French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Lulbegrud Baptist Church, erected in 1799, church of James and Keziah Calloway French of Montgomery Co., KY. The Lulbegrud congregation, between the years 1806 and 1810, built a new house of worship, about one mile from where the first one stood. The new house was built of hewn logs, with twelve corners, to represent the twelve apostles. The pulpit was so arranged that the speaker could be seen and heard from all parts of the house. According to tradition, this house of twelve corners was planned by Mrs. Keziah Callaway French, wife of the uncompromising Baptist, James French.

Chart #14, James French of
Prince William, Stafford, Prince Edward,
and Fauquier Counties, VA
and Montgomery Co. KY

This page updated by Mara French on 9/27/09. Numbers in brackets [ ] show the source material and refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart. An asterisk (*) shows continuation of that line. Please send any corrections or additions to Mara French.

French Family Slaveholders of Mulatto and Black Slaves

List of Chart #14 Slaveholders and Slaves

Unknown Frenches

Bibliography

History and Research

The core of this chart was taken from “A Genealogical and Biographical History of the Field Family of Massachusetts and Vermont, and the French-Henry Families of Virginia and Texas” by FFA member Charles Kellog Field, III [1]. This chart comprises only the genealogical facts concerning names, dates, and places. It does not include the biographies of this French family. If you are a descendant of this line, it is well worth buying his book. 376 pages, copyright 1985. Write to him at Charles K. Field, 2961 Woodcreek Way, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48013 (313) 647-5410. This family moved from VA to KY, plus they married into the Taliaferro family, indicating that this family might be connected to FFA Chart #36.

Charles K. Field’s book states that Daniel French was the first colonial ancestor of this French family to arrive in America. He states that Daniel immigrated from Frenchpark, Roscommon County, Ireland in 1660 and landed at Cape Henry, VA [5]; however, the FFA finds no mention of a Daniel French in Frenchpark, Ireland. Daniel’s descendants settled in Prince William County, Virginia, which in 1747 in part became Fauquier County. His descendants also lived in Stafford County, VA [1].

There was a Daniel Frency of Maryland, who d. 1681, and who was said to have immigrated in 1622 from Roscommon County, Ireland and immigrated to Maryland, living at Poynt Comfort Creek. The FFA does not consider any of this information solid enough to add as fact; therefore, this chart starts with James French.

Various surnames of this line indicate that FFA Chart #14 may be connected with FFA Charts #36, #EE, #12, or #31. The only way to determine if these lines are connected would be for a French living male of this line to take the DNA test to see if it matches up with DNA Group 1.

First Generation

1.1* James French, b. ca. 1686 perhaps in Stafford Co., VA, or England, or Ireland. He m. Elizabeth, date unknown. She may have been his second wife, because his children were born in 1705, 1715, and 1725, quite a few years apart. He wrote his will on 2 Nov 1741, d. 3 May 1743 on his tobacco plantation in Prince William County, VA. Elizabeth d. 1768 in Prince William Co. [1] [14]. James’ will was proved (probated) in Prince William County on 23 May 1743. He gave special bequests to his wife, Elizabeth, son William and daughter Mary Ann French. He states that if his son William died without heirs, his portion was to be auctioned off and divided equally between his wife (Elizabeth) and all his children (this is assumed to mean the children of daughter Mary Ann, and perhaps oldest daughter Jane who had died, and William who had children but not until after James died).

Land Deeds

1723 – James French, traded 96 pounds of tobacco for 100 acres of fertile crop land which he had contracted to pay off during the next four years [2]. This portion of land was part of Henry Eilkin’s property. In May 1723 James had contracted with William Dolehy, age 15, to plant 10,315 tobacco plants [3]. The law at the time passed by the House of Burgesses in order to “improve the staple of tobacco” stated, “that all males between the ages of 10 and 16 could tend 3,000 plants, housekeepers could tend 10,000 plants, and all laboring people 6,000 plants and no more” [1].

1725 -- In Deed Book A, Page 224-227 of Prince William Co., VA, Philemon Waters of Hamilton Parish to Gabriel Muffett – 130 acres of land for 1000 # of tobacco. Part of a greater tract granted Philemon Waters on 8 Feb 1725 on the south side of Occaquan on a branch called Philemon’s. The 130 acres being laid out by Lewis Reno, Francis Reno, Philemon Waters, Jr., and John Mackmillion. Whitness James French and Thomas Reno. Gabriel Muffett was in some way related to Philemon Waters. Cousins of Gabriel Muffett in his will dated 11 Jan 1758 were Edward Walkins, William Moore, and Lewis Reno.

1741 -- On 22 Oct 1741 in Prince William Co., VA, Deed Book E, page 495, James French of Hamilton Parish, Prince William Co., VA, deeded 130 acres to Leonard Hornsby, a tailor, with witnesses William Moore, Thomas Reno, and George Bryn. See this website: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/princewilliam/deeds/h4520001.txt. This deed was written only a week before James wrote his will; therefore, he may not have been in good health.

For Dec 22, 1741 court cases, see PW Reliquary Vol. 7 No 2.pdf. The transcribed will of James is also in this pdf file. The original will is in this pdf file: JamesFrench_Will.pdf. Ref. [36] who contributed these files, says that she received them from the Mt. Sterling courthouse and have transcribed the references to his slaves (I have also transcribed the entire document but it is on my work computer). It's a wonderful piece of history because it mentions that most of the slaves are to be freed at certain dates. It refers to Martin and several others including an older slave named Matt who was willed to him by his father William French (transcribed as Natt in this copy but I also located online an abbreviated copy of his will where he is referred to as Matt--that copy I also left at work and will send it when back in my office). I have attached a copy of his will as well and it gives that information.

NORTHERN NECK GRANTS, VOL. 4, Page 94, 30 June 1712

HENRY PHILKINS & Lewis Reno of Stafford County, Wrnt. 19 October last (1711) Philkins assigned his right ot James French of said County 22 January last (1712) Franch assigned same toPhilemon Walters of said county 15 March last (1712), Reno & Walters returned survey by Mr. Thomas Hooper. 466 acres on Occaquan R. Adj. Lewis Reno & Lewis Tacquett, Philemon Walters in Stafford County, 30 June 1712.

NORTHERN NED GRANTS VOL 1 1694-1742

(4-95) Henry Philkins & Lewis Reno of Stafford Co. Wrnt. 19 Oct last. Philkins assigned his right to James ffrench of said Co. 22 Jan last. French assigned same to Philemon Walters of said Co. 15 Mar Last. Reno & Walters returned Surv. By Mr. Thomas Hooper. 466A on Occaquan R. adj. Lewis Reno & Lewis Tacquett, Philemon Walters in Stafford Co. 30 June 1712

Philemon Waters I (1680-1753), Henry Philkins, and Lewis Reno.

In the Virginia Northern Neck Grants 1694 - 1742, Page 52. " Henry Philkins & Lewis Renoe of Stafford Co., Wrnt. 19 Oct. last (1711). Philkins assigned his right to James French of said Co. 22 Jan. last (1711). French assigned same to Philemon Waters of sd. co., 15 March last (1711) Reno & Walters returned Surv. by Mr. Thomas Hooper, 466 acres of land on Occaquan River, adj. Lewis Reno & Lewis Tacquett, Philemon Walters in Stafford Co., 30 June 1712." The new year began on April 1st and ended on March 31st prior to 1750.

Further Research

Ancestry.com indicates that this line came from Salisbury, Massachusetts. This is in no way correct – it is merely putting dates and names together erroneously.

“Cavaliers and Pioneers” by Nell Marion Nugent lists “a” James French who immigrated to Virginia in 1681. It also lists him on 22 Jan 1711 in connection with Henry Philkins and Philemon Waters. No connection has been made; however the similarity of the names Henry Philkins and Henry Eilkin need to be checked. They are of Stafford Co., VA.

Other researchers have included James French with the Haggard family of Overwharton, Stafford Co., VA, but this has not been proved; in fact, it shows mostly likely this connection cannot be true because of the locations and dates.

Perhaps a good solution would be to research close neighbors or friends, such as Henry Eilkin, William Dolehy, Leonard Hornsby, William Moore, Thomas Reno, and George Bryn.

· Leonard Hornsby came to America from England in 1735.

· The name Reno was also spelled Reneau or Reynaud, an early immigrant to Virginia. After looking at Ref. [41], we see a connection between the Reno and French families. Thomas Reno was b. 1703 in Stafford Co., VA (present-day Prince William County) and d. 24 Dec 1777 in Prince William Co., VA. He m1. Jane French between 1720-1722 in Virginia, dau. of James French and Elizabeth. Jane French was b. between 1700-1705 in VA and d. before 1741 in Prince William Co., VA. Thomas Reno m2. Jane Bangar ca. 1762. The indenture of Thomas Reno was made 22 Oct 1741 between James French of the Parish of Hamilton and County of Prince William of one part and Leonard Hornsby of the other part.

· James French bought land from Francis Halley, deceased brother of Henry Halley IV. Francis Halley b. ca. 1731, d. before 23 Aug 1813. Henry Halley was b. ca. 1705 in Austin’s Run, Stafford Co., (now Prince William Co.), VA, and d. before May 1755. He was the son of Henry Hawley Jr. He m. Judith Reno, daughter of Louis Reynaud. The James French mentioned here may be from the 3^rd generation. This section isn’t entirely valid – needs more research.

· Prince William County Deed Book E 1740-1741. This Identure made the 22d day of October in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred & forty one Between James French of the Parish of Hamilton & County of Prince William of one part and Leornard Hornsby of the said County Taylor of the other part Witnessth that Whereas Henry Halley deced by Will devised to his Son Francis Halley & his two Daughters Mary & Sibella a certain tract of land lying on the South side of Occoquon Main Run on the branches of it & on the head of the North Run of Quantico in the County of Stafford now Prince William containing three hundred and thirty acres of land to be divided equally amongst them & the said Francis Halley dying before he came of age the said James French bought his part from their Brother Henry Halley Eldest Son of Henry Halley deced & also bought another third part from Edward Holmes & Sibella his wife youngest Daughter of the said Henry Halley deced by which he became possessed of the said land & that Leornard Hornsby became possessed of the other part of the said Land by purchase from Edward Vilet & Eleanor his Wife who purchased the said land from Zacharias Miles & Mary his Wife the said Mary being the Eldest Daughter of the said Henry Halley deced yet the said land was never Divided Now to the intent that the said land be Divided between the said James French & Leonard Hornsby that they may henceforth enjoy the Severalty without disturbance of the other of them that they the said James French & Leornard Hornsby by their agreement & by mediation of certain freinds indifferently chosen & elected between them have made a division in manner as hereafter mentioned Vizt the divinding line begining at a white oak standing in the Line of the said Tract the courses whereof is No. West from a white oak on a Branch of Quantico corner to the said Tract thence with the first mentioned white Oak through the said Tract No. West to a red Oak thence No. West to a white Oak thence North West through the Tract to the line the said Tract & that the said James French shall have for his part of the land all that parcel that is on the North side of the said Line be the said Quantity of Land good or bad more or less To Have and To Hold the said land with all its woods & other appurtenances thereunto belonging to the said Land & divided from the part of him the said Leonard Hornsby & that he the said Leornard Hornsby shall have for his parcel of the said land all that part that is on the South side of the said Line by the said Quantity of land good or bad more or less To Have and To Hold the same forever in Severalty & divided from the part of him the said James French. In Witness whereof the parties to these presents have set their hands & Seals in presence of us William More, Thomas Reno, George Bryn. James his mark French

