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Ensign Thomas French, Jr. ★ (Thomas, Susan), the son of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on November 27, 1608 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Babergh, Suffolk County, England TH46, BE7, AN3, LI3. He and his sister, Alice AN3 may have sailed in the Lion (Lyon) in 1631 and landed in Boston BE7. The Lyon made four voyages from the years 1630 until 1632 under the command of Captain William Peirse, but it was not a part of the original Winthrop Fleet BA11. Charles Edward Banks stated that Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk County, and his wife, Susan (Riddlesdale) French, were passengers on one of the eleven ships of the Winthrop Fleet BA11. With Thomas and Susan French were their children, who were Thomas French, Jr., Alice French, Dorcas French, Susan French, Anne French, John French, and Mary French BA11. This is not a likely scenario, because Dorcas and probably Susan French were the maid servants sent from England to the Winthrop family in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1633 GO11. Additionally, Thomas French Jr.’s sister, Margaret, was buried at age fifteen in November 1635 in Assington, Suffolk County, England TH46, making it unlikely that her parents would have left prior to that date.
The Winthrop Fleet comprised eleven ships which were designed not for travelers, but for freight, and scarcely modified, with only some cabins constructed in between the forecastle and the poop deck BA11. The Arbella, Ambrose, Jewel, Talbot, Mayflower, Whale, and Success carried approximately seven hundred passengers altogether, and the William and Francis, Hopewell, Charles, and Trial carried cargo and animals BA11. Beer was drunk because at that time it was assumed to aid in the prevention of scurvy, and because water was easily contaminated BA11. A supply list for the Arbella included four lanterns, seventy-two candles, about 10,500 gallons of beer, 3,500 gallons of water, two hogsheads (large casks) of cider, one hogshead of vinegar, 8,000 pounds of preserved beef, 2,800 pounds of salted pork, an unknown quantity of beef tongues, six hundred pounds of salted codfish, or haberdine, 20,000 biscuits, thirty bushels of oatmeal, and forty bushels of dried peas BA11. The ships departed on March 29, 1630 and arrived at the New World in a staggered fashion, as the first ship landed on June 12, and the last to arrive, the Success, anchored at Salem Harbor on July 6, 1630 BA11. Of the seven hundred passengers, only seventy names were recorded by John Winthrop, and Thomas French was not among the list BA11.
He was in New England by 1631 when a letter written from Marth Winthrop to her husband, John Winthrop, Jr. (dated about April 12, 1631) stated “To day I receiued a letter from thee by good man Freinch and am faine to make hard shift to get this letter sent…” WI25. “Tho. ffrench” was a freeman in the colony on November 6, 1632 PA23 and became the 128th member AN3 of the First Church of Boston BE7, LI3, DA12. The names of Thomas French and Alice French were written on the third page of the records of the First Church of Boston PI13. Thomas French and John Clarke were called scholars of John Bluette in a letter written to John Winthrop, Jr. by John Bluette while he was in Groton, Suffolk County, England on March 14, 1632/3 WI25, DA12, BA11. John Bluett, who was at one time a steward of Groton Manor, stated, “my louinge commendations to John Sampford, goodman Pease and his company and to Anne Chambers, John Biggs, my schollers Thomas French and John Clarke: I pray god blesse them all, and graunte vs all a happie meetinge in heaven…” WI25.
