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French / Adams Research

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Richard's brother William, wife Johan and 4 children from William's will

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Richard French & wives & children

Richard French was born "say" 1569 (based on the estimated year of his first marriage) and was buried in either Misterton[1] (his residence) or adjacent Crewkerne, Somerset, England[2] on 30 or 31 May 1638. A burial was recorded in both parishes.

He first married about 1594 (first known child, John, was baptized 7 June 1595 [not 1599]) in Misterton (where all eight of Richard's known children were christened), Lucy Adams, born "say" 1574 (again based on the estimated marriage year) and buried in either Misterton or Crewkerne 29 March 1605 (“Luce, wife of Richard French”).[3]

About four months after Lucy's death, Richard French married in Misterton 2 (banns?) or 14 August 1605,[4] as his second wife, Alice Thompson ("Tomson"), who was buried in Crewkerne 1 December 1628 ("wife of Richard French").[5] Among their children was Mary French, baptized Misterton 26 December 1611; it was she who married Robert Randall about 1641 (not before 1640, as now stated at Randall-404) and died in Weymouth, Mass., after 17 March 1678/9 (when named in brother Stephen's will as "my sister Mary Randal") and before 27 March 1691 (when her husband's will failed to mention her).

The will of John Adams of Barton [St.] David, Somersetshire, dated 19 March 1603/4, bequeathed 20s. to be divided equally among John French [bp. 7 June 1595], Stephen French [bp. 26 Dec. 1600], and "Mary" [_recte_ Margery] French [bp. 18 May 1603], children of Richard French of Misterton. The relationship to the testator is not stated, nor is the name of Richard French's wife, but it is assumed that French was John Adams’s son-in-law. J. Gardner Bartlett's Adams genealogy was consequently able to identify their mother only as “a daughter” of John and Agnes (Stone?) Adams and wife of Richard French (Bartlett, _Henry Adams of Somersetshire, England, and Braintree, Mass._ [New York, 1927], 41, 46). That her forename was Lucy is revealed in her burial record.


Wills & Probate

The will of Richard French of Misterton: [6]

... Last will and ... Richard French of Mistert.. ... the second day of ...mber [1638 calendar] ... ... of body but ... ... ... and my body...

... I give unto Samuel ffrench my grandchild my best brass ... ....... my ... and [Seven?] pounde of [?currant English money?] ... shall remaine in my son ....

Item. I give unto John ffrench my grand child ffower pound of currant English money and ... pewter ... best [potensen?] & one ... ... and my ... ... ...

Item. I give unto Hester ffrench my grand childe ffower pound of currant English money and ... two pairs of lennen sheets and one brasse pan two pl..e [plate?] of pewter with all ... ...st pewter dishes and salts & pewter cupps.

Item. All the rest of my goods & chattells moveable & unmoveable I give & bequeath unto John French my son whome I make my full & whole executor of this my last will & testament.

Item my will is that all those goods and moneys which I have given unto my Grandchildren before mentioned shall remaine in the use and custodyie come to be of the age of one & twenty yeares in the presans of us - William [?]man Richard ffrench [his + mark] [?] Mason


The will of one William French of Misterton, husbandman, in 1610 mentions his brother Richard French of Misterton (as owing his estate a small sum). There's also a Tomson mentioned.

1610 ... William Frenche of Mistertonne in Somerset... husbandman,[7] I give unto the church of Misterton the somme of 3s 4p. To the poore of the parish 3s 4p. It. to my fower children that is to saye To my daughter Agnes Frenche : to my sonne John Frenche to my daughter Grace and to my sonne William Frenche borne of the body of my wife Johane ffrenche the somme of 11 pounds a peece.... Item. I give unto eache of my three godchildren (unnamed) wife Johane Frenche named as sole executrix. Debts listed [next page] One from Tristram Lanley £3. From my brother Richard French of Misterton 19s 4p. From [Chubb?] Bragg 40s. From Cuthbert Tomson of Kingston 46s 8p. From John ?? of Misterton 7s 10p. From Roger Turner 4s. From William Barnett of Croscombe 45s 8p. Witnesses Richard Baylie clerke, John Norris william Norris Richard Frenche Chubb Bragg.

Probably the same William French who was buried Misterton in 1610.[8]

Robert Randall’s will, which fails to mention his wife (thus providing the latter end of the date range of Mary (French) Randall’s death), is recorded in Suffolk County Probate, 8(new series):41–42 [FHL 594175]; it is abstracted in William L. Chaffin, A Biographical History of Robert Randall and His Descendants 1608–1909 (New York, 1909), 4. That Mary French married Robert Randall about 1641 and not “before 1640” is a based on the Weymouth burial of Robert’s first wife, Mary _____, 3 (7) [September] 1640 (“Early Records of Boston,” NEHGR 8[1854]:345 [“wife of Robt Randall”]; these records include those submitted to Boston by the various Bay Colony towns).

