, in fact, Rev. William Worcester's brother-in-law, it opens up the possibility that Ann was Rev. William Worcester's sister. And, that Anne French arrived in America before Rev. William Worcester!

Two documents contain almost irrefutable evidence that Ann was, in fact, Rev. William Worcester's sister. The first is the will of Joseph Worcester the elder of Rugby, dated 1644, identified by Sarah Alice in her 1914 edition of the family history. It contains bequeaths to his sons William and Joseph, and to his daughters Anne French and Susanah Mason. What are the odds that more than one William Worcester would have a sister named Anne French in 1644? This seems to be pretty good evidence that Rev. William Worcester had a sister named Ann. The parish register of the Church of St. Andrew in Rugby contains the following entry:

"3 November 1626 Marryed Edward French and Anne Worcester."

This is a critical piece of evidence as it conclusively shows that Edward French married Ann Worcester in 1626. Perhaps more importantly, however, the discovery also provides the link to prove that Joseph Worcester, the elder of Rugby, was Rev. William Worcester's father

This document further mentions that Anne French (nee Worcester) immigrated to America before her father, William, who immigrated between 1638-1639. Edward and Anne French’s last child born in England was Samuel, b. 1633; therefore, they immigrated between 1633-1638. The name Worcester was also spelled Worster, Wooster, and Worcester; therefore, Ed Wooster also enters into the picture at this time with Francis French as the two first settlers of Milford, CT.

St. Andrew’s Parish Church in Rugby, Warwickshire, England

The parish church of St. Andrew is probably
the third church to be built on this site. Of the
first, built around 1140, no trace remains, but
the tower to the second church, built by
Henry de Rokeby in the 13th century still
stands and was incorporated into the present
building which was completed in 1895. The
inclusion of this ancient tower, the oldest
structure in Rugby, gives the church a double
distinction since it boasts two peals of bells.

Joseph Worcester, Anne Worcester’s father, signed the register of this church as churchwarden in March 1624/5. Anne Worcester and Edward French were married there only 1 ½ years later on 3 Nov 1626. It was typical at this time for the bride and groom to marry at the bride’s church; however, they did not remain in Rugby after their marriage as none of their children were born in Rugby.

The Birth Record of Edward French

The researcher of this website has located the following extracted christening record in the International Genealogical Index: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index ®, Copyright © 1980, 2002, data as of August 23, 2007, Batch No.: C039662, Dates: 1569 - 1770, Source Call No.: 0548381, Type: Film, Printout Call No.: 1037036, Type: Film, Sheet: 00:

EDWARDUS FRENCHE
Male
Event(s):
Christening: 21 SEP 1595  Allesley, Warwick, England. Parents:
Father: JOHN FRENCHE
(Allesley is about 14 miles from Rugby, Warwickshire, England, where Edward FRENCH married Anne WORCESTER on 3 November 1626.)


The Worcester website shows no proof that Edwardus FRENCHE was the same person as Edward FRENCH, who died on 28 December 1674 in Salisbury, Essex County, MA.  However, the same Worcester and French families lived in Rugby, England and in Salisbury, MA, at the same time.

Warwickshire Parish Registers

All the following records were researched by Christine Hodgetts, 14 Emscote Road, Warwick, CV34 4PP 01926 493216 in May 2010.

Rugby Parish Registers
1623/4 Feb 29 bapt Elizabeth Worster d.o. John
March 1624/5 Joseph Worcester signs the register as churchwarden
1626 Nov 23 marryed Edward French and Anne Worcester
1627 July ?20 bapt Sarah Worster d.o. John and Elizabeth
1627 Dec 18 buried John Worster
1629/30 Feb ?7 Alice Worster d.o. John and [Alice crossed out] Margerie
1631/2 March 14 Alice Worster d.o. John and Elizabeth
1632 Dec 22 marryed Robert Higginson and Lettice Worcester
1633 June 23 bapt Joseph Worcester s.o. Joseph Worcester
1635 August 23 bapt Sarah Worster d.o. John and Margerie
1636 Dec 18 Mary Worceter d.o Joseph and Jane
Done to 23 March 1638/9

Allesley Baptisms start 1569
Started April 1589
(written in Latin)
1594 August 4 bapt Steven s.o. John Frenche
1595 Sept 21 bapt Edward s.o. John Frenche
Done to end 1618
Then from Dec 1626 to Dec 1634
Marriages from 1589 to 1594
Burials from 1590- end 1628
1594 Sept 2 Steven the sonne of Jo: Frenche was buried

Parishes with registers after the birth of Edward between Allesley and Rugby:
Coventry Holy Trinity (1561); Corley (1540) Foleshill (1564); Wallsgrave on Sowe (1538); Ansty (1589); Wyken (1600); Stoke (1573) Brinklow (1558) Harborough Magna (1540); Newbold on Avon (1558) Brownsover (1593); Clifton on Dunsmore ((1594); Hillmorton (1564) Church Lawford (1575) Wolston (1558) Baginton (1628); Ryton on Dunsmore (1538), Dunchurch (1538), Bourton on Dunsmore (1560); Frankton (1560)

