M. (1) in England
Wife: Elizabeth
M. (2) 6 May 1669 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary Lothrop
D. 20 Nov 1681 in Billerica, Massachusetts
When the Puritans came to New England during the 1630s, their primary motivation was to create a religious utopia. And in the early years, they sought to teach the natives who lived around them about their version of the spiritual world in order to "save" them. Men like William French contributed to this effort, and this was documented in a 1652 book.
Many have done research on where William had his origins in England, and research presented in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register in 2023 has shed new light on it. Based on his age in various later records, he would have been born in about 1604. It’s believed that his parents were William French and Elizabeth Newes who married in Bures St. Mary in 1603. There’s a gap in parish records of Bures St. Mary, so William’s christening is missing, but two sons who were christened in 1606 and 1608 show up in records from a parish 4 miles away. Y-DNA testing supports that William was closely related to John French who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts by 1637. Other documents also suggest a close relationship, and they were most likely brothers.
William married a woman named Elizabeth at an unknown date and they had at least three children born in England. On July 18, 1635, William and his family boarded the ship Defence, bound for America. They landed at Boston on October 8th. The passenger list showed William, Elizabeth, and children Elizabeth (age 6), Mary (age 2) and John (age 5 months). There was also a boy, Francis (age 10), but it isn't certain that he was William and Elizabeth's son. William was entered on the passenger list as a servant to Roger Harlakenden.
The French family settled first at Cambridge, and they had six children born there. William was made a freeman on March 3, 1636 and a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company in 1638. His home in Cambridge was on what is now the west side of Dunster Street about midway between Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street. He bought this property in 1639 and sold it to William Barrett on June 10th, 1656.
For nine years, William served on a committee to examine children and servants in "reading, religion and the catechism." A letter written by William giving the testimony of an Indian convert was published in London in a 1652 book called, Strength Out of Weakness. In it, he questioned the converted Indian, asking such things as, "Do you think that God will do you any good for any good that is in you?" William's explanation of why he conducted the interview is as follows:
“The best news I can write you from New England is the Lord is indeed converting the Indians, and for the refreshing of your heart, and the hearts of all the godly with you, I have sent you the relation of one Indian of two years profession, that I took from his own mouth by an interpreter, because he cannot speak or understand one word of English.”
In 1653, William became one of the earliest settlers of a place that was called Shawshin. The tract of land he purchased consisted of 113 acres of upland and 12 acres of meadow. It was said that because William and others came from places near Billericay in Essex County, England, that this is why they chose to rename their settlement Billerica.
William seems to have been one the leaders in Billerica. In one of the town’s earliest civic appointments, he was chosen on July 15, 1659 as “commissioner for making the country rate,” and that year, he was the first man "to sit in the deacon's seat.” It was said that William was authorized to join people in marriage. In March 1660, he was made one of the first five Billerica selectmen. He was the town’s first representative at the General Court in Boston, appointed in 1660 and taking his seat in 1663. He also became a lieutenant of the militia, and afterwards, a captain. As a lieutenant, he did garrison duty during King Philip's War.
William's wife Elizabeth died on March 31, 1668, and he married a widow named Mary (Lathrop) Stearns on May 6, 1669. Though he was an old man, they had four daughters, the youngest being born when he was at least 70. William died on November 20, 1681. He was buried at Old South Burying Ground, Billerica, Massachusetts.
Famous descendants of William French include Eli Whitney, Samuel F.B. Morse, Walt Disney, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Vice-President Henry A. Wallace.
