French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Pipe Bay, Guilford, CT

Chart #9, Thomas French, ca. 1615
Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA
Guilford, New Haven Co., CT

Stratford and Fairfield, CT

This chart updated by Mara French on 4/19/11~~11/10/09~~. Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Send any corrections or additions to this chart to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 1990, 2009, 2010.

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First GenerationContents

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Thomas French’s Parentage

Early Ancestry of Thomas French in England

Homestead in Guilford, CT

From the Guilford Founders Family Tree 1639-1989: Thomas French, Planter

From the NEHGS Register Volume 47 pages 357-361 THOMAS FRENCH, OF GUILFORD, CT Communicated by A.D. Weld French, Esq., of Boston

Immigrants from his Neighborhood

Immigrants from the Ship “Elizabeth and Anne”

Immigrants from the Ship “Hector”

Other French Immigrants to New England

Thomas French’s Immigration

The Voyage of the Hector

Ship Passenger Lists by Carl Boyer

NEGHS Register Vol. 47 page 359 cont. with genealogy Lists Thomas French married Mary Button, and Deborah Button, no dates given. Page 361

The Button Family

Thomas French’s First Wife, Mary Button

Thomas French’s Second Wife, Deborah Button (Mrs. Joy)

Joy Family of Milford, CT

First Settlers and Planters in Guilford, CT

Death of Thomas French

Thomas French’s Parentage

Ref [14] states that Thomas French was b. in 1615, and that his father was John French~~, but there is no documental proof so far. It further states that~~. John was b. ca. 1585-89 in England, married Rebecca who was b. 1593 in England, and that John died in England in on 24 Sep 1651. ~~If this data were proven to be true, Thomas French would have been the first from this line to immigrate to America.~~

Checking http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ for the England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906, I find a Thomas French, christened on 1 Jul 1610 in Lewes, Sussex, England, and his father stated as John French [15]. This seems very logical because the county of Sussex is precisely where other passengers from the ship “Hector” and “Elizabeth and Anne” lived, plus Thomas’ first son’s name is John and his second and last son was Thomas, named after himself. There are 2 other men named Thomas born approximately at the same time, but in different areas, and their father’s names were Richard and William, which do not match any heir’s names. He may have been christened in All Saints Parish in Lewes, Sussex, England.

Thomas had an older sister, Ann, b. 21 Jul 1604 in Lewes, Sussex, England. He also had an older brother, Thomas, b. 21 Jul 1604 who died before the second Thomas was born on 1 Jul 1610 in Lewes, Sussex, England [15].

Lewes Castle built immediately after the conquest, 1069-1070.

Homestead in Guilford, CT

According to New Haven Colony – Early Planters [32], Thomas French arrived in New Haven Colony, CT, in 1642, after ~~leaving~~ first residing in Charleston, MA, to where he immigrated in 1638 from England8. In this same source on another web page, it states that Thomas French came to New Haven in the second ship in July 1639 which contradicts the first statement. In a paragraph prior to this one, it states that the first ship was the St. John, commanded by Captain Russell, sailed from England on 20 May 1639, and arrived at New Haven between July 10–15, 1639. The name of the second ship is not mentioned. On this same page it mentions Thomas French removed to Guilford in 1650 or before, so no real date has been established. However, his name first appears on town records of Guilford, CT, on 14 Aug 1645, so that date is considered the most accurate earliest date. It is known that Thomas French was not on either of these first two ships sailing from England to New Haven, because he first sailed to Charleston, MA, several years prior, then to Guilford, New Haven.

He was among the earliest settlers of Guilford, but not until 1645. He lived on 3 ½ acres facing the Green, and on the west to the land of William Chittenden, and in the rear to the lots of Edward Benton, Jacob Sheaffe, and part of William Chittenden, and on the north to the lot of Thomas Stevens, son of John Stevens.

We can see by the 1636 land plots below (north and south Guilford) that Thomas French did not yet reside in Guilford. And neither did Chittenden, Benton, Sheaffe, Stevens, Goldam, Dowde, Mepham, or Norton.

Thomas French had one home lot containing 3 ½ acres fronting up to the Green by the Pond running back to the land of William Chittenden on the west, along by the rears of the home lots of Edward Benton, Jacob Sheaffe and in part of William Chittenden on the north the home lots of Henry Goldam on the south. About 1650 he sold this lot to Thomas Stevens, son of John Stevens, and bought the home lot of Henry Dowde in Crooked Land, bounded by John Stevens, John Mepham, and Thomas Norton.

On Sep 16, 1668 Thomas French was granted 3 or 4 acres of land on the side of Clapboard Hill Swamp. On Feb 11, 1673 the town of Guilford granted Thomas French liberty to exchange his land at Clapboard Hill Swamp containing 5 ½ acres, allowing for it 14 acres beyond East River. These lands must have been granted to Thomas French Jr., as Thomas French Sr. d. 1665.

The freemen of the plantation in 1652 were Henry Whitfield, Jno. Higginson, George Hubbard, Mr. Samuel Desborough, Mr. Robert Kitchel, Mr. Wm. Chittenden, Mr. Wm. Leete, Thomas Jordan, John Hoadley, John Scranton, George Bartlett, Jasper Stillwell, Alexander Chalker, John Stone, Thomas Jones, William Hall, Thomas Betts, John Parmelin, sen. Henry Kingsnorth, Thomas Cook, Richard Bristow, John Parmelin, Jr., John Fowler, Wm. Dudley, Richard Gutridge, Abraham Cruttenden, sen. Edward Benton, John Evarts.

The planters who had not been admitted as freemen were: - John Johnson, John Sheader, Samuel Blachley, Thomas French, Stephen Bishop, Thomas Stevens, William Boreman, Edward Seward, George Highland, Abraham Cruttenden, Jr., John Bishop, sen. Thomas Chatfield, Francis Bushnell, Henry Dowd, Richard Hughes, George Chatfield, William Stone, John Stevens, Benjamin Wright, John Linsley.

The names in bold either lived near Thomas French or were connected closely with his life in one manner or another. In particular, the Parmelee family probably lived near Thomas French in Lewes, Sussex, England.

The planters of both these classes were at that time forty-eight in number; of whom four, namely, John Higginson, George Hubbard, John Fowler, and Thomas Betts, had not been of the company of original planters. Higginson came from Saybrook, where he had been chaplain for four years; and the three others removed from Milford. But the plantation had lost as many or more by removals from it as it had gained by removals to it from other places; and at least seven proprietors are known to have died before 1650. We have seen how Thomas Nash, who came in the same ship with Whitfield, was detached from the company. John Caffinge, or Caffinch, one of the six trustees for purchasing and holding land, and the only one of them who did not come in the same ship with Whitfield, became a planter at New Haven within two or three years after the deeds were signed in which he is named as grantee. Thomas Relf and Thomas Dunk had also removed. In the list of the dead were Thomas Norton, Thomas Mills, John Mepham, John Jordan, William Somers, William Plane, and Francis Austin.

