Sgt. Jacob French

Jacob French

• Birth: Jan. 16, 1640 - Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• Death: May 20, 1713 - Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts
• Burial: Old South Burying Ground Billerica Middlesex County Massachusetts, USA
• Son of William French Jr. and Elizabeth (Unknown)

Biography

Jacob French was born on 16 January 1639/40 in Cambridge, Middlesex co., MA[9,63]. On 20 September 1665 when Jacob was 26, he first married Mary CHAMPNEY, in Billerica, Middlesex co., MA[9]. On 30 June 1685 when Jacob was 46, he second married Mary CONVERS, in Billerica, Middlesex co., MA[9]. Jacob third married Mary [surname not known]. His fourth wife was Ruth MOORE, widow of Daniel Shed.

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/French-1136

Birth

Jacob was born on 16 March 1639 in the then town of Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts. He was the fifth child of William French Jr. and Elizabeth (Unknown) French.[1][2] He resided with his family on the westerly side of Dunster Street about midway between Harvard Square and Mt. Auburn Street, an estate his father had purchased in that same year. He would later move to Billerica,[3] probably around 1656 when his father sold the estate on June 10, 1656. William then brought the family to the newly-formed town of Billerica founded along the banks of the Shawsheen River, as he had been granted lot 24 of 150 acres in the Shawshine grant.[4] Jacob may have been about 17 years of age.

Marriage(s) & Family

At the age of 26, Jacob first married Mary (Champney) French (1639-1681) on 20 Sep 1665 in Billerica 'before Thomas Danforth, Esq.'[1][5] The young couple lived on the "East Road" near the home of his brother John. Jacob's house was one of the original garrisons[6] of 1675. He was a sergeant in the Militia that had been formed to protect the town of Billerica.[7] His brother, John, was a Colonel.[8]

Jacob and Mary had ten children before her death in 1861. Of the ten children, only four lived to adulthood.[1]

1. Jacob, b. December 1666; d. 1700
2. William French (1668-1723); m. Sarah Danforth
3. Mary, b. August 1669; d. Sep 1669
4. John French (1670-1670), b. August 1670; d. Dec 1670
5. Joseph, b. March 1673; d. Sep 1676
6. Jabez, b. & d. 16 July 1674
7. Mary Abigail French (1677-1727); m. Jonathan Baldwin
8. Hannah, b. & d. 23 August 1677
9. Elizabeth (French) Manning (1679-1736); m. William Manning
10. Sarah (French) Baldwin (1681-1761); m. Thomas Baldwin

Sadly, Mary Champney French died on 1 April 1681 shortly after the birth of Sarah.

From Daniel Shed genealogy : ancestry and descendants of Daniel Shed of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1327-1920 by Shedd, Frank Edson, 1856-1916; Bartlett, Joseph Gardner; Shedd family association (1921) Page 50. < Archive.Org >

Daniel Shed married at Billerica, 5 July 1670, Ruth Moore, born in Cambridge, Mass., about 1652, daughter of Golden and Joan (Champney) Moore; she married secondly, as his fourth wife, about 1711, Jacob French of Billerica, born in Cambridge, Mass., French; he died in Billerica 20 May 1713 and she died there 6 Nov. 1730.

Death and estate

Jacob died at the age of 73 on 20 May 1713 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts.[9]

Jacob was buried after 20 May 1713 in Billerica - South Burying Ground.

Inscription:

HERE LYES YE BODY OF JACOB FRENCH AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS DECEASED MAY ye 20th 1713

On Feb. 19, 1713/4, William French, Jonathan Baldwin, Thomas Baldwin, and William Manning “being heirs to the estate of our honrd father Jacob French late of Billerica deceased have agreed to give unto our mother in law Ruth French the relict widow of our said father thirty pounds… she accepting of it in full for her right of dowry and yielding up her power of thirds.” Further, on Nov. 10, 1714, an estate division between “the children and heirs of our honered father Jacob French late of Billerika… deceased intestate” mentions “William French the only son and heir of our honored father Jacob French deceased… Johnathan Baldwine in right of his wife Mary Baldwine one of the daughters of the sd Jacob French decesed… William Maninge in right of his wife Elizabeth Maninge one of the daughters of Jacob French above sd decesed… Thomas Baldwine in right of his wife Sarah Baldwine one of the daughters of the before named Jacob French decesed.” (Middlesex Co., Mass. Probate File#8489)

Cambridge births: FRENCH, Jacob, s. William and Elisabeth, Jan. 16, 1639.

Billerica marriages:

• 1. Mary Champney, dau. of Elder Richard Champney, Sept. 20, 1665
• 2. Mary Convers of Woburn, June 30, 1685
• 3. Mary, drowned 1709
• 4. Ruth Moore, widow of Daniel Shed.

Billerica deaths: FRENCH, Jacob, May 20, 1713. [a. abt. 74. GR1].

Source: Henry Allen Hazen's History of Billerica

Billerica History: Billerica, Massachussets founders and history

https://www.geni.com/projects/Billerica-Massachussets-founders-and-history/31241

The town of Billerica was founded from a deed of land from the Shawshin, or Billerica Indians. This site not only looks at the early settlers, but the making of towns that became the culture of America, the United States of America. In 1660, 40 families (mostly from Cambridge, then Woburn) had homes in Billerica.

