History

Patrick French fitzStephen of Galway is recorded as the earliest member of the family to be associated with Frenchpark. He died in 1667 and is buried in the ruined priory there. In March 1666/7 his son Dominick French of Frenchpark was granted over 5,000 acres in the barony of Boyle, county Roscommon and his grandson John French received a further 2,000 acres in the barony of Ballymoe in 1677. His descendant Arthur French was created Baron de Freyne in the Irish Peerage on 5 April 1851. Arthur French was a member of the Grand Panel for county Roscommon in 1828. The French family owned property in Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo. George French is recorded as owning over 500 acres in county Leitrim in the 1870s. In the 1870s Lord de Freyne owned 25,436 acres in county Roscommon, 4,052 acres in county Sligo and 328 acres in county Galway. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, he was one of the principal lessors in the parishes of Castlemore, Kilnamanagh and Tibohine, barony of Frenchpark and in the parish of Cloonygormican, barony of Ballymoe, county Roscommon. The Cloonshanville estate, forming part of the French Park house demesne, was offered for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in February 1870. Over 36,000 acres of the French Park estate was vested in the Congested Districts' Board in July 1906.

Patrick French was Mayor of Galway from 1633-34. See the Galway French Tribe. Patrick French was b. 1583, the son of Stephen French of Galway. Patrick was allotted 6,000 acres in Co. Roscommon. His will, dated 1 Aug 1659, was prved 1671. He d. 1669 at his mansion house of Dungar (now called French Park), built by himself and buried in the Dominican Abbey of Clonshanville, near French Park, in a vault near the belfry, on which are engraved the arms of his family and this inscription: “Pray for the souls of Patrick French fitz Stephen, of Galway, burgess, who lived in the world eighty-six years. He had issue: six sons, as follows:

First Generation

Children of Patrick French, b. 1583, son of Stephen French of Galway

1.1 Patrick French [8] [13], probably died young.

1.2* Dominick French, his father’s heir, b. ca. 1628 in Frenchpark [9], made his will in Frenchpark and named the town then in May 1670 [8]. The lands in Frenchpark were given to him in 1666 and consisted of 5,000 acres. It was from his second son, Dominick, that the De Freyne family is descended [8]. He m. Anne King, daughter of John King of Boyle who was the son of Dr. Edward King, Bishop of Elphin or Elgin, ca. 1658, and d. ca. 1675 [9]. He was also of Boyle. Dominick, whose will bears the date 3 May 1670 was buried in the cathedral of Elphin, where his monument is still to be seen per Ref. [30].

Francis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin (see below), b. 3 Sep 1927 in Dublin, Ireland, stated that his family had been in Galway (mid-1600s) prior to Frenchpark. Prior to Galway, they were in Herefordshire, England. This information has not been verified by a legal document.

Below is from Ref [29]. Dominick was succeeded by his eldest son, John.

1.3 Edmond French [8] [13].

1.4 Robert French [8] [13].

1.5 Francis French [8] [13].

1.6 Anthony French [8] [13].

Second Generation

Children of Dominick and Anne (King) French, 1.2

2.1 Patrick French, b. ca. 1659 in Frenchpark [9]. Died without issue [13] [29] [30].

2.2* John French, Dominick’s heir [30], Tiarna Mor or the Great Landowner, b. ca. 1660, was the eldest son of Dominick who succeeded his father. John made his will in Frenchpark at an advanced age on 1734. He left a very large sum of money to be expended on his funeral; his body was laid in state in the park for three days and nights and the county were feasted round it. He m. Anne Gore [9]. She d. before 22 Jun 1756, the dau. of Sir Arthur Gore, Bart of Newtown [13] [29]. He fought in the army of King William, and commanded a trop in the Enniskillen dragoons at the battle of Aughrim, having been attainted on account of his Whig principles by the parliament held by James II at Dublin in 1690. In 1703 he acquired by purchase from the Trustees of the Forfeited Estates the greater part of the estate forfeited by Major Owen O’Conor of Ballinagar. He represented Carrick-on-Shannon in parliament in 1695 (William III), became knight of the shire for Galway in 1703, and again in 1710, and was elected for Tulsk, of which borough he was patron in 1715 and 1722. John and Anne had 8 children.

Below is from Ref [30].

2.3 Dominick French [13] [29] [30].

2.4 Mary French [13] [30], m. Gilbert King. Their son, Gilbert King, married Sarah French, daughter of John and Anne Gore French in the next generation. Ref. [30] states that this Mary m. Francis Ormsby in 1716; however, this date is too late (see Mary French, 3.5, in next generation).

2.5 Margaret French [1], m. J. ffolliott, esq. of Co. Sligo [13] [30].

2.6 Sarah French [1] [13] [30].

2.7 Anne French [1] [13] [30].

Third Generation

Children of John and Anne (Gore) French, 2.2

3.1* Arthur French, his father’s heir, b. ca. 1692 in Frenchpark. He made his will on 1 Aug 1758 [30] and d. before 15 Apr 1769, the day his will was proved. He m. Jane Percival ca. 6 Feb 1722 [9]. He was the eldest son of John, who left him a substantial fortune. He was elected Knight of the Shire for Roscommon in 1721. A wrought-iron gate with the initials “A F” and the date “1704” (apparently 1764 with the 6 broken) stood at the entrance. This must refer to Arthur French, who succeeded to Frenchpark at his father’s death in 1775 [3]. Arthur was elected Knight of the Shire for Roscommon in 1721 [8]. Jane d. 1775, the dau. of John Percival of Knightsbrook [13] [26]. Arthur French held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Roscommon in 1721. He lived in Frenchpark, County Roscommon, Ireland [26]. He was elected knight of the shire for Roscommon in 1721, and strongly opposed the attempt of government, in 1729, to get the supplies granted for 21 years. He m. (license dated 6 Feb 1722) Jane Percival, of Knightsbrook, Co. Meath. She d. in 1775.

3.2* John French, of High Lake, Co. Roscommon, b. 1693, succeeded his father, John, was of High Lake in Co. Roscommon, and was called Tiarna Mor or Tierna More (the Great Landowner) [8]. His will was dated 14 Apr 1733 and proved in 1756. John m. Judith King (dau. of John King of Charlestown by Elizabeth Shaw) on 3 Aug 1730 [13]. Judith m2. The Rev. Rees Saunders of Whitechurch in Salop, and had issue: John, Arthur, Jeromy, and Anne Saunders [30].

3.3 Robert French, b. ca. 1690, d. 29 May 1772, age 82, was a Judge of the common pleas, m. Frances Hull [13]. M.P. for Jamestown, succeeded his uncle Gore as Judge of the Common Please in Ireland. He was buried at St. Michan’s, Dublin.

3.4* Rev. William French (youngest son) of Abbey Boyle and Oak Port (Dean of Ardagh) had issue, m. Arabella Frances Marsh (dau of Jeremy Marsh, Dean of Kilmore, (son of Francis, Archbishop of Dublin) by Mary, dau of Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor) [13]. This information is very important in the study of the French family because it ties the Frenchpark family in with the Monivea French family, as follows:

Elizabeth Digby, 4^th child of Simon Digby, m. Rev. Jeremy Marsh, dean of Kilmore, and treasurer of St. Patrick’s, and had one son, Jeremy Marsh, b. 1712, who m. Jane French, dau. of Patrick French, esq. of Monivae, and Jane Digby. They had one daughter, Arabella-Frances Marsh, who m. in 1732 to Rev. William French of Abbey Boyle, in the county of Roscommon [30]. See FFA Chart IREH for the Monivea French family, fifth generation.

Oakport was the home of the Reverend William French, fourth son of John French of French Park, in the early 18th century. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Oakport House, County Roscommon, the property of Thomas William Goff, is recorded as "unoccupied".

Oakport House, a county house, the Oakport Demesne in Boyle is now a protected structure adopted by the Roscommon County Council on 28 Jul 2003 [31].

Aerial Map image of Oakport site today [32].

3.5 Mary French [11], m. Francis Ormsby, M.P. for Galway in 1716 [29]. He was Esq. of Willybrooke in the county of Sligo, and had issue. He was b. ca. 1701, d. 20 May 1751 [13]. Francis was son of the Bishop of Elphin, and cousin of Robert, 1^st Lord Digby. Mary and Francis had with other issue, a son, William Ormsby, esq. M.P. for the county of Sligo, grandfather of the present Mrs. Ormsby Gore of Porkington, in Shropshire, and a daughter, Sarah Ormsby, who m. in 1758 John Morgan, esq. of Monksfield, and was mother of an only child, Sarah Morgan, wife of Michael Burke, esq. of Ballydugan, in the county of Galway [30].

3.6 Olivia French, m. Rev. William Digby of Lackan, County Roscommon (son of Bishop of Elphin) [13] [30]. William was rector of Ahaskers in the diocese of Elphin.

3.7 Catherine French, m. 14 Sep 1728 John Crofton of Lissadern [13].

3.8 Sarah French, m. Gilbert King, son of Gilbert King and Mary French [13]. Mary French was the daughter of Dominick and Anne King French from the previous generation.

Fourth Generation

Children of Arthur and Jane (Percival) French, 3.1

4.1 John French (Shane Dhu), his father’s heir, b. 9 Nov 1723 in Frenchpark, Roscommon, Ireland [9], the next successor, M.P. for Roscommon from 1743 until his death in 1775, in which year he and his brother Robert were drowned while crossing by boat from Dublin to Parkgate, England. He was on his way to London to be called to the House of Peers as Lord Dungar [8]. He m. Alicia Crawford on 29 Mar 1759. She was b. ca. 1727 in Fermanagh, Ireland [9]. She was the dau. of Ralph Crawford of Snowhill [13] [30] in the county of Fermanagh, but had no issue, and was succeeded by his brother Arthur [30]. John French’s funeral and wake were an extravaganza - his body lay in state in the park for three days and nights while the county was feasted around it. Obviously there were several spates of building at Frenchpark, and inasmuch as the linked pavilions and some of the other buildings definitely appear to be the work of Richard Castle, it is reasonable to conclude that his son, Arthur French, with his new inheritance, employed Richard Castle to renovate and add to the old mansion. He was M.P. for Roscommon from 1743 until his death in 1775, in which year he and his brother Robert were drowned while crossing by boat to England. He was on his way to London to be called to the House of Peers as Lord Dungal [8].

4.2 Robert French, b. ca. 1725 [9], d. 1775 with brother John – both drowned while crossing by boat to England [8]. He m. Frances Donelian [9]. He m. Frances Donellan in 1775, the same year he died. He was Army Major, No issue [26].