Parishes not having registers for this period
Coventry St Michael; Withybrook; Wolvey; Willey; Monks Kirby, Binley; Churchover, Bilton, Stoneleigh, Stivichall, Bubbenhall, Weston under Wetherley, Wappenbury, Marton

Ancestry Chart of the Worcester Family

Edward French Ancestry

Outline

1.1 Thomas French, b. ca. 1540, living in Alcester in 1568, d. 15 May 1674 in Alcester. 

        2.1 Jhon Frenche, chr. Feb 1568 in Alcester, m. ca. 1593. Moved to Allesley by 1594. 

                3.1 Steven Frenche, bap. 4 Aug 1594 in Allesley, d. 2 Sep 1594. 

                3.2 Edward French, bap. 21 Sep 1595 in Allesley, d. 28 Dec 1674 in Salisbury, MA, m. Ann Worcester on 3 Nov 1626 in Rugby.

                        4.1 Joseph French, b. ca. 1626-1631, d. 6 Jun 1710 in Salisbury, MA.

                        4.2 John French, b. ca. 1632, d. 4 May 1706 in Salisbury, MA.

                        4.3 Samuel French, b. ca. 1633, d. 26 Jul 1692 in Salisbury, MA.

                        4.4 Hannah French, b. ca. 1640 in Salisbury, MA.

First Generation

1.2* Thomas Frenche, b. ca. 1540 [12]. He was living in Alcester in 1568 when his son was born. Thomas did not get married in Alcester because there are no French marriages before 1569. It is therefore believed that Thomas got married in the city where his bride lived, as was the custom in those days. Thomas died on 15 May 1674 in Alcester as per the Alcester parish register. There are no other French burials in Alcester up until 1594. There are no marriages of a female French from 1574 to the end of 1580. There are no marriages of Thomas’ son, John, in Alcester between 1589-94. It does not seem likely that this burial record of Thomas in 1674 was that of a son of his because are no other baptisms around that time other than son John in 1568. If Thomas Frenche, who was b. ca. 1540 died in 1674, he would have been only 34 years old and son John would have been only six years old.

No Frenches turn up in nearby Dunchurch 1626-1640, or in Hillmorton 1630-1634, or in Brownsover 1626-1640, or in Clifton on Dunsmore 1626-1640, or in Newbold on Avon 1626-1640, or in Frankton 1626-1650, or in Church Lawford. The surname Worcester turns up for quite a few ancestors in Bourton on Dunsmore (see Warwickshire Record Office records). In Coventry Holy Trinity, baptisms from 1626-1640, a Thomas French is listed as having two children in this register: Dorothy in 1613 and Joseph in 1616. I might need to check the parish of Exhall which is near Alcester.

St. Nicholas Church, Alcester. The main entrance is through the c.1500 West door, under the 14th century Tower which is the oldest part of the church.    Above the tower are the eight Bells (St George, Peace, Unity, Concord, Faith, Hope, Charity and St Nicholas, cast in 1948 by John Taylor of Loughborough to replace an earlier 6 by Abraham Rudhall in 1735.  The Clock, angled on the SW corner was installed in 1682, with electric action in 1975.  The original action, inscribed "J Price 1682" (an Alcester ironmonger and gunsmith), was removed from the tower in 1988 and stands in the NW end of the nave. The St Nicholas churchyard is a feature of the town and is maintained to a prize-winning standard by the churchyard group.  It now includes a sensory garden complete with a water feature. More . . .

Second Generation

Alcester, Warwickshire, England on High Street today with St. Nicholas Church in the background, and below on High Street in 1908.

See more photographs here: http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/alcester.html

Malt Mill Lane, Alcester, 1908

Alcester Town Hall, 1907

Children of Thomas French, 1.1

2.1* Jhon Frenche, christened Feb 1568 at the St. Nicholas Parish Church in Alcester, Warwickshire, England, as the son of Thomas Frenche [12]. See microfilm copy below under Ano 1568, 5^th item.

John may have married about 1593 but not in Allesley where his two children were born as those records were checked from 1589 to Dec 1634. He could have married in his wife’s hometown. We do not know her name, but because they named their children Steven and Edward, these may have been names on John’s wife’s side. By 1594 John (aged 26) and his wife were definitely living in Allesley when their first child, Steven, was born. Steven died one month later, and their second child, Edward (the immigrant to America), was born the following year. Warwickshire researcher Christine Hodgetts found that this family did not stay in Allesley long after the birth of their first two children, as no further baptism records are listed in Allesley to the end of 1618, no marriage records from 1589 to 1594, and no burial records are listed for French through 1634, except for their first born in 1594. In 1634 (the year to which the records for a French were last checked), John would have been 66 years old [18]. See Records of Allesley.

