French Family Association

Mara French, P.O. Box 1109, Sutter Creek, CA 95685-1109. 209-267-0649 marafrench@mindspring.com

Chart #EC, Christopher French of Halstead, Gosfield, and Great Maplestead, Essex Co., England

This chart updated by Mara French on 2/21/08. Return to FFA Home Page.

Contents

á               Contact Information

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á               England History and Research

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á               French Family Ancestry in England

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á               Maps of Suffolk and Essex Counties

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á               Bibliography

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Contact Information: Please send any corrections or additions to Mara French.

England History and Research

This family did not immigrate to America, but the genealogy is presented here because the location is precisely where other Frenches lived who immigrated to America. This chart is especially important to disseminate because various researchers have confused these Frenches with those that immigrated to Massachusetts in the 1630s. These Frenches never immigrated to America – they lived and died in England.

Church of St. Giles, Church Street, Great Maplestead, Essex Co., England

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 B

B.1* Chr[ist]opher or [Christ]ofer French of Halstead [1], b. ca. 1560, d. 26 Aug 1616 in Halstead [3]. His will was proved 17 Jun 1617 at Gosfield [8]. He was a millwright in Great Maplestead, just north of Halstead [5]. He m1. Elizabeth Tewson on 12 Oct 1581 in Halstead [3] [4] [6] [17]. He m2. Mary before 1616 and was married to her at his death since she is mentioned in his will [8]. Only sons John, Thomas, and William mentioned in will, and wife Mary [8]. May have been originally from Toppesfield or Brentwood [18]. It appears that all children left Halstead after ChristopherÕs death in 1616, probably moving to London. Christopher could have been the brother of Jacob (Chart #E1) and William (Chart #EA). Just for interest sake, Elizabeth Tewson is also the name of Hyacinth BucketÕs next-door neighbor of ÒKeeping Up AppearancesÓ TV fame.

B.2 Is it possible that Christopher had another brother named William of Chart #EA or Jacob of Chart #E1? They were all born during the same period and near the same location:

á               Jacob, b. ca 1553, Chart #E1

á               William, b. ca. 1553, Chart #EA

á               Christopher, b. ca. 1560, Chart #EC

Generation A

Children of Christopher and Elizabeth (Tewson) French, B.1

A.1 Susane French [1], bp. 14 Oct 1582 in Halstead [3] as the daughter of Chr[ist]opher French. Married Rychard Smythe 4 Oct 1612 in Halstead [4] [6] [17]. Not mentioned in fatherÕs will [8], probably because she was married when her father died.

A.2 Anne French [1], bp 6 Sep 1584 in Halstead [3], the dau. of [Christ]ofer French. Most likely married before 1617, because she is not mentioned in fatherÕs will [8]. Perhaps m. Thomas Smith of Horndon East in 1611.

A.3 John French [1] [8] (oldest son), bp. 25 Jul 1591 in Halstead [3] as the son of Chr[ist]opher French. John had a family by 1616 because his hiers are mentioned in his fatherÕs will [8]; however, these children were not born in Halstead [1] [2]. The family probably moved out of Halstead shortly after 1591 because JohnÕs siblings were not born in Halstead. Perhaps they moved to Great Maplestead where his father was a millwright [5] or in Gosfield where his fatherÕs will was proved [8], or to Horndon on the Hill or Horndon East. John m2. (perhaps) Jane Pratt [17] in Halstead, 1631 [7] [17].

A.4 Thomas Frenche [8], b. after 1591, but not in Halstead where the first three children are listed [1], perhaps born in Great Maplestead where his father was a millwright [5] or in Gosfield where his fatherÕs will was proved [8] Might be the son of his fatherÕs second wife Mary. See Note [9]. Thomas was probably still a minor at his fatherÕs death in 1616 [8] as he is mentioned in his father ChristopherÕs will [8]. Another record shows a Thomas who d. 16 Feb 1654 in Halstead [15]. Thomas perhaps m. Margaret in Halstead, 1632 [17].

A.5 William French [8] (youngest son), b. after 1591, but not in Halstead where the first three children are listed [1], perhaps born in Great Maplestead where his father was a millwright [5]. See Notes [9] [10] [12] [13]. William was probably still a minor at his fatherÕs death in 1616 [8] as he is mentioned in his father ChristopherÕs will [8]. Might be the son of his fatherÕs second wife Mary.

Assumptions: William m. Anne Stevens, a widow, on May 13, 1622 in Halstead [17]. William was a widower [6] in 1640. There is a record of an Anne Bland, a widow, who m. Wm. Frenche, a widower, on 18 Feb 1640. Anne Bland was the dau. of Anthony Bland.

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.

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.

Bibliography

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. Only these 3 children are listed as being baptized in Halstead of this line (Susane, Anne, and John). 22 French baptisms listed in Halstead between 1564 and 1616.

[2] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed in 1989, document ref. E.R.O. GS 207/89, dated 9 August 1989, of all baptisms between 1617-1650, and all burials 1564-1607. No French was born between 1617 and 1650 in Halstead. Only two deaths were recorded in Halstead between 1564 and 1607, a William and John, both in the year 1604. The William and John in this line did not die in 1604 because they are mentioned in ChristopherÕs will of 1617 [8].

