James French (abt. 1650 - abt. 1733)

Born about 30 Nov 1650 in Merriott, South Somerset District, Somerset, England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Meakin) French — married 1670 in Maryland

Descendants

Died about 17 Mar 1733 at about age 82 in Newtown, Saint Mary's, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dennis Pfiester [send private message]

Biography: James French (1650 – 1733) James French, son of Edward French and Ann Worcester, was born about 1650 in Somerset, England. He married Elizabeth Meekin about 1671 in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. He died about 1733 in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

From Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: James French arrived in Maryland in 1671. 1674: James was a servant to Luke Gardiner. 1722, Jun 25: James French gave a deposition on the birth and lineage of Gerard Slye.

Marriage and Children

James French married before 1670 in St. Mary's County, Maryland, to Elizabeth Meakin (or Meekin). They had at least three children:

• Mary French, b. abt. 1670
• Martin French, b. abt. 1675
• Francis French, b. abt. 1676

Land Records

Event: Land 21 Acres of Hopton Park in SMC, MD

Event: Land 100 acres from John Baptist Carberry, another Irish Immigrant 4

Event: Land 129 acres of "Wolver Hampton, which bordered on Hopton Park- through marriage 4

Land records show that at his death he owned a 50 acre tract called Mayland and 110 acres called Hopton Park (Guest's Neck, Evans Quarter, Indian Quarker, Cole Brook, Koaxes). He is listed as owner of the later, 129 acres, on the1709 rent rolls and in 1707 (Chron. of St. Mary's). He also has 150 acres known as Wolver Hampton in the 1707 rent rolls. This was land owned by his father-in-law in 1681. Starting in 1751, John French, Sr. is listed as the ownerof Hopton Park, listed in varying sizes until 1770, when he willed it (1767 will) to Ignatius French, who had it until 1787. (http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/dawsonm/genealogy/owners/ownersF.htm)

Death

James French passed away about 1733. ^[1]

Will

Date: 4 Mar 1733 Place: , St. Mary's County, Maryland, USA

The Last Will of JAMES FRENCH , Dated March 4, 1733, St. Mary's County, MD, Pgs. 26-27

In the name of God, Amen, I, James French of St. Mary's County plantor being weak in body but of sound mind & memory, blessed be God, do make this my last Will & Testament in form as follows: Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my beloved grandson, John French, to him and his heirs forever, one hundred & ten acres of land to be laid out on the West side of my land & also on the west side of a Branch unto my well beloved grand child, Mary Leake, wife of John Leake, to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever. Item: My Will is that my good & trusty servant, James Kirby shall be free from servitude on the day of my death. Item: My Will is after all my just debts are paid, all that remains of my personal Estate be equally divided amongst all my grandchildren. Item: I constitute & appoint my said grandchild, John French, my whole & sole executor of this my last Will & Testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal on this fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord, 1733

James French (SEAL)

Signed, sealed & published to be his last Will & Testament in the presence of:

John Thompson

James Ruil(?)

Elizabeth French. 21. 6.

March 17, 1733

John Thompson and Elizabeth French, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Will, being duly & solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose & say that they saw the testator, James French, sign the foregoing Will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will & Testament that at the time of his doing so he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they subscribed their respective names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of John French, grandson & heir at law, which same, John French did not object to the probate of the said Will.

Sworn to before me Tho. Aisquith (?), Dep. County Clk. of St. Mary's County. 1 SUBM I6000000004282268560

Sources

• French Family Association Lineage Chart: http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/CHARTS/Chart137/

• WikiTree profile French-1526 created through the import of export-ancestors only with any date greater than 1 Jan 1600 Jun2012.ged on Jun 21, 2012 by Dennis Pfiester. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Dennis and others.

• Source: S182 Title: #186 Data: Text: Date of Death Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: Maryland Calandar of Wills, Vol 7 Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S183 Title: #187 Data: Text: Date of Death Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: Maryland Calandar of Wills, Vol 7 Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S184 Title: #188 Data: Text: Date of Death Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: Maryland Calandar of Wills, Vol 7 Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S185 Title: #189 Data: Text: Date of Death Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: mrgthompson.FTW Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S186 Title: #190 Data: Text: Date of Death Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: mrgthompson.FTW Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S187 Title: #191 Data: Text: Date of Birth Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: www.familytreemaker.com/users/m/c/c/Mary-D-Mccauley-SC, supplemented by a letter from Joseph French of Louisville, KY Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S188 Title: #192 Data: Text: Date of Birth Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: www.familytreemaker.com/users/m/c/c/Mary-D-Mccauley-SC, supplemented by a letter from Joseph French of Louisville, KY Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S189 Title: #193 Data: Text: Date of Birth Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: www.familytreemaker.com/users/m/c/c/Mary-D-Mccauley-SC, supplemented by a letter from Joseph French of Louisville, KY Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S190 Title: #194 Data: Text: Date of Birth Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: mrgthompson.FTW Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• Source: S191 Title: #195 Data: Text: Date of Birth Date: 29 Jul 2010 Object: Format: File: Title: mrgthompson.FTW Note: Scrapbook: Y Primary or Preferred: N Type: PHOTO Slideshow: Y

• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/SPZ9-Z8D : accessed 1 July 2012), entry for Martin /French/.

From Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: James French arrived in Maryland in 1671. 1674: James was a servant to Luke Gardiner. 1722, Jun 25: James French gave a deposition on the birth and lineage of Gerard Slye.

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by James French, Monday, April 20, 2015. Replace this citation if there is another source.