French
1761
John1 French was born in England near 1612 or 1615.
S.P.1-292
N.S., Widow Helen French declines to serve as administrator of John French
Oct.12,1692. John & Dependence French are bonded with John Baxter and
Joseph Crosby as administrators Oct.13,1692.
S.P.13-66: John
& Dependence made administrators of John French, yeoman, Oct.17,1692.
13-74: Inventory,
Oct.24,1692 of John French Sr.
North end of
house & outhousing and 8 acres adjoining £60.
18 a. at Peases
Creek £45, 12 a. pasture near Dependence's £30.
5 a. formerly Spear's
£10, 120 acres at a place called Aldridges Farm about 12 a. therof meadow, the
upland prized at 20 S per acres & the meadow at 40 S per acre £132.
Total £317/10/4,
taken by Samuel White, Nathaniel Wales, & Joseph Allen.
13-252: Account
of John & Dependence as administrators of father John French.
French
1761R
John1 French was born in England near 1612 or 1615.
He is first of
record in America at Boston, but resided in Dorchester evidently as he was
admitted to the church there Jan.27,1642(3) and two children were baptized there.
He was made freeman of the Colony May 29,1644.
On
Feb.24,1639(40) he was granted forty acres of land at Braintree for 5 persons
in the family. This land became the homestead and remained in the family for
several generations; it was located in present Braintree at the easterly end of
Elm St. where the old road used to join Commercial St. a little north of the
present road.
His wife was
Grace - who died Feb.28,1680 a.59, says her gravestone, Hancock Cem., Quincy.
He then married a
second wife and a marriage covenant was drawn up, a curious document, dated
July 8,1683 in which "the said John French doth pre-engage unto the said
Eleanor Veazie not to meddle with, or take into his hand, any part of her
estate, wherein she is invested by her former husband William Veazie, or any
otherwise, nor any wise weakening her right or claim to the same. The said John
French doth hereby covenant and engage to pay the said Eleanor Veazie after my
decease four pounds per annum annually to be paid each year immediately ensuing
after the said John French's decease, by his lawful administrators, executors,
or assigns at her dwelling house; the specie of which payment shall be paid in
cord wood, porke, beefe, malt or corn proportionally of each at prices current.
And that she the said Eleanor Veazie shall have, hold, possess and enjoy the
new end of the dwelling house in which the said French now dwelleth with the
cellar appertaining, during the
1762R
time of her
widowhood. But the four pound annuity to bee and continue to her and her heirs
or assigns during the term of her natural life. To the true performance whereof
the said John French doth hereto set hand this eighth day of July Anno Domini
one thousand six hundred eighty three ---- and she shall have apples what she
please for spending, and a place for a garden plot." Sign'd John French,
witness Samuel Tompson, Benj. Tompson. (Register 12-353).
Eleanor Veazie
was widow of William Veazie and daughter of Rev. William & Abigail
(Collins)(Bedle) Tompson, born about 1626 in England, died April 23,1711 a.85,
gs., Hancock Cem. She was also called Ellen or Helen or Elinor.
1763
A petition to the
court to divide the estate of John French was made by the heirs, and although
undated must have been made not too long after his death on Aug.6,1692, a.
about 80yrs.(Town Rec.).
"The persons
concerned in said estate are John French, the oldest son, Dependence French,
Thomas French, Samuel French, William French, the orphan of William French
deceased, two daughters viz: Temperance Bowditch wife of John Bowditch,
Elizabeth Wheelock of Mendon, children of Mary Lamb deceased are Mary Poole
[alias] Thayer by her first husband Poole, and John Lamb, Samuel Lamb, Margaret
Lamb, Mary Lamb, Grace Lamb, Hannah Lamb, which, if your honor shall please to
grant will greatly oblige your humble servants." (Register Vol.12-253).
John French
according to town records died 1692 aged "about 80 years" which
places his birth near 1612; but on July 26,1659 he made a deposition aged
"44 years or there abouts" (Mass. Archives 39-66) which places his
birth about 1615, this latter probably being more nearly correct.
French
1764
It seems strange
that John French had a land grant in Braintree in 1640, yet his first two
children were born and baptized at Dorchester in 1641, and 1643. Perhaps his
wife was a member of Dorchester Church before him. He was of Braintree in 1644
when he made freeman, and in 1645 when he was one of the petitioners to the
General Court for land for a new plantation.
