French Family
Association
Mara
French, P.O. Box 1109, Sutter Creek, CA 95685-1109. 209-267-0649 marafrench@mindspring.com
Chart
#E2, William French of Halstead, Essex Co., England
Last
Updated by Mara French on 3/13/08. Return to FFA
Home Page.
|
á
|
|
|
á
|
|
|
á
|
|
|
á
|
|
|
á
|
©
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 shows the English part of Chart #2 which, thru DNA, has proven to be
connected with Chart #1. We just need to verify the correct connection.
Many
passengers who sailed on the Defence originally started out on another unknown
ship from Ipswich, Essex in 1634. The ship ran into a terrific storm in the
North Sea and the main mast was chopped down to save her from foundering, and
they drifted into Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, almost a wreck. Rev. Thomas Shepard
of Dunstable, England, was on this first ship and later concealed himself and
changed his name to John Shepard and sailed with Roger Harlakenden, originally
from Earls Colne, Essex (with whom he had been hiding in London), on the
Defence which arrived in Boston on 2 Oct 1635. Shipmaster was Mr. Edward Pearce
who later changed his name to Thomas Bostocke. Thomas Boylson was also with the
Frenches from the Minister of Fenchurch, London, age 20 [15] [16]. See also
[14] [3]. No French vital record in Earls Colne [24]. Voyage 20 Jun - 18 Jul
1635. Another source about The Ship Defence says
the ship sailed at the end of July, 1635 and arrived at Boston Oct 8.
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,
or the First Generation.
A.1
Perhaps William French, bp. 25 Jul 1580 at Bures St. Mary, Chart #E1.
1.1*
William French, b. about 1606 in England [15], immigrated during the summer of
1635 on the Defence [14] from Fenchurch, London (an area and nowadays a street,
not a church), England. He d. 1681 [8] [9]. Ship records list William as 30
yrs. William immigrated with Roger Harlekenden who was from Earls Colne, 3
miles from Halstead. The St. GabrielÕs Church of Fenchurch, London, which index
begins in 1551, lists no French during this time period. Records of WilliamÕs
ancestry in most books are incorrect (as being the son of Thomas) and have been
copied incorrectly repeatedly [6].
William
m. Elizabeth Godfrey [2] [10] [11] [25] Symmes, b. 1603 [25] or 1605 [27]. The ship
records list her as 32 [15] in 1635. Elizabeth was the dau. of Edward Godfrey
(born 1584) and Elizabeth Oliver [25]. No record of an Elizabeth Godfrey
married to Wm French [30]. No idea if WilliamÕs wife was actually Elizabeth
Godfrey or Elizabeth Symmes or if Elizabeth married twice, the first husband
being Symmes and the second, French. ElizabethÕs parents were Edward Godfrey,
b. 1584 [25] and Elizabeth Oliver [25]. Edward GodfreyÕs parents were Oliver
Godfrey, b. 1550 [25] and Elizabeth Toye [25]. Also listed as a passenger on
the Defence is Sarra Simes, 30, as a servant to Roger Harlakenden [15]. Perhaps
Sarra was a sister of Elizabeth French, hence the prediction of ElizabethÕs
maiden name Symmes [4].
It
appears that William left Halstead in about 1620. See Ref [14] regarding
Honiton on Otter in Devon, England. There is a record of a William French who
married Elizabeth Cannon 16 Aug 1625 at London, and a William French bapt. 15
Dec 1605, son of Andrew, at St. James at Clerkenwell, London (in Middlesex) who
are both likely candidates [5] [19]. The latter is not thought to be the
Billerica William because there were no Andrews in his line.
1.2
John French, brother of William, b. in the early 1600s in England, perhaps
1610. John m1. Sarah, m2. Joanna, and immigrated with one of these wives
to America in 1635, settling in Cambridge, MA. He did not immigrate with his
brother, William. In 1637 he was listed as a property owner, and in 1642, was
on a list of proprietors of Cambridge. By trade he was a tailor. Had 5
children, 4 born in America. The youngest son, John, may have been born in 1635
in England. No record exists as to the ship he sailed on. (This chart is
continued as Chart #3)
Children
of William and Elizabeth French, 1.1
Listed
here are only the children born in England.