He was mentioned in passing in a letter written by John Stratton to John Winthrop, Jr. to be delivered by John Gallopp’s boat to Winthrop’s house in “Aggawaam” (Agawam, an early name for Ipswich) which was dated March 17, 1634/5 (this date may be questionable because John Winthrop, Jr. was in England at that time) WI25. After signing the letter, John Stratton added “I haue putt my sister a suite of Moyheare [mohair] to making att Goodm. Frenches shee were best gett the taylor to take her Measure and send per Jno. Gallop” WI25. This line is clearly quite confusing, but the essential meaning seems to be that Goodman French had a shop or worked out of his home as a tailor, and John Stratton was discussing a mohair suit of clothes for his sister, who needed to be measured at Goodman French’s shop. At this time, Thomas French would have still resided in Boston and had not yet relocated to Ipswich. A court order dated April 1, 1633 stated “noe p[er]son wtsoeuer shall goe to plant or inhabitt at Aggawam, without leave from the Court, except those that are already gone” SH17. By this order, the court restricted the settlement of Aggawam (Ipswich) to the men who were already there, who included John Winthrop, Jr., Mr. Clerke, Robert Coles, Thomas Howlett, John Biggs, John Gage, Thomas Hardy, William Perkins, Mr. Thornedicke, and William Serjeant SH17. However, he probably did relocate to Ipswich by June 1637. Thomas French was amongst fifty-seven residents of Ipsiwch who signed a petition written on June 21, 1637 to the Governor and Counselors at Boston which requested that John Winthrop, Jr. not be recalled from Ipswich WI25. A portion of this petition stated WI25:
Our humble duties and respects premised: vnderstanding there is an Intenton to call Mr. Winthrop Junr. from vs and to committ the Custody of the Castle to him, we could not out of the entire affection we beare to him and his welfare but become earnest petitioners to your worships that you would not depriue our Church and Towne of one whose presence is so gratefull and vsefull to vs… We find his affections great and constant to our Towne and we hope ours shall never faile toward him and his. We therfore humbly beseech you that we may still inioy him and that you would not expose him to so solitary a life and a place where we hope there will not be much vse of him: nor vs to the losse and want of one so much desired of vs.
Because he relocated to Ipswich, the Boston congregation allowed him to transfer to the congregation in Ipswich AN3, LI3, DA12. On January 27, 1638, the records of the First Church of Boston stated “Our brother Thomas French was with the Consent of the Congregation Dismissed to the Church of Ipswich” PI13. His house lot in Ipswich was most likely on Mill Street LI3, SC4. George Schofield transcribed the early town records of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1899, in which he located the following record (Schofield’s compilation of these records were unpaginated) SC4:
There was Granted to Serjent French, ten acres of upland at the hither end of a Neck lying beyond Reedy marsh, to be laid out by the lott layers. Granted to Serjent French, a percell of upland and medow containing about three acres on the South side of the River, adjoyneing to his planting lott.
John Brooks Threlfall stated that his grant was issued on February 20, 1636/7 TH46. This grant was not located within “Ipswich Grants Town Meeting 1634-1660”, which exists as a .pdf file on the Ipswich, Massachusetts government website and contains images of one of the original record books IP2. It was either overlooked repeatedly by me, or was never a part of this particular record book, or has been lost from this record book. It also was not located by me in “Town Records 1634-1857”, which is also located as a .pdf file on that same website IP3. References to Thomas French were found in land grants to Robert Muzzey and Thomas Scott IP2:
Their was granted to Robert Muzzey one Hundred Acres of Land… Likewise an house lott in mill streete lyinge between Thomas French & Richard Jacob…
Their was Granted to Thomas Scott fifty acr[es] of upland… Likewise an house lott in Mill streete, havinge Thomas French on the Southeast….
He was a sergeant and was involved in the Pequot War AN3, BE6, DA12, TH46, which occurred in 1637, and he was listed as a member of the Ipswich Artillery Company in 1638 BE7. His position as sergeant spanned more than a quarter of a century. Daniell Denison of Ipswich (who later attained the rank of Major General) proposed to John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts, that Sergeant French should be promoted to the rank of lieutenant in a letter written by him on March 25, 1639 WI50:
Sir, Our Company wantinge some officers, haue accordinge to their liberty, made choice of some, whom, they desired me to propound to the Court or Counsell. They were willinge to expresse their loue and likinge to Sargeant French and Sargeant Howlett proposinge the former for Leiuetenant, the other for Ensigne, yet esteeminge the Counsell better able to judge… The Sargeants did modestly refuse professinge themselfes ready to doe their best services in the places they now hold, wherein I confess they are more vsefull, then I Suppose they would be in other…
At that time, he was not promoted to the rank of lieutenant, but on May 18, 1664 he was promoted to ensign AN3, SH21, TH46.
