© Copyright 1994, 2007 by Mara French. All files on this website are copyrighted by their submitter and creator. They may be linked to, but may not be reproduced on another website or in any other form without specific permission of the submitter, owner, publisher and this site moderator. Although public records are as such not copyrightable, the manner in which they are presented, including the notes, comments, etc. are. The information on this site is provided free of charge for your personal use only. This chart was initially compiled by Art Westneat in 1984 from data researched by Harry Dana French.

Contact Information: Please send any corrections or additions to Jim Conant French. Send corrections or additions for the English ancestors to Mara French.

England History and Research

Thomas French, Sr., b. 11 Oct 1584 at Bures St. Mary, Suffolk County, a son of Jacob, moved to Assington ca. 1585/86, m. Susan Riddlesdale 5 Sep 1608 in Assington. Susan was b. 20 Apr 1584 at Boxford, Suffolk Co., England, dau. of John and Dorcas Riddlesdale, d. Aug 1658. Thomas d. 5 Nov 1639 in Ipswich. Both Thomas and Susan immigrated in 1635 to Ipswich, five years after their son, Thomas, immigrated.

All Frenches were baptized either at St. Edmunds Church in Assington, or at St. Marys Church in Bures St. Mary.

The Frenches came to America during the Puritan Great Migration (1620–1643). Most of them emigrating from the southeast of England and settling in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The busiest years of the Great Migration were those of “The Eleven Year Tyranny” (1629–1640) during which Charles I tried to rule without calling the Puritan-dominated parliament. Once the King was forced to call Parliament in 1640 and the Puritan revolution began, immigration to New England came to a near-complete halt.

Very few passenger lists exist from the time of the Great Migration and only in a few cases are the names of ancestors’ ships and their actual departure or arrival dates known. See New England Immigrant Ancestors.

Photo: Saint Edmund’s Church in Assington, County Suffolk, England, where most Frenches of this line were baptized. Photo by Mara French, 1994

French Family Ancestry in England

The letter designation for England goes backward beginning with the last generation living in England, Generation A, and goes forward with number designations in America, beginning with the first generation living in America, Generation 1.

Generation C

C.1* FRENCH, Thomas, b. ca. 1520 in Assington, Suffolk Co., England, m. Bridget who was born ca. 1520, and had two sons, Thomas and Jacob [23]. Various websites on the internet show that this Thomas and his father William (who was b. ca. 1483) are from Lowestoft or Kelsale, Suffolk County, England. Go to that website. This line is the FFA Chart #11. However, on the French DNA site, Chart #11 is shown as Group 9 and the DNA does not match up with FFA Chart #1 or Group 6. Another website shows Jacob’s parents as Stephen and Mary French.

Generation B

Children of Thomas and Bridget French, C.1

B.1 FRENCH, Thomas [23], b. ca. 1550.

B.2* FRENCH, Jacob [1] [23], b. ca. 1553, m. Susann Warren [1] 27 Sep 1578 at Bures St. Mary in Essex Co., which is right on the border along the Stour River which runs between Suffolk and Essex Counties. Assington is adjacent to Bures in the north. Jacob moved to Assington ca. 1585/86 or transferred church affiliation there [4]. At this time, Bury St. Mary was part of Assington, owned mostly by the Gurdon family [12]. Thomas Sr. occupied a farm located in Assington called Garlands. It was owned by John Gurdon. Jacob d. 11 Nov 1615 in Assington [24].

No record of a French family exists in Bury St. Mary in the 16th century prior to Jacob’s marriage in 1578, but it seems certain that Jacob came from some neighboring village. No record of Susan’s burial exists unless the burial of Susan French, the dau. of Jacob French, on 1 Aug 1613 is in error and she was in fact his wife. Jacob d. 11 Nov 1615 in Assington. No probate records for Jacob have been found in the indexes for the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Archdeaconry Courts of Sudbury, of Essex, or the Consistory Court of Norwich.