From the Guilford Founders Family Tree 1639-1989: Thomas French, Planter

Thomas French came to Guilford either in 1643 or in 1648 (depending on the source), having gone (immigrated) first to Charlestown, MA about 1638. He is named on the 1650 list as a planter, but not a freeman. His home lot of three and one-half acres was next north of Henry Goldham's on Whitfield Street. In addition, he leased some lands and houses from John Caffinch for a period of time.

Mr. French had two wives. The first was Mary Button, and the second is known only by her first name of Deborah. He had a total of twelve children: Mary, Mercy, Elizabeth, Deliverance, Sarah, John, Martha, Thomas, Ebenezer, Rebecca, Samuel and Abigail. It is thought that he was one of the poorer planters. His name appears in the records of the Guilford Court in two lawsuits against John Evarts for damage to French's crops from Evarts' hogs. ~~*****~~ His property, listed above, is directly adjacent the Town Green, probably the existing site of St. George's Church or close to it. ~~*****~~

From the NEHGS Register Volume 47 pages 357-361
THOMAS FRENCH, OF GUILFORD, CT Communicated by A.D. Weld French, Esq., of Boston

Thomas French was among the earliest settlers of Guilford. His name is not on the plantation covenant. At the commencement of Town Records, Vol. A., page 1, under date August 14, 1645, is the following record. "Mr. Samuel Disbrow (Richard Bristow erased.) "Tho:Betts members of ye church" "Thos:French Planter took their oath." Charged agt. John Stone member of ye church ye particulars which he confest. Savage says: "Thomas French, Charlestown 1638, removed to Guilford 1650 or earlier." He probably came to Guilford about 1643. At the General Court or Meeting held the 20th of February 1649-50, when Mr. Whitfield's reasons were tendered to the church here (at Guilford) for his removal and read in public & enquiry made of every man in particular concerning his ability in paying to the ministers for the present and probability to continue according to ordinary Providence. Thomas French said he should be able to continue his present sum & said further that he was willing to add 6 S. per annum. It is probable that Mr. John Caffinge, when he left Guilford in the latter part of 1643, or beginning of 1644, got Thomas French to occupy his estate at Guilford. Mr. Caffinch sued French, April 1, 1651, at New Haven, for the use of his house, land and cattle at Guilford. Probably French took them when Mr. Caffinch left that place. II New Haven Col. Rec. At a court Feb. 5, Anno 1651-2. Thomas French was called and admonished for saying in a clamourous & scandalizing way "yt he nor his family were not relieved according to their need - nor yt he could get any corn in the town for pay unless he came and offered them half so much more as it was worth, but when he did so, then they had corn enough for him, otherwise not, wherefore he was forced (to) go out of the town to get corn for his family" or words to that effect. To which he acknowledged that this was only true of particular persons. The court out of tenderness to his family pass it over, at present, with an admonition, to take more heed to his carriage reports & speeches. At a court May 3, 1655, he had two suits with John Everts with regard to hoggs, which were eventually arranged. At a town meeting on ye 23d of June 1665 Tho: French propounding in way of Petition to the town to have some relief on account of his daughter who was not wright in her own mind. When the town considered they request, It was put to vote & the vote passed in the negative, - That they did not see themselved engaged either to him or his & therefore did expect he shd. be returned to the place whence he came. And at a Town Meeting August 21, 1665. The town being informed yt notwithstanding Thomas French had been denied entertainment or admittance into this town either for himself or his daughter - yet he had hired lands of Benjn. Wright to settle on, - They did agree by vote as a prevention of him yt whosoever did any longer entertain either of them should give in sufficient security that they should be no damage to the town. These votes are now inexplicable. Thomas French had been a planter for 20 years, had owned lands in the town, and was a man of property. This Thos. French was probably another man, or else the daughter was married to another man. A Terryer of the lands belonging to Thomas French in Guilford as followith vix. 1 Prop. R. fol. 19. Imps. One Home lot containing three acres & a halfe, more or less so allowed ffronting up to the Green by the Pound running back to the land of William Chittenden on the west, along by the rears of the Home lots of Edward Benton, Jaiob Sheaffe & in part of Willm Chittenden on the north the Home lots of Henry Goldam on the south. About 1650 he sold this lot to Thomas Stevens, son of John Stevens, and bought the homelot of Henry Dowde in Crooked Lane, described as follows, I. Prop. R. fol. 7. Imps. One Home lot fronting to the street on the East & rearing back to the Home lot of John Stevens, bounded on the South with the home lot of John Mepham & on the North with the Home lot of Thomas Norton (then of John Norton & William Seward, Thomas dying in 1648) allowed for 2 acres more or less. This last lot had been sold by Henry Dowde to Samuel Blachley about 1647 who sold it to Thomas French who sold it to William Boreman about 1656. Boreman died 1661, and his representatives sold it to Nathan Bradley about 1663, and Bradley sold it to John Chittenden May 20, 1667. See I. Prop. Rec. fol. 19. "Thomas French hath sold and alienated all his houseing and home lot which he bought of Samuel Blatchley as abovesaid unto William Boreman" & I. Prop. Rec. fol. 14. "William Boreman hath with conseut of ye Court bought all Thomas French his houseing and home lot which was late Samuel Blachleys" & also sam fol. Henry Dowde & William Seward & Nathan Bradley (who had bought the whole estate of William Boreman, deceased) have sold and alienated the house & home lot containing about 2 acres unto Nathan Bradley of Guilford Jan. 18, 1663, who sold it to John Chittenden as stated above May 20, 1667/ The following entry is on the last page of I. Prop. R. fol last Feb 14 (55) Thomas French & William Boreman entered an alienation upon an exchange made betwixt them viz. The said French hath given & granted in exchange all his rights in the upland and meadow to be divided at Athammonassock unto the said William Boreman & his heirs etc for & in consideration of the said Boremans now home lot with all his land there adjoining to the said Thomas French & his heirs forever. Item one Home lot bought of Samuel Blachley late the lands of Henry Dowde lying next to the house lot of John Norton on the North & containing & Allowed for two acres. I. Prop. Rec. fol. 9. In a Town meeting February 11th 1673. Thomas French desiring that his son in law John Dudley might be accepted as a planter upon Thomas French engaging to give him 20 acres of land. The Town accepted John Dudley to be a planter.