[3] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed 26 Apr 1990, Order No. GS 99/90 for 3 hrs, Halstead Parish Register, burials 1608 to 1639. Nine deaths of French in Halstead between 1608 and 1639. Parish Records of Halstead and Gosfield (never before published) researched by Jane Smith at the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford, England, 1990.

The word ÒgentÓ  or ÒMr.Ó or ÒEsquireÓ is used for Thomas French of Stanstead Hall in Halstead, Chart EB, because he owned land.

Since all of the following baptisms in Halstead are fathered by 3 men (Christopher, William, Thomas), it seems as though these 3 men could be brothers since these births all occur between 1582 and 1611. The chart number is listed at the end of each line.

á               Baptisms in Halstead, 1582-1650

14 Oct 1582                Susane French, daughter of Christopher French -- EC

6 Sep 1584                  Anne French, daughter of Christopher French -- EC

6 Dec 1587                  Anne French, daughter of William French -- EA

25 Jul 1591                 John French, son of Christopher French -- EC

3 Oct 1591                  Marie French, daughter of Thomas French -- EB

21 Sep 1592                Anne French, daughter of Thomas French -- EB

14 Dec 1595                John French, son of Thomas French, gent. – EB

18 Oct 1596                William French, son of William French -- EA

29 May 1597              Elenor French, daughter of Mr. French (most likely Thomas French) - EB

13 Aug 1598               Edward French, son of Thomas French - EB

25 Feb 1598/99           Margaret French, daughter of _______ (most likely William French) -- EA

24 Jun 1599                John French, son of William French -- EA

26 May 1600              Elizabeth French, daughter of Thomas French - EB

2 Feb 1601/02             Margaret French, daugher of Thomas French, gent. – EB

15 Mar 1602/03          William French, son of Thomas French, gent. – EB

24 Jul 1603                 Ellen French, daughter of William French -- EA

6 Apr 1606                 William French, son of William French -- EA

29 Jun 1606                Francis French, son of Thomas French, gent. – EB

28 Jun 1607                Rychard French, son of __________ (most likely William French) -- EA

21 Nov 1607               Jerrymya French, daughter of Thomas French, Esquire -EB

26 Oct 1609                Judeth French, daughter of Thomas French - EB

2 Sep 1611                  Dorothy French, daughter of Thomas French, gent. – EB

(No French baptisms from the Halstead Parish Registers between the years 1612 and 1650.)

á               Marriages in Halstead, 1564-1650

(No French marriage recorded in Halstead between the years 1564 and 1580.)

12 Oct 1581                Christopher French m. Elizabeth Tewson -- EC

4 Oct 1612                  Rychard Smythe m. Susan French -- EC

13 May 1622              William French, widower, m. Anne Stevens, widow -- EA

2 Feb 1639/40             Richard French, widower, m. Mathie Penyall, widow – EA?

18 Feb 1640/41           William French, widower, m. Anne Bland, widow (this marriage took place after the Puritan immigration to America, therefore, this William was not the one who immigrated)

(No French married in Halstead between 1641 and 1650.)

á               Burials in Halstead, 1582-1650

(No French burial recorded in the Halstead between the years 1582 and 1603.)

9 Sep 1604                  William French -- EA

1 Oct 1604                  John French -- EA

28 Nov 1613               Thomas French, gent. – EB

26 Aug 1616               Christopher French - EC

3 Dec 1617                  Anne French, dau. of William French of Green Street -- EA

23 Apr 1620               William French, senior from Green Street -- EA

12 Oct 1620                Mrs. Wood, mother-in-law of Mr. Thomas French - EB

7 Jul 1623                   Ann French, widow, the wife of William French from The Leete -- EA

11 Feb 1624/25           Anne French, widow and gentt. from Stansted Hall -- EB

5 Apr 1625                 Elizabeth French, widowe from The Leete -- EA

11 Mar 1638/39          John French, Gentt. -- EB

26 Jan 1641/42            The child of Thomas Frenchn -- ??

(No French burial recorded in Halstead between the years 1642 and 1650.)

á               Births in Gosfield, 1538-1650

(No French birth recorded in Gosfield  prior to 1636)

28 Dec 1636                Thomas French; father was Robert; mother was Edith -- EB

17 Jan 1644/45            Francis French; father was Robert; mother unnamed -- EB

8 Jan 1645/46              Robert French; father was Robert, gent.; mother was Elizabeth -- EB

8 Feb 1648/49             Elizabeth French; father was Robert; mother was Elizabeth -- EB

29 Oct 1650                Thomas French; father was Robert, gent.; mother was Elizabeth -- EB

á               Marriages in Gosfield, 1538-1650

(No French marriage recorded in Gosfield between 1599 and 1643)

26 Jul 1573                 William Frenche and Ellen Scotte -- EA

1 May 1598                Michaell Brocke and Joan(na) Frenche -- ??

17 Feb 1644/45           Robert French, gent. and Elizabeth Man -- EB

12? Dec? 1649            Thomas Person and Mary French -- ??

