M. (1) 21 Jun 1659 in Barnstable, Massachusetts1
Wife: Abigail Coggan
M. (2) 3 Jul 1662 in Billerica, Massachusetts2
Wife: Hannah Burrage
M. (3) 14 Jan 16683
Wife: Hannah Rogers
M. (4) 16 Jan 1678 in Billerica, Massachusetts4
Wife: Mary Littlefield
D. Oct 1712 in Billerica, Massachusetts5
John was born in about January of 1635 in England to William and Elizabeth French, their third child.1 When he was still a small baby, the family boarded the ship Defence, landing in Boston on October 8th. The family settled in Cambridge, where John grew up.1 His parents had six more children there.
When John was 18, the family moved to a newly settled region of the colony that was inland from the coast. John’s name was one of 14 men on a petition in October 1654 asking for approval to add a substantial amount of land to their settlement, and to change its name from Shawshin to Billerica.5 Both requests were granted by the General Court.
Life was rough in Billerica’s early years, and John suffered the tragedy of losing three wives at a young age. On June 21, 1659, he married Abigail Coggan of Barnstable.1 She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662.6 He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown.2 She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23.7 John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers.3 She had a daughter in 1670, and died on June 16, 1677. Finally, on 16 Jan 1678, he married a fourth wife, Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge,4 who had been widowed with five young sons. John and Mary had six children together.
Over the years, John held many offices in Billerica. He was a selectman in Billerica in 1674-1676, 1678-1686, 1691, and 1700-1702.5 In 1683, he served on a committee of three men who met with three men from neighboring Andover to decide on the boundary between the two towns.5
In 1675, relations with Indigenous people deteriorated into the conflict known as King Philip’s War, and John served as a corporal in the militia in Billerica.5 On August 2nd, the English force met up with warriors of the Nipmuck tribe in a swamp near Billerica called Quaboag (or Brookfield) where several settlers were killed. John was in the fight, and after shooting a Nipmuck, he got hit by return fire, which cut off one of his thumbs and seriously wounded his body near his shoulder.10
When John was 18, the family moved to a newly settled region of the colony that was inland from the coast. John’s name was one of 14 men on a petition in October 1654 asking for approval to add a substantial amount of land to their settlement, and to change its name from Shawshin to Billerica.5 Both requests were granted by the General Court.
Life was rough in Billerica’s early years, and John suffered the tragedy of losing three wives at a young age. On June 21, 1659, he married Abigail Coggan of Barnstable.1 She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662.6 He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown.2 She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23.7 John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers.3 She had a daughter in 1670, and died on June 16, 1677. Finally, on 16 Jan 1678, he married a fourth wife, Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge,4 who had been widowed with five young sons. John and Mary had six children together.
Over the years, John held many offices in Billerica. He was a selectman in Billerica in 1674-1676, 1678-1686, 1691, and 1700-1702.5 In 1683, he served on a committee of three men who met with three men from neighboring Andover to decide on the boundary between the two towns.5
In 1675, relations with Indigenous people deteriorated into the conflict known as King Philip’s War, and John served as a corporal in the militia in Billerica.5 On August 2nd, the English force met up with warriors of the Nipmuck tribe in a swamp near Billerica called Quaboag (or Brookfield) where several settlers were killed. John was in the fight, and after shooting a Nipmuck, he got hit by return fire, which cut off one of his thumbs and seriously wounded his body near his shoulder.10
At the end of the war, he was one of four Billerica selectmen who wrote a report to the General Court about the terrible effect the war had on their town.5 They asked the Court to reduce the amount they were required to pay in annual fees to the General Court because of losses they suffered in the war.
During the years that followed, John petitioned the town for financial help, describing himself as "a poor wounded man."5 He was exempted from paying taxes for several years. He was also permitted to sit "at the table with Capt. John Lane and Mr. Crosby" during church services, and his wife Mary was allowed to "sit in the front gallery with Mrs. Foster and those women placed there."10 John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.5
During the years that followed, John petitioned the town for financial help, describing himself as "a poor wounded man."5 He was exempted from paying taxes for several years. He was also permitted to sit "at the table with Capt. John Lane and Mr. Crosby" during church services, and his wife Mary was allowed to "sit in the front gallery with Mrs. Foster and those women placed there."10 John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.5
Notes from a Billerica town meeting on December 26, 1701 regarding John.
Children by Hannah Burrage:
1. Hannah French — B. 14 Dec 1664, Billerica, Massachusetts;11 D. 9 Oct 1745, Tewksbury, Massachusetts;12 M. John Kittredge (1666-1714), 3 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts13
2. Abigail French — B. 6 Dec 1665, Billerica, Massachusetts;14 D. 13 Mar 1723, Billerica, Massachusetts;15 M. Benjamin Parker (1662-?), 10 Nov 1697, Billerica, Massachusetts16
Children by Mary Rogers:
1. Mary French — B. 4 Mar 1670, Billerica, Massachusetts;8 D. 21 Aug 1740, Billerica, Massachusetts;17 M. Nathan Shed (1669-?)17
Children by Mary Littlefield:
1. John French — B. 15 May 1679, Billerica, Massachusetts;18 M. Ruth Richardson (1685-1730), 13 Feb 1707, Billerica, Massachusetts19
2. Elizabeth French — B. 24 Jul 1681, Billerica, Massachusetts;29 D. 30 Sep 1754, Andover, Massachusetts;21 M. Thomas Abbott, 25 Dec 1706, Billerica, Massachusetts22
3. William French — B. 26 Nov 1683, Billerica, Massachusetts;23 D. 21 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts24
4. Sarah French — B. 15 Sep 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts;25 M. (1) ______ Flint;26 (2) Joseph Frost (1683-1737), 5 Apr 1710, Charlestown, Massachusetts26
5. William French — B. 8 Aug 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts;27 D. 25 Feb 1746, Billerica, Massachusetts;28 M. Mehitable Patten (1687-1743), about 171229
6. Hannah French — B. 18 Feb 1693, Billerica, Massachusetts;30 D. 12 Dec 1769, Billerica, Massachusetts;31 M. (1) Jonathan Richardson (1682-1720), 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts;32 (2) Benjamin Frost (1688-1753), 15 Feb 1726, Billerica, Massachusetts32
Sources:
1 The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999, pp. 588-593
2 Marriage record of John French and Hannah Burrage, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3 Marriage record of John French and Mary Rogers, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
4 Marriage record of John French and Mary Kittredge, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
5 History of Billerica, Massachusetts: With a Genealogical Register, Henry Allen Hazen, 1883
6 Death record of Abigail French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7 Death record of Hannah French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8 Birth record of Mary French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
9 Death record of Mary (Rogers) French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
10 Billerica, a centennial oration by the Rev. Elias Nason, July 4, 1876, 1876
11 Birth record of Hannah French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Death record of Hannah Kittredge, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Marriage record of John Kittredge and Hannah French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Birth record of Abigail French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Death record of Abigail Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Marriage record of Benjamin Parker and Abigail French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Death record of Mary Shed, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Birth record of John French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19 Marriage record of John French and Ruth Richardson, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20 Birth record of Elizabeth French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21 Find-a-Grave listing of Elizabeth (French) Abbott
22 Marriage record of Thomas Abbott and Elizabeth French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23 Birth record of William French (older), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24 Death record of William French (older), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25 Birth record of Sarah French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26 WikiTree listing of Sarah French
27 Birth record of William French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28 Death record of William French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29 WikiTree listing of William French
30 Birth record of Hannah French (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
31 Death record of Hannah Frost, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
32 The Richardson Memorial, James Adams Vinton, 1876, p. 515