Homestead in England and His Relationship to Other Early Immigrants

Immigrants from his Neighborhood

It might be useful to determine where these neighboring men of Guilford came from in England to perhaps learn a connection to Thomas French’s homestead:

William Chittenden was b. in Mar 1594 in Cranbrook, Kent, England., and d. 1 Feb 1660/61 in Guilford, CT. William arrived in America on 10 Jul 1639 directly to Guilford; therefore, his hometown in Kent is not a clue as to where Thomas lived in England. William and Thomas met in Guilford. The Passenger and Immigration Lists Index shows Chittenden as immigrating directly to New Haven, CT, in 1639 as researched by Charles Edward Banks, Meredith B. Colket, John A. Farmer, and Frederick A. Virkus.

Edward Benton was b. in Feb 1600 in Epping, Essex, England and immigrated in 1643 according to Meredith B. Colket and 1650 according to John A. Farmer~~ca. 1637~~.

Jacob Sheaffe immigrated in 1643 according to John A. Farmer. Then he moved from Guilford to Boston on 22 Sep 1648.

Thomas Stevens was not yet a freeman of Guilford in 1650, but remained there until 1665 when he removed to Killingworth, CT. The Stevens and French families married cousins. Eliakim Stevens, b. 4 Oct 1734 in Guilford, d. 29 Jan 1784 in Guilford, m. 7 Jan 1756 in Guilford to his cousin Susanna French, daughter of Thomas French and Sarah Graves. Acording to Meredith B. Colket, he immigrated in 1649 to CT.

Henry Goldham or Goldam was b. in 1605 probably in England, d. in 1661 in New Haven, CT. He m. Frances ca. 1630.

Theophilus Eaton was b. 1591 and m. Anne Lloyd ca. 1625-29 before immigrating to Massachusetts Bay.

John Mepham immigrated to CT in 1639.

Parmelee family of 1639 in Guilford was from Lewes, Sussex, England. Thomas French’s dau., Sarah, m. Nathaniel Parmelee in 1668. We believe Thomas French was also from Lewes. In short, John Parmelee, father of Nathaniel Parmelee who m. Sarah French on 24 Oct 1668, was bap. 6 Sep 1612 at All Saints Church in Lewes, East Sussex, England (about the same time Thomas French was born, so they were contemporaries) and d. 31 Jan 1687/88 in Guilford, CT. He was the first member of the family to immigrate to America, arriving four years before his father. "Jo. Palmerley" is listed as a 22-year-old passenger on the Elizabeth and Anne. Master Roger Coop/Cowper/Cooper was at the helm when it left the Port of London on April 13, 1635, and arrived at the Charlestown section of Boston late that spring or early summer. No other family members are listed on that roster. He was one of the original settlers of Guilford, his first home lot being a 1.5-acre parcel on the east side of Crooked Lane, the fourth lot north of Buck Lane. He took the oath of freeman in Guilford on Feb. 14, 1649/50, a little less than a year after his father did. He became the drummer of the train band, the colony's chief defense unit, and served as sexton for many years, "warning" settlers to meetings and church services by beating his drum. His name appears in Guilford's town records, being sued in 1648 by a fellow planter who complained that John's hogs had rooted through his corn, and for reporting to train band practice while intoxicated on 1 January 1656/1657. The Elizabeth and Anne under Roger Cooper (or Cowper) took on passengers for New England from mid-April to mid-May 1635 at London. Hotten [54–78] transcribes Elizabeth and Anne passenger lists from the London port book that are dated 13, 15, 17, and 29 April, and 6, 9, 11, 12, and 14 May. Surnames represented among the Elizabeth and Anne passengers include John Whitney, Thomas Eaton, Joseph Alsop, Thomas Alsop, Peter Mallory, Alexander Baker, Thomas Emerson, Thomas Lord, Gamaliel Beaman – see full list of passengers. Thomas French is not on this list.

All Saints Church in Lewes, Sussex, England

Immigrants from the Ship “Elizabeth and Anne”

See immediate paragraph above under Parmelee. Thomas French could have immigrated on either the Elizabeth and Anne or on the Hector, but his name is not listed on either one.

~~Henry Goldham~~ ~~was b. in 1605, d. in 1661 in New Haven, CT. He m. Frances ca. 1630.~~

Immigrants from the Ship “Hector”

Thomas French b. in England ca. 1615, place unknown, but most likely from the area around Ockley, near London, where the majority of the Pilgrims came from on the ship “Hector” which sailed to Massachusetts Bay, MA, on 26 Jun 1637. Ockley is in the county of Surrey; others of these Pilgrams came from Kent, the county east of Surrey. The Hector that brought the Davenport party to Massachusetts was a new vessel of 250 tons, which had already made a previous passage to Massachusetts Bay. The records indicate that the ship actually arrived in Massachusetts, but other references mention that the Hector also took the party to Connecticut in late 1637 or 1638. A passenger ship list for the trip from Massachusetts Bay to New Haven, Connecticut has not been located. Thomas French’s name does not appear on this list.

As the immigrants on the ship “Hector” were from Kent and Surrey, they took many pains to find a tract of land resembling that from which they had removed. They therefore finally pitched upon Guilford, which, toward the sea, where they made the principal settlement, was low, moist, rich land, liberal indeed to the husbandman, especially the great plain south of the town. This had been already cleared and enriched by the natives. The vast quantities of shells and manure, which in a course of ages they had brought upon it from the sea, had contributed much to the natural richness of the soil. There were also nearly adjoining to this several necks, or points of land, near the sea, clear, rich, and fertile, prepared for immediate improvement."

Other French Immigrants to New England

Thomas French’s relationship to the other French immigrants is unknown; he did not appear to have any direct contact with any of them. We also note that his DNA does not appear to match that of any of the other early French immigrants of New England. See xref chart. In other words, he does not connect to Thomas French of Ipswich, William French of Billerica, Edward French of Salisbury, John French of Braintree, Richard French of Marshfield, nor Stephen French of Weymouth, MA.

