John French^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]}

1622 - 1692  (70 years)

• Name	John French  [1, 5, 6, 7, 10]
  Birth	26 May 1622	Thornydykes, Midlothian, Scotland   [1, 4]
  Christening	Lamorran, Cornwall, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	06 Aug 1692	Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States   [1, 4, 5]
  Person ID	I312684223854	Oswald Genealogy
  Last Modified	15 Jun 2025

  
  

  Family	Ellin Thompson,   b. Lancashire, England d. 23 Apr 1711, Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
  Marriage	08 Jul 1683	New England
  Family ID	F1697	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	15 Jun 2025

  
  

• Notes

  From FIND A GRAVE: French Family Association, Chart 5, John French, 1622 From FIND A GRAVE: French Family Association, Chart 5, John French, 1622: "Some say John was born on 26 May 1612 in England; others say he was born in 1622. Another says he was born in 1619 in Suffolkshire. Others say he was born in Dorsetshire, England. Some researchers say that John’s wife’s name was Grace Kingsley; others say her surname is unknown." John French married first to Grace and second to Eleanor (Ellen, Helen, Elinor), daughter of Rev. William and Abigail (Collins) (Bedle) Tompson and widow of William Veazie. The following compiled by Waldo Chamberlain Sprague. S.P.1-292 N.S., Widow Helen French declines to serve as administrator of John French Oct.12,1692. John & Dependence French are bonded with John Baxter and Joseph Crosby as administrators Oct.13,1692. S.P.13-66: John & Dependence made administrators of John French, yeoman, Oct.17,1692. 13-74: Inventory, Oct.24,1692 of John French Sr.North end of house & outhousing and 8 acres adjoining £60.18 a. at Peases Creek £45, 12 a. pasture near Dependence's £30.5 a. formerly Spear's £10, 120 acres at a place called Aldridges Farm about 12 a. therof meadow, the upland prized at 20 S per acres & the meadow at 40 S per acre £132.Total £317/10/4, taken by Samuel White, Nathaniel Wales, & Joseph Allen. 13-252: Account of John & Dependence as administrators of father John French. (Waldo Chamberlain Sprague Collection, Card 1761; New England Historic and Genealogical Society) John French was born in England near 1612 or 1615 He is first of record in America at Boston, but resided in Dorchester evidently as he was admitted to the church there Jan.27,1642(3) and two children were baptized there. He was made freeman of the Colony May 29,1644. On Feb.24,1639(40) he was granted forty acres of land at Braintree for 5 persons in the family. This land became the homestead and remained in the family for several generations; it was located in present Braintree at the easterly end of Elm St. where the old road used to join Commercial St. a little north of the present road. His wife was Grace - who died Feb.28,1680 a.59, says her gravestone, Hancock Cem., Quincy. He then married a second wife and a marriage covenant was drawn up, a curious document, dated July 8,1683 in which "the said John French doth pre-engage unto the said Eleanor Veazie not to meddle with, or take into his hand, any part of her estate, wherein she is invested by her former husband William Veazie, or any otherwise, nor any wise weakening her right or claim to the same. The said John French doth hereby covenant and engage to pay the said Eleanor Veazie after my decease four pounds per annum annually to be paid each year immediately ensuing after the said John French's decease, by his lawful administrators, executors, or assigns at her dwelling house; the specie of which payment shall be paid in cord wood, porke, beefe, malt or corn proportionally of each at prices current. And that she the said Eleanor Veazie shall have, hold, possess and enjoy the new end of the dwelling house in which the said French now dwelleth with the cellar appertaining, during the time of her widowhood. But the four pound annuity to bee and continue to her and her heirs or assigns during the term of her natural life. To the true performance whereof the said John French doth hereto set hand this eighth day of July Anno Domini one thousand six hundred eighty three ---- and she shall have apples what she please for spending, and a place for a garden plot." Sign'd John French, witness Samuel Tompson, Benj. Tompson. (Register 12-353). Eleanor Veazie was widow of William Veazie and daughter of Rev. William & Abigail (Collins) (Bedle) Thompson born about 1626 in England, died April 23, 1711 a. 85 ys, Hancock Cem. She was also called Ellen or Helen or Elinor. (Waldo Chamberlain Sprague Collection, Cards 1761R and 1762R; New England Historic and Genealogical Society) French A petition to the Court to divide the estate of John French was made by the heirs, and although undated must have been made not too long after his death on Aug. 6, 1692 at about 80 yrs (Town