Thomas French b. 29 Oct 1639 Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England d. 3 May 1699 Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America: Tangled Roots

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1639 - 1699 (59 years)

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Name	Thomas French
Born	29 Oct 1639	Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England [1]
Gender	Male
Baptism	3 Nov 1639	Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England [2]
	Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
Buried	May 1699	Moorestown, Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America
	Address: Friends Burying Ground, Chester Meeting
Died	3 May 1699	Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America [3]
Person ID	I1386	TangledRoots
Last Modified	22 Oct 2021

Father	Thomas French, b. Abt 1610, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. Abt May 1673, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England (Age 63 years)
Mother	Sarah _____, b. Abt 1615, England , d. Abt Feb 1653, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England (Age 38 years)
Married	Abt 1636	Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England
Family ID	F770	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1 Jane Atkins, b. Abt 1639, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 5 Oct 1692, Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 53 years)

Married 12 Jun 1660 Whilton, Northamptonshire, England [4]

Address:
Pariash Church of Whilton

Notes

The following is taken from the parish records of the Church S, S, Peter and Paul, Nether Heyford, England, concerning the marriage of Thomas ffrench and Jane Atkins.

"Note. March 8 1663 The said Jane ffrench p'senting unto me John Bedford parson of Heiford A Consigned Certificate of the said Thomas ffrench jun & Jane Atkins both of Heiford pish Testifying that they the said Thomas & Jane w' marryed in the pish Church of Whilton June 12 1660 by M' Richard Morris then Minister there: Returning her Certificate of marriage backe againe into her owne custody, I thus entred the Record of ye said marriage at her request, into this my Heiford pish Register."

(Source: Howard Barclay French, "Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French", (Philadelphia, Privately Printed, 1909), pg. 64.)

Children

	1. Sara French, b. Abt 1661, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 10 Apr 1661, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England (Age 0 years)
	2. Jane French, b. Abt 11 Jul 1662, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 30 Apr 1671, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England (Age 8 years)
	3. Rachel French, b. 24 Mar 1664, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 1742 (Age 77 years)
	4. Richard French, b. 1 Dec 1665, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 9 Nov 1745, Mansfield, Burlington County, New Jersey, Brithsh Colonial America (Age 79 years)
	5. Thomas French, Jr., b. 1667, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. Abt 1745, Moorestown, Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 78 years)
	6. Hannah French, b. Abt 1669, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. Aft 1698, Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age > 30 years)
	7. Charles French, b. 20 Mar 1671, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 1741 (Age 69 years)
	8. John French, b. Abt 1673, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 1729, Burlington, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 56 years)
	9. Sarah French, b. Abt 1674, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. Yes, date unknown
	10. Mary French, b. Abt 1675, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. 21 Jan 1729, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 54 years)
	11. Jane French, b. Abt 1676, Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England , d. Yes, date unknown
	12. Lydia French, b. Abt 1682, Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America , d. Aft 1698 (Age > 17 years)
	13. infant French, b. Abt 1692, Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America , d. 12 Aug 1692, Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 0 years)

Last Modified 16 Jan 2022

Family ID F772 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Family 2 Elizabeth Stanton, b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , d. Yes, date unknown

Married 25 Sep 1696 Pennsylvania, British Colonial America [5]

Address:
Philadelphia Monthly Meeting

25da 7mo 1696

Children

1. Rebecca French, b. 8 Aug 1697, d. 1753 (Age 55 years)

Last Modified 16 Jan 2022

Family ID F774 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

Thomas ffrench, founder of the New Jersey branch of the French family, resided, in 1680, the year of his migration to America, in Nether Heyford, a parish in the hundred of Newbottle Grove, county of Northampton, seven miles south by west from the city of Northampton, England. This parish is very ancient, the church of S. S. Peter and Paul having been erected in the early part of the thirteenth century. the first patron was Roger de Heyford, in 1216. The register that has been preserved begins in 1558, showing the French family parishioners as far back as 1560. The church is a splendidly preserved specimen of Norman architecture. (Source: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings (Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909), pg. 40.)