Susan Warren was probably either the dau. or grand-daughter of William and Katherine Warren of Bures St. Mary, although no baptismal record has been found. Two generations in a row had the names William and Katherine Warren [25]. William’s and Katherine's probable family are [17]: William; Thomas; Katherine married John Ansell; John married Joan; Robert; Julyan; Elizabeth married William Siday on 10 May 1574 in Bures St. Mary’s Parish as his second wife, the first being Alice Warren [25]; and three other children [25]. Elizabeth died young and her husband may have m2. Elizabeth French. The name Susan is not mentioned as a child of William and Katherine, this being the Susan Warren who came from the exact same village, was born about 1553, and who m. Jacob French 27 Sep 1578 in Bures St. Mary. Jacob could have been the brother of William French (Chart #EA) or Christopher French (Chart #EC).

The administration of Williams’ estate was granted to Katherine, his wife, on Sep. 26, 1554 in Essex. He died intestate. Katherine's will, dated July 31, 1567, was proved Jan. 1570/1 in Essex [5]. A William Warren was buried at Bures Saint Mary on 12 October 1550. Either Katherine delayed almost four years to settle the estate, or this is the burial record of a still earlier generation, or this was a grandchild. Katherine, in her will of 1567, bequeathed to and specifically named four grandchildren, yet failed to give the names of her four young children. Thus, Susan might have been one of these four young ones, or an unmentioned granddaughter. Of the following children, William and Elizabeth are deduced as such, the others were named in Katherine's will.

B.3 Is it possible that Jacob had another brother named William of Chart #EA or Christopher of Chart #EC? They were all born during the same period:

· Jacob, b. ca 1553, Chart #E1

· William, b. ca. 1553, Chart #EA

· Christopher, b. ca. 1560, Chart #EC

Generation A

Children of Jacob and Susann (Warren) French, B.2

A.1 William French [1], bp. 25 Jul 1580 at Bures St. Mary (parents not named). He was named after his mother’s father. May be the William who had children baptized at Twinstead, Essex Co., about 3 miles from Bures St. Mary. These children are (1) Thomas, bp. 10 Nov 1606, (2) Jacob, bp. 17 Jan 1607/8. There are only these two Frenches mentioned in Twinstead Parish Register [11] [14]. Another source shows a John French m. Elizabeth Fox in Twinstead, Jul 1643 [14], but this was after most Puritans had immigrated to America.

MIGHT NOT BE TRUE? Most likely this William had a son named William, b. 1605, who immigrated with his wife Elizabeth to Billerica, MA, and d. there in 1668. DNA tests have proven this connection (Group 6).

A.2 Jacob French [1], bp. 12 Aug 1582 at Bures St. Mary (parents not named). Might have died young because he is not mentioned in ref. [17]. Named after father.

A.*3 Thomas French Sr. [1]., bp. 11 Oct 1584 at Bures St. Mary, son of Jacob, moved to Assington ca. 1585/86, m. Susan Riddlesdale 5 Sep 1608 in Assington. Thomas was named after his grandfather [23]. Susan bp. 20 Apr 1584 at Boxford, Suffolk Co, England, dau. of John and Dorcas Riddlesdale, d. Aug 1658, immigrated 1635 [13] to Ipswich, Massachusetts, a few years after their son, Thomas Jr. and 3 older daughters immigrated. Thomas Sr. d. before 5 Nov 1639 in Ipswich, MA (8 children) [16]. Thomas Sr. occupied a farm located in Assington called Garlands. It was owned by John Gurdon. The will of John GURDON, Esq., of Assington, made Dec. 6, 1621, left to his grandson "the messuage or farm house wherein one Thomas FRENCH doth now inhabit, called Garland's." Brampdon Gurdon, Sheriff of Norfolk 1625-29, was b. in Assington Hall and had at least one dau., Muriel Gurdon, b. 1613 [24]. Emigrated to Ipswich, MA before Jul. 25, 1638 when a lot of his is mentioned as a boundary to land at the Reedy marsh. Four of his children had preceeded him to America. Thomas was married Sep. 5, 1608 at Assington, Suffolk, England. Susan RIDDLESDALE - bap. Apr. 20, 1584, Boxford, Suffolk, England; d. Aug. 1658, Ipswich, MA. On Mar. 10, 1658/9, inventory of her estate was made, totaling L12.11.6. Daughter of John RIDDLESDALE and Dorcas. Susan was probably the aunt of Dorcas RIDDLESDELL, a witness in a case in Ipswich, MA court in Mar. 1647. Thomas’ children: All Children baptised at Saint Edmund’s in Assington. All children immigrated to MA except Margaret who died young. "The will of John Gurdon, Esq., of Assington, made 12/6/1621, left to his grandson, 'the messuage or farm house wherein one Thomas French doth now inhabit, called Garland's' " Emigrated to Ipswich, before July 25, 1638 when a lot of his is mentioned as a boundry to land at the Reedy marsh. Four of his children had preceeded him to America.

