Thomas French, (IV)

Entered 12 April 2010:

The second son of Thomas French, Jr., seems to have inherited the farming habits of his ancestors and to have remained in the same location in which his father resided, in Chester Township. He was active in local affairs and served as constable, overseer of highways and overseer of the poor for Chester Township. His homestead, at the west end of Moorestown, was part of the estate conveyed to his father by Thomas ffrench, progenitor, through the deed of gift of 1694. A special survey, made in 1752, showed that it joined other lands of his father and of his brother, Robert French. He bequeathed this plantation to his son Edward and it continued in family ownership until sold by one of his descendants, Sarah (French) Ogden, about twenty-five years ago.

Thomas French was a minister in the Reliqious Society of Friends "Quakers". He ministered at the Chester Meeting House. The beliefs of the denomination called for honesty, nonviolence, justice, simple living, and toleration. In practice, they rejected military service and forts, the bearing of arms, formal oaths, capital punishment, and the slave trade.

This meeting house earned dubious fame for being fired on by American revolutionaries during the

American Revolution. Apparently the house got in the way of shots fired on the British as they crossed a nearby bridge. Three cannon ball hit the side of the meeting house. One of the cannon balls is still lodged in the exterior wall to this day. This occurred in 1778.

Source for above information (with documentation):

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=chart20&i...

See also:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234228626/thomas-french

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/z/e/Diane-B-Szeliga/GE...

Thomas French was a minister in the Reliqious Society of Friends "Quakers". He ministered at the Chester Meeting House. The beliefs of the denomination called for honesty, nonviolence, justice, simple living, and toleration. In practice, they rejected military service and forts, the bearing of arms, formal oaths, capital punishment, and the slave trade.

This meeting house earned dubious fame for being fired on by American revolutionaries during the

American Revolution. Apparently the house got in the way of shots fired on the British as they crossed a nearby bridge. Three cannon ball hit the side of the meeting house. One of the cannon balls is still lodged in the exterior wall to this day. This occurred in 1778.

Page: 189 Name: Thomas French, Sr. Date: 26 Jun 1745; 26 Aug 1745 Location: Chester, Burlington Co. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. II 1730-1750 Calendar of New Jersey Wills yeoman; will of. Wife (not named). Sons--Joseph and Robert. Daughter Mary's four sons. Real and personal estate. Executors--sons Robert and Thomas. Witnesses--Joshua Bispham, Nathan Middleton, Sam'l Atkinson. Proved Nov. 1, 1745, by Thomas French, at which time Robert French disclaimed. Witnesses--Sam'l. Atkinson, Joseph Heritage.

Name: Thomas French Date: 05 May 1757 Location: Chester Twsp., Burlington Co. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. III 1751-1760 Calendar of New Jersey Wills Int. Inventory, £262.12.11, incl. book debts, £16.13; an old watch, 20s.; 15 bush. of Indian corn, 3 3/9; 20 do. of oats £1.11.8; made by Joshua Humphris and John Cox. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. III 1751-1760 Calendar of New Jersey Wills 1757, May 6. Bond of widow. Jemima French, and Robert French, yeoman, as Adm'rs; John Cox, blacksmith, fellowbondsman, all of said Township

Following information printed from Family Tree Maker, CD182 Family History: New Jersey Genealogies #1, Genealogies of New Jersey Families, Volume 1, Two Rachel Ridgways; Two Mary Cattells, Copyright Genealogy.com, March 28, 2003.

Two Rachel Ridgways; Two Mary Cattells

MARY ANN NICHOLSON

IN THE FIRST VOLUME of his two-volume Genealogy of Thomas French and his Descendants, published in 1909, Howard B. French incorrectly identified two brides due to the similarity of names. In the Errata of Volume Two he correctly identified one of them. Here we will take a closer look at the ladies involved.

Mr. French listed the children of Mary Coate and Joseph Ridgway as:

Israel, Sarah, Beulah, Rachel, Mary, Coates, Catharine, Anna, Abigail and Joseph who died young (1:293). He stated that Rachel, who was born in 1763, married in 1796 John Butterworth. Her sister Anna, called ?Nancy? by some, married in 1805 Samuel Butterworth. It was not unusual to find two sisters marrying two brothers. However, this writer believes that Rachel died unmarried.