...As will be observed, Thomas ffrench, the progenitor, was the son of Thomas and Sara ffrench. His baptism, in childhood, in 1639, in the Protestant Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Nether Heyford, England is recorded, but when the religious Society of Friends arose he with other members of the family became actively identified therewith, suffering for his faith at different times. Upon one occasion he was sentenced to imprisonment for forty-two months for refusal to pay tithes to the amount of eleven shillings, he being at the time a resident of Upper Norton, Oxfordshire. Five other names of this family appear in Beese's remarkable book, namely, George, Robert, John, William and Moses. Penalty was inflicted upon the latter five times. He served altogether several years in prison.
...That Thomas ffrench was a man of great force of character, intense religious conviction and earnestm, consistent life, is abundantly evident. he shared with his associates trials and hardships and always resented everything bearing the slightest resemblance to injustice or oppresion. A glance a the most vigorous efforts were made to suppress the Society of Friends. Their meetings were outlawed, their property unjustly taken, through fines and the imposition of tithes, and great numbers were thrown into prison, where they were cruelly treated, hundreds suffering unto deathl.
...Following is a literal copy of references to Thomas ffrench in "Sufferings of the People Called Quakers":
..."Thomas French, of Upper Norton, was imprisoned, in 1657, at suit of William Thomas, a lawyer and renter of Tithes, and for a demand of but eleven shillings for Tithes suffered two and forty months imprisonment." Vol. I, p. 564.
..."Thomas French was taken from meeting at Banbury, in 1662, and committed to prison." Vol.I, p. 568.
..."Thomas French, 1666, taken at meeting at house of Elizabeth White, at Coggs, near Whitney, committed to House of Correction for one month." Vol. I, p. 571.

Thomas ffrench was among the first to take a practical interest in the colonization of Friends in America. With William Penn, Gauen Laurie, Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, Edward Byllnge and about one hundred and fifty others, he signed the famous "Concessions and Agreements,: at London in 1676, which provided for the settlement of New Jersey, It is evident from records that he made a preliminary prospecting visit to this country, to locate his land and select a home site. He has left an account of the coming of himself and family, three years after the arrival of the pioneer colonists. He sailed from London, in the ship Kent, Gregory Marlowe, master---the same vessel which brought the first company of settlers in 1677 to Burlington---about the 1st of August, 1680, with his wife and nine children, four sons and five daughters, the oldest child being sixteen, while the youngest was not yet four years of age. He settled upon a tract of 600 acres of desirable land located along the banks of the Rancocas, about four miles from Burlington. Throughout the remainder of his life he held and influential place in the colony and prospered in business. He was commisioner of highways 1684-5. At his death, in 1699, he was possessed of some 1,200 acres of improved land and also his proprietary share of unsurveyed lands, approximately, 2000 acres. During nearly twenty years residence as a leading citizen of Burlington County, Thomas ffrench trained all his children in ways of sobriety, industry, and religion, they in turn founding families in whom traits of stron characher were noted. Each performed his and her share in the prosperous and happy development of colonial life. (Source: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings(Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909), pg. 43-48.)

THOMAS FFRENCH'S FAMILY BIBLE
The family Bible of Thomas ffrench, printed in 1630 and brought by him to this country in 1680. The record presented and transcribed is in the handwriting of the progenitor, evidently having been set down at different times, under varying circumstances and influences, throughout a period covering over thirty years, the last entry being made a little while after the death of the long-time companion who had borne him thirteen children. Some of the lines have faded and a few words are quite illegible.
Copy of the writing.
Thomas ffrench and Jane his wife, and Jane and Rachel his children.
Jane was born about a fortnight before Saint James (in the Church Calendar July 25) in the year 1662.
Rachel was born March the 24, 1663
Rachel was born March the 24, 1664. She alone was ris.

...In the year 1673 was a very stormy year for the waters did sore break out of their bounds and was a very wet season, such wet May day, after which floods that flooded the meadows when they were ready to mow and drove away in many stacks and bindings of hay, and we had a summer like unto winter for cold and wet for the general year.
...I and my wife and nine children through the great mercy of God came into this country and landed at Burlington, the 23 of the 7 month 1680. Thomas ffrench.
...The Lord in heaven have mercy upon me.
...Thomas ffrench his book. God give him grace in ____ Then was I in great sorrow and tribulation. The Lord deliver me out of them all.
...Tho. French his book. God give him grace in Jesus Lord and when the bell for me doth toll, good Lord in heaven do rest my soul.
...The Lord deliver me out of all my troubles and pardon my sins. Lord bless all that (He) hath given in hand.
...The Lord deliver me in time of trouble and in time of adversity, and Lord deliver me from all my enemies.
...I Thomas ffrench was married to my wife Jane, June 12, 1660. December the first about ten at night my son Richard was born, 1665. The Lord give him grace that he may continually walk before Him.
...I Thomas ffrench was baptized November the 3, 1639. My son Thomas was born ____ in 1667 between 8 and nine o’clock at night. 1671 my son Charles was born, the 20 day of March between 11 and 12 at night.
...In the year 1673 was a very strange ___.
...The Lord be gracious and merciful unto me which way so ever I go whether it be out of the land or in the land or on the sea, the Lord be merciful unto. This was wrote in the year 1664.
...My wife Jane deceased this life fifth day of the 8 month 1692.
...My youngest child died the 12 of the same.
...William French the son of Richard ffrench and Mary was born April the 7 in the year 1712.
...Sarah French the daughter of Richard French and Mary was born the 20th day of the 7th month 1715.
...All prophesies were given by inspiration and written for Learning upon whom the ends of the world are come.
...Rachel French the daughter of Richard Jun. And Rachel was born the 12th day of the 11th month 1722.
...Benjamin French 1737
...William French his book May 10th 17__ Thomas ffrench
(Reference: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings(Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909), pg. 52-63.)