The names of both Thomas French and “widdow French” were in a list of “The Names of Such as are Com[m]oners in Ipswich viz: that have right to Com[m]onage there: the last day of the last month 1641” IP2. He was called a tailor when he sold ten acres of upland at Reedy Marsh to George Varnham for the sum of five pounds on April 1, 1647 SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
This wittnesseth that I, Thomas French of Ipswich, tailor, for & in consideracon of five pounds by me received, have sould unto George Varnham ten acres of upland ground at Reedy marsh, lying betweene the land of Mr. John Whittingham, Robert Day & Goodman Perley, & do by these presents alienate & sell unto the said George Varnham, his heirs, executors, administrators & assignes, all my right & interest in the sd ten acres from me & my heires, or any yt shall or may pretend to derive title or claim from me; and in wittness thereof I have to these presents sett my hand the first of Aprill, 1647.
Thomas French.
Wittnesse,
Samuel Appleton.
Edward Waldron E
A record dated January 1, 1648/9 indicated that Thomas Clarke felled three trees that were located on the property of Sergeant French SC4:
The first of the 11th mo: 1648.
Whereas Thomas Clarke was to pay XXs [twenty shillings] for breach of order in felling 7 trees since it appeareth that 3 of them were in the ground of Sergeant French, soe he is to be abated for them viijs vid [eight shillings and six pence]…
He and John Whipple conducted an inventory of the estate of the deceased Sarah Baker of Ipswich on September 30, 1651 SA21. He was a jury member in trials which occurred in 1651 DO12, 1657 DO13, 1658 DO13, 1659 DO13, 1660 DO13, 1662 DO13, 1664 DO13, 1665 DO13, 1666 DO14, 1669 DO15, 1672 DO16, 1674 DO16, 1675 DO17, and 1678 DO18, and he was a member of the Grand Jury for Essex County on September 28, 1652 DO12. All of these trials occurred at either the end of March or the end of September. In a court case involving Mr. John Paine and Edward Lomas held at Ipswich on September 25, 1665, reference was made to a selectmen’s meeting held on on January 31, 1660/1 DO14. This meeting stated that Georg Farrow, Phillip Call, Tho. French, Anthony Potter, Edward Lomas, Jerimiah Belcher, William Norton, and John Caldwell were each given two acres on Scott’s Hill for the term of six years, provided that they each sow eight bushels of hay seed and maintain the fence for one year DO14. As “Ensign French”, he was appointed as a selectman for Ipswich at the Ipswich town meeting on February 14, 1664, a meeting which also authorized the division of common lands at Plum Island, Castle Neck, and Hog Island WA20. He was granted one and one-half shares of the common land on April 10, 1665 WA20.
Marshal Robert Lord gave a deposition at the Ipswich Quarterly Court on March 29, 1664 about the events which occurred on the first day of general training at the Wolfpen Plain; he stated that certain soldiers “refused to help clear the plain”, and Samuell Hunt encouraged this insubordination by stating that if he was issued a command to dig out stumps by the Major or another officer, he would refuse to do so DO14. Robert Lord testified that when Sergeant Thomas French directed Samuell Hunt to help him usher the slouches off the field, he refused to obey DO14. Sergeant Thomas French was also deposed, and he stated that he was ordered by Major General Denison to escort two stubborn soldiers off the field to prison, but instead he confronted them and persuaded them to submit themselves, and he promised that he would act as a mediator DO14. Thomas added that Samuell Hunt opined that they should just go to prison DO14. The depositions of Sergeant Thomas French, Jacob Perkins, and Robert Lord, given in March 1664, along with the complaint issued by Walter Roper, have been provided below MA70:
The deposition of sergt Thomas French
who saith the company being led into the field on the day before the exercise of the Regiment, upon two souldiers disturbance, being commanded by maior Genall Denison to carry them out of the field to prisson, comeing to them, and p[er]suadeing them to submitt themselves, and promiseing to mediate for them; as y [I] was persuading with them Samuell Huntt p[er]suaded them rather to goe to prisson and sayd the maior Genall could not compell them to any such worke
Sworne in court held at Ipswich the 24 of march 1664 p[er] me Robert Lord cleric