When Israel Ridgway wrote his will on April 11, 1809, he left legacies to ?sister Nancy, wife of Samuel Butterworth? and to his sisters Mary, Catharine, and Abigail. It is assumed that they were his living sisters yet unmarried (NJA 40:280). After the death of his eldest son and heir in April, the father Joseph Ridgway wrote his will on November 27, 1809. In it he mentions his living children as: Sarah, Beulah, Mary, Ann (wife of Sam Butterworth), Katherine, Abigail, and Coate (NJA 41:3 I 1). Coate was his only surviving son and served as sole executor. Again no Rachel is mentioned.

Who then was the Rachel Ridgway whom John Butterworth married as his second wife?

William and Ann Davis Corlies? children were: Job Corlies who married

Rebecca Leeds, Rachel who married Caleb Ridgway, Beulah who married

Monroe Stockton, William, Ann nicknamed ?Nancy,?: and George (Annals

of Sinnott, Rogers, Coffin, Conies, Reeves, Bodine and allied families, M.E.

Sinnott, 1905, pp.195-96).

714

Caleb Ridgway, son of Lott and Susanna Peak Ridgway, was born in 1752 and married about 1787 young Rachel Conies (1770-1847). He died in-testate about October 13, 1793 leaving his wife with two small sons, Caleb and Richard. William Conies acted as administrator (NJA 37:297). On April 9, 1802 Richard Ridgway of Burlington County ?ward, son of Caleb Ridgway of said co. deceased, being upwards of 14 years,? petitioned the court to appoint Job Corlies as his guardian. John Butterworth was a fellow bondsman (NJA 39:369) Job Corlies would have been his uncle and John Butterworth his step-father. The boy was of an age to become apprenticed.

When ?Nancy?(Ann) Corlies wrote her will in December of 1824, she mentioned her sisters Rachel Butterworth and Beulah Stockton. Rebecca Corlies and John Butterworth witnessed this will and doubtless were her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Burlington Co. wills C:500).

It was the widow Rachel (Conrlies) Ridgway who married John Butterworth on June 26, 1796 according to the Clerk?s Office record, Burlington County Court House, Mt.Holly, N. J.

Mr. French corrected his statements made in Volume One on page 116 concerning Jonas Cattell?s wife Mary Pearce Cattel being the one who married Thomas French. In Volume Two on page 665 he includes the notation that Mary Cattell died 8/17/1724 and that Haddonfield Meeting minutes showed Jonas married Mary Engle. ?This Mazy Cattell doubtless was Mary (Engle) Cattell, second wife of Jonas Cattell and not Mary (Pearce) Cattell.?

A little background about the two Mary Cattells is in order. Jonas Cattell had been received on certificate from Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting by Burlington Monthly Meeting on 10/7/ 1713 (Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, W.W.Hinshaw,2:206). The minutes of Burlington MM now on microfilm at the Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore, Pa., state ?Jonas Cattle and Mary Pearce, both of Springfield Twp. Co, had consent of relatives and guardians concerned.? They were married 2/8/1714 and he signed his name on the certificate, but she could only make her mark ?M? (ibid ,2:249). Mr. French later discovered that their marriage certificate also carried the added notation of Mary?s death in 1724.

On 3/ 1 I 1727 Jonas Cattell received a certificate of dearness from his home meeting of Burlington (ibid , 2:206). He took this to the Monthly Meeting at Newton-Haddonfield in April 1727 where he and Mary Engle, widow with children , declared their intentions of marriage and sought per- mission from her hcme meeting to proceed with their plans (GMNJ 3:65). This meeting found them free to marry and at the Monthly Meeting dnJune 14, 1727, it was duly reported that the marriage had been accomplished.

Apparently Jonas Cattell (Cattle, Kettle, etc.) had settled in Gloucester County about the time of his second marriage. He was a yeoman of Deptford Township there when he wrote his will, dated February 23, 1730/1, and proved April 20, 1731 (NJA 30:88). His wife Mary was named as executor and his four children, James, Hannah, William, and Jonas, were listed.

715

Mary Cattell and Thomas French declared their intentions of marriage at Haddonfield MM of 7/11/1732 and a committee was appointed to inquire into their ?clearness with others on account of marriage.? At the Monthly Meeting on 8/19/1732 after again declaring their intentions, they were at liberty to wed. At the Monthly Meeting on 9/13/1732 Friends of Haddon field learned that it was ?orderly accomplished? (GMNJ 3:66). This Mary Cattell had been active in Haddonfield Meeting affairs for many years and throughout her first two marriages.