A.4 Elizabeth French, bp. 27 Feb 1586/7 in Assington, dau. of Jacob [2]. Elizabeth m. William Siday; however, another source says Elizabeth Warren m. William Siday (see Generation B). Note: This is not the Elizabeth who m. Henry Loker, bp. 1576/7 in Bures St. Mary. John Threlfall says that there were 2 distinct Riddlesdales families and that the French family is not descended from the Loker branch. There is no evidence that Elizabeth, wife of Henry Loker, was nee French [15]. Elizabeth d. 1648 [24].

A.5 Susan French, bp. 1589/98, d. 1 Aug 1613 Assington, dau. of Jacob unless this record is in error and refers instead to the burial of Jacob’s wife, Susan.

A.6 John French, bp. 27 Mar 1596, Assington (parents not named) [2], m. Joan [17]. Had dau. Sarah, buried at Assington 22 Jan 1620/21. There was an Elizabeth Fox in Twinstead, Essex Co., England, who married a John French in 1643 [22].

A.7 Robert French, bp. 25 Jun 1600, Assington, the son of Jacob and Susan. Mentions mother Susan in his baptismal record [4]. It is strange that nothing has been heard about Robert, and he is not listed as among the early immigrants to Massachusetts.

Katherine French, married John Ansell [17]. Julyan French [17]. Possibly others, bp. 1589, 1591, 1593, 1598. No Assington records survive for these periods.

First Generation

Children of Thomas and Susan (Riddlesdale) French, A.3

The American side of this line continues on Jim Conant French’s website. Following is just a brief summary of the decendants. All children were baptized at Saint Edmund’s Church in Assington. All children immigrated to.

1.1 Thomas French Jr., bp 27 Nov 1608, d. 8 Aug 1680 in Ipswich, MA, m. Mary Scudamore, ca. 1631 [9]. Immigrated in 1630 [16]. Scudamore marriage has not been proven [21]. Mary d. 6 May 1681. Will.

1.2 Alice French, bp. 9 Apr 1610, d. 26 Jun 1666 in Ipswich, MA. Immigrated 1630 with brother, Thomas [16], m. Thomas Howlett of Topsfield, MA, in 1634.

1.3 Dorcas French, bp. 31 Jul 1614, d. 30 Dec 1697 or 14/15 Oct 1694 in Roxbury, MA. Servant to John Winthrop [15]. Immigrated 1633 [16], m1. Christopher Peake 3 Jan 1636/7 of Roxbury, MA, m2. Griffin Craft of Roxbury, MA. Served in the family of John Winthrop, Jr. in Ipswich, MA. A letter written by Thomas Gostlin to John Winthrop, Jr., from Groton on Jun. 11, 1633 refers to both Dorcas and Susan: "she is one of the goodman French's daughters of Assington. I have sent two of them, one for your father and the other for you. Your father must take his choice. The eldest must serve for 3 years, and the youngest 4...pray let them be delt as well with all as any of the same quality."

1.4 Susan French, bp. 22 Apr 1616. Immigrated 1633 [16]. (see above)

1.5 Anne French, bp. 15 Mar 1617/18. Immigrated 1637 [16].

1.6 Margaret French, bp. 12 Mar 1619/20, d. 25 Nov 1635 most likely in Assington because she was not listed on the Winthrop Fleet immigration records.

1.7 John French, bp. 26 May 1622 in Northampton, MA. Immigrated 1635 [16], m. Freedom Kingsley in 1654, d. 1 Feb 1696/97 in Northampton, MA. He was a tailor.

1.8 Mary French, bp. 6 Jan 1624/5, d. testate 15 or 28 Dec 1674 at Ipswich. Immigrated 1635 [16] perhaps with her brother John, m. George Smith in 1644 at Ipswich, MA.

