French Family Asociation

The Official Website of the Surname French

Famous Frenches

Barbara Welch French’s Mother

Last updated by Mara French on 7/7/10. Send corrections or additions to Mara French.

Through cleverly montaged historical photographs overlaid with simple-yet-effective animations and featuring live-action video and synchronized sound, the central character and narrator Barbara Welch French shares bits of her family's past and present by following the trail of red hair through the generations, starting with her mother. Barbara lived in Portsmouth, RI, but grew up near Lake Eire in New York.

Click the link below to see the video. You must have Real Player to see it.

Barbara Welch French's Video

Barbara's daughter Dana Atchley and producer of "Redheads" has a website at nextexit.com where she reveals some of her secrets for producing compelling presentations. Information on these techniques and technologies is available at the annual Digital Storytelling Festival website. The three-day workshops developed by Atchley and now conducted by the Center for Digital Storytelling for producing exciting "living" records of your family history for all who follow. Unfortunately, Dana Atchely is no longer living (1941-2001). Barbara’s son, Richard, died in 2005.

The family in 1914

Barbara W. French’s granddaughter Megan

Barbara W. French’s granddaughter Jessica

Barbara W. French’s father who drove to the grape factory every day and played golf on the weekend.

Barbara W. French and her sisters Ann and Martha

The house where Barbara W. French grew up on Lake Eire in NY, that had a grape orchard in the yard.

Hampton Area NH Obituaries for Tue. March 29, 2005

Richard B. French

EXETER - Richard B. "Frenchie" French, 56, of Lindenshire Drive, died Sunday, March 27, 2005, in Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 4, 1948, in Melrose, Mass., the son of the late George and Barbara (Welch) French. He was raised in Atkinson and had resided in Exeter for 25 years.

Mr. French was a self-employed carpenter and handyman for most of his life. He was formerly a volunteer with the Atkinson Fire Department.

He enjoyed landscaping, household repairs and cooking for his family.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sharon (Moore) French of Exeter; two sons, Eric French of Newmarket and Adam French of Exeter; one daughter, Kimberly Andreoli of Derry; two grandsons; one brother, Roy T. French Sr. of Dorchester; one sister, Karen Frederick of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two godchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rockingham VNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833.