SSH
Given By
a-1
/
'7
.1
JOHN FRENCH, Jr.,
OF
TAUNTON, BERKLEY, MIDDLEBORO,
AND
OAKHAM, MASSACHUSETTS,
AND
HIS DESCENDANTS
BY
HENRY B. WRIGHT
OAKHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1914
The history of Oakham and the genealogy of some of its
families may be found in the following publications :
Oakham, by Major John B. Fairbank, in History of Worcester County,
Vol. II, pp. 157-168. Boston, C. F. Jewett & Company, 1879.
Oakham, by Deacon Jesse Allen, in D, Hamilton Hurd's History of
Worcester County, Vol. II, pp. 1079-1092, Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis
& Company, 1889.
Biography of Deacon James Allen of Oakham, Massachusetts, by Hiram
Knight, 67 pp., Worcester, Charles Hamilton, 1889.
Genealogy and Record of the Descendants of Deacon James Dean
of Oakham, Massachusetts, by Gardner Milton Dean, 29 pp., Boston,
Press of T. W. Ripley, 1889.
Stephen Lincoln of Oakham, Massachusetts. His Ancestry and Descend-
ants, by John E. Morris, 109 pp., Hartford, Press of The Case,
Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1895.
The Ancestry of Lydia Foster, Wife of Stephen Lincoln of Oakham,
Massachusetts, by John E. Morris, 26 pp., Hartford, Press of The
Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1898.
Vital Records of Oakham, Massachusetts (Systematic History Fund),
133 PP-> Worcester, Mass., Published by Franklin P. Rice, 1005.
The Fobes Memorial Library of Oakham, Massachusetts, with Historical
Addresses [and sketches of the Fobes and Fairbank families], by
Henry P. Wright, 121 pp., New Haven, The Tuttle, Morehouse &
Taylor Press, 1909.
Independence Day in 1797 in Oakham, Massachusetts, by Henry P.
Wright, 17 pp., New Haven, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press,
1911.
The Crawford Family of Oakham, Massachusetts, by General William
Crawford [edited by Henry P. Wright], 20 pp., New Haven, The
Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press, 1912.
Soldiers of Oakham, Massachusetts [biographical sketches with family
history of citizens who have fought in the wars of the nation since the
founding of the town], by Henry P. Wright, 280 pp. + index, New
Haven, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press, 1914.
John French, Jr., of Taunton, Berkley, Middleboro, and Oakham, Massa-
chusetts, and his Descendants, by Henry B. Wright, 36 pp. +
index, New Haven, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press, 1914.
JOHN FRENCH, Jr.,
OF
TAUNTON, BERKLEY, MIDDLEBORO,
AND
OAKHAM, MASSACHUSETTS,
AND
HIS DESCENDANTS
BY
HENRY B. WRIGHT
tf
cOAY-
OAKHAM HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
1Q14
, > >
1
1
■
>
1
*Chn
folk,
Authorities
/. M. French, M.D., "William French of Billerica," N. E. Hist. & Gen.
Reg., xliv (1890), 367-372.
Elizabeth French, "Genealogical Research in England — French," N. E.
Hist. & Gen. Reg., lxv (1911), 284-286.
Farmer, Register of the First Settlers of New England, 113.
Savage, Genealogical Register, ii, 205-208.
Pope, Pioneers of Massachusetts, 176.
Proprietors' Records of the Town of Cambridge, Mass., 109, 336.
Records of the Town and Selectmen of Cambridge, 29.
Paige, Hist, of Cambridge, Mass., 59, 254, 255, 257, 551, 552.
N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., iv (1850), 55-
Hazen, Hist, of Billerica, Mass., 13, 27, 66, no, 185.
Genealogical Register of Billerica, 54, 55, 56.
Plymouth Colony Records, viii, 228, 229.
Bristol Co. Reg. of Deeds, iii, 169, xiii, 267, xxvii, 128, xxxvii, 139, 140,
294, xlviii, 561.
Bristol Co. Prob. Records, i, 88, 125 =(N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., lxii
(1908), 345, lxiii (1909), 81).
MS. Records of the French Family of Taunton and Berkley, Mass., in the
possession of Miss Charlotte Crane, 41 Clinton St., Taunton, Mass.
Taunton Town Clerk's Records = (N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., xvii (1863),
36).
Emery, Hist, of Taunton, Mass., 93, 330, 353, 357, 397-
Sanford, Hist, of Berkley, Mass., 6, 53.
Middleboro Town Clerk's Records.
Weston, Hist, of Middleboro, Mass., 92, 93, 98.
Plymouth Co. Reg. of Deeds, lxiii, 253, 254, lxix, 22, 216, lxx, 266, lxxiii,
97, lxxvii, 65.
Massachusetts Spy, Sept. 10, 1794.
MS. Family Records and other Documents relative to the French Family
of Oakham, in the possession of Miss Mary A. French of North
Brookfield: (1) The Genealogy of John & Mercy French's Family;
(2) A Record of the Family of John & Hadon French, by either
Mary C. or Anna Smith French; (3) A Record of the Family of
Asa & Anna (Smith) French, by Ann Smith French; (4) A Family
Record of Lieut. Asa French and His Brother John and their
Families; (5) Lieut. Asa French's Statement in his Application for
a Pension, together with the Affidavits of John Boyd, John Forbes,
and William Caldwell; (6) Newspaper Obituary Notices; (7) Letter
of Asa L. French to Anson H. French, Jan. 27, 1877.
• • . - •••••* * * • . • • •
••2 • * J • ••• .*
<« «
, • *
Worcester Co. Reg. of Deeds, lviii, 511, cxxi, 98, cxxix, 442, clvi, 639,
clxxx, 243, cc, 217, cciv, 454.
Worcester Co. Prob. Records (John French), Oct. 4, 1823.
Wright, Soldiers of Oakham, 88, 89, 271-279.
Oakham Town and Vital Records.
Family Record of Samuel French of Craftsbury, Vt, copied by Fordyce
S. French, in the possession of Mrs. Mary A. Owen, Claremont, N. H.
Craftsbury Town Clerk's Records.
Bass, Hist, of Braintree, Vt., 162.
Letters of Miss Martha E. French, Lake Forest, 111. ; Mrs. Martha H.
Raymond, Westboro, Mass.; Mrs. Charles E. Vrooman, Washington,
D. C. ; Augustus F. French, Barton, Vt. ; Horace Graham, Crafts-
bury, Vt. ; Frank O. French, St. Johnsbury, Vt. ; A. P. Sessions,
Newport, Vt. ; Mrs. Mary A. Owen, Claremont, N. H. ; Fordyce R.
French, Rochester, N. Y. ; Benjamin N. Goodale, Saco, Me.; Miss
Anna F. Bell, Pittsford, Vt. ; Crighton B. French, Brooklyn, N. Y.;
Mrs. Frances F. Myler, Selby, So. Dak. ; Asa L. French, Tilton, N. H.
In the case of a conflict in dates between town and family records, the
former have generally been accepted as final. Where no town records
exist and the conflict is between two versions of the family record, the
more probable date is given first, the variations following in parenthesis.
/
Between the years 1635 and 1637, two brothers, William and John French, crossed
from Europe to America and settled in Cambridge, Mass. They may have come
from Halsted, Essex Co., England, but it has been proved that they were not the
sons of Thomas French of Stanstead Hall. William arrived in 1635, with Harlak-
enden and Shepard, on the ship Defence. How or when John came is not now
known, but his name does not occur on the list of proprietors of Cambridge in 1635,
as does that of his brother William. Two years later, however, in 1637, it is found
on Cambridge town records. Both William and John were tailors by occupation and
practised that trade in Cambridge for a number of years. John and his wife died
within a month of each other, in the year 1646, at Cambridge, leaving four —
possibly five — orphan children, who were brought up under the guardianship of
their father's brother William. When, about 1654, the latter removed with his own
large family to the settlement of Billerica, in the founding of which he had had a
prominent part, he took with him the orphan children of his brother John. To
these children the church in Cambridge had previously granted, on June 9, 1652,
thirty acres of land in the new settlement.
The family history of the first of these brothers, William French of Cambridge,
one of the founders of Billerica, has already been carefully traced and has been
printed in part. Much confusion exists, however, in genealogical publications, regard-
ing the descendants of William's brother John. Savage (Genealogical Register, ii,
207) states that John's son Joseph probably removed to Concord. Paige (Hist, of
Cambridge, 551) suggests that John's son Nathaniel died young. The fact that the
early records of Taunton, Mass., to which town Joseph — and probably Nathaniel — came
between 1670 and 1680, were destroyed by fire nearly three-quarters of a century ago,
has added much to the difficulties of identification. But the will of Joseph French of
Taunton, made in 1694, on file in the records of the Bristol County Probate Court,
with its explicit reference to the town of Billerica, and its mention of all his
sons born before 1680 with the same names and in the exact order in which they
occur in the Billerica vital records — save for omissions of children who died young —
establishes the fact that the French family of Taunton, Berkley, Middleboro and
Oakham is descended from John French of Cambridge, brother of William of
Cambridge, one of the founders of Billerica. This monograph attempts to trace
but a single line of the family of John French of Cambridge until John French, Jr.,
of Taunton is reached. The latter was born in Taunton in 1701, spent his manhood
in Berkley, passed his later life in Middleboro, and died in Oakham in 1794. He
had two sons, John, 3d, and Asa, both of whom established families in Oakham,
and died there. From them, all the Frenchs mentioned in this book subsequent to
John French, Jr., are descended.
Had it not been for the assistance of Mr. Ezra D. Batcheller of North Brookfield,
Mass., this monograph would probably never have been written. He guided the
writer to the spot where the key to the whole problem lay hidden. Without the
manuscript records in the possession of Miss Mary A. French of North Brookfield,
and of Miss Charlotte Crane of Taunton, the story of the descendants of John
French could not have been traced. Both have given generously of their time and
of facts which they alone possessed, at every stage of the work.
JOHN FRENCH, JR.,
OF
Taunton, Berkley, Middleboro, and Oakham,
Massachusetts, and his Descendants
(a) John French, Brother of William of Billerica, crossed to
America and settled in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1637, when he was
granted a house lot between the highway and Mr. Dampford's, is mentioned
on the church records in 1638-9 and 1640, and is on the list of proprietors
in Cambridge in 1642. He was a tailor by occupation and resided at what
is now the southeast corner of Holyoke and Mt. Auburn streets. Two
wives are mentioned: (1) Sarah; (2) Joanna. Children: 1. John, b.
about 1635.* 2. {Mary?, married Theophilus Richardson, May 2, 1654?).
3. Sarah, b. October, 1637, in Cambridge; married John Trull, Dec. 11,
1657. 4. Joseph, b. April 4, 1640, in Cambridge. 5. Nathaniel, b. June 7,
1643, in Cambridge.! Joanna French, the mother, died in January,
1645-6, and John French, the father, died within a month.t The children
were brought up in the family of their uncle< William, first in Cambridge
and later in Billerica. June 9, 1652, the church at Cambridge granted
30 acres of land in Billerica to "John French's children." In 1657 the
John French homestead in Cambridge was sold by William French,
administrator, to Robert Browne, "John French, son & heir of said John
French" joining in the sale.
(b) Joseph French of Billerica (John3-), the son of John and
Joanna French of Cambridge, born April 4, 1640, at Cambridge, was
brought up in the family of his uncle William, first at Cambridge
and later at Billerica. He married on Nov. 4, 1663, at Billerica,
Experience Foster, daughter of Sergeant Thomas and Elizabeth Foster.
He lived first on Golden More's lot, later east of the Woburn road
* Perhaps the John French who married Mary Palmer of Rehoboth, Nov. 27,
1678, had nine children, Hannah, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha, Samuel, Jonathan,
Thomas and Ephraim, and died Feb. 25, 1724-5 (Vital Records of Rehoboth, 611, 824).
t Perhaps the Nathaniel French who was in Taunton as early as 1675, obtained
a grant of land from Jonah Austin on Nov. 7, 1676, married Mary Tisdale, daughter
of John and Sarah (Walker) Tisdale of Taunton, Jan. 9, 1673-6, had two children,
Nathaniel, Jr., and Sarah, and died at Taunton, June 14. 171 1 (Plymouth Colony
Records, viii, 228, 229; Emery, Hist, of Taunton, 93; Bristol Co. Reg. of Deeds,
iii, 169).
t Joanna was buried Jan. 20, and John, Feb. 16.