Other Assington Records

· Katherine French, married John Ansell, no date [17].

· Julyan French, no date [17].

· Possibly others, bp. 1589, 1591, 1593, 1598. No Assington records survive for these periods.

Further DNA Discussion

I've been informed that this line's DNA, Group 6, shows a Haplogroup of G2, whereas other Frenches from nearby villages in either Essex Co or Suffolk Co show a Haplogroup of R1b which indicates that these families are unrelated by many thousands of years and originated in completely different areas. Therefore, the DNA from Richard French of Coggeshall, Essex, England (FFA Chart #6), and Edward French of Suffolk, England (FFA Chart #4) and William and Samuel French of Kelsdale and Saxmundham, Suffolk, England (FFA Chart #11) are unrelated to Thomas French (FFA Chart #1). There is, however, a matching DNA between Thomas French (FFA Chart #1) and William French (FFA Chart #2) which also includes John French, William's brother, (FFA Chart #3).

Now, to describe a puzzle between the R1b and G2 Haplogroups. In Cambridge, MA, both Richard French (FFA Chart #6) and William French (FFA Chart #2) are on various land documents together in Cambridge. Both had sons named Samuel. Williams’s son Samuel (his last child) was born on 3 Dec 1645 in Cambridge and died 6 months later on 15 Jul 1646. Richard’s son Samuel (his second child) was born 13 Jul 1653, also in Cambridge, MA and he died in 1727. Richard's son Samuel lived with William since he was 1 year old at the time his father Richard was in jail. Either these were two unrelated men because their DNA is not a match, or the genealogy research is incorrect with the English data. William also had another child living with him, Francis French b. 1624 in England, who may have been a child from his wife before they were married since Francis is 5 years older than William’s oldest child. See Stephen M. Lawson’s website.

Maps

These superly-detailed historical Ordnance Survey maps date back to between 1860 and 1910, and are available for every town in England and Wales. I bought a copy of this map and I seem to remember it showing “The Garlands” where Thomas French lived. When I locate the map, I’ll note where it is.

Zoom in on this satellite map of England to visually see the approximation of these towns: Assington (where you can still see the Gurdon acreage), Boxford (2 miles away), Edwardstone, Bures (3 miles away), Lamarsh, Twinstead, Groton, and then about 7 miles west to Halstead and Coggeshall where large French families lived.

Riddlesdale Family in England

Jasper and Elizabeth Riddlesdale

Jasper RIDDLESDALE, b. about 1490; d. Sep. 1552, Boxford, Suffolk. His will was dated Aug. 29, 1552 and proved Sep. 15, 1552 at Boxford, Suffolk. Also known as Jasper RYDYSDALE, husbandman, he was a churchwarden at Boxford 1542-3 and 1547-8. He had sisters Agnes, Christine EGLE, and Margery SKOTT. Jasper was married about 1581, probably at Boxford, Suffolk, to Elizabeth. She d. ca. Apr. 1553, Boxford, Suffolk. Her will was dated Oct. 30, 1552 and proved Apr. 13, 1553, which names all her children, also includes “my sister Rose BENET” and “mother Agnes.”

Children of Jasper and Elizabeth Riddlesdale

1.Henry RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1518/20, Boxford, Suffolk; bur. Jun. 25, 1591, Boxford, Suffolk. Married Joan about 1554, probably at Boxford, Suffolk. Joan - d. after Jun. 1591. Named as “Joan RIDSDALE my wife” in Henry's will.

2.Thomas RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1522, Boxford, Suffolk; d. possibly by 1567. Possibly married Joan, who married marred Oct. 5, 1567, Boxford, Suffolk, Launcelott MAYOR, a widower.

3.Robert RIDDLESDALE -

4.Peter RIDDLESDALE - Paid rent in 1547 to the church at Boxford, Suffolk. Married and had son: Thomas.

5.Grace RIDDLESDALE - Probably married Richard KEBLE by Aug. 1552.

6.Elizabeth RIDDLESDALE - Possibly married Thomas RYVET about Sep. 1552.

7.Jane RIDDLESDALE - Possibly twin of Amy.

8.Amy RIDDLESDALE - Possibly twin of Jane.

9.Richard RIDDLESDALE - b. after 1532. Under age 21 in 1552.