His parents, William and Elizabeth, came from England in 1635 with Harlakenden and Shepard. They lived in Cambridge for a while and were one of the first settlers in Billerica.

Family links:

Parents:

• William French (1605 - 1681)
• Elizabeth French (1605 - 1668)

Children:

1. William French (1668 - 1723)*
2. Mary French Baldwin (1676 - 1727)*
3. Elizabeth French Manning (1679 - 1736)*
4. Sarah French Baldwin (1682 - 1761)*

Siblings:

• Elizabeth French Ellis (1629 - 1697)*
• John French (1635 - 1712)**
• Sarah French Peake (1638 - 1694)*
• Jacob French (1640 - 1713)
• Hannah French Brackett (1644 - 1674)*
• Calculated relationship
  • Half-sibling

Created by: Bill Boyington Record added: May 26, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 19531444

Origins

Will of father,William French From: The History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles, p 208: (Midd. V: 276-278)

I William French of Billerica aged about seaventy & six I have already given to all my children that have been already married their portions, I add as followeth to eldest son John French, to Wm. the son of Jacob French, to Elizabeth ye Daughter Richard Ellis, to Jonathan ye son of Jonathan Hides, to ye eldest Daughter of Jonathan Peake, to Marah ye Daughter of Jno. Brackett, which are all my grandchildren.

Remainder unto my wife, & to those children born to me by her. Wife and Jacob French to be executors. Made 5 June 1679. Presnce of Samll. Whiting Junr., Jonath. Danforth Sen. Proved 20 Dec. 1681.

8 Dec. 1681. Mary French Executrix to ye Estate of Lt. French her dec'd Husband made oath to Inventory.

(Midd. XVI: 413) Lt William French of Billerica (Who deceased 20 Nov. 1682) Division of his Estate, the widow one third, to Mary French (now Sharp) eldest dau., to Sarah French, to Hannah French. Dated 6 Dec. 1687.

The widow's part was set off from the estate of her 1st husband John Stearns, deceased, consented to by Sarah Crosby, Mary Dunklin, Hannah Child, daughters of the within mentioned Wm. French. Dated 20 Aug. 1722.

Jacob French - New England Marriages Record
This records shows Jacob having married three women, all named Mary.

References

• New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635. “William French” article, Page 592. < AncestrySharing >
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19531444
• http://ntgen.tripod.com/bw/french_index.html
• New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the ..., Volume 3 edited by William Richard Cutter p. 1458
• https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Billerica/aMarriagesF.shtml Marriages - FRENCH:
  • Jacob and Mary Champney, Sept. 20, 1665.*
  • Jacob, Sergt., and Mary Convers of Woburn, June 30, 1685.* [Converse. MR]
• https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Billerica/aDeathsF.shtml Deaths - FRENCH
  • Mary, w. Jacob, Apr. 1, 1681.
  • Mary, w. Jacob, June 18, 1686.
  • Mary, w. Jacob, drowned, June 9, 1709.
  • Jacob, May 20, 1713. [a. abt. 74. GR1]
  • Ruth, wid. Jacob, Nov. 6, 1730
• Daniel Shed genealogy : ancestry and descendants of Daniel Shed of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1327-1920 by Shedd, Frank Edson, 1856-1916; Bartlett, Joseph Gardner; Shedd family association (1921) Page 50. < Archive.Org >
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/French-1136 Cites

1. "Genealogy of the Billerica, Massachusetts, French family from 1599 to 1944"; (H. Martin Kellogg, 1884; Bonnibel Hodgkins, 1915; B.B. Fisher, 1915 to 1958); page 2. This page cites the birth and marriage of Jacob French. Page 3 cites the names of his children. (Held in the HathiTrust Digital Library)
2. Online Record: "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch, Jacob French, 16 Jan 1639; citing Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. FHL microfilm 496,864. (accessed before 11 February 2013)
3. Webpage: Wikipedia contributors, "Billerica, Massachusetts" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, webpage citing the location of Billerica, Massachusetts.
4. Wikitree Profile: William French Jr.
5. Online Record: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", database with images, FamilySearch, Mary Champney in the entry for Jacob French, 20 Sep 1665; citing the couple's marriage in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009657.
6. Definition: Garrison-style architecture
7. Definition: "American Colonial Militia Systems". This webpage gives a definition of a town militia and why it may have been formed.
8. Online Book: A Genealogical History of the French and Allied Families; page 24 & 25 cites the rank of each brother in the town's militia.
9. Death: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHDV-ZZY : 5 November 2017), Jacob French, 20 May 1713; citing Death, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 901,881. See also:
10. Source: Ancestry Family Trees
11. Source: Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls
12. Genealogy of the Billerica, Massachusetts, French family from 1599 to 1944 (B.B. Fisher, Grafton, Vt., 1959); p. 4
13. Vital Records of Billerica, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (The New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1908); page 362
14. http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Billerica/aDeathsF.shtml
15. http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Billerica/Images/Billerica_...
16. Baldwin, Thomas. Vital Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Wright & Potter Print. Co., Boston, Mass., 1914); page 268
17. http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Cambridge/aBirthsF.shtml
18. http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Middlesex/Cambridge/Images/Cambridge_...
19. Jacob French (1640-1713) on Find A Grave: Memorial #19531444 Retrieved 17 January, 2018