—6—
near Sergeant Foster's house. Children, born at Billerica : i. Joseph,
March 25, 1667, died April 25, 1667. 2. Elizabeth, July 16, 1668; married
(as his second wife) James Phillips of Taunton, May 7, 1691, and
had eight children. 3. Joseph, Jr., March 7, 1669-70. 4. John, Jan. 30,
1671-2. 5. Nathaniel, May 6, 1674. 6. Thomas, Feb. 29, 1675-6; died
before 1680. 7. Sarah, April 6, 1677; died April 14,* 1677. 8. Jacob,
April 26, 1678. In 1664 Joseph French, the father, was one of the signers
of the address of the town of Billerica to the General Court, expressing
confidence in the Government. In 1675 he took an active part in King
Philip's War in Billerica, being assigned to assist in the defence of the
fortress at Sergeant Foster's against the Indians. Between 1678 and 1680
he removed to Taunton and purchased land there of Mary Evins and
Anna Macomber on March 12, 1681. His home was in that part of
South Taunton where Andrew Coville was living in 1898. He was a
member of the 4th Squadron of the 1st Military Company of Taunton
in i682.f Three more children were born at Taunton : 9. Thomas, Dec. 12,
1680; buried Dec. 29, 1680. 10. Ebeneser, June 27, 1682. n. (Jo) Nathan,
June 28, 1686. The name of Joseph French, Senior, occurs on the inspec-
tion return of Capt. Leonard's Taunton Co. in King William's War in
1691. He died in Taunton, between April 24 and July 3, 1694. His wife
Experience was living in Taunton on May 10, 1720.
(c) John French, Sr., of Taunton (Joseph,13 John1), third son of
Joseph and Experience (Foster) French of Billerica, was born Jan. 30,
1671-2, at Billerica. He came with his parents to Taunton between 1678
and 1680. His first wife's name was Elizabeth. Children, born at Taun-
ton : 1. Elisabeth, October, 1609. 2. John, Jr., May, 1701. 3. Experience,
September, 1705. 4. Silence, June, 1707. Mrs. Elizabeth French died
July 1, 1707, at Taunton. John French, Sr.'s, second wife's name was
Hannah. Children, born at Taunton: 5. Abigail, May 25, 1711. 6. Sam-
uel, Dec. 3, 1714. 7. Israel, July 21, 1717. 8. Hannah, June 19, 1720. 9.
Rachel, April 20, 1723. John French, Sr., was a farmer by occupation.
He served in King William's War in 1692 from Taunton. He was
a member of the 1st Military Company of Taunton in 1700 and in
1710. In 1735 the south part of Taunton, in which he was living, was
set off to form a part of the town of Berkley. He assisted in the forma-
tion of the Congregational Church at Berkley on Nov. 2, 1737, his name
together with that of his wife Hannah appearing on the earliest list of
members. His wife Hannah died Nov. 12, 1749, and he died Sept. 6,
1760, both at Berkley.
* Paige, Hist, of Cambridge, 552, says April 20.
t It is probable that the Nathaniel French who was one of the heads of families
in Taunton in 1675, and was in the 3d Squadron of the same military company in
1682, was his brother (Emery, Hist, of Taunton, 93, 330).
— 7—
i. John French, Jr., descendant in the fourth generation of
John French who settled in Cambridge in 1637, was born in
Taunton in May, 1701. He was the eldest son of John French,
Sr., and Elizabeth French of Taunton. His mother died when he
was six years of age and he was brought up by his father's sec-
ond wife, Hannah. On the last day of February, 1731-2 (prob-
ably shortly before his marriage), his father, John French, Sr.,
Husbandman, deeded to him — John French, Jr., Husbandman —
in consideration for "the Love, Good will and affection which
I have and do have toward my Loving Son, John" 39 acres of
land in South Taunton, bounded on the north by the land of
Benjamin Darling (formerly owned by James Phillips), on the
east and south by the land of George Caswell (formerly owned
by Benjamin Crane), and on the west by that of Malachy Hallo-
way. In 1735 this property became a part of the newly set-
off town of Berkley. John French, Jr., became a member of the
church in Berkley in 1738. He was Selectman in 1740. His
wife's name was Marcy.* Children :
i. Hopestill, b. Nov. 13, 1733, in Taunton ; married Rowland
Gaven, Intention, April 1, 1769, in Middleboro.
2. ii. John, 3D, b. Aug. 11, 1735, in Berkley.
iii. Mercy, b. Sept. 13, 1737, in Berkley; married Joseph Turner of
Middleboro, Oct. 5, 1757. Child : Joshua, b. Dec. 13, 1757, in
Middleboro; he was brought up from the age of six by his
uncle, Asa French.
3. iv. Asa, b. Oct. 28, 1740, in Berkley.
v. Azubah, b. Sept. 25, 1742, in Berkley; married Ebenezer Barden,
Intention, May 6, 1769, in Middleboro.
vi. Lydia, b. March 22, 1746-7, in Berkley.
vii. Rhode, b. Sept. 7, 1749, in Berkley; died young.
On Aug. 10, 1749, John French, Jr., sold 30 acres of the
farm which his father had given him nearly twenty years before,
to Bezaleel Thresher of Taunton, and on Sept. 5, 1749, the
remaining 10 acres to Nathaniel Townsend. It was then
described as bounded on the north by land of Nathaniel Town-
send and Widow Rebeccah Harvey, on the east and south by that
of Ebenezer Miricks, and on the west by that of Major Thomas
Gilbert. Shortly after he removed with his family to Middle-
So spelled in deeds.
—8—
boro,* where he lived till the year 1792, the latter part of the
time in the family of his son John, 3d. He was brought from
Middleboro to Oakham about 1792, when over 90 years of age,
by his son John, 3d, and lived there till his death, Aug. 5, 1794.
SECOND GENERATION
2. John, 3D, (John, Jr.1) was born in Berkley, Mass., Aug.
11, 1735, the son of John and Marcy French. He removed with
his father to Middleboro in 1750. He married Hayden Shaw of
Middleboro, July 24, 1766.! She was born Sept. 22, 1740.
Children :
i. Rhoda, b. Aug. 23, 1767, at Middleboro; married Benjamin
Green of Oakham, Intention, Nov. 22, 1793; a daughter
married a Methodist minister named Ruggles; d. Jan. 5, 1829,
aged 61.
ii. Hannah H., b. Aug. 19, 1769, at Middleboro; married (as his
second wife) Zenas Ripley of Oakham, Intention, June 23,
1805; d. June 12, 1847, aged 78.
iii. Betsey, b. Aug. 31, 1771, at Middleboro; married her cousin,
John French, 4th, of Oakham (son of Lieut. Asa), April
25, 1804 (for her children see p. 14) ; d. March 18 (11), 1855,
aged 84, in North Brookfield.
iv. Nancy, b. July 6, 1773, at Middleboro; married Woodward
Berry of Stockbridge, Vt, February, 1801 ; had two sons,
Joseph and Isaac; d. April 28, 1850.
4. v. Isaac, b. June 1, 1775, at Middleboro.
vi. Philena, b. March 5, 1777, at Middleboro; married Alvin Lyon
of Braintree, Vt. (son of Robert Lyon) on Jan. 20, 1807;
d. March 8, 1820, aged 43, in Braintree.
vii. Abigail (Nabby), b. March 6, 1779, in Middleboro; married
Arunah Gilbert of Stockbridge, Vt., Jan. 29, 1800; had ten
*A son Thomas may have been born in Middleboro in 1751. An unidentified
Thomas French died in Oakham in 1825, aged 74 (Oakham V. R., 120). The
Middleboro records are singularly silent regarding the French family. Nine of
John French, 3d's, children must have been born there, and his wife certainly
died there in 1787, but there are no entries in the town vital statistics to confirm
these dates which are found in the family records (see Appendix).
t An error in transcribing the Middleboro records has led some editors to assume
that John French, 3d, was married twice, (1) to Lydia Shaw, on July 24, 1764;
(2) to Hayden Shaw, April 5, 1766. The correct reading is: married Hayden
Shaw, July 24, 1766, intention announced April 5, 1766. The somewhat unusual
name Hayden was incorrectly transcribed Lydia.
—9—
sons, John French, Linus Shaw, Franklin Emerson, Lyman
Washburn, Alvah Lyon, Joseph Dennison, Isaac Barnes, Ira
Washington, and two who died young; they lived in Mem-
phis and Manchester, Mich., and in Cornish, N. Y. Mrs.
Abigail Gilbert died Oct. 31, 1862, aged 83.
viii. Sarah, b. May 25, 1781, in Middleboro; d. in Middleboro, Nov.
4 (9), 1/83-
ix. Sarah Eaton, b. July 9, 1785, in Middleboro; married Alvin
Lyon of Braintree, Vt. (former husband of her sister
Philena), Feb. 11, 1821 ; d. Oct. 19, 1873, aged 88, in Braintree.
On July 11, 1771, John French, 3d, bought of Uriah Samson
of Middleboro, 40 acres of land bordering on Assawompsett
Pond, near John Roberson's. On May 6, 1784, he purchased 30
more acres in Middleboro from Rowland Hammond of Plymp-
ton, land which was formerly the property of Capt. Ichabod
Southworth.
John French, 3d, served in the Revolutionary War as a pri-
vate, from the towns of Berkley and Middleboro, in probably
eight campaigns:* (1) in November, 1776, in Capt. Joshua
Wilbore's Co., Col. Ebenezer Francis' Regt. ; (2) from Dec.
8, 1776, 12 days on a Rhode Island alarm, in Capt. Joseph Burt's
Co., Col. Edward Pope's (Bristol Co.) Regt.; (3) from Oct.
2, 1777, 29 days on a secret expedition to Rhode Island, in Capt.
James Briggs' Co., Col. Freeman's Regt. ; (4) from Jan. 10,
1778, 2 months 23 days in Rhode Island, in Capt. James Nickols'
(Berkley) Co., of Col. John Daggett's Regt; (5) May 6-9,
1778, on an alarm at Dartmouth, in Capt. John Barrows' Co., Col.
Ebenezer Sprout's Regt.; (6) Aug. 25-Sept. 1, 1778, 9 days in
Rhode Island, in Capt. Ebenezer Paull's Co., Col. John Daggett's
Regt.; (7) Sept. 6-12, 1778, on an alarm at Dartmouth, in Capt.
John Barrows' Co., Col. Ebenezer Sprout's Regt. ; (8) on the
Rhode Island alarm of Aug. 1, 1780, 9 days in Capt. Abner
Bourn's Co., Col. Ebenezer White's Regt.
Mrs. Hayden (Shaw) French died in Middleboro, July 18,
1787, aged 47. John French, 3d, was living in Middleboro in
1790, according to the United States Census of that year, with one
male over 16 years of age, one male under 16, and six females
Mass. Soldiers and Sailors in the Rev. War, vi, 75 (15), 77 (5). 78 (3)-
in his family, besides himself. He removed to Oakham after
Sept. 10, 1792, when he acknowledged a deed in Middleboro,
and before Nov. 22, 1793, when his oldest daughter was mar-
ried to Benjamin Green of Oakham. He was married a second
time to Patty Fitch of New Braintree, Intention, March 26, 1797.
She was born July 25, 1750, and died July 2, 1836, aged 85, at
Oakham. On Nov. 8, 1791, he had already purchased of Rob-
ert and James Forbes of Oakham a part of the Widow Ruth
Forbes farm. In 1797 he bought the William Batt farm of 10
acres and in the next year 25 acres of the John Powers home-
stead. On Oct. 11, 1809, he sold his farm of 137 acres to his
son Isaac and shortly afterward removed to Stockbridge, Vt.*
He returned to Oakham and purchased the Thomas Conant place
on Dec. 6, 1816. John French, 3d, died at Oakham, Sept. 11,
1823.