Land, Deeds & Grants

Land & property

'Stephen French:

  • 1632/3, 16 Jan: Granted 16 acre Great Lot at Dorchester [DTR 1] [Register, 21: 166, 276][9]
  • 1634, 01 Dec: Granted 8 acre Great Lot at Dorchester [DTR 9][9]
  • ca. 1643: In an inventory of Weymouth land, he held 3 parcels: 10 acres in East Field (grant); 14 acres in Great Lots (first given to John Upham); 3 acres marsh (first given to John Upham) [Weym Hist 1:196-7].[9]
  • 1658, 13 Nov: Bought of Hugh Roe of Weymouth, currier, and wife, 12 acres of upland in Weymouth by John Guppy's land [SLR 13:242-3]
  • 1671, 11 Dec: Bought of John Tower Sr. of Hingham, planter, and his wife Margaret, 3 lots of land in Hingham, 6 acres per lot [SLR 13:300-01
  • 1875, 18 Nov: Stephen French, Sr., of Weymouth, yeoman sold a parcel of land at Boston of 100x20 feet, (bounded by the sea and Robert Marshall) to Roger Rose of Boston [SLR 10:260-61]
  • 1678, 31 May: Bought Samuel Torrey's interest in a parcel of swamp at Great Swamp, 3 acres. [SLR 13:303]
  • 1685, May: Other deeds between Stephen French and his Weymouth neighbors were brought to Boston and recorded, most did not specify Jr. or Sr., but were executed during Stephen Sr.'s lifetime. Some, not designated as "Sr." may pertain to him. [SLR 13:294 to Sam Torrey 1685, Weymouth Highway 15 acres.]

Jacob French in Weymouth, 03 Feb 1651, great lots ordered to be laid out, rec'd 27 acres; 1663 rec'd 4 acres in lot 45, and 12 in lot 45.[10]

Public offices held

Anderson notes that Stephen French's public career is unusual. "In a two-year period from early 1637 to early 1639 he was entrusted by the town of Weymouth with a number of offices representing the town at the colony level, and then these honors were abruptly cut off, so that for the last forty years of his life he was almost invisible in the public records. Perhaps he was involved in scandal; perhaps he did not represent his town well. No evidence survives to explain this truncated career; but his son did reverse the family fortunes with a vengeance, and amassed both land and titles beyond most of his contemporaries."[11]

  • Weymouth Fenceviewer Feb 1645/6 [WeyTR 1:14]
  • Deputy for Weymouth to General Court, 12 Mar 1637/8,[12] 6 Sep 1638,[13] 13 Mar 1638/9/[14]
  • Commissioner to end small causes at Weymouth, 06 Sep 1638[15]
  • One of three Weymouth members on Colony committee to value livestock, 13 May 1640 [16]

Vital Records

Children of Richard French at Misterton:

  1. John Frenche, bp. 07 Jun 1595[17]
  2. Margery French, bp. 28 July 1600,[18][19] bur. 27 Jun 1620 Misterton.[20]
  3. A male child, bp. 26 Dec 1600.[21][22]
  4. Margerie Frenche, bp. 18 May 1603;[23] bur.17 Jun 1623 Misterton, dau. of Richard.[24]
  5. Judithe Frenche, bp. Feb 1605.[25]
  6. Hugo French, bp. 26 Mar 1608.[26]
  7. Mary/Marie French, bp. 26 Dec 1611.[27][28]
  8. Jacob French, bp. 22 Aug 1615[29]

Misc:

  • Alcie French, wife of Richard, bur. 01 Dec 1628 Misterton.[30]
  • Widow Joane French, bur. 1627 Misterton.[31]
  • Agneta French, bur. 02 Sep 1621 Misterton.[32]
  • Margerie French, dau. of Richardi French, bur. 17 Jun 1623 Misterton.[33]

Other profile updates:

Edward Sealle/Sale of Weymouth (see research notes):

Children & grandchildren of Stephen(2) French: See Chamberlain. [9]

Robert Randall’s will, which fails to mention his wife (thus providing the latter end of the date range of Mary (French) Randall’s death), is recorded in Suffolk County Probate, 8(new series):41–42 [FHL 594175]; it is abstracted in William L. Chaffin, A Biographical History of Robert Randall and His Descendants 1608–1909 (New York, 1909), 4. That Mary French married Robert Randall about 1641 and not “before 1640” is a based on the Weymouth burial of Robert’s first wife, Mary _____, 3 (7) [September] 1640 (“Early Records of Boston,” NEHGR 8[1854]:345 [“wife of Robt Randall”]; these records include those submitted to Boston by the various Bay Colony towns).

Updates to Mary (French) Randall: Reg. 46:187, 63:98; Weymouth 4:559; Bridgewater 107

Research notes

Regarding records in Crewkerne vs. Misterton: these parish churches are only 1.5 miles apart.

Research Questions

Needs from English records

  • A purported will in 1638 of Richard French. Anderson cites "Abstract of Taunton Archdeaconry Court Wills," by H. R. Phipps [Phipps, Henry Ramsay], 1937.