All Saint’s Church of England, or the Allesley Village Parish Church, has origins dating back to the 12^th century, on Rectory Lane

Location of All Saint’s C of E in Allesley

Third Generation

Allesley, Warwickshire, England, with the All Saint’s Church of England in the background.

Children of John French, 2.1

3.1 Steven Frenche, baptized 4 Aug 1594 in Allesley, Warwickshire, England (11) as the son of John Frenche. See 5^th item down on microfilm parish register copy below. Extracted from Parish registers for Allesley, Warwickshire, 1569-1978, Church of England. FHL #0548381. The death of Steven only one month later on 2 Sep 1594, son of John French, is in the transcripts of the Allesley registers. It is assumed that Steven’s parents left Allesley shortly after Steven’s death and shortly after their next son was born the following year. These records are written in Latin. The Allesley records were checked until 1618 and no further French records exist for baptisms, marriages, or burials other than what is stated here.

Allesley baptisms 1589 thru the end of 1618, and Dec 1626 thru Dec 1634
Allesley marriages 1589-1594
Allesley burials 1594 thru end 1628

3.2* Edwardus (or Edward) Frenche was christened in Allesley, Warwickshire, England on 21 Sep 1595 (first item under September above). Edward died in Salisbury, Mass., on December 28, 1674. Allesley is about 14 miles from Rugby where Edward married Anne Worcester on 3 Nov 1626 at St. Andrew’s Church. Couples were usually married in the bride’s parish; therefore, Edward and Anne probably returned to Rugby to live. However, no baptisms for his children were found in Rugby. Edward and Anne’s marriage record is listed below, 3 Nov 1626.

Note that French was spelled with 2 f’s, as ffrench, as it was in the will of William Worcester, Salisbury, MA, 1662. Edward was a tailor. Christine Hodgetts [18] says there is evidence of more than one family of Worcester in Rugby.

Edward FRENCH was an ancestor of President Gerald R. FORD, White House diarist Benjamin Brown FRENCH, sculptor Daniel Chester FRENCH, Bishop Phillips BROOKS (lyricist of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"), author Ray BRADBURY, poets Robert FROST and Edward Arlington ROBINSON, and playwright Tennessee WILLIAMS.

Edward is believed to have immigrated to New England from England ca. 1635 with his wife Ann and three children, arriving first in Ipswich, MA, and after two years removing to Salisbury, MA. He is known to be, along with Rev. William Worcester, one of the first settlers of Salisbury. However, Rev. William Worcester emigrated from England and settled in Salisbury, MA, sometime between the years 1638 and 1639, perhaps a couple years after his daughter. The Genealogical Dictionary of New England, by James Savage, Boston, 1860-62, reports that Edward French was living in Ipswich, Mass. as early as 1636. He was a tailor by trade, helped establish the first church in Salisbury, was a selectman between 1646-48, and a sheriff. He was an extensive landowner having purchased land in 1642 and was reported to be the third wealthiest man in Salisbury.

Edward French and Ann Worcester had four children. This line continues with FFA Chart #4 in America.

Fourth Generation

Children of Edward and Anne (Worcester) French, 3.2

"Now one cause of our going at this time was, because we were persecuted in Old England for the truth of Christ, which we profess here. We durst not stay to make ourselves known, which would have been at the baptizing of the child. Hence we hastened for New-England." Hence, these baptisms may never have been recorded.

4.1 Joseph French, born in England about 1626-1631, not christened in Rugby [18]. Joseph died in Salisbury, MA, June 6, 1710, m. Susanah Stacy. Joseph was named after Ann Worcester’s father, Joseph Worcester.

4.2 John French, born about 1632 in England, not christened in Rugby [18]. John died in Salisbury, MA, May 4, 1706, m. Mary Noyes on 23 Mar 1659. John was named after Edward French’s father, John (or Jhon) French.

4.3 Samuel French, born about 1633 in England, not christened in Rugby [18]. Samuel died in Salisbury, MA, July 26, 1692, m1. Abigail Brown on 1 Jun 1664 in Salisbury, MA, m2. Esther (Jackman) Muzzey.

4.4 Hannah French, born about 1640 in Salisbury, Massachusetts, m1. John White on 26 Nov 1662 in Salisbury, MA and m2., Thomas Philbrick on 22 Sep 1669. It could be thought that since the name Hannah does not appear in the immediate Worcester family, that it might have been the name of Edward’s mother; hence, Edward’s parents would have been John and Hannah French, but this theory has in no way any proof. It is only stated here for further research possibilities.

Connection Between Richard and Edward French

According to the DNA tests, Group 3 shows a family connection between Richard French of FFA Chart #6 (Coggeshall, County Essex) and Edward French of FFA Chart #4 (Rugby, Warwickshire). While Richard French was b. ca. 1625 in Coggeshall, County Essex, England, Edward French of the same DNA was b. 21 Sep 1595 in Allesley, Warwickshire, England, and married on 3 Nov 1626 in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. Both men immigrated to the Cambridge, MA area between 1635-1647. They were not brothers; therefore, the DNA connection is from further back. See DNA Group 3.