The deposition of Iacob Perkins
saith that being at the woolfe pen plaine from the com[m]and of maior Genall Denison, the command being given to cleare the place for exercise of the regiment, Samuell Hunt went to severall companyes, and sayd they need not doe that worke they were commanded by the officers and that the maior nor noe other commander could compell or command them to doe any such worke, and that he did beleeve the maior had done more than he could answere
Sworne in court held at Ipswich the 29 (1) 1664
The deposition of Robert Lord marshall
This deponant testifieth that being at the woolfe pen plaine the first day of the Genall Traineing when our Company was there to cleare the place for the exerciseing of the Regiment after Command to cleare the place there was some that refused, Samuell Hunt did countenance them in it, by sayeing that the maior had done more then he could answere and that he would mainetaine it before all the world, and further sayd if the maior or any other officer did command him to digg up stump[s] he would not, And further when sergt French commanded him to assist him to carrye some offenders out of the field he sayd he would not; sergt. French tould him he would complaine to the maior of him
Sworne in court held at Ipsiwch 29 of march 1664
To the Honered Court now assembled at Ipswich
The humble complaint of walter Roper sheaweth that being by command from our officers drawne in march unto the woolfe pen plaine, & there commanded to cleare the sayd plaine, to fitt it for the exercise of the Regiment the next day; There was one Samuell Hunt of this Towne, who as this complaynant conceiveth, did speake mutianuusly [mutinously], and to the abuse of authoritye heere established; which Y will leave to the proofe of further evidence, which Y conveive, Y am bound by the oath of a freeman to aqaint authoritye with
Wittnes
John Caldwell
Sergt French
Robert Lord Marshall
Jacob Perkins
Thomas Lord
Joseph Browne
He was mentioned in a General Court record dated May 18, 1664 as having been chosen as an ensign by the foot company of Ipswich SH21. In 1672, he wrote a petition to the government which requested a land grant northwest of Salisbury for himself and eight additional men of Ipswich who had participated in the Pequot War of 1637 TH46. On September 30, 1676, he was a member of the Coroner’s Jury regarding the body of Samuel Adams, Jr. AN3. On February 18, 1678, he was still listed as an ensign, who had the right of commonage in Ipswich MA28.
Thomas created his will on August 3, 1680 TH28, AN3, and he died five days later on August 8, 1680 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24, MA26. A copy of his will stated TH28:
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas ffrench senior. of Ipswich being weak of body yet of perfect understanding and memory doe in case of death make this my last Will and Testament. In the first place I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who hath redeemed it by the precious blood of his Son; and I commit my body to the Earth, whence it was taken, to be buried in a Christian decent manner by my friends in hope of a blessed resurrection to eternal life. And as for my outward Estate which God hath graciously given me in this world I doe thus dispose of it: inprimis, I give and bequeath to Mary my beloved wife the Bed whereon I use to ly, with all the appurtenances and furniture belonging thereto. Moreover I give to my son Thomas ffrench my cloak and close-coat. Also I give to my son John French one Cow, which is to make up the full summe of thirty pounds which I formerly promised him for his Portion. Also I give to my daughter Mary Smith, one Cow. And to my son Samuel ffrench I give and bequeath the bed whereon he usually lieth, together with the Bedding and Bed-stead belonging to the same. ffurther, as concerning my lands at the Pequod lots, and my division Lot of marsh at plum-Island my Will is, that my sons Thomas and Samuel French for and in consideration of twenty pounds by them engaged according to my order unto my son Ephraim French as ye remaining part of his portion (which summe of twenty pounds is almost all paid, and the remainer due upon demand), I say my Will is that those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall possesse and enjoy the said Pequod lands, and division-lot of marsh to themselves and to their heirs forever, to be equally divided betwixt them.
