French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Chart #57, Edward French, 1737
(combined with former Chart #44)

French’s Cove, Bay Roberts, Harbour Grace, and Bareneed,
Newfoundland, Canada;
New Westminster, British Colombia, Canada

Fifth Generation

This chart updated by Mara French on 9/8/13. Numbers in brackets [ ] show sources and 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: 2009, 2011, 2013.

Contents

Home Page of the FFA

Home Page of FFA Chart 57

Bibliography and Records

GENEALOGY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fifth Generation

Children of Edward and Mary French, 4.2

5.1* John French. He is mentioned in his father’s will of 1829 as being his eldest son. He is mentioned in his mother’s will of 1852 as having 2 children: Edward and John. He may be the one who m. Emma Jane on 17 Dec 1841 of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; several men named John could be this one – we need a lot more research; see 5.18.

5.2 Elizabeth French, b. 19 Mar 1797 in Port de Grave, NL, m. Hussey of Ship Cove, mentioned in her father’s will of 1829 as being the oldest daughter. She is mentioned in her mother’s will of 1852. None of her children are mentioned in her mother’s will of 1852.

5.3* Joseph French, ca. 1810 of Ship Cove, mentioned in his father’s will of 1829. Joseph married the same year on 13 Dec 1829 in Bareneed, the Dock, to Grace Boone [26]. He is mentioned in his mother’s will of 1852. None of her children are mentioned in her mother’s will of 1852. They may have had children Grace, Joseph, and Mary.

5.4 Ann French, m. Dawe of Ship Cove, mentioned in her father’s will of 1829 as being of Ship Cove. She is not named in her mother’s will of 1852, but her daughter Mary Daw is mentioned.

5.5 Abraham French, mentioned in his father’s will of 1829.

5.6 Mary French, mentioned in her father’s will of 1829. She is listed in her mother’s will of 1852. She m. Batten and had son Edward Batten who is also mentioned in the will of 1852. Most likely Edward Batten was b. ca. 1843 and appears as age 67 in the 1910 census of Independence, Cuyahoga, OH, widowed. However, another Edward Batten was buried on 25 Aug 1866 at Port de Grave.

5.7* Edward French, mentioned in his father’s will of 1829 as being his youngest son. Edward is mentioned in his mother’s will of 1852 as having these children: Grace, Joseph, and Mary. Also probably Edward and Thomas.

Children of William French, 4.3

5.8* Edward French, from the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed. He registered his will on 4 Aug 1839 [48]. He had son, William. He mentions his unnamed wife, another Edward French, Testator of the will, and witness Jeremiah Rouse from whom the subject Edward French leased a “Fishing Room and Plantation situated on the south side of Harbour Grace”, and John Stark, registrar, and Donald MacLellan, witness [48].

Will of Edward French (of William) of Bay Roberts:

I, Edward French (son of William) of Bay Roberts being at present in a weak state of body but of sound mind doth hereby declare and make my last Will and Testament as follows:

The whole of my property situated in Bay Roberts aforesaid also a Fishing Room and Plantation situated on the south side of Harbour Grace and now under a lease for term of twenty years to Jeremiah Rouse. I give and bequeath to my son, William in consideration of which he is to allow my wife to remain in the House so long as she lives or so long as she wishes to remain and that he will also support her while she remains with him but it is my wish that she shall not bring any family or person into the House without the consent of my son. As witness my hand at Bay Roberts this 4th day of August 1839 Edward (his mark) French (Seal) Witnesses - Donald MacLellan, Edward French.

I hereby certify that the execution by Edward French, the Testator of the Will of which the foregoing is a true and correct copy was proved before me by the Oath of Edward French, a subscribing witness thereto on the seventeenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and two nine and the same is hereby actually registered by me this day. Given under my hand this twentieth day of December one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine. A.D. 1839

No. 1900                    John Stark, Registrar

Harbour Grace in the 1880s with gas streetlights in the foreground.

5.9 child French, mentioned in the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed, living with parents.

5.10 child French, mentioned in the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed, living with parents.

5.11* John French, b. 12 Mar 1810 in Brigus, Newfoundland, m. Amy Batten on 5 Dec 1837 in Bareneed, Newfoundland. Witnesses were William Batten and John Batten [48]. The marriage record states John was the son of William. Note of importance: This John is often confused with John French, son of John – 5.18 below. In reality, they could be the same John using the name John William French, and there could have been 2 marriages; but for now I am keeping them as they are here – please email me if you have further information at marafrench@mindspring.com.

Children of Nathaniel French and Charlotte Ann Bradbury, 4.9

5.12* Abraham French.

5.13* Charles French, mentioned in his father’s will of 1851.