4.3* George French, b. ca. 1727 of Innfield, County Roscommon, Ireland. d. 1770 in a duel by Sir Edward Crofton, had issue, m. Martha Lennox, dau. of William Lennox of Dublin [13].

George’s youngest daughter, Sarah French, m. Arthur Hyde in 1787, Vicar of Killarney, establishing a Hyde-French connection. Arthur Hyde, an only son of Rev. Arthur Hyde, was b. 5 Mar 1763, d. 10 Sep 1833.

They had a son, Rev. Arthur Hyde, his successor in this Precentorship, and 12 other children. Rev. Arthur Hyde was appointed rector of the parish of Tibohine in 1867, and the family moved closeby to Frenchpark, to live among country squires and landed gentry in a social environment more favorable than that offered by Kilmactranny, County Sligo, where he was rector from 1852 to 1867. He m. Elizabeth Oldfield in 1852.

Their son Douglas Hyde, b. 17 Jan 1860, was Ireland’s first President. Lord de Freyne’s brother, John French, gave his Roscommon estate, Ratra, in 1893 to Dr. Douglas Hyde. Ratra was located 2 miles from the center of the village of Frenchpark, but has been since demolished.

Douglas Hyde was b. at Longford House in Castlerea, a market town in county Roscommon 7 miles west of the village of Frenchpark where he now lies buried. At the age of 78 in 1938, he was unanimously elected first president of modern Ireland. His 7-year term (1938-1945) coincided with that crucial period in modern history when the war that swept Europe and Asia and buffeted the Americas not only threatened Ireland’s very existence, but compounded the social, economic, political, and cultural pressures already at work in the self-proclaimed new nation. In 1893 Douglas Hyde m. Lucy Cometina Kurtz, a German. He d. in Frenchpark on 12 Jul 1949.

4.4 Martha French, m. Very Rev. Dean Walsh [13] [26].

4.5* Arthur French, called Shane Dhu, successor to his brother John, b. 2 Aug 1728 in Frenchpark, was also an M.P., refused to accept the peerage that his brother John promised to his brother Robert (John and Robert died the same day). He did become heir after both of his brothers (John and Robert) died in 1775. Arthur m1. Alicia Maginnis or Magennis 25 June 1763/64, dau. of Richard Magennis of Dublin [13]. She was b. ca. 1732 in Dublin, Ireland [9]. Arthur d. 24 Apr – 24 May 1799 [13]. Arthur gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the Castlereagh Volunteers. He was a Member of Parliament (M.P.) of County Roscommon in 1783. He d. 1785, will was proved 1799, and was succeeded by his eldest son [30].

Children of John and Judith (King) French, 3.2

4.6 Arthur French, John’s heir, b. 2 Aug 1748, d. ca. 24 Apr 1799-24 May 1799.

4.7 Major Robert French, d. 1775, M.P. for Jamestown, succeeded his uncle Gore as Judge of the Common Pleas in Ireland [30].

4.8* John French of High Lake in Co. Roscommon, his will dated 14 Apr 1733 and was proved in 1756 [30]. This is from another document == d. 1775, m. Eleanora Pinkstan, dau. of Col. Fleming Pinkstan [13]. Had issue.

4.9 George French.

4.10 Martha French.

Children of William and Arabella Francis (Marsh) French, 3.4

4.11* Robert French of Dublin, barrister-at-law, who m. Anne Wolfe, dau. of Richard Wolfe, esq. and niece of Theobald Wolfe, esq. of Baronsrath, in Kildare [30].

4.12 Anne French, m. to the Rev. Holt Waring [30].

4.13 Frances French, m. to Brockhill Newborough, esq. of Ballyhays [30].

4.14 Mary French, m. to the Right Rev. William Gore, D. D. Bishop of Limerick [30].

4.15 Eliza French, m. to Joseph Leeson, Earl of Miltown [30].

Fifth Generation

Children of George and Martha (Lennox) French, 4.3

5.1* Arthur French of Innfield, had issue [30].

5.2 William French, captain in the Roscommon Militia [30].

5.3 Robert French [30].

5.4 Jane French [30].

5.5 Alicia French [30].

5.6 Sarah French [30], George’s youngest daughter, m. Arthur Hyde in 1787, Vicar of Killarney, establishing a Hyde-French connection. Arthur Hyde, an only son of Rev. Arthur Hyde, was b. 5 Mar 1763, d. 10 Sep 1833.

Children of Arthur and Alicia (Maginnis) French, 4.5

5.7 Anne French, d. 04 Nov 1852, m. Richard Handcock of Athlone, 2nd Lord Castlemaine, b. 14 May 1767, d. 18 Apr 1840 [13] [26]. They had 8 children, all of whom are named in Ref. [26].

5.8* Arthur French of Frenchpark, his father’s heir, d. 24 Nov 1820, m. 8 Oct 1784 to Margaret Costello, dau. of Edmund Costello and Mary Bermingham, dau. of Lord Athenry [13] [7]. Arthur French held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Roscommon between 1785 and 1820. He was allegedly propositioned into backing the Union of Ireland and Great Britain Parliaments with an earldom, and later offered a barony with no strings attached. He lived in Frenchpark [26]. Margaret was b. ca. 1768 in Frenchpark, dau. of Edmond Costello, esq. of Edmonstown, county of Mayo, and by Mary, his wife, who was the dau. of Francis, 21^st Lord Athenry, and had issue [9] [30]. Arthur was offered an earldom to support the Union, and subsequently a barony without any condition but declined both [30].

5.9 Richard French, d. unmarried 28 Aug 1832 in Paris [13]. He was a commissioner of the board of works in Dublin [30].

5.10* Very Rev. John French, Dean of Elphin, 3rd son, had issue [13], m. Emily Magennis, dau of Richard Magennis of Waringstown, County Down [13].

5.11* Robert Henry French of Dublin, Ireland, d. 28 Nov 1847, had issue, m. in 1798 to Charlotte Reynell who d. 1853, dau of John Reynell of Castle Reynell, Westmeath [13]. The French Brewsters like the Frenches of Tulsk and Castle Bernard, county Offaly, were descended from Robert Henry French of Dublin, an uncle of the 1st Lord de Freyne. In the mid 19th century the representatives of Henry (Sneyd) French held land in the parishes of Kilcooley and Killukin, barony of Roscommon. In the 1870s the French Brewster estate was comprised of 1,415 acres in county Roscommon with smaller acreages in counties Dublin, Carlow and Wicklow. Robert was partner in the house of French, Barton, and Co. [30]

5.12* St. George French, b. 23 Nov 1771, d. 26 Oct 1860 had issue, m. 18 Feb 1802 to Anna Jones, d. Apr 1856, dau of David Jones of Bensforth, Meath, and Sidney Shawe, his wife, dau. of Theophilus Shawe, and had issue [13] [30]. St. George was one of her majesty’s counsel, and assistant barrister of the county of Longford [30].

5.13 Jane French, m1. Daniel Kelly of Cargius or Cargins, m2. (1788) Andrew Henderson, m3. Somerset Butler (b 1771, dsp 1826, brother of Earl of Kilkenny) [13] [30].

5.14 Alicia French, d. 1816, m. (10 Apr 1797) Hamilton Gorges of Kilbrew (d 1838) [13] [30].

5.15 Frances French, youngest daughter of Arthur French, m. William Molloy or Mulloy of Oak Port [13] [30]. William was esq. of Oak Port, in the county of Roscommon, b. 27 Oct 1765, m. 12 Dec 1796 to Frances, and had issue [30].

5.16 William=St. George French, died unmarried [13] [30].

Children of John and Eleanora (Pinkstan) French, 4.8

5.17* Fleming French of Ripple Vale, 2^nd son, m1. Sarah Denton, m2. On Apr 1800 Helen Pakenham who d. 1819, the dau. of Edward Pakenham of Ripple Vale [13].

Children of Robert and Anne (Wolfe) French, 4.11

5.18 William French, in holy orders [30].

5.19 Robert French of Dublin, who m. Anne Malone, dau. of Edmond Malone, esq. of Cartrons in Westmeath, and had dau. Anne [30].

5.20 Richard-Wolfe French [30].

5.21 Alicia French [30].

5.22 Elizabeth French [30].

5.23 Lydia French [30].

Sixth Generation

Children of Arthur French, 5.1

6.1 George French, Capt. R.N., died without issue in 1836 [30].

6.2 Arthur French [30].

6.3 Robert French [30].

6.4 Harriett French, m. the Rev. Mr. Cook of Kilkenny [30].

6.5 Alicia French [30].

6.6 Sarah French [30].

Child of Arthur French, 5.8

6.7 Mary French, she m. Daniel Kelly and had daughter Elizabeth Kelly who d. 26 Jun 1878 [26]. Mary was not the daughter of Margaret Costello.

Children of Arthur and Margaret (Costello) French, 5.8

6.8 Arthur French, 1st Baron de Freyne of Artagh, his father’s heir on 16 May 1839, b. 1786 in Frenchpark, Roscommon, Ireland [7]. He was M. P. and successor to his father Arthur French at Frenchpark, (the third Arthur in a row), and in 1851 he received a second peerage, Baron de Freyne of Coolavin. He d. 29 Sep 1856, was an Anglo-Irish peer and Member of Parliament. He was the eldest son of Arthur French, of French Park. The French family had been major landowners in County Sligo and County Roscommon for many years. He was elected to Parliament for Roscommon in 1821, a seat he held until 1832. In 1839 he was raised to the peerage as Baron de Freyne, of Artagh in the County of Roscommon, with remainder to heirs male. Twelve years later, in 1851, he was made Baron de Freyne, of Coolavin in the County of Sligo, with remainder to his three younger brothers John, Charles and Fitzstephen. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Roscommon from 1855 until his death the following year, when the barony of Artagh became extinct [26]. Lord de Freyne m. Mary DcDermott in 1818, dau. of Christopher McDermott of Cregga. She d. 7 Sep 1843. The marriage was childless. He died in September 1856 when the barony of 1839 became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the barony of 1851 according to the special remainder by his younger brother John French [7]. No heir.

6.9 John French succeeded his brother Arthur in the barony on 29 Sep 1856. He was b. 1788 in Frenchpark, d. 22 Aug 1863, and was the 2^nd Baron de Freyne of Coolavin [7]. He was a parson in Co. Kilkenny, a rector of Grange Sylvae [13], and when he died without heir, a third brother, Charles, became the third Baron De Freyne [8]. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland. He was the Rector at Grane Sylvae, County Kilkenny, Ireland [26]. John French’s Roscommon estate, Ratra, was later to become, in 1893, the home of Dr. Douglas Hyde, first President of Ireland from 1936-1945.