...Thomas ffrench, in accordance with the custom of his family for generations, and that of nearly all Prostestant Englishmen of his time, had his children baptized in the Church of England, notwithstanding his early sympathy and unity with the Society of Friends. The obligation thus assumed, as to religioius care and training of his children, was faithfully kept, the family Bible being an impressive witness in this respect.
...The following is taken from the parish records of the Church S. S. Peter and Paul, Nether Heyford, England, concerning the marriage of Thomas ffrench and Jane Atkins.
..."Note. March 8 1663 The said Jane ffrench prsenting unto me John Bedford parson Heiford A Consigned Certificate of the said
...Thomas ffrench jun and Jane Atkins both of Heiford pish Testifying that they the said Thomas & Jane wr marryed in the pish Church of Whilton June 12 1660 by mr Richard Morris then Minister there: Returning her Certificate of marriage backe againe into her owne custody, I thus entred the Record of ye said marriage at her request, into this my Heiford pish Register."
...Thomas ffrench and Jane his wife were buried in a private burial lot, sixteen and one half feet square, on the homestead plantation. Rancocas, N. J., and this reservation was mentioned in deeds and observed for many years. Its exact location is now unknown. (Source: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings (Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909), .pg. 65.)

WILL OF THOMAS FFRENCH, 1698
I Being intended if the Lord will goe for Old England not knowing whether I shall ever returne againe to my ffamily doe make & ordaine this my last will & Testamt Revokeing all other Wills and promises whatsoever In manner & forme following. I give unto my wife Elizabeth after my decease if shee be the longer liver the House & Plantation where now I live with four Hundred Acres of Land belonging to it with Twenty Acres of Meadow as it is surveyed and Recorded In the place next below the Land of John Test Together with the Use of all my Stock & Household goods with the Corne growing upon the ground To have & to hold the same dureing her naturall life without Impeachment of Wast. I give unto my Sonne Charles ffrench Two hundred Acres of land lyeing next John Hudsons with the ffour or ffive Acres of Clear land at Creek with ye Little Meadow lyeing by it to him and Heirs forever allowing my wife Elizabeth Egresse & Regresse to Transport any goods or Hay: I give unto my Sonne Charles ffrench after the Decease of my & my wife to him & his Heires forever Provided that hee pay that which I shall appint him to pay all the Plantation where now I live together with the dwelling house Barnes & other Outhouses Gardens Orchards Arrable Land & Clear land Together with four Hundred Acres of Land belonging to the Plantation aforesaid also Twenty Acres of Meadow Together with two hundred Acres of land belonging to the Meadow Also Six Hundred Acres of Land more which shall or may fall to me In my Third takeing up my Will is that my sonne Charles ffrench shall pay out of the Lands and Plantation aforesaid unto the rest of his Brothers & Sisters as followeth, I give unto my Daughter Rachell Allen to her & her Heires Twenty pounds. I give unto my Daughter Sarah Wood to her & herselfe alone as she shall have need of it her Husband shall not have noe part or share in it to her & her Heires Twenty Pounds. I give unto my Daughter Mary Busby to her & her Heirs twenty Pounds. I give unto my Daughter Jane Hall to her & her Heires Twenty pounds. I give unto my Daughter Lydia French Twenty pounds. I give unto my sonne Thomas ffrench Six Shillings. I give unto my sonne John French Six Shilligs. I give unto my Sonne Richard French Six Shillings. I give unto my sonne Richard French all the Reversion of my Eighth par of a Propriety and that Lott at Burlington upon which Richard Bassnett hath buildt Houses upon to him & his Heires forever. I give unto my Sonne Charles ffrench all my Yard land in the ppish of neather Heyford to him & his Heires forever In old England. My Will is that my Sonne Charles ffrench shall pay all my Debts and Thirty pounds to my youngest Daughter Rebecca ffrench out of the Yard Land aforesaid if Rebecca shall live to the Age of Eighteen yeares and if Rebecca shall happen to die before shee come to the Age of Eighteen yeares then the Thirty pounds shall be paid unto & amongst my Five younger Daughters to Hannah Busby & Sarah Wood Mary Busby Jane Hall & Lydia ffrench my Will is that after the decease of me & my Wife that my Goods shall be divided amongst all my Daughters mention in my Will. And also my Will is that if I & my Wife Elizabeth shall happen to die before my youngest Daughter Rebecca is brought up that then my Sonne Charles ffrench shall bring her up or else to allow her Five pounds a year untill shee come to the Age of Ten yeares for & towards the bringing of her up. In Witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale the Third day of the fourth month called June (1698)
Thomas ffrench (seal)

Sealed & delivered in ye presence of John Paine Tho: Eves John Hollinshed junr
The above written is a true Coppy of the Originall will or Codecill of Thomas ffrench above named, being with the same Originall Examined this Third Day of May Anno Dom 1699 as witnefse hereunto my and & seale of Office
Tho: Revell Secry & Regr
(Reference: Compiled and Published by Howard Barclay French, Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French - Volume I: With some account of Colonial Manners and Doings (Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1909). pg. 76-77.)

