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Thomas French |
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Jacob French & Susan Warren |
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Susan Riddlesdale |
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John Riddlesdale & Dorcas |
Thomas French ★ (Jacob, Susan) was born in 1584 TH31 or 1585 TH34 in Assington, Suffolk County, England BA11, TH34, TH31 and was baptized on October 11, 1584 in Bures St. Mary, on the border of Suffolk and Essex counties in England TH34. He was the son of Jacob and Susan (Warren) French TH46. Thomas married Susan Riddlesdale BA11, BE7, LI3, TH31 on September 5, 1608 LI3, DA12, TH46 in St. Edmund Parish BE7, Assington, Suffolk County LI3, TH46. The name of the land in Assington that he farmed was called Garlands WA19, TH46. Thomas French was mentioned in the will of John Gurdon, Esquire, of Assington, Suffolk, which was written on December 6, 1621 and proved on October 10, 1623 WA19. John Gurdon bequeathed several parcels of land to his grandson, also named John Gurdon, and one of these parcels was described as “the messuage or farm house wherein one Thomas French doth now inhabit, called Garland’s, and lands belonging &c., which I did lately purchase of Sir William Waldgrave, knight, the elder, situate in Assington…” WA19.
He, and the remaining members of his family who had not already left for the New World, sailed from England to Boston after 1633 AN3 or circa 1637 TH35, LI3, BE6, TH31. John Brooks Threlfall stated that Reverend Nathaniel Rogers, who was the vicar of Assington, left for New England at the end of 1636 TH46. Reverend Rogers, who later became the preacher at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, was accompanied by four additional families from Assington TH46. Threlfall stated that it was probably in the following year that Thomas and Susan French and their children who were still in England made the journey to New England TH46. 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 which was a group of eleven ships which sailed in the summer of 1630 BA11. In making this list of all the members of the French family together (i.e., Thomas and Susan French and Thomas French, Jr., Alice, Dorcas, Susan, Anne, John, and Mary French), Banks implied that the entire French family was a part of the Winthrop Fleet BA11. However, this is unlikely because two of the daughters of Thomas French of Assington were sent over as maid servants to John Winthrop and John Winthrop, Jr. in 1633 GO11. Additionally, Margaret French, their fifteen-year-old daughter, was buried in Assington on November 25, 1635 TH46. From the evidence, Thomas French Jr. and Alice French made the journey in 1630, followed by Dorcas and Susan French in 1633 as maid servants, and then the remaining members of the family probably in 1637.
His land at Reedy Marsh in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts was mentioned in a memorandum of a deed of sale from Richard Lumpkin to John Tuttell on July 27, 1638 in which a parcel of meadow at the Reedy Marsh was bounded “on the East by medow belonging to Thomas French the Elder” SC4. His land was also referenced in land grants issued to William Swindon in 1638 and Samuell Boreman on August 22, 1639, in which Swindon’s planting lot was at the Reedy Marsh and was north of the planting lot owned by “Thomas French the Elder”, and Boreman’s planting lot was beyond the Muddy River and was southeast of “certaine tenn acre lotts of Thomas French the elder” SC4.
He died in Ipswich in 1639 TH35, LI3, BA11, and the administration of his estate was granted to his widow on November 5, 1639 SH17, TH35, DA12. The court record stated that, by the advice of the Ipswich magistrates, his land was to be sold “for the maintenance of his wife & education of his children, wch are not yet able to p[ro]vide for themselues” SH17.
Susan Riddlesdale ★ (John, Dorcas) was baptized on April 20, 1584 in Boxford, Suffolk County, England TH34. She was the daughter of John and Dorcas Riddlesdale TH46. Another baptismal record for a child named Susan Riddlesdale, whose father was John, occurred on September 6, 1584 in Lindsey, Suffolk County, which is less than four miles northeast of Boxford EN4.
Susan was the mother of Thomas, Alice, Dorcas, Susan, Anne, Margaret, John, and Mary BE7, LI3, DA12, although she may have had nine children TH34. Four of her children, Thomas, Alice, Dorcas, and Susan, sailed for the colonies prior to her own immigration AN3, DA12. She may have also been the mother of Amy French BY1.