Children by Elizabeth:
1. Elizabeth French — B. before 5 Sep 1629, England; D. 21 Jul 1697, Dedham, Massachusetts; M. Richard Ellis (1629-1694), 19 Sep 1650, Dedham, Massachusetts
2. Mary French — B. about Jan 1633, England; D. 27 May 1672, Newton, Massachusetts; M. Jonathan Hyde (~1620-1711), 1 Feb 1651, Massachusetts
3. John French — B. about Feb 1635, Halstead, England; D. 17 Oct 1712, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. (1) Abigail Coggan (1637-1662), 21 Jun 1659, Barnstable, Massachusetts; (2) Hannah Burrage (1643-1667), 3 Jul 1662, Billerica, Massachusetts; (3) Mary Rogers (1643-1677), 14 Jan 1668, Billerica, Massachusetts; (4) Mary Littlefield (1646-1719), 16 Jan 1678, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Sarah French — B. Mar 1638, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 14 Oct 1694, Roxbury, Massachusetts; M. Jonathan Peake (1637-1700), 15 Aug 1660, Roxbury, Massachusetts
5. Jacob French — B. 6 Jan 1640, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 20 May 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mary Champney (1639-1681), 20 Sep 1665, Cambridge, Massachusetts; (2) Mary Convers (1655-1686), 3 Jun 1685, Cambridge, Massachusetts; (3) Mary _______ (1650-1709); (4) Ruth ______ (1650-1730)
6. Hannah French — B. 12 Apr 1643, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 30 Jun 1643
7. Hannah French — B. 16 Feb 1644, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 9 May 1674, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. John Brackett (1637-1687), 6 Sep 1661, Braintree, Massachusetts
8. Samuel French — B. 3 Dec 1645, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 15 Jul 1646, Cambridge, Massachusetts
9. Samuel French — B. about 1647, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 4 Nov 1724, Dunstable, Massachusetts; M. Sarah Cummings (1661-?), 24 Dec 1682, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Children by Mary Lathrop:
1. Mary French — B. 30 Apr 1670 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1729; M. (1) Robert Sharp (~1665-~1693), 20 Jun 1687; (2) Nathaniel Duncklee (~1669-?), 23 Mar 1693
2. Sarah French — B. 29 Oct 1671 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. Jul 1727, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Crosby (1669-1736), 6 May 1691, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. Abigail French — B. 14 Apr 1673 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 13 Apr 1674, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Hannah French — B. 25 Jan 1676, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 2 Jan 1766, Watertown, Massachusetts; M. John Child (1669-1743), 5 Sep 1693, Watertown, Massachusetts
Resources:
WikiTree
New England families, genealogical and memorial, Vol. 3, William Richard Cutter, 1997
History of Billerica, Massachusetts With a Genealogical Register, Henry Allen Hazen, 1883
A genealogical history of the French and allied families, Mary Elizabeth Queal Beyer, 1912
New England historical and genealogical register, Vol. 44, Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, 1890
Strength Out of Weakness, 1652
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, David Hackett Fischer, 1989
“From The English Origins and Family of Brothers William French and John French of Cambridge, Massachusetts,” Kory L. Meyerink, NEHGR, Vol. 177, No. 1, 2023:
Famous Kin listing of William French
The French family settled first at Cambridge, and they had six children born there. William was made a freeman on March 3, 1636 and a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company in 1638. His home in Cambridge was on what is now the west side of Dunster Street about midway between Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street. He bought this property in 1639 and sold it to William Barrett on June 10th, 1656.
For nine years, William served on a committee to examine children and servants in "reading, religion and the catechism." A letter written by William giving the testimony of an Indian convert was published in London in a 1652 book called, Strength Out of Weakness. In it, he questioned the converted Indian, asking such things as, "Do you think that God will do you any good for any good that is in you?" William's explanation of why he conducted the interview is as follows:
“The best news I can write you from New England is the Lord is indeed converting the Indians, and for the refreshing of your heart, and the hearts of all the godly with you, I have sent you the relation of one Indian of two years profession, that I took from his own mouth by an interpreter, because he cannot speak or understand one word of English.”
Title page of the book Strength Out of Weakness.
In 1653, William became one of the earliest settlers of a place that was called Shawshin. The tract of land he purchased consisted of 113 acres of upland and 12 acres of meadow. It was said that because William and others came from places near Billericay in Essex County, England, that this is why they chose to rename their settlement Billerica.