Second Generation

Children of James and Elizabeth French, 1.1

2.1 Jane French, b. ca. 1705 in Stafford Co., VA, d. before 1743 in Prince William Co., VA, m. Thomas Reno, the eldest son of Lewis Reno (Louis Reynaud) and Margaret Faut in records of Prince William County, VA [41]. They m. between 1720-1722 in Virginia. Thomas Reno was an adult by 1723/24, b. ca. 1703 in Austin’s Run, Stafford, VA. On Dec 3, 1742, he received a grant of 531 acres on the branches of Occoquan and Powell's Run, probably adjoining the Reno portion of the Reno-Chevalle Grant of 1710, which probably was his home place (Book Q, p. 179). Thomas Reno was appointed constable of Pr. Wm. County in place of William Tackett on October 7, 1755 (Court Order Bk. 1755-1757). A deed dated Mar. 3, 1766 in Prince William Co. Book Q, p. 370 transferred 121 1/2 acres of land to William French, brother of his first wife. This land "was patented by Lewis Reno and Lewis Tackett and willed by said Lewis Reno, father of said Thomas Reno, to Thomas Reno". On Apr. 3, 1768, Thomas Reno Sr. makes a deed of gift to his son, William Reno, land he patented in 1742 (Pr. Wm. Co. Bk. G, p. 579), and he apparently gave the remaining half to his son Lewis (Deed Book T, p. 178). A 128-acre parcel was granted on December 22, 1741 to James French, father of Thomas' first wife Jane French, which he had issued in the name of Thomas Reno. This land was the subject of a long and confused lawsuit between Thomas Hoomes, Jr., son of Mary Reno Hoomes, and Enoch Reno, who was a son of Francis Reno and a nephew of Thomas Reno. This lawsuit between 1795 and 1802, resulted in a judgment vesting title of the 128 acres to Enoch Reno (Pr. Wm. Co. Land Causes, 1793-1811, p. 169-196). In the lawsuit, Thomas Hoomes Jr. alleged that (1) Thomas Reno had promised to give this land to his father, Thomas Hoomes, Sr., but they had a falling out and he instead turned it over to his son William Reno, who lived on it until William died shortly before the death of Thomas Reno; (2) that Lewis Reno had once said that William's children were bastards [and therefore the children could not inherit]; and (3) that Lewis Reno and Thomas Reno, Jr. had died without issue. He therefore claimed through his mother Mary Reno Hoomes. Enoch Reno deposed (1) that the 1741 grant was invalid because it had not been perfected in the proprietor's office; (2) that it was not certain that Lewis Reno and Thomas Reno, Jr. had died without issue or that the children of William Reno were illegitimate; and (3) that Enoch Reno had secured conveyances and quitclaims from the children of William Reno, and had secured a new grant from the proprietor's office in 1791. Enoch signs his name as Enoch Rennoe in his deposition. The deposition by Thomas Hoomes states that William Reno moved onto the lands deeded to him by his father Thomas Reno, lived there for 9 years, and then departed this life. Thomas Hoomes deposed (and Enoch Renoe agreed) that Thomas had two other sons and three daughters: Lewis, Thomas, Catherine who married John Cargyle, Margaret who married Richard Lee, and Mary who married Thomas Hoomes, Sr. Lewis lived on the land for about 10 years and then died about the same time that Thomas died, and because he had neither wife nor child [41].

Thomas Reno’s first wife Jane French was not mentioned in her father’s will, dated 23 Mar 1743 in which he left his left his property to his wife, his son William, and his daughter Mary Ann; thus, it is likely she died before 1743. Thomas Reno and Jane French had 7 children: Lewis Reno, b. after 1720; William Reno, b. after 1720; Thomas Reno Jr., b. after 1720; Catherine Reno, b. after 1726; Margaret Reno, b. after 1726; Mary Reno, b. after 1726; Sebret Reno, b. after 1726 [41].

2.2 Mary Ann French, b. ca. 1713-1717 in Prince William County, VA [1]. She may have married Richard Haggard, b. 1711, d. after 1762 in Fredericksville Parish, Louisa Co., VA; however, the FFA believes that the Haggard family was not part of this line. The Haggard family was from England.

2.3* William M. French, b. 27 Apr 1725, Prince William County, VA [22] [24], m. Winifred Hall 10 Feb 1746. William d. 2 May 1792 (67 years old). Winifred, the daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Leasure) Hall, was b. 9 Jan 1722 in Ireland, d. 15 May 1786, age 65, in Prince William Co., VA. William inherited his father’s lands in Stafford County, VA, at the age of 18. William was a landowner, speculator, and tobacco planter. After his marriage, he returned to Prince William County where he purchased land and raised his 9 children [1] [23] [24]. William was a soldier in colonial wars [11]. His will is as follows [40], in which he gives his children a slave, a horse, or other items:

Will: p 181-182 Prince William Co VA Will Book A & B:
See pdf file: PW Reliquary Vol 7 No 3 _2_ _2_.pdf

son: James French negro man Matt (could be father of Martin)
dau: Mary (French) Beaty negro woman Cate
dau: Margareitt (French) Farrow negro boy Frank.
dau: Kezia (French) Stone 40 lbs. current money
dau: Elizabeth French negro girl Nell, bed, horse & etc., also 3 lbs. current money yearly and board till she marries & 3 lbs & board to cease.
dau: Susannah French negro girl Dinah, bed & etc., 3 lbs. & board until she marries and no longer.
son: Stephen French remainder of estate not mentioned consisting of negroes, furniture stock.
Exors: Son Stephen. Signed William French, Nov 15 1790.

John Reno (Reneau) was born on the Patent of 1710 obtained by Lewis Reno from Clermont Chevalle, at the confluence of the Occoquain River with Broad Run in Prince William Co., VA. He was living there in 1749 when Faquier Co. was formed out of Prince William Co. There are records of him living in Frederick Co. (NJ) in 1758 and 1760 (Reno Family Tree by Marshall H. Reno). On Mar. 5, 1764, he and wife Susannah "of Frederick County" sold land in Prince William Co. to William French, except 1/2 acre for the graveyard described as land left him by his father Lewis Reno (Prince William Co. Deed Book Q, pp. 147, 165). In 1764, John Reneau also transferred 600 acres on Patterson's Creek, Hampshire Co., VA (formerly part of Frederick Co.) with other transfers listed in 1769, 1770, and 1771.

Third Generation

Children of William and Winifred (Hall) French, 2.3

The first 5 children were daughters.

3.1 Katherine French, b. 6 Feb 1747 Prince William County, VA, d. (cast away) 17 or 19 Nov 1771 [1] [25].

3.2 Elizabeth French, b. 30 Mar 1749, d. 10 Oct 1807 [1]. Probably never married because she is listed as “French” in her father’s will of 1790 [1] [25]. Received slave Nell in her father’s will [40]. Elizabeth was not yet married in 1792 when her father died.

3.3 Susannah French, b. 1 Jan 1751, d. 25 May 1795 [1]. Probably never married because she is listed as “French” in her father’s will of 1790 [1] [25]. However, Ref [40] states she m. William Daniel Routt Floweree in Jan 1768 in VA and had 10 children.

3.4 Mary French, b. 22 Jan 1753, m. Andrew Beatty [1] [25]. Received slave Cate is her father’s will [40]. They had 6 children: James, Margaret, Winifred, Mary, Keziah, and Elizabeth [40].

3.5 Margaret French, b. 9 Oct 1754 in VA, m1. ca. 1775 John Farrow of Culpeper County, VA, d. ca. 1834 in Rappahannock, Culpeper County, VA [14]. [1] [25]. Received slave Frank in her father’s will [40]. They had 7 children: George, William, Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth, Isaac, and Kenas [40]. She m2. Lewis Conner ca. 1816 [40].

3.6* James French, b. 5 Nov 1756 Prince William County, m. Keziah Callaway or Calloway on 27 Jun 1783 [28] (p. 468 of Ky Genealogies), d. 1 Apr 1835 in Boonesboro, Montgomery County, Kentucky [28]. Served in Revolutionary War. In Kentucky he was a surveyor [1] and a Judge in Madison Co., KY. He came from Virginia to Lincoln County, KY after serving in the Revolution. In 1779, William Calk, John Judy, John Crawford, James French, Moses Thomas, and William Sade, all of Virginia, composed the little colony of whites that first settled in Montgomery County, KY. The French Family plot is located in Montgomery County, KY, between Mt. Sterling and Winchester, KY [18]. He received slave Matt in his father’s will [40]. James’ other slaves were Jim, Nancy, Shelton, Martin, Mourning, and Ann, all of whom he gave to his wife in his will (see below). These slaves originated in Kentucky and first traveled to Chicago from Mount Sterling, Montgomery Co., KY in 1866. Their names are Martin French (born roughly around 1815 in Kentucky), his wife Martha, and their children, David, Martin, John B., Seward, Luther, James and Peter. Some family members returned briefly to Shelbyville, Shelby Co., KY in the mid-1880s.

Mrs. Keziah Callaway French, b. in Bedford Co., VA, 8 Aug 1768, d. 26 Sep 1845 [13]

Keziah was the youngest dau. of Col. Richard Callaway and Elizabeth Jones Joy, b. 8 Aug 1768, d. 26 Sep 1845, m. 27 Jun 1787 to James French. James d. 1 Apr 1835 in Montgomery Co., KY [11]. Both Keziah and James are buried in the French family graveyard, Montgomery Co., KY [25]. James French and Keziah Callaway were married in the fort at Boonesborough on June 19, 1783, the first marriage performed in the then new county of Lincoln.

Fort Boonesborough, Madison Co., KY, 1775 [43], only 8 years before James and Keziah married.

Previously Keziah Calloway's half-sister Elizabeth married Samuel Henderson at Boonesborough, and that was the first marriage in Kentucky--the first marriage beyond the Allegheny mountains [11]. Keziah's mother, Elizabeth Calloway, died in Montgomery County on December 13, 1813, aged 80 years [11]. James and Keziah settled on a farm 5 miles west of Mt. Sterling.

Downtown Mount Sterling, Montgomery Co., KY

When the Revolutionary War broke out James was 19 years old, he volunteered for service in the cavalry, Virginia State Line [11]. He and his younger brother, Stephen French, were with General Washington at Valley Forge [11] during the winter of 1777. (This is one reason why the FFA believes that this line ties in with FFA Chart #36, which line also was affiliated with George Washington).

Several Frenches from this line are buried at the French Cemetery on Winchester Road in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, including Kiohara French, Mary T. French, Keziah and James French, and Joseph William French. James and Keziah sold 100 acres of land on Bird Creek, Clay Co., KY to George Robertson, 26 Sep 1815, Book A, p. 163.