6.10* Charles French, 3rd Baron de Freyne of Coolavin on 22 Aug 1863, b. 22 Oct 1790, d. 28 Oct 1868 at age 78, was the 3^rd Baron de Freyne. He m. a local girl from Fairymount named Catharine Maree, daughter of Mr. Luke Maree [2] [7]. They were married in the Roman Catholic faith on 13 Feb 1851 and in the Church of Ireland faith on 17 May 1854; therefore, their first three sons were regarded as illegitimate and unable to inherit the title [7]. She d. 13 Nov 1900 [13].

The 3rd Baron de Freyne was Charles French, who on 13 February 1851 married Catherine Maree. The ceremony was performed by a Roman Catholic priest, under the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. At that time, under the laws of Ireland, a marriage between a Protestant and a Catholic, conducted by a Catholic priest, has held to be invalid and, as a result, the couple were again married on 17 May 1854 in a ceremony performed under the rites of the Church of Ireland. When the 3rd Baron died in 1868, he left six sons. Of these sons, three had been born in the period between the first and second marriages - Charles, born 21 October 1851, John, born 13 March 1853, and William John, born 21 April 1854. The first son born after the second marriage in 1854 was Arthur, who was born on 9 July 1855. For some years after the death of the 3rd Baron, the question remained as to who was entitled to succeed as 4th Baron de Freyne. Eventually, it was decided that, since the 1851 marriage was considered to be invalid, any children born of that marriage were illegitimate. As a result, Arthur, being the first son born after the 1854 marriage, was the oldest legitimate son of the late Lord, and therefore entitled to succeed as 4th Baron de Freyne. Exactly when this matter was decided I have been unable to ascertain, but it appears to have taken quite a few years after the death of the 3rd Baron. For example, the annual Roll of the House of Lords, which was issued each year, shows blanks against the name of the holder of the de Freyne peerage in both 1875 and 1876, indicating that the matter was still undecided at that time.

Charles French was leasing the house at Caher, barony of Frenchpark, valued at £16, from Lord de Freyne's estate, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. Lewis also records the house as the residence of C. French in 1837. In the same year the Ordnance Survey Field Name books record Caher as a "dwelling house of three stories and slated". In the 1749 Census of Elphin, F. Elwood was recorded as residing at Caher.

6.11 William French, b. ca. 1791 in Frenchpark [9], died unmarried at Cuddalore in India [13] [30].

6.12 Mary French, b. ca. 1793 in Frenchpark, m. Daniel Kelly of Cargins in county Roscommon [9] [13] [30].

6.13 Louisa French, b. ca. 1797 in Frenchpark, m. Rev. William Digby, Archdeacon of Elphin [9] [13] [30].

6.14 Harriet French, b. ca. 1799 in Frenchpark, m. Owen Lloyd of Lisadurm, Co. Roscommon [9] [13] [30].

In the Lloyd family exists a Catherine Lloyd, dau. of the Honorable Richard Lloyd, a most eminent practitioner at the bar of England, speaker of the Upper House of Assembly, in Jamaica, and lord chief justice of that island. He m. Mary Guy of the same island, with whom he received a fortune of 3,000 pounds per annum, an immense sum in those days. By her, the chief justice had 2 sons and 2 daughters. One of his daughters was Catherine Lloyd who m. Jeffery French, esq. of whom are the Frenches of Frenchpark in county Roscommon [30].

6.15* Patrick Fitzstephen French, b. 7 Dec 1801 in Frenchpark [9], of Lough Erritt, d. 4 Jun 1873, had issue [13]. He m. on 24 Nov 1839 to Charlotte Emma Georgina Bennet, dau. of Hon. Henry Grey Bennet by Gertrude Frances Russell [13]. He was M.P. for the county of Roscommon [30].

Errit Lodge (below), valued at £12, was the residence of Fitzstephen French at the time of Griffith's Valuation. It is recorded as Lough Errit by Lewis in 1837 when the Ordnance Survey Field Name books describe it as " a well built house, two stories high and slated with detached offices". In 1814 Errit is recorded as the residence of John Barlow. The Census of Elphin in 1749 also records it as a residence of W. Barlow. A modernised and derelict building now occupies the lakeshore site (see below).

6.16 Elizabeth French, b. ca. 1802 in Frenchpark [9], died unmarried [13] [30].

Children of Very Rev. John and Emily (Magennis) French, 5.10

6.17 John French, barrister-at-law, a lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the high courts [30].

Children of Robert Henry and Charlotte (Reynell) French, 5.11

6.18* Arthur French of Dublin, m. Emily-Elinor-Wilhelmina Leslie, dau. of Charles Albert Leslie, esq. of Ballybay in the county of Monaghan, and had issue, a son and 2 daughters [30].

6.19 Richard French, capt. Of the 52^nd regiment, m. Henrietta Gorges, dau. of Hamilton Gorges, esq. of Kilbrew [30].

6.20 Henry French, lieut. of the 52^nd foot [30].

6.21 William French [30].

6.22 Louisia French, m. Raymond Pelly, esq. lieut.-col in the army [30].

6.23 Elizabeth French, m. George Handcock, esq. son of Richard Handcock, esq. of Athlone [30].

Children of St. George and Anna (Jones) French, 5.12

6.24 Arthur French, barrister-at-law, a lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the high courts [30].

6.25 George-Jones French, m. Frances Bolton, dau. of Theophilus Bolton, esq. and had issue [30].

6.26 Theophilus French [30].

6.27 Anna French, m. Robert Ross, esq. R.M. [30].

6.28 Fanny French [30].

Children of Fleming French and Sarah Denton, 5.17

6.29* John Denton Pinkstan French, b. 1777, d. 16 Jul 1833, m. Charlotte Isaacson who was b. ca. 1774, d. 11 Sep 1848 [13].

Seventh Generation

Children of Charles and Catharine (Maree) French, 6.10

Of Charles’ sons, three had been born in the period between the first and second marriages - Charles, born 21 October 1851, John, born 13 March 1853, and William John, born 21 April 1854. The first son born after the second marriage in 1854 was Arthur, who was born on 9 July 1855.

7.1* Charles French, b. 21 Oct 1851 – not considered an heir because his parent’s marriage was not proven legal. Charles d. in 1925. He was a Member of Parliament for County Roscommon. He m. in 1880 to Constance Chichester, dau. of Lt. Col. Charles Raleigh Chichester of Runamoat, Co. Roscommon [7]. They had 6 children [7]. He d. 27 Oct 1925 at age 74 [26]. He was held with his two immediately younger brothers to be illegitimate; hence incapable of inheriting the title, which accordingly passed on their father’s death to the 4^th son. He was educated at Downside School, Bath, Somerset, England. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Roscommon between 1873 and 1880. He held the office of High Sheriff of County Roscommon in 1887. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for County Roscommon. He and Constance had 6 children [26].

7.2* John French, b. 13 Mar 1853 – not considered an heir because his parent’s marriage was not proven legal. John d. in 1916, m. Nannie Dillon on 26 Jul 1877. She d. 1947, the dau. of Valentine B. Dillon [7]. They had 6 children [7]. He d. 23 May 1916 age 63 [26]. John French was educated at Downside School, Bath, Somerset, England. He held the office of Resident Magistrate for county Kerry between 1892 and 1898. He held the office of Resident Magistrate for County Limerick in 1898. He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for County Roscommon. He lived at Miramar, Cobb, County Cork, Ireland. He also had 3 younger sons and an elder daughter, all of whom died unmarried [26].

7.3* William John French, b. 21 Apr 1854 – not considered an heir because his parent’s marriage was not proven legal. William d. 1928, lived in New Mexico from 1883-1899. William was one of three sons out of wedlock (kinsman) of Charles, 3^rd Baron de Freyne.

William immigrated to America in 1883 from Ireland and was naturalized in 1898 according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM (shown below). He m. Mary Josephine Beirsei or Beirne in 1901. She was b. in NY in 1883 and both her parents were born in Ireland. She was 29 years younger than William. They had 8 children. She d. 1 Mar 1924, age 41, in Los Angeles, CA.

He wrote a book “Some Recollections of a Western Ranchman”, New Mexico, 1883-1899, published by Methuen & Co., London, Ltd., 1927 [1]. Publisher Information: New York: Argosy-Antiquarian Ltd., 1965. Two volumes, 6 x 9, 527 total pgs, b&w historical photos. Originally published in 1927 and a second volume which supplements and compliments the first. The book is about the West, containing information previously unknown about many of the western outlaws, such as the Wild Bunch (home of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), Joel Fowler, and Black Jack Ketchum. Most of these outlaws worked for the author on his ranch. Since he was a participant, he gives a good account of the fight at Frisco, New Mexico, between the cowboys and Elfego Baca. Limited edition of 750 copies. William French was an Englishman who owned the WS ranch in western New Mexico. He immigrated in 1883 on a year’s leave from the army and stayed in New Mexico until 1899. Capt. French’s ranch was not far from Alma, a town on the San Francisco River, in southern New Mexico near the Arizona line [1]. Alma is an unincorporated community in Catron Co., NM.

The Honorable William French of French Park, Ireland, was one of a number of “younger son” Britishers who became ranch owners in New Mexico in the 1880’s (from “New Mexico – A Guide to a Colorful State” by Joseph Miller.

In western New Mexico, hemmed in on the east by the Mogollon Mountains and on the west by the San Francisco Mountains, is a small valley in which lies the small town of Alma. Alma had originally been settled as an agricultural community and for a while was the home of Billy the Kid. There, Billy's step-father operated a blacksmith shop. At its peak the town boasted some 35 buildings including two saloons and two stores. Pinkerton agent Charles Siringo was less complimentary, describing the town as "a store, a saloon, and a pair of dry-rotting hitching posts." Today, the town no longer has the two stores and saloons, but consists of little more than a road-side cafe. A short distance to the north lies the headquarters of the W S Ranch, named after its two founders Montague Stevens and Harold Wilson, managed by Englishman, William French.

