French Family Association
Mara French, P.O. Box 1109, Sutter Creek, CA 95685-1109.
209-267-0649
marafrench@mindspring.com
Faneuil Hall at the Boston Harbor, where William French landed, and where he gave his famous speech "Strength out of weakness"
French History
The Ship ÒDefenceÓ 1635
Last updated by Mara French
on 3/25/08. Send corrections or
additions to Mara French. Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the bibliography at the end of this chart.
Contents
Background
Seeking religious freedom, in
1624. They formed the Massachusetts Bay Company and got permission from
King Charles I to build a colony in New England. The following year, the
company sent 1000 colonists and 17 ships. Each family in this group was instructed
to bring with them an 18 months supply of food. Because of this, they were much
better prepared than any of the former colonists. They settled in Massachusetts
Bay and elected John Winthrop to lead the new colony. They called their first
settlement Boston. The Middle Colonies grew between the 1600s and 1700s when
thousands more people from Europe came to find a new way of life in America.
Immigrant William French
William French, a first settler of Billerica, MA, was a tailor and servant. He arrived in Boston, on "The Defence" 08 Oct 1635, age 30, estimated year of birth 1605.The ship docked in Boston, Massachusetts [1]. William and his wife Elizabeth French came over from England on the ship "Defence" in 1634 or 35 and 4 of the children were with them; Francis, Elizabeth, Marie (Mary), John. He was one of the first settlers of Billerica. 1663 - was the first representative from Billerica. of Cambridge and Billerica, MA. He emigrated with the Rev. Thomas Shepard. He settled at Cambridge and in 1652 was one of 13 petitioners for the separation of Billerica, formerly Shawshin, from Cambridge. In 1647 he was Licutenant and afterward Captain of Militia. In 1659 he was authorized to soleminize marriages within Baillerica and Chelmsford. He was slectman 1660-4 and 1670-3. On 17 December 1660 Lieutenant Will French is chosen deputy for this Town for the Next Genrl Court and no longer. Two days later he was in his seat at Boston, the first Deputy from Billerica. He was chosen again in 1663. In 1661 the town appoint Lieut. ffrench, John Parker, Ralph Hill, Sen. and Will Gay to sett in the Deacon's seat. He was a man of some education, and the author of the famous tract entitled "Strength out of weakness" published in London and reprinted by the Boston Historical Society. His wife died March 31, 1668, and he married May 6, 1669, Mary Lathrop of Barnstable, dau. of unk. and widow of John Stearns of Billerica. He died Nov. 20, 1681.
Immigration List
Arrived aboard the Ship DEFENCE of London, Edward Bostock, Master. She sailed from London about the last of July (1635) and arrived at Boston October 8, with about one hundred passengers. Roger Harlakenden, 23, of Earl's Colne county Essex, Cambridge Mrs. Elizabeth Harlakenden, 18 Mabel Harlakenden, 22 (following indiv's listed as servants in Harlakenden party)* [Roger Harlakenden] Anne Wood, 23 Samuel Shepard, 22 Joseph Cooke, 27 George Cooke, 25 William French, 30 Mrs. Elizabeth French, 32 Robert...... Sarah Simes, 30 *(end of servants list in Harlakenden party)* Mrs. Elizabeth French, 30, Cambridge; Francis French, 10; Elizabeth French, 6; Mary French, 2 1/2; and John French, ½ [2]. Marriage (1st) Elizabeth Godfry b: ABT 1603 in Cambridge, Eng, Married: 20 NOV 1631 in Halstead, Essex, England. Children Elizabeth French b: ca. 1629; Mary French b: 1633 in Eng; Francis French b: 1625 in Halstead, Essex, England; John French b: Feb 1634/1635 in Halstead, Essex, England; Jacob French b: 16 JAN 1640; Hannah French b: after 1643; Samuel French b: after 1645; Sarah French b: Mar 1638 in Cambridge, Middlesex, MA.