From the Baptist History Homepage:
James French, Sr., was one of the frontiersmen of Kentucky and was in the fort at Boonesborough when the town was laid out in lots, one of the streets being named in his honor. While in the fort, he married Miss Keziah Callaway. He and his family were among the leading members of Lulbegrud Church for years. One of the sons of James French was Judge Richard French. James French was clerk of the church at Lulbegrud for years, was elected clerk of North District Association in 1803, and was the efficient clerk of that body for thirty consecutive years, during which time he wrote most of the circular letters for that Association. These are only preserved in the record book of the Association, but should be put into book form for Baptist literature. He was an uncompromising Baptist, and when the difference between the Baptists and the so-called Reformers arose, James French saw that there must be a separation, so he called a meeting extraordinary at Lulbegrud in April 1830, and invited to be present only such churches as stood firmly upon Baptist ground. After leaving the fort, James French settled first in Madison County but in a short time moved to Clark County, on what was known as the Simon Kenton tract, which he acquired at a Federal Tax sale, and on the creation of Montgomery County the line ran through the farm, leaving a part in each county. James French was considered one of the largest land owners in Kentucky in his day, owning at one time 225,000 acres, known as the upper and lower Franklin patents and covering a large portion of Estill, Lee and Breathitt counties and comprising much of the richest mineral and oil lands in the state. He and his family were among the leading members of Lulbegrud Church for years, and his wife, whose picture appears in the history of that church, drew the plans for the church building, known as the church of twelve corners, which represented the twelve apostles.

James built a home for his family on land he had acquired from famed Kentucky Indian fighter Simon Kenton. Keziah Calloway was the daughter of Col. Richard Callaway who had served under George Washington in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. In 1780 Col. Callaway, an associate of Daniel Boone, was ambushed and killed by Indians near Fort Boonesborough [33].

James’ will is in Will Bk. D, p. 515, Montgomery Co., KY. It is transcribed by Trina Robinson (Ref. [36] ) below:

James French will dated 5 September 1834

References to slaves in will:

Give my wife six Negroes: Jim, Nancy, Shelton, Martin, Mourning and Ann, at the death of my wife, Jim, and Nancy to go free or chose among our children in here they will live….

After his wife’s death, Ann and “her increase” go to his son William French and his heirs “until the 1st of January in the year 1864, then Ann is to go out free and all her children as they respectively arrive at the age of forty-five years go out, free”

“To my daughter, Catherine Farrow and her heirs, I give the man slave Daniel until the first day of January 1836, the Daniel is to go out free.

To my daughter Susanna Farrow and her heirs, I give the man slave Enoch until the first day of January 1840 then Enoch is to go out free.

To our daughter Theodosia Hood and her heirs I give the man slave Westly ... (Could this be the Wesley you mentioned. I’ve seen a several documents on Ancestry mentioning him.) and the first day of January in the year 1860 is to go out free and after the death of my wife the man slave Martin until the first day of January in the year 1856 then Martin to go out free.

To our daughter Levia (or Lina) Smith and her heirs I give … slave Mooses (Moses?) until the first day of January in the year 1854 then Mooses is to go out, free and after the death of my wife, the man slave Shelton, until the first day of January in the year 1854 when Shelton to go out free…. The man slave Eli given to my daughter Levia (or Lina) on her first marriage was to go out free at the age of forty-five years which will be on the eighth day of July in the year 1858 and I also give to her and her heirs the woman slave Jane, and after Jane serves her two years, Jane is to go free.

To our son Richard French … two slaves old and infirm Matt & Charlotte and the woman Mourning after the death of my wife and all her increase Mourning to go free, the first day of January 1860 and all children as they respectively arrive to the age of 45 years to go free….

(At the end of the document, it appears James French made an alteration dated 30 March 1835.)

It is my will that my negro woman Jane in the stead of serving my daughter Levia (or Lina) Smith as directed in my said last will, serve my daughter Thodotia (Theodosia) Hood and her heirs two years from the first of January last and that at the end of two years servitude that she (the said Jane) go out free….

The Slaves of This Line

The 1870 US Federal Census lists Martin French’s family as white, all born in Kentucky. The 1880 census (after Martin French Sr. had died), lists this entire family as mulatto. The 1900 census lists this family as black.

Martin French, b. ca. 1815 in KY, age 55 in the Chicago Ward 14, Cook Co., IL 1870 census, head of household, living with his wife Martha, age 48, born 1822, and their 5 children: John B., Luther, Leward, Peter, and Carrie. By the 1850 census of slaveholders, Martin would have been 35, Martha would have been 28, James 12. No slave appears in Montgomery Co. KY with these ages in 1850. Most likely Martin’s slave owner would have lived in Montgomery Co., KY in 1850 and would have been born between 1815-1830. That is a hypothesis. Matching that description are only 2: Charles S. French, James H. French, both born in KY. In the family of Charles S. French are two Richard Frenches, ages 58 and 8 in 1850. The Richard at age 58 was a lawyer. James H. French is also in this same family. This is FFA Chart #14.

Martha French, mulatto, age 48, b. 1822 in KY. Martha was a widow by 1890.

In 1850 on the District 1, Montgomery Co., Kentucky, Richard French had 17 slaves. All were black except a male, age 42 and a female, age 25, who were mulatto. Richard French was the only French with slaves in Montgomery Co., KY in 1850.

In Shelby Co., KY in 1850 were Samuel French and William French as slave owners. All slaves were black, no mulattos.

The 1870 census for Chicago, IL, lists two mulatto people: J. W. French b. ca. 1848 in KY; and William French or W.J. French, b. ca. 1854 in KY.

Second Generation

In 1866, this family left KY for Chicago. Therefore, the 1870 census would be first to look at as shown below.

Then below the 1880 census of Chicago shows

David French, may be the stepson of Martha, probably born between 1838-1842, not listed in either the 1870 or 1880 census of Chicago, but he’s listed in Wisconsin according to Ref. [36]. David was living with the great grandmother of Ref [36] in Wisconsin in 1870. David d. 1913. The 1860 census of Louisville, KY lists a David French, age 19, black, musician, born in KY.

James French, mulatto, b. 1838 in KY according to the 1880 census of Chicago, Cook Co., IL, is a stepson of Martha French. James was a railroad porter, probably on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad which connected Shelbyville, Anchorage KY, and Louisville in 1870. It states that both his parents were born in KY. In 1880 he was either widowed or divorced.

Martin French Jr., mulatto, b. Jan 1853 in KY according to the 1880 census of Chicago, Cook Co., IL, works as a retail grocer, mulatto, later worked as a retail grocer. In the 1900 census, Martin is listed as living in Chicago Ward 34, Cook Co., IL, race is black. He had been married for 20 years, therefore, married about 1880 to Ollie, 9 years younger than him – born Jul 1861, and children Roscoe C. French, b. Mar 1882 in IL; Grace M. French b. Feb 1885 in IL; Ethel M. French b. Nov 1889 in IL. All are listed as black. By the 1920 census, Martin was a policeman in Chicago, living with his daughter Grace, both listed as mulatto. Also in 1920, Martin was living with his brother Seward, listed as black, occupation was an officer at the health department.

John B. French, mulatto, age 13, b. 1857 in KY, porter at the railroad, probably on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad which connected Shelbyville, Anchorage KY, and Louisville in 1870. He was later a clerk in a store.

Luther French, mulatto, age 12, b. 1858 in KY, at home and later a barkeeper

Seward French, mulatto, age 8, b. 1862 or Dec 1866 in KY, at home

Peter French, mulatto, age 7, b. 1861 or Dec 1863 in KY, attended school in 1880. By 1900 he may have married Lizzie – they were married in 1893 in Chicago. Both are black according to the 1900 census. By the 1910 census, Peter is listed as mulatto, married to Lizzie, with no children at home.

Carrie French, age 4, b. 1866 in KY, at home in 1870, but not living at home in 1880.

3.7 William French, b. 15/18 Sep 1758, d. 30 Jul 1760 (age 2) [1]. [25]

3.8* Stephen French, b. 1 Mar 1760 Prince Edward County, VA, m. Elizabeth “Betsy” Helm 20 Feb 1790, d. 22 May 1842, age 82. Elizabeth was b. 7 Jun 1764, the daughter of Major Lynaugh Helm and Hester (Foote), d. Jun 1811 (age 47). Stephen inherited his father’s properties (his father died in 1792) in Stafford and Prince William counties; mainly the plantation “Brentown” near Brentsville, VA. On 4 Jun 1803, he bought 78 acres belonging to Langhorne Dade in Prince William County, VA. Stephen served in the Revolutionary War, age 16. He remained on his father’s plantation the rest of his life, raising corn, wheat, and tobacco. He outlived Betsy by almost 31 years. [1] [25]. Stephen is listed in the 1810 US Census, Stafford Co., VA, as “Stephen FRENCH 00000-00000-0-12”. Stephen’s obituary was in the Richmond Enquirer, 10 Jun 1842 as Stephen French Sr. [25]. Received remainder of his father’s estate not mentioned above consisting of negroes, and furniture stock.

3.9 Keziah French, b. 5/6 Dec 1761 Prince William County, m1. George Madden, son of Scarlett & Margaret Madden, m2. Valentine Stone in 1785, d. 1822 in Bath Co, KY [1] [25] [26]. She had two children by her first husband: Sukey and Elizabeth Madden [27]. By her second husband, Valentine Stone, she had 4 children: Philadelphia, James, Samuel, and Keziah [40].

Fourth Generation

Children of James and Keziah (Calloway) French, 3.6

4.1* William French, b. 1 Mar 1785 in KY, d. 16 Mar 1863, m. 1805 Polly Taylor, dau. of Rev. John Taylor. Polly was b. 17 Jul 1792 in KY and d. 7 Jan 1879 [11], 16 years after her husband [18]. She died at the residence of son John W. French [18]. They lived in Franklin Co., KY [11]. Polly Taylor b. Clear Creek in Woodford Co., KY 17 June 1792, d. 7 Jan 1879. William French was a Captain in War of 1812. Captain William French is in Will Book D, p. 515, Montgomery Co., KY. William and Polly French lived in a brick house built by her father, the Rev. John Taylor, and located on the Georgetown Road in Franklin Co. [30] [18]. They were members of the Buck Run Baptist Church, for which her father wrote the constitution. They had 11 children [18].

The 1850 census of District 2, Franklin Co., KY shows two French families living in the same area: William (33) and his wife Martha (21), children Sidney (5), Isaac C. (4), and Sally French (2). William (65), his wife Polly (57), and their son Benjamin (15).

William received the slave Ann from his mother after her death per his father’s will, which states that William is to keep Ann until 1 Jan 1864 when she will go free. The date 1864 happened a year after William himself died. William’s father mentions in his will the age of 45 to be an age when slaves would have worked enough to gain their freedom. Going on this concept, Ann may have been born in 1819.

William and Polly are buried on what was probably their farm, in Franklin Co., on the Georgetown road, about 10 miles from Frankfort, KY [18].

4.2 Catherine French, b. between 1786-1794, m. Isaac Farrow (perhaps the brother of her sister Susannah’s husband), and they moved to IL [1]. She received the man slave Daniel in her father’s will and was allowed to keep him until 1 Jan 1836 when he would go free. Her father mentions in his will the age of 45 to be an age when slaves would have worked enough to gain their freedom. Going on this concept, Daniel may have been born in 1791.