The area early had a reputation for being a bit rough and as a refuge for outlaws. As an example, 32 miles north of Alma was the small town of Frisco, now known as Reserve. To the town cowboys would retire for rest and relaxation. In October 1884, some of the cowboys were having a little fun as the expense of some of the locals of Mexican descent. With 150 cowboys having fun, the local deputy, Pedro Sarracino, rode the 129 miles to the county seat of Socorro to obtain the assistance of a "self appointed" deputy, 19-year old Elfego Baca. One of the cowboys, Charles McCarthy, was enjoying himself by shooting into one of the local saloons. Baca arrested McCarthy and secured him in a log house belonging to Geronimo Armijo. The house was half dugout and half log with a sod roof. The cowboys, of course, did not like the fun being interrupted and beseiged Baca in Armijo's cabin. Things then took an ugly turn. In attempted to disburse the mob, Baca shot into the crowd, killing a horse. The horse's rider was pinned beneath the horse and crushed. Over the next 36 hours Baca was under siege from about 80 cowboys. The cowboys tried to burn the cabin, but the sod roof could not be set afire. After four cowboys were killed and eight wounded, a truce was called with the agreement that Baca would be escorted to Socorro and stand trial. Baca later explained the nature of the escort,"You know I surrendered only on condition that I keep my guns. They placed six guards over me, but they rode 25 steps ahead of me all the way to Socorro." Baca was acquited, the jury believed his actions to be self defense when the door of the cabin with some 400 bullet holes was introduced into evidence. Of course it was all in good fun. WS Manager French excused the actions of the cowboys on the basis that the cowboys, having come from Texas, had a remembrance of the Alamo and "other historical events [which] were closely connected with the despised Greaser. Under the influence of patriotism and whiskey they proceeded to give vent to their feelings." William French, Some Recollections of a Western Ranchman: New Mexico. 1883-1899.

Periodically, members of the Wild Bunch would sign on with the W S. Reportedly, rustling declined when the members took employment. They proved to be good cowboys. The manager, William French, after whom the ghost town of French, New Mexico, is named, later recalled in his 1927 Recollections of a Western Ranchman that on a 200 mile cattle drive led by Butch to the railhead town of Magdalena, "They never dropped a hoof." The trail passed over three mountain ranges and the 75 mile-long "Plains of San Augustin" dry lake bed. The trail remained in use until the early 1970's when the spur line into Magdalena was abandoned.

Karen Holliday Tanner wrote about New Mexico Prisoner #1348.

The WS Ranch and Cemetery is still in operation, this sprawling ranch was run in the 1890’s by the entertaining author, Captain William French. Using aliases, Butch Cassidy and his men once worked as hands at the WS (Private Land). In 1885, troops were massacred at Soldiers Hill (#12) and were buried in a hillside cemetery here, still visible.

7.4* Arthur French, 4th Baron de Freyne on 28 Oct 1868 (third Arthur in a row) born 9 Jul 1855 [2] in Loughglynn, Ireland, d. 23 Sep 1913, age 58 in Frenchpark, Ireland. Lord Arthur de Freyne (Arthur French) was the eldest son of Charles, 3rd Lord, by Catharine Maree. Lord Arthur m1. 1877 Lady Laura Octavia Dundas, sister of Laurence, 1st Marquis of Zetland. She d. 1881, only 4 years after their marriage. Lord Arthur m2. 1882 Marie Georgiana Lamb, only dau. of Richard Westbrook Lamb, Esq., of West Denton, Northumberland. Heir [2] [10]. A plaque in her honor is displayed on the wall of the Catholic Church in the center of Frenchpark, showing she d. 20 Feb 1923. A plaque erected by Arthur’s children is also displayed at the church.

The 4th Baron enjoyed the doubtful privilege of reading his own obituary in 'The Times' on 11 September 1913. On 23 September 1913, 'The Times' included a further death notice, which stated that "Lord de Freyne, whose death was wrongly announced last Thursday week, died yesterday morning at his residence, Frenchpark, County Roscommon, in his 59th year."

7.5 Hon. Mary Josephine French, d. 20 Feb 1919 [26]. She m. Valentine Joseph Blake, son of Valentine O’Connor Blake and Hon. Margaret Mary ffrench, on 1 Sep 1880. They had 9 children [26].

7.6 Lt. Col. Hon. Richard Patrick French, b. 30 Apr 1857, d. 19 Jun 1921 [26].

7.7* Lt. Col. Hon. Robert French, b. 22 Oct 1858, d. 27 Sep 1920 [26], m. Mary Cassandra Mair, dau. of Hugh Mair, in 1885, and had issue.

Children of Patrick Fitzstephen and Charlotte Emma Georgina (Bennet) French, 6.15

7.8 Arthur Foulke Augustus French, b. 27 Aug 1840, d. young.

7.9 Louisa Emma Corissande French, m. 18 Jun 1868 to Capt. George Henry Bridges, A. D. C.

7.10 Augusta Sarah French.

Children of Arthur and Emily (Leslie) French, 6.18

7.11 Robert-Charles French [30].

7.12 Helena-Charlotte French [30].

7.13 Albertine-Caroline French [30].

Children of John Denton Pinkstan French and Charlotte Isaacson, 6.29

7.11* John Tracy William French of Ripple Vale in Kent, England, b. 1808, d. 10 Feb 1855, Commander RN, m. 10 May 1842 to Margaret Eccles, dau. of William Eccles of Glasgow [13]. Their son, a Field Marshal, became 1^st Earl of Ypres [13]. John Tracy William French was Commander, an officer in the Royal Navy. He died only 3 years after his son was born. Soon after his wife was confined to a mental home. In 1863 the family moved to London.

Eighth Generation

Children of Charles and Constance (Chichester) French, 7.1

Of these 6 children, only 1 child married.

8.1 Hilda Mary French, b. 29 Feb 1884, d. 8 Jun 1970 age 86, unmarried [7] [26].

8.2 Amy Mary French, b. 6 Jun 1885, d. 1955, m. Percy John Vincent MacDermot, son of Rt. Hon. Hugh Hyacinth O’Rorke MacDermot, on 2 Nov 1927 and had issue [7] [26].

8.3 Eva Mary French, b. 13 Jan 1887, d. 2 Jan 1962 age 74, unmarried [7] [26].

8.4 Muriel Mary French, b. 7 Apr 1888, d. 8 Oct 1973 age 85, unmarried [7] [26].

8.5 Charles Henry French, b. 7 Nov 1891, d. 1 May 1961 age 69 unmarried [7] [26]. Charles was educated at Downside School, Bath, Somerset, England. He fought in the First World War. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the 13^th battalion, Royal Warwicks Regiment [26].

8.6 Barbara French, b. 12 Sep 1892, d. 17 Sep 1963 age 71 unmarried [7] [26].

Children of John and Nannie (Dillon) French, 7.2

8.7 Major Charles John French, b. 13 Oct 1878, d. 2 Jul 1916 age 37, killed in action, m. Enid Hudson, dau. of George Hudson, in Oct 1914 [7]. Major Charles John French fought in the Boer War. He gained the rank of officer in the service of the Lord Longford’s Yeomanry. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the 5^th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He fought in the First World War [26].

8.8 Laura French, b. 19 Jan 1881, d. 10 Mar 1919 age 38 [26]. She m. Charles O’Hara, son of Thomas O’Hara on 7 Apr 1907 [26].

8.9* Captain John Cyril French, b. 2 Aug 1883, d. 30 Mar 1955 age 71, m1. 17 Sep 1915 and divorced in 1926 Cecilia Goldinger, dau. of Isaac Goldinger. They had 2 children. He m2. Winifred Eastwood, dau. of Thomas Eastwood of Yorkshire in Sep 1926 [7] [26]. They had 3 children and divorced. He m3. Christine Botha and had 3 children. John Cyril French fought in the First World War. He gained the rank of Captain in the service of the south African Scottish Regiment [26].

8.10 Mabel Elizabeth French, b. 6 Jul 1885, d. 23 May 1957 [26].

8.11 2^nd. Lieutenant Valentine Douglas French, b. 1888, d. 16 Jun 1916 killed in action [7].

8.12 Lucinda Mary Stanley French, b. 1888, perhaps the twin of her brother above [26].

Children of William and Mary Josephine (Beirne or Beirsei) French, 7.3

8.13 Charles W. French, b. 1901 in Colorado according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM. He is also listed in the 1910 census in the same city.

8.14 Wockie (Neary) Josephine French, b. 23 Apr 1902 in Colorado, d. 7 Nov 1979 in Santa Cruz, CA, but lived part of her life in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles Co., CA according to the Social Security Death Index. She m1. and had daughter Eleanor, m2. and had daughter Mary [1]. Her last social security benefits were sent to Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., CA. In the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM, Neary J. French is listed as 17 years old, born in Colorado, the dau. of William French (age 66) born in Ireland, and Bessie (age 37) born in New York.

8.15 Mary French, b. 1903 in Colorado according to the 1910 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM. She was no longer living in the 1920 census.

8.16 Frances Gwendlen (or Gwendolyn) French, b. 7 Jun 1906 in Cimarron, Colfax, NM, according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM. She d. 19 Nov 1987 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., CA, and is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery. She m. Theodore Joseph Niemeyer in Jul 1932 in Los Angeles. He ws b. in 1906 and d. in 1956.

8.17 Arthur V. French, b. 1907 in NM according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM.

8.18 Richard J. French, b. 1909 (twin) in NM according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM.

8.19 Robert (Bob) D. French, b. 1909 (twin) in NM according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM, lived in CA [1].

8.20 Laura Elizabeth French, b. 10 Jun 1911 in Cimarron, Colfax, NM, according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM. She d. 14 Aug 1986, age 75, in Los Angeles, CA.

8.21 Evlyn A. French, b. 1915 in NM according to the 1920 census of Cimarron, Colfax, NM.

Children of Arthur and Lady Laura Octavia (Dundas) French, 7.4

8.22 Gwendolen Mary French, b. 18 May 1878, d. 17 May 1893 (age 15) [8].

8.23 Arthur Reginald French, 5th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin on 22 Sep 1913, b. 3 Jul 1879 [2]. He was killed in France during World War I on 9 May 1915 (age 35), the same day as his stepbrother, George Philip, was killed in action [8]. He was part of the 1^st South Wales Borderes Regiment. He m. Annabelle Angus, daughter of William Angus, on 18 Nov 1902. He gained the title of 5^th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin, Co. Sligo. A plaque honoring Arthur at his death is displayed at the Catholic Church in the center of Frenchpark. He died of wounds in Flanders 9 Mar 1915 as Captain of the 3^rd Batt. South Wales Borderes attached 1^st.

In early 1905, Arthur Reginald French, the eldest son of the 4th Baron de Freyne, disappeared in New York while on his way to visit his uncle in New Mexico.