3. (Lieut.) Asa (John, Jr.1) was born in Berkley, Mass.,
Oct. 28, 1740, the son of John and Marcy French. He removed
with his father to Middleboro in 1750. He served in the French
and Indian War as a private, in Capt. Benjamin Pratt's Co.,
which was raised in Middleboro and which was engaged in the
campaign in and about Fort Henry in the summer of 1757. He
was then 17 years of age. About the year 1764, at his sister
Mercy's request, he took his nephew, Joshua Turner, to bring
up till the latter should be of age. He married Anne (or Susan-
nah) Smith of Middleboro, Oct. 24, 1765. She was born Sept.
29, 1745 (Aug. 21, 1736, Nov. 28, 1737), in Middleboro, and died
April 6, 1802, in Oakham. Her ancestors, five generations back,
came over from England in the Fortune, the ship that followed
the Mayflower in the following June. Sept. 6, 1768, he pur-
chased of Jonathan Bullard of Oakham, for £60, 143 acres of
land in the northerly part of Lot No. 19 in Oakham, Mass., on
which he lived till his death. The place was later known as the
Charles Clark place. He removed from Middleboro to Oak-
ham with his family in 1769. Children:
* In Bass, Hist, of Braintree, Vt., 162, where reference is made to the marriage
of his daughter Philena to Alvin Lyon, he is spoken of as John French of Stock-
bridge, Vt., formerly from Massachusetts.
— II —
5. i. Samuel, b. Oct. 3, 1766, in Middleboro.
ii. Susanna, b. Feb. 22 (23), 1769, in Oakham; married (as his
second wife) Samuel Brewer of Spencer, April 5, 1810, who
was born Feb. 13, 1758, and died July 23, 1840. Child : Samuel
Snow, bapt. May 14, 1815. Mrs. Susanna Brewer died Sept.
20 (4), 1850, aged 81.
6. iii. John, 4TH, b. Dec. 16, 1771 (1772), in Oakham.
iv. Bathsheba, b. Feb. 17, 1774, in Oakham; married (1) (as his
second wife) Philo Sanford of Medway, April 28, 1835; he
died in September, 1835. She married (2) Daniel Moulton of
Spencer, July 28, 1836. She died in West Brookfield, July 28,
1869, aged 95 yrs. 5 mos. ir days.
7. v. Asa, Jr., b. March 17, 1777, in Oakham.
When Captarh Crawford of Oakham called for soldiers after
the Lexington alarm at the end of April, 1775, Asa French
equipped and sent his nephew, Joshua Turner, in his own place.
The latter served eight months, from May 2 to December, 1775,
in Capt. Hazeltine's Co., Col. Fellows' Regt. He then reen-
listed for one month more in Capt. Barnes' Co., Col. Ward's
Regt.
Asa French was elected Second Lieutenant of the 8th (Oak-
ham) Company when the Fourth Worcester* County Regiment
of Massachusetts Militia was organized at Brookfield, May 14,
1776. His commission was dated May 31, 1776.
He was sent with a detachment of 10 men from Oakham to
Dobb's Ferry, Tarrytown and North Castle, N. Y., in Capt.
Abner How's Co., Col. James Converse's Regt., in 1776; term
of service, Sept. 19-Nov. 16. He was made Second Lieuten-
ant of the Company, and when Capt. How and First Lieut.
Joseph Packard both left for home on account of illness, the
command of the Company devolved upon him. The Company
was discharged at White Plains on Nov. 16, and the pay-roll
is signed by him as Commandant.*
In September, 1777, during the absence of Capt. Crawford
from Oakham on military service, he and Lieut. Bothwell raised
a company of between 10 and 20 volunteers from the town to
reinforce General Gates at the Northward in anticipation of the
invasion of General Burgoyne. They joined Capt. Cutler's Com-
Wright, Soldiers of Oakham, 274, 275, 276.
12
pany of Col. Stone's Regt. and General Fellows' Brigade, serv-
ing from Sept, 14 to Oct. 18 (32 days). The company marched
to Bennington on what was known as the Stillwater campaign.
Lieut. French served as Sergeant on this occasion. The com-
pany was discharged at Fort Edward.
Oct. 15, 1779, Capt. Crawford, Lieut. Bothwell and Lieut. Asa
French, who had already served the Oakham company as offi-
cers more than three years, asked the town to relieve them from
further service. This request the town at first granted, but on
Oct. 25 reconsidered its action and asked the three to remain.
They were prevailed upon to do so, and continued in office till
the close of the war. Asa French taught in the schools of Oak-
ham. He was Selectman of Oakham five different years, in
1777, 1782, 1783, 1786, and 1797. In 1786 he subscribed £4
toward building a house for Father Tomlinson, to be paid in
boards, braces, etc.
After the death of his first wife in 1802, he married Thank-
full (Bangs) Thrasher, originally of New Salem (widow of
William Thrasher of New Braintree), Intention, Sept. II, 1803.
She died Feb. 18, 1806, in Oakham. He was again married to
Abigail Stone* of Oakham, Intention, Oct. 5, 1806. She was
born in July, 1750, and died July 4, 1825. Lieut. Asa French
died at Oakham, Dec. 3, 1832, aged 92.
THIRD GENERATION
4. Isaac (John, 3d,2 John, Jr.1) was born in Middleboro,
June 1, 1775, the son of John and Hay den (Shaw) French. He
removed with his father to Oakham soon after 1792. He mar-
ried Catherine Davis of Oakham, Jan. 14, 1809 (1808). She
was born Feb. 25, 1786, daughter of Deacon Samuel and Kath-
erine (Smith) Davis. After the death of her husband in 1826,
Catherine (Davis) French lived in Oakham until Dec. 26, 1850;
when she was married a second time (as his third wife) to Enoch
Goodale of Saco, Me. She died Jan. 21, 1858, at Saco, Me.,
aged 72 years. Children:
Two family records read Abigail Stone Williams.
—13—
i. and ii. Twins (unnamed), died a few days after birth, 1808.
8. iii. Charles, b. Feb. 3, 181 1, at Oakham.
iv. Nancy Davis, b. Aug. 10, 1813, at Oakham; married Samuel G.
Henry, Dec. 14, 1836, who was born in Oakham, Feb. 14, 1813,
was a pharmacist of Westboro, and died there April 17, 1877.
Children, all born in Oakham: 1. Martha Elizabeth, Dec. 30,
1837, married George H. Raymond of Westboro, Nov. 2, 1864,
who died in Grand Rapids, Mich., April 26, 1904; no children;
Mrs. Raymond resides in Westboro. 2. Ellen Maria, June 17,
1841, married William R. Warner of Westboro, May 1, 1865,
and had two children, Charles Henry and George Menzies ;
Mrs. Warner resides at 764 Rock St., Fall River. 3. Charles
Samuel, July 2, 1844, unmarried, lives in Westboro. 4. Mary
Catherine, Sept. 30, 1847, a teacher, unmarried, lives in West-
boro. 5. Frank French, Nov. 5, 1853, died March 13, 1854.
Mrs. Nancy Davis Henry died Nov. 13, 1853, aged 40.
9. v. Edwin, b. June 18, 1817, at Oakham.
vi. Caroline Denny, b. Aug. 17, 1819, at Oakham ; d. April 20, 1820,
at Oakham.
vii. Catherine Davis, b. Aug. 17, 1819, at Oakham; d. Dec. 28, 1840,
at Oakham, of consumption. She was regarded by many as
the most beautiful girl of her day in Oakham.
Isaac French lived on the Cheney Adams place. He was
Selectman in 1805, 1806, 181 1 and 1812, Treasurer of the town
1811-1822 inclusive, and was on the committee to circulate the
memorial for peace in 1812.
Isaac French died at Oakham, Oct. 4, 1826, aged 51.
5. (Col.) Samuel (Lieut. Asa,2 John, Jr.1) was born Oct.
3, 1766, in Middleboro, the son of Lieut. Asa and Anne (Smith)
French. He came with his father to Oakham in 1769. He mar-
ried Polly Ruggles, July 17, 1795, daughter of Timothy Rug-
gles of Hardwick, Mass. (later of Cambridge, N. Y.),* and
granddaughter of Edward and Lucy (Spooner) Ruggles of
Hardwick, in whose family she was brought up. She was born
Dec. 11, 1769 (1770), and died Oct. 19, 1844, aged 75. Children:
* She must have been the daughter of a first wife, whose name is not now
known, according to the testimony of her cousin Anson taken in the year 1871 by
her son Fordyce S. French. No mention of a former wife occurs in the Spooner
Genealogy, where the history of the Ruggles family is given at length, neither is
Polly Ruggles mentioned as a daughter of Timothy Ruggles (Records of William
Spooner of Plymouth, 1, 236).
—14—
io. i. Lyndon Smith, b. Sept. 17, 1706, in Oakham.
11. ii. Alvah Ruggles, b. April 7, 1798, in Craftsbury.
iii. Mary Spooner, b. April 6, 1800, in Craftsbury; d. July 9, 1808,
in Craftsbury.
iv. Anna Adeline, b. April 7, 1802, in Craftsbury; d. July 27, 1825,
in Craftsbury.
12. v. Asa Leander, b. Oct. 4, 1804, in Craftsbury.
13. vi. Samuel Franklin, b. Jan. 27, 1807, in Craftsbury.
14. vii. Fordyce Spooner, b. Jan. 3, 1810, in Craftsbury.
15. viii. Crighton Brewer, b. Sept. 8, 1812, in Craftsbury.
Samuel French removed with his family to Craftsbury, Vt.,
about 1796. He was one of the early settlers in Orleans County,
only one other township having been previously started. He
aided in the settlement of a Congregational minister in 1797,
and in the building of the church at a later date. He joined the
church under the ministry of Rev. Wm. A. Chapin.
Col. Samuel French died in Craftsbury, Sept. 28, 1854, aged
88, as the result of a paralytic shock.
6. John, 4TH, (Lieut. Asa,2 John, Jr.1) was born Dec. 16,
1771 (1772), in Oakham, the son of Lieut. Asa and Anne (Smith)
French. He married his cousin, Betsey French of Oakham,
April 25, 1804. She was born Aug. 31, 1771, in Middleboro,
daughter of John, 3d, and Hayden (Shaw) French. When a
baby she was taken by her parents on a journey on horseback.
Riding on a pillion with her mother she exposed one of her feet,
which was badly frostbitten. Although always lame she cared
for her home and from the amount of linen in the possession of
her descendants must have done her share of spinning and weav-
ing. She was a tailoress by trade and was a familiar figure
going the rounds of her customers on horseback with her tailor's
"goose." She died in North Brookfield, March 18 (n), 1855,
aged 84. Children:
i. Ann Smith, b. April 22, 1806, in Oakham; d. Sept. 21, 1887, at
West Brookfield, from the results of a broken hip.
ii. Erastus Shaw, b. Jan. 7, 1808, in Oakham; d. Sept. 7 (11), 1812,
in Oakham.
iii. Mary Caldwell, b. May 4, 1810, in Oakham ; d. May 13, 1896, at
North Brookfield.
16. iv. Anson Hadon, b. Aug. 6, 1813, in Oakham.
JOHN, 4TH, AND BETSEY FRENCH
LYNDON S. FRENCH
b. Sept. 17, 1796, in Oakham
CHARLES FRENCH
b. Feb. 3, 1811, in Oakham
ANSON II. FRENCH
b. Aug. 6, 1S13, in Oakham
EDWIN FRENCH
b. June 17, 1817, in Oakham
—i5—
John French, 4th, was Selectman of Oakham in 1813, 181 5,
1816, 1819 and 1820. He purchased 3 acres 94 rods of land of
his father on April 9, 1806, and on Jan. 26, 1816, added 64 acres
more. He lived on the Charles Clark place in Oakham, but
removed to West Brookfield in 1833, and later to North Brook-
field. He died in North Brookfield, Dec. 23 (25), 1854, aged 82.