...Thomas French, the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah French (Ffrench), was born in Nether Heyford, England, Oct 1639, and on 3 Nov 1639, was baptized in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in that parish. He was reared in the faith of the Church of England, but as a young man was attracted to the doctrine preached by the Society of Friends (Quakers), and was one of the most enthusiastic followers of George Fox. As a Quaker he suffered many persecutions and trials (documentation on record) for his beliefs and spent many months in prison.
...He had met and fallen in love with Jane Atkins, of Nether Heyford, at this time and on 12 Jun 1660, they were married in the parish church at Whilton, Northamptonshire, England by the Rev. Richard Morris. Why they were not married in their own parish is not clear, but on 8 Mar 1663, at the request of Jane (Atkins) French, the Rev. John Bedford, of Nether Heyford, entered the marriage in his records.

...Over the next few years England was too warm for Thomas French. The authorities were continually annoying himn because of his Quaker principles. It is no wonder that he took keen interest in the plans of William Penn and other leading Friends to found a religious asylum in the "New World". In Mar 1676, the "Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Province of West New Jersey, in America", were published. This is one of the great historic documents in America, for it formulated the principles of equality and righteousness which were afterwards incorporated the Government of the colony, but also provided for fair dealings with the abrigines of New Jersey. It was signed by 150 prominent Quakers, headed by William Penn, and among the signatures on that immortal Constitution the name of Thomas French was conspicuous.

...In 1677 the famous ship, "Kent", under the command of Gregory Marlowe, sailed from England, conveying the first English families to colonize West New Jersey. It is not known whether Thomas French was on this vessel, but it is a known fact that he came alone to America to look over tha land and make plans for his home. Then he returned to England for his family, and on 1 Aug 1680, he and his family came to New Jersey on teh "Kents's" second voyage. In due time they arrived in Burlington County, and settled on a tract of 600 acres on the banks of the Rancocas Creek, about four miles from the newly founded city of Burlington. 8 May 1692, his wife, Jane, died at their home at Rancocas, New Jersey. While his grief was no doubt great at the loss of this staunch companion who had been by his side through his troubled years, 6 Jun 1694, he announced his intention to go to England, and asked two close Friends to inquire into his "Clearness upon the Account of Marriage" and by their report as also several other neighbors the meeting was satisfied to give him a "Certificate from the Meeting" which was accordingly done. This procedure meant that the Meeting was requested to issue to Thomas French a certificate showing that he had not entangled himself with other women - that he might freely wed the lady of his choice. 25 Jul 1695, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Stanton, a member of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where the ceremony was performed.
...Thomas French was destined to survive this marriage only a few years; he died in 1699 at Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, and was buried beside his first wife in the fas burial plot, on his plantation in Rancocas. From his will, it would appear that in his last years he had contemplated returning to England - as he had planned in 1694 - but death evidently altered his intention. At his death he was one of the largest landowners in the Province, possessing 1200 acres of improved land, and in addition to this domain, his proprietary shares of unsurveyed land gave him approximately 2000 acres.
...Thomas French was a man of strong and forceful character, and was blunt and outspoken in his comments. He frequently had cause to regret his hasty remarks and actions, and seldom hesitated to apologize, if he believed he was in the wrong. Nor would he refuse to retract his statements if, in his opinion, he had justice on his side. He was a deeply religious man, and performed his tasks as a member of the Society of Friends with conscientiousness and devotion.
...Thomas French, in accordance with the custom of his family for generations, and that of nearly all Protestant Englishmen of his time, had his children baptized in the Church of England, notwithstandinghis early sympathy and unity with the Society of Friends. The obligation thus assumed, as to the reliqious care and training of his children, was faithfully kept, the family Bible being an impressive witness in this respect. He had issued, by his first wife, Jane: Sara (died and infant), Jane, Rachel, Richard, Thomas, Hannah, Charles, John, Sarah, Mary, Jane, Lydia, an infant; by his second wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Rebecca.

Will proved: 3 May 1699

25 Jul 1696, Thomas French letter to marry Elizabeth Stanton. (Reference: Hinshaw, pg. 528)