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Elizabeth (Unknown) French (abt. 1604 - 1668)

Elizabeth French formerly [surname unknown] aka Symes, Symmes, Godfrey
Born about in Englandmap
Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married [date unknown] (to 31 Mar 1668) in Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 64 in Billerica, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Profile last modified | Created 18 Jun 2013
This page has been accessed 2,192 times.
The Puritan Great Migration.
Elizabeth (Unknown) French migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).
Join: Puritan Great Migration Project
Discuss: pgm

Uncertain Origins There is no evidence as to what Elizabeth's origins were. Listed in Other Last Names are two ideas: Godfrey and Symmes (Symes).

Contents

Biography

Elizabeth _______ born about 1605 in England immigrated to New England with her husband William on the ship Defence, in 1635, along with their children. Enrolled as passengers on the Defence, 4 July 1635: William French, age 30; Elizabeth French, age 30; Francis French, age 10; Elizabeth French, age 6, Marie French, age 2 1/2; John French, age 5 months. Her husband was a tailor, and came to New England as one of the servants to Roger Harlakenden.[1]

The family settled in Cambridge. She and William were listed as members of the Cambridge Church "in full communion" in January 1658/9. [2] In 1652, William received a grant of land in the division of "Shaw Shine" later known as Billerica, but was still styled as "of Cambridge" in 1656, so the family took some time to relocate.

Elizabeth died in Billerica 31 March 1668 ["Elizabeth wife of Lt. William, died on Mar. 31, 1668."] [3] and was probably buried there.[4]


Marriage and Children

Assuming that Elizabeth was the first wife of William they were married by about 1629 [or 1625 if the passenger Francis French was their son] :[5]

  1. Possibly: Francis French b abt 1625 England. No further record. [The passenger on the Defence, but not the same as Francis of Derby, CT]
  2. Elizabeth French, b. abt. 1629 England, m. Dedham, MA 19 Sep 1650 Richard Ellis, d. Dedham 21 Oct 1694
  3. Mary French, b. abt. 1633 England, d. Cambridge 27 May 1672, m. Jonathan Hyde, b. abt. 1626, d. Newton, MA 5 Oct 1711
  4. John French, b. abt. 1635 England, bp 1635 in Cambridge, Massachusetts d. Oct 1712, m(1) 21 Jun 1659 Abigail Coggan, d. 5 Apr 1662, m(2) 3 Jul 1663 Hannah Burrage, d.7 Jul 1667, m(3) 14 Jan 1667-8 Mary Rogers, d. 16 Jun 1677, m(4) 16 Jan 1677-8 Mary (Littlefield) Kittresge, d. 1719
  5. Sarah French, b. Cambridge, MA 1638, d. 1694, m. Roxbury, MA 15 Aug 1660 Jonathan Peake (son Jonathan Peake and Dorcas French), [GM says daughter of Christopher Peake] b. 17 Dec 1637, d. Roxbury 2 Jun 1700
  6. Jacob French, b. Cambridge 16 Jan 163940, d. 20 May 1713, m(1) 20 Sep 1665 Mary Champney (dau Richard Champney), d. 1 Apr 1681, m(2) 30 Jul 1685 Mary Convers, d. 18 Jun 1686, m(3) Mary ____, d. 9 Jun 1709, m(4) Ruth ____, d. 6 Nov 1730 [4th wife not in GM]
  7. Hannah French, b. Cambridge 12 Apr 1641, d. 20 Jun 1642 Cambridge[6]
  8. Hannah French, b. Cambridge 16 Feb 1644, m. Billerica, MA 6 Sep 1661 John Brackett. Died Billerica 9 May 1674.[7]
  9. Samuel French, b. Cambridge 3 Dec 1645, bur. 15 Jul 1646

Research Notes

The Elizabeth Symmes/Simes Theory: Sarah Simes was a servant of Roger Harlakeden and a passenger on the Defence with William French and his wife Elizabeth. In her will Sarah Simes refers to William French as her loving brother. RC Anderson in the Great Migration sketch of William French states that this seems to be a reference to a brother in the church rather than a familial relation. Meyerick points out that there is no conflicting evidence, but it's interesting that William had two daughters named Sarah.