Although DNA test results show that certain members of a French family had a common ancestor, such test results do not establish who that common ancestor was.

Considering that Edward French of Warwickshire and Richard French of Essex, England, have the same DNA, the following maps show the distance between these two counties.

Generations in England

Gen.	Edward French Family	Richard French Family
1	Thomas French, b. ca. 1540
2	John French, chr. Feb 1575, of Rugby, Warwickshire, England	William French, b. ca. 1580 perhaps in Colchester. This is not the William French b. 25 Jul 1580 at Bures St. Mary in FFA Chart #E1. (different DNA)
3	Edward French, chr. 21 Sep 1595 in Allesley, Warwickshire, m. Anne Worcester on 3 Nov 1626 in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, d. 28 Dec 1674 in Salisbury, Essex Co., MA. Did they move to Suffolk, Essex, or London?	Richard French, Sr., chr. 16 Feb 1605/6 in Colchester, m1. 28 Oct 1622 in Coggeshall at St. Peter’s Church to Elizabeth Fuller, who perhaps died in childbirth with Richard French Jr. Richard French Sr. m2. Mary, he d. 15 Dec 1668.
4	Three children born in England: Joseph (ca. 1631), John (ca. 1632), Samuel (ca. 1633). Hannah was born in Salisbury, MA (ca. 1640). Names of his first 3 sons are the same as Richard’s first 3 sons.	Richard French, chr. 6 May 1629 in Coggeshall, Essex, England, d. 14 Dec 1688 in Marshfield, MA
5		Four children born in the U.S.: Joseph, Samuel, John, Elizabeth. Names of his first 3 sons are the same as Edward’s first 3 sons.

The relationship between Edward French and Richard French is unknown at this point and time. Only their DNA match perfectly. Could John of Rugby and William of Colchester (Generation 2) have been siblings?

Note that Edward’s and Richard’s sons have the same names (Joseph, John, Samuel). The DNA connection of these two immigrants must be further back than records can show.

Following the Worcester family back a few generations to the will of Petyr Wysseter in 1523, the will of William Wysseter in 1551, the will of Elizabeth Wussotter in 1567, and the will of Tymothye Worceter in 1613, these wills were written in West Haddon, Northamptonshire, England, which is only slightly east of Rugby. See these wills on the Worcester family website: http://www.worcesterfamily.com/misc1.htm. Thereafter, the Worcester family lived in Rugby and shows Joseph Worcester’s will of 1644/5. Then, several wills are shown in London: the will of Peter Worcester of 1656, and the will of Dorothy Worcester of 1660, yet a few family members remained in West Haddon. From London some members of the Worcester family probably immigrated to America. The FFA does not know if this was the same path as for Edward French, or where he lived between 1626 and 1633 when his first 3 children were born in England; however, William Worcester, the father of Anne Worcester, was living in Olney, Buckinghamshire, immediately before emigrating to the U.S. in 1638. There he was the Vicar of Olney.

French Family in Ilmington, Warwickshire, England

1.1 Edward French, m. Elizabeth Ballard.

2.1 Thomas French, christened 28 May 1624, Gentleman of Ilmington, Gloucestershire, England, son of Elizabeth Ballard, will written 1 Mar 1657, will proved 17 Oct 1660, m. Mary.

3.1 Elizabeth French, b. ca. 1647

3.2 Sarah French, b. ca. 1649

3.3 Edward French, b. ca. 1652

3.4 Thomas French, b. ca. 1654

3.5 Margarett French, ca. 1657 after her father’s will was written, but she is named in his Coddicil written on 20 Jun 1658.

Thomas French of Ilmington, Warwickshire, England

Jhon French of Allesley may have had a brother or other relative named Thomas French, whose will was filed as “Gentleman of Ilmington, Warwickshire, 17 October 1660, Catalogue reference PROB 11/300 at the Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury” [13]. See Original Will and the Will Transcription. In this will Thomas French mentions his wife Mary, his children Elizabeth, Sarah, Edward, Thomas, and Margaret, his mother Elizabeth Ballard, and his executor Nathaniell Eden. This Ballard family immigrated to MA in the early 1630s [18]. According to the National Archives in London, Edward French of Ilmington and his wife Elizabeth were living in Ilmington in 1699. MS 3013/Acc 1886-002/86046. Son Edward French of Ilmington shows up in a record with Isaac Snow of Moretonhinmarsh in 1699.

Johannes French of Tredington, Warwickshire, England

Johannes FRENCH m. Alicia POWESSE, 9 Feb 1589, Parish Church of Tredington, Warwick, England. [NOTE: Tredington is in southwest Warwickshire, southeast of Stratford-upon-Avon.]