2.1
(Most likely Francis is not WilliamÕs birth child, but could have been the
child of a relative or an earlier child by his wife, Elizabeth) Francis French,
b. 1625 [15]. No birth record has been found. Ref [19] lists Francis as the son
of William and Elizabeth French, born in London. Immigrated to America at 10
years old in 1635 [13] with his uncle or adopted father, William [18]. Francis
moved from Billerica, MA to Milford and then Derby, CT. Edward Wooster and
Francis were the first two landowners in Derby, CT [12]. (This chart is
continued as Chart #8) I do have some information somewhere which IÕll have to
dig out about an Elizabeth Symmes married to a man named Francis in Cambridge,
England.
2.2
Elizabeth French, b. 5 Sep 1630 Halstead [31] (no record of this birth) in
England [6] [13] [15], in London [19] but not in Halstead [1], not in Earls
Colne [7] [26] [12] [14]. Immigrated to America at 6 years old in 1635 [13].
(Named after mother). Elizabeth m1. Robert Elliot, m2. Richard Ellis (these
marriage records need to be checked).
2.3
Mary (Marie) French, b. in late 1632 in England [6] [13] [15], but not in
Halstead [1] [14] and not in London [19]. Immigrated to America at 2 1/2 years
old in 1635 [13].
2.4
John French, b. Feb 1634/35 in England [6] [13], in London [19], but not in
Halstead [1] [14]. Immigrated to America at 5 mo. old in 1635 [13]. No record
of John being born in Fenchurch, London, England. John was christened in
Cambridge, MA, after immigrating.
These
superly-detailed historical Ordnance Survey maps date back to
between 1860 and 1910, and are available for every town in England and Wales.
Zoom in
on this satellite
map of England to visually see the approximation of these towns:
Boxford, Assington, Edwardstone, Bures St. Mary, Lamarsh, Twinstead, Groton,
Halstead, Coggeshall, Gosfield, Wethersfield, Arkesden, Great Bardfield,
Farnham, and Wickhambrook where
large French families lived.
Numbers
in square brackets [ ] are bibliography notations. FFA stands for French Family
Association Library Number.
[1] Essex County Council, Essex Record
Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed in 1989,
document ref. E.R.O. D/P 96/1/1, Search ref. G.S. 173/89 of all baptisms in the
Parish of Halstead in the county of Essex from 1564 to 1616. 22 French baptisms
listed in Halstead between 1564 and 1616. No French born 1612-1650 in Halstead.
[2]
Kent County Council, West Kent Archives Office, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent
ME14 1XQ, letter, dated Feb. 21, 1990. Letter says that the original parish
records for Sandwich, Kent Co., are held at the East Kent Archives Office,
Cathedral Library, Canterbury. The West Kent office holds manuscript extracts
only. See [10].
[3] A
William French is listed in [17] as an emigrant from Halstead on ship Francis
to Cambridge, MA, ref. N.E.G.R. 44/367.
[4] New
World Immigrants edited by Michael Tepper, Vol I, 1979, SLC US & CAN 973
W3tN V.1, FFA F102.
[5]
IGI, Essex County, England, and letter from FFA member John Threlfall, 13 May
1990.
[6] A
Genealogical History of the French and Allied Families, by Mary Queal Beyer,
1909.
[7]
William and family were servants to Roger Harlekenden of Earl Colne, Essex.
[8]
William French wrote his will on 5 Jun 1679 and stated he was about 76. Will
probated 20 Nov/Dec 1681. He gives only to married children.
[9]
NEHGR, Vol 65, p. 284, 7th line.
[10]
Most likely Elizabeth Symmes was not from Canterbury, a city in Kent. The
researcher could have thought that the Prerogative Court of Canterbury meant
the city, but in those times it was part of the General Court System of England
and covered the southern 2/3rds of England, while the Prerogative Court of York
covered the upper 1/3rd. Research done by letter, dated Jun 1990 from Cathedral
City and Diocesan Record Office in The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH,
ref. KAS/G10/133 indicates no marriage records for Symmes, Godfrey, or French
entries for St. Clements or St. Peters Original Parish Registers during the
period 1624-1630. St. Georges Canterbury, printed volume, Baptisms, Marriages,
and Burials 1538-1800 also does not indicates Elizabeth Symmes of that period.
This info was sent to the FFA by Delpha Triptow, researcher from Salt Lake
City, 2 Oct 1991.
[11]
EdsonÕs Genealogical Notes, 1932, which says Elizabeth, w/o William French, was
Elizabeth Symmes, daughter of Rev. William Symmes (b. ca. 1570) of Sandwich,
Kent, England.