7. Asa, Jr., (Lieut. Asa,2 John, Jr.1) was born in Oakham,
March 17, 1777, the son of Lieut. Asa and Anne (Smith) French.
He married Hannah Brimhall of Oakham, Intention, Nov. 9, 1801.
She was born June 6, 1780 (1779), probably daughter of Sam-
uel and Eunice (Humphrey) Brimhall, and sister of Jonas
Brimhall. She died Dec. 20, 1864, aged 84. Children:
17. i. (Capt.) Freeman, b. June 5, 1805, in Oakham.
ii. Eliza, b. May 1, 1807, in Oakham; married Horace Bellows,
Dec. 27, 1825, who was born Dec. 2, 1801, in West Boylston,
and died in Worcester, July II, 1884, a jeweler by trade.
Children: 1. Alvah H., b. in Oakham, Oct. 25, 1826; d. Sept.
20, 1828. 2. Maria W ., b. in North Brookfield, Aug. 28, 1832;
m. Sept. 2, 1856, to Otis H. Blood of Worcester.
18. iii. Cyrus, b. Oct. 15, 1809, in Oakham.
iv. (Infant child), b. Sept. 1, 1812; d. Sept. 5, 1812, in Oakham.
Asa French, Jr., was in partnership with Samuel Hunt in 1824.
He died May 3 (5), 1851 (1854).
FOURTH GENERATION
8. Charles (Isaac,3 John, 3d,2 John Jr.1) was born in Oak-
ham, Feb. 3, 181 1, the son of Isaac and Catherine (Davis)
French. He taught school as a young man in the West Brick
school-house in Oakham. He joined the Oakham church April
30, 1832. Planning to study for the ministry, he attended Phil-
lips Academy, Andover, during the year 1834, but then went west
because of a weak throat. He took up land in Memphis, Scot-
land County, Missouri, and transferred his church member-
ship there from Oakham, March 6, 1842. In spite of his strong
anti-slavery convictions, he remained in Missouri until after the
death of his first wife in 1850. He then came east to Memphis,
Michigan, making the journey as far as Detroit with his three
— 16—
surviving daughters, all under eight years of age, in a "Prairie
Schooner." For three years he was a merchant at Memphis, and
then removed in 1853 to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a lumber
merchant till his death. He married (1) Mary Ann Braken-
ridge of Ware, Mass., on Oct. 16, 1839. She was born March
24, 1816, daughter of William Sinclair and Anna (Cummings)
Brakenridge.* She died at Memphis, Mo., May 11, 1850, and
Mr. French married (2) Elizabeth Whitcomb Sherman, prob-
ably of Ware, Mass., on Nov. 18, 1850. She was born in 1827,
and was a cousin of William Brakenridge's wife. She died Dec.
18, 1855, at Cleveland, Ohio, aged 28 years. Mr. French mar-
ried (3) Ann A. Parker, on Aug. 3, 1856. She was a Michigan
school-teacher. Children :
i. Ann Maria, b. Aug. 6, 1840, at Memphis, Mo.; d. Sept. 4, 1840,
at Memphis, Mo.
ii. Catherine Davis, b. Oct. 14, 1841, at Memphis, Mo.; d. June 5.
i860, at Cleveland, Ohio,
iii. Lucy Ann Brakenridge, b. Sept. 27, 1843, at Memphis, Mo. ;
d. April 10, 1884, at Cleveland, Ohio,
iv. Martha Ellen, b. May 28, 1846, at Memphis, Mo.; A.B.
Oberlin 1870; M.A. 1875; studied two years in Germany;
taught for thirteen years as Lady Principal in western coedu-
cational schools; from 1879 to 1881 she was Instructor in
Mathematics at Smith College. She resides at Lake Forest,
111.
v. Mary Esther, b. Nov. 29, 1847, at Memphis, Mo.; d. July 17,
1848, at Memphis, Mo.
vi. Mary Elizabeth, b. July 4, 1852, at Memphis, Mich. ; d. Oct. 3,
1854, at Cleveland, Ohio,
vii. Clara Parker, b. Dec. 1, 1857, at Cleveland, Ohio; d. June 2,
1858, at Cleveland, Ohio,
viii. Charles Edwin, b. May 2, 1859, at Cleveland, Ohio; attended
Amherst one year and University of Michigan one year;
went into the general insurance business; married Mary
Nevins ; they have no children. He resides at 620 Kent
Place, Toledo, Ohio,
ix. Anna Coates, b. Oct. 7, 1861, at Cleveland, Ohio; d. June II,
1863, at Cleveland, Ohio.
Charles French held local and civic offices and was a member
of the Board of Education in Cleveland, Ohio. He contributed
* Temple, Hist, of Palmer, Mass., 416.
five thousand dollars toward the erection of a two-story brick
building on the west side of the Oberlin College campus near
the south end, which was named French Hall in his honor. This
building, begun in 1867, was completed in 1868. He was Dea-
con in the First Congregational Church of Cleveland and leader
of a large Bible Class, which had a portrait of him painted and
hung in the class-room, where it is still in place. He was not
rich, yet he left one-sixth of his estate to religious and edu-
cational objects. Though bound by the strict Puritanic code of
his day, he was genial, abounding in tact and anecdotes, and used
even with his Southern neighbors a freedom in speaking of slav-
ery not often allowed. When one of them complained of his
inability to get on, he compared notes to show that with no other
advantage than lack of slaves he had been able to make money.
He had lung trouble before he left Oakham for the West, and
while recovering from this he developed other troubles which
wore upon him till his death. He died in Cleveland, Ohio, July
16, 1866, aged 55 years.
9. Edwin (Isaac,3 John, 3d,- John, Jr.1) was born in Oak-
ham, Mass., June 18, 1817, the son of Isaac and Catherine
(Davis) French. He went West with his brother Charles before
1838, first to St. Louis, Mo., then to St. Joe, from there to
Sand Hill in Scotland County, where he embarked as a young
man in general merchandise and remained for several years, after
which he removed to Schuyler County. In 1844 he laid out the
town of Tippecanoe, and carried on a general country store.
From there he went to California and remained two years. He
crossed the plains with ox-teams and returned via the Horn.
After he came back from California, he laid out the town of
Lancaster, Schuyler County, Mo. There he remained all the rest
of his' days, with the exception of a temporary residence in Cal-
ifornia and Colorado, for his health, in the seventies. He mar-
ried Esther Hathaway in Schuyler County, Mo., in 1843. She
was the daughter of Josiah and Julia (Dean) Hathaway and was
born in Vermont, July 15, 1822. Children:
i. Charles Henry, b. Jan. 20. 1845; served in the Union Army
from 1862 to 1865; married Mary J. Farris at Lancaster on
Oct. 13, 1867 ; engaged in the mercantile business with his
— 18—
father for many years, later in the banking business; d. at
St. Joe, Mo., Aug. 14, 1913.
ii. Wilbur Dwight, b. Jan. 27, 1847; served in the Union Army
from 1863 to 1865; married Mary Rhodes at Lancaster, Jan.
1, 1871 ; removed to Colorado, where he engaged in stock-
raising; d. Dec. 29, 1888.
iii. Agnes M., b. Aug. 22, 1849; married William S. Leedom, Dec. 8,
1867; resides at Lancaster,
iv. Julia Catherine, b. Nov. 8, 1853 ; married Charles E. Vrooman,
Chief Clerk in the Solicitor's Office, Washington, D. C, on
Nov. 27, 1873; resides at 1123 Euclid St., N. W., Washington.
v. Edwin Lewis, b. Jan. 11, 1856; a lawyer; married Bell Justice
at Keokuk, Iowa, May 16, 1883; resides at Lancaster, Mo.
vi. Alexander Campbell, b. Sept. 3, 1858; d. Feb. 8, i860, at
Lancaster,
vii. Mary Ella, b. June 12, 1861 ; d. April 12, 1862, at Lancaster.
"Edwin French was the first representative of Schuyler County
in the Missouri Legislature in the fifties. During his more than
forty years' residence in Schuyler County he held the offices of
Representative, Clerk of the County, County Treasurer, Presi-
dent of the Schuyler County National Bank, of the Agricultural
Society, Mayor of his town, and was repeatedly summoned by
the courts in a fiduciary capacity. He was a man of fine phy-
sique, large brain, great intellectuality, of the Websterian mould.
His advice was constantly sought by his fellow citizens in the
community in which he lived, in finance, business, politics, com-
mercial transactions, and religion. He was a consecrated church-
man, holding the office of Bishop in the Christian Church for
more than 40 years. He was loyal to his country, to his domestic
relations, and to his God. During the conflict between the States
his devotion to his country was exceptional ; on several occasions
he had been condemned to death — but the Lord in whom he
trusted willed otherwise. Ever and always he was the first
citizen of his county, honored by the courts, esteemed by his
fellow citizens, admired by the younger generation, and revered
by the clergy and church, to whom and to which he imparted
much usefulness, helpfulness and grace during the many years
of his long and spiritual service in his Master's vineyard. Never
a flaw in his character, never a suspicion of wrong-doing, never
a breath of scandal marred his godly and useful life. Wonder-
—i9—
ful in his perceptive faculties, marvelous in his wisdom, thorough
in his judgment — he completed a well-rounded and magnificent
career. He passed peacefully and quietly away on a beautiful
June morning, as he had lived — honored, loved, and esteemed,
the 'noblest Roman of them all,' and had his life been spent
in a broader sphere, under different environments, easily would
he have been a 'Great Commoner.'
'Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear,
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.' '
Edwin French died in Lancaster, June 15, 1893. Mrs. Esther
(Hathaway) French died, also at Lancaster, on Sept. 30, 1903.
"In her lifetime she was much loved and revered by all who knew
her, for her sweetness and simplicity of character, strong relig-
ious convictions, nobility of wifehood and motherhood, ever
patient, calm and companionable; a woman of no ordinary
intellect, much acquired knowledge, and when she became the
wife of Edwin French was a teacher of repute — taught the first
school in the county. When her Lord and Master called, her
soul passed peacefully and calmly to the Great Beyond to join
that company John saw and which no man could number."
10. (Rev.) Lyndon Smith (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John,
Jr.1) was born Sept. 17, 1796, in Oakham, Mass., the son of
Col. Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Sometime after 1796
his father removed with his family from Oakham to Craftsbury,
Vt. He lived with his father till he was 20 years old, when he
learned the cabinet maker's trade in the family of Dea. Farn-
ham of Hardwick, Vt. From 1821 to 1828 he lived in Crafts-
bury, later in Cabot Lower Village. He entered the ministry and
preached successively in Moretown, Duxbury, Fayston, Warren,
Coventry, and Franklin (1845-1861). He married Annie E.
Farnham of Hardwick, Vt., on March 26, 1820. She was born
July 3, 1799, daughter of Dea. Aaron and Florella (Strong)
Farnham of Hardwick. She died June 21, 1881, aged 82, in
Franklin, Vt. Children:
20
i. Samuel Farnham, b. Jan. 17, 1822, at Craftsbury; served as
private in Co. B, 1st Vt. Cavalry, from Sept. 16, 1861, to
Nov. 18, 1864; promoted to Corporal; a mechanic and
farmer; married twice, first to Nancy E. Emerson of Salem,
Mass., name and date of second marriage unknown; had
four children by second marriage, Evelyn, David, Myrtle,
Clyde; all reside at or near Canon City, Colo. He died at
Canon City, Feb. 2, 1912.
ii. Evelyn French, b. May 14, 1824, at Craftsbury; a manu-
facturer of patent sewing machine cases and built-up tables
in New York City; married Elizabeth H. Brown, Dec. 19,
1854; no children. He died April 3, 1888, in New York City.
iii. Alvah (J.),* b. May 14, 1824, at Craftsbury; an unassigned
recruit in the Civil War from June 3-18, 1862; a furniture
dealer; married (1) Lucy Abell, May 30, 1855, (2) Lucy
Bell. Children by his first wife: 1. Freddie, died in infancy.