Immigration of Thomas French’s Immigration

Ref. [13] believes Thomas French immigrated to the United States in 1639 on the ship “Hector” to Charleston, MA. However, records show that he had arrived by 1638. Wikipedia states that a puritan minister named John Davenport led his flock from exile in the Netherlands back to England and finally to America in the spring of 1637. The group arrived in Boston on the ship “Hector” on June 26, 1637, but decided to strike out on their own, based on their impression that the Massachusetts Bay Colony was lax in its religious observances. That Fall of 1637, Theophilus Eaton led an exploration party south to the north shore of Long Island Sound (in Connecticut) in search of a suitable site. He purchased land from the Indians at the mouth of the Quinnipiac River. In the spring of 1638, the group set out from Boston, and on April 14 they arrived at their “New Haven” on the Connecticut shore. The site seemed ideal for trade with a good port between Boston and New Amsterdam (now New York), and access to the furs of the Connecticut River valley. However, while the colony succeeded as a settlement and religious experiment, its future as a trade center was some years away.

“The Voyage of the Hector” is based on diaries kept by passengers on contemporary voyages.

Atwater, Edward, History of the Colony of New Haven; 1880. (pp 46-58)  (http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/abl/etext/colony/colonycomplete.html)

It was a great undertaking for the company which gradually gathered around Davenport and the Eatons, to prepare for a voyage across the Atlantic, and a permanent residence in the New World. The ministers could perhaps embark, with their books and household-stuff, in a few days; but merchants engaged in foreign commerce needed several months, after deciding to emigrate, for the conversion of their capital into money, or into merchandise suitable for the adventure in which they were engaging. But this company projected something more than emigration. They were not to scatter themselves, when they disembarked, among the different settlements already established in New England, but to remain together, and lay the foundation 'of a new and isolated community. For this reason a more comprehensive outfit was necessary than if ,they had expected to become incorporated, individually or. collectively, in communities already planted. In addition to the stores shipped by individuals, there must be many things provided for the common good, by persons acting in behalf of the whole company. There is evidence, that, after the expedition arrived at New Haven, its affairs were managed like those of a joint-stock association, and therefore some ground for believing, that, from the beginning, those who agreed to emigrate in this company, or at least some of them, associated themselves together as partners in the profit and loss of the adventure. Higginson, some years before, had advised emigrants that " it were a wise course for those that are of abilities to join together and buy a ship for the voyage;" alleging as a reason, that transportation was so dear as five pounds a man, and ten pounds a horse, and commonly three pounds for every ton of goods. " All that come," he says, " must have victuals with them for a twelvemonth." Still earlier, Winslow had written from Plymouth, "Bring good store of clothes and bedding with you. Bring paper and linseed-oil for your windows, with cotton-yarn for your lamps." These directions, intended in both cases for emigrants coming to join communities already established, illustrate the need of studious foresight and careful cooperation in a company of persons proposing not only to remove to New England, but to begin a new and independent plantation. Davenport and Eaton had learned by experience, in fitting out vessels for the Massachusetts Bay Company, what would be needed in a new settlement, and were as well qualified, perhaps, as any could be, to prepare a list of necessary articles. The Abigail, the first ship which came to ' Salem, brought ten thousand bricks as ballast; and bricks with " London " stamped on them were found at the demolition of a very ancient house in New Haven. It is not certain that the vessel in which Davenport and Eaton embarked, was, like the Abigail, ballasted with bricks; but the fact that bricks were sometimes brought from England illustrates the care with which emigrant-ships were fitted out. The Abigail brought also sea-coals, but all freighters must have soon learned that it was useless to carry fuel- to a country so well timbered as New England. An emigrant-ship was further ballasted with iron, steel, lead, nails, and other heavy articles of utility. The bulk of the cargo consisted of apparel, bedding, food, tools, arms, ammunition, and seeds. Neat-cattle and goats were usually taken, and sometimes horses. Theb Massachusetts Bay Company had a rule, that a ship of two hundred tons should not carry above one hundred passengers, and other ships were limited after the same proportion. In the summer of 1636, several vessels recently arrived from England being in the harbor of Boston, Thomas Miller, the master's mate of one of them, was apprehended and brought before the Governor and Council, for saying, to some who came on board, that the colonists were traitors and rebels because they did not display the king's colors at the fort. The ship on which this insufferable speech was spoken was the Hector of London, William Femes, master. Sailing from Boston in July, she was chartered after her arrival. The writer remembers to have seen some of these bricks taken from the Atwater house of which Dr. Dana in his Century Sermon speaks as built by Joshua Atwater, one of the emigrants. I think, however, that the house was built by a nephew of Joshua Atwater. Certainly Thomas Att-water (as he chose to write his name), who in Dr. Dana's time occupied the house, was not descended from Joshua Atwater, but from his brother David in London by the company whose origin has been related in the preceding chapter. While they were preparing her for another voyage to Boston, she was seized by the Lords of the Admiralty for the king's service, as will appear from the following petition without date, but indorsed, " Received January, 1637:" - " To the Right Honorable the Lords and other Commissioners of his Majesty's High Court of Admiralty :- "The humble petition of the Owners and Freighters of the good ship called the Hector of London, " Humbly showeth unto your honors that your petitioners having contracted for a voyage with the said ship from here to New England for a plantation there, and from there to divers parts in the Streights, the freighters have made ready all their provisions and passengers, fitting both for the said voyage and plantation, and most of them thereupon engaged their whole estates and paid part of their moneys. Since which agreement and preparation made, the said ship is impressed for his Majesty's service whereby she is hindered from proceeding on the said intended voyage. " Their most humble suit therefore is that in respect of the petitioners' great charges already arisen before the impressing of the ship, and her not proceeding on her voyage will tend to the great loss, if not utter undoing of divers of your honors' suppliants, and for that, if it pleased God the ship do safely returne, the Custom to his Majesty of the goods to be imported in her from the Streights hither will amount to .£3000 at the least, your Lordships would be pleased to give order and warrant for the release of the said ship from her impression that so she may proceed on her said voyage, " And they as in duty bound shall daily pray." This petition was supported by the following certificate, signed by Samuel Hutchinson, Richard Hutchin-son, and Arthur Hollingworth, who were perhaps the owners of the Hector:- " We whose names are hereunto subscribed do hereby certify that the good ship called the Hector of London was contracted for, for a voyage, and that provision was made and provided before the said ship was impressed for the king's Majesty's service. In testimony whereof we have hereunder set our names the nineteenth of January A. D. 1637." On the 23d of the same month the Secretary of the Admiralty wrote to Sir .William Russell, through whom the petition, with others of like import, had reached them, as follows : - "Sir,- The Lords Commissioners for the Admiralty (having perused your letter of the 2ist of this month touching the merchant ships ordered to be taken up for his Majesty's service) have commanded me to signify to you that they think it not fit to release any of the said ships upon the pretences expressed in your letter (albeit the same may be true) in regard they perceive by your letter that there are not at present any merchant ships in the Thames fit to send in their places. But when you shall certify their Lordships that there are other merchant ships in the river of the like burden and force, fit for his Majesty's service that may be completely fitted and ready by the 2oth of April next, their Lordships will consider further of the allegations of the owners of the four ships mentioned in your said letter and declare their further pleasure thereupon." Not entirely discouraged by this reply, the captain of the Hector presented another petition without date, but indorsed, "1637, February 14:" - " To the Right Honorable the Lords and other Commissioners of the Admiralty : - "The humble petition of William Femes, master of the ship called the Hector, "Humbly showeth that whereas the petitioner hath been an humble suitor to your honors for the releasing of the said ship; for that there was a contract and provision was made for a voyage long before, which tends to the ruin of many, except your honors be pleased to give order for her discharge; for that there are divers ships come in more fit and able for his Majesty's service, viz., the Vinty about 300 tons and 22 pieces of ordnance; the Royal Defence 300 tons and upwards, with 22 pieces of ordnance; the Pleiades 350 tons, 26 ordnance; Prudence 370 tons, 28 pieces ordnance; one whereof Mr. Wise is master, 350 tons and 24 pieces of ordnance; " His humble suit therefore is that your honors will please to give order that the said ship called the Hector may be discharged for the reasons aforesaid, that she may go on in her intended voyage, " And the petitioner with many others shall pray." Ultimately, the Hector was released; and from an order of the king in council, that the Pleiades, with other impressed vessels, should be ready for sea on the 25th of April, it may be