M. 9 Feb 1807 in Bedford, New Hampshire
Wife: Agnes Riddle
D. 1 Mar 1847 in Prospect, Maine
During early 19th century, William French moved to a place that later generations viewed as a tourist destination — the rugged coast of Maine. He operated a farm not far from the rocky shoreline, and his house survives to this day.
William was born in Bedford, New Hampshire on March 24, 1781 to Stephen French and Dolly Coburn. William had ten siblings, although there were said to be three others who died young. His father was a tanner who collected animal skins from farmers, treating the hides to make leather, and William likely learned this trade from his father.
On February 9, 1807, William married a woman from Bedford named Agnes Riddle. Unlike his English Puritan roots, she was of a Scots-Irish heritage, and their bond brought the two ethnicities together. At the time of his marriage, William made a living as a stone cutter, but it’s likely he didn’t work very long in this profession. The couple soon left Bedford for Prospect, Maine, located on a coastal inlet. William’s first child was born there in 1809, and seven more followed, with the last two being twin girls born in 1828. All of the children were given his wife’s maiden name as a middle name, except for one of the daughters who was named for William’s mother.
In 1814, William purchased a house on 100 acres of farmland near the water. The location was at the mouth of the Penobscot River, and part of the land that jutted out into the bay became known as French’s Point, a name that survives on maps to this day. The house he purchased had been built in the late 18th century by an early settler named Benjamin Shute, and it’s believed that William made a substantial addition to it. William’s home remained in the family for many decades, and today is being used to house families attending destination weddings held on the property.
French's Point in Stockton Springs, Maine.
Along with running a farm, William had other interests that brought him income. He owned a tannery in the nearby town of Searsport, three-quarters of a carding and clothing mill, and shares of two schooners. Prospect was a center for shipbuilding in Maine’s fishing and whaling industries, so investing in sailing vessels was a profitable business. William also owned two other houses in the area, and this may have provided rental income as well.
None of William’s siblings ever moved from Bedford, but he likely kept in close contact with his family in New Hampshire. One of his second cousins, Franklin Pierce, became a senator in 1842, and later, the 14th president of the United States. On March 1, 1847, William died in Prospect and was buried at Sandy Point Cemetery. His wife, Agnes, survived him by five years, passing away in 1852.
Children:
1. James Riddle French – B. 18 Jun 1809, Prospect, Maine; D. 23 Mar 1857, Stockton Springs, Maine; M. (1) Nancy Riddle French (1811-1848), 13 Sep 1832, Bedford, New Hampshire; (2) Sophia Newell Kittredge (1824-1900), 7 Aug 1849, Nelson, New Hampshire
2. Sarah Ann French – B. 27 Nov 1810, Prospect, Maine; D. 28 May 1839; M. Nathan Cutler (1799-1881), 12 Jun 1834, Prospect, Maine
3. William Riddle French – B. 27 Feb 1812, Prospect, Maine; D. 3 Mar 1880; M. Augusta Maria Eustis (1827-1909), 13 Dec 1855, Prospect, Maine
4. John Riddle French — B. 15 Dec 1814, Prospect, Maine; M. Eliza Jane Black (1816-?), 29 Aug 1837, Prospect, Maine
5. Dolly Coburn French – B. 17 Apr 1818, Prospect, Maine; D. 17 Jul 1905, Stockton Springs, Maine; M. Alexander Black (1814-1890), 6 Feb 1842, Prospect, Maine
6. Robert Riddle French – B. 28 Dec 1824, Prospect, Maine; D. 11 Oct 1890, Stockton Springs, Maine; M. Frances A. Stowers (1827-1908), 13 Sep 1850, Maine
7. Nancy Riddle French – B. 11 Jun 1828, Prospect, Maine; D. 15 Sep 1860, Prospect, Maine; M. Samuel Addison Stowers (1823-1865), 19 Dec 1850, Prospect, Maine
8. Mary Riddle French — B. 11 Jun 1828, Prospect, Maine; D. May 1832
Sources:
The History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737, Rumford Printing Company, 1903
Historical Sketches of Stockton Springs, Faustina Hichborn, 1908
New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources: Bedford Center Historic District, 2013
“A Brief History of French’s Point,” 2011, French’s Point (website)
Maine County Probate Records, 1760-1979, FamilySearch.org
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