2. Frank Chester, b. May 7, 1858 ; married Monona Howell ;
has one son Chester; lives in New Rochelle, N. Y. Alvah
J. French died Sept. 19, 1882, at Franklin, Vt.
iv. Adaline, b. Feb. 9, 1826, in Craftsbury, Vt. ; an artist ; married
Rev. L. H. Stone, June 30, 1869; no children. She died May
28, 1907, at Castleton, Vt.
v. Augustus Fordyce, b. Feb. 7, 1828, at Cabot, Vt. ; served as
musician in Co. F, 15th Vt. Infantry, from Sept. 16, 1862, to
Aug. 5, 1863; a farmer; married (1) Hannah Jane Sawyer,
(2) Martha Sawyer, sisters. Children by his first wife:
1. Horatio Lyndon, b. Jan. 4, 1856. 2. Evelyn Frank, b. Dec.
17, 1859. 3- Julia Hariat, b. June 9, 1864. 4. Augustus
Fordyce, b. Oct. 27, 1872. 5. Albert Eugene, b. Aug. 6, 1875;
d. in infancy. He resides in Barton, Vt. His son, Horatio
L., married Sarah Ann Thorn Ireland and resides at 1235
Iranistan Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. Children : (a) Courtney
Augustus, b. Dec. 2, d. Dec. 24, 1880. (b) Walter Evelyn,
b. Nov. 22, 1882. (c) Horatio James, b. Feb. 19, 1886. (d)
Arthur Raymond, b. June 27, 1888. (e) Lillian Margaret, b.
March 13, 1893.
vi. Emily, b. March 5, 1830, at Cabot, Vt. ; married Allen Barr
Cutler, a farmer of Highgate, Vt., Jan. 8, 1851. Children,
born at Highgate: 1. Elizabeth Catherine, Oct. 30, 1851.
2. Alary Emily, March 19, 1853. 3. Alice Maria, Feb. 16, 1855.
4. Adaline Bell, Sept. 17, 1858. 5. Lucy Allen, Aug. II, 1864.
Mrs. Cutler resides at Highgate.
vii. Aaron, b. April 7, 1832, at Cabot, Vt. ; Second Lieutenant in the
3d Vt. Battery, service from Sept. 21, 1863, to Oct. 10, 1864; a
The initial / was adopted merely for identification.
21
mechanic; married (i) Mary Waite and had four children,
Lyndon, Scott, Inez, and Minnie; (2) Jennie Porter on
Dec. 17, 1872, and had two children, Gertrude, b. Nov. 12,
1873, married D. W. Welton, March 28, 1902, and Frances,
b. Feb. 26, 1880, married W. B. Myler, March 12, 1902; both
live in Selby, So. Dakota. Aaron French died Dec. 8, 1901,
in Dennison, Iowa.
viii. Katherine, b. Jan. 26, 1835, in Fayston, Vt. ; married Henry
Hall Bell of Franklin, Vt., May 5, 1857, who was a Com-
missary in the 7th Vt. Volunteer Regiment, and afterwards a
merchant. Child: Anna Florella, b. Nov. 4, 1861, a school-
teacher in Pittsford, Vt. Mrs. Bell resides in Pittsford.
ix. John, b. June 6, 1839, at Coventry, Vt. ; served in the Navy on
the "U. S. Wachusett" in the Civil War, from January to
April, 1865; a mechanic; married Anna Buffington. Chil-
dren: 1. Harry Buffington, b. Jan. 11, 1868. 2. Winifred
Farnham, b. June 20. 1869. 3. Lynward, b. April 14, 1872;
d. Aug. 9, 1898, in Cuba in the Spanish War, a member of
Co. F. Naval Brigade, M. V. M. on the "U. S. Prairie." 4-
Sara, b. June 6, 1876. John French's address is unknown.
His two oldest children reside in Fall River, Mass.
x. Henry Dwight, b. Feb. 11, 1842, at Coventry, Vt. ; served in
Co. F, 2d Regt. Mass. Volunteers, from May 25, 1861, to
May 28, 1864; was wounded by a cross-fire in both shoulder-
blades while in service; a mechanic; unmarried; d. Oct. 12,
1891, at Highgate, Vt.
xi. Crighton Brewer, b. Oct. 20, 1844, at Coventry, Vt. ; served as
musician in Co. C, 5th Vt. Infantry, from Aug. 21, 1861, to
June 29, 1865; a manufacturer; married Bessie M. Lambkin,
daughter of Howard and Katherine Lambkin, on Jan. 16,
1868. She was born April 17, 1846. Children : 1. Jessie Bell,
b. Dec. 24, 1868. 2. Charles Marshall, b. June 27, 1870. 3.
Lillian Lee, b. Nov. 16, 1871 ; d. Sept. 16, 1873. 4. Frederick
Lambkin, b. Dec. 2, 1873; d. April 2, 1896. 5. Edith Elizabeth,
b. June 28, 1886; d. March 29, 1911. C. B. French resides at
1 1 17 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. He is president of the
C. B. French Cabinet Co. (Incorporated). 401 Flushing Ave.,
Brooklyn. His son, Charles M., married Ida Haring on June
12, 1897, and has two sons, (a) Robert Marshall, b. Dec. 17,
1897, and (b) Crighton Brewer, b. Jan. 30, 1902.
Six sons of Lyndon S. French served in the Union Army in
the War of the Rebellion, their united terms of service aggregat-
ing twelve years. On July 4, 1879, the entire family, father
aged 83, mother aged 80, and the eight sons and three daughters
22
with their families, met together at Franklin, Vt. Rev. Lyndon
S. French died in Franklin, Vt., July 10, 1879, aged 83 years.
Rev. W. C. Smith, D.D., of St. Albans, Vt, said of him: "Lyn-
don S. French is an encyclopedia of religious knowledge, and a
system of unimpeachable theology."
11. (Judge) Alvah Ruggles (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2
John, Jr.1) was born April 7, 1798, in Craftsbury, second son
of Col. Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Sometime after
1796 Alvah's father removed with his family from Oakham to
Craftsbury, Vt., where he was born and where he spent his life
as a cabinet maker. He married Amelia Maria Curtis. She was
born at Hanover, N. H., June 6, 1806, and died Sept. 22, 1843,
aged 37 years 3 months 15 days. Children:
i. Henry D., b. June 22, 1839, in Craftsbury; d. July 19, 1842, in
Craftsbury, aged 3 yrs. 27 days,
ii. Solomon A., b. in Craftsbury, Aug. 11, 1843; d. Nov. 17, 1862,
aged 19 yrs. 3 mos. 6 days.
Alvah R. French died in Craftsbury, Vt., Aug. 9, 1876. He
left no children, and this branch of the French family became
extinct with him.
12. (Judge) Asa Leander (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John,
Jr.1) was born Oct. 4, 1804, in Craftsbury, Vt., the son of Col.
Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Sometime after 1796
Asa's father removed with his family from Oakham to Crafts-
bury, Vt., where he was born and grew up. He later removed
to St. Johnsbury, Vt., and was at first a carriage maker. Then
he became Judge of Probate for Caledonia County, Vt., which
office he held for more than 30 years. He married Laura Wright
on Oct. 14, 1828. She was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1807, and
was the daughter of Dr. Ashbel Wright. She died in St. Johns-
bury on March 21, 1879. Children:
i. Henry, b. Aug. 19, 1829; married on Aug. 2, 1859, Sarah W.
Baker, daughter of Oliver and Elvira (Eastman) Baker, who
was born Feb. 2, 1836, and died Jan. 7, 1914. Henry French
was for many years Registrar of Probate and, in the last years
of his life, was Treasurer of Carrick Bros. Granite Co. of
St. Johnsbury, Vt. Children: 1-4 (four children died in
—23—
infancy). 5. Laura Emma, b. Sept. 19, 1865; d. Sept. 17, 1908.
6. Frank Oliver, b. May 15, 1872; married Mabel L. Brock
of Barnet on June 26, 1901, and lives at St. Johnsbury, Vt.
ii. Charles Wright, b. Feb. 20, 1832; married Adaline Sadlier of
Drummondville, P. Q., on Oct. 20, 1859; he died Dec. 1, 1882.
Children: 1. William Henry, b. Dec. 31, 186 1 ; d. April 22,
1892. 2. Charles Walter, b. Dec. 14, 1864, lives at Colebrook,
N. H. 3. Asa Leander, b. Jan. 4, 1874; married Jessie
Williams of Colebrook, N. H., on Feb. 4, 1899, has three
children, all born at Colebrook : (a) Charles Asa, June 16,
1900; (&) Jennie Williams, Feb. 21, 1903; (c) Walter
Francis, May 13, 1904. Asa L. French lives at Tilton, N. H.
iii. Edward, b. Nov. 23, 1833; married Lucia Waite of St. Johns-
bury on June 5, 1858; d. at Alexandria, July 7, 1864, of
wounds received at Petersburg, while serving in the Union
Army in the New Hampshire Sharpshooters.
iv. Helen M., b. Oct. 20, 1839; married Capt. J. W. D. Carpenter
on July 30, 1863, who was killed in the Battle of the Wilder-
ness, May 5, 1864; no children. She died May 1, 1899.
v. Mary A., b. April 9, 1848; d. Feb. 15, 1871, aged 22.
vi. A DAUGHTER DIED IN INFANCY.
Judge Asa L. French died Feb. 14, 1886, at St. Johnsbury,
Vt., aged 81 years 4 months.
13. Samuel Franklin (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John,
Jr.1) was born Jan. 27, 1807, in Craftsbury, Vt., the son of Col.
Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Sometime after 1796
Samuel's father removed with his family from Oakham to Crafts-
bury, where he was born. He lived in Coventry, Vt., and was
a carpenter by occupation. He married (1) Harriet Plastridge
of Coventry, Vt. She was born May 2, 1820, daughter of Amasa
Plastridge, and died March 2, 1843. After her death, he
married (2) Prudence Head. Children:
i. Mary Ruggles, b. Aug. 19, 1841 ; d. July 28, 1907, unmarried, at
Boston,
ii. Albert.
iii. Jennie, before her death, married and had one child.
Samuel F. French died May 29, 1888, in Coventry, Vt.
14. (Judge) Fordyce Spooner (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2
John, Jr.1) was born Jan. 3, 1810, in Craftsbury, Vt., the son
—24—
of Col. Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Sometime after
1796 Fordyce's father removed from Oakham to Craftshury, Vt.,
where he was born. He was the youngest but one of the' eight
children of Samuel French. He taught school several terms,
and then bought a farm in Craftsbury. He removed to Glover,
Vt, in 1845, and later to Barton in 1856. He lived for the
remainder of his life in Barton, Vt., where he was Judge of the
County Court and was kept busy in the settlement of estates. As
Justice of the Peace many cases came before him for trial. He
married (1) Eliza Ann Jewett Boardman, Aug. 20, 1837, in
Craftsbury. She was born Nov. 12, 1817, daughter of John and
Abigail (Hazen) Boardman, and died Sept. 18, 1848, in Glover,
Vt. He married (2) Martha Hazen, on Feb. 22, 1849. She
was born May 13, 1821, and died Aug. 25, 1888. Children:
i. John Boardman, b. June 19, 1840, in Craftsbury; d. in Brainerd,
Minn., Nov. 30, 1873.
ii. Mary Abigail, b. April 18, 1844, in Craftsbury; married Oscar
Daniel Owen, Nov. 5, 1874. Child : Julia French, b. Dec. 30,
1875, married Rev. John Pearl Garfield, Dec. 30, 1902,
and has two children : (a) Owen Richardson, b. April 1,
1905, and (b) John French, b. Oct. 18, 1907. Mrs. Mary A.
Owen resides in Claremont, N. H., with the Garfield family.
Judge Fordyce S. French died in Barton, Vt., Sept. 26, 187 1,
aged 61, as a result of a paralytic shock.