inferred that she was substituted for the Hector. The reader will have noticed that the names of the freighters are withheld in all these negotiations for the release of their ship. It is alleged that many will suffer, and perhaps be undone, but there is nothing to call attention to any individuals as engaged in the enterprise. The lords of the council were not ignorant that considerable emigration to New England had already taken place, or that the exodus still continued; but they believed that those who went were for the most part poor and mean people, who would be of little advantage at home and might, if colonized, be of use by increasing foreign commerce. Moreover they were unaware how strongly this emigration was leavened with Puritanism. If they had known that several wealthy merchants of London, inclined to non-conformity, had embarked their whole estates in the Hector, and were intending to go to New England with their families to find there a permanent residence, they would have found means to frustrate the undertaking. On the 30th of April proclamation was made, "that the king -being informed that great numbers of his subjects are yearly transported into those parts of America which have been granted by patent to several persons, and there settle themselves, some of them with their families and whole estates, amongst whom are many idle and refractory humors, whose only or principal end is to live without the reach of authority - doth command his officers and ministers of the ports, not to suffer any persons, being subsidy men or of their value, to pass to any of those plantations without a license from his Majesty's commissioners for plantations first obtained; nor any under the degree of subsidy men, without a certificate from two justices of the peace where they lived, that they have taken the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and a testimony from the minister of the parish, of their conformity to the orders and discipline of the Church of England." As the Hector arrived in Boston on the 26th of June, we may infer from the date of this proclamation that it was issued immediately after she had sailed, and that it was occasioned by the discovery of the true nature of an expedition in which several persons, being subsidy men, or of their value, had clandestinely left the kingdom and carried away their estates. If the ship was chartered by a joint-stock association, it does not follow that only shareholders took passage in her. The Massachusetts Bay Company had a regular tariff of rates at which they received all freight that was offered, and all passengers who were approved. Theophilus Eaton owned a sixteenth of the Arbella, which had been purchased expressly for that company's service; and both he and Davenport, as directors of the company," had become familiar with its methods. The rates of that company were five pounds for the passage of an adult, and four pounds for a ton of goods. The association of adventurers which chartered the Hector would- naturally adopt similar methods and similar rates. Having secured accommodation for themselves and their families, and for the freight which belonged to the association and to the individuals composing it, they would receive persons not shareholders, at the regular rates. Some of the emigrants may have been precluded from taking stock in the association by the expenses of emigration; but the originators of the enterprise would naturally desire that all who were of sufficient ability should have a pecuniary interest in its welfare. There was at least one passenger who did not come as an emigrant. Winthrop writes in his journal, "In the Hector came also the Lord Leigh, son and heir of the Earl of Marlborough, being about nineteen years of age, who came only to see the country. He was of very sober carriage, especially in the ship, where he was much disrespected and unworthily used by the master, one Femes, and some of the passengers; yet he bore it meekly and silently."' ' Before the Hector sailed, the company which chartered her had so increased that it became necessary to hire another vessel to accompany her on the voyage; but the name of the vessel has not been preserved to us. This unexpected increase was due to the accession 1 Winthrop perhaps changed his mind about Lord Leigh, when that youth, having accepted the governor's invitation to a dinner-party made expressly to honor him, was persuaded by Harry Vane to absent himself of those who have been mentioned* as coming from Kent and from Herefordshire. Concerning the latter, we have no means of determining when Prudden began to negotiate with Davenport; but the men of Kent appear to have joined the expedition after the Hector was engaged for the voyage. Their departure was so hasty that many who. wished to go were forced to wait for another opportunity, and came out two years afterward in the first ship which sailed from England direct to the harbor of New Haven. No documents have yet been found which indicate the day when the Hector and her consort sailed from London, or the manner in which the officers of the port discharged their official duty in examining the certificates of the passengers. Similar requirements to those prescribed by the proclamation of April 50 had been made by a proclamation issued more than two years earlier, but were nevertheless insufficient to prevent the emigration of Puritans. Many found no difficulty in obtaining a bona-fide certificate of conformity, and it does not appear that any objected to the oaths of allegiance and supremacy. If unable to obtain a certificate from the minister of the parish where they had lived, they came, some clandestinely, and some under borrowed names and corresponding passports. It is said that John Aylmer, Bishop of London in Queen Elizabeth's time, and an exile for religion in Queen Mary's reign, was so small of stature, that, when the searchers were clearing the ship in which he made his escape, the merchant put him into a great wine'-butt that had a partition in the middle, so that Aylmer was enclosed in the hinder part while the searchers drank of the wine which they saw drawn out of the head on the other part.' The Puritans of the seventeenth century were capable of exercising equal ingenuity when necessary ; but, in a ship full of his friends, a person obnoxious to the government might be secreted for an hour without so much trouble, even if the searching officer were in sympathy with the lords of .the Privy Council. In many cases, however, the searcher discharged his duty perfunctorily, and with no earnest desire to discover and arrest those who embarked without the required certificates. If ever lists of the passengers in the Hector and her consort should be discovered, they will probably not contain the name of John Davenport or of Samuel Eaton. Two months was perhaps the average time consumed in sailing from London to Boston in the vessels of that day. The Arbella, when she brought Winthrop and his company, was a little more than two months from Yarmouth to Salem; and there is no intimation in his journal that the voyage was unexpectedly long. Hig-ginson says, " Our passage was short and speedy; for whereas we had three thousand miles English to sail from Old to New England, we performed the same in six weeks and three days." A passage was indeed sometimes made in less time, but in other instances was protracted to three months. A vessel made but one round trip in a year, leaving England in the spring and arriving home in the autumn. Crowded cabins rendered the passage uncomfortable, even when speedy; but a protracted voyage often induced not only discomfort, but disease. None of the passengers in the Hector, or in the vessel which accompanied' her, having supplied us with his journal, we must avail ourselves of diaries of contemporary voyages if we would see them in imagination pursuing - their way down the Thames, through the - A BARQUE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Channel, and over the Atlantic, Sea-sickness reigned supreme as they passed along the southern coast of their native island; but in the first pleasant weather after they had gained the open sea, they "fetched out the children and others, that were sick and lay groaning in the cabins, and, having stretched a rope from the steerage to the mainmast, made them stand, some on one side and some on the other, and sway it up and down till they were warm. By this means they soon grew well and merry." Afterward, "when the ship heaved and set more than usual, a few were sick, but of these such as came upon deck and stirred themselves were presently well again; therefore, our captain set our children and young men to some harmless exercises in which the seamen were very active, and did our people much good, though they would sometimes play the wags with them." Once or twice during the voyage the wind blew a gale; and the passengers being confined to the cabin united in the observance of a fast with a protracted service of prayer, which, when the wind subsided, was followed by a service of thanksgiving. " We constantly served God morning and evening, by reading and expounding a chapter, singing, and prayer; and the sabbath was solemnly kept by adding to the former, preaching twice, and catechising. Besides, the shipmaster a'nd his company used every night to set their eight and twelve o'clock watches with singing a psalm, and prayer that was not read out of a book." Sometimes one vessel so far outsailed her consort, that she must take in some sail, and stay for her, lest the two should be entirely separated for the remainder of the voyage. " Our captain, supposing us now to be near the coast, fitted on a new mainsail, that was very strong and double, and would not adventure with his old sails as before, when he had sea-room enough." " This evening we saw the new moon more than half an hour after sunset, being much smaller than it is at any time in England." "About four this morning, we sounded, and had ground at thirty fathom; and, it being somewhat calm, we put our ship a-stays, and took, in less than two hours, with a few hooks, sixty-seven codfish, most of them very great fish. This came very seasonably, for our salt fish was now spent, and we were taking care for victuals this day, being a fish day." "We had now fair sunshine weather, and there came a smell off the shore like the smell of a garden." Four days later, both the ships lay at anchor, and the weary voyagers, were on shore, some gathering store of fine strawberries, and others entertained in the houses of friends, who feasted them with "good venison pasty, and good beer."