Thomas French was baptized on November 27, 1608 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England TH46, DA12, LI3.
Alice French, the daughter of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on April 9, 1610 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. The name “Alice French” was written on the third page of the records of the First Church of Boston PI13. Her marriage to Thomas Howlett probably occurred in the late 1630s BY1 or by 1637 AN4. Thomas Howlett was an early member of the First Church of Boston, but on September 10, 1643, the records of the First Church of Boston stated “Our brethren John Gage and Thomas Howlett having now for sundry years Inhabited at Ipswich and desireing letters of Dismission to the Church there have the same granted unto them with the Churches Consent by their silence” PI13. PI13. On June 16, 1644, the records of the First Church of Boston stated “Our sister Alice French the wife of Thomas Howlett of Ipswich and lately Dismissed from us unto the Church of Christ att Ipswich at hir own Desire hath letters of Dismission granted hir unto that Church with the Consent of our Church by their silence” PI13.
Thomas Howlett, a carpenter, was born about 1606 and was an early settler of Ipswich TH46, BY1. The house lot of Thomas Howlett in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts was adjacent to that of Thomas Hardy, and his land shared bounds with John Gage BY1. John Robinson, a wheelwright of Ipswich, wrote his will on February 27, 1657/8, which was proved on March 30, 1658 DO13. He made a bequest to “Alles howlett the wife of thomas howlett Ten pounds I doe likewise giue to thomas howlett Junner my Cheast and all my tools and all the Rest of my Estate I doe giue vnto thomas howlett seaner whome I make my sole Exsecketr” DO13. His will was witnessed by James How and John How DO13. The inventory of his estate included a debt to Ensign Howlett “for diet, clothes, attendance and physic” of over twenty-two pounds DO13.
Alice and Thomas Howlett were the parents of Thomas, Sarah, John, Mary, Samuel, William, and Nathaniel AN4, TH46. Thomas Howlett, Jr. was born about 1637 and married Lydia Peabody about 1662 AN4. Thomas Howlett, Jr. died on December 22, 1667 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Sarah Howlett was born about 1639 and married John Cummings by about 1658 AN4. John Howlett was born about 1643 and married Susanna Hudson, the daughter of Francis Hudson, by about 1670 AN4. Mary Howlett may have been born about 1645 and married John Perley by about 1665 AN4. Samuel Howlett may have been born about 1646 and married Sarah Clark in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts on January 3, 1670/1 AN4. William Howlett was born about 1650 and married Mary Perkins in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts on October 27, 1671 AN4. Nathaniell Howlett, the son of Thomas Howlett, died on April 28, 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.
Alice Howlett, the wife of Ensign Howlett, died on June 26, 1666 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. After her death, Thomas married Rebecca, the widow of Thomas Smith AN4, TH46. “Thomas Howlit of Ipswich” wrote his will on November 4, 1677 which was proved on September 24, 1678 AN4. He made bequests to his wife, Rebeka, and his children, Samull Howlit, John Howlet, Sarah Comings, Mary Perly, William Howlit, and his daughter-in-law who was married to his deceased son, Thomas Howlit AN4.
Amy French was probably the daughter of Thomas and Susan French who married John Gage of Ipswich BY1. Melinde Lutz Byrne and John Edward Hardy noted that while a baptism for Amy French was not amongst the Assington baptismal records, Susan (Riddlesdale) French’s great-aunt (Susan’s paternal grandfather’s sister) was named Amy Riddlesdale who resided in Boxford, Suffolk County, England BY1. The name Amy may have been a family name BY1. Melinde Lutz Byrne also studied the Assington parish register transcript (which is currently the only source, as the original “has not been seen in over a century” BY1) and compiled statistics regarding the baptisms BY1. She noted that there are no surviving Bishop’s transcripts for the 1608 through 1613, and that baptisms which were recorded in the year 1612 were significantly lower than in the previous and subsequent years BY1. She also pointed out that two children of Reverend Thomas Chambers who would have been baptized sometime between 1610 and 1614 (Amy (Chambers) Matson and her brother, Thomas Chambers) did not have baptisms recorded in Assington BY1. Essentially, the lack of baptismal records in Assington in this time period does not indicate the lack of a birth or baptism, and there was certainly enough time for another child to have been born between the births of Alice and Dorcas BY1. Amy may have been the elder French daughter who served the Winthrop family as a maid servant for a three-year term, beginning in 1633 BY1.