10.John RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1536; bur. Dec. 5, 1614, Groton, Suffolk. Married Nov. 29, 1562, Boxford, Suffolk, Elizabeth PATTEN, and moved to Groton shortly thereafter. Children: Henry died as infant; Mary; Thomas; possibly Richard; and possibly Jasper.

11.William RIDDLESDALE - Probably youngest child of Jasper and Elizabeth. Married Joan JOHNSON on Nov. 2, 1561 at Polstead, Suffolk.

Children of Henry and Joan Riddlesdale

1.Robert RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1554/5, Boxford, Suffolk, England. Named in father's will.

2.John RIDDLESDALE - bap. Sep. 27, 1557, Boxford, Suffolk; bur. Jun. 4, 1629, Assington, Suffolk. John RIDDLESDALE - bap. Sep. 27, 1557, Boxford, Suffolk; bur. Jun. 4, 1629, Assington, Suffolk. Son of Henry RIDDLESDALE and Joan. Married Dorcas about 1583, probably at Assington, Suffolk. Dorcas - b. 1571, Assington, Suffolk, England; bur. Sep. 24, 1624, Assington, Suffolk. Dorcas is named as John's wife in the baptismal records of daughters Susan and Sarah, and on land records of Jan. 1613/14.

3.Thomas RIDDLESDALE - bap. Jun. 2, 1560, Boxford, Suffolk; bur. Feb. 7, 1588/9. Married Sep. 1, 1584, Boxford, Suffolk, Susan BRONDE (bap. Jan. 23, 1560/1), daughter of John BRONDE. Susan married second Jan. 30, 1593/4 Richard WENDALL. Son of Thomas and Susan: Richard.

4.Joan RIDDLESDALE - bap. Oct. 23, 1562, Boxford, Suffolk. Married Aug. 30, 1582 at Boxford, Suffolk to Richard WALTON (bap. Apr. 8, 1561), son of Richard WALTON. Children: Richard; Richard; William; and Joan.

5.Julyan RIDDLESDALE - bap. Dec. 10, 1564, Boxford, Suffolk. Married Jun. 13, 1587 at Boxford, Suffolk to John STANBYE. Son: John.

6.Henry RIDDLESDALE - bap. Mar. 6, 1566/7, Boxford, Suffolk Married Sep. 5, 1592 at Boxford, Suffolk to Bridget SMYTHE (bap. Apr. 20, 1572), daughter of Symond and Alice SMYTHE. Son: Henry.

7.Richard RIDDLESDALE - bap. Aug. 13, 1570, Boxford, Suffolk; d. early 1610. Married Rose BRAND on Sep. 17, 1593 at Groton. His widow was granted administration of his estate on Jun. 5, 1610. On Apr. 23, 1611, Rose (BRAND) RIDDLESDALE married John WARREN (b. about 1555; d. 1613), cardmaker of Nayland, Suffolk, as his third wife. Rose married third Nov. 20, 1617, Boxford, Suffolk, Richard GRYMES.

Children of John and Dorcas Riddlesdale

1.Susan RIDDLESDALE - bap. Apr. 20, 1584, Boxford, Suffolk, England; d. Aug. 1658, Ipswich, MA. Married Thomas French.

2.Richard RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1586; bur. Nov. 6, 1610, Assington, Suffolk. Probably unmarried, the administration of his estate was granted to his sisters Susan and Joan.

3.Thomas RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1588. Named in will of his grandfather Henry RIDDLESDALE.

4.Joan RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1590. Married Oct. 11, 1610 at Assington, Suffolk to Richard MATHER, in a double wedding with sister Dorcas. Joan and Dorcas may have been twins.

5.Dorcas RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1590; bur. Dec. 15, 1610, Assington, Suffolk. Married Oct. 11, 1610 at Assington, Suffolk to Thomas DYNES, yeoman, in a double wedding with sister Joan. Dorcas and Joan may have been twins. Administration of her estate was granted to her sisters Susan and Joan. No children.