Ship Passenger Lists by Carl Boyer

R referencing a previous work by Isabel MacBeath Calder entitled Passengers on the Hector, 1637-38, The New Haven Colony pp. 29-31. Website: http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/hector1637.shtml

A special thanks goes to Molly Kernan who transcribed this ship's list for The OLIVE TREE and included background information from her own research.

The following is the passenger list for the vessel Hector, which brought the passengers accompanying John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton to Connecticut in 1637. There is another ship called the Hector that brought the first Scottish Highlanders to Nova Scotia in the mid-1700's, but the Hector Heritage Foundation in Nova Scotia states that the ship that brought the Davenport/Eaton party is a different vessel.

The Hector that brought the Davenport party to Massachusetts was a new vessel of 250 tons, which had already made a previous passage to Massachusetts Bay. The records indicate that the ship actually arrived in Massachusetts, but other references mention that the Hector also took the party to Connecticut in late 1637 or 1638. A passenger ship list for the trip from Massachusetts Bay to New Haven, Connecticut has not been located.

Passengers on the Hector sold their belongings in preparation for the sailing, but then the English government impressed the ship for the service of the crown. The owners petitioned for its release in January 1637, but the ship was not freed until May. According to the records of John Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay, the ship arrived in Boston (from London England) on June 26, 1637. (As you can see, Thomas French is not among these passengers. If anyone has further data, please email marafrench@mindspring.com). ~~I wonder on which ship Henry Whitfield came? Other documentation states he was on the Hector.~~ Passengers on the “Hector of London”.

John & Elizabeth Davenport

Theophilus Eaton

Old Mrs. Eaton, his mother

Anne Eaton, second wife of Theophilus Eaton and daughter of George Loyd Bishop of Chester and widow of Thomas Yale

The children of Anne Eaton by her former marriage

Edward Hopkins

Richard Malbon

Nathaniel Rowe

William Andrews

Henry Browning

James Clark

Jasper Crane

Jeremy Dixon

Nicholas Elsey

Francis Hall

Robert Hill

William Ives

George Smith

George Ward

Lawrence Ward

Ezekiel Cheever

Edward Bannister

Old Jewry

Richard Beach Richard Beckley (If Richard is your ancestor, you can email Molly P Kernan who is also a descendant)

John Brockett

John Budd

John Cooper

Arthur Halbidge

Mathew Hitchcock

Andrew Hull

Andrew Low

Andrew Messenger

Mathew Moulthrop

Francis Newman

Robert Newman

Richard Osborn

Edward Patteson

John Reader

William Thorp

Samuel Whitehead

Home in Guilford, CT

No list of planters is extant bearing an earlier date than 1650. About that time a catalogue of the freemen was recorded, to which were appended the names of planters not yet admitted to the right of suffrage. Two or three names of each of these classes appear to have been added as late as 1652. The freemen of the plantation were: - Henry Whitfield.

~~Henry Whitfield’s House, ca. 1639 in Guilford, CT~~

Jno. Higginson. George Hubbard. Mr. Samuel Desborough. Mr. Robert Kitchel. Mr. Wm. Chittenden. Mr. Wm. Leete. Thomas Jordan. John Hoadley. John Scranton. George Bartlett. Jasper Stillwell. Alexander Chalker. John Stone. Thomas Jones. William Hall. Thomas Betts. John Parmelin, sen. Henry Kingsnorth. Thomas Cook. Richard Bristow. John Parmelin, Jr. John Fowler. Wm. Dudley. Richard Gutridge. Abraham Cruttenden, sen. Edward Benton. John Evarts. The planters who had not been admitted as freemen were: - John Johnson. John Sheader. Samuel Blachley. Thomas French. Stephen Bishop. Thomas Stevens. William Boreman.' Edward Seward. George Highland. Abraham Cruttenden, Jr. John Bishop, sen. Thomas Chatfield. Francis Bushnell. Henry Dowd. Richard Hughes. George Chatfield. 'William Stone. John Stevens. 1 Benjamin Wright. John Linsley.