ffurthermore, I give and bequeath to my sonn Thomas French my dwelling house and homested with all the appurtenances and priviledges therof and belonging thereto, and also my Lot lying in Labour-in-vain fields containing twelve acres more or less; with all the rest of my cattell, stocke of all sorts and moveable goods (not disposed of by this my Will and testament:) and to my son Samuel I give and bequeath two acres of upland joyning to Joseph Quilter’s and two acres of meadow-ground at Reedy marsh; to be possessed by them respectiuely after my decease: Provided always and my Will is, that my son Thomas French doe give full and free libertie to Mary my wife his mother to abide and dwell in the said house and to make use of any room or rooms therof for her convenient accommodation therein; as likewise to make use of all or any such moveables as I doe now leave in the hands of my son Thomas (not disposed of :) as may be necessary and convenient for her use and occasions from time to time; and all these during the term of her natural life: and that after her decease my son Thomas shall deliver to my three children John, Samll. and Mary three of the biggest pewter dishes which shall then be left and remain, that is to say, to each of them, one. Provided also, and my will is, that my two sons Thomas and Samuel doe carefully provide for their mothers comfortable maintenance and livelyhood and what is requisit thereto during her natural life; each of them allowing thereto proportionally to that part of my Estate which shall be by them received by vertue of this my testamt. And if through any neglect or failure, this way of maintenance should not be to their mother’s satisfaction and content, my Will is, yt those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall allow to their mother ten pounds yeerly: nine pounds thereof to be paid by Thomas and twenty shillings by Samuel, in such pay as shall be suitable and necessary for her comfortable maintenance and livelyhood: And further, if it shall please God to exercise her with much prevailing weakness or continuing sickness that the aforesaid ten pounds should not suffice to defray the charges of her expences; my Will is, that (over and aboue ye ten pounds, and according to the like rate of proportion) those my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall supply her with necessaries suitable as her condition may require, yt she be not exposed to suffering for want of what ought and might be procured for her. Also my Will is, that my Lot in Labour-in- vain fields, and the two acres of meadow at Reedy Marsh shall stand bound respectively to my said wife during her natural life as securitie for the true p[er]formance of this my Will as respecting her maintenance by my two Sonns; and after her decease, the said lands (except what shall bee alienated (if any so be) by means of the securitie aforesaid) to remain to each of those my Sonns, and to their heirs for ever as is before mentioned and declared. And lastly, I doe name, appoint and constitute my son Thomas French to be the sole Executor of this my last will & testament.
His will was proved on September 28, 1680 TH28, AN3, LI3. A list of the items of his estate, which was inventoried by Jonathan Wade and John Whipple on August 25, 1680, has been reproduced TH28:
his waring apparell Linon & woolin… the grat beed in the parler with what belongs toe it… a trundle beed with what belongs toe it… thre chests… 7 cushins… 4 payer of sheets… 4 pilowbers… 22 napcines… 3 tablecoths… 11 yds. of hommade cloth… warming pann… yd. & halfe of serge… a cutlach & belt… 3 small baskits… 2 bruches… smal looking glas… 6 chayers… table & foorme… one spitt, fire pan, tonges, gridirone, tramell… 9 pewter dishes, 2 pint pots & a half pint, two porengers, oen beacer cup, 2 poringer… two bras Ketls… one Irone pott, 3 scilits, a scimer… tine war… 9 spones… barels, payels, trayes, kelers… earthen ware… old axe & howe… books… 3 loads of haye… a bed given to Samuel French with what belongs toe it… a meane bed with what belongs toe it… doz. halfe of trenchers… sithes… 5 sheep & thre Lames… 4 cowes… 8 swine… his dweling hous & barne & homestead with the privelidg belonging… 12 accers of Lande at Laber in vain… 2 accers of Land by Scotes Lane… 2 accers of march in the comon feild… debts due by booke, 7li. 7s. 6d.; total, 217li. 15s. 6d. Debts he oweth, 34li. 8s. 5d. making total, 183li. 7s. 1d.