15. Crighton Brewer (Col. Samuel,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John,
Jr.1) was born Sept. 8, 1812, in Craftsbury, Vt., the youngest son
of Col. Samuel and Polly (Ruggles) French. Soon after 1796
Crighton's father removed with his family from Oakham to
Craftsbury, Vt., where he was born and where he lived till 1846,
when he removed to New York City and, in 1848, formed a
partnership with Messrs. Baldwin and Reed in the dry goods
business. The firm was most successful, and Mr. French was
considered one of the best judges of silks and dress goods in the
city. In 1870 his health failed and he removed to Rochester,
N. Y., still retaining a partnership interest in the firm. The fail-
ure of the firm a few years after he left weighed heavily upon
him and was in part responsible for his death in 1872. He mar-
ried (1) Caroline Baldwin, May 13, 1847. She died of con-
—25—
sumption in New York City, Dec. 3, 1862, and Mr. French
married (2) Jane Mackintosh, July 19, 1864. She died in San
Francisco, Cal., Aug. 25, 1913. Children:
i. Robert Samuel, b. Sept. 5, 1848; d. Oct. 8, 1850, in New York
City.
ii. Alvah Ruggles, b. March 24, 1850, in New York City; d. Oct. 9,
1000, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hi. James Chrystie, b. Dec. 11, 1852; d. July 14, 1853, in New York
City.
iv. Crighton Brewer, b. May 31, 1854; d. March 13, 1857, in New
York City.
v. Henry, b. Sept. 3, 1856, in New York City; unmarried; resides
in Rochester, N. Y.
vi. Joseph Lewis, b. Aug. 16, 1858, in New York City; present
whereabouts unknown; a brilliant writer and newspaper man.
vii. Caroline Mackintosh, b. April 15, 1865, in Rochester; taught
in the public schools of Rochester before her marriage;
married July 26, 1890, in Rochester, N. Y., to Frank Treubeth,
a musician of Herkimer, N. Y., who died March 7, 191 1.
Children: 1. Edith May, b. May 4, 1891 ; d. Sept. 6, 1910.
2. Grace, b. July 6, 1893; d. March 4, 191 1. 3. Arthur For-
dyce, b. April 16, 1898; d. July 7, 1906. 4. Richard Henry,
b. Sept. 26, 1908; d. Feb. 4, 191 1. Mrs. Caroline French
Treubeth died March 28, 1909, in Herkimer, N. Y.
viii. Fordyce Reed, b. Dec. 10, 1868, in Rochester, N. Y.; married
Fannie Julia Young of Rochester, July 10, 1900, daughter of
James and Jane (Jardine) Young of Scotland, Eng. ; is a
lay modeler and sheet metal worker. Address, 27 Bloomfield
St., Rochester, N. Y.
Crighton B. French died in Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 18, 1872.
16. Anson Hadon (John, 4th,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John, Jr.1) was
born Aug. 6, 181 3, in Oakham, the son of John, 4th, and Betsey
(French) French. April 14, 1834, he bought of Luther Hunter
a farm containing 53 square rods on the road from Oakham
center to Coldbrook village, north of Otis Stone's. To this he
added on Oct. 20, 1835, 20 more square rods by purchase from
Otis Stone. He located in West Brookfield in early manhood
and joined the church there in 1839. He came to North Brook-
field in 1843, and worked in the Batcheller Shop from 1844 to
1875. He married Luthera Sabrina Lamb of Fletcher, Vt,
—26—
April 2, 1845. She was born March 4, 1824, daughter of Zura
and Polly Lamb. She died Feb. 10, 1904, at North Brookfield.
Children :
i. Charles Anson, b. April 12, 1857, in North Brookfield; married
on July 31, 1877, Marian Maud Smith of North Brookfield,
who was born April 11, 1858, daughter of Charles and Caro-
line Smith. Child: Grace Ethel, b. June 14, 1878; d. March
6, 1882. Charles A. French resides in Marlboro and is
engaged in shoe manufacturing; he is an active worker in
the Congregational Church, being one of the Deacons, a
teacher in the Sunday School, and President of the Brother-
hood.
ii. John Edwin, b. May 3, 1859, in North Brookfield; d. Aug. 3,
1859, in North Brookfield.
iii. Lillie Maria, b. Oct. 12, 1861, in North Brookfield; married on
Aug. 8, 1883, Charles G. Thompson of Templeton, who was
born June II, i860, in Templeton, and died Oct. 14, 1004, in
North Brookfield. Children : 1. Elida Richmond, b. Oct. 2,
1887, in North Brookfield. 2. Mildred Evelyn, b. Dec. 4, 1891,
in North Brookfield. Mrs. Thompson resides in North
Brookfield with her sister and two daughters.
iv. William Erastus, b. Nov. 24, 1862, in North Brookfield ; married
Alice Linfield of Brockton, daughter of Adelbert and Alice
(Joslyn) Linfield, on Jan. 31, 1889. Child: Madeline Joslyn,
b. May 13, 1890. William E. French resides in Rutherford,
N. J., and is Business Manager of the New York office of
the Cyphers Incubator Company.
v. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 2, 1869, in North Brookfield; she is employed
in the office of the H. H. Brown Shoe Co., North Brookfield,
and is an active worker in the Sunday School and Christian
Endeavor Society of the First Congregational Church.
Anson H. French was a member of the First Congregational
Church in North Brookfield, by transfer from the West Brook-
field Church. He died in North Brookfield, Nov. 9, 1882, aged
69, as the result of a broken hip. He was severely injured by
a cow jumping upon him, and suffered greatly up to the time
of his death.
17. (Capt.) Freeman {Asa, Jr.,3 Lieut. Asa,2 John, Jr.1) was
born in Oakham, June 5, 1805, the son of Asa, Jr., and Hannah
(Brimhall) French. He married Hannah Davis Bellows of Pax-
ton, April 26, 1827. She was born Aug. 7, 1806, at Sturbridge,
—27—
Mass., daughter of Jonas and Sally (Bridges) Bellows. She
died Nov. 13, 1884. Children:
i. Jane Swan, b. March 15, 1828, in Oakham; married Edmund
P. Macullar, May 4, 1847. Children : 1. Martha Jane, b. July
24, 1848; d. Feb. 12, 1854. 2. Charles E., b. Jan. 28, 1853,
is in insurance business in Boston. 3. William F., b. Sept. 6,
1857, in Worcester. 4. Alice Marion, b. July 30, 1861 ; d.
March 8, 1869. Mrs. Macullar resides at 2 Aspen St.,
Roxbury, her son Charles E., at Hotel Westminster, Boston.
ii. Alvah Bellows, b. May 3, 1830, in Oakham; married Mary E.
Sanford. Children: 1. Alvah Sanford, b. July 30, 1856. 2.
Florence Mabel, b. 1858. 3. Mary Elizabeth, b. September,
i860. Alvah B. French died April 13, 1904, in Boston.
iii. Susan Amelia, b. July 11, 1832, in Oakham.
iv. George Freeman, b. Aug. 12, 1834, in Oakham ; married Lucretia
H. Titcomb. Children : 1. George Freeman, Jr., b. March 19,
1861 ; married Susan Rohan. 2. Fannie Titcomb, b. June,
1863; married Dr. Charles Morrill Kent.
v. Charles H., b. Dec. 26, 1836, in Oakham; d. July 2, 1837, in
Oakham.
vi. Charles Davis, b. July 14, 1842, in Oakham ; conducted a leather
business in Boston for many years; married Susan Eckstein
Schober of Philadelphia, Dec. 28, 1871. A son, Charles
Frederick, born in Boston, May 4, 1876, graduated at Harvard
in 1897, married Anna Morton Davenport of Boston, April 20,
1908, conducts a stationery business in New York City, and
resides at 9 Livingston Place, New York City. Charles
Davis French died in Boston, Feb. 10, 1912. Mrs. Charles D.
French resides at 6 Humboldt Ave., Roxbury.
vii. Julia Marion, b. Oct. 6, 1845, in Oakham. She resides at
6 Humboldt Ave., Roxbury.
In early life Freeman French was a shoemaker by occupation
and had a small shop between Oakham and Coldbrook. He was
Captain of the Oakham Military Company. Afterwards he
removed to Philadelphia, where he and his son Charles Davis were
members of the firm of French, Schober & Co., manufacturers of
shoes, 436 Market St. and 431 Merchant St. Later he removed
to Boston. Even in the eighties he was active mentally and
physically, and regularly attended to business until a few weeks
before his -death at the age of 89. Capt. Freeman French died
in Boston, May 29, 1894.
—28—
i8. Cyrus (Asa, Jr.,3 Lieut. Asa,- John, Jr.1) was born Oct.
15, 1809, in Oakham, Mass., the son of Asa, Jr., and Hannah
(Brimhall) French. His father deeded land in Oakham to him
in 1 83 1 and he was living there in 1833, when he married Susan
C. Reed of Oakham, on May 16. She was probably the daughter
of Benjamin and Betsey Reed, and was born July 4, 181 2. She
died Dec. 1, 1852, aged 40. Cyrus French and his wife were in
East Boston in 1834. He died in Brookfield, Aug. 12, 1844.
—29—
APPENDIX
Papers connected with Asa French's Pension Application
Li Asa French
Statement
I Asa French now a resident in Oakham in the County of Worcester
and State of Massachusetts aged ninty one years old the 28. day of
October last past, I was born in the Town of Bartly [Berkley] in the
County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts the 28. day of October
in the year AD 1740 — my Father moved into Middelborough in the
County of Plymouth when I was in the tinth year of my age and I
lived ther till the year 1769 then I moved into the town of Oakham in
the County of Worester and State aforesaid where I now live and
have lived ever since I moved there, — I further state that Joshua Turner
a boye about six years of his age was given to me by his mother a sister
of mine to bring up till he was twenty one years old, in the year one
Thousand seven hundred and seventy five in Apl a War tuck place
betwen old ingland and the United States of America, the newes came
that the British troops had marched out of Boston to Lexington and had
kiled a number of amaracans and we wer Colled upon in Oakham, the
Cap1 told me I must go or let my yong man go according to his orders
I let Joshua Turner go for eight monthes (about in Decr the same year
sum of the men wer wanted to Stay one month longer) [this sentence
in parenthesis is crossed out in the original. H. B. W.] he enlisted in
Cap1 Hazeltons Compy in Col0 Fellowes Reg1 I furnished the said Turner
with Armes Aquipments Blanket and Cloathing who was then in the
ninteenth year of his age and he marched of with the Compy to Rox-
bury the town next to Boston, in December the same year 1775, the
same Joshua Turner enlisted in Cap1 Barnes Compy in Col0 Wards Reg1
for one Month.
I Asa French do further stat that I was a Lieu1 in Cap1 John Crawfords
Compy in Col0 James Conveses Reg1 in the month of September in the
year 1776. I was Caled upon by the Agitent of Col0 Conveses Reg1 to
march to Brookfield and Joine Cap1 Abner Hows Comp.y and march to
the State of New York according to orders I marched through Newhaven
in the state of Connecticut, to the State of New York in Col0 Conveses
Reg1, under the emmediate Command of Gen1 Starks, and was discharged
at white Planes in November was there two Months and allowed nine
days to march home
— 3o—
I also state in the month of Sep1 in the year 1777 I was informed
that Gen1 Brogoine was marching through the Country to Albany and I
was informed that Gen1 Gates wanted more men and Cap1 Crawford
being gon to the Armey for three monthes, I volenteared and called for
men to turn out and about twenty of the most respectable men in the
town of Oakham turned out and volenteared with me and marched with
me through Benington in the State of Vermont to Still Water and Joined
Cap1 Cutler's Compy in Col0 Stones Reg1 in Gen1 Felloses Brigade, we
marched of the 14 day of Sep1 and ware dismised at fort Edward the 18
day of Octr and ware allowed seven day to march home.
I did not searve at one time long-enougt to intitle me to a pention in
the pres t pention Law.