The Godfrey Theory: While not supported by any evidence, the suggestion that her LNAB was Godfrey comes from "Immigrant Ancestors A list of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750". Extracted from Volume VII. A Compendium of American Genealogy Edited by Frederick Adams Virkus, (1942) p 852 FamilySearch

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.

Maiden name?: Her current (Feb 2024) Findagrave memorial suggests a maiden name of Newes without source info.[4]

Sources

  1. Hotten, John Camden. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality (J.W. Bouton, New York, 1874) pp 99-100 Internet Archive.
  2. Sharples, Stephen Paschall. Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England, 1632-1830 (Eben Putnam, Boston, 1906) pp 7-9 Internet Archive.
  3. VRs of Billerica, page 362,
  4. 4.0 4.1 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196399649/elizabeth-french: accessed February 14, 2024), memorial page for Elizabeth Newes French (1605–31 Mar 1668), Find A Grave: Memorial #196399649, citing Old South Burying Ground, Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Barbara Jensen (contributor 49197801). (No gravestone, no photo.)
  5. Anderson, Robert C, George F. Sanborn, and Melinde L. Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 Vol. II: C-F (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Great Migration Study Project, Boston, 2001) pp 591-92. American Ancestors (subscription).
  6. Baldwin, Thomas W., Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, (Boston, MA: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1915), Vol. 2 p. 562.
  7. NEHGS, compiler, Vital Records of Billerica, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1908) p. 345.
See also:
  • Filby, P. William, ed, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society. Massachusetts, Town Death Records, 1620-1850. Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Provo, UT, USA; 1999

Name: Elizabeth GODFREY •Surname: Godfrey •Given Name: Elizabeth •Sex: F •Death: 31 Mar 1668

  • Ancestry.com Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records New England Historical Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vitals to 1850 - Elisabeth French Spouse William French Child Hannah French b 2 Feb 1641
  • Ancestry.com Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Ancestry.com U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Elizabeth French Maiden Name Godfrey Gender Female Birth Year 1603 Marriage Date About 1625 Marriage Place England Death Year 1668 Spouse William French
  • Ancestry.com Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records Source number: 3512.010; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 18 [Elizabeth Godfrey nee SYMMES] [Elizabeth Godfrey] Gender Female Birth Place EN Birth Year 1605 Spouse Name William French Spouse Birth Place EN Spouse Birth Year 1603 Marriage Year 1623 Marriage State EN Number Pages 18

Acknowledgements





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Comments: 14

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Why is it thought that William French, father of immigrants, was married to Elizabeth Symmes? added sources and answer to question about Elizabeth Godfrey Symmes French at https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/765162/thought-william-french-father-immigrants-married-elizabeth
posted by Clint Stewart
edited by Clint Stewart
Just added sources and image file to verify Elizabeth Godfrey exits and suggest G2G gets involved.
posted by Clint Stewart
Thanks Clint. The image is of Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700. There is a newer edition now, Melinda Lutz Sanborn's 2003 edition called Third Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, p. 104. The entry now reads:
French, William (c1604-1681) & 1/wf Elizabeth ____ ( -1668); m by 1625 Billerica. [GM 2:591].
French, William (c1604-1681) & 2/wf Mary (LOTHROP) STEARNS; m1 John STEARNS; m3 Isaac Mixer; m Billerica 6 May 1669 [GM 2:591].

In this edition the sources listed for William French and his wife now point to only one source: Anderson's Great Migration 2:591, which is cited on this profile above. So with the revisions, the suggested surnames for Elizabeth of Godfrey or Symmes have been deteremined to be incorrect.

Also, please be sure to read M Cole's response on the G2G post as she's noted the most recent scholarly publication showing the current state of research.

posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
edited by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Unknown-202689 and Symmes-114 are dupes and I have added sources to prove it.

As an Army veteran with service connected disabilities I am concerned when profile managers reverse my adjustment of the facts (with sources given) and no public explanation why they will not accept my sources. Have seen first hand knowledge used as a source so why are my documented facts ignored ??