The following [abridged] report is from the 'New York Times' of 18 February 1905:

Arthur Reginald French, eldest son and heir of the Baron de Freyne, has strangely disappeared in this city, and since yesterday the combined efforts of the British Consulate, the city detective force, and a private bureau have been directed toward finding him, so far without the slightest success.

French came to this country on the Umbria of the Cunard Line on Jan. 16 last. Upon his arrival here he went at once to the Hotel St. Denis, at Broadway and Eleventh Street, where he registered and a suite on the fourth floor was assigned to him. Three days later he went out and never returned. His luggage is still at the hotel.

The young man was on his way to join his uncle, Captain French, who has a ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, and he had in his possession a draft for $1,000, which he cashed shortly before his disappearance through a man named Clark. The police have been unable to find this man, but the draft has been returned to the foreign bank on which it was drawn, and was in every way straight and regular. As French had the $1,000 and expressed a desire "to do the Bowery" when he disappeared, the police think there are grounds for the suspicion that he was foully dealt with.

Co-incidentally, his disappearance was solved on the same day as the above report was published. His photograph was recognised by a sergeant at the Army recruiting office, who informed the authorities that the man in the photograph had recently enlisted as Private French in Company A, Eighth United States Infantry. French later explained that he had enlisted in the US Army because he did not have the means to support himself in the British Army, where he had previously been a lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers.

French appears to have served out his three-year enlistment period and eventually returned to England, where he succeeded his father as 5th Baron in 1913. When war broke out in 1914, he joined the South Wales Borderers as a captain in the 1st battalion, and was killed at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on the Western Front on 9 May 1915. On the same day, his half-brother, George Philip French, who was a lieutenant in the 3rd battalion of the same regiment, was also killed in the same battle, and the two brothers were buried in the same grave.

Children of Arthur and Marie Georgina (Lamb) French, 7.4

8.24* Francis Charles French, 6th Baron de Freyne on 9 May 1915, step brother to Arthur Reginald French, who devolved the title of Baron de Freyne after Arthur’s death. Francis was b. 15 Jan 1884, d. 24 Dec 1935. He m. Lina Victoria Arnott, dau. Of Major Sir John Alexander Arnott, 2^nd Bt. And Caroline Sydney Williams, on 28 Feb 1916. He d. 24 Dec 1935 at age 51 [10]. Francis Charles French, 6th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of County Roscommon.4 He held the office of High Sheriff of County Roscommon in 1912.4 He succeeded to the title of 6th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin, co. Sligo [U.K., 1851] on 9 May 1915.

8.25 The Honorable William Joseph French, b. 5 Aug 1885, d. 4 Sep 1974 [10]. He was a lieutenant of the 6^th Battalion, Worcestershire regt.

8.26 2^nd Lt. Honorable Edward Fulke French, R.E.A., b. 13 Jul 1886 in Frenchpark, d. 13 Nov 1919 [10], a prisoner of War at Mainz, Germany. He served as Corporal Engineers Royal Naval Division throughout the Dardanelles Campaign. A plaque displaying his death appears on the wall of the Catholic Church in the center of Frenchpark.

8.27 Honorable Lily Marie French, Lady de Freyne, b. 4 Aug 1887, d. 4 Jun 1967 [10].

8.28 The Honorable Louis Richard French, b. 6 Sep 1888, d. 5 Feb 1952 [10].

8.29 Lt. Honorable George Philip French, b. 7 Jan 1890 [2], stepbrother to Arthur Reginald, d. during World War I on 9 Mar 1915 [8]. A plaque honors him at his death at the Catholic Church in the center of Frenchpark. He died in action of wounds in Flanders along with his step-brother, Arthur Reginald French, on 9 Mar 1915. He was a Lieutenant 3^rd Batt. South Wales Borderes, attached 1^st.

8.30 Honorable Muriel May French, b. 1 May 1891, d. 1980 [10].

8.31 Honorable Eileen Agnes French, b. 23 Dec 1892 [10].

8.32 Lt. Honorable Ernest Aloysius French, b. 4 Jul 1894 [2], d. 16 Aug 1917 [10]. A plaque honors him at his death at the Catholic Church in the center of Frenchpark. He died of wounds in Flanders. He was a Lieutenant 3^rd Batt. S. Wales Borderes, attached 2^nd. No heirs.

8.33* Honorable Hubert John French, b. 11 Mar 1896, d. 7 Dec 1961 age 65 [10]. He m. Mary Frances Hasslacher, dau. of Charles Hasslacher on 19 Jan 1937 [26]. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, with a Diploma of Agriculture [26]. They had 4 children.

8.34* Honorable Bertram Leo French, b. 15 Feb 1900, d. 11 May 1941 age 41[10]. He m. Maud Mary Dease, dau. of Edmund Fitzlaurence Dease and Katherine Murray on 18 Jan 1927. Hon. Bertram Leo French gained the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant in the service of the Coldstream Guards (Special Reserves). He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) [26]. They had 3 children.

Children of Robert and Mary Cassandra Mair (French), 7.7

8.35 See 3.6.1 in http://dcodriscoll.pbworks.com/French_(I) --- need to add bio.

http://www.william1.co.uk/

Children of John Tracy William French and Margaret (Eccles) French, 7.11

8.36 Charlotte French, b. in 1844 in Ripple, Kent, England, d. 1939, m. French businessman Maximilian Carden Despard in 1870, and had no children. He was very wealthy and was one of the founders of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. Charlotte was the suffragette and Sinn Féin member, Ireland’s oldest political movement who were Irish Republicans and worked for lasting peace and justice in Ireland with sustainable social and economic development. She remained highly critical of her brother throughout his career.

By the age of ten her father had died and her mother was committed to an insane asylum and she was sent to London to live with relatives. She expressed regret of her lack of education, although she attended a finishing school in London.

Charlotte Despard Pub, London, England

See the Charlotte Despard Pub website on Archway Road in London, England. A street in the Battersea district of London where she formerly lived and worked is now named Charlotte Despard Avenue in her honour. See another biography.

Women’s Sufferage and Charlotte’s Political Career

Charlotte was shocked by the poverty she saw in London and as a result developed radical political opinions. In 1870 she fell in love and married Max Despard, a Frenchman who shared her political beliefs.

In 1874 Charlotte's first novel, Chaste as Ice, Pure as Snow was published. During the next sixteen years Charlotte wrote ten novels. Most of these novels were romantic love stories but A Voice from the Dim Millions dealt with the problems of a poor young factory worker. Charlotte was unable to find a publisher for this novel.

When her husband died in 1890, Charlotte decided to dedicate the rest of her life to helping the poor. She left her luxurious house in Esher and moved to Wandsworth to live with the people she intended to assist. Charlotte joined the Social Democratic Federation and later the Independent Labour Party.

In 1894 Despard was elected as a Poor Law Guardian in Lambeth. Charlotte became friends with George Lansbury and for the next few years became involved in the campaign to reform the Poor Law system. Despard also got to know Margaret Bondfield, the trade union leader and Keir Hardie, the new leader of the Labour Party.

Despard became a member of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). However, in 1906, frustrated by the NUWSS lack of success, Despard joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Despard was arrested and imprisoned for her WSPU activities.

Despard was very critical of the dictatorial way that Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst led the WSPU. In October 1907, Despard, Teresa Billington Greig, Edith How Martyn and seventy other women attempted to make the WSPU a more democratic organisation.

When their efforts failed, the three women left the WSPU and formed the Women's Freedom League (WFL). This new organisation still took a militant approach but unlike the WSPU the Freedom League concentrated on using non-violent illegal methods.

Despard spent a great deal of time in Ireland and in 1908 she joined with Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and Margaret Cousins to form the Irish Women's Franchise League.

In 1909 Despard met Gandhi and was influenced by his theory of 'passive resistance'. As the leading figure of the WFL. Despard urged members not to pay taxes and to boycott the 1911 Census. Despard financially supported the locked-out workers during the labour dispute in Dublin in 1913. She also helped establish the Irish Workers' College in the city.

Despard, like most members of the Women's Freedom League, was a pacifist, and so when war was declared in 1914 she refused to become involved in the British Army's recruitment campaign. Ironically, her brother, General John French, was Chief of Staff of the British Army and commander of the British Expeditionary Force sent to Europe in August 1914. Her sister, Catherine Harley, was also a supporter of the war and served in the Scottish Women's Hospital in France. Despard and the Women's Freedom League disagreed with the decision of the NUWSS and WSPU to call off the women's suffrage campaign while the war was on. Despard argued that the British government was not doing enough to bring an end to the war and between 1914-1918 supported the campaign of the Women's Peace Council for a negotiated peace.

After the passing of the Qualification of Women Act in 1918, Charlotte Despard became the Labour Party candidate in Battersea in the post-war election. However, in the euphoria of Britain's victory, Despard's anti-war views were very unpopular and like all the other pacifist candidates, who stood in the election, she was defeated.

In 1920 Despard toured Ireland as a member of the Labour Party Commission of Inquiry. Together with Maud Gonne, she collected first-hand evidence of army and police atrocities in Cork and Kerry. The two women also formed the Women's Prisoners' Defence League to support republican prisoners.

Charlotte continued to be involved in politics after the war. In the 1920s Despard became involved in the Sinn Fein campaign for a united Ireland.

In 1930 Despard and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington made a tour of the Soviet Union. Impressed with what she saw she joined the Communist Party and became secretary of the Friends of Soviet Russia organization. Charlotte Despard died in Ireland in 1939.

8.37 daughter 2 French

8.38 daughter 3 French

8.39 daughter 4 French

8.40* John Denton Pinkstone French, Field Marshal, b. 28 Sep 1852 in Ripple, Kent, England, d. 22 May 1925 and is buried in Ripple, Kent. He became 1^st Earl of Ypres [13]. His father died when he was only 3 years old. His mother was confined to a mental home. In 1863 the family moved to London. He served in the British Army 1874-1921 and was a Field Marshal in 1913. He joined the Navy in 1866. After attending the Eastman’s Naval Academy in Portsmouth he transferred, however, to the British Army as a lieutenant in the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars in 1874. French took part in the Sudan expedition 1884-1885 and then received quick promotion. He commanded the 19th Hussars in 1889-1893 and then was made Assistant Adjutant-General 1893-1897. In 1897, he received command of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade which he exchanged two years later for the 1st Cavalry Brigade with which he took part in the Second Boer War 1899-1902, notably commanding the troops that relieved the Siege of Kimberley. He featured prominently too in the subsequent Battle of Paardeberg.