4.3 Susannah French, b. 25 Jul 1795, d. 5 Mar 1866 near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co., KY [28], m. Judge Kenaz Farrow of Culpeper, VA [1]. He was b. 23 Dec 1794 in Culpeper Co., VA, d. 31 Aug 1864 [11]. Susannah received the man slave Enoch in her father’s will and was to keep him until 1 Jan 1840 when he would go free. Her father mentions in his will the age of 45 to be an age when slaves would have worked enough to gain their freedom. Going on this concept, Enoch may have been born in 1795.

Theodosia French Hood [33]

4.4 Theodosia (or Theodora) French, b. 16 Jun 1801, d. 12 Jan 1886, m. Dr. John W. Hood, prominent physician of Montgomery County, KY. He was b. 29 Jun 1831 in Owingsville, Bath Co., KY. For the ancestry on Theodosia Hood’s line, see website: http://www.johnbellhood.org/bio-01.htm. Her son was General John Bell Hood, CSA. Upon the death of her father in 1835, Theodosia inherited $700,000 in cash and apparently used those funds to purchase a home [33]. The two-story brick structure still stands today (May 2001) on US Route 60, three miles west of Mt. Sterling, and is occupied as a personal residence. In 1823 John Hood moved to the town of Owingsville, some 25 miles to the east, with his young bride, the former Theodosia French.

Theodosia received the man slave Westly (or Wesley) in her father’s will and was allowed to keep him until 1 Jan 1860 when he would go free. Her father mentions in his will the age of 45 to be an age when slaves would have worked enough to gain their freedom. Going on this concept, Westly may have been born in 1815. Her father also gives the man slave Martin, but only after Theodosia’s mother dies and until 1 Jan 1856 when he would go free. He may have been born in 1811. Theodosia also received negro woman Jane whom her father had originally given to Levia.

4.5 Lina (or Olivia or Livia or Levia) French, b. 10 Feb 1806, d. 27 Nov 1853, m1. to Waller Cluke on 5 Jan 1826, m2. William Prewitt Smith. Levia received the man slave Mooses (or Moses) in her father’s will and was allowed to keep him until 1 Jan 1854 when he would go free. Her father mentions in his will the age of 45 to be an age when slaves would have worked enough to gain their freedom. Going on this concept, Mooses may have been born in 1809. Her father also gives the man slave Shelton, but only after Theodosia’s mother dies and until 1 Jan 1854 when he would go free. He may have been born in 1809, perhaps a twin to Mooses. Her father gave the man slave Eli on his daughter’s first marriage (in 1826) and he was to go free at age 45 which would be on 8 Jul 1858; thereby indicating Eli was born in 1813. Levia was also to receive the woman slave Jane, and after Jane serves her two years, Jane is to go free (that date was to be 1837 – 2 years after her father James died). At the end of James’ will, it appears he made an alteration dated 30 Mar 1835, giving negro woman Jane to his daughter Theodosia instead of Levia.

Judge Richard French, b. 23 Jun 1792, d. 1 May 1854 [13]

4.6* Richard French, b. 23 Jun 1792 in Madison Co., KY, d. 1 May 1854 in Kenton Co., KY, m. Mary Tutt Taliaferro on 7 Aug 1820 and had 5 children. Richard was a lawyer, legislator, and circuit court judge in Kentucky [1]. Mary was b. 8 Nov 1805 in Caroline Co., VA and d. 14 Feb 1886 and is buried at the French Cemetery on Winchester Road in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. They were m. 7 Sep 1820 in Clark Co., KY [11]. Richard was the grandson of Col. Richard Calloway.

Richard is listed in the 1840 census of Montgomery Co., KY, at list time with only one slave, a male between 36 and 56 years of age. He is also listed in the Kentucky Census of 1810-1890, living in Montgomery Co., and recording a slave schedule on page 035 of the KY 1850 Slave Schedule.

Richard had various slaves, but their names are at present unknown [35]. Ref. [35] has been researching an old cemetery in Elsmere, Kenton Co., KY for 10 years – the cemetery was referred to as the “French Cemetery” in a book of “Small Cemeteries of Kenton County”, but no names or stones are visible. She believes it is connected to slaves that were once owned by the French family. The 1850 census (4 years before Richard died) of District 1, Montgomery Co., KY, shows Richard as having 17 slaves; 9 were female and 8 were male. Two of these were mulattos (m) and the other 15 were black (b). Their names are not listed. Could the 42 year old Mulatto male and the 23 year old Mulatto female be children of Richard? Showing their ages, sex, and color, the 17 slaves are:

Trina Robinson (Ref. [36] ) sent me a list of numerous slaves with the surname French (black and mulatto) from Kentucky who first traveled to Chicago from Mount Sterling, KY in 1866. Their names are Martin French (born roughly around 1815 in Kentucky), his wife Martha, and their children, David, Martin, John B., Seward, Luther, James and Peter. Some family members returned briefly to Shelbyville, KY in the mid-1880s. I cannot match these 9 names up with Richard’s 17 slaves.

Richard French is also listed in another section of the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, as being 58 years old, born 1792 in KY, living with his wife Mary, age 44, and their 5 children.

Richard’s father’s will indicates that Richard is to receive two slaves old and infirm Matt & Charlotte and the woman Mourning after the death of my wife and all her increase Mourning to go free, the first day of January 1860 and all children as they respectively arrive to the age of 45 years to go free….

For further details on mulatto and black slaves, see the website on French Family Slaveholders of Mulatto and Black Slaves. During the pre-Civil War era the county developed a prosperous, slave-based economy with hemp, livestock, and wheat as staples. The population grew rapidly until the 1820s and then leveled off with out-migration to Missouri, Texas, and other western areas. During this period the county became the political center of a congressional district that included more backward mountain areas. Mt. Sterling lawyers represented the district in Congress for twenty-six of the thirty-two years, from 1817 to 1849.

With slaves making up 36 percent of the population, the county was deeply split by the Civil War. Located at the junction of routes from central Kentucky to the Big Sandy River Valley in the east, Mt. Sterling had considerable strategic importance. There were substantial clashes in 1862 and 1864 and smaller skirmishes as possession of the county seat changed hands several times. Considerable damage was done by guerrillas to business buildings, and Confederate cavalry burned the courthouse in 1863. The more isolated regions of the county were infested with outlaw bands of deserters and thieves. In October 1863, Jeffersonville was burned and a guerrilla leader killed. The war inflicted substantial crop losses and disrupted the slave-labor force.

After the war, many of the former slaves forsook the rural areas for the county seat and drained the agricultural economy of labor. Hemp production virtually ceased, with cattle becoming the focus of the economy until the commencement of the burley tobacco boom in the 1870s.

As railroads and better roads began to penetrate the mountain counties, Montgomery County's trade declined. Its economy became based on the local tobacco-livestock agricultural system. In the 1960s the combination of several new factories and the completion of I-64 led to rapid growth.

Notable residents of the community have included a number of congressmen in the 1800s, including Garrett Davis, Richard Menefee and Richard French, and several justices on the state court of appeals, among them B.J. Peters, James Hazelrigg, and E.C. O'Rear. Prominent military figures from the county included Gen. Samuel Williams, a veteran of the War of 1812; his son, Confederate Gen. John "Cerro Gordo" Williams; and Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood. Among notable religious leaders were John ("Raccoon") Smith and David Barrow. Mt. Sterling was the major city in the county, the county seat, founded in 1792, the same year that Richard was born.

First Baptist church in Winchester

From the First Baptist Church of Winchester:
Richard chose law for his profession and in the practice of which he entered in partnership with Mr. Dillard, at Winchester, Kentucky, who was afterwards the distinguished Ryland T. Dillard, D. D. Judge Richard French was a man of distinction and was appointed and served many years as Circuit Judge and also served in Congress until defeated by the brilliant Richard Menefee in 1837. In 1840, Judge French was the Democratic nominee for governor against Governor Letcher and ran many thousand votes ahead of his ticket, but lost by only a small majority. Frenchburg, the county seat of Menefee County, KY, is named for him and his portrait adorns the walls of the Clark County Court House [13]. Though wedded to his professional career, no doubt that the early teachings of his pious parents caused him to pause in the midst of his political honors to seek the salvation of his soul and he was baptized by his former law partner, Dr. Ryland T. Dillard. He was a consistent member of the church and died in the full triumph of his faith on May 1, 1854. His widow, Mary Taliaferro French, was one of the constituent members of the First Baptist Church of Winchester

From Frenchburg, Kentucky Website

Menifee became the Commonwealth's 113th county in 1869 when it was formed from the adjoining counties of Bath, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, and Wolfe counties. Menifee was named after Richard H. Menefee, a well-regarded statesman and successful lawyer. Mr. Menefee was serving in the state legislature when he ran for Congress in 1837 and defeated Judge Richard French in a vigorous campaign. Mr. French was equally well known and admired; and his name was chosen for the county seat, Frenchburg.

From a chart made from surveys in court records of Clark County by S. J. Conkwright and S. H. Rutledge.

The following settlers came with Capt. William Bush and settled on lower Howards Creek, Clark County: Fielding Bush, Ambrose Bush, Philip Bush, Francis Bush, Henry Cain, Robert Clark, Ambrose Christy, Joel Embry, Elder Robert Elkin, Smallwood Eckton, Richard French, George Gordon, Nicholas George, John George, Lewis Grigsby, John Halyard, Nathaniel Haggard, James Hodgkin, James Haggard, David Hampton, Richard Jones, Allen Neil, Elder James Quisenberry, Joel Quisenberry, John Quisenberry, Roger Quisenberry, Tandy Quisenberry, Nathaniel Ragland, John Ried, Robert Richard, James Ragland, Sr., James Ragland, Jr., Joseph Stevens, Wm. Tate, Wm. Wills.

4.7 Stephen French, b. 9 Jul 1798, d. 3 May 1827, a lawyer [1], died before his father died and is therefore not mentioned in his father’s will of 1835.

4.8 Keziah French, b. 18 Mar 1804, d. 13 Nov 1827 or 29, m. 25 Jan 1824 James Prewitt, b. 26 Sep 1802, d. 5 May 1879. Both are buried in the French family graveyard, Montgomery County, KY. Their son was William French Prewitt, b. 1 Dec 1821 [18]. She died before her father died and is therefore not mentioned in her father’s will of 1835.

Children of Stephen and Betsy (Helm) French, 3.8

All born in VA.

4.9 Susannah French, b. 21 Nov 1790, d. 25 May 1795 on Chappamansix in Stafford Co., VA, and is buried the same day at Hester Helm’s on Seder Run, Prince William County [1] [25].

4.10* William French, b. 23/26 Apr 1793 in Stafford Co., VA, m. Martha L. Taylor on 2 Jan 1814 in Loudoun Co., VA [19], d. 15 May 1826 [1] [25].r

4.11* James French, b. 18 Mar 1801 in Prince William Co., VA, m. Sarah Scarborough Butler Henry on 27 May 1829 at Woodlawn, Halifax Co., VA, d. 6 May/Jun 1850, age 49 and is buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C. He was interred in Congressional Burying Ground. See Obituary, The Fredericksburg News”, 14 May 1850. James and Sarah lived in Warrenton until 1850 (the year James died). They inherited his father’s plantation “Brentown” in Prince William County, VA, and James was a wealthy tobacco planter in VA and represented his district for a number of terms in the state legislature. Sarah was b. 27 Aug 1808 at “Woodlawn” Plantation, Pittsylvania Co., VA, the dau. of John and Martha Henry, d. suddenly 9 Apr 1873 in Brooklyn, NY and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn. James was executor of his father’s property and administered the accounts until 3 Dec 1844 from his residence, “Fenton” Plantation, a Revolutionary Estate in Fauquier Co., 3 miles from the town of Warrenton [1]. The "Fenton" Plantation has since burned down [1] [25].