John Gage of Ipswich and his wife, Amee, sold a parcel of twenty acres (which had been granted to John by the town of Ipswich) for the sum of eleven pounds to Daniel Roffe of Rowley on February 21, 1653 (probably 1653/4) SA21. On the same date, Amee Gage resigned her interest in the land before Danyel Denison 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:
Know all men whom it may concerne that wee John Gage & Amee my wife, of Ipswich, in ye county of Essex, in New England, in consideration of 11 pounds received, in full sattisfaction, before the sealing hereof, received by me John Gage of Daniel Roffe of Rowley, in the foresaid county: have granted, bargained & sold and by these presents doe grant, bargain & sell to the aforesaid Daniel, the some of twenty acres of land, granted to me by the towne of Ipswich, with all my rights belonging thereunto; to have and to hold the aforesaid land, with all belonging thereunto, to the aforesaid Daniell Roffe, his heirs & assignes forever, according to the true intent & meaning hereof. In witness hereof we the aforesaid John Gage & Amee my wife, have set to our hands & seales, this land butts on a river with the southeast end, & northeast pt of it against Goodman Scot land, & the other side against John Woodam’s land. In witnes whereof we have sett to oure hands & seales, this 21 of 12 mo: 1653.
John Gage his mark
Amee Gage her marke.
Signed & sealed in ye presence of us whose names is underwritten.
Robert Smith.
Samuell Yonglove.
Amee Gage did freely resign up her interest in the lands abovesaid, and this deed acknowledged before me, the 21th of February, 1653.
Danyel Denison.
John Gage gave a deposition on September 28, 1672 at Merrimack which stated “he and his brother Howlet laid out 170 acres at Wills hill to John Gold…” DO16. This indicates that he had a brother-in-law with the surname “Howlet”. Alice French married Ensign Thomas Howlett, as seen above. An individual named Alexander Session was deposed by Simon Bradstreet in the Essex Court on March 27, 1669 about an event which occurred in 1665, in which he stated that “Goodman Kingsburoughs sonne sayd they were his unkle Gages hoggs, & Daniel Gage upon his descriptio[n] sayd he thought they were theres…” GA6. This indicates that a son of Henry Kingsbury (Kingsburoughs) had an “Unkle Gage”, and Melinde Lutz Byrne believed that this demonstrates a relationship between Henry Kingsbury, who married Susan French, and John Gage, who probably married Susan French’s sister BY1.
John Gage stated that his age was “about fifty years” in an Essex County court deposition he gave on September 27, 1659, but he also stated his age was “about fifty-eight years” in a deposition given in a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on March 25, 1662 DO13. This indicates his birth occurred between 1604 and 1609. In a land grant dated November 12, 1672, “John Gage of Rowley Merrimack” (later called Bradford), mentioned a marriage contract between Benjamin Gage and Prudence Leaver, the daughter of Thomas Leaver of Rowley AN4. In his will, John Gage named his sons, Samuell, Daniell, Nathaniell, Jonathon, and Josiah Gage TH27. Birth records for these children are absent. Samuel Gage was probably born about 1638 AN4. He gave a deposition at the Essex Court in March 1656 DO12, which indicates that was at least fourteen AN4. Daniell Gage stated that his age was “about thirty years” in an Essex County court deposition he gave on March 31, 1669 before William Hathorne DO15, indicating he was born about 1639. Benjamin Gage was born about 1641; he married his step-sister, Mary Keyes, in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts on February 16, 1663/4 AN4. Jonathan Gage was born about 1643; he married Hester Chandler in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts on November 12, 1667 AN4. Nathaniel Gage stated that his age was “about twenty years” in a deposition for a court held in Ipswich, Essex County on March 28, 1665 DO14, indicating he was born about 1645. Josiah Gage stated that his age was “about twenty-one years” in an Essex County court deposition he gave on March 31, 1669 before William Hathorne DO15, indicating he was born about 1648.