After the war, he was Commander-in-Chief for Aldershot Command 1901-1907[2] after which tenure he was promoted to full general and made Inspector-General of the Army (1907-1912). In 1911 he was made an ADC General to H.M. the King.

From March 1912 to April 1914, he served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff but resigned following the Curragh Mutiny and was made again Inspector-General of the Army in which post he served at the outbreak of the war.

World War I. French was the natural choice as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in August 1914.

A man of hot temper, he argued with the Cabinet against Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener and General Sir Douglas Haig that the BEF should be deployed in Belgium, rather than Amiens, where both Haig and Kitchener believed it would be well placed to deliver a vigorous counter attack once the route of German advance was known. Kitchener argued that the placement of the BEF at Mons would result in having to abandon its position and much of its supplies almost immediately as the Belgian Army would be unable to hold its ground versus the Germans; given the solid belief in fortresses at the time, it is not surprising that French and the British cabinet disagreed with Kitchener on this issue.

General French in Paris. After the BEF's first battles at Mons and Le Cateau, where, as Kitchener predicted, it had to retreat from its position to avoid the danger of being flanked when the Belgian position failed, French was increasingly indecisive and more concerned with preserving his troops, even suggesting removing them to the Channel Ports, than aiding the French. He began a tentative withdrawal which threatened to break the line between French and Belgian armies and needed an unwanted emergency meeting with Kitchener on 2 September 1914 to re-organise his thinking and direct the counter-offensive at the First Battle of the Marne. French was particularly upset by the fact that Kitchener arrived wearing his field marshal's uniform; he felt Kitchener was implying that he was French's superior and not simply a cabinet member, a fact he mentioned in a letter to Sir Winston Churchill. No one knows exactly what was said during the meeting, as neither man kept any record, but French became increasingly antagonistic towards Kitchener in the following months.

During the First Battle of Mons, French issued a series of hasty orders to abandon positions and equipment which were ignored by his sub-ordinate in charge of the II Corps of the BEF, General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. Smith-Dorrien instead mounted a vigorous defensive action, relieving the pressure and allowing the troops to re-organise, gather up their supplies and make a comfortable fighting withdrawal. Smith-Dorrien also ignored other orders from French which he considered to be unrealistic. Smith-Dorrien was removed from command after advocating a tactical withdrawal away from German lines at Ypres, following the first use of poison gas by German troops. Several days after this, French accepted the advice of General Plumer to perform a withdrawal almost identical to the one Smith-Dorrien had recommended.

French remained in command as major trenching began and oversaw the fighting at Neuve Chapelle and Ypres that finally destroyed the last of the original BEF. In 1915, he declined to co-operate with the French and after the failures at Aubers Ridge and, at Loos, the British offensive operations were almost halted. In December 1915, he was replaced by General Sir Douglas Haig.

French returned to England to be appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Home Forces in December 1915 and oversaw the suppression of the Irish uprising in 1916. In January 1916, he was created Viscount French, of Ypres and of High Lake in the County of Roscommon.

In May 1918, he was appointed British Viceroy, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Supreme Commander of the British Army in Ireland.

Ashtown Ambush. On 19 December 1919, an Irish Republican Army unit which consisted of 11 volunteers, including Seán Treacy, Seamus Robinson, Seán Hogan, Paddy Daly (Leader), Joe Leonard, Martin Savage and Dan Breen, planned to assassinate Lord French, head of the Dublin Castle administration in Ireland. An ambush was organised as he returned from a private party which he had hosted the previous evening at his country residence in Frenchpark, County Roscommon.[3]

The volunteers' intelligence operative had informed the unit that Lord French would be travelling in the second car of the armed convoy that comprised an outrider and three following cars which would bring Lord French from Ashtown railway station to the Vice-Regal Lodge in Phoenix Park, Dublin.[4]

Events of the Day. The IRA unit gathered at Fleming's Pub in Drumcondra and left in small groups to avoid raising suspicion as they cycled through Phibsboro and up the Cabra Road. They regrouped at Kelly's Public House (now called the Halfway House) in Ashtown. At approximately 11:40 a.m., as the train carrying Lord French pulled into the station, the unit left the pub and took up positions along the crossroads at Ashtown.

The plan was for Martin Savage, Tom Kehoe and Dan Breen to push a hay-cart halfway across the road and then, after the out-rider and the first car had passed, they would push it the rest of the way across the road, thereby completely blocking the path of the remaining vehicles. They had been informed that Lord French was to be in the second car and this car would be attacked with grenades (known as Mills Bombs at the time) and concentrated rifle fire.

As they pushed the hay-cart across the road their plan was almost foiled as a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officer disturbed them, telling them to move on. One of IRA men lobbed a grenade at him, although it didn't explode it struck the police officer on the head, knocking him unconscious. The police officer was then dragged from the road and the attack went ahead as planned.[5]

Lord French's Car and the Gun Battle. When the convoy appeared minutes later, the IRA unit attacked the second car forcing it to swerve off the road. However, unknown to the unit, Lord French was travelling in the first car and managed to drive through the blockade. The occupants of the second car, part of Lord French's guard, returned fire. As the gun battle developed the third car arrived on the other side of the cart and began firing with rifles and machine-guns on the now exposed volunteers.

In the crossfire Dan Breen was shot in the leg and seconds later Savage fell mortally wounded after being hit by a bullet in the neck. He died in the arms of Dan Breen and his last words to Breen were "I'm done, but carry on....". Tom Kehoe and the wounded Dan Breen carried Savage's body from the road and back to Kelly’s Pub while the gunfight continued.[6]

Two Dublin Metropolitan Police officers were also wounded in the gun battle. At this point the British military, including some wounded, began to withdraw from the scene and continued on towards Phoenix Park. Realising reinforcements would be on their way, the IRA unit then dispersed to safe houses in the Dublin area. Dan Breen was helped onto his bike by Paddy Daly who helped him to a safehouse in the Phibsboro' area, where he was attended to by the captain of the Dublin hurling team, Dr J.M. Ryan.

He kept the post until his retirement in April 1921 and in May 1922 he was elevated to the Earldom of Ypres. French died on 22 May 1925 aged 72.

Another Account of Lord John French’s life:

He is descended from the Norman-French family of De Freigne or De Fraxinis, who settled in Ireland. One of his ancestors, Patrick French, was a burgess of the town of Galway in the 16^th century, and Patrick’s grandson was popularly known as “Tierna More”, which in Gaelic means “the great landlord”. This was John French of French Park, who commanded a troop in the Inniskilling Dragoons at the battle of Aughrim. Our marshal's great-grandfather purchased the estate of Ripplevale, in Kent, and his grandfather became a resident English landlord. Through his mother he can claim a connection with Scotland. Her name was Margaret Eccles, and she was the daughter of a West Indian merchant in Glasgow. The father of Lord French was a captain in the navy. After his death a Scottish uncle, Mr. William Smith, became the guardian of the family, which consisted of one son—the future great soldier—and five daughters, one of whom is Mrs. Charlotte Despard, of the "Women's Freedom League".

Lord French was born in Kenton 28th September 1852. When he was quite a little boy no one imagined he would become a stern and dashing soldier. He was somewhat shy and nervous, and it seemed for a time as if he would elect to be a clergyman, because he so often dressed up as one at home and preached long sermons to his sisters. Nowadays he is known as "Silent French". But one trait of his youthful character he still retains, and that is consideration for others. Soldiers admire him because he is not one of those iron-hearted officers who seem to care little how they waste human lives, and because he always concerns himself greatly regarding their comfort. A pretty story is told about him by one of the old house-servants who knew him as a child. "One morning in the depth of winter," she has said, "when I went downstairs' I found Master Johnnie kneeling on the dining-room hearth trying his best to light the fire. He said in a tone of disappointment: 'I meant to have a good fire for you, but the wretched coal won't burn'."

His father and mother died when he was quite young, and "Master Johnnie "came under the care of his guardian. As he grew up he became fond of reading about wars. His favourite hero was Napoleon Bonaparte. But he did not neglect his lessons. He was always very studious, and early showed a desire to master a subject to which he applied himself.

Following his father's example, he first chose the navy as a career, and went to Eastman's Naval Academy at Portsmouth to study for the examinations. In time he became a midshipman on H.M.S. Warrior. The ironclads of these days were in the transition stage: they were fitted with engines and propellers, but also carried sails like Nelson's ships. A new type of vessel, which was named the Captain, was introduced when French was a middy. Its sides rose only 9 feet out of the water, and it had a raised "hurricane deck", with two revolving turrets carrying six guns. The crew consisted of about 600 men.

Great things were expected of the Captain. It was capable of powerful gun-fire, and afforded a small target to an enemy. But it proved to be thoroughly unseaworthy. Having been attached to the same squadron as the Warrior, on which French was serving, it entered the Bay of Biscay in rough weather. An anxious night went past, and when day dawned the Captain was nowhere to be seen. It had "turned turtle" and gone down with the entire crew. This disaster, which happened on 7th September 1870, greatly impressed Midshipman French among others.

After four years' life in the navy the young officer left the sea and joined the 8th Hussars, in which he received a commission as a lieutenant. A month later, on 11th March 1874, he was transferred to the 19th Hussars. His fellow-officers were not greatly impressed by him. "Why," exclaimed one of them, "he looks like a soda-water bottle." For a long time they nicknamed him "Soda-water bottle French ".

But the shy lad of low stature soon showed his worth. He was a most painstaking and studious soldier. He was quick to learn, and never forgot what he learned. Besides, he always did his duty promptly and thoroughly. His promotion was rapid, and he deserved it, for he worked hard.

He first saw active service in Egypt in 1884-5, when he took part in the operations against the Mahdi. He was then a major, and served under General Sir Herbert Stewart, who was pressing southward towards Khartoum to rescue Gordon with a force of less than 2500 men. At Abu Klea, Stewart was attacked by an army of 11,000 Dervishes, and a fierce battle was fought. The little British army formed a square, and although it was penetrated by the enemy, the savage desert warriors were driven back with great slaughter. It was in this action that Colonel Burnaby, a famous British cavalry officer who was fighting as a volunteer, met his death from an Arab spear.

The British pressed on, and next day fought another action, in which Sir Herbert Stewart was slain. About three weeks later Sir Redvers Buller arrived with reinforcements, and enabled the column Stewart had commanded to retire after a message had been received from Gordon saying he was not able to hold out much longer. Buller made special mention of French in his dispatches, adding that the force owed much to him. Shortly afterwards French was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, having proved himself an able and distinguished leader of cavalry. He commanded the 19th Hussars for six years, and then went to India as Assistant-Adjutant-General of Cavalry on the staff. Two years later he was transferred to the War Office, and carried out important reforms. He created a revolution in the training and tactics of cavalry.