4.12* Stephen Zinah French, Jr., b. 29 Jul 1804, m. Anna Maria Briggs of Richmond, VA, dau. Of David Briggs of Richmond, VA, on 27 May 1839 [29]. They were m. in Raymond, MS [29]. Stephen d. 25 Aug 1827 [1] [25].

4.13 Maria Lynaugh French [1] [25].

4.14 Martha G. French, m. Saybon I. Hansberger [1] [25]. The 1850 census of Eastern District, Stafford, VA, shows a Layton J. Hansberger, b. ca. 1815, and his wife Martha T., b. ca. 1822, and their children William, Louise, Henry, and Layton.

Fifth Generation

Children of William and Polly (Taylor) French, 4.1

5.1* William French, b. 1817, m. Martha Wingate, dau. of Isaac Wingate of Frankfort, KY [18]. Martha is said to have died at the age of 92. This data has not been proved. In the 1850 census of District 1, Franklin Co., KY, William was 33, a farmer, living with his wife Martha, age 21, and their 3 children. The oldest child was 5; therefore, Martha was only 16 at this birth. His parents were living next door.

5.2 James French [18].

5.3 Joseph French, d. after 1863 when he served as his father’s executor. It is said that he dropped dead on Elkhorn Creek bank [18]. He m. Emma, no heirs [18].

5.4 Sidney French [18].

5.5 Stephen French [18].

5.6 Richard C. French [18].

5.7 Benjamin French [18], b. 1835 in KY. Benjamin (15), a farmer was living with his parents, William (65) and Polly (57) in the 1850 census of Franklin Co., KY. The 1860 census of Curry, Sullivan Co., IN, shows a Benjamin French, b. ca. 1834 in KY, living with Julia A. French, 33, and Cornelias French, 7. He does not appear in the 1870 census.

5.8 Catherine French, m. Ford [18].

5.9 Jane French, m. LeGrand Buford, in 1828, in Franklin Co., KY [18]. According to the 1850 census of District 46, Lafayette, Missouri, Legrand G. Buford was b. ca. 1808 in KY, and probably married for a second time to Usebia and had son Simeon.

5.10 Sarah Ann French, b. Franklin Co., KY, m. Rev. B. T. Quinn of Georgetown, son of Richard and Cynthia (Nall) Quinn [18]. After Sarah died, the Rev. B. T. Quinn m2. Cerella Stapp of Madison Co., IN; then he m3. Miss Wingate of Franklin Co. [18].

5.11* John Wickliffe French, b. 5 Jun 1823, d. 31 Jan 1896, m. Amanda E. Chinn on 27 Jan 1851. She was b. 1831, d. 24 Apr 1895. They lived near the mouth of Elkhorn Creek where most of their children were born. Later they moved to North Fork, a small settlement in Franklin Co., now called Switzer. They lived in a small cabin near the front gate of the property until the large house could be built. The Chinn family is also connected to FFA Chart #36 (Charles and Sarah Chinn of Fauquier Co., VA) and FFA Chart #193 (Daisy Elizabeth Chinn of Ohio Co., KY).

Children of Richard and Mary (Taliaferro) French, 4.6

5.12 Judge James H. French, b. ca. 1824, became prominent in both the civil and religious affairs of the community and state. He was influential members of the First Baptist Church and zealous for her welfare. Judge James H. French was a deacon of the church, clerk of the Boone's Creek Association for two years and moderator from 1872 to 1881, with the exception of two years, and in all matters pertaining to the church, especially those of doctrinal and denominational importance his counsel was always sought. James H. is listed in the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, living with his parents, age 26.

Judge Charles S. French [13]

5.13 Charles Stephen French, b. 8 Jun 1828 in Montgomery Co. KY, d. 26 Jun 1905 [13]. He became prominent in both the civil and religious affairs of the community and state. He was influential members of the First Baptist Church and zealous for her welfare. Judge Charles S. French was a constituent member of the First Baptist Church and her first clerk, serving for twenty-one years, and was a deacon during the latter part of his life. Charles S. is listed in the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, living with his parents, age 21. See website:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=cfa-joseph&id=I1001. He m. Margaret Hockaday Moore on 2 Jan 1855. She was b. 6 Apr 1832 in Clark Co., KY. They had 2 daughters, Margaret Ann French, b. 28 Nov 1863 in Winchester, Clark Co., KY, and Emily Irvine French, b. 17 sep 1858 in Winchester, Clark Co., KY.

From the First Baptist Church of Winchester:
In October, 1880, Charles S. French presented his resignation as church clerk, which was accepted with reluctance, as shown by resolutions of appreciation of his long period of faithful and efficient service in this capacity, extending from the organization of the church until this time, which were in part as follows: "Resolved, That we accept with reluctance his resignation now tendered, simply because of the incompatibility of the duties of his position with other important obligations laid upon him." His brother, Richard French, was chosen clerk to succeed him [13].

5.14 Mary E. French, b. 1834 in KY. She is listed in the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, living with his parents, age 16.

5.15 Ann C. French, b. 1839 in KY. She is listed in the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, living with his parents, age 11.

5.16 Rev. Richard French, b. 1842 in KY. He is listed in the 1850 census of District 1, Montgomery, KY, living with his parents, age 8. He became prominent in both the civil and religious affairs of the community and state. He was influential members of the First Baptist Church and zealous for her welfare. Rev. Richard French was clerk of the church for several years and was then ordained to the ministry.

Ephesus Church

From the Baptist History Homepage, Ephesus Baptist Church, Clark Co., KY
We now come to speak of a pastor of this church, whose pastorate extended over a period of a quarter of a century, during all of which time there existed the most endearing, tender affection between pastor and people that it has ever been the good fortune for the writer to know. We speak of the pastorate of Rev. Richard French, of Ephesus Church.

Brother French was licensed to preach the Gospel in March 1890, by the First Baptist Church of Winchester, Kentucky, of which he was a member. The following April, he accepted a call from Ephesus Church to become their pastor. Upon the request of Ephesus Church, in August following, made to the First Winchester Church, asking for the ordination of Brother French as a minister of the Gospel, said request was granted. Brother French served this congregation with love and faithfulness as a preacher of righteousness, practicing what he preached, until November 3, 1913, at which time he offered his resignation, on account of failing health (he died 6 months later), in an affectionate communication to the church, in part as follows:

"On account of my health, I feel it my duty to present to you my resignation. I would have you know that this does not in any wise dissolve our relations fraternally, for my twenty-five years pastorate has endeared that church to me to such an extent that whatever you may do in reference to this matter will not lessen the attachment I entertain for you. The sweetest memories of past experience cluster around that old church with me, for it has been my privilege to go with you to the tomb with your loved ones, and mingle my tears with yours, from the little babe that nestled in the cradle, to the gray haired father and the devoted mother. In all these afflictions have my tears blended with yours in sympathy of the deepest and most profound. And nothing on earth could cut me loose from my devotion to you as a people, &c."

There is also recorded a letter to Ephesus Church from Mrs. Richard French and children, dated May 6, 1914. This letter is so tender and affectionate in speaking of the bond of love existing between Brother French and the church, that after reading it, I pause to brush away a tear in memory of that good man, Brother Richard French. Hard, indeed, would be the heart that could not be moved by reading that letter. We give only a few lines, as space will not permit more.

Rev Richard French, born March 22, 1842; died April 24, 1914

"The death of a Christian should be looked upon as a triumph over life's rugged pathway. ... In reviewing the life of our honored husband and father it seems to us that the hand of God has been with you. . . you called a man that had never been ordained; he prayed for guidance; you well know the results. You were his first people, his last people; his first love, and how tenderly and loyally he loved you until the end. . . . And as the end drew near, oh. The prayers he made in your behalf. There was that bond of sympathy and love that were never severed; that, was devotion in the highest sense of the word. When he thought of you it was with the tenderest love, that love that would make any sacrifice; that love, that would remain steadfast and true under all circumstances; that love, though death does part, yet we firmly believe only becomes stronger. We shall ever cherish the fondest affection for you and deep gratitude to you for the respect, kindness and love you manifested for our beloved husband and father."

On May 9, the church passed resolutions in expression of the love and high esteem in which Brother French was held by the congregation, which in part are as follows:

"Brother French became our pastor when God first called him into the active service as a preacher of righteousness. We called for his ordination as a minister of the Gospel, and we mourn for him at the close of a fourth of a century's continuous service in our midst. He has ministered unto our spiritual needs; he has united in bonds of wedlock many of our members; he has led to the knowledge of Jesus Christ under Divine grace our children and our children's children; he has buried our dead. Many are the precious memories of past association and now when in the end of his earthly race, when with the good fight, the finished course, and the kept faith, like a full sheath of ripened ears, he has entered into the harvest home of God's granery, be it resolved, &c."

During her seventy-five years existence as a church, Ephesus has been served by only fourteen pastors, as follows: Thornton I. Wills, Smith V. Potts, Nathan Edmonson, Ryland T. Dillard, W. B. Arvin, Thomas J. Stevenson, George Hunt, Ambrose D. Rash, J. Pike Powers, J. Dallas Simmons, Richard French, W. S. Taylor, F. B. Pierson and Linden Jones.

5.17 William French, died in early. He is not mentioned in the 1850 census.

Child of William and Martha (Taylor) French, 4.10

5.18* William Taylor French II, b. 21 Nov 1813/14 in Prince William Co., VA, d. 8 Dec 1861 in Mt. Sterling, KY, m. Louisa Clay Thomas 15 Nov 1846, dau. of Benjamin F. Thomas and Juliet Howard in Loudoun Co., VA [16] [19] [1]. Their 4 children were raised by James and Ellen French according to the 1860 census of Sequin, Guadalupe, TX, because their family died when their youngest child was 3. The relationship of this family is yet unknown.

Children of James and Sarah S. B. (Henry) French, 4.11

5.19* Marcellus French, b. 14 Feb 1831 near Warrenton, Fauquier Co., VA, m1. Elizabeth (Bettie) H. Logan, dau. of Senator Richard Logan of Halifax Co., VA, on 28 Oct 1857, m2. Margie M. French, no children. He d. 13 Dec 1917 in Houston, VA, age 86, and is buried in Houston, VA. He moved to TX in 1852 and lived there for 6 years. Marcellus returned to VA in 1861 and entered the Confederate Army, d. 13 Dec 1919 in Houston, VA [1]. James V. Brooke was chosen guardian of orphan Marcellus when his father died 27 Aug 1850. He had a free African American servant, Kit Bowman [31].

An outline from The Handbook of Texas Online:

FRENCH, MARCELLUS (1831–1917). Marcellus French, legislator, was born on February 14, 1831, in Warrenton, Virginia, son of James and Sarah Butler (Henry) French. In the spring of 1857 French was one in a group of adventurers that attempted to invade Costa Rica. The mission resembled William Walker's invasion of and short-lived control of Nicaragua. The expedition ended disastrously, and French moved to Texas to be near his brother, James Henry French^qv of San Antonio.