5.14* Edward French, born after 1833, mentioned in his father’s will of 1851, underage.

5.15* Isaac French, born after 1833, mentioned in his father’s will of 1851, underage. Isaac m. Mary Jemima, and he died 9 May 1891.

Will of Isaac French
from Newfoundland will books volume 6 page 596 probate year 1900

Last will and Testament of 
Isaac French of St. John’s deceased

      Feeling that my life is in the hands of my Heavenly Father and that he may perhaps shortly call me to himself I Isaac French formerly of Bay Roberts Conception Bay, but now of St. John’s, do by this my last and only will give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Jemima French the sum of $439.91 cash to my credit on the books of the firm of Baine Johnston & Co of this city to be used by her for her maintenance and support as she may find it necessary. Also I devise to her this house, Lazy Bank Road with all its appurtenances and its effects furniture and contents, to be used by her for her comfort as long as she may need it, and at her decease she shall have perfect and absolute right to dispose of it as she may think best.

I desire to devise to my son William John, all the land with the dwelling house, stores, stable and their contents now in his possession situated at Bay Roberts and can only say I feel he will good to his mother in her declining years. Also it is my wish that the land situated in Bay Roberts next and west of the Roman Catholic Chapel shall be and continue in the possession of my wife Mary Jemima French until such time either before, or at her death she may dispose of the same as she desires to do 
And I do now and hereby appoint Mr. Arthur W. Martin of St. John’s as my Executor to see that the aforementioned conditions is carried out Signed and Sealed by me Isaac French x his mark. This is to certify that we were present and saw the Testator Isaac French direct the writing of his will herein contained. (Sgd) Arthur W. Martin. (Sgd) William John French (sgd) Mary Jemima French her x mark (sgd) Fanny Jane Mercer her x mark - 
St. John’s Newfoundland May 9^th 1891. Eighteen hundred and ninety one

      I certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the last will and Testament of Isaac French deceased

D. M. Browning
Registrar

5.16 Nathaniel French. Mentioned in his father’s will of 1851, but received only 1 Schilling due to misconduct.

Children of John French and Mary Willicocks, 4.12

5.17 Rebekah French, b. 13 Aug 1808 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Church of England records state she is one year old at the time of christening. Parents listed as John French and Mary Willicocks. She m. Thomas Earle ca. in 1830 and had about 9 children: William, Edward, Thomas, Mary Ann, Abraham, Solomon, Sarah, and Jacob.

5.18 John French, b. 12 Mar 1810 in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, d. Jun 1852. He m. Emma “Jane” on 17 Dec 1841 in Bay Roberts. St. Matthew's Church. Alternate date 7 Dec. John was a widower and Jane was a spinster. Witnesses George ? French and Charles French. (Src. M. Craft database for French's of Bay Roberts.) Jane was b. 6 Jul 1820 in Bay Roberts, d. 25 Jan 1917 in Coley’s Point. Church of England records also states birthday. Records state parents are John French and Mary Willicocks. See http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/50526436/person/13076175750. He may be the one who m. Emma Jane on 17 Dec 1841 of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; several men named John could be this one. Look at 5.1 where there is a conflict.

5.19* William French, (unsure of this connection), b. ca. 1810, d. ca. 1870, m. Penny (Penelope), in Bareneed, Newfoundland, Canada, from the 1817 Newfoundland Census, Bareneed.

5.20* Benjamin J. French, b. 14 Nov 1812 in Brigus, Newfoundland, m. Mary Anne Bartlett on 19 Dec 1833 of Port de Grave, Newfoundland, married at St. Luke’s Anglican Church. He d. 6 Apr 1875 in Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada, and was buried at the Church of England Cemetery in Coley’s Point, Bay Roberts. Benjamin was a fisherman and boat captain in Newfoundland. He was a Methodist.

Mary was the dau. of Abraham (Abram) Bartlett and Ann Richard. She was b. 17 Oct 1814 in Brigus, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and d. 24 Aug 1898 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland.

Photos of Mary Ann Bartlett French, above.

Mary Ann Bartlett was b. 17 Oct 1814. Benjamin and Mary had 10 children listed in the Bible above. See http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/50526436/person/13076174724 for more details. Family Bible now belongs to Max French.

Benjamin French’s marriage certificate to Mary Ann Bartlett on 19 Dec 1833.

Mary French’s will dated 5 Feb 1892 shows she was the widow of the late Benjamin French of Bay Roberts. She names daughter Elizabeth Batten and her son William French.

After Mary died, a letter was drawn naming the next of kin, Abraham, Benjamin, Isaac, Mary Bishop, Elizabeth Batten, and William French, dated 26 May 1902 or 1912?

Bibliography and Records