Mary Scudamore ★ (William, Margery) was born at Tedgewood, Upton Bishop, Herefordshire, England SK1 by the year 1598 or 1599, because her father died in December 1598 BE6. This indicates that she was at least ten years older than her husband, if the assumption that Thomas was baptized shortly after his birth is correct. She was the mother of Mary, Mary, John, Thomas, Samuel, Ephraim, and Sarah AN3, AN6, BE6. John Brooks Threlfall stated that the Mary who married Thomas French may have been Mary Morton TH46. Mary Morton’s name appeared on the second page of the records of the First Church of Boston PI13. She also may have been Mary (Howlen) Gosnall, the widow of Henry Gosnall BY1. Henry Gosnall and his wife, Mary Gosnall, were early members of the First Church of Boston PI13.
Mary French was baptized on September 23, 1632 in Boston AN3, BE6. However, the records of the First Church of Boston state that “Mary the daughter of our brother Thomas French” was baptized at the First Church of Boston on September 23, 1631 PI13. William S. Appleton, one of the record commissioners who compiled the birth and baptismal records in 1883, stated that this entry “undoubtedly belong to 1632” MA26. She died soon after her birth, for another daughter named Mary was born in 1633/4 AN3.
Mary French was baptized at the First Church of Boston on March 2, 1634 as “Mary the Daughter of our Brother Thomas French” PI13, MA26. Mary French probably married Robert Smith sometime prior to March 1656/7 DO12. In a court held in Ipswich on March 25 and 26, 1656/7, both Robert Smyth and Mary, the wife of Robert Smith, testified regarding the case of Henry Kemball vs. Thomas Smith in which damage to corn was caused by cattle DO12. Robert Smith was the father of Mary, born on October 28, 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County Massachusetts VI23. Robert Smith was also the father of seven children whose births were recorded in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. These were Pheby, born on August 26, 1661, Ephraim, born on October 29, 1663, Amye, born on August 16, 1668, Sarah, born on June 25, 1670, Nathaniell, born on September 7, 1672, Jacob, born on January 29, 1674/5, and Moriah, born on December 18, 1677 VI10. Mary Smith was alive on August 3, 1680 when she was named in her father’s will and was bequeathed one cow TH28. Robert Smith of Boxford, Essex County wrote his will on August 7, 1693 which named his sons, Samuel, Nathan (this name was partially obliterated by the deterioration of the document), Ephraim, Jacob, and Thomas, and his daughters, Mary Towne, Phebe Towne, Emey Towne, Meriah Smith, and his wife, Mary Smith AM1. It also mentioned the grandfather of his son, Thomas, who was called “grandffather ffrainch” AM1:
In Consideration that my Son Thomas Smith did leafe mee as soone as he was abell to doe any thing and… Lifed with his grandffather ffrainch and never Come to mee to helpe mee in my old age with what I have already given him I doe… order six pounds to be given to him in cattell within two years after my desease…
Robert Smith died on August 30, 1693 ES4. The administration of the estate was granted to Samuell Smith on October 3, 1698 AM1. An inventory of his estate was conducted by John Gould, Sr. and John French, Sr., on September 25, 1693 ES4. In another document included in the probate file dated June 3, 1720, the mother of Samuell and Nathaniell Smith was described as being older than age sixty at the time of Robert Smith’s death; this document stated that after the death of Robert Smith, Nathaniell lived another twenty-four years and Robert’s wife lived another twenty-six years AM1.
John French was born circa 1635 AN3 or 1637 LI3, BE6 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts BE7. He was alive on August 3, 1680 when he was named in his father’s will TH28.
Thomas French was the son of Thomas French TH28 and was born about the year 1636 DO13. In a deposition given by Thomas French on December 23, 1658, Thomas stated that he was twenty-two years old DO13. Thomas French married Mary Addams on February 29, 1659/60 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Thomas French was named as the father of seven children whose births were recorded in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. These were Thomas, born on November 30, 1661, Mary, born on March 9, 1662/3, Thomas, born on May 21, 1666, William, born on November 30, 1673, Abigaill, born on June 27, 1668, Hanah, born on January 30, 1670, and Hester, born on January 2, 1676 VI23. Thomas French, the son of Thomas, died on December 14, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Abigail, the daughter of Thomas and Mary French, died on October 17, 1703 VI24. Thomas fought in the “Narragansett campaign 1675/6” TH46 which was also called the Great Swamp Massacre against the Narragansett people; it occurred in December 1675 and was one of the battles in King Philip’s War. He served under Captain Samuel Appleton and he was mentioned in lists of men, one of which was dated June 24, 1676, which included Jonathan Emery and Mosses Pengrie BO2. He was a constable and was a participant in the tax rebellion against Sir Edmund Andros, the Governor of the Dominion of New England for which he received a fine of fifteen pounds and was subsequently not permitted to hold office TH46. He was alive on August 3, 1680 when he was named in his father’s will TH28. Thomas French of Ipswich died intestate sometime prior to January 11, 1710/11 AM1.