French married Elizabeth H. Logan on October 28, 1857. Later that year he began his only term in the Texas House of Representatives for Bexar County. At the outbreak of the Civil War,^qv French left Texas and joined the Confederate Army. He served as the captain of Company F of the Thirty-fifth Virginia Cavalry until the end of the war. Marcellus French stayed in Virginia after the Civil War and died in Houston, Virginia, on December 13, 1917.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Family Search, "Marcellus French," (http://www.familysearch.org/), accessed August 24, 2006. "Filibustering Trip San Juan River 1857-Walker Connection," Genealogy Forum (http://genforum.genealogy.com/nicaragua/messages/471.html), accessed August 24, 2006. Shiflets and the Civil War (http://www.shifletfamily.org/), accessed August 24, 2006. William S. Speer and John H. Brown, eds., Encyclopedia of the New West (Marshall, Texas: United States Biographical Publishing, 1881; rpt., Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1978).

5.20 Matilda Caroline French, b. 26 Jul 1833 in Fauquier Co., VA, d. 3 Jan 1887 in Tustin, CA, buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY, m1. Franklin C. Gray of KY and CA in WDC on 21/24 Mar 1853. They had a dau. Franklina C. Gray, b. 20 Dec 1853 in Brooklyn, NY. Franklin C. Gray never saw his dau. because he died suddenly on 15 Jul 1853 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. In 1865 Matilda left NY for SF. Matilda m2. David Hewes ca. 1875, no children. Her dau. by the first marriage, Franklina Gray, m. William S. Bartlett, and among their 3 children, had a dau., Franklina Matilda Bartlett, b. 1 Nov 1886, who m. her second cousin, James Henry French, on 7 Sep 1915. (see 9.2) [1]. James V. Brooke was chosen guardian of orphan Matilda when her father died 27 Aug 1850.

5.21* James Henry French, b. 26 Mar 1835 in Warrenton, Fauquier Co., VA, m. Sarah Lorrinilla Webb on 15 Oct 1856 in San Antonio, TX, d. 6 Sep 1893 of apoplexy in San Antonio, TX. He lived at 105 San Pedro Ave., in San Antonio. Sarah was b. 6 Oct 1836 in Detroit, Michigan, d. 7 Sep 1915 in San Antonio, TX. She was the dau. of Henry and Olive Ann (Selkrigg) Webb. Sarah was a well-known philanthropte worker. She was 79 at her death and had lived in San Antonio for 9 years, born in Detroit, MI in 1836. James was a prominent citizen, soldier, merchant, banker, sheriff, and mayor (1875-1885) of San Antonio, TX. He moved to TX at age 16 and settled in San Antonio in 1851 until he died [1]. James V. Brooke was chosen guardian of orphan James when his father died 27 Aug 1850. Most of this family from San Antonio is buried in City Cemetery #1.

A transcript from the San Antonio Express newspaper, Jan 11, 1939, Wednesday. French, One of San Antonio’s Best Mayors, by Fred Mosebach.

When James H. French succeeded Frank Giraud as the 22nd mayor of San Antonio, January 19, 1875, and held the office continuously for 10 years until he was succeeded by Brayan Callahan, February 1, 1885, San Antonio made its greatest progress up to that time since the city was incorporated and John W. Smith became its first Anglo mayor, September 19, 1837.

The most distinctive stride in the advancement of San Antonio was the building of the first railroad line into this city, the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio, which was accomplished February 16, 1877, and four years later to the day, February 16, 1881, the International & Great Northern had been built into San Antonio. While Mayor French had nothing to do with the building of these railroad lines, he was the city’s chief executive, and as such he lent every encouragement possible for the prosecution of the work to speed it on its way.

The building of these railroads brought an influx of northern and eastern capital, which manifested itself in the further development of San Antonio. This spurred the city on to greater improvement, and during the administration of Mayor French, the first system of street names and house numbers was adopted, which was on March 1, 1881, as attested by Theo. Baldue, city clerk. Until then the street names and house number, the latter of which prevailed only in the business section, were a conglomerated mass of incongruities with no basic guidance.

With the improved system of street names and house numbers, San Antonio was in line for mail delivery service, and this was inaugurated in 1882 during the presidency of Chester A. Arthur, for until then all mail had to be called for at the post office. William Henry Mitchell was the first five mail carriers to be appointed, and he is the only one of these living, now 82 years of age. He carried the mail for more than 38 years and was retired on a pension in January 1921 at the age of 65 years. He still has a gold watch presented to him for Christmas, 1885, by residents along his route.

An outline from The Handbook of Texas Online:

FRENCH, JAMES HENRY (1835-1893). James Henry French, mayor of San Antonio, was born on March 26, 1835, in Warrenton, Virginia, to James and Sarah Butler (Henry) French. He attended Columbia College in Washington, D.C., before he moved to San Antonio, Texas, in October 1851. On October 15, 1856, he married Sarah L. Webb; they eventually had five children. French and his wife moved in 1856 to Atascosa County, where he served two terms as sheriff and managed a ranch. He returned to San Antonio in 1859 and in May 1861 enlisted in the Confederate Army. He served in the adjutant general's office until October 1861, then was appointed captain and assigned to the commissary department under Gen. Paul O. Hébert.^qv He served this assignment on the Rio Grande under Gen. Hamilton P. Bee.^qv In January 1863 French was transferred to the purchasing department at San Diego, Texas, and in March 1865 took charge of the reserve department of supplies for the forces operating under Col. John S. Port.

After the war he made his home in San Antonio, where he instituted many reforms in city government during his period as mayor (1875-1885) and alderman (1885-89). These reforms included a system of street names and house numbering, increased city control of public schools, and an increase in the school tax by 10 percent. In addition, during his tenure the International-Great Northern Railroad was built into San Antonio. French died on September 6, 1893, and was buried in the City Cemetery in San Antonio.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas (New York: Southern, 1880). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Southwest Texas (Chicago: Goodspeed, 1894; rpt., Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1978). Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin.

In the 1880 census of San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX, James was 45, living with his wife Sarah L. 43, and their 4 children: Julius B 22, Sallie L. 13, Franklina 7, and James V. 15.

5.22 Junius Butler French, b. 7 Aug 1837 in Fauquier Co., VA, d. 2 Jul 1863, was wounded 1 Jul 1863 at Gettysburg, PA, and died early the next morning [1]. James V. Brooke was chosen guardian of orphan Junius when his father died 27 Aug 1850.

5.23 Rosalie Henry French, b. 4 Aug 1839 in Fauquier Co., VA, d. 28 Aug 1889, m. Arthur H. Brown of Honolulu. He d. in the service of the Confederate Navy. Rosalie d. in CA, buried in Oakland, CA [1]. James V. Brooke was chosen guardian of orphan Rosalie when her father died 27 Aug 1850.

Children of Stephen L. and Anna (Briggs) French, 4.12

5.24 Anne French, m. Col. Charles E. Hoge. Their daughter, Anne Briggs French Hoge,

Sixth Generation

Children of William and Martha (Wingate) French, 5.1

6.1 Sidney French, b. ca. 1845 in KY, m. Helen Richard of Springfield, IL, and had 3 daughters: Florence French (b. 1873 in NE), Jennie French (b. 1876 in KY), and Anne French. Florence m. J. Craik Jackson of Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. Jennie died young, unmarried. Anne m. Rob Farmer [18]. Helen was b. ca. 1849.

6.2* Isaac C. French, b. ca. 1846 in KY, m. Elizabeth Richard and had 3 children. Isaac appears in the 1880 census of Curran, Sangamon Co., IL, as 33, with his wife Elizabeth, 27, and their son Jay T. French, 5, and dau. Susan French, age 3.

6.3 Sallie C. French, b. ca. 1848 in KY, m. L. L. Pence and had 2 children: Luther Pence and Sallie French Pence [18]. She was a teacher according to the 1880 census.

6.4 Susan French, after 1850 in KY, m. Logan McKee, of Frankfort, KY, no children [18].

6.5 William T. French, b. 1861 in IL, d. unmarried in Frankfort, KY [18]. He was a merchant’s clerk.

6.6 Laura French, b. 1867 in IL, d. unmarried, 1947, in Frankfort, KY [18].

Children of John Wickliffe and Amanda (Chinn) French, 5.11

6.7 Joseph French, b. 2 Nov 1851, d. 29 Oct 1852 (1 year) [18].

6.8 Mary Katherine French, b. 14 Mar 1854, d. 12 Jul 1918, m. James William Jones on 16 Feb 1882, and had 9 children. They lived on a farm adjoining that of her ather. James Jones d. 7 Feb 1945, aged 91 [18]. Their children were Mary Alice Jones, James Sidney Jones, William French Jones, Thomas Dawson Jones, Russell Jones, Amanda Elizabeth Jones, Edward Jones, Howard Jones, and Louis Jones [18].

6.9 William C. French, b. 19 Jan or Aug 1856, d. unmarried 8 Apr 1926 [18].

6.10 Franklin French, b. 4 Dec 1857, d. 6 Jan 1943 [18].

6.11 Alice C. French, living in 1948 in Franklin Co., KY [18].

6.12 Wickliffe French, b. 4 Jul 1861, died in infancy [18].

6.13 Robert Lee French, b. 27 Jul 1861, d. 13 May 1934, m. Sarah Head Pryor, dau. of Dr. Green Lewis Pryor and Martha Ann Head in Monterey, KY, on 12 Oct 1892. They had 2 daughters: Harriet Pryor French who m. William Whitley Moore; and Alice Lee French, m. James Lister Darlington [18].

6.14 Dr. Richard Calloway French, b. 18 Aug 1865, d. Nov 1900, graduated from Louisville School of medicine, practiced in Midway, KY [18].

6.15 Benjamin Quinn French, b. 12 Feb 1866, d. 9 Aug 1945 [18].

6.16 Elizabeth French, b. 19 Sep 1872, d. 18 Dec 1894, m. Rev. Fred W. Eberhardt of Bourbon Co., KY [18].

Children of William and Louisa C. (Thomas) French II, 5.18

6.17 Howard R. French, b. 15 Aug 1847 in VA according to the 1860 census of Sequin, Guadalupe, TX, m. Phoebe Crawford [1] ca. 1875. Had 2 sons, no heirs. One son lived in NY, other in Mt. Sterling, KY.

6.18 William T. French, b. 20 Aug 1850 in VA according to the 1860 census of Sequin, Guadalupe, TX, d. 20 Mar 1872 [1].

6.19 George T. French, b. 24 Mar 1853 in VA according to the 1860 census of Sequin, Guadalupe, TX, d. 6 Jun 1883 [1], age 30.

6.20 Stephen French, b. 6 Apr 1857 [1] in VA according to the 1860 census of Sequin, Guadalupe, TX,. His father died in 1861 in Mt. Sterling, KY when Stephen was only 3. Stephen and his 3 siblings were raised by James and Ellen French according to the 1860 census of Seguin, Guadalupe, TX. James was a lawyer.