Amy Gage, the wife of John Gage, died in June 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. After her death, John married Sarah (Swett) Keyes, the widow of Robert Keyes, on November 7, 1658 in Ipswich, Massachusetts AN4, MA26. Sergeant John Gage died on March 24, 1672/3 in Bradford (Haverhill), Massachusetts VI20. He left an undated will which was proved on March 25, 1673 TH27. His will stated (in part) TH27:
I John Gage being by the grace of god In som Competent mesure of vnderstand and daily waiting for my Chang do make this my Last wil and testament and do herby apoint my Sonns Samuell Daniell Nathaniell Jonathon and Josiah: gage Joynt Exectors of this my will… I will and Bequeath to my beloued wife Sarah Gag one Cow and al what houshould Goods wase hir owne; During her Life and to Dispose of at hir Death: the Rest of my houshould goods as beading peautar brass Iron Earthen and woodden vessels within house I giue vnto hir During hir Natural Life and at hir Death to Returne to my Children: only I Do Reserve out of these to be now Disposed of to my Children al my wearing Clothes and my Chest ad al yt is In it and a great Kettell and a Cowel: also I giue vnto hir on third part of al the Corne That shal be mine at my Desease and I do will that my fiue Sonns aboue mentioned them ad Each of them thaire heires Execetors adminst. ad asignes shal pay or Cause to be paied to my wife Sarah Gag twenty shillings apeice Every yeare during hir naturul Life In good marchantabel Corne the one halfe In English graine the other halfe In Indian Corne to be Diliuered by hir order In som place In this towne of Bradford or aboard a boate In merimacke Riuer at Havorhill: al ye abouesd partickulars I wil to hir vpon and with hir consent to Relinquis[h] al hir Right In the Rest of my Estate for my Sonns I wil that they Inioy and posses for them and theire heires for Euer…
The inventory of the estate of Sergeant John Gage of Bradford was conducted on March 26, 1673 by Henry Kinsbury, Thomas Kimball, and Shubaell Walker TH27. His son, Nathaniell Gage, renounced his right of administration upon the common right at Ipswich on February 11, 1718/19 TH37.
Dorcas French, the daughter of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on July 31, 1614 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. She was able to immigrate to New England by entering into a contract with John Winthrop as a maid servant TH46. On June 11, 1633 Thomas Gostlin of Groton, Suffolk County, England wrote to John Winthrop, Jr. in New England regarding Winthrop’s request for Gostlin to locate and send over servants GO11. Groton is just north of Boxford and about five miles from Assington. Winthrop specifically requested carpenters or at least one carpenter and one husbandmen to be shipped to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but Gostlin could not locate either of those, and instead sent maid servants GO11. These two maid servants seem to both have been daughters of Thomas French of Assington GO11:
She is one of the goodman Frenches daughters, of Assington. I haue sent 2 of them, one for yr father, & the other for you. Yr father must take his choyse. The eldest must serve for 3 yeeres, & the youngest 4. They stand to yr curtesy whither you will finde them or giue them wages. I praye let them be delt as well wth all as any of the same quallity.
On August 10, 1634, the records of the First Church of Boston stated “Dorcas French maid servant to our brother John Winthropp the Elder” became a member of that church PI13. Dorcas French married Christopher Peake of Roxbury TH46 on January 3, 1636/7 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts MA26. This marriage year may indicate that Dorcas was the elder French sister who was obliged to serve the Winthrop family for three years, because her term would have ended in 1636, allowing her to marry after that TH46. However, it is unknown if Dorcas was the elder of the two maid servants. Melinde Lutz Byrne and John Edward Hardy posited that Amy French, who was probably born before Dorcas, could have been the maid servant who served for four years BY1.
