B. 10 Jun 1754 in Dracut, Massachusetts
M. 7 Jan 1773 in Dracut, Massachusetts
Husband: Stephen French
D. 13 Oct 1835 in Bedford, New Hampshire
Dorothy Coburn came from a small family in colonial America, but she made up for that by producing her own large family, one that substantially boosted the population of Bedford, New Hampshire.
Dorothy, who went by the name Dolly, came from Dracut, Massachusetts, the town where her great-great grandfather, Edward Coburn first settled in 1654. She was born 100 years later on June 10, 1754 to Ebenezer Coburn and Sarah Whiting, the second of their three children. Older brother Phineas and younger brother Leonard were both soldiers in the American Revolution, serving as Minutemen in 1775. Phineas died in Boston early in the war; Leonard, who served on several campaigns, died in 1785.
On January 7, 1773, Dolly married Stephen French, a tanner who lived in New Hampshire. The wedding took place in Dracut, but soon after they settled in Bedford, New Hampshire, where they spent the rest of their lives. Dolly’s first child was born in April 1774; she was said to have had 14 children with the youngest born in 1801. Only 11 of the children are known by name, so presumably the other three died young.
One-by-one, Stephen and Dolly’s surviving children married (only son James did not), and most produced large families. A couple of the children moved out of the area, but eight stayed in Bedford. Dolly’s husband built a house big enough for two families to live in, and eventually sons Leonard and Daniel did so. It’s easy to imagine Dolly having much contact with her grandchildren as they grew up. At some point, Dolly’s parents also moved from Dracut to Bedford; her father died in 1799, and her mother was well into her 90s when she passed away in 1825.
By 1830, Dolly and her husband seemed to have moved into the household of their son Stephen. In his old age, Stephen Sr. had a “protracted and distressing illness,” but it isn’t known if Dolly also had any serious health issues. He passed away first on November 16, 1832, and Dolly followed three years later on October 13, 1835. She left behind a numerous family of 10 children, 71 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren — a total of 102 living descendants. Dolly was buried alongside Stephen at Bedford Center Cemetery.
Children:
1. Ebenezer French – B. 28 Apr 1774, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 20 Nov 1846, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. Rhoda Coburn (1780-1853), 16 Nov 1697, Merrimack, New Hampshire
2. Stephen French – B. 7 Nov 1775, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 4 Sep 1850, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. Hannah Swett (1777-?), 1800, Bedford, New Hampshire
3. Dolly French – B. 9 Nov 1778, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 12 Nov 1858, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. Gawn Riddle (1777-1837), 20 Feb 1800, Merrimack, New Hampshire
4. William French — B. 24 Mar 1781, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 1 Mar 1847, Prospect, Maine; M. Agnes Riddle (1781-1852), 9 Feb 1807, Bedford, New Hampshire
5. Sarah French – B. 10 Apr 1782, (probably) Bedford, New Hampshire; M. William McDole McPherson (1778-1869), 15 Mar 1804, Bedford, New Hampshire
6. Leonard Coburn French – B. 10 Feb 1785, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 23 Feb 1868, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. Nancy Hutchinson (1787-1870), 26 Jan 1808, Bedford, New Hampshire
7. Elizabeth French – B. 28 Apr 1789, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 2 Apr 1877, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. William Bursiel (1780-1857), 12 Feb 1807, Bedford, New Hampshire
8. Phineas French – B. 14 Dec 1791, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. (1) Hannah Cutler (1792-1845), Dec 1813; (2) Mary Patten, 8 Apr 1847
9. James French – B. 22 Nov 1794, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 3 Mar 1878, Bedford, New Hampshire
10. Reverend Daniel L. French – B. 28 Jan 1796, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. 20 Jul 1860, Hudson, New Hampshire; M. Polly Riddle (1797-1880), 10 Oct 1820, Bedford, New Hampshire
11. Robert W. French – B. 31 Oct 1801, Bedford, New Hampshire; D. Feb 1880, Bedford, New Hampshire; M. Harriet Parker (1812-?), 24 Apr 1832, Bedford, New Hampshire
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