John French of London, England

John FRENCHE m. Anne THOMAS, 31 Jan 1582, St. Botolph Aldgate, London [11].

Map of Rugby, Allesley, and Alcester

Rugby is far right, Allesley is at “A” arrow, and Alcester is bottom left.

Immigration

From what I have read of the early American settlers, they often made their way to a port and stayed there for some time until enough prospective emigrants had assembled to hire a ship [17]. It would be quite hard to find evidence of that kind unless they had another child in the area of the port and had it baptized in a church for which the registers survive. But as they were probably leaving because they did not like the Laudian reforms in the church of England, they may not have baptized their children in a parish church anyway [17].

For more information about the ship Angel Gabriel see Riess, Warren Curtis, "The History of, and Search for, the Seventeenth Century Bristol Merchantman Angel Gabriel," a master's thesis submitted to the Graduate College of Texas A & M University in December 1980, website: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/anth/abstracts/riess.html. According to this thesis at p. 27:

"A list of crew or passengers aboard the Angel Gabriel has not been located, but genealogical records and verbal family lore indicate twenty-three of those aboard."

No member of Edward FRENCH's family is included among the 23 persons so identified. Nevertheless, it is possibile that Edward's family was aboard the Angel Gabriel, but more unlikely in that he lived in Ipswich for 2 years before moving to Salisbury.

Warwickshire Record Office

The following records were produced by Ref. [18] in June 2010.

Alcester Parish Registers

Begin 1560

1568/9 Feb (day illeg) Jhon s.o. Thomas French

No other French baptisms

No French marriages before 1569

Burials

1574 May 15 Thomas French.

No other French burials up to 1594

No marriage of a female French from 1574 to end of 1580.

No marriage of John French in Alcester 1589-94

Dunchurch

No French results 1626-1640

Hillmorton

No French results 1630-1634

Brownsover

1626-40

No French results

Clifton on Dunsmore

1626-40 No French results

Newbold on Avon

1626-1640 No French results

Bourton on Dunsmore

1626-1640 No French results

The book seems to have fallen apart at some time and been stitched together with the pages out of order. The entries are probably not complete in the early 1640’s

1636 Dec 15 buried Richard Worcester son of Mr William Worcester and Ursula his wife

1638 Oct 31 bapt Richard Worcester son of Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth his wife

1638 Dec 26 batp Margery Worcester daughter of Mr William Worcester and Alice his wife

1638/9 Jan 20 bapt Abigaile Worcester daughter of Thomas Worcester of Bourton and Alice his wife

1642 /3 the last of Feb. buried Dorothy Gilbert the wife of William Gilbert (the rector) and daughter of Mr William Worcester and Ursula Worcester

1636 14 Dec bur Richard Worcester son of Mr William Worcester and Ursula his wife (this is evidently the same as above but mis-remembered. It is one of a group of entries written together, mainly relating to the Rector’s family)

1627 Nov 18 bapt John Worcester s on of Mr Thomas Worcester the younger and Elizabeth his wife

1628 April 24 bapt Elener Worcester d.o. Thomas Worcester the elder

1628/9 Feb 18 bapt Mary Worcester d.o. Mr Thomas Worcester the younger and Elizabeth his wife

1630 May 2 bapt Ann Worcester d.o. Mr Thomas Worcester the younger of Draycote and Elizabeth his wife

1630/1 Jan 9 Bapt John Worcester s.o. Thomas Worcester the elder and Alice his wife

1631/2 Jan 2 bapt Elizabeth Worcester d.o. Thomas Worcester and Elizabeth his wife

1635 Aug 2 bapt Ursula Worcester d.o. Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycot and Elizabeth his wife

1636 April 7 bapt Elizabeth d.o. William Worcester and Alice his wife

1637 April 29 bapt Thomas Worcester son of Mr Thomas Worcester and Elizabeth his wife of Draycot

Christenings 1632

1633 July 28 bapt William Worcester s.o. Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth

1633/4 Jan 19 bapt William Worcester s.o. William Worcester of Bourton and Dorothy

1633/4 Jan 26 bapt Alice Worcester d.o. Thomas Worcester of Bourton and Alice his wife

1639 /40 (I think ) Jan 16 buried Thomas Worcester son of Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth

1639/40 Feb 2 buried Alice Worcester daughter of Thomas Worcester and Alice his wife

1640 Oct 13 bapt Thomas Worcester son of Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth

1643 Dec 12 bapt Samuell Worcester s.o. Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth his w

1643/4 March 20 buryed Samuell s.o. Mr Thomas Worcester of Draycott and Elizabeth

Frankton

1626-1650

No French results

Probably defective-Not many entries between 1639 and 1646

Church Lawford

1626-1640 No French

Coventry Holy Trinity

Baptisms from 1626-40 (from Transcript)

Thomas French has 2 children in this register, Dorothy in 1613 and Joseph in 1616

Bibliography

Most sources are indicated within the text above. Some sources below are people who are researching this French family.