John Forbes
Afadavit
for Asa French
I John Forbes of Oakham in the County of Worcester and State of
Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I know one Asa
French now of Oakham in the County of Worcester and State of Massa-
chusetts and that I knew the same Asa French in the year one Thousand
seven hundred and seventy six, and that he searved as the second Lieu4
with me two monthes and nine days in the Revolution. War in Cap4 Abner
Hows Comp y in Col0 James Conveses Reg4 in the State of New York,
Cap4 How and L4 Packard ware both taken sick and left the armey and
the Command of said Company devolved on Lieu4 French, further your
deponant saith not
John Forbes
Worcester Ss. Oakham August 18, 1832 —
Personally appeared John Forbes, subscriber to the above declaration,
and made Oath in due form of law to the truth of the same, before me
Skelton Felton Jus. of the Peace.
John Boyd to A French
I John Boyd of Oakham in the County of Worcester and State of
Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I knew one Asa
French in the year 1770. I also knew one Joshua Turner a miner to
the said Asa French both then of Oakham and state aforesaid, in the
year 1775 a war tuck place in the united States and the said Joshua
—3i—
Turner enlisted in Cap1 Hazelton Compy in Col0 Fellowes Reg* for
eight months and marched to Roxbury and there searved eight monthes.
for the aforesaid Asa French — in Sep1 1777 we received newes that Gen1
Bruguine was marching throug the Cuntry there was a call for men
Asa French then being Lieu1 Volentered and a number of other with
him and marched with him to Saratoga.
John Boyd.
Worcester Ss. Oakham August 15, 1832
Personally appeared John Boyd Subscriber to the above declaration
and made Oath in due form of law to the truth of the same — before me —
Skelton Felton Jus. of the, Peace
Wm Coldzvell for Asa French
I William Caldwell of Oakham in the County of Worcester and State
of Massachusetts of lawful age do testify and say that I knew one Asa
French in the year 1770 I also knew one Joshua Turner a miner under
the said Asa French both then of Oakham and state aforesaid in the
year 1775. a War tuck place in the United States and the said Joshua
Turner enlisted in Cap* Hazeltons Compy in Col0 Fellowses Reg1 for
eight monthes and marched to Roxbury and searved eight monthes for
Asa French — in the year 1776, I further state that I knew the same
Asa French then a Lieu*, to searve two month and nine dayes in Cap*
Hows. Compy. in Col0 Conveses Reg* in the Revolution War in the
State of New York — I further state that in the month of Sep* 1777.
we received newes that Gen1 Burgoin was marching through the Cuntry
there was a call for men Asa French then being Lieu* Volentered and a
number of others with him and marched with him to Sarratoga.
William Caldwell
Worcester Ss. Oakham August 18, 1832. —
Personally appeared William Caldwell, Subscriber to the above declara-
tion, and made Oath in due form of law, to the truth of the same,
before me —
Skelton Felton Jus. of the Peace.
—32—
Family Records
The Genealogy of John & Mercy French's Family
[In the possession of Miss Mary A. French, North Brookfield, Mass.]
Haden Shaw born
Patty Fitch was born
Rhoda was born
Hannah was born
Betsy was born
Nancy was born
Isaac was born
Philena was born
Abigail was born
Sarah was born
Sarah E. was born
John cV Betsy's Family. Births
Ann Smith born April 22, 1806
Mary Caldwell born May 4, 1810
Erastus Shaw born Jan 7, 1808
Anson Hadon born Aug. 6, 1813
August
11
1738
Sept.
22
1740
July
»S
175°
August
23
1767
August
19
1769
August
31
1771
July
6
1773
June
1
I77S
March
S
1777
March
6
1779
May
25
1781
July
9
1785
Deaths
John French [the elder]. Died Aug
5, 1794 Aged 94-
Haden F.
John F.
Died July
Died Sept.
18, 1787
12, 1824
Aged 47
Aged 86
Sarah
Philena Lyon
Isaac
Rhoda Green
Died Nov
March
Dyed Oct
Jan
4, 1783
8, 1820
6, 1826
5. 1829
Age 2
Aged 45
Ag 50
Aged 61
[Oct. 31, 1862
Aged 83] *
Deaths
Erastus S. French Sept. 11,
1812
Letter of Mary C. French
[In the possession of Mrs. Martha H. Raymond, Westboro, Mass.]
"Isaac French was born in Middleboro, Mass, came to Oakham and died
there in 1826 . . . They all came up from Middleboro. I have been
to the spot where my mother Betsey was born and I suppose the other
members of the family were born there."
Col. Samuel French's Family Record
[From the Bible of Polly (Ruggles) French, now in the possession of
Mrs. Mary A. Owen, Claremont, N. H.]
Marriages
Mr Samuel French Miss
Mary Ruggles were Mar-
ried 17th July 1795
Lyndon S. French and
Miss Anna E. Farnham
Married 26. March 1820
Births
Deaths
Samuel French, Born 3d
Oct.
Died
28 Sept.
1854
1766
Mary Ruggles his wife
Born
Died
19 Oct.
1844
nth Dec. 1769
Their Children.
Lyndon Smith 17 Sept
1796
[Died
10 July
1879]
Alvah Ruggles 7 April
1798
[Died
Aug. 9.
1876]
Marv Spooner 6 April
1800
Died
8 July
1808
Anna Adeline 7 April
1802
Died
28 July
1825
Asa Leander 4 Oct.
1804
[Died
14 Feb.
1886]
Samuel Franklin 29 Jan
1807
[Died
29 May
1888]
Fordyce Spooner 3. Jan
1810
LSep.
26 "
1871]
Crighton Brewer 8. Sept
1812
[Feb.
1872]
* Dates in brackets are by a later hand.
—33—
Statement of Bathsheba {French) Moulton, daughter of Asa French
[Taken down by Fordyce S. French on a trip to Oakham about i860]
My father named Asa was born in Berkley and moved to Middlebury
and from there to Oakham; and when my Grand Father John was 90
years old my Father brought him from Middlebury to Oakham and he
died in his 94th year. My Father was in his 92nd year when he died.
I am the 6th generation from england on my mother Smith's side. My
ancestor came over from England in the ship , the next June after
the Mayflower being the first vessel that succeeded her. Motto on the
gold ring that came over in the second ship from the Mayflower now in
the possession of Ann Smith French, West Brookfield, Mass : Death is
Myne ; My hart is thyne.
INDEX OF NAMES
PAGE
Abell, Lucy - 20
Baker, Elvira (Eastman) 22
Oliver 22
Sarah W 22
Baldwin, Caroline 24
Bangs, Thankful 12
Barden, Azubah (French) 7
Ebenezer 7
Bell, Anna 21
Henry H 21
Katherine (French) 21
Lucy 20
Bellows, Alvah H 15
Eliza (French) 15
Hannah D 26
Horace 15
Jonas 27
Maria W 15
Sally B 27
Berry, Isaac 8
Joseph 8
Nancy (French) 8
Woodward 8
Blood, Maria (Bellows) 15
Otis H 15
Boardman, Abigail (Hazen) ... 24
Eliza Ann J 24
John 24
Brakenridge, Ann (Cummings) 16
Mary Ann 16
William S 16
Brewer, Samuel 11
Samuel Snow 11
Susanna (French) 11
Bridges, Sally 27
Brimhall, Eunice (Humphrey).. 15
Hannah 15
Jonas 15
Samuel 15
Brock, Mabel L 23
Brown, Elizabeth H 20
PAGE
Buffington, Anna 21
Carpenter, Helen (French) .... 23
J. W. D 23
Cummings, Anna 16
Curtis, Amelia M 22
Cutler, Adaline B 20
Alice M 20
Allen B 20
Elizabeth C 20
Emily (French) 20
Lucy A 20
Mary E 20
Davenport, Anna M 27
Davis, Catherine 12
Katherine (French) 12
Samuel 12
Dean, Julia 17
Eastman, Elvira 22
Emerson, Nancy E 20
Farnham, Aaron 19
Annie E 19, 32
Florella (Strong) 19
Farris, Mary J 17
Fitch, Patty 10
Foster, Elizabeth 5
Experience 5» 6
Thomas 5> 6
French, Aaron 20, 21
Abigail 8, 32
Abigail (d. of John of Taun-
ton) 6
Abigail (Stone) 12
Adaline 20
Adaline (Sadlier) 23
Agnes M 18
Albert 23
Albert E 20
Alexander C 18
Alice (Linfield) 26
Alvah B 27
Alvah [J.] 20
—35—
PAGE
French, Alvah R 14, 22, 32
Alvar R. (s. of C. B.) 25
Alvah S 27
Amelia (Curtis) 22
Ann M 16
Ann (Parker) 16
Ann S 14, 32, 33
Anna A 14, 32
Anna (Buffington) 21
Anna (Coates) 16
Anna (Davenport) 27
Anne (Smith) 10
Annie (Farnham) ,19
Anson H 14, 25, 26, 32
Arthur R 20
Asa (Lieut.) 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12,
29, 30, 31, 33
Asa, Jr 11, 15
Asa L 14, 22, 23, 32
Asa L. (s. of C W.) 23
Augustus F 20
Augustus F., Jr 20
Azubah 7
Bathsheba 11, 33
Bell (Justice) 18
Bessie (Lambkin) 21
Betsey 8, 14, 32
Betsey (French) 8, 14
Caroline (Baldwin) 24
Caroline D 13
Caroline M 25
Catherine D. (d. of Isaac) . . 13
Catherine D. (d. of Charles) 16
Catherine (Davis) 12
Charles 13, 15, 16, 17
Charles Anson 26
Charles Asa 23
Charles D 27
Charles E 16
Charles F 27
Charles H 27
Charles Henry 17
Charles M 21
Charles Walter 23
Charles Wright 23
Chester 20
PAGE
French, Clara P 16
Clyde 20
Courtney A 20
Crighton B. (s. of Samuel) 14,
24, 25, 32
Crighton B. (s. of preceding) 25
Crighton B. (s. of Lyndon
S.) 21
Crighton B. (s. of Charles
M.) 21
Cyrus 15, 28
David 20
Ebenezer 6
Edith E 21
Edward 23
Edwin 13, 17, 18, 19
Edwin L 18
Eliza 15
Eliza (Boardman) 24
Elizabeth (w. of John of
Taunton) 6
Elizabeth (d. of above) .... 6
Elizabeth (d. of Joseph) ... 6
Elizabeth (Brown) 20
Elizabeth (Sherman) 16
Emily 20
Erastus S 14, 32
Esther (Hathaway) 17, 19
Evelyn 20
Evelyn Frank 20
Evelyn French 20
Experience 6
Experience (Foster) 5,6
Fannie T 27
Fannie (Young) 25
Florence M 27
Fordyce R 25
Fordyce S 14, 23, 24, 32, 33
Frances 21
Frank C 20
Frank 0 23
Freddie 20
Frederick L 21
Freeman 15, 26, 27
George F 27
George F., Jr 27
-36-
PAGE
French, Gertrude 21
Grace E 26
Hannah (w. of John of
Taunton) 6, 7
Hannah (d. of above) 6
Hannah (Bellows) 26
Hannah (Brimhall) 15
Hannah H 8, 32
Hannah ( Sawyer) 20
Harriet (Plastridge) 23
Harry B 21
Hayden (Shaw) 8, 9, 32
Helen M 23
Henry 22, 23
Henry (s. of C. B.) 25
Henry D. (s. of A. R.) 22
Henry Dwight 21
Hopestill 7
Horatio J 20
Horatio L 20
Ida (Haring) 21
Inez 21
Isaac 8, 10, 12, 13, 32
Israel 6
Jacob 6
James C 25
Jane (Mackintosh) 25
Jane S 27
Jennie 23
Jennie (Porter) 21
Jennie W 23
Jessie B 21
Jessie (Williams) 23
Joanna 5
John of Cambridge 4, 5, 7
John (s. of above) 5
John of Taunton 6
John (s. of L. S.) 21
John, Jr 4, 6, 7, 32, 33
John, 3d 4, 7, 8, 9, 32
John, 4th ..8, 11, 14, 15
John B 24
John E 26
Jo (Nathan) 6
Joseph (s. of John of Cam-
bridge) 4, 5, 6
FACE
French, Joseph (s. of Joseph, d.