Children of Marcellus and Elizabeth H. (Logan) French, 5.19

6.21 Margaret Logan French, b. 26 Oct 1858 in Halifax Co., VA, d. 22 Jan 1879 [1]. (Died before age 25)

6.22 James French, b. 6 Apr 1860 in San Antonio, TX, d. 30 Aug 1861 in Halifax Co., VA [1]. (Died in infancy)

6.23 Sarah “Sallie” Henry French, b. 29 Jul 1861 in Halifax, VA, m. Charles Carrington on 20 Aug 1883, and had 4 sons: George Cabell Carrington, Charles R. Carrington, William Lorrin Carrington, and Marcellus French Carrington [1]. He was the son of Sally Winston Henry and Dr. George C. Carrington.

6.24 Charles Richard French, b. 25 Dec 1863, m. Mrs. Letitia (nee Edmonson) of Halifax Co., VA [1].

6.25 Marcellus French Jr., b. 12 Dec 1865, d. “Woodside” Pittsylvania Co., VA 1865 [1]. (Died in infancy)

6.26* Junius Butler French, b. 21 May 1867 in Pittsylvania Co., VA, lived in Chattanooga, TN, m1. Hattie B. Dix of Accomac Co., VA, m2. Miss Sarah (Sadie) Wyatt of Chattanooga, TN in 1900 [1], d. in VA 29 Sep 1944 in Chattanooga, TX. Hattie was b. 28 Oct 1866, d. 1 Dec 1892 in Chattanooga, TX. Her parents were Levin D. Dix and Charlotte Ann Bayne of Accomac, VA. Sarah was dau. of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Wyatt of Marion, AL. [1]

6.27* William Logan French, b. 19 Apr 1864 in Pittsylvania Co., VA, m. his first cousin, Sarah Lorrinilla French of San Antonio, TX on 30 Jan 1896 [1], d. 28 Dec 1953 in Williamson or Williamsburg, WV [21]. She d. 28 Oct 1914 [1].

6.28 Julia Coleman French, b. 8 Jul 1872, m. Addie M. Sparrow on 13 Nov 1885 [1].

Children of James Henry and Sarah (Webb) French, 5.21

All born in San Antonio, TX

6.29* Rev. Junius Butler French, b. 29 Jan 1858 in San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX, m. Annie Lawrence Dial on 2 Sep 1885 in San Marcos, TX, d. 9 Feb 1918 in Jacksonville, Florida. Annie was b. 7 Feb 1867 in Wilson County, TX, d. 26 Sep 1941 in Los Angeles, California [1]. Rev. Junius was a Presbyterian minister of Forth Worth, TX.

6.30 Olive Ann French, b. 25 Feb 1860, in San Antonio, TX, d. 26 Jan 1936, m. Judge Joseph Phillip Devine of San Antonio, TX, on 2 Sep 1879 and had 6 children [1]. Joseph d. 28 May 1903 in San Antonio, TX [25]. Judge Joseph was the son of Judge Thomas Jefferson Devine. They lived at 421 Crescent St., Alamo Heights, TX and later at 3615 Broadway

6.31 James Vassar French, b. 25 Jun 1864, m. Augusta Hirschfield and had 2 daughters, Josephine and Lonnie. Josephine m. Joseph Rosenfeld and had 2 daughters. Lonnie m. Dick Walker [1].

6.32 Sarah (Sallie) Lorrinilla French, b. 23 Jul 1867, d. 28 Oct 1914, m. William French, her first cousin (7.11) on 30 Jan 1896 in San Antonio, TX. William was the son of her uncle, Marcellus French (6.2) [1]. For children, see William L. French’s line, 7.11.

6.33 Franklina Gray French, b. 25 Jul 1872, d. 18 Oct 1959, age 87, in Mountain View, CA. She m. Francis (Franklin) Gerrit Yates, and had 5 children [1]. In 1915 when her mother died, Franklina was living in Fort Worth, TX.

Seventh Generation

Children of Isaac and Elizabeth (Richard) French, 6.2

7.1 Jay T. French, b. ca. 1875 in Springfield, IL [18]. In 1880 he is listed as age 5, living in Curran, Sangamon Co., IL.

7.2 Susan French, b. ca. 1877 in Springfield, IL [18]. In 1880 she is listed as age 5, living in Curran, Sangamon Co., IL.

7.3 Clara French, b. after 1880, Springfield, IL [18].

Children of Junius B. and Hattie B. (Dix) French, 6.26

7.4 Margaret Logan French, b. 4 Dec 1891 in South Boston, VA, m. Marion Pryor Wall of South Pittsburg, TN [1]. They had son Junius French Wall [34].

Children of Junius B. and Sarah (Wyatt) French, 6.26

7.5 Junius Butler French Jr., b. 13 Jul 1903, d. 1903 [34].

7.6* James Wyatt French, b. 22 Jun 1904 in Chattanooga, TN, d. 4 Aug 1956 in Richmond, VA, m. Katherine Martin Kirkland, dau. of Dixon Fay Kirkland and May Lou Martin in Chattanooga, TN.

Children of William L. and Sarah L. French, 6.27 and 6.26

7.7* Marcellus French, b. 26 Aug 1901 in San Antonio, TX, d. 24 Sep 1973 in McKees Rocks, PA [21].

Children of Junius Butler and Annie L. (Dial) French, 6.29

7.8 Matilda Clyve French, b. 31 Oct 1886 in San Marcos, TX, m1. Ernest Chilsholm on 10 Oct 1906, m2. Albert Kellum Pray on 23 Feb 1921. He d. 12 Jan 1950. Matilda d. 11 Jun 1961 in Ontario, CA [1].

7.9* James Henry French, b. 5 May 1888 in Tustin, CA, m. Franklina Matilda Bartlett (his second cousin, see 7.3) on 7 Sep 1915. James d. 27 Sep 1956 and Franklina d. 16 Dec 1963 [1]. In the 1910 census of Fort Worth Ward 6, Tarrant, TX, he was living with his parents, Junnie B. French 52, and Annie L. French 43, and with his siblings: Elmo, Winifred, Annie, and Junius.

7.10 Elmo Dial French, b. 12 Apr 1890 in Tustin, CA, m. Elizabeth Otto on 7 Sep 1922. Elmo d. 24 Oct 1950 of a heart attack [1]. Elmo is listed in the 1930 census as living in Coral Gables, Dade Co., FL, age 39, born ca. 1891 in CA. His wife is Elizabeth, age 39, born in PA, and her father was born in Germany and her mother in PA. Elmo’s parents were both born in TX, and he was a general practitioner doctor. In the 1910 census of Fort Worth Ward 6, Tarrant, TX, he was living with his parents, Junnie B. French 52, and Annie L. French 43, and with his siblings: James, Winifred, Annie, and Junius.

7.11 Winifred Bartlett French, b. 22 Dec 1892 in Fort Worth, TX, never married. She d. 9 Sep 1961 of cancer and was interred next to her mother and father in East Oakwood Cemetery, Fort Worth, TX [1]. In the 1910 census of Fort Worth Ward 6, Tarrant, TX, she was living with her parents, Junnie B. French 52, and Annie L. French 43, and with her siblings: James, Elmo, Annie, and Junius. In the 1930 census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA, Winifred was 37 and living with her mother and brother Junius 26 in Los Angeles, CA.

7.12* Annie Carol French, b. 26 Nov 1901 in Ft. Worth, TX, m1. 19 Feb 1919 to Roswell Francis Field in Jacksonville, FL. Roswell was b. 27 Mar 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, d. 28 May 1952 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They had 3 children. Annie m2. Albert Jay Crane on 13 Apr 1959 in Naples, FL. Albert was b. 10 Dec 1885, d. 5 Sep 1971. No children from the second marriage. Annie d. 11 Jan 1988 of pneumonia in Naples, FL. In the 1910 census of Fort Worth Ward 6, Tarrant, TX, she was living with his parents, Junnie B. French 52, and Annie L. French 43, and with her siblings: James, Elmo, Winifred, and Junius.

7.13 Junius Butler French, Jr., b. 11 Nov 1903 in Fort Worth, TX, m1. Mabel Redwine on 23 Nov 1934. They were divorced in 1960. He m2. Myrtle Mae Gust on 13 Nov 1965 in La Jolla, CA. Junius d. 13 Jun 1982 of a heart attack. Myrtle presently resides in Lake San Marcos, CA [1]. In the 1910 census of Fort Worth Ward 6, Tarrant, TX, he was living with his parents, Junnie B. French 52, and Annie L. French 43, and with his siblings: James, Winifred, Annie, and Junius.

7.14 Robert Aubrey French, b. 3 Sep 1906, d. 3 May 1908 (age 2). His remains were interred at the family plot in East Oakwood Cemetery, Fort Worth, TX [1].

Eighth Generation

Children of James W. and Katherine M. (Kirkland) French, 7.6

8.1 Wyatt French Jr., b. 28 Jan 1930 in Columbus, OH, d. Jun 2007 in Richmond, VA [34], m1. Fay Ann Danner, dau. of Howard Mackie Danner and Lucille Morris, b. 27 Jul 1933 in Columbia, MO [1], m2. Suzanne Bracey Cameal [34]. Wyatt’s grandson is Marshall French, his daughter-in-law is Meredith Lynn French, Sandra Burner is his ex-daughter-in-law, and his son is Wyatt Kirkland French, all from Richmond, VA. His other son lives in Alaska, and his daughter is Suzanne French, married to Carl Keesler.

8.2 Rosemary French, b. 24 Mar 1935 in Baltimore, MD, m1. 12 Apr 1958 to James Gordon Frazer who was b. 15 Mar 1934 in Richmond, VA, the son of Richard MacIlwaine Frazer and Sue Gordon of Richmond, VA. Child is James Stevenson Frazer. Rosemary m2. Thatcher S. Toddard Wood, b. 23 Oct 1925 in Kingston, NY, the son of Henry Joseph Wood and Virginia Thatcher, m. 24 Jul 1982 [1].

8.3 Nancy Sydnor French, b. 13 Mar 1940 in Richmond, VA. Never married [1], d. 1995 [34].

8.4 John Coleman French, b. 22 Aug 1942 in Richmond, VA, died suddenly on 20 Jan 1964 [1] at age 20.

Children of Marcellus French, 7.7

8.5 Sarah Margaret French, b. 4 May 1929 at Williamson, WV, m. _______Smith? [21]. Their daughter is Patricia A. Smith, b. ca. 1950, P.O. Box 15558, Pittsburgh, PA 15244 [21].

Children of James H. and Franklina M. (Bartlett) French, 7.9

8.6 Franklina Gray French, “Panky”, b. 31 Jan 1921, m. 7 Sep 1946 James A. Moore, b. 6 Jan 1919 [1].

8.7 James Henry French, Jr., b. 29 Oct 1924, d. in auto accident 6 Nov 1944 [1], age 20.

Children of Roswell Francis Field and Annie Carol French, 7.12

This family is added here (non-French) because of Charles Kellogg Field’s great contribution to the research of this French family [1].

8.8 Robert Eugene Field, b. 15 Apr 1920, d. 3 Oct 1968 [1].

8.9 Richard Sutherland Field, b. 31 Aug 1922, d. 24 Aug 1969 [1].

8.10 Charles Kellogg Field, III, b. 28 Jul 1927 in Detroit, Michigan, m1. Marilyn Elaine Whitney on 8 Sep 1950. Marilyn was b. 25 Nov 1927. They had 3 children. Charles m2. Barbara Ann Wiggins on 4 Oct 1975. Barbara was b. 1 Jul 1936. No children from the second marriage [1]. Their three children are: (1) Whitney Kellogg Field, b. 8 Jan 1952, m. Lisa Bonfoey Petrides on 31 Jul 1977. Lisa was b. 31 May 1951 [1]. (2) Elaine Frances Field, b. 16 Aug 1955 [1]. (3) Martin Roswell Field, b. 28 Dec 1959 [1].