125* 1638, Richard, Misterton Calendar of Wills in Bundles 1597-1799. (Asterisk denotes that the Will is not now in existence, though the name appears in the old Caledars.) 85* 1621 Agnes, Misterton (Asterisk denotes that the Will is not now in existence, though the name appears in the old Caledars.) 1592, Vol. 8 Fol. 1835 William, Misterton Will in Registers 1537-1593. Resolved. Will located.

  • A Calendar of Wills & Administrations, printed in 1912 by the British Record Society, (Calendar of wills and administrations in the court of the Archdeacon of Taunton : parts I and II, wills only, 1537-1799) states the will was not in existence. What is the source for Phipps's Abstract in 1937? Resolved. Will located.

Sources

  1. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-9DLR : 25 February 2022), Richard French, 1638. Cites Somerset Archives reference: D/P/MIS 2/1/1.
  2. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D99-FK5X : 25 February 2022), Richard Frenche, 1638.
  3. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-37CD : 25 February 2022), Luce Frenche, 1605.
  4. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DMG-CZW1 : 10 August 2022), Richard Frenche, 1605. Spouse's Name: ___ Tomson. Cites Somerset Archives Reference: D/P/MIS 2/1/1.
  5. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D99-L6GX : 25 February 2022), Alice Frenche, 1628, Wife of Richard Frenche.
  6. ↑ Probate records for manors in the Archdeaconry of Taunton, Richard French, husbandman, Misterton 2 ...mber, 1638
  7. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for Willmi Frenche, PROB 11: Will Registers 1599-1623; Piece 116: Wingfield, Quire Numbers 57-110 (1610)
  8. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-QV2S : 25 February 2022), Willielmus French, 1610.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Chamberlain, George Walter, History of Weymouth, Mass., 4 vols. ([Boston: Wright & Potter], 1923), Vol. 3, pages 234-5.
  10. ↑ Chamberlain, George Walter, History of Weymouth, Mass., 4 vols. ([Boston: Wright & Potter], 1923), Vol. 1:200.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Shurtleff, MBCR Vol. 1:220.
  13. ↑ Shurtleff, MBCR Vol. 1:235.
  14. ↑ Shurtleff, MBCRVol 1:250
  15. ↑ Shurtleff, MBCR Vol. 1:239.
  16. ↑ Shurtleff, MBCR Vol. 1:295.
  17. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-7SQ6 : 25 February 2022), John Frenche, 1595, Father Rychard Frenche.
  18. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch Person: 6D9X-1MPJ (25 February 2022), Margerye Frenche, 1600.
  19. ↑ Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812, Misterton 1558-1761, image 57 of 178 "Mary" [_recte_ Margerye]
  20. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D99-LLVM : 25 February 2022), Margeria French, 1620. "Filia Rici French."
  21. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-SB9B : 25 February 2022), Frenche, 1600.
  22. ↑ Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812, Misterton 1558-1761, image 57 of 178
  23. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9X-B472 : 25 February 2022), Margerie Frenche, 1603, Father's name: Richard Frenche.
  24. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D99-YR9K : 25 February 2022), Margerie French, 1623. "Filia Richardi French."
  25. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9J-NXPJ : 25 February 2022), Judithe Frenche, 1605, Father's name: Richard Frenche.
  26. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-7D46 : 25 February 2022), Hugo French, 1608, Father's name: Richardi French.
  27. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-DLGL : 25 February 2022), Mary French, 1611, Father's name: Richard French.
  28. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-9NXK : 25 February 2022), Marie French, 1611, father's name: Richi French.
  29. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9F-QCLT : 25 February 2022), Jacob French, 1615, Father's Name: Richi French.
  30. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-Q47K : 25 February 2022), Alcie French, 1628.
  31. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-3YQ6 : 25 February 2022), Joane French, 1627.
  32. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D9S-3792 : 25 February 2022), Agneta French, 1621.
  33. ↑ "England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6D99-YR9K : 25 February 2022), Margerie French, 1623.
  34. ↑ French, Elizabeth, "Genealogical Research in England," NEHGR Vol. 65(1911)63-67, (Link on AmericanAncestors.org) and on Archive.org.
See also:
  • Farnam, Charles Henry, History of the Descendants of John Whitman of Weymouth, Mass. (New Haven, Conn.: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1889) page 25. (Details desc. of Capt. Stephen French who m. Hannah Whitman 1660 and had 5 ch. - unsourced)
  • Bixby, A. B., Genealogical Lines of Salome E. Bixby Ross... (Poultney, Vt., 1902), French Line - No. 38. (Unsourced; says John French b. 1612 England, d. 6 Aug 1692 Braintree was son of Stephen. Mar. Grace who d. 26 Feb 1680 at Braintree. John moved from Weymouth to Braintree 1638, name on a petition to court to beg. settlement at Shawmut 1645, and was a grantor of Braintree, 1638.)

((( Barclay's article covers 3 generations Stephen(1), (2), (3) and brother Samuel, which were the grandson's mentioned in Stephen(2)'s will. Covers a nephew/uncle pair named Samuel who m. Silence Torrey.

Additional research:
  • British History online,

Parishes: Misterton





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