Sarah French was not named in the will of Thomas French, which indicates that she may have died prior to August 1680 or may not have been a daughter of Thomas and Mary. At a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on September 30, 1656, Sarah French accused Hackaliah Bridges of impregnating her DO13. Hackaliah Bridges was the son of Edmond and Elizabeth Bridges and he was brought to the court by Sergeant French and then discharged DO13. On the same date, Sarah French and John Fargison, both of Ipswich, were presented to the court for “uncleanness together”; John Fargison had additional charges, which were “purloining his master's goods, such as malt, wool and stockings” and “for several lies about borrowing a horse” DO13. He was ordered to be whipped for uncleanness, “breaking prison”, and lying, while Sarah French was sentenced to be whipped fifteen stripes DO13.
Samuel French was the son of Thomas French TH28. At a court held in Ipswich on March 26, 1667, Samuell French was ordered to be either whipped or pay a fine for his misdemeanor DO14. According to the case, Obadiah Bridges and Samuell French pretended to visit a brother-in-law of Lydia Browne at the residence of Daniel Warner (Lydia’s father-in-law) DO14. Lydia’s parents were away in Boston on that day, and Samuell French went into a room with Lydia Browne after Obadiah Bridges exited the room DO14. “Samuel French deposed that he went out of the room and lighted a pipe of tobacco, and came back and knocked at the door where Bridges and Lydia were” DO14. This testimony was sworn on February 20, 1666 DO14. He was alive on August 3, 1680 when he was named in his father’s will TH28. Samuel French died in 1688 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.
Ephraim French was born about the year 1643. While deposed at a court held in Ipswich on March 29, 1659, Ephraim French was called “about fifteen years” when he was sworn in a statement on December 30, 1658 DO13. He was alive on August 3, 1680 when he was named in his father’s will TH28. John Brooks Threlfall stated that Ephraim relocated to Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, and then on to Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut; he also stated that Ephraim was the father of Richard French, who was born in 1674 TH46. Ephraim French was said to have died in September 1716 in Enfield, Connecticut DA20.
Mary died on May 6, 1681 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts BE7, AN3, LI3. Her death record stated, “The widdow of Ens: Thomas French, dyed the 6: of May. 1681.” MA26.
Brian J.L. Berry, in his work “Was Mary French a Scudamore?” and Warren Skidmore, in his work, “Mary Scudamore (ca. 1598-1681), Wife of Thomas French of Ipswich, Massachusetts; An Old Debate Newly Resolved” present evidence for their argument that Mary French was the daughter of William Scudamore. A brief synopsis of these two articles follows, which together entail three key points, but a great portion of Brian Berry’s rationale involves the interrelationship of individuals of several families, specifically with regard to property in Upton Bishop; a summation of his article is insufficient and for this reason should be read independently.
Firstly, the pedigree of William Scudamore (V) was documented by Thomas May in The Visitation of the County of Gloucester, 1682-1683, and this pedigree stated that the daughter of William Scudamore was “Mary, wife of ________ French of Boston in New England” MA36.