young) 6
Joseph, Jr 6
Joseph L 25
Julia C 18
Julia H 20
Julia M 27
Katherine 21
Laura E 23
Laura (Wright) 22
Lillian L 21
Lillian Margaret 20
Lillie Maria 26
Lucia (Waite) 23
Lucy ( Abell) 20
Lucy (Bell) 20
Lucy Ann B 16
Lucretia (Titcomb) 27
Luthera (Lamb) 25
Lydia 7
Lyndon (s. of Aaron) 21
Lyndon S. 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 32
Lynward 21
Mabel (Brock) 23
Madeline J 26
Marcy 7, 32
Marian (Smith) 26
Martha E 16
Martha (Hazen) 24
Martha (Sawyer) 20
Mary 5
Mary A 23
Mary Abigail 24
Mary Ann 26, 32
Mary (Brakenridge) 16
Mary C 14 32
Mary Elizabeth
(d. of Charles) 16
Mary Elizabeth (d. of Alvah
B.) 27
Mary Ella 18
Mary Esther 16
Mary (Farris) 17
Mary (Nevins) 16
Mary (Rhodes) 18
Mary (Ruggles) 23
-37-
PAGE
French, Mary (Sanford) 27
Mary (Spooner) 14, 32
Mary (Waite) 21
Mercy 7- Jo
Minnie 21
Monona (Howell) 20
Myrtle 20
Nabby 8
Nancy 8, 32
Nancy D 13
Nancy (Emerson) 20
Nathan — see Jonathan
Nathaniel (s. of John of
Cambridge) 4, 5
Nathaniel (s. of Joseph) ... 6
Patty (Fitch) 10, 32
Philena 8, 9, 32
Polly (Ruggles) 13, 32
Prudence (Head) 23
Rachel 6
Rhoda 8, 32
Rhode 7
Robert M 21
Robert S 25
Samuel (s. of John of Taun-
ton) 6
Samuel 11, 13. 14, 32
Samuel Farnham 20
Samuel Franklin 14, 23, 32
Sara 21
Sarah (w. of John of Cam-
bridge) 5
Sarah (d. of above) 5
Sarah (d. of Joseph) 6
Sarah (d. of John, 3d) ...9, 32
Sarah (Baker) 22
Sarah E 9, 32
Sarah (Ireland) 20
Scott 21
Silence 6
Solomon A 22
Susan A 27
Susan (Reed) 28
Susan (Rohan) 27
Susan (Schober) 27
Susanna 11
PAGE
French, Thankful (Thrasher) .. 12
Thomas of Stanstead Hall.. 4
Thomas (s. of Joseph, d.
young) 6
Thomas (s. of Joseph) 6
Thomas of Oakham 8 note
Walter E 20
Walter F 23
Wilbur D 18
William of Billerica 4, 5
William E 26
William H 23
Winifred F 21
Garfield, John F 24
John P 24
Julia (Owen) 24
Owen R 24
Gaven. Hopestill (French) 7
Rowland 7
Gilbert. Abigail (French) 8, 9
Alvah L 9
Arunah 8
Franklin E 8
Ira W 9
Isaac B 9
John F 8
Joseph D 9
Linus S 8
Lyman W 8
Nabby (French) 8
Goodale, Catherine (French) ... 12
Enoch 12
Green, Benjamin 8, 10
Rhoda (French) 8
Haring, Ida 21
Hathaway, Esther 17
Josiah 17
Julia (Dean) 17
Hazen, Abigail 24
Martha 24
Head, Prudence 23
Henry, Charles S 13
Ellen M 13
Frank F 13
Martha E 13
Mary C 13
-38-
Henry, Nancy (French) 13
Samuel G 13
Howell, Monona 20
Humphrey, Eunice 15
Ireland, Sarah A. T 20
Jardine, Jane 25
Joslyn, Alice 26
Justice, Bell 18
Kent, Charles M 27
Fannie (French) 27
Lamb, Luthera S 25
Polly 26
Zura 26
Lambkin, Bessie M 21
Howard 21
Katherine 21
Leedom, Agnes (French) 18
William S 18
Linfield, Adelbert 26
Alice 26
Alice (Joslyn) 26
Lyon, Alvin 8, 9
Philena (French) 8
Robert 8
Sarah (French) 9
Mackintosh, Jane 25
Macullar, Alice M 27
Charles E 27
Edmund P 27
Jane (French) 27
Martha J 27
William F 27
Moulton, Bathsheba (French) 11, 32
Daniel "
Myler, Frances (French) 21
W. B 21
Nevins, Mary 16
Owen, Julia F 24
Mary (French) 24,32
Oscar D 24
Parker, Ann A 16
Phillips, Elizabeth (French) 6
James 6
Plastridge, Amasa 23
Harriet 23
Porter, Jennie 21
PAGE
Raymond, George H 13
Martha (Henry) 13, 32
Read, Benjamin 28
Betsey 28
Susan C 28
Rhodes, Mary 18
Richardson, Mary (French) 5
Theophilus 5
Ripley, Hannah (French) 8
Zenas 8
Ruggles, Mr 8
Edward 13
Lucy (Spooner) 13
Mary — see Polly
Polly 13
Timothy 13
Sadlier, Adaline 23
Sanford, Bathsheba (French) .. 11
Mary E 27
Philo 11
Sawyer, Hannah J 20
Martha 20
Schober, Susan E 27
Shaw, Hayden 8
Lydia 8 note
Sherman, Elizabeth W 16
Smith, Anne 10, 33
Caroline 26
Charles 26
Katherine 12
Marian M 26
Susannah — see Anne
Spooner, Lucy 13
Stone, Abigail 12
Adaline (French) 20
L. H 20
Strong, Florella 19
Thrasher, Thankful (Bangs) ... 12
William 12
Thompson, Charles G 26
Elida R 26
Lillie (French) 26
Mildred E 26
Titcomb, Lucretia H 27
Treubeth, Arthur F 25
Caroline (French) 25
—39—
PAGE
Treubeth, Edith M 25
Frank 25
Grace 25
Richard H 25
Trull, Sarah (French) 5
Turner, Joseph 7
Joshua 7, 10, 11, 29
Mercy (French) 7
Vrooman, Charles E 18
Julia (French) 18
Waite, Lucia 23
Mary 21
Warner, Charles H 13
PAGE
Warner, Ellen (Henry) 13
George M 13
William R 13
Welton, D. W 21
Gertrude (French) 21
Williams, Abigail (Stone) ..12 note
Jessie 23
Wright, Ashbel 22
Laura 22
Young, Fannie J 25
James 25
Jane ( Jardine) 25
OAKHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
President
Henry P. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Vice President
Mrs. Maria T. Rugg Oakham, Mass.
Secretary
Henry B. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Treasurer and Curator
Charles M. Packard Westboro, Mass.
MEMBERS
Charlotte Adams Oakham, Mass.
*Mrs. James C. Allen Coldbrook Springs, Mass.
Jesse Allen Oakham, Mass.
Wayland Angier Oakham, Mass.
Mrs. Wayland Angier Oakham, Mass.
Addison C. Angus Ossining, N. Y.
Kate M. Ayres Oakham, Mass.
Ezra D. Batcheller North Brookfield, Mass.
Mrs. Sarah C. Batcheller North Brookfield, Mass.
* Deceased.
—4i—
*Avery C. Bullard Oakham, Mass.
*Mrs. Avery C. Bullard Oakham, Mass.
Laura G. Burt Oakham, Mass.
♦William A. Burt Oakham, Mass.
Sara E. Butler Oakham, Mass.
Mrs. Minnie M. Chase Maiden, Mass.
Albert Conant Worcester, Mass.
Mrs. Eleanor McFarland Copeland Burlington, Iowa.
John G. Crawford Manchester, N. H.
William S. Crawford Oakham, Mass.
Lewis W. Davis Barre, Mass.
Daniel H. Dean Cambridge, Mass.
Gardner M. Dean Oakham, Mass.
Henry E. Dean Worcester, Mass.
Oliver M. Dean Worcester, Mass.
Emily K. Fobes Worcester, Mass.
William A. Fobes Worcester, Mass.
William Gaffney Oakham, Mass.
Edwin S. Gould Providence, R. I.
*Amory J. Holden Oakham, Mass.
Mrs. Blanche Packard Hunt Barre, Mass.
Mrs. Helene E. Jackson Maiden, Mass,
Catherine McFarland Burlington, Iowa.
John McFarland Burlington, Iowa.
Richard McFarland Burlington, Iowa.
William McFarland Dickinson, North Dakota.
William F. McFarland Burlington, Iowa.
Mrs. William F. McFarland Burlington, Iowa.
Frank P. Macomber Worcester, Mass.
Mrs. Martha A. Malcolm Oakham, Mass.
Charles M. Packard Westboro, Mass.
F. Kimball Packard Barre, Mass.
N. Wendell Packard Westboro, Mass.
Mrs. N. Wendell Packard Westboro, Mass.
Harry B. Parker Coldbrook Springs, Mass.
G. Phillips Oakham, England.
Mrs. H. L. Pierce Barre, Mass.
Bert S. Reed Oakham, Mass.
*Sumner Reed Oakham, Mass.
Mrs. Maria T. Rugg Oakham, Mass.
S. M. Sargeant Worcester, Mass.
Mrs. S. M. Sargeant Worcester, Mass.
Curtis E. Spooner Philadelphia, Pa.
Mrs. Ellen M. Tottingham Oakham, Mass.
Charles H. Trowbridge Oakham, Mass.
* Deceased.
—42—
Mrs. Charles H. Trowbridge Oakham, Mass.
Mrs. Kate B. Wilkinson Springfield, Mass.
♦Alfred P. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Alice L. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Ellsworth Wright New Haven, Conn.
Henry B. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Henry P. Wright New Haven, Conn.
Mrs. Henry P. Wright New Haven, Conn.
* Deceased.
The publications of the Oakham Historical Society are sent free to all
its members. The fee for life membership is $1.00. Applications for
membership should be sent to the secretary.
Soldiers of Oakham, Massachusetts
By HENRY PARKS WRIGHT
Formerly Dean of Yale College
This book gives the military record of all soldiers from Oakham who
served in the Revolutionary War. in the War of 1812, and in the Civil
War, with the family history of each, and the authorities on which the
histories are based. Among the families represented are the following:
Allen, Adams, Bassctt, Bell. Berry, Black. Blair, Bolton. Bothwell, Boyd,
Brown. Bullard. Butler, Caldwell, Chaddock, Conant, Crawford, Dean,
Dunbar. Edson, Fairbank, Field, Forbes. Foster. French, Gould, Green,
Harper, Haskell, Hayden, Henderson, Howell, Hudson, Johnson, Joslyn,
Kimball. Knight. Lincoln, Lovell, Macomber, McFarland, Maynard, Nye,
Packard, Parker, Parmcntcr, Partridge, Perkins, Razvsou, Reed. Robinson,
Sargeant, Shaw. Spooner. Stone. Walker, Ware. Warren, Washburn.
Waterman, White, Wilbur, Wilson, Wood. Woodis, Wright.
The newly discovered Pay Roll of Captain How's company, which was
in service in New York in September and November, 1776, containing ten
new names of Massachusetts soldiers in the Revolutionary War, is here
printed for the first time.
An account is also given of William O'Brien, George Perkins, and
George Walls, three British soldiers who escaped from General Burgoyne's
captured troops while prisoners at Rutland, lived for a time in Oakham,
and later enlisted in the Continental Army.
Three hundred and twenty-five pages, octavo, with Index, bound in full
cloth. Price $2.50, sent by mail, postage prepaid, on receipt of the price,
by the Publishers
The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company
123 TEMPLE STREET, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
tf
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 9999 04852 929 9
'I
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11