Christopher Peake was the father of about nine children children whose births and deaths were recorded in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts VI45, VI46. These were Jonathan, born on December 17, 1637, Dorcas, born on March 1, 1639/40, Hannah, born on January 25, 1642/3, Joseph, born on February 12, 1644/5, Ephrim (or Ephraim TH46), baptized on March 16, 1652, and Sarah, born on January 9, 1655/6 VI45. Hanna (or Hama) Peake died on October 5, 1660 VI46. The death records of Roxbury also noted three infant children of Christopher Peake who died in 1647 and 1648 VI46. Two were burial records (these two infants were buried on March 30, 1647 and April 6, 1648) but the third may have been a death record (the date was “13: 2m: 1647” or April 13, 1647 VI46. Christopher Peake, Sr. died on May 22, 1666 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts VI46, TH46. Dorcas Peake then married Griffin Craft of Roxbury, Suffolk County as his third wife TH46. “Dorcas the relict of Griffin Craft” died on December 30, 1697 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts MA26.
Susan French, the daughter of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on April 22, 1616 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. She may have immigrated to New England in 1633 as a servant of John Winthrop for a term of four years TH46. She probably married Henry Kingsbery or Kingsbury BY1. Henry Kingsbury was the son of Henry and Jane (Warren) Kingsbury and was born about 1615 BY1. Henry and Susan Kingsbery were the parents of Susanna, John, Ephraim, James, Samuel, Thomas, and Joseph Kingsbery KI5. The birth or baptism records of these individuals have not been located. Susanna was likely the “Susan Kinsbury” who married Joseph Pik (Pike) on January 29, 1661 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. John Kingsberry married Elizabeth Duston sometime prior to 1669 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5. John Kingsbery, the husband of Elizabeth, died on January 23, 1670 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, and on December 11, 1672 Elizabeth Kingsbery, a widow, married Peter Green in Haverhill VI5. Ephraim Kingsbery died on May 2, 1676 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts; his death record stated he was “killed by ye Indians” VI5. James Kingsbery married Sarah Button on January 6, 1673 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5. Samuel Kingsbery married Huldah Corlis on November 5, 1679 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5. Samuel, the husband of Huldah (Corlis) Kingsbery, died on September 26, 1698 in Haverhill, and on December 27, 1704 Huldah Kingsbery married Abraham Whittaker in Haverhill VI5. Thomas Kingsbery married Deborah Eastman, a widow, on June 29, 1691 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5. Joseph Kingsbery married Love Ayers on April 2, 1679 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5.
On August 30, 1660, Henry Kingsbury of Ipswich and his wife, Susan, sold their dwelling house, outhouses, orchard, yards, and gardens on Hill Street in Ipswich to Robert Lord, Jr. for the sum of two oxen in addition to their debts paid to Mr. Robert Paine and Edmond Bridges SA21. According to the deed, Robert Lord, Jr. paid five pounds to Mr. Robert Paine and forty shillings to Edmond Bridges, which were debts owed by Henry Kingsbury to these men SA21. This deed was signed by Henry Kingsbury with Susan Kingsbury’s mark and seal, and was witnessed by Robert Lord and Robert Day SA21. Susan Kingsbury resigned her thirds in the house and land before Daniel Denison SA21. Henry Kingsbury of Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts sold a nine-acre parcel of salt marsh in Ipswich to John Kimball of Ipswich for the sum of twenty-five pounds on June 30, 1662 SA21. This deed was witnessed by Robert Lord and Freedom French, and Susan Kingsbury (who was called the wife of Henry Kingsbery) consented to the sale and resigned her thirds in the conveyed land SA21. Melinde Lutz Byrne and John Edward Hardy noted that the land of Henry “Kinsbery” in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts was adjacent to that of John Wyatt BY1. Whether this was happenstance or not, John Wyatt was “the second husband of the widow of Edward Riddlesdale, a brother of Susan (Riddlesdale) French” BY1.
