M. (1) 21 Jun 1659 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Abigail Coggan
M. (2) 3 Jul 1662 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Hannah Burrage
M. (3) 14 Jan 1668
Wife: Hannah Rogers
M. (4) 16 Jan 1678 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary Littlefield
D. October 1712 in Billerica, Massachusetts
John was born in 1635 in England to William and Elizabeth French, their third child. 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. 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. 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. She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662. He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown. She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23. John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers. 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, 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 1674-76, 1678-86, 1691, and 1700-02. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662. He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown. She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23. John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers. 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, 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 1674-76, 1678-86, 1691, and 1700-02. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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." 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." It was said that he was "an influential citizen of Billerica and held many town offices from time to time." John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.
During the years that followed, John petitioned the town for financial help, describing himself as "a poor wounded man." 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." It was said that he was "an influential citizen of Billerica and held many town offices from time to time." John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.
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; D. 9 Oct 1755, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. John Kittredge (1666-1714), 3 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Abigail French — B. 6 Dec 1665; D. 13 Mar 1723; M. Benjamin Parker (1662-?), 10 Nov 1697
Children by Mary Rogers:
1. Mary French — B. 4 Mar 1670; D. 21 Aug 1740, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Nathan Shed (1669-?)
Children by Mary Littlefield:
1. John French — B. 15 May 1679, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 17 May 1748, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Ruth Richardson (1685-1730), 13 Feb 1707, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Elizabeth French — B. 24 Jul 1681, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 30 Sep 1754, Andover, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Abbott, 25 Dec 1706, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. William French — B. 26 Nov 1683, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 21 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Sarah French — B. 15 Sep 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Frost (1683-1737), 5 Apr 1710, Charlestown, Massachusetts
5. Hannah French — B. 18 Feb 1693; D. 12 Dec 1769; M. (1) Jonathan Richardson (1682-1720), 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; (2) Benjamin Frost (1688-1753), 15 Feb 1726, Billerica, Massachusetts
6. William French — B. 8 Aug 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 25 Feb 1746, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Mehitable Patten (1687-1743), about 1712
Sources:
"Lieutenant William French and his Descendants," John M. French, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1890
History of Billerica, Massachusetts: With a Genealogical Register, Henry Allen Hazen, 1883
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
Billerica, a centennial oration by the Rev. Elias Nason, July 4, 1876, 1876