6.Edward RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1592; bur. Feb. 9, 1630/1, Assington, Suffolk. Married Mary (d. Apr. 10, 1683, MA), who married second Jun. 27, 1632 at Assington, Suffolk, John WYATT (b. about 1594; d. Dec. 1665, Ipswich, MA), who had married first Martha SHELDRAKE, daughter of John and Joan SHELDRAKE. Mary and John settled at Ipswich, MA, probably with Mary's daughters Mary, Sarah, and Dorcas RIDDLESDALE. Mary married third May 22, 1666 at Rowley, MA, James BARKER (d. Sep. 7, 1678, Rowley, MA), whose first wife was Grace (d. Dec. 27, 1665). Children of Edward and Mary: Edward; Mary married Henry KIMBALL; Sarah married first Luke HEARD, and second Joseph BIXBY; Dorcas; and Rebecca.

7.John RIDDLESDALE - b. about 1594/8, Assington, Suffolk; bur. Dec. 10, 1602, Assington, Suffolk.

8.Sarah RIDDLESDALE - bap. Mar. 1, 1599, Assington, Suffolk. Married Marke GRYME on May 30, 1620 at Assington.

Loker Family in England

Proof that Elizabeth French did not marry Henry Loker of Bures St. Mary, Essex, England. Article by Douglas Richardson published in the NEHGR, Vol. 43, Oct 1989. According to Douglas Richardson’s article in the NEHGR, December 1989, Henry Riddlesdale, alias Loker, married Elizabeth (not French). There is no evidence that Elizabeth, wife of Henry Loker, was born a French.

http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/scituate/RR01/RR01_014.htm#P15215

Henry Loker was baptized in Bures St Mary, Suffolk on 7 Feb 1576/7. Henry died in Feb 1630/1; he was 54. Buried on 25 Feb 1630/1 in Bures St Mary, Suffolk. Occupation: glover. Henry was a member of the Riddlesdale alias Loker family of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk in that his father was Robert Loker and his mother was Lucy Riddlesdale. For about four generations the family used either a version of the surname Riddlesdale, or a variation of Loker. Riddlesdale was favored in the early generations, but he prefered Lokar. Henry lived in the southern part of the parish of Bures St. Mary which is in Essex. Apparently in his lifetime, he dropped the surname Riddlesdale and began regularly using the alias Loker instead. "Loker" had variable spelling; he was baptized as "Locar", but buried as "Loquar". In by 1610 when Henry was 34, he married Elizabeth [Loker]. Elizabeth died on 18 May 1648 in Sudbury, MA. Richardson says, "a lucky guess is that Elizabeth was the sister of Bridget, wife of John Parmenter of Bures St. Mary and later New England." Elizabeth, after Henry died, went to New England in 1639 with her four children and settled in Sudbury (where they consistently used the surname Loker.) They had the following children:

1. Henry Loker. Born in prob. by 1610 in prob. Bures St. Mary, Eng. Henry died in Sudbury, MA on 14 Oct 1688; he was 78. In 1678 Henry deeded his whole estate for love to his son and daughter Jacob and Elizabeth Moore. On 24 Mar 1647 when Henry was 37, he married Hannah [Brewer], in Sudbury, MA.10 Hannah died on 14 Feb 1679. Hannah, widow of John Brewer of Cambridge, MA. Henry and Hannah had Elizabeth, who married Jacob Moore.

2. John Loker. Born in prob. Bures St. Mary, Eng. John died on 18 Jun 1653 in Sudbury, MA. ca 1650 John married Mary Draper. Children of John and Mary: John, and Mary b. at Sudbury 28 Sep 1653 (m. Jonas Prescott).

3. Bridget. Bridget died on 11 Mar 1685 in Marlboro, MA. Bridget was the elder daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Loker. Child of Robert and Bridget: Sarah, b. 10 Apr 1646 in Sudbury. In by 1646 Bridget first married Robert Davis. Born in 1606.10 Robert died in Sudbury, MA on 19 Jul 1655; he was 49. On 26 Dec 1655 Bridget second married Thomas King, in Sudbury, MA. Bridget was Thomas's second wife.

4. Anne (-1697)

5. Robert, perhaps died young because he is not mentioned in this mother’s will.

· Research by John Threlfall of 5518 Barton Rd., Madison, Wisconsin 53711. Jasper Riddlesdale of Boxford, Henry Riddlesdale of Bosford, John Riddlesdale of Boxford, Edward Riddlesdale of Assington.