Mary?s step-daughter Hannah Cattell married in 1737 her step-son Robert French. Robert was appointed one of his father?s executors, but declined to serve (French, 1:116, 134).

Mary Ogborne had been born in 1688 to Samuel and Jane Curtis Ogborne who were Quakers in Burlington early. In 4/1707 she married John Engle who died January 1721/2 (NJA 23:155). Their children, whose names have been learned through wills and Newton-Haddonfield Meeting records, were: Robert, John, Mary, Hannah, Jane, and Samuel. Samuel was the ?expected child? of his father?s will and probably named for his maternal grandfather.

In 1743 ?Samuel Engly of Gloster? died intestate and his mother Mary French was granted a letter of administration for his estate. Robert Engly, Sr. and John Engly, both of Burlington County, were fellow bondsmen (NJA30:168).

Mary (Ogborne Engle Cattell) French was living when Thomas French,Jr. wrote his will on August 26, 1745. He did not refer to her by name in be bueathing her the nominal amount of five shillings and legacy to be paid within the year (French, 1:133). The children of his first marriage received the bulk of his estate (NJA 30:189). Mr. French included Thomas? entire will and also the receipt of the widow Mary French of Chester, Burlington County, N. J., for a total sum of twenty-two pounds she was to receive within the year from the estate if she agreed to make no further claim. She signed it on October 21, 1745 (French 1:135).

This writer has yet to learn when and where Mary French died. Being only fifty-seven years old when widowed for the third time, she, like her mother Jane Curtis Ogbome Hampton Fitzrandolph Sharp, may have lived to marry a fourth spouse.

716

Following from Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, etc. Vol II - 1730-1750. Pg 188 1745, 26th day, 6th mo. (Aug) French, Thomas, Sr. of Chester, Burlington Co., yeoman; will of. Wife (none named) Sons - Joseph and Robert Daughter Mary's four sons. Real and personal estate. Executors - sons, Robert and Thomas French. Witnesses - Joshua Bispham, Nathan Middleton, Samuel Atkinson. Proved Nov 1 1745 by Thomas French, at which time Robert French disclaimed. Witnesses - Samuel Atkinson, Joseph Heritage 1745, Oct 17. Inventory of the personal estate, 215.7 pounds; made by Joseph Heritage and Samuel Atkinson.

info below mostly about his father...some notes about the son Thomas--this man--in the notes