[12]
History of Derby, CT, 1880 by Samuel Orcutt. Edward Wooster was first settler
in Derby. Francis French was second settler.
[13]
Immigrated on Defence of London which sailed from London the end of July 1635
and arrived at Boston 8 Oct 1635 with about 100 passengers. Ship list says
William was 30 in July 1635.
[14]
Delpha Triptow, a researcher in Salt Lake City, also found a William French of
Honiton on Otter in Devon, England, who had three children born in Honiton on
Otter with the same names, but different dates. These children are Elizabeth,
b. 1622; John, b. 1628; and Mary, b. 1632. WeÕre looking for an Elizabeth, b. 1629, Mary b. 1632, and
John b. 1635.
[15]
The Original Lists of Persons of Quality, 1600-1700, by John Camden Hotten,
1931. No record indicating this family was from Halstead.
[16]
The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660, by Peter Wilson Coldham, 1987. This
source states that the Frenches were from Fenchurch, London, and sailed on the
Defence from London between 20 June and 18 July, 1635, with Mr. Edward Pearce,
shipmaster, who later changed his name to Thomas Bostock [16].
[17]
Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650,
by Charles Edward Banks, 1963.
[18]
Worksheets of Harry Dana French, New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH.
[19]
IGI, London.
[20]
Research by Delpha Triptow in Salt Lake City, 2 Oct 1991. No leads to the name Godfrey
in Genealogical Gleanings in England by Henry Waters. No leads to Symmes or
French in St. Clement Church, London during researched time period. No Symmes
in Earles Colne. There is an Elizabeth Symmes of St. Lawrence Pountney Parish
in London whose father, Randall Symmes, died in 1599. It would seem this is a
too early because Elizabeth was probably born in the early 1600s. Ship records
indicate her to be 32 in 1635. Parish records of Pountney Parish, St. Lawrence,
London. No French or Symmes marriages from 1538-1635. Letter from Delpha
Triptow in Salt Lake City, 13 Mar 1992.
[21]
ERO, Halstead burials, 1564-1607 = 2 Frenches.
[22]
ERO, Halstead marriages, 1564-1650 and 1608-1638 - 9 Frenches.
[23]
ÒThe LeeteÓ, ÒGreenstreetÓ.
[24]
ERO, Earls Colne birth records 1628-1635, no French or Symmes.
[25]
FFA member Gloria H. Lane, 424 Smith Ave., Modesto, CA 95354. Her information
came from a genealogy by Mrs. E. F. Baty (77500 S. 6th, D14, Cottage Grove, OR
97424) that mentions Elizabeth Godfrey as the wife of William French in a book entitled "Van Dyke: Over
Three Hundred Years of One Line . . . " Elizabeth BatyÕs current address
is 104 E. Cleveland, Keytesville, MO 65261.
[26]
Mara FrenchÕs research trip to the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford, England,
August 1994.
[27]
The Danforth Genealogy by John Joseph May (1902) mentions an Elizabeth Symmes
who was believed by some to be the wife of the immigrant Nicholas Danforth,
father of Billerica, MA settler Jonathan Danforth. On p. 5 he writes, "The
writer has no means of knowing from whence the supposition sprang that she was
Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. William Symmes, of Canterbury, England, and a
sister of Rev. Zachariah Symmes, second minister of the church at Charlestown.
The entire absence of allusions to relationship between men so prominent as the
Danforths and Mr. Symmes in their own writings and the sketches of them written
near their own time is strong ground for suspecting the error of the guess; and
the distance of Kent from Suffolk also throws discredit upon the theory."
[28]
Gary Boyd RobertsÕ "English Origins of New England Families" (1981)
discusses, starting on page 127, that erroneous notion that William French of
Billerica is the same person as William French of Essex, England, born in 1603.
[29]
NEHGRegister, July 1988, p. 250, says William French might be the son on
William French, born in 1580, who was the son of Jacob and Susan (Warren)
French.
[30]
BoydÕs Marriage Record Index, researched [26].
[31]
Generalogy of the Billerica, Massachusetts "French" Family, from
1599-1914, by H. Martin Kellogg in 1884 and updated by Mrs. Bonnibel French
Hodgkins in 1915 states that Elizabeth is listed in the parish church of St.
Andrews in Halstead (The FFA never saw this entry). If she was baptised in 5
Sep 1630, she would have been just under 5 yrs old when the ship left in Jul
1635. Ship records show she was 6. Perhaps she was baptised a year after she
was born.