| William French migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 2, p. 588) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
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William French is believed to have originated from the area near Earls Colne, Essex, England. (He is listed as a servant of Roger Harlakenden of Earls Colne on the Defence passenger list). The most recent research (NEHGR Winter 2023) has concluded that William was probably the son of William French and Elizabeth Newes who married 3 July 1603 in Bures St Mary, Suffolk, England (about 6.6 miles from Earls Colne). William was likely born there about 1604. (Unfortunately, the baptismal registers for Bures St Mary do not exist for that year).[1]
On page 593 of Great Migration, Vol 2, in a bibliographic note, Anderson states "In 1911 Elizabeth French published information from English records which demonstrated that the William French baptized at Halstead, Essex, on 15 March could not have been the immigrant to New England [NEHGR 65:284-86]."
At the age of 30, William French embarked on the ship Defence in 1635 to make the journey to America.[2] William and his fellow travelers initially set out for New England in the winter of 1634 from Harwich, but due to adverse weather conditions, they were forced to turn back. However, they made a second attempt and successfully arrived in Boston on October 3, 1635. Subsequently, the congregation moved to Cambridge, where William French decided to settle.
Upon his arrival in Cambridge, William French established his residence on the westerly side of Dunster Street, positioned between Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street. In 1639, he purchased this estate, which he later sold to William Barrett on June 10, 1656. William French became one of the original proprietors of Billerica, receiving lot 24, encompassing 150 acres, in the Shawshine grant of 1652. Eventually, the Shawshine Plantation was transformed into the town of Billerica following a court order on May 23, 1655.
William made his living as a tailor.[3][4] Also active in the community, William French assumed various roles. He took the freeman's oath 3 March 1635/6.[5]He served as a captain in the militia, attained the position of deacon in 1659, and contributed as a commissioner to establish country rates. Elected as a Selectman in 1660, he remained in this role for nine years. Furthermore, in 1661, he participated in a committee tasked with assessing the reading, religion, and catechism skills of children and servants. Notably, William French held the distinction of being the first Deputy from Billerica to the General Court.
It should be noted that William had a brother named John French, who resided in Cambridge. Like William, John French was also involved in tailoring. William French of Billerica administered his brother's estate and subsequently sold the family home to Robert Browne in 1657. Another potential brother, Richard French, lived in Cambridge with his wife Martha and their son Samuel, who was born on July 13, 1653. Richard purchased land in January 1651-2 and sold it in October 1654, after which no further records pertaining to him are available.
William French was married at least twice. He married his wife Elizabeth, with whom he immigrated sometime before 1625 or 1629 (depending on whether Francis, passenger on the Defence was their child, or another relation, or from a previous wife). She died 31 March 1668 in Billerica. They had eight (possibly nine) known children.
He married second 6 May 1669 in Billerica, Mary (Lothrop) Stearns, the widow of John Stearns.[6] After William's death Mary remarried to Isaac Mixer as his third wife 29 June 1687 in Billerica.[7]
Children by Elizabeth ___________:
Children by Mary Lothrop:[9]
William French passed away on November 20, 1681, in Billerica at the age of 78. His death record refers to him as Lieutenant. On June 5, 1679, he drafted his will, identifying himself as aged abt. seaventy & six years at the time. Prior to executing his will, William had already made arrangements for his children. However, he did bequeath certain items to his grandchildren. His wife and son Jacob were appointed as executors, with the will being witnessed by Samuel Whiting, Jr., and Jonathan Danforth, Sr.
Jonathan Danforth Senior and Patrick Hill conducted an inventory of Lieutenant William French's estate, which amounted to £231.12.10. The estate was divided among his widow and his daughters, namely Mary French (now Sharp), Sarah French, and Hannah French.[10]
William French was born in about 1604 in England . This would have made him 30 years old when embarked on the ship Defence in 1635 (and that is exactly the age that is recorded on the passenger list). His age was inflated about 3 years over his actual age when he made his will much later in life. His mother (first wife of William French Sr.) is unknown, but is sometimes said to be Elizabeth. Source: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mroman/genealogy/french.htm
(from French Page ) William French was married in England where four of his children were born. He emigrated to America in the summer of 1635 in the ship Defence. Mr. Shepard, in his autobiography, says he set out for New England with a group "in the year 1634, about the beginning of winter" and embarked at Harwich. They were driven back by stress of weather and the voyage was abandoned. However, they embarked again on August 10, 1635 "and so the Lord after many sad storms and wearisome days and many longings to see the shore, brought us to the sight of it upon Oct. 2, 1635". They landed at Boston on the third. Two days later the congregation moved to Cambridge where they found many empty homes and people willing to sell because of the exodus of Reverend Hooker's flock to Hartford. The Cutter family may also have been among this group especially based on their stories of a difficult voyage. William first settled in Cambridge, where he resided on the westerly side of Dunster Street about midway between Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street, which estate he bought in 1639 and sold to William Barrett June 10, 1656.
William French was one of the original proprietors of Billerica and was granted lot 24 of 150 acres in the Shawshine grant in 1652. He was referred to as Liet. William French. The Shawshine Plantation later became the town of Billerica, the name change coming by order of the court on May 23, 1655. He settled there early and was a captain in the militia. He became a deacon in 1659 and was also a commissioner to establish country rates. In 1660 he was elected a Selectman, a seat which he held for nine years. In 1661 he was one of a committee to examine children and servants in reading, religion, and catechism. William French was the first Deputy (i.e. representative) of Billerica to the General Court.