Henry Kingsbury, a planter of Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, and his wife, Susannah, sold his second division of marsh (which had been previously granted by the town of Ipswich) to Thomas Harris, a fisherman of Ipswich, for the sum of four pounds and ten shillings on March 16, 1663 SA21. This division was bounded by the marsh of John French on the south 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:
Know all men whom it may concern, by these presents, that I, Henry Kingsbury of Rowley, in the county of Essex, planter, and Susannah my wife, for and in consideration of the full and just sum of four pounds and ten shillings, to me in hand paid before the sealing and delivery hereof, by Thomas Harris of Ipswich, in the county aforesaid, fisherman, the receipt whereof and of every part & portion thereof I doe acknowledge and do hereby acquit and discharge the sayd Thomas of the same forever, by these presents: have bargained and sold, and by these presents doe fully and freely bargaine and sell, alien and confirm unto the forenamed Thomas Harris & his heirs forever, all that my second devident of marsh, which was alotted unto me by the towne of Ipswich, lying and being in the marsch called “the hundreds”, upon the north side of the town hill, and was the fourth lott of the twelve devissions last layd oute, with all the profitts, privilidges and appurtenances belonging to the same, bounded with the divident of marsch belonging to James Chute toward the north, and marsh of John French toward the south, and a devident of marsh of Mr. John Rogers upon the west, and so running east to a bound creeke toward Plumb Island river. To have & to hould and quietly to possess and enjoy all the said devident or lott of marsh, unto the sole and proper use and behoofe of the forenamed Thomas Harris and his heires forever, without any lett, molestation or interruption of me the aforesaid Henry or Susanna my wife, or any or either of us, our heires, executors, administrators or assignes, or any other person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I the abovesayd Henry Kingsbery and Susanna my wife, have hereunto sett our hands and seales, dated the 16th of March, in the yeare of Grace, sixteene hundred, sixty and three, 1663.
Henry Kingsbery and a seale.
Subscribed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
Jeremiah Belcher.
Daniel Hovey.
James Chute.
Susana Kingsbery, the wife of Henry, died on February 21, 1678 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts VI5. Henry Kingsbery, the husband of Susannah, died on October 1, 1687 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts at age seventy-seven VI5.
Anne French, the daughter of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on March 15, 1617/18 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. She probably immigrated to New England in 1637 TH46. Anne French may have married Thomas Hardy BY1. Thomas Hardy was born about 1606 in England and was a husbandman of Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts BY1. His houselot in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts was adjacent to the houselot of Thomas Howlett, who married Alice French BY1. “Thomas Hardee, Senr. liuing at merimack towne, near Hauerill” wrote his will on March 4, 1671/2, in which he made bequests to his eldest son, Thomas Hardee, and his four other sons, John Hardee, Joseph Hardee, Jacob Hardee, and William Hardee TH28. He also made bequests to his son-in-law, William Hutchins, and his daughter, Mary, and her children TH28. The name of his other daughter was not included until he wrote a postscript to his will five years later, which stated his two daughters were named Mary and Sary TH28. He appointed his son, Joseph Hardee, and his neighbor, David Hazeltine, as his executors TH28. He did not name his wife but stated TH28:
And further, I do giue vnto my beloued wife, the Sole use of my dwelling house, barne, outhouses, and all my brooken up land, with the use of two third parts of my meadow vndisposed of by this my will, and three quarters of my orchard, during the time of her naturall life, & here by engaging her, to keap and laue all in tenantable repaire: also she shall haue liberty to take timber & fire wood for her use out of that land which I haue giuen to my Son willm Hardee, but not to make strip & wast of ye same, nor to sell any of ye timber. Also william Hardee shall injoy one quarter part of ye afore said orchard during ye time of his mothers naturall life, and further I do giue vnto my wife during the time of her naturall life, the vse of all my housell stuff and vtensells about ye house, with what stock of cattle I shall leaue vndisposed of… Also I do will, that what stock of cattell and housell stuff, utensels, either of ye house or field, that shalbe left to my wife, shee shall not sell, nor imbezell ye same, nor suffer it to be lost or distroyed, but shall carfully keap, uphold, maintaine, & preserue [preserve] ye same, during ye time of her life…
He stated in a postscript to his will, dated December 12, 1677, that his age was about seventy-two and his residence at that time was Bradford TH28. In this postscript, he added several provisions and bequests and added overseers to his will, Reverend Zachary Simes, Mr. Shuball Walker, and Jonathan Danforth, Sr. (of Billerica) stated TH28. Importantly, he added a provision which would provide security for his still unnamed wife TH28:
I do giue to my beloued wife two acres of land lying by ye Riuer on ye east end of ye house to be at her owne dispose at her death; Also I do will that forty acres of land be set out, immediately after my decease, which forty acres shalbee Security for my wife touching her maintenance, in case of need, & I do will that in case Joseph & Jacob hardee shall contribute to my wife for her maintenance they shall each of them be repaid out of this forty acres…
Thomas Hardy, Sr. died on January 4, 1677 in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts VI20. The inventory of his estate was conducted by Jonathan Danforth, Sr., Shubaell Walker, and Samuell Wosester at Bradford on March 7, 1677/8 and his will was proved on March 26, 1678 in a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts TH28.