Children of John & Grace born at Braintree, except first two
+
John
Feb.28,1640(1) at Dorchester, bapt there Feb.12,1642(3). "Went to
Weymouth", says the Church Rec.
Thomas
Jul.10,1643 at Dorchester, bapt. there Jul.2,1643(sic), died Oct.28,1656 at
Braintree.
Mary or
Mercy
near 1646, m. 1st about 1667-8, Samuel Poole of Weymouth. m. 2nd
about 1677, John Lamb of Braintree.
+
Dependence
Mar.7,1648/9
Temperance
Mar.30,1651, m. about 1682, John Bowditch.
+ William
Mar.31,1653
Elizabeth
Sep.29,1655, m. 1st Jul.13,1680 at Medfield, Jonathan Thayer of Mendon.
m. 2nd about 1692, Benjamin Wheelock Sr. of Medfield as 2nd wife.
+
Thomas
(Mar.10,1657/8) date from Thayer Memorial, not on present town records,
probably town off.
+
Samuel
Feb.22,1659/60
French
1765R
John2 (John1) French, born Feb.28,1640(1) at
Dorchester
died -, buried
Dec.23,1718 - Diary of Rev. Samuel Niles.
married about
1685, Experience Thayer, born Feb.15,1658(9), died Sep.29,1719 in 61st year,
dau. of Thomas Jr. & Anna (or Hannah)(--) Thayer.
He was elected
surveyor of highways 1693, tithingman 1695, 1700, fenceviewer 1695.
Children of John & Experience born at Braintree
John
Sep.20,1686, died young.
Anna
Jan.15,1687/8
+
Thomas
Jun.23,1690
Grace
Feb.22,1691/2, m. Oct.3,1722 at Boston, Samuel Curtis of Braintree.
Deborah
Aug.27,1694, died Mar.31,1726, single, "cut her throat", says Diary
of Rev. S. Niles.
William
Jan.16,1696, died about 1782. (over)
John
Apr.16,1699, m. 1st Margaret Darling, removed to Mendon.
Anna, Grace & Deborah daus. of John French owned the covenant & were
baptized Nov.24,1717 & Thomas son of John {can not read, written in border
of film card}.
1765
S.P. N.S. 10-61:
Will of John French - To wife Experience her thirds or £4 a year while a widow.
To son Thomas who is to be sole executor all lands. To son William £40 paid by
my executor. To son John £30. To daughter Hannah French £30. To dau. Grace
French £31. To dau. Deborah French £30 and the three daughters to have house
room while unmarried. To grandson Joseph French son of Thomas £5 towards his
learning, Dated May 28,1717. Witness: Thomas Holbrook, Joseph Allen, Joseph
Allen Jr.
N.S.10-63: We
brethren & near neighbors of late have observed John French to be very
childish by reason of the great decays of his understanding and memory and
incapable of disposing and ordering the common affairs of his estate &
family with any measure of discretion and judgment for several years last past,
Dated Feb.2,1718.
Signed by
Dependence French, Jon'o Thayer, Samuel French, Ebenezer Thayer, Ephraim Thayer
who appeared in court and swore to it Jul.10,1718.
S.P.82-2: Samuel
Curtis yeoman, made administrator of William French & bonded with Silas
Veazey of Braintree & Joshua Wales of Stoughton Jan.7,1782 (sic) - should
read 1783.
82-419: Inventory
taken Jan.25,1783 by Nathaniel Wales, Thomas Penniman & Hobart Clark
£28/3/4. No real estate. copy of distribution & account in files, not in
record books.
French
1766R
Dependence2 (John1) French, born Mar.7,1648/9
died Oct.11,1732
a.84
married 1st
about 1683, Mary Marsh, born Mar.21,1658, died -, dau. of Alexander & Mary
(Belcher) Marsh.
married 2nd
Apr.27,1688 at Milton, Rebecca Fermo, born Sep.23,1662, died Jul.-1741 (buried
Jul.8 "aged"- Diary of Rev. S. Niles), dau. of John & - Fermo.
He was elected
constable about 1689, fenceviewer for Monatiquot 1693, surveyor of highways
1695, tithingman 1699,1706,1712, constable 1702, selectman 1703 & on a
committee to bound the common lands 1718. He resided on his father's grant.