William died in Billerica on Nov. 20, 1681 in his 78th year. His death record lists him as Lieutenant. His will was dated June 5, 1679 at which time he called himself "aged abt. seaventy & six years". William had already provided for his children prior to the time of writing his will. However he did make bequests to his grand children. These bequests were: "to the eldest son of John French to Wm the son of Jacob French to Elizabeth ye Daughter Richard Ellis to Jonathan ye Son of Jonathan Hides, to ye Eldest Daughter of Jonathan Peake, to Marah ye Daughter of Jno Brackett, which are all my grand children". His wife and son Jacob were made executors. The will was witnessed by Samuel Whiting, Jr. and Jonathan Danforth, Sr.. "Inventory of the Estate of Lt. Wm French of Billerica who deced. 20 November 1681 being in his 78 year of his age" was taken by Jonathan Danforth Senior and Patrick Hill and amounted to 231.12.10. Division of the estate was made to the widow and to daughters Mary French (now Sharp), Sarah French, and Hannah French.
William had a brother John in Cambridge who was buried Feb. 16, 1645-6. John's wife Joanna was buried Jan. 20, 1645-6. They had children born from about 1635 through 1643. John was also a tailor. William French of Billerica administered upon the estate and sold the homestead to Robert Browne in 1657. Richard French of Cambridge was probably also a brother to William. His wife was Martha, and they had a son Samuel, born July 13, 1653. He bought land on Jan. 26, 1651-2 and sold it Oct. 8, 1654, after which time there is no further record of him.
“French, Capt. William, 1604-1681, Cambridge and Billerica, Mass. Lieut., 1647. A. & H. A. Co., 1638. Junior Sergt., 1643. First Sergt., 1646. Ens., 1650. Representative, 1660-’63. Capt. Of Art. Co., 1681."[11]
In 1639, member[11] of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts[12]
Updates Needed This profile needs to be updated with the latest research: Winter 2023 NEHGR includes an article The English Origins and Family of Brothers William1 French and John1 French of Cambridge, Massachusetts by Kory L. Meyerink. The article reviews previous research and makes a case that William and John were the grandsons of Jacob French (abt.1553-1615) andSusan (Warren) French (abt.1554-1613) of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, through son William and his wife Elizabeth Newes. The editor states: "Despite many gaps in early seventeenth-century parish registers, the author builds a convincing case for the brothers’ origins in the parishes of Assington and Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, based on family associations, geography, naming patterns, and most importantly, -Y-DNA research."[13]
Disputed Daughter: Rebecca French (1630-1647) was previously attached as a daughter. The connection was severed as no reliable sources could be found that suggested William French had a daughter Rebecca.
Francis French of Derby, CT is not related: Recent Y-DNA evidence has shown that Francis French is probably not related to William and John French of Cambridge, nor is the same Francis who came on the Defence with William.
Who was Francis French, age 10, Defence Passenger? There are several theories He is sometimes said to be William's son, although Anderson points out that if the age 10 is accurate, he only would have been about twenty when Francis was born which is not impossible, but younger than most men of the time. Another theory is that he was his youngest brother, a half-brother (to account for the age difference), and that his stepmother died in childbirth, with William adopting Francis into his family.[14] This is possible, although there is nothing to support it. [Note that the French Family Association specifically mentions Elizabeth Symmes as the step-mother, which seems unlikely as the introduction of "Symmes" into the French tree would be related to William's wife, not his mother]. Yet another theory proposes that he is the child of Francis Scargill and Elizabeth Godfrey, but this has been disproven. Additional speculation can be found here: http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/CHARTS/Chart008/
Possible Matching Records:
William French is the direct ancestor of Presidents George W.H. Bush and George W. Bush.
See also:
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William is 18 degrees from Zendaya Coleman, 24 degrees from Sting Sumner, 13 degrees from Josh Brolin, 17 degrees from Timothée Chalamet, 14 degrees from José Ferrer, 15 degrees from Frank Herbert, 12 degrees from Richard Jordan, 16 degrees from David Lynch, 14 degrees from Virginia Madsen, 17 degrees from Charlotte Rampling, 25 degrees from Patrick Stewart and 15 degrees from Denis Villeneuve on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
We're actually in the process of revising that based on newly published research. The new father will be French-1789 (And he is not the same person as French-2080).
The Meyerink article does not include a child with the name Rebecca. "Vital records of Cambridge..." does not list a child by the name of Rebecca with a death date given in her profile. Rebecca's profile is currently unsourced and should probably be removed as William's child.
Is anyone interested in reviewing the article and updating the profile (and possibly the parents, if there is agreement)? These aren't my descendants, but I found the argument to be quite convincing, or at least stronger than the current theory. If you're not an NEHGS member and need a copy of the article, please pm me! Thanks.
Also looks like the children for William need to be reviewed as they don't fully match the article, so it would be great if that could be looked at also!
I am recommending that French-3509 and French-2080 be merged, and then that their duplicate sons William, French-2051 and French-20 be merged.
This will have the net effect of making William French-20 the brother of John French-742 and half brother of Francis French-1835
The origins of William French are unknown. I quote another researcher: "There are so many discrepancies and suppositions concerning the English ancestry of William FRENCH that it is best to omit all references to possibilities until such time as the conflicts are resolved." He definitely was not the William French reported in earlier genealogies as baptized in Halstead, Essex, England, on 15 Mar 1603; as a 1637 London, England, will for another William French has been found and proved to be the one born in Halstead. See NEHGR 65:284-86 and TGM.
edited by Steven Losey
Halstead : St Andrew : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58181f40e93790ec8bc3bfad : viewed 14 Mar 2021) baptism William French 06 Apr 1606
Possibly 'Essex' location is contemporary to the record, and 'Essexshire' was of the Baptismal time?
One is sponsored the other isn’t and no gravestone photo unfortunately
edited by Andrew Simpier
http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/CHARTSWEB/ChartE003.htm
(See page 27)
(see page 853)