Rec) "The persons concerned in said estate are John French, the oldest son, Dependence French, Thomas French, Samuel French, William French, the orphan of William French deceased; two daughters viz: Temperance Bowditch wife of John Bowditch, Elizabeth Wheelock of Mendon, children of Mary Lamb deceased are Mary Poole (alias) Thayer by her first husband Poole, and John Lamb, Samuel Lamb, Margaret Lamb, Mary Lamb, Grace Lamb, Hannah Lamb, which, if your Honor shall please to grant will greatly oblige your humble servants." (Register Vol. 12-353) John French according to town records died 1692 aged "about 80 years" which places his birth near 1612, but on July 26, 1659 he made a deposition "aged 44 years or thereabouts"(Mass. Archives 39-66) which places his birth about 1615, this latter probably being more nearly correct. (Waldo Chamberlain Sprague Collection, Card 1763; New England Historic and Genealogical Society) It seems strange that John French had a land grant in Braintree in 1640, yet his first two children were born and baptized at Dorchester in 1641, and 1643. Perhaps his wife was a member of Dorchester Church before him. He was of Braintree in 1644 when he made freeman, and in 1645 when he was one of the petitioners to the General Court for land for a new plantation. Children of John & Grace, born at Braintree except 1st two * John Feb.28,1640(1) at Dorchester, bapt there Feb.12,1642(3). "Went to Weymouth", says Church Rec. * Thomas Jul.10,1643 at Dorchester, bapt. there Jul.2,1643(sic), died Oct.28,1656 at Braintree. (see note below) * Mary or Mercy near 1646, m. 1st about 1667-8, Samuel Poole of Weymouth. m. 2nd about 1677, John Lamb of Braintree. * Dependence Mar.7,1648/9 * Temperance Mar.30,1651, m. about 1682, John Bowditch. * William Mar.31,1653 * Elizabeth Sep.29,1655, m. 1st Jul.13,1680 at Medfield, Jonathan Thayer of Mendon. m. 2nd about 1692, Benjamin Wheelock Sr. of Medfield as 2nd wife. * Thomas (Mar.10,1657/8) date from Thayer Memorial, not on present town records, probably town off. * Samuel Feb.22,1659/60 (Waldo Chamberlain Sprague Collection; New England Historic and Genealogical Society, Card 1764) Note: information regarding Thomas French 1643 -1656 was copied exactly as recorded on the card. Mr. Sprague must have observed the date variation because of the "sic" that he added. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/French?iframe=ycolorized https://www.familytreedna.com/public/French?iframe=ycolorized Three test-takers, 2014-2023, all three testing as Haplogroup I Rated as I-M223: Two test-takers, well-matched. One claimed Eng with no target ancestor. The other said UK and specified John French with precise dates, b.1612, d.1692. The one submitting first, in 2014, contacted this writer, JB. He wishes to remain anonymous, has always lived in the Braintree area, has immigrant John French's wallet as a keepsake, plus an unusual family story about John's time in the English military pre-arrival. Rated as I-Y106107,one test-taker, more distantly related, claiming Scotland as origin, guessing his target match should be a vaguer John French of Braintree, dated 1615-1692. Maybe I-M223 and I-Y106107 had an early "ancestor in common" "back there", not here? Again, they were sufficiently similar for all three to be in the French surname's Group 25 See FamilyTreeDNA.com/public/French?iframe=ycolorized

  
  

• Sources

  [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, access geneology. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMHN-7F3 : 5 February 2023), John French in entry for Hugh French, 1639. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J79R-P62 : 4 February 2023), John Frenche, 1617. [S1173462465] FamilySearch.org, FamilySearch FamilyTree. [S1173462472] FamilySearch.org, Find a Grave Index, "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGM-Q8HX : Fri Apr 04 03:09:13 UTC 2025), Entry for John French. [S1173462533] FamilySearch.org, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQGK-ZJB : 5 February 2023), John French in entry for Thomas French, 1641. [S1173462533] FamilySearch.org, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, "England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGML-54N : 5 February 2023), John French in entry for John French, 1635. [S1173462605] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-4WT9?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DH-RM6%3A353350501%2C353649501%2C353649801 : 20 May 2014), Norfolk > Braintre. [S1173462605] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G979-4W7S?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DH-RM6%3A353350501%2C353649501%2C353649801 : 20 May 2014), Norfolk > Braintre. [S1173462615] FamilySearch.org, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCVY-YHB : 15 January 2020), John French in entry for Thomas French, 1651.