Defense, 1635
Founders of New England: Records of Ships Passenger Lists from England to New England between 1620 and 1640. This set of ships passenger lists includes ships to Virginia (a catch-all phrase to mean almost anywhere along the coast), Barbadoes, Bermuda, West Indies and of course New England Lorine's Note: This set of records consists of various passenger lists, names of individuals ready to sail to New England, and names of those taking the Oath of Allegiance (in preparation for sailing). It is not always obvious when each ship left. Researchers will have to determine whether or not a ship made more than one sailing each year it is mentioned. The original spelling has been maintained, so you will see "Landen" for "London", etc. Note that common words found are "uxor" meaning "wife", "mr" for "Master" (of the ship) Finding the names: You can browse each list, starting with the one below (scroll down). To browse the passenger lists of all ships I have online for this 20 year period to New England see the list of all known ships that made the voyage. I hope to find passenger lists for every ship on the list, so if you have a ship list, please consider donating it to Olive Tree. Transcriber: Laura Freeman
Defense June 1635
xxth June, 1635.
In the Defence do Lond. Mr Pearce vers New England p'r Cert. Fro two Justices of Peace and minister of Towcester in com. Northampton:
Joh: Gould 25 Husbandman Grace Gould 25 Wife
7 July 1635
In the Defence de Lond: Mr Edmond Bostocke vrs. New England p'r Cert. fro ij Justices of Peace and Minister fro Dunstable in Com. Bedfordshire:
Robert Longe 45 Inholder
Eliza: Longe 30 Wife of Robert
Luce Mercer 18 Servant
Michell Mercer 20 Child of Robert
Sarra Mercer 18 Child of Robert
Robert Mercer 16 Child of Robert
Eliza: Mercer 12 Child of Robert
Anne Mercer 10 Child of Robert
Mary Mercer 9 Child of Robert
Rebecca Mercer 8 Child of Robert
Joh: Mercer 8 Child of Robert
Zachary Mercer 4 Child of Robert
Joshua Mercer 9mo. Child of Robert
between 2-4 July 1635
Theis under written
names are to be transported to New England imbarqued in the Defence, Tho:
Bostock Mr the p'tie hath brought testimony from the Justices of Peace and
Ministers in Cambridge of his comformitie to the orders and discipline of the
Church of England: He hath taken ye oaths of Alleg: and Suprem"
Adam Mott 39 A Taylor
Sarah Mott 31 Vxor
Henry Steevens 24 Mason
John Sheppard 36 Husbm:
Margaret Sheppard 31
Tho: Sheppard 3mo.
Jo: Mott 14 Child
Adam Mott 12 Child
Jonathan Mott 9 Child
Elizabeth Mott 6 Child
Mary Mott 4 Child
4 July 1635
In the defence p'rd.
Elizabeth ffrench 30
Elizabeth ffrench 6
Marie ffrench 2yr.6mo
ffrancis ffrench 10
Jo: ffrench 5mo
iiij July, 1635
In the Defence de Lond. Mr Thomas Bostocke, vre New England p'r Cert: from the minister and Justices of peace of his Conformitie to ye Govmt. of Church of Engl. and no Subsedy man.
Roger Harlakenden 23 toke oathe of Allegance and Supremacie
Eliza Harlakenden 18 Wife of Roger Harlakenden
Mable Harlakenden 21 Sister of Roger Harlakenden
Anne Wood 23 Servant of Roger Harlakenden
Samuell Shepherd 22 Servant of Roger Harlakenden
Jospeh Cocke 27 Servant of Roger Harlakenden
Geo: Cocke 25 Servant of Roger Harlakenden
Wm ffrench 30 Servant of Roger
Harlakenden
Eliza ffrench 32 Wife of Wm,
servant of of Roger Harlakenden
Robert, a man Servant of Roger Harlakenden
Sarra Simes 30 Servant of Roger Harlakenden
6th July 1635
In the Defence de Lond Mr Tho: Bostocke vre New England.
Joh: Jackson 30 wholesale man in Burchen Lane P'r Cert. From St. Geo: Whitmore and minister of ye p'ish.
x July 1635
In the Defence p'rd p'r Cert from the Justices and minister of his conformitie in the church of England:
James ffitch 30 A Taylor Abigall ffitch 24 Vxor
Die July 1635
Theis under written names are to be transported to New England imbarqued in the Defence of London, Edward Bostock Mr p'r certificate of his conformitie in Religion and that he is no Subsedy man.