[1] Patrick McDonald, Patrick@mpx.com.au, also mcdonald.patrick.joseph@gmail.com (good in 2009), website: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=pjmpjm&id=I31654, P.O. Box 357, Round Corner, NSW 2158 Australia. Edward’s wife was not Ann Swayne.

[2] J. Michael Frost, frostinaz@cox.net, website: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frostinaz01&id=I15609

[3] David W. Hoyt, "The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts (1897-1919)"; reprint New England History Press 1981. "Richard Goodale, Sen., called Edward French his bro." This probably means that Edward's wife Ann was Richard Goodale's sister. Note: "Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families 1620-1700" by Frank R. Holmes shows Richard Goodale (above) came from Yarmouth, County of Norfolk England to Newbury MA 1638; removed to Salisbury MA 1639. Richard Goodale Sr. in his will dated 7 June 1660 ".....I do desire my loving bretherin edward french and Phillip Challis. and Richard wels to ouerse the equall deuiding of this estate unto my son and daughter......"Essex County Probate Files, Docket 11,135. If this is used as evidence that Edward French, Phillip Challis and Richard Wells are brothers-in-law of Richard Goodale, it fails with Phillip Challis. ... his wife was Mary Sargent, d/of William Sargent and Elizabeth Perkins.

[4] Old Maps of England, http://www.old-maps.co.uk/.

[5] David Worcester and John P. Worcester of Aspen, CO, email: john@worcesterfamily.com, website: http://www.worcesterfamily.com/intro.htm.

[6] Nancy Ratay, nr@ng-tek.com (email good in 2009), 18 White Pine Drive, Littleton, CO 80127. Errors in this website: http://www.ng-tek.com/genweb/grweb/wc03/wc03_154.html. Edward French is on her mother-in-law’s side. Her mother was Myra Sauer Ratay.

[7] Karen Higgins, khig@earthlink.net, website: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=khig2&id=I30875. Edward French’s parents listed on this website are incorrect.

[8] Walter Dowling Wood, genealogy@mywoodfamily.us, incorrect genealogy on webiste: http://mywoodfamily.us/genealogy/SS/p15.htm

[9] Terry D. Smith, tdsfamgen100@earthlink.net, incorrect genealogy on website: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=tsmith&id=I116584. Genealogy URL: http://home.earthlink.net/~tdsfamgen100/ which links to http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=tsmith

[10] James D. True, jimsancestry@hotmail.com, incorrect genealogy on website: http://www.jimsancestry.net/French.htm

[11] Chris Kraft, acdk3@yahoo.com, email good in 2010, website: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=adgedge&id=I11167. He might be a good one to take over this chart in America.

[12] We know from Edward French’s christening record that his father was named John. The following christening record relates to Jhon French, who was christened in 1568 in Alcester, Warwickshire, England. Jhon would have been about 27 years of age when Edward was born in 1595 in Allesley, Warwickshire, and thus would have been about the right age to have been Edward’s father. Alcester and Allesley are about 20 miles apart. Batch No. C035451, Source Call No. 0557289, film printout call no: 099204. IGI researched by Mike Frost, frostinaz@cox.net, website: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frostinaz01&id=I15609. Also see http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/igi/search_igi.asp?batch_number=C035451&region=2.

[13]

Description	Will of Thomas Franch or French, Gentleman of Ilmington, Warwickshire
Date	17 October 1660
Catalogue reference	PROB 11/300
Dept	Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Series	Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers
Piece	Name of Register: Nabbs Quire Numbers: 161 - 210
Image contains	1 will of many for the catalogue reference

[14] All Saints Churchyard, Allesley, Warwickshire, England (no French). Website: http://www.interment.net/data/eng/warwickshire/allsaints_allesley/index.htm

[15] Website: http://shakespeare.folger.edu/other/html/dfostrat.html.

[16] IGI, FHL. (a) Extract from Parish Registers and poor law records for Alcester, 1560-1959, Church of England, Parish Church of Alcester, Warwickshire. FHL #557,289. (b) Extract from Parish Registers 1541-1981, Church of England, Parish Church of Tredignton, Warwickshire. FHL #549,654. (c) Parish registers for Bildestone, 1558-1902 Church of England. Parish Church of Bildestone, Suffolk. (d) Parish registers of St. Botolph Aldgate, 1558-1945 Church of England. St. Botolph Aldgate (London).

[17] Genealogy of the Woosters in America, devoted to the descendants of Edward Wooster of Connecticut, undoubtedly a brother of Rev. William Worcester, by David Wooster, 1885. A more full account of this family was published by J. F. Worcester at Lynn, MA in 1856.