Mary Savorie, the wife of Robert Savorie, and Ann Hardy, a widow, both testified before Nathaniel Saltonstall on September 24, 1685 that they were present for the birth of the child of Sarah Savorie, the unmarried daughter of Robert Savorie TA12. Anne Hardy, who was called an old widow, died on May 1, 1689 in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts VI20. The actual record stated “Anne, wid., old, May 1, 1869” but this year was likely a typographical error because the source was entitled Vital Records of Bradford Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, indicating that records after 1849 were not included VI20.
Margaret French, the daughter of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on March 12, 1619/20 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12 and was buried in Assington on November 25, 1635 TH46.
John French, the son of Thomas and Susan French, was baptized on May 26, 1622 in At. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. He was a tailor TH46 and was probably the John French who signed a petition (along with Thomas Hardy, John Gage, and Henry Kingsbury) on December 29, 1648 to request that Major Dennison remain in Ipswich BY1. John French, the son of Thomas, married Freedom Kingsley, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Kingsley, about 1654 TO1, TH46. John and Freedom French were the parents of John, Thomas, Mary, Samuel, Hannah, Jonathan, and Elizabeth TH46. The birth records of eight children of John French were recorded in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. These were Thomas French, born on May 25, 1657, Mary French, born on February 27, 1659, Samuell French, born on February 26, 1661, Hanah French, born on March 8, 1664, Jonathan French, born on July 30, 1667, and Elizabeth French, born on October 9, 1673 VI23. John French had two children whose names were not recorded; these were an unnamed child who was born and who died on February 27, 1658, and a daughter who was born and who died April 1, 1664 VI23, VI24. One possible explanation for the child who was born and who died on February 27, 1658 could be that this was a twin to Mary French who did not survive, and perhaps the clerk noted the year 1659 for Mary but 1658 for the other infant. This would essentially be an issue with failing to double-date correctly. Another explanation could be that either or both of these unnamed infants were not the children of this John French, the husband of Freedom (Kingsley) French, but instead were the children of John French, the husband of Phoebe (Keyes) French, who was still a resident of Ipswich at this time. John Brooks Threlfall believed that John and Freedom French were the parents of these two unnamed children TH46.
Robert Lord and Freedom French were witnesses to a deed dated June 30, 1662 between Henry and Susan Kingsbury of Rowley (the grantor) and John Kimball of Ipswich (the grantee) SA21. Freedom French died on July 26, 1689 in Northampton, Hampton County, Massachusetts and John French died on February 1, 1696/7, also in Northampton, Hampton County, Massachusetts MA26. The inventory of his estate was conducted on March 4, 1697, which was the same day that Thomas French had a bond to administer his father’s estate AM1. The settlement of his estate occurred on June 2, 1697 and was recorded on July 13, 1697 AM1. This settlement of John French’s estate has been partially transcribed below AM1:
This Agreement Made June 2 1697 between the children of John French late deceased…
Videllisitt That Wheras both the law of god and man doth allow to the Eldest Son A double portion of his fathers Estate It is therfore Agreed to allow It here: And the Eldest Son John French having been by his fathers disposed of in the service of his grandfather Kingsley at Rehoboth And from the age of about fifteen years was not servicable to the Estate In Consideration wher of doth now willingly forgo and Resign up the Consideration of his doubel Right an agree to accept of a Single portion… the portion properly belonging to Each of the three brothers Amounts to the Just Sum of thirty pounds ten shillings Reckoned as mony… John French the Eldest Son doth accept of the formentioned sum as the last part and the full of his portion…
Item That the seacond son thomas French doth likewise Accept the sum aforesaid as his part We Also Mutualy agree that sd thomas French Shal have hold occupy and posses all the land that was our fathers in Deerfield…