~~He resided in Charlestown, MA, in 1638, and removed to Guilford, CT ca. 1643 [2] [15], where he was a planter and lived there until he died ca. 1675 [2]. Thomas married twice. Thomas died ca. 1665.~~

NEGHS Register Vol. 47 page 359 cont. with genealogy Lists Thomas French married Mary Button, and Deborah Button, no dates given. Page 361

Sept. 16, 1668 - Thomas French was granted three or four acres of land on this side of Clapboard hill swamp, with part of the swamp, according as the Townsmen viewing it shall judge meets that no highway be prejudiced thereby.

Feb. 11, 1673 - The town granted Thomas French liberty to exchange his land at Clapboard hill swamp, containing five acres and a half, allowing for it fourteen acres beyond East River. ***** Son of John French (source: family tree maker G153) ***** John Mallory Allen email: allen.mallory@ibm.net or allen.mallory@snet.net or allen.mallory@attglobal.net who said that Thomas French married 2nd between 1660-1667 and 2 children Abigail and Samuel were born to Deborah (she says possibly the former wife of Walter Joy of Milford). The Guilford Families book I have did not have a last name for Deborah, the second wife, but it did list Samuel and Abigail were not children of Mary Button, but of Deborah______.

The Button Family

Mary and Deborah Button were the wives of Thomas French and the daughters of John Button. John was b. 1599, d. 1681 in Boston, MA. He was a miller and lived near his windmill on Copp’s Hill in Boston as early as 1633.

Copp’s Hill Burying Ground is Boston’s second oldest burying ground. It is located on Hull Street in Boston.

John m1. Grace ca. 1618, and most likely all his children were born before he immigrated to New England. Grace d. 9 Mar 1638/39 in Boston, MA. He m2. Mary, who became John’s widow. Children were (not in any particular order):

Mary Button, b. ca. 1619, christened 23 Feb 1634, d. before 1667 in Guilford, CT. Many genealogists are convinced that Mary, who married Thomas French  was the daughter of John Button. In John Hanniford's will he gives legatees as  daughters Sarah, Hannah, son Samuel, "children of my sister Mary French: children of sister Rose Marish..." Therefore, one cannot be sure whether Mary  was the sister-in-law of John's daughter Abigail, or referred to by Hanniford  affectionately as his sister, though in fact, his sister-in-law. Therefore,  Mary and her sister Deborah will be listed as though they were children of John  Button, although we do not know that such is proven.

John Button, Jr., b. ca. 1622

Abigail Button, b. ca. 1625

Deborah Button, b. ca. 1628. If Thomas French m. Deborah ca. 1668, she would have been 40 years old when she had 2 children by him. She d. 19 May 1717.

Hannah Button, m. John Hanniford of Boston ca. 1642.

Thomas French’s First Wife, Mary Button

Thomas French m1. ca. 1639 Mary Button, dau. of John and Grace Button of Boston, MA, born in 1619. John Button is said to have been the son of Sir Thomas Button, English navigator (NEHGR v3 p. 92). John Button was b. in 1599 and is believed to have been from Harrold, Bedford Co., England. John was a miller and lived near his windmill on Copp’s Hill in Boston. He d. 1681 in Boston and his wife Grace d. 9 Mar 1638 in Boston. Proof of the Button line is based on Guilford land records mentioned in the Boston Transcript, 1910, that William Stone Sr. & Jr. of Guilford testified that “Hannah, Mercy, Deliverance, Sarah, Martha, & Ebenezer French are the children of Mary French and Thomas French and the reputed daughter of Lieutenant John Button of Boston. Oath was taken Nov 22, 1682.

Many genealogists are convinced that Mary, who married Thomas French  was the daughter of John Button. In John Hanniford's will he gives legatees as  daughters Sarah, Hannah, son Samuel, "children of my sister Mary French: children of sister Rose Marish..." Therefore, one cannot be sure whether Mary  was the sister-in-law of John's daughter Abigail, or referred to by Hanniford  affectionately as his sister, though in fact, his sister-in-law. Therefore,  Mary and her sister Deborah will be listed as though they were children of John  Button, although we do not know that such is proven.

Mary died ca. 1660 in Guilford, New Haven Co., CT; thereafter Thomas m. Deborah Button.

Thomas French’s Second Wife, Deborah Button (Mrs. Joy)

Thomas French m2. by 1667 Deborah Button, sister of Mary Button [3] [4]. Some reports say she was Deborah Wathen Joy, widow of Walter Joy of Milton, MA. Deborah was the mother of Thomas’ last two children: Samuel and Abigail. Deborah died May 19, 1717.

Joy, Walter. Walter Joy's wife at Milford was treated by Winthrop, 1657. We are unable to connect him with the Hingham family, and no relationship is known to Peter Joy of Salem. He left little record of himself or family, but for reasons which will presently appear we believe that his wife was Deborah and that she m. (2) Thomas French of Guilford, as his second wife. The first link in the chain of evidence is too the brief record of the estate of Isaac Joy, whose Inv. presented 9 June 1675 showed a small property at Milford and Guilford; he left a mother who lived at Guilford; three brothers and one sister related by the father and mother; and there were two children related by the mother only. A study of Guilford families reveals that Thomas French, between 1660 and 1667, acquired a second wife Deborah, by who he had two children, - Samuel 1667, and Abigail 1669. This answers the requirements of the case perfectly. Furthermore, Thomas French and Deborah his wife, of Guilford, conveyed on 10 Mar. 1678 and also on 21 July 1679, to Joseph Joy of Guilford. ... With regard to the half-brother, Samuel French, Talcott's manuscript history of Guilford families states that he d. young, but nothing to substantiate this has been found except that no record of him after his birth appears in Guilford records. The age of death of Sergt. Samuel French of Strafield agrees with the birth of the Guilford Samuel, and patient search has failed to disclose any other Samuel with whom the Stratfield man can be identified. The eldest dau. of Sergt. Samuel French was named Deborah, as was also the eldest dau. of Jacob Joy; and this is what we should expect if Deborah was their mother. We therefore conclude that Walter Joy m. Deborah _____, who m. (2) Thomas French ( Deborah (_____) (Joy) French perhaps m3. John Jordan and d. in 1677. John Jordan and Deborah his wife of Guilford conveyed to John French [stepson of Mrs. Deborah French], 12 Apr. 1677; Jonathan Pitman witnessed the deed, which states that Deborah died before the ensealing and delivery. [Guilford Deeds]).