[18] Researcher in Warwickshire, Christine Hodgetts: We have very few fully transcribed registers. They are presented to us in microfilm, to avoid wear and tear, though if the film is hard to read we can usually persuade them to produce the original. I'll check the record you believe to be Alcester and see if there are any more Frenches there, and do the other searches in Allesley and Rugby. April 2010. Email: chris@hodgetts.co.uk. 14 Emscote Road, Warwick CV34 4PP, 01926 493216.

[18] Chula Vista Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3024, Chula Vista, CA 91909-3024. Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cacvgs2/Ahnentafels/10004.html

[19] London Family History Center, Film Catalogue, England, Warwick, Allesley, website: http://www.londonfhc.org/content/catalogue?p=England,England,Warwick,Allesley&f=1

[20] You can check the Alcester, Warwickshire Ancestors Project Census of 1841 and see that the surname "French" is still listed. Website:

http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/freecens/1841/1124_sname_index.html

The surname "French" is listed in the 1861 census for Rugby. Website:

http://www.hunimex.net/warwick/freecens/1861/2211_sname_index.html

Also see website:

http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/warks_cen.html

[21] Find a Grave in Warwickshire: http://www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=city&FScityid=404070

[22] Calendar of Wills and Administrations of Worcester, 1601-1652, Volume II, on http://www.archive.org/. Listed are Lionel Frenche, Dionise French of Pershore, Richard Frenche of Tibberton, Dennis French of Pershore, George French yeoman of Tibberton, Thomas French tyler of Warwick, and Richard French yeoman of Salwarp.

[23] Researcher Ray Whitehand, Historical Suffolk Research Services, email: historicalsuffolk@supanet.com (good in 2010), website: http://www.historicaluffolk.com/

[24] Website: http://londonfhc.org/content/catalogue?p=England,England,Suffolk,Bildestone&f=1. London Family History Center

Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Church records
Title:	Parish registers for Bildestone, 1558-1902
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Bildestone (Suffolk)
Film Notes:	Include church records, 1681-1784 (missing years)
Film Items:	Microfilm 0919565 Baptisms, 1562-1876; Marriages, 1559-1837 (missing years); Burials, 1558-1888; Marriage banns, 1754-1757, 1760-1787, 1813-1876. Microfilm 1849152 Items 31 - 34 Baptisms, 1875-1902; Burials, 1888-1890; Marriage banns, 1876-1900; Marriages, 1837-1901.
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Church records
Title:	Parish register transcripts
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Bildestone (Suffolk)
Film Notes:	Microfilm of original records in the Suffolk County Record Office, Ipswich, transcribed by C. Partridge.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0993222 Item 24 Parish register transcripts
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Cemeteries
Title:	Inscriptions in Bildestone Churchyard
Authors:	Partridge, Charles
Film Notes:	Microfilm of original records in the Ipswich and East Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich, transcribed by C. Partridge.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0993222 Items 25-26 Inscriptions in Bildestone Churchyard
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Church records
Title:	Parish register transcripts, 1558-1812
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Bildestone (Suffolk)
Film Notes:	Microfilm of mss. at the Suffolk County Record Office, Ipswich. Transcribed by C. Partridge, 1944.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0993222 Items 20-23 Parish register transcripts
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Schools
Title:	Admission registers, 1898-1927
Authors:	Bildeston Council School (Bildeston, Suffolk)
Film Notes:	Microfilm copy of originals at the Suffolk Record Office, Bury, England.
Film Items:	Microfilm 1657462 Items 49-50 Admission registers, 1898-1927
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Church records
Bildestone, Suffolk, England - Poorhouses, poor law, etc.
Title:	Parish chest material, 1673-1878
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Bildestone (Suffolk)
Film Notes:	Microfilm copy of originals at the Suffolk Record Office, Bury, England.
Film Items:	Microfilm 1849205 Item 1 Workhouse records, 1730-1878 View Additional Films in this Collection That Can Be Ordered for Viewing at the Centre

[25] Website: http://www.londonfhc.org/content/catalogue?p=England,England,Suffolk,Whatfield&f=1. London Family History Center.

Whatfield, Suffolk, England - Church records
Title:	Parish registers, 1558-1875
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Whatfield
Film Notes:	Microfilm of original records in the Ipswich and East Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich. Missing years.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0919634 Item 4 Parish registers
Whatfield, Suffolk, England - Cemeteries
Title:	Inscriptions in Whatfield Churchyard
Authors:	Partridge, Charles
Film Notes:	Microfilm of original records in the Ipswich and East Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich, transcribed by C. Partridge.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0992003 Item 13 Inscriptions in Whatfield Churchyard
Whatfield, Suffolk, England - Church records
Title:	Parish register transcripts, 1558-1812
Authors:	Church of England. Parish Church of Whatfield
Film Notes:	Microfilm of mss. in the Suffolk County Record Office, Ipswich. Transcribed from the original records by George Carter, then by C. Partridge.
Film Items:	Microfilm 0992003 Items 10-12 Parish register transcripts

[26] Many of the homesteaders in the Rattesden / Whatfield / Bildeston area of Suffolk emigrated during the Great Migration from this Suffolk area to Ipswich, MA. Among these was Richard Kimball who was b. ca. 1595 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, and died 22 Jun 1675 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA. Other names were Riddlesdale and Scott, both known to the French families who immigrated to New England. See website for Karen Higgins, khig@earthlink.net

[27] Family Names of the David Harper and Lynne Marie Stockman family, website: http://www.obliquity.com/family/. This family has many descendants from Suffolk, including French.