· Proof that Elizabeth French did not marry Henry Loker of Bures St. Mary, Essex, England. Article by Douglas Richardson published in the NEHGR, Vol. 43, Oct 1989.

· Research by John Threlfall of 5518 Barton Rd., Madison, Wisconsin 53711. Jasper Riddlesdale of Boxford, Henry Riddlesdale of Bosford, John Riddlesdale of Boxford, Edward Riddlesdale of Assington.

Websites

· Robert J. O’Hara’s website

· Stephen M. Lawson’s website

· D. Pane-Joyce’s website showing Thomas French Sr.’s will:

Bibliography

Numbers in square brackets [ ] are bibliography notations. FFA stands for French Family Association Library Number. This information was researched by FFA member John B. Threlfall, who had his research published in the NEHGR Vol. 142, July 1988, p. 250-252.

[1] Bury Saint Mary Parish Register. This register has never been published.

[2] Assington Bishop’s transcripts, covers a few years after 1564.

[3] IGI, Suffolk County, England. (not documented here)

[4] Assington Parish Register of St. Edmund’s Parish, which starts in 1598.

[5] Essex Record Office, Chelmsford R2/35/20.

[6] The Ancestry of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles by Linzee. (not documented here)

[7] Marriage Licenses at the Ipswich Probate Court, 1613-1674. Printed at the Private Press of Frederick Arthur Crisp, 1903, Suffolk Record Office, School Hall St., Bury St. Edmunds, England. (not documented here)

[8] Diary of Adam Winthrop, the Winthrop Papers, Vol. I, II, III, 25 Martii 1603, the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1929. (not documented here)

[9] Debate on Mary Scudamore researched by FFA members Brian Berry and Paul Hokanson, June 1990.

[10] Nilda Evans, researcher at Suffolk Record Office, Bury St. Edmonds.

[11] Baptism, marriage, and burial records checked for Twinstead, Essex County, England, by Dr. Emmison of Chelmsford in May 1989. The Twinstead registers are available back to 1568.

[12] Map of Assington. Adjacent to the parish of Assington is the parish of Bures St. Mary, which straddles the River Stour and lies partly in Suffolk and partly in Essex. Boxford is the next parish NE of Assington. Halstead, Essex is about 7 miles SW of Assington.

[13] 1777 Map of Halstead. Thomas Sr. was a farmer in Assington living on John Gurdon’s land called Garlands. 8/9 children. Land called Garlands appears halfway between Assington and Halstead, just outside Pebmarsh.

[14] IGI, Essex County, England.

[15] FFA member John B. Threlfall, who had his research published in the NEHGR Vol. 142, July 1988, p. 250-252.

[16] The Planters of the Commonwealth by Charles Edward Banks, 1620-1640, published 1961. Immigrated on the Winthrop Fleet of 1630, with 11 vessels: the Arbella (flagship for masters), Ambrose, Talbot, Jewel, Charles, Mayflower, William and Francis, Hopewell, Whale, Success, Trial. The first five ships sailed 8 Apr 1630 from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight and arrived in Salem 13 Jun 1630 and following days. The other six sailed in May and arrived in July. Altogether there were 700 passengers.

[17] NEHGR, July 1988, pages 251-252.

[18] Topsfield Historical Collections, 13:153.

[19] Essex Quarterly Court Files.

[20] Pope’s Pioneers of Massachusetts.

[21] Visitations of the County of Gloucester, 1623, by Henry Chitty and John Phillipot, London, 1885, Sutro Library in San Francisco, CS 434 H35 V21.

[22] Boyd’s Marriage Index, Essex.

[23] Ron French, P. O. Box 70971, Shasta Lake, CA 96079-0971, (530) 275-4440.

[24] Robert J. O’Hara’s website

[25] Selvage and Person Families website

· Chart #1 in America by Jim Conant French	· Assington Village
· Contact Information	· St. Edmunds Church, Assington
· DNA for Thomas French	· Assington Hall
· England History and Research	· Bures St. Mary
· French Family Ancestry in England	· Winthrop Fleet of 1630
· Further DNA Discussion	·
· Maps of Suffolk and Essex Counties	·
· Riddlesdale Families in England	·
· Loker Families in England	·
· Websites	·
· Bibliography	·

Contents