No more private messages concerning this matter please. Would like to know publicly who is deciding what sources we can use to find our Direct Ancestors.

Sources that are not recognized reminds me of Book burnings - The burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question. Book burning can be an act of contempt for the book's contents or author, intended to draw wider public attention to this opinion, or conceal the information contained in the text from being made public, such as diaries or ledgers.

As wikitree is a collaboration (a partnership; a union; the act of producing or making something together) and for the sake of discussion as in Congress, we are the people, let us be heard, let us vote !

Respectfully Clint Stewart

posted by Clint Stewart
Clint,

I think you misunderstand our use of the term "unreliable sources." What we're trying to find are the primary documents that back up statements we're being asked to accept as "fact." For example, what is the primary record that proves that the woman that this particular William French married was named Elizabeth Symmes? Or Godfrey? Or is there such a record at all? There are all sorts of internet "trees" that will tell us with absolute certainty (on their part) that a piece of data is a "fact." But we're always digging deeper for the document that proves it. That document might be someone's will, a deed for a piece of property, a ship's manifest, a baptismal record. Some of the sources you're supplying are simply conglomerated databases on Ancestry or elsewhere, those are what we consider unreliable and ask for the primary document that supports that index entry.

Some examples of reliable sources for this time period and location (early Colonial New England) are given here. Although the list is not exhaustive, it is pretty comprehensive and will give you a good feel for the sources we're looking for.

Bobbie

posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Symmes-114 and Unknown-202689 appear to represent the same person because: See research notes on Symmes-114. Maintain Unknown as LNAB at merge.
posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Symmes-114 and Unknown-202689 do not represent the same person because: Please can we take time out to evaluate the Halstead, Essex parish registers to ensure we don't merge the wrong people. Elizabeth French was a widow when she was buried in Halstead in 1625. Anne French was said to be the widow of William French when she was buried in 1623.
posted by Jo Fitz-Henry
edited by Jo Fitz-Henry
Elizabeth French formerly [surname unknown] aka Symes, Symmes, Godfrey (Unknown-202689) and this profile (Symmes-114) are dupes. Thinking that this England project profile and Puritan Great Migration project profile need to merge. Both married same man and died same date and place. Need any more info ?
posted by Clint Stewart
Clint - there are no reliable sources for any of these claims. The information you have added does not meet the criteria of reliability for this time period. I have set them as rejected merges until reliable information is found.
Added source for Elizabeth Godfrey nee SYMMES Female Birth Place EN Birth Year 1605 Spouse Name William French Spouse Birth Place EN Spouse Birth Year 1603 Marriage Year 1623 Marriage State EN Number Pages 18

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7836/

posted by Clint Stewart
Clint, please see this information about Unreliable Sources: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Pre-1700_Reliable_Sources#Unreliable_Sources

It includes, among many others, Ancestry's "US and International Marriages". Ancestry's description of their database makes it clear why it's unreliable: "This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, querie." Information from the database should only be used as "hints" to be researched further, but not as a source for any pre-1700 profile.

posted by Kay (Johnson) Wilson
There is a page of research on the French family page for Francis French 1625 which concludes that Elizabeth Symmes and Elizabeth Godfrey are two separate people of different generations. I don’t know enough about the family to express an opinion, but plenty of information is put forward which should be considered before any merge. Note, this is not an https secured site. http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/CHARTS/Chart008/

The marriage given in the international record does not give a day or month, so presumably not from a register. As it gives the couple’s ages, it may be from a licence, but I could not find one, perhaps someone else can. I was wondering if it had just been taken from online trees.

posted by Lynn Drasdo
Symmes-115 and Unknown-202689 are not ready to be merged because: While these women may be the same or closely related, they have very different death dates and the children listed do not match, one of the profiles biogrphies tells that she died in childbirth after the death of the only child, so more research is needed before these two profiles can be merged, perhaps they are simply related but not the same person.
Symmes-131 and Unknown-202689 appear to represent the same person because: Appear to be same person. Cambridge is in Middlesex, UK
posted by Bob Nichol

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Categories: Defence, sailed July 1635 | Puritan Great Migration Spouse | Puritan Great Migration