Secondly, Mary’s brother, William Scudamore (IV) of Gloucester (who was the father of the aforementioned William V), wrote his will on November 4, 1636 which mentioned his sister WI45:
In the name of god Amen, the Fowerth day of November one thousand six hundred thirtie and six, And in the twelveth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne lord Charles by the grace of god Kinge of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith &tc, I William Scudamore of the Citty of Gloucester Wollen drap[er] though Sick in body yet blessed be god of Sound memory doe make and declare my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge that is to say… Item I doe give unto all the nowe children of Mary French my Sister, to each of them five pounds apeece to bee paied att theire several ages of one and twenty yeares
There were three men named Thomas French in the Boston area in the 1600s: two of them were the subjects of biographies in this book, and another married a woman named Mary Button and relocated to Guilford, Connecticut BE6. Another man, Stephen French of Weymouth, Massachusetts, was married to a woman named Mary, but they had just begun to have children circa 1635 (their first child was said to have been born about that year) AN3. In his will, William Scudamore (IV) used the word “children”, as opposed to “child”, and so it is doubtful that Mary, the wife of Stephen French, was William’s sister. This essentially leaves just Mary, the wife of Thomas French, who must have been the sister of William Scudamore (IV) BE6, SK1.
Lastly, property transactions in Upton Bishop, England link William Scudamore (III) with Isabell Redverne in Ipswich, then to the Pengry brothers in both Ipswich and Gloucester, then later still to William Scudamore (V), who owned the Manor of Bishop’s Upton and purchased “Tedswood” in 1679/80 BE6. William Scudamore (III) purchased two farms in Upton Bishop, Herefordshire, England; one was called Tedgewood (also known as Testwood or Tedswood) and the other was called Thornes BE6. Later, at least part of Tedgewood was owned by Isabell Redverne of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and in her will created in 1650, she bestowed shares of the farm to Moses and Aaron Pengry BE6 (Pingry TH31), also of Ipswich BE6, TH31. On October 15, 1650, these two Pengry brothers appointed “Theo” Pengry, Sr. of Gloucester to control the farm operations AS1:
15 (8) 1650. Moses & Aaron Pengry of Ipswich constituted Theo: Pengry senior of Glocester theire Attr: [attorney] to receive all such money or rents as are or shalbe due to them from time to time, & acquittances for the same to make, also to sett or lett the ffermes [farms] in Upton Bishop in County of Hereford called the thornes & Testwood now or late in possession of Thomas Nurden, & granted by will of Isabell Redverne late of Ipswich in N: E: [New England] unto the sd [said] Moses Aaron & Thomas Pengry.
Isabell (Bower) Redverne was the sister of Catherine (Bower) Pengry, who married John Pengry and whose sons were Thomas, Moses, and Aaron Pengry SK1, so Isabell Redverne was the aunt of the Pengry brothers. Thomas Pengry (one of the brothers) was married to Anne, the sister of Giles Lye of Gloucester BE6. In his will created on November 5, 1660, Giles Lye stated that William Scudamore was his cousin; he was likely speaking of William Scudamore (V) BE6. He also referred to Thomas Pengry as his brother BE6, although Thomas was actually his brother-in-law. The most important puzzle piece with this last point (about the relationships between the various Scudamore, Redverne, Pengry, and Lye individuals) is missing, because nothing actually conclusively links William Scudamore (III) with Mary. These relationships instead lend support to the argument that Mary French was the daughter of William Scudamore because the Pengry brothers lived in Ipswich at the same time as Thomas and Mary French, and both the Pengrys and the Scudamores had ties back to Upton Bishop. Ipswich was a small town; in 1641 just over one hundred people were listed as commoners, excluding their family members, and among the list of commoners were both Thomas French and Moses Pengry SC4. Additionally, the Pengrys and the Scudamores were related in the form of Giles Lye.
The argument that Mary French was the daughter of William Scudamore (III), then, can be concluded in this fashion: the daughter of William Scudamore (III) was referred to as Mary French of Boston, and the sister of William Scudamore (IV) of Gloucester was referred to as Mary French, who had more than one child in 1636. Thomas and Mary French were acquainted with the Pengry brothers because the Pengry brothers and the French family resided in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Moses and Aaron Pengry had ties back to Upton Bishop and Gloucester in England, and the Scudamore family had already been associated with those areas. Finally, Giles Lye was the cousin of William Scudamore (V) and the brother-in-law of Thomas Pengry, which firmly links those two families.