[28] Unproven Records to this Line: Grimwade Family of Bildeston and Whatfield, Suffolk County, England

Jhon FRENCH m. Ann GRIMWADE, 26 Apr 1592, at St. Mary Parish Church of Bildeston, Suffolk. [NOTE: Suffolk is on the east coast of England just north of Essex. Warwick is in the center of the country, to the west of Suffolk.] This record could be a precise match for John, 2.1, in regards to the date, but not the location. Ann died 14 Jul 1592 as the wife of John French in Bildeston [23], only 3 months after they married. This location seems somewhat of a distance from Allesley, Warwickshire, but we also have no disproof of this connection. Just a thought, but maybe Ann Grimwade was originally from Bildeston and the family moved there later on from Allesley, Warwickshire.

Bildeston in Suffolk is quite near Essex County where Richard French of FFA Chart #6 was born in 1629. The DNA of both Edward French and Richard French is the same, plus both gentlemen named their only 3 sons Joseph, John, and Samuel. The Allesley records were checked until 1618 and no further French records exist for baptisms, marriages, or burials from 1595 to 1618.

There was a Thomas Grimwade living in Bildeston in 1651, and he and his wife Mary had daughter Margaret born 26 Oct 1595. The name is also spelled Grymwade. There was a John French and Ann French living in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1612. It was the custom in these days for the bride and groom to get married in the bride’s parish. There was an Anne Grymwade who was born before 30 Nov 1570 in Rattlesden, Suffolk, the daughter of Edmund Grymwade and Rose Lumkin. Edmund died before 5 May 1583 in Whatfield, Suffolk, which is just a couple miles SE of Bildeston. John Grimwade immigrated during the time of John Winthrop’s embarkation to New England. John Grimwade was the son of William Grymwade of Bildeston. Ann (Grimwald), wife of John French, was buried 14 Jul 1592 in Bildeston, only 3 months after they married. This death record indicates that children Steven and Edward born 1594 and 1595 were not hers, so this family is not the correct one.

Bildeston, Suffolk, England became famous for blue broadcloth and buildings (housing dyers, weavers, shearmen, spinners and clothiers) that were erected to form Chapel Street and Duke Street during the 15th and 16th centuries.

We need to research if Steven or Edward were family names, either on the French or Grimwade side, in order to find out if John of this generation gave those names to his children. Edward (of the 3^rd generation below) could have been named after Ann Grimwade’s father, Edmund. My researcher Ray Whitehand [23] looked for records in Bildeston or Whatfield between 1596 and 1635 and found a Mary French who was buried 1 Feb 1628 in Bildeston, plus a Martha French who was baptized 11 Nov 1627 in Whatfield as the daughter of Robert French. Also in Whatfield was an Elizabeth French who m. Thomas Hiberstall on 14 Feb 1648, and another record for her giving the same marriage date but indicating his name was Thomas Hubberstall, a widower, and Elizabeth French, a widow, both of Semer. No baptisms or burials appear at St. Mary in Bury St. Edmunds for a French between 1558-1656.

Bildeston sits right on the border line of what records are held at either the Ipswich Record Office or the Bury St. Edmund Record Office. The parishes to the west are mainly at Bury, while those to the east are at Ipswich. One index which might identify locations of families is a burial index provided by the Suffolk Family History Society claiming to hold over 1,000,000 records of Burials in Suffolk between 1538 and 1900 which equates to roughly 80% of all the burials in that period of time. Searching by surname, it can highlight where a family name occurred. The French surnames appears all over the county of Suffolk, but this index might narrow locations.

Rattlesden is SE of Bury St. Edmunds and due north of Bildeston.

See Excerpts from the Parish Records of Rattlesden, Suffolk.

Then, in Warwickshire county, Edward French has the same DNA results Richard French does (my line) in Essex county, about 2 1/2 hours driving distance apart. Quite a distance. Through a researcher in Warwickshire, I was able to determine that the Frenches left that county early on, so I picked the county in between (Suffolk) to do more research. Somehow, goodness knows how, I was able to find Edward's parents in Bildeston, Suffolk. A Suffolk researcher found all Frenches for me in that village. When I went to the Bildeston church, on the wall I saw several plaques in the 1600-1700s of the Beare family, the family who married into the family of Richard French, my family, who has the same DNA. I never thought of looking for the Beare family because I thought the Beare family only met the French family in Massachusetts. Now perhaps Chart #4 and Chart #6 started out in Bildeston.

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