When the Boer War broke out French was made a full major-general and given the command of the Cavalry Brigade in the Natal field force. He proved himself to be a superb and dashing leader. His first success was at Elandslaagte, where the Boers had cut the railway line and taken up a strong position. He commanded a mixed force, and after a stiff struggle drove back his opponents and captured their artillery and camp.

The main force of the Boer army afterwards pressed forward and began to surround Ladysmith. General Sir George White resolved to defend the town, and gave French important dispatches to carry to Sir Redvers Buller, then the Commander-in-Chief. He travelled by the last train which left the town. It was attacked by the Boers, but French escaped the showers of bullets that swept through the carriages by lying under a seat of a compartment, where he made himself as comfortable as possible and calmly smoked a cigar.

He afterwards fought several actions which retarded the advance of the Boers, and showed remarkable skill in adapting himself to the new conditions of warfare.

Early in 1900, after the arrival in South Africa of Lords Roberts and Kitchener, Lord French was placed in command of a mounted force between 4000 and 5000 strong, including seven batteries of horse artillery. His orders were to relieve the town of Kimberley, which had been surrounded and besieged by the Boers since October of the previous year. On 12th February he set out from Ramdan. "I promise faithfully", he said to Kitchener, "to relieve Kimberley at six o'clock on the evening of the 15th if I am alive." De Wet was watching this great mobile force and attempted to intercept it. As French was crossing a ford of the Riet River a shell burst near him, and he had a narrow escape from death. It seemed that he bore a charmed life. Strange to relate, French has never been wounded, although oft-times in danger.

In advancing upon Kimberley, French made quite a new use of cavalry. He attacked strongly entrenched positions held by infantry and artillery and passed right through between them. In doing so he opened out his squadrons into very widely extended formation, so that the Boer fire could not be concentrated against them, and dashed on at the gallop. Before his opponents quite realized what was happening, the great cavalry leader had passed behind and beyond them on his way to Kimberley.

The weather was burning hot, and this mobile relieving-force suffered alternately from dust storms and veldt fires. Still the advance was continued according to French's "time-table ". On the 14th Klip Drift, an important strategic position, was successfully occupied. Next morning the men were up early and in the saddle, riding forward at a brisk pace. Kimberley was sighted at half-past two in the afternoon and messages were sent to it by heliograph.

The Boers occupied two kopjes, and French, again extending his squadrons, charged through and round his entrenched opponents, with the result that they found it necessary to abandon the siege and effect a safe retreat. At six o'clock in the evening the gallant general entered the town with a small force and received a stirring welcome.

On the following evening, after engaging in several hours' heavy fighting, French received orders to hasten eastward so as to head off General Cronje's army, which was retiring from its strong position at Magersfontein, and making for Bloemfontein. This difficult task was performed with skill and success. The Boers were held up at Paardeberg while Kitchener advanced with infantry and artillery and completely surrounded them. After a brave and desperate resistance, against over-powering numbers, Cronje and his army of about 2000 surrendered.

On the march to Bloemfontein, and afterwards to Pretoria, General French distinguished himself as a cavalry leader. It was greatly due to his rapid and clever movements that the Boers had to evacuate position after position. The hardest fighting took place with General Botha, who proved himself a leader of great resource and daring.

After Pretoria was occupied, Kitchener planned his wide sweeping movements, which were called "drives", to clear the various districts of their mobile bands of fighting Boers. The greatest "drive" was carried out by French in the Eastern Transvaal. Afterwards he operated in the disturbed parts of Cape Colony. When the peace treaty was signed, on 31st May, 1902, it was recognized that French was without doubt the most original and brilliant leader of cavalry in the British army. Both Roberts and Kitchener praised him on several occasions, but none thought more highly of him than the soldiers under his command. They learned to trust him with absolute confidence, and they loved him because of his unassuming and kindly manner. He was always so cool, so resourceful, so simple and quiet. The brilliant general never posed, as it were, "to the gallery". A boastful word never escaped his lips, and he was generous to a fallen foeman. He always showed great concern about the men under his command, and went about his work as coolly and efficiently as a city man in his office or warehouse. The really great and clever men are often the most humble and considerate.

Lord French held various high military positions after the Boer War. In 1913 he was raised to the rank of Field-Marshal. When war broke out with Germany he was appointed to command the British Expeditionary Force. For seventeen months he discharged his responsible duties with distinction and then retired. In recognition of his great services he was raised by the King to the rank of Viscount. Sir Douglas Haig, a younger and no less brilliant leader, was chosen as his successor.

8.41 Katherine Mary French, b. 3 May 1855 in Ripple, Kent, England, m. Colonel George Ernest Harley, formerly of The Buffs, and of Condover House, near Shrewsbury, died at age 61 on 7 Mar 1917. She was a supporter of World War I and served in the Scottish Women's Hospital (CWGC) in France. At the time of her death, she was a civilian working for the Serbian forces, and therefore would not have qualified for CWGC inclusion. She was having tea with her daughter at her home when she died. Her grave towers above the rest at Lembet Road CWGC Cemetery in Thessaloniki (or Salonica) which is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia. The cemetery is a military cemetery of the First World War. Catherine was attached to the Serbian Interior Ministry, and was she a well-bred 60-year-old lady going off to war in the Balkans? The 1891 census shows Katherine age 35, living with her husband George age 46 (Major in the Army), and their children: Florence Harley (13 – dau. born in India), Julian E. F. Harley (son - 10), Arthur B. Harley (9 - nephew), Edith J. Harley (dau. 7/12), and with her brother John D. P. French (38), living in Lyminge, Saltwood, Kent, England. There is quite a bit about Mrs. Harley in the book “The Quality of Mercy” by Monica Krippner, which talks about her death:

Of the many remarkable women in the Girton and Newnham unit, several stood out. Mrs. Harley, its head, was already 63 years old, but wiry and energetic - 'with well-chiselled nose, pale piercing eyes, she was slight and graceful and, as she adored everything militaire, was always attired in full uniform.' Apart from her distinguished brother, Lord French, who was CIC British forces in France, Mrs. Harley had a sister who was a noted pacifist, emancipationist and socialist, Mrs. Charlotte Despard. It was rather to be expected that the two sisters were not on the best of terms.

The funeral in Salonika of Mrs. Harley, chief of the SWH Transport Column attached to the Serbian Army in 1916. She was killed by shrapnel at Monastir in 1917 and was buried in the Allied War Cemetery, the only woman amongst thousands of fallen soldiers. She is buried in the Officers row, Anglo-French Military Cemetery, Lember Road, Salonika.

On the afternoon of 7 March (1917), after a busy day, Mrs.Harley was sitting by the window in her house having a cup of tea when a shell burst nearby. As a reflex action everyone threw themselves flat on the floor. Then Edith scrambled to her feet and saw her mother still in the chair. 'Mother, get down please!' she pleaded. But there was no response. Mrs Harley was already dead - a piece of shrapnel had struck her in the middle of the forehead as neatly as a wellaimed bullet.

The shock of Mrs. Harley's death reverberated throughout all the Allied camps and hospitals, and when her body in its unadorned pine coffin was brought by train to Salonika and placed in a large tent at he SWH Girton & Newnham hospital, an avalanche of wreaths came in from every allied unit and HQ. People of all nationalities, ranks and professions - soldiers, high ranking HQ staff, civic dignataries, hospital staff, French, iBritish, Serb and Greek - streamed through the austere army tent to pay their respects to this brave woman, killed on active service

Her funeral was impressive, conducted with full military honours and all the martial ceremony that she would have loved. Escorted by Serbian Royal Guards, British and French military bands, attende by Prince George of Serbia, the British Commander, General Sir George Milne, amd othr army chiefs, with French soldiers carrying huge laurel wreaths, Mrs. Harley was laud to rest in the Allied War Cemetery.

In Monastir a street was named after her, and in July 1917, during a splendid religious ceremony, the Serbs unveiled a memorial they had built over her grave. The inscription, roughly translated reads:

On your tomb instead of flowers
The gratitude of the Serbs will blossom
For your wonderful acts your name shall
Be known from generation to generation

See website: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=71358

Although some records show Katherine Harley’s birth date as 3 May 1853, it could not be so because her brother John was born 28 Sep 1852, only 7 months prior. Her correct birth date is 3 May 1855.

Ninth Generation

Children of John Cyril and Cecilia (Goldinger) French, 8.9

9.1 Pamela Ismay French, b. 13 Jul 1917, m. Wilfred Myles Eadon on 25 May 1940 and had issue: Nicholas Piers Eason b. 18 Oct 1941, and Simon Dominic Eadon b. 14 May 1952, m. 1981 to Susan Clare Warren, dau. of Basil Warren. Pamela lived in 2003 at 122 Clarence Gate Gardens, Glentworth Street, London, England [26].

9.2 John Valentine Terence French, b. 30 Oct 1918, d. 21 Apr 1943 killed in a flying accident, m. Nanette Ogilvie on 26 Aug 1940, the dau. of Alfred William Ogilvie [7]. They had one daughter, Diane Terry French b. in 1943, m. 1963 to Kenneth Ross and had issue [7]. John Valentine Terence French gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the South African Air Force. They had one child: Diane Terry French, b. 30 Sep 1943 [26].

Children of John Cyril and Winifred (Eastwood) French, 8.9

9.3 Maureen French, b. 7 Aug 1927, m. Owen Burdon [26].

9.4 Antonia French, b. 24 Dec 1930, m. Charles Mackintosh Flood on 11 Jun 1955. She kept her surname French and had 3 daughters: Nicola Marie French, b. 18 Jul 1957, d. 13 Nov 1996 [25]. Rosemarie Jane French, b. 6 May 1960 [26]. Diana Marie French, b. 12 Apr 1967 [26].

9.5* Sean de Freyne French, b. 3 Jun 1936, m. Denise Shirley Robinson in 1963, dau of Norman Robinson of Johannesburg, South Africa [7] on 9 Mar 1963 [26].

Children of John Cyril and Christine (Botha) French, 8.9

9.6 John French [26].

9.7 Christine French [26].

9.8 Coleen French [26].

Look at http://www.william1.co.uk/L8.htm

Children of Francis Charles and Lina Victoria (Arnott) French, 8.24

9.9 Patricia Mary French, 1^st daughter, b. 3 Nov 1917, emigrated to England when the Land Commission took over the last of their estate, no longer living in 2008 [1]. She m. Reginald Johnson on 24 Mar 1941. She lived in 2003 at 4 Linley Court, Rouse Gardens, London, England. Patricia and Reginald had 2 children: Diana Mary Johnson and Michael Reginald Johnson [7].