Richard Perk 33 A Miller
Margery Perk 40
Henry Duhurst 35
Isabell Perk 7
Elizabeth Perk 4
14 July 1635
In the Defence de lond. Mr Edmond Bostocke vre New England p'r Cert. from the Minister:
Robert Hill 20 Servant To Mr.
Craddocke
July 1635
Theis under written names are to be transported to N. England imbarqued in the defence p'red. P'r Cert: from the ministers and Justices of their conformitie and ye they are no Subsedy men:
Sara Jones 34
Sara Jones 15
Jo: Jones 11
Ruth Jones 11
Theophilas Jones 3
Rebecca Jones 2
Elliz: Jones 6 mo.
Tho: Donn 25
Suzanna ffarebrother 25
Eliza ffennick 25
Wm Sawkynn 25
W. Hubbard 40 Husbm:
Judith Hubbard 25
John Hubbard 15
Wm Hubbard 13
Wm Head 48
Mabell Head 30
George Head 6
Ralph Head 5
Justice Head 18mo.
Dorothie Knight 30
Nathaniell Hubbard 6
Richard Hubbard 4
Martha Hubbard 22
Mary Hubbard 20
Robert Colburne 28
Edward Colburne 17
Dorothie Adams 24
ffrancis Nutbrowne 16
Wm Williamson 25
Marie Williamson 23
Luce Mercer 19
Jo: ffitch 14
Penelope Darno 29
Martha Banes 20
Jasper Gunn 25
Ann Gunn 25
ffebe Maulder 7
Sym: Roger 20
Jo: Jenkynn 26
Robert Keyne 40
Eliz: Steere 18
Sarah Knight 50
Anne Keyne 38
Ben: Keyne 16
Jo: Bartes 29
Mary Bentley 20
Bibliography
[1] Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Source Publication Code: 263 Primary Immigrant: French, William Annotation: Part 1, pp. 1-43, is a study of emigration to New England in colonial times; part 2, pp. 45-207, lists passengers and the ships they arrived on (3,600 passengers on 213 ships). From the Custom House records of English ports. Much of the information is from Source Bibliography: BANKS, CHARLES EDWARD. The Planters of the Commonwealth; a Study of the Emigrants and Emigration in Colonial Times: To Which Are Added Lists of Passengers to Boston and to the Bay Colony; the Ships which Brought Them; Their English Homes, and the Places of Their Settlement in Massachusetts, 1620-1640. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1930. 231p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1961. Repr. 1984. Page: 168
[2] THE PLANTERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH A study of the
Emigrants and Emigration in Colonial Times to which are added Lists of
Passengers to Boston and to the Bay Colony; the ships which brought them; their
English Homes, and the Places of their Settlement in Massachusetts. 1620-1640
By Charles Edward Banks Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co., 1961. Pages
167-170.
[3] Title: Jacobus, Ancient Families of New Haven Page: p.
624.
[4] Title: History of Billerica, MA with as Genealogical
Register Author: Rev. Henry A. Hazen Publication: A. Williams and Co., Old
Corner Bookstore Boston, MA 1883 Page: p. 56.
[5] Lineages of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Vol. Two Author: Compiled by Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle, Dep. Gov. Abbrev: Ships List American Planters & Colonies.
[6] American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) about William FRENCH Name: William FRENCH Birth Date: 1603 Birthplace: Eng, Massachusetts Volume: 58 Page Number: 484 Reference: Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 15 May 1901, 4703; 19 Jun 1901, 4929; 7 Apr 1902, 5437; 7 Sep 1904, 7445; 7 May 1906, 8543; 11 Jun 1906, 8154; 13 Aug 1906, 8659; 28 Nov 1906, 8904; 16 Jan 1907, 8904; 30 Jan 1907, 8904; 20 Feb 1907, 8904; 6 Mar 1907, 8904; 20 Mar 1907, 9184; 10 Apr 1907, 9184; 6 May 1907, 8904; 3 May 1909, 8904; 19 May 1909, 516; 21 Feb 1910, 881; 6 Apr 1910, 1217; 18 Apr 1910, 1217; 17 Aug 1910, 1504; 11 Jan 1915, 4441; 29 Sep 1915, 4996; 25 Oct 1915, 4996; 1 Mar 1922, 632
[7] The History of Boston, Massachusetts.