1639 Thomas French, the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah French (ffrench), was born in Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England, Oct and was baptized on 3 Nov in the Episcopal Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in that parish. "I Thomas ffrench was baptized November the 3, 1639. " (bible of Thomas French) Thomas 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. 1657 Thomas was imprisoned for refusing to pay the tithes to the Church of England. As a Quaker he suffered many persecutions and trials for his beliefs and spent many months in prison. 1657 "Thomas French of Upper Norton, was imprisoned in 1657, at the suit of William Thomas, a lawyer and renter of Tithes, and for a demand of but 11 shillings for Tithes suffered two and forty months imprisonment." Sufferings of the People called Quakers, Vol 1, page 465 by Joseph Besse. (bible of Thomas French) 1660 Thomas met and fell in love with Jane Atkins, of Nether Heyford, 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. "I Thomas ffrench was married to my wife Jane, June 12 1660. " (see also Howard Barclay French, page 65). (bible of Thomas French) Thomas and Jane had children Sara (died an infant), Jane, Rachel, Richard, Thomas, Hannah, Charles, John, Sarah, Mary, Jane, Lydia, an infant. 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, notwithstanding his early sympathy and unity with the Society of Friends. The obligation thus assumed, as to the religious care and training of his children, was faithfully kept, the family Bible being an impressive witness in this respect. 1662 Thomas French was taken from meeting at Banbury, in 1662, and committed to prison." Sufferings of the People called Quakers, Vol 1, page 468 by Joseph Besse. 1665 "December the first about 10 at night my son Richard was born. The Lord give him grace that he may continually walk before him." (bible of Thomas French) Over the next few years England was too warm for Thomas French. The authorities were continually annoying him 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". 1666 " Thomas French, 1666, taken at a meeting at the house of Elizabeth White, at Coggs, near Whitney, committed to house of corrections for one month." Sufferings of the People called Quakers, Vol 1, page 571 by Joseph Besse. 1667 "My son Thomas was born ... between 8 and 9 o'clock at night." (bible of Thomas French) 1671 "my son Charles was born, the 20 day of March between 11 and 12 at night." (bible of Thomas French) 1673 "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." (Thomas did not like the weather in England. Howard Barclay French, page 56) 1676 In Mar, 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 priciples of equality and righteousness which were afterwards incorporated into the Constitution of the United States. It not only established the Government of the colony, but also provided for fair dealings with the aborigines 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. (Howard Barclay French, page 76a has signature) 1677 The 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 the land and make plans for his home. 1680 Thomas returned to England for his family, and on 1 Aug 1680, he and his family came to New Jersey on the "Kent's" second voyage. 1680 "I and my wife and nine children through the mercy of God came into this country and landed at Burlington, the 23 of the 7 month 1680." Note written by Thomas French in his bible upon his arrival in America. (bible of Thomas French). Thomas and Jane Atkins French arrived from England in 1680. 1682 Thomas French has differences with the town officers of Burlington and with governor Olive. Thomas was called before the council several times regarding these matters until after the death of Governor Olive in 1994. The anture of the dusppute is not clarified in the town meeting minutes. (Howard Barclay French, page 66-70 has transcriptions). 1684 Thomas located a 600 acre tract on the northern side of Rancocas Creek between the Rancocas and Mill Creeks, about two miles below the forks, that he purchased from John Woolston, about four miles from the newly founded city of Burlington. 1688 Thomas French is named as one of the proprietors of Burlington who agree on several issues of self-government, during the course of resolving a dispute about the survey lines in New Jersey (Smith History, page 201). 1689 Thomas purchased 621 acres on “Pomsocking” Creek next to Thomas Wallis and southward to a corner of Thomas Rodman’s tract. This plantation lay to the north and west of Moorestown.(Howard Barclay French, pages 70-72 has the deed transctiptions John Woolston and from Anthony Morris to Thomas French). A line drawn from the public school buildings at the corner of Church and Second Streets to the bridge over Pensauken Creek on the Haddonfield Road marks the approximate southern boundary of the French tract. Thomas French, Sr., apparently never settled on this plantation. 1692 on 8 May, his wife, Jane, died at their home at Rancocas, NJ. 1690 The 600 acre land that Thomas French purchased from the Indians is shown on a map of Willingborough Township. (Woodward, page 510 and Barclay French, page 50). This land is described in surveys of Thomas Revell dated 1695 and 1698. (Howard Barclay French, page 73). 1692 Thomas wrote in his bible: "My wife Jane deceased this life the fifth day of the 8 month 1692. My youngest child died the 12 of the same." (Howard Barclay French, page 56-58). 1694 While his grief was no doubt great at the loss of this staunch companion who had been by his side through his troubled years, on 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. 1694 Thomas deeded 300 acres of this tract to his son, Thomas, “in consideration of the naturall affection, goodwill and kindness which he hath and beareth to his beloved son.” Thomas and Jane French had four sons, Richard, Thomas, Charles and John. Richard settled on a 460 acre tract in Mansfield Township and Thomas on the 300 acre plantation given to him by his father. The homestead was located on King’s Highway in the neighborhood of Camden Pike and Pleasant Valley Avenue. Charles settled on the original tract on Rancocas Creek and John in Northampton Township. Charles French had a son Charles, who settled on a large farm near Fellowship, afterwards removing to Moorestown. 1694 Thomas ffrench deeded 300 acres to his son Thomas. (Howard Barclay French, page 74). 1695 On 25 July, Thomas married Miss Elizabeth Stanton, a member of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where the ceremony was performed. (Ref: Hinshaw, p. 528) 1695 On eighth month 30, Mary and Hannah French, daughters of Thomas and Jane of Willingboro Township of Burlington Co, married Nicholas and Richard Buzby in the Burlington Meeting House. Thomas and Elizabeth had a daughter, Rebecca. 1699 Thomas French survived this marriage only a few years; he died in 1699 at Rancocas, Burlington Co., NJ, 1699 Thomas's will was proved: 3 May. The inventory of items from his estate is valued at 68 pounds and the house and land are valued at 200 pounds. (Howard Barclay French, page 76-80). He owned over 2,000 acres of land. (Utah Genealogical Magazine 1931, page 155). 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. 1699 Thomas ffrench and his wife Jane were buried in a private lot, 16 1/2 feet square, on the homestead plantation, Rancocas, N.J. (Howard Barclay French, page 65) 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 whttp://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12123833/person/-270556540/story/3ith conscientiousness and devotion.

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@R553149358@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=152892095&pi...

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@R1250717649@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

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Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=113544691&pi...