From: "Allen John Mallory" <allen.mallory@ibm.net>  Subject: Re: [GenConnecticut-L] Joy Family of Milford 1650  Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 20:52:10 -0000 Joy Family of Milford, CT

From Allen John Mallory: <allen.mallory@ibm.net>  or allen.mallory@snet.net or allen.mallory@attglobal.net Subject: Re: [GenConnecticut-L] Joy Family of Milford 1650  Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 20:52:10 -0000

"Walter Joy's wife at Milford was treated by Winthrop, 1657. We are unable

to connect him with the Hingham family, and no relationship is known to

PPeter Joy of Salem. He left little record of himself or family, but for

reasons which will presently appear we believe that his wife was Deborah and

that she m. (2) Thomas French of Guilford, as his second wife."

"The first link in the chain of evidence is the too brief record of the

estate of Isaac Joy, whose Inv. presented 9 June 1675 showed a small

property at Milford and Guilford; he left a mother who lived at Guilford;

three brothers and one sister related by the father and mother; and there

were two children related by the mother only."

"A study of Guilford families reveals that Thomas French between 1660 and

1667, acxquired a second wife Deborah, by whom he had two children,--Samuel

1667, and Abigail 1669. This answers the requirements of the case

perfectly. Furthermore, Thomas French and Deborah his wife, of Guilford,

conveyed on 10 Mr. 1678 and also on 21 July 1679, to Joseph Joy of

Guilford."

"Joseph Joy was of Fairfield when he died, and his will, 28 Apr. 1690,

states that he was leaving with the expedition against the French in Canada;

gave legacies to his cousins Joseph Bennett, Deborah Joy, and Mary Joy; and

gave the residue of his estate to Walter Joy, son of lhis brother Jacob;

brother Jacob and Samuel Hubbell, Sr., Exec'rs. Inv. 24 Sept. 1690. Jacob

reported deceased, 15 Feb. 1691 [1691/2]; Walter Joy was also dec'd, his

share ordered to his sisters Deborah wife of Andrew Ward and Mary Joy."

"Abraham Joy of Fairlfield, making a voyage to Boston, left his estate to

his brother Joseph, who presented the Inv. 16 Aug. 1687; Isaac Wheeler

appointed Adm'r."

"Jacob Joy received a grant from the town of Guilford, 23 Feb. 1669/70, and

soon after removed to Killingworth." [40]

First Settlers and Planters in Guilford, CT

George Chatfield, Rev. Henry Whitfield, Jasper Stillwell, Thomas Chatfield, Thomas Relf, William Plaine, Thomas Betts, John Sheather, Mr. John Jordan, John Stone, Rev. John Higginson, Samuel Desbrough, Richard Hues, Francis Chatfield, Dea. George Bartlett, Henry Goldham, Thomas French, Edward Benton, Mr. John Hoadley, Mr. Jacob Sheafe, Mr. William Chittenden, Gov. William Leete, Robert Kitchel, Francis Bushnell, Jr., Mr. John Caffinch, Francis Bushnell, Sr., William Dudley, John Stevens, Thomas Cook, William Stone, William Barnes, Mr. Abraham Crittenden, Capt. James Frisbie, Miss Kate Hunt, J. Meigs Hand, Mrs. Knowles, George S. Davis, J. S. Elliott, William Kelsey, Elisha Hart, Dr. Alvan Talcott, Lewis Elliott, Capt. William C. Dudley, James Dudley, Frog Pond Cottage, William Isbell, H. W. Chittenden, Miss Lydia D. Chittenden, Edwin Griswold, John Hubbard, S. B. Chittenden, William L. Stone, Mrs. Hannah Brown, George Spencer, Edwin Leete, Dr. G. P. Reynolds, Benjamin West, Dea. Albert Dowd, Douglas Loper, Charles Stone, Guilford Institute, Capt. T3-ler, Thomas Jordan, John Parmelee, John Mepham, Henry Doude, Thomas Norton, William Hall, Henry Kingsnorth, Richard Guttridge, Benjamin Wright, William Love, William Boreman, John Parmelee, Jr., John Scranton, Alexander Chalker, Stephen Bradley, Thomas Jones, John Bishop, Miss Clara Sage, Mrs. Monroe, John Benton, Partridge House, Hinckley House, Grace Starr, Charles Leete, Capt. R. L. Fowler, Miss Harriet Hall, Mrs. Augustus Hall, William Benton, L. L. Rowland, John Benton, Henry Chamberlain, Mrs. L. H. Steiner, Mrs. T. H. Landon.

Listed in the History of Connecticut by Ralph Dunning Smith, the following names of planters are given in the original records, who had not been admitted as freemen: John Bishop Sen., Thomas Chatfield, Francis Bushnell, Henry Dowd, Richard Hues, George Chatfield, William Stone, John Stevens, Benjamin Wright, John Linsley, John Johnson, John Sheader, Samuel Blachley, Thomas French, Stephen Bishop, Thomas Stevens, William Boreman, Edward Sewers, George Highland, Abraham Cruttenden Jr.

Thomas French appears to have been in Guilford as early as 1646 (page 15). John French is listed as a town clerk since the settlement of the town, 1716 to 1717 (page 182). Thomas French is listed as a freeman in 1657 or 1658 (page 24). Thomas French took the oath of fidelity about in 1645, although not among the first settlers, he came very early (page 27). The earliest record was written Aug 14, 1645 in which Thomas French’s name appears as a planter who took oath (page 59).

Thomas French’s Homesites

One home lot containing 3 ½ acres fronting up to the Green by the Pond running back to the land of William Chittenden on the west, along by the rears of the home lots of Edward Benton, Jacob Sheaffe and in part of William Chittenden on the north the home lots of Henry Goldam on the south. About 1650 he sold this lot to Thomas Stevens, son of John Stevens, and bought the home lot of Henry Dowde in Crooked Land, bounded by John Stevens, John Mepham, and Thomas Norton.

On Sep 16, 1668 Thomas French was granted 3 or 4 acres of land on the side of Clapboard Hill Swamp. On Feb 11, 1673 the town of Guilford granted Thomas French liberty to exchange his land at Clapboard Hill Swamp containing 5 ½ acres, allowing for it 14 acres beyond East River. These statements are a bit confusing knowing that Thomas French d. 1665.