Item That the third Son Jonathan French doth also accept of the said sum as his portion. We also Mutually Agree that sd Jonathan French shall hold occupy Injoy and posses as his propery Inheritance al the land that was our fathers in the township of Northamton…
Item That Frances Keet with his wife hannah Keet alias hannah French doth also together With the Rest agree to accept of ninteen pound seventeen shillings as Mony for their portion…
Item That Samuell Pumry and Elisabeth his wife formerly Elizabeth French doth also Agree and Consent with the Rest to accept of Nineteen pound Seventeen Shillings as Mony… and have herunto subscribed and Sealled this seacond day of June in the year one thousand six hundred ninety and seven and in the ninth year of his majesties Reign
Signed and Sealed In the presence of us
Enos Kingsley
John Parsens
Mary French, the daughter of Thomas and Susanne French, was baptized on January 6, 1624/5 in St. Edmund’s Church in Assington, Suffolk County, England LI3, TH46, DA12. Mary was said to have married George Smith of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts about 1644 and they were the parents of Sarah, Samuel, Thomas, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Joan, who was born in 1660 TH46. However, Melinde Lutz Byrne and John Edward Hardy noted that there is “no direct or indirect evidence [which] proves this claim” that Mary French married George Smith BY1. While the land of George Smith was in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, it was not close to land owned by members of the French family BY1. “George smith of Ipswich in the County of Essex” wrote his will on April 13, 1674 which made bequests to his sons, Samuell Smith and Thomas Smith, and his daughters, Sary Newman, Rebeca and Elizabeth Smith (who were unmarried), and Johana Smith (who was younger than twenty) AM1. His will was witnessed by John Brewer, Sr. and Walter Roper and was proved on March 30, 1675 AM1. He made extensive and thoughtful provisions for his unnamed wife AM1:
…That
my Loveing wife shall have the bed in the parlor with the furneture belonging
to it to be at her owne dispose: & that my wife shall have the parlor to
her self for her owne use & the use of the ciller & the other Romes in
the house for & of & the household goods for her nesesary
use & that my wife shall have the choise of one of my cowes & too
sheepe for her owne use & my too sones shall be at equall charges to
maintaine them for her both winter & sumer & put in other cattlls in
there roome if they miscary: & that thay also find my wife firewood fit for
her use & Keepe her one hogg continuall: when one is Kiled to bring up
another for her use all wch shee shall enjoy while shee remayns a
weddow & my will is yt my sonns shall pay my wife forty
shillings apeice peranum [per annum] & that my wife shall have The comand
of a horse for her use while shee remaynes a weddow…
The inventory of his estate was conducted on December 29, 1674 by Daniell Epps and John Whipple, which stated that George Smith died on “December 15, 167…” AM1; the last digit of this year was cut off, but the year was 1674. The husband of Mary French, if she had one, is not known with certainty.
The names of both “widdow French” and Thomas 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, which would have been in February 1641. A Dorcas “Ridelsdell” was listed as a witness in a defamation case between Richard Smith and Joseph Fowlar in the Ipswich Court on March 30, 1647 DO12; this Dorcas may have been her niece, the daughter of her brother, Edward TH34. While Edward did not immigrate to New England, his wife, Mary, died in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts, in 1683 TH34.
Susan French died as a widow in August 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24, and her son, John, was granted the administration of her estate on September 28, 1658 DO13. The Ipswich record of her death simply stated, “Susan French, widdow dyed in August, 1658” MA26. A complete list of the items of her estate, which had a value of a mere twelve pounds, was inventoried on March 10, 1658/9 by Robert Lord and Phillip Fowler, and they have been transcribed below TH26:
a fetherbed old and small, 2 fether pillows, one old couerlet & blankett… her weareing apparell… one old chest & box without a lid, an old Hogshead… a linen wheele & 2 chaires… an old brase pot & a little ould skillet & little Iron pot… 2 pewter dishes poringer & skimer… 2 paire of old shires, ould brase & other small things… a spitt, tongs, grediron & other small things… an old warmeing pan & frying… 2 small trayes, earthen ware & other lumbar… a cowe old