Unknown Frenches

Rosella French of Elsmere, KY

Rosella French Porterfield of Elsmere, KY was in the Hall of Fame, 2007. We are unsure how she relates to this French family.

Rosella French Porterfield, Elsmere, Ky., (1918-2004): Mrs. Porterfield, the granddaughter of a slave, graduated with honors from Kentucky State College in Frankfort and joined the Erlanger-Elsmere School District in 1940, where she became the head teacher at Wilkins Heights, a school for African American children. In 1955, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were illegal, Mrs. Porterfield worked with district officials to integrate schools in Elsmere and Erlanger.

Porterfield, Rosella F.  Birth Year : 1919  Death Year : 2004  Porterfield was born in Daviess County, KY. She was a teacher and the first African American librarian in the Elsmere-Erlanger School System in northern Kentucky. She retired from the Elsmere-Erlanger System. The Elsmere Park Board rededicated the Rosella French Porterfield Park in 2002. She is referred to as the Rosa Parks of Northern Kentucky. In 1955, while head teacher at the African American School, Wilkins Heights, Porterfield approached the Elsmere superintendent and said that it was time to integrate the schools. The request was taken to the school board and approved. Porterfield was a 1940 graduate of Kentucky Normal and Industrial School [now Kentucky State University]. In 2007, Rosella French Porterfield was inducted into the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Hall of Fame. For more see "Civil-rights pioneer Porterfield honored," The Enquirer (Cincinnati.com), 07/25/02; and C. Meyhew, "Rosella Porterfield, 85, helped integrate schools," The Cincinnati Enquirer, 11/10/2004, Metro section, p. 4C.  Subjects: Activists, Civil Rights, Education and Educators, Librarians, Library Collections, Libraries, Parks, Grade Schools & High Schools in Kentucky  Geographic Region: Daviess County, Kentucky / Elsmere and Erlanger, Kenton County, Kentucky.

Angelina French of Prince William Co., VA

Angelina French appears in Prince William Co., VA, and we have no idea where she ties in. She was b. ca. 1720, m. William Moore. Their son, Jeremiah Moore, m. Lydia Reno on 1 Nov 1765. Jeremiah was b. 7 Jun 1746 in Dumphries, Prince William Co., VA. Lydia Reno was the dau. of Francis Reno mentioned above in generation one and is probably a contemporary to James French; therefore, Angelica would be in the second generation. Maybe she could be the daughter of a brother of James French; thereby, another clue pops up.

Jeremiah Moore’s mother was Angelina French, whose family settled in the Northern Neck area of Virginia (the strip of land between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers). In Dumfries in 1763, the practicing Episcopalian, Jeremiah, heard the preaching of pioneer Baptist preacher Elder David Thomas and his interest in the faith was piqued. In 1765 at age 19 he married a Lydia Reno/Renno, daughter of Francis Renno, and by 1772 he had publicly professed his Baptist faith and was baptized by Elder Thomas, who at the time prophesized that “I think I have this day baptized a preacher.” During his early years as a preacher, he and other Baptist preachers were persecuted for their preaching by the established church of the day: The Church of England. Some sources indicate that Jeremiah’s preaching activities were once defended by Patrick Henry. Jeremiah served for a short time in the Revolutionary War as a Corporal in the Virginia Infantry. On 2 Oct 1789 Jeremiah and his wife sold the 264 acres of land they owned on a branch of Difficult Run. It is assumed that he moved to Moorefield (present day location is in the Townes of Moorefield subdivision off of Nutley Street in southwest Vienna). In 1800 he wrote to and received a reply from Thomas Jefferson on the topic of political freedom. Jefferson ran for President that very year.

Bibliography

[1] “A Genealogical and Biographical History of the Field Family of Massachusetts and Vermont, and the French-Henry Families of Virginia and Texas” by Charles Kellogg Field, III, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1985. (410) 444-4228. Charles K. Field, 2961 Woodcreek Way, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48013. (313) 647-5410.

[2] Overwharton Parish records (1723-1758), listed on the Quit Rent Roll for 1723. “A” James French is listed in 1738 on the Prince William Co. VA Quit Rent Rolls. He paid quit rents to the Crown in Virginia. This could be a different James other than the James of this chart.

[3] Tenders Tobacco List.

[4] FFA member Robert C. Neibling, 541 Bellehurst Dr., Montgomery, AL 36109. In 2008 living at 627 Glen Eagles Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542-9036. (251) 968-6369. Email: nibsndi@gulftel.com

[5] The material in this website does not show any legal documents, therefore it has not been added: http://genealogydata.ucan.us/g1033.html#I60976

[6] FFA member Marlys (Cindy) Louise (Halcomb) Sawyer, 2204 Vichy Rd., Rolla, MO 65401.

[7] FFA member Yvonne Flinn Bognar, 8040 Tremont Circle Dr., Affton, MO 63123. Perhaps moved to 4580 Kerth Forest Dr., St. Louis, MO 63128-3768, 314-892-1870. yvonnebognar@yahoo.com (email good in 2008).

[8] Mary Arnold Kaufman, 190 Herworth Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017. Cousin to Ref [7]. She believes there may be a connection of this Virginia line to Pershore, Worcestershire, England. Information from a book, “The Five George Masons,” talks about the Frenches who married Masons. arnoldkaufman@sbcglobal.net

[9] FFA member Mary Milicent Godfrey French Luckett, 2844 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C. 20007 (same line as [5]).

[10] Fauquier County, VA, Marriage Bonds and Marriage Returns, 1759-1854 by John K. Gott, 1989.

[11] Notebook of genealogy articles written by Harry W. Mills, published in the Mt. Sterling Advocate. In the Montgomery Co., KY library.

[12] Harry Enoch’s book on the Last Indian Raids in Montgomery Co.

[13] Baptist History Homepage. From S. J. Conkwright, History of the Boone's Creek Baptist Association Churches, 1923.

[14] FFA member Dolly Farrow Nicol, 3301 Hughes Lane, #67, Dickinson, TX 77539. (281) 337-4211. Email: cherionicol@yahoo.com (good in 2009)

[15] Letter from Jane Sutter, 27 Jan 1987.

[16] Kenneth C. Thomsen, Jr., 13790 Louisville Rd., Smith’s Grove, KY 42171, (502) 563-3461 (no longer available).

[17] Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, VA.

[18] Genealogies of Kentucky Families, 1981, from the Register of the Kentucky Historial Society, FFA library F307. These names are not just from FFA Chart #14. This book is online thru ancestry.com.

[19] Loudoun Co., VA, Marriage Records to 1881, by Jewell.

[20] Marriages of Loudoun Co., VA, 1751-1853, by Mary Alice Wertz, 1985. SCPL GS929.3755 W49.

[21] FFA member Patricia A. Smith, P.O. Box 15558, Pittsburgh, PA 15244.

[22] William and Mary Quarterly, Notes on Some Moore and French Families in Virginia and Carolina in the Colonial Period, by William Cabell Moore from the Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum.

[23] Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, by F. A. Virkus, A.N. Marquis and Co., Chicago, IL, 4,194, & 5,284 (1925).

[24] History of Halifax County, Virginia, by Wirt J. Carrington.

[25] French Bible Record by William Burkitt, M.A. Late Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham in Essex. The Sixteenth Edition. Carefully corrected. London, Printed for T. Osborn, R. Baldwin, T. Field, C & R Ware (etc. some 36 names). MDCCLXV.

[26] Marilyn Hallenbeck, 1105 Sunlake Blvd., Grand Island, FL 32735.

[27] A. Maxim Coppage, F.S.A. Scot, 653 Pershing Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.

[28] Bill D. Holder, 6596 Fichot, Cypress, CA 90630-5407.

[29] Index to Marriages Prior to 1853 of Prince William County, VA.

[30] Baptists on the American Frontier: A History of Tennessee.rrr

[31] Virginia Historical Society, Guide to African American Manuscripts.

[32] Virginia Marriages, 1668-1853.

[33] General John Bell Hood, CSA, Biography, website: http://www.johnbellhood.org/bio-01.htm. Email: shood321@aol.com

[34] Suzanne French Keesler, email good in 2009 Suzandcarl@aol.com

[35] Lisa Schumann, email: Lisa.Schumann@Erlanger.kyschools.us, good in 2009. I have been researching an old cemetery in Elsmere, Kenton, KY for 10 years. It was referred to as the "French Cemetery" in a book of "Small Cemmeteries of Kenton County", but no names or stones are visible. I believe it is connected to SLAVES that were once owned by the French family.  Do you have any information or sources that would help me research the slaves of the French family, especially those of Judge Richard French, who had a home in Kenton County because he was a Circuit Court judge? 

[36] Trina Robertson, email: trina.robinson@gmail.com (email good in 2009). Trina Robinson maintains the blog The Passage Project at www.passage-project.com and works as a production editor for T magazine, the style magazine at The New York Times. She can be reached by email or phone at 917.749.6244, email: trina.robinson@gmail.com. I hope this note finds you well. I came across your website while doing research into my family history. I am the descendant of numerous people with the surname French (black and mulatto) from Kentucky who first traveled to Chicago from Mount Sterling, KY in 1866. Their names are Martin French (born roughly around 1815 in Kentucky), his wife Martha, and their children, David, Martin, John B., Seward, Luther, James and Peter. Some family members returned briefly to Shelbyville, KY in the mid-1880s. I am looking for families named French who might have been slaveholders and was hoping there might be records available that can help me in my search. Any guidance or advice is welcome. I have been working on my family genealogy for a while now and have hit a roadblock on Ancestry.com.

[37] The Callaway Family Association, dfmorgan@vnet.net (good in 2009). Website: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=cfa-joseph&id=I0999

[38] Elizabeth Smith, ESMITH@Montgomery.k12.ky.us (email good in 1998).

[39] Angela Ansley

[40] Mary Lou McHaffie Ramsey, mchaffiemarylou@yahoo.com (good in 2009).

[41] Genealogy of the Reno/Reneau Family in America, 1600-1930, by Steven G. Fancy & Sue Reneau Damewood, website: http://users.frii.com/sfancy/Reno.pdf

[42] Diane Brannon Knowles’s website: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/a/h/Diane-Dahl-/PDFGENEO1.pdf

[43] French Tipton Papers, Kentucky Room, Eastern Kentucky University Library. And “Fort Boonesborough” by Judge William Chenault, written for Courier-Journal, August 28, 1898. See website showing James French as a settler of Fort Boonesborough: http://donchesnut.com/genealogy/pages/fortboon.htm. Today Fort Bonnesborough is a state park. See also http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kycampbe/PioneersFtBoonesborough.htm.

Contents

History and Research

First Generation

Land Deeds

Further Research

Second Generation

Third Generation

The Slaves of This Line

Fourth Generation

Fifth Generation

Sixth Generation

Seventh Generation

Eighth Generation

Unknown Frenches

Rosella French of Elsmere, KY

Angelina French of Prince William Co., VA

Bibliography