á               Burials in Gosfield, 1538-1650

(No French burial recorded in Gosfield before 1636)

17 Jan 1636/37            Thomas French; son of Robert and Edith -- EB

17 Jan 1644/45            Edith French; wife of Robert -- EB

3 Feb 1644/45             Francis French -- EB

19 Nov 1648               Robert French; the younger -- EB

á               Records in Great Maplestead to 1650

The Great Maplestead Parish Register did not appear until 1651; baptisms and marriages began in 1697, and burials in 1678. Apparently earlier than 1651 no parish was established in that village; therefore, the parish records may be found in a nearby town with a church. We have records of a French family living in Great Maplestead before 1651, but we have not found the parish to which this family belonged.

á               Births in Earls Colne, 1628-1635: None for French.

á               Will of Christopher French, proved 1617 - EC

Christopher French of Great Maplestead, Essex, a millwright, gave unto Mary, his wife, unto John, Thomas, and William his sons. Witnessed by Richard Greene, John Canham, and Philip Clarke, proved on 17 June 1617 in Gosfield, Essex, England.

á               Essex Record Office, England, Researchers Notes

The term Òmother-in-lawÓ often described a step-mother rather than what we would today know as a mother-in-law.

The terms ÒplaintiffÓ and ÒdeforciantÓ in the Fines in Public Record Office normally indicate ÒpurchaserÓ and Òvendor,Ó respectively.

á               French Family Association Analysis

The Halstead Parish Records tell us that three adult males (Christopher, Thomas, and William) lived in Halstead about the same time and had numerous children. WeÕve designated 3 separate charts for these Frenches until we can prove a definite connection. The ÒEÓ before the chart number stands for England.

[4] IGI, Essex County, England.

[5] Index of Wills at Chelmsford, Essex, and East Herts. 1400-1619, p. 162, 137 MW2.

[6] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed 13 Jun 1990, document ref. E.R.O. GS 149/90, burials in Halstead, 1639-1650, only one surname French, 26 Jan 1641, the child of Thomas French. Marriages 1564-1650 (5 total). Earls Colne Parish Register, Baptisms 1628-1635. None of surname French. Private research also done on names Greenstreet and Leete.

[7] BoydÕs Marriage Index.

[8] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed on 27 June 1990, document ref. E.R.O. GS159/90, 2 1/2 hrs research. Will transcribed of Christopher French, D/AMW 2/137.

[9] Gosfield, Essex, is also the village where Robert French, Chart #ED, was married in 1645. The birth records of Great Maplestead and Gosfield were researched in July 1990. Gosfield is 2 miles SW of Halstead. Great Maplestead is 2 miles N of Halstead.

[10] Other researches: A William French, widower, of Halstead, m. Anne Stevens, widow, on 13 May 1622. A William French, widower, of Halstead, m. Anne Bland, widow, on 18 Feb 1640. An Ann French, widow, the wife of William French from The Leete, d. 7 Jul 1623. (The first and third Ann listed here could be the same person.) Elizabeth French, d. 5 Apr 1625, widowe from The Leete. Presently there is no area named The Leete. However, a Letches existed in 1777 [9]. Letches Farm was 3 miles south of Halstead.

[11] Will of Robert Derehaugh, 1611, Vesey of Hintlesham, p. 59, Ipswich Record Office in Suffolk County, England. Robert Derehaugh d. 10 Oct 1611, will probated 8 Feb 1612. In his will he mentions his brotherÕs daughter, Agnes Derehaugh who m. Thomas French. This family has many of the same names: William, Elizabeth, Anne, Mary, ffrances, Robert, Dorothy. In 1601 Robert Derebaugh and Thomas French bought a barn and 25 acres in Halstead. Derehaugh is an old name from the 1400s coming from Badingham, Suffolk Co., England.

[12] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed on 7 Aug 1990. Researcher states that Great Maplestead parish registers did not survive before 1651 (baptisms and marriage records began in 1697, and burials in 1678 in the surviving registers).

[13] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed on 7 Aug 1990 of all baptism, marriage, and burial records of Gosfield, Essex, England, 1538 to 1650.

[14] Worksheets of Harry Dana French, New Hampshire Historical Library, Concord, NH.

[15] Essex County Council, Essex Record Office, County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1LX, England. Research completed on 27 Sep 1990, order number GS252/90, Halstead baptisms 1650-1669, 1686-1700; marriages 1653-58, 1662-88, 1695-1700; burials, 1653-73. No register survives for intervening periods. There is also a record of a widdow French, d. 28 Jul 1667 in Halstead and a Mistris French, d. 29 Nov 1671. Also a Henrye French d. 14 Feb 1670. Also marriage of a John French and Elizabeth Ingram, 29 Aug 1654. Also marriage of Thomas French and Elizabeth Hickford, 14 Jul 1700.

[16] Letter from Frederick G. Emmison, Chelmsford, of Manorial Records from the Essex Record Office, 1989.

[17] BoydÕs Marriage Index, Essex.

[18] Calendar of Assize Records, Essex Indictments, Elizabeth I, 1978.