William seems to have been one the leaders in Billerica. In one of the town’s earliest civic appointments, he was chosen on July 15, 1659 as “commissioner for making the country rate,” and that year, he was the first man "to sit in the deacon's seat.” It was said that William was authorized to join people in marriage. In March 1660, he was made one of the first five Billerica selectmen. He was the town’s first representative at the General Court in Boston, appointed in 1660 and taking his seat in 1663. He also became a lieutenant of the militia, and afterwards, a captain. As a lieutenant, he did garrison duty during King Philip's War.
William's wife Elizabeth died on March 31, 1668, and he married a widow named Mary (Lathrop) Stearns on May 6, 1669. Though he was an old man, they had four daughters, the youngest being born when he was at least 70. William died on November 20, 1681. He was buried at Old South Burying Ground, Billerica, Massachusetts.
Famous descendants of William French include Eli Whitney, Samuel F.B. Morse, Walt Disney, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Vice-President Henry A. Wallace.
Children by Elizabeth:
1. Elizabeth French — B. before 5 Sep 1629, England; D. 21 Jul 1697, Dedham, Massachusetts; M. Richard Ellis (1629-1694), 19 Sep 1650, Dedham, Massachusetts
2. Mary French — B. about Jan 1633, England; D. 27 May 1672, Newton, Massachusetts; M. Jonathan Hyde (~1620-1711), 1 Feb 1651, Massachusetts
3. John French — B. about Feb 1635, Halstead, England; D. 17 Oct 1712, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. (1) Abigail Coggan (1637-1662), 21 Jun 1659, Barnstable, Massachusetts; (2) Hannah Burrage (1643-1667), 3 Jul 1662, Billerica, Massachusetts; (3) Mary Rogers (1643-1677), 14 Jan 1668, Billerica, Massachusetts; (4) Mary Littlefield (1646-1719), 16 Jan 1678, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Sarah French — B. Mar 1638, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 14 Oct 1694, Roxbury, Massachusetts; M. Jonathan Peake (1637-1700), 15 Aug 1660, Roxbury, Massachusetts
5. Jacob French — B. 6 Jan 1640, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 20 May 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mary Champney (1639-1681), 20 Sep 1665, Cambridge, Massachusetts; (2) Mary Convers (1655-1686), 3 Jun 1685, Cambridge, Massachusetts; (3) Mary _______ (1650-1709); (4) Ruth ______ (1650-1730)
6. Hannah French — B. 12 Apr 1643, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 30 Jun 1643
7. Hannah French — B. 16 Feb 1644, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 9 May 1674, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. John Brackett (1637-1687), 6 Sep 1661, Braintree, Massachusetts
8. Samuel French — B. 3 Dec 1645, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 15 Jul 1646, Cambridge, Massachusetts
9. Samuel French — B. about 1647, Cambridge, Massachusetts; D. 4 Nov 1724, Dunstable, Massachusetts; M. Sarah Cummings (1661-?), 24 Dec 1682, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Children by Mary Lathrop:
1. Mary French — B. 30 Apr 1670 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1729; M. (1) Robert Sharp (~1665-~1693), 20 Jun 1687; (2) Nathaniel Duncklee (~1669-?), 23 Mar 1693
2. Sarah French — B. 29 Oct 1671 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. Jul 1727, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Crosby (1669-1736), 6 May 1691, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. Abigail French — B. 14 Apr 1673 Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 13 Apr 1674, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Hannah French — B. 25 Jan 1676, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 2 Jan 1766, Watertown, Massachusetts; M. John Child (1669-1743), 5 Sep 1693, Watertown, Massachusetts
Resources:
WikiTree
New England families, genealogical and memorial, Vol. 3, William Richard Cutter, 1997
History of Billerica, Massachusetts With a Genealogical Register, Henry Allen Hazen, 1883
A genealogical history of the French and allied families, Mary Elizabeth Queal Beyer, 1912
New England historical and genealogical register, Vol. 44, Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, 1890
Strength Out of Weakness, 1652
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, David Hackett Fischer, 1989
“From The English Origins and Family of Brothers William French and John French of Cambridge, Massachusetts,” Kory L. Meyerink, NEHGR, Vol. 177, No. 1, 2023:
Famous Kin listing of William French