9.10 Jeanne Victoria French, 2^nd daughter, b. 25 Jul 1919, d. 5 Nov 1960, emigrated to England when the Land Commission took over the last of their estate, no longer living in 2008, may have died much earlier than the other sisters [1] [7].

9.11 Patience Veronica French, 3^rd daughter, b. 11 Oct 1922, d. 4 Jan 1985, emigrated to England when the Land Commission took over the last of their estate, no longer living in 2008 [1] [7]. She m. Lt. Cdr. Arthur James Aitchison Richards, son of Commander Arthur Scott Horace Pitt Richards on 5 Jun 1952. They had 2 children: Luana Veronica Richards b. 30 Jul 1957 and Edwina Richards b. 13 Sep 1958 [7].

9.12 Faith Gabriel French, 4^th daughter, b. 28 Mar 1925, d. 21 Apr 1962, emigrated to England when the Land Commission took over the last of their estate, no longer living in 2008 [1]. She m. Richard Archdale Morris, son of Michael Archdale Morris on 15 Jan 1951. They had 4 children: Maxwell Charles Morris b. 29 Nov 1951, Victoria Gabriel Mary Morris b. 21 Sep 1954, Alicia Mary Frances Morris b. 6 Jun 1957, Michael Lauriston Francis Morris b. 19 Apr 1959 [7].

Dr. Douglas Hyde was Ireland’s first President from 1938-1945.

9.13* Francis Arthur John French, 7th Baron de Freyne of Coolavin, b. 3 Sep 1927 in Dublin, Ireland, d. 24 Nov 2009, and was the Lord De Freyne up until his death. He m1. Shirley Ann Pobjov [9], dau. of Dougles Rudolph Pobjoy on 30 Jan 1954 [7]. As a result of her marriage, Shirley Ann Pobjoy was styled as Baroness de Freyne of Coolavin on 30 Jan 1954. Francis and Shirley divorced in 1978 [7]. He m2. Sheelin Deidre O’Kelly, dau. of Lt. Col. Henry Kane O’Kelly on 18 Jul 1978, the widow of W. W. Stevenson who died 13 years prior [1]. The Heir Apparent is the present holder's son Hon. Fulke Charles Arthur John French. Francis celebrated his 80^th birthday in the summer of 2007 in London; everyone there was a direct descendant of his grandparents. Francis says his family had been in Galway before Frenchpark, and before Galway they were in Herefordshire, England. He emigrated to England when the Land Commission took over the last of their estate. He last resided in Oxfordshire, England and was a prominent member of the House of Lords and has 3 children. The following article is from the Roscommon Herald, p. 38, in the Local Notes section, dated Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

Children of Hubert John and Mary Frances (Hasslacher) French, 8.33

9.14 Jane Mary French, b. 28 Mar 1938, m. Donald John Lawlor, son of George Lawlor, on 7 Jan 1966. They had 4 children. Jane was educated at Woldingham School, Surrey, England. She was educated at Digby Stuart Training College, Roehampton, Surrey, England. She lived in 2003 at 2 Elsewood Crescent, Camberley, Surrey, England [26].

9.15 Dr. Sarah Anne French, b. 31 May 1940, m. Dr. C. H. Lutterodt and had 3 children. She graduated from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) [26]. She graduated with a Master of Education (M. Ed.). She graduated with a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil). She graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) [26].

9.16* Christopher John French, b. 18 Jan 1943, m. Sasha Wild, dau. of Robert Wild, on 17 Sep 1966 and had 2 children [26]. Christopher was educated at Oratory School, Reading, Berkshire, England. He was educated at Seale Hayne Agricultural College, Newton Abbot, Devon, England. He lived in 2003 at Brewerstreet Farm, Bletchingley, Surrey, England [26].

9.17* Richard Charles French, b. 17 Oct 1945, m. Hilda Felicity Pearson, dau. of Lt. Col. John James Pearson on 18 Feb 1969 [26]. Richard was educated at Oratory School, Reading, Berkshire, England. He was educated at St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. He lived in 2003 at 24 Detillens Lane, Limpsfield, Oxted, Surrey, England [26].

Children of Bertram Leo and Maud Mary (Dease) French, 8.34

9.18 Lavinia Marie French, b. 28 Oct 1928, m1. Michael Francis Vandeleur Cubitt, son of Major Charles Cyril Cubitt, on 8 Oct 1968. She m2. Major John Norman Pembroke Watson in 1971 [26]. Her first marriage was annulled in 1970. She lived in 2003 at Pannett’s, Shipley, Horsham, Sussex, England [26].

9.19* Major Maurice Aloysius French, b. 5 Mar 1930, m1. Heather Stewart Tarbutt, dau. of Arthur Charles Tarbutt on 4 Sep 1958 and had 2 children. They divorced in 1965. He m2. Lavinia Mary Burke, dau. of Major Patrick Henry Anthony Burke and Rosemary Maud Evelyn Sandars on 17 Aug 1965 and had 4 children [26]. Major Maurice Aloysius French was educated at Ampleforth College, Ampleforth, Yorkshire, England. He fought in the Korean War between 1952 and 1953, where he was mentioned in despataches. He gained the rank of Major iin the service of the Royal Fusiliers. He was invested as a Member, Order of the British Empre (M.B.E.) in 1976. He lived in 2003 at 71 East Street, Warminster, Wiltshire, England [26].

9.20* Arthur Edmund French, b. 10 Jan 1933, m. Charlotte Mary Towneley, dau. of Sir Simon Peter Edmund Cosmo William Towneley on 22 Nov 1986 [26]. Arthur was educated at Ampleforth College, Ampleforth, Yorkshire, England. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in 1952 in the service of the Irish Guards. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). He was admitted to Inner Temple in 1962 entitled to practice as a barrister. He lived in 2003 at 38 Belfield Road, Didsbury, Lancashire, England [26].

Children of Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone, 8.40

9.21 John Richard Lowndes French, 2^nd Earl of Ypres, b. 6 Jul 1881, d. 5 Apr 1959.

9.22 Major Hon. Edward Gerald Fleming French, b. 11 Dec 1883, m. Leila King, dau. of Robert King, on 5 Dec 1906. They had a daughter, Violet Valerie French.

Tenth Generation

Children of Sean De Freyne and Denise Shirley (Robinson) French, 9.5

10.1 Lance De Freyne French, b. 22 Dec 1963 [7].

10.2 Kerynne Diane French, b. 9 Nov 1965 [7].

Children of Francis Arthur John and Shirley Ann (Pobjov) French, 9.13

10.3* The Honorable Fulke Charles Arthur John French, b. 21 Apr 1957, eldest son and heir, the 8^th Baron de Freyne on 24 Nov 2009. He m. Julia Mary Wellard, dau. of Dr. James H. Wellard on 12 Apr 1986. He usually went by his middle name of Charles [7]. He was educated at Downside School, Bath, Somerset, England. He lived in 2003 at 14 Langside Avenue, London, England [26].

10.4 The Honorable Vanessa Rose Bradbury French [8], b. 19 Sep 1958. She m. Richard Leslie Phillips, son of Leslie Phillips on 6 Dec 1991 [7]. She lived in 2003 at Oak Farmhouse, Stradsett, Norfolk, England [7]. They had 3 children: Toby Richard French Phillips b. 16 Sep 1994 and his twin brother Hugo Francis French Phillips b. 16 Sep 1994, and dau. Emma Elizabeth Anne French Phillips b. 10 Mar 1998 [7] [26].

10.5 The Honorable Patrick Dominic Fitzstephen Jude French [8], b. 27 Nov 1969. The Hon. Patrick Dominick Fitzstephen Jude French lived in 2003 at 2 The Westbourne, 1 Artesian Road, London, England [7] [26].

Children of Christopher John and Sacha (Wild) French, 9.16

10.6 Philip John French, b. 15 Feb 1968 [26].

10.7 Julia Winfred French, b. 1971 [26].

Children of Richard Charles and Hilda Felicity (Pearson) French, 9.17

10.8 Helen Mary Louise French, b. 25 Nov 1969 [26]. She m. Benjamin Moore in 1996 and had a daughter [26].

10.9 Charles Peter French, b. 1974 [26].

10.10 Suszanna Frances French, b. 1974 [26].

Children of Major Maurice Aloysius and Heather Stewart (Tarbutt) French, 9.19

10.11* Dominic Arthur French, b. 5 Jun 1959, m. Miranda Howden, dau. of Philip Howden in 1987 and had 2 children [26].

10.12 Nicola Anne French, b. 22 Jun 1960, m. David Stogdale in 1984 and had 3 children [26].

Children of Major Maurice Aloysius and Lavinia Mary (Burke) French, 9.19

10.13* Patrick Rollo French, b. 28 May 1966, m. Abigail Digna Joanna Ashton-Johnson, dau. of Commander Eoin Ashton-Johnson in 1992 and had 3 children [26]. Patrick Rollo French graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.). He was invested as a Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (F.R.G.S.) [26].

10.14 Claudia Rosemary French, b. 1973 [26].

10.15 Gerald Hugh French, b. 1975 (twin) [26].

10.16 Emily Mary Lucia French, b. 1975 (twin) [26].

Children of Arthur Edmund and Charlotte Mary (Towneley) French, 9.20

11.17 Alice Cecilia French, b. 9 Dec 1987 [26].

11.18 Edmund Peter French, b. 6 Apr 1989 [26].

Eleventh Generation

Children of Charles Arthur John and Julia Mary (Wellard) French, 10.3

11.1 Alexander James Charles French, b. 22 Sep 1988 [7], is studying at Durham University in 2008 [26].

11.2 William Rory Francis French, b. 12 Mar 1991 [7]. He usually went by his middle name Rory [7] [26].

Children of Dominic Arthur and Miranda (Howden) French, 10.11

11.3 Richard Maurice French, b. 1988 [26].

11.4 James Philip French, b. 1988 [26].

Children of Patrick Rollo and Abigail Digna Joanna (Ashton-Johnson) French, 10.13

11.5 Thomas Tenzin French, b. 1994 [26].

11.6 Abraham Atticus French, b. 1998 [26].

11.7 Iris Indira French, b. 2002 [26].

Look at http://www.william1.co.uk/t27.htm

Note:

Contents