4.
Susan RIDDLESDALE
1 BIRT
2 DATE 1600
2 PLAC England
1 DEAT
2 DATE BEF 10 MAR 1657/58
2 PLAC Probably Ipswich
2 SOUR S05474
3 PAGE Volume I, Pages 576-577
SOURCE: Cousin, Cousine - Descendants of Thomas French of Ipswich, MA, and others; Updated: Tue Apr 1 07:05:39 2003; Contact: Jim French - AROID@RCI.RUTGERS.EDU
"ID: I03693
Name: Susan Riddlesdale
Sex: F
Birth: BEF. 20 APR 1584 in Boxford, Suffolk, England [baptismal date]
Death: AUG 1658 in Ipswich, Essex, MA [Ipswich Town Clerk Records, film #0777636]
Note:
Birth: BEF. 20 Apr 1584, Boxford, Suffolk Co., England
"Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk, England & Ipswich, MA," NEHGS "Register," Vol 142, pg. 250 & "John & Mary (___)
(Riddlesdale) Wyatt," NEHGS "Register," Vol 143, pg. 217.
Death: Aug 1658, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts
"Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk, England & Ipswich, MA," NEHGS "Register," Vol 142, pg. 250.
MARRIAGE: 5 Sep 1608, Assington, Suffolk Co., England
"Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk, England & Ipswich, MA," NEHGS "Register," Vol 142, pg. 250 & "John & Mary (___)
(Riddlesdale) Wyatt," NEHGS "Register," Vol 143, pg. 217.
Father: John Riddlesdale b: BEF. 26 SEP 1557 in Boxford, Suffolk, England
Mother: Dorcas b: 1569 in Assington, Suffolk, England [probably related to John Vigorus]
Marriage 1 Thomas French , Sr. b: BEF. 11 OCT 1584 in [baptismal date, Bures St. Mary Parish Register, never published.]
Married: 5 SEP 1608 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Par. Reg.]
Children
Thomas French , Jr. b: BEF. 27 NOV 1608 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Alice French b: 9 APR 1610 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Dorcas French b: 31 JUL 1614 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Susan FRENCH b: 22 APR 1616 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Anne French b: 15 MAR 1616/17 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Margaret French b: 12 MAR 1619/20
John French b: 26 MAY 1622 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Mary French b: 6 JAN 1623/24 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}"
1 BIRT
2 DATE 1564
2 PLAC England
1 BIRT
2 DATE 1570
2 PLAC England
(1) SOURCE: Walter Goodwin Davis. Massachusetts and Maine Families; Genealogical Publishing Co., INc., Baltimore, Maryland (Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 95-81293; ISBN for Volume I: 0-8063-1493-1; ISBN Set # 0-8063-1496-6); Volume I, Pages 576-577.
"Thomas French and Susan RIDDLESDALE were married September 5, 1608, at Assington, Co., Suffolk, England, and their eight children were baptized in the Assington church. * The will of John Gurdon, Esq., of Assington, made December 6, 1621, left to his grandson, John Gurdon, 'the messuage or farm house wherein one Thomas French doth now inhabit, called Garland's.'
Four of Thomas French's children came to New England before him. Thomas and Alice were among the earliest members of the Boston church and the evidence indicates that they were followers of John Winthrop in the great emigration. John Bluete, writing to John Winthrop, Jr., from Groton, co. Suffolk, March 4, 1632/3, sent his loving commendations to 'my schollers Thomas French and John Clarke.' Dorcas and Susan were doubtless the two daughters who came over in 1638. Thomas Gostlin wrote to Winthrop, Jr., from Groton on June 11, 1638, in regard to sending over a miad ---- 'she is one of the goodman Frenches daughters of Assington. I have sent 2 of them, one for your father and the other for you. Yur father must take his choice. The eldest must serve for 3 yeeres, & the youngest 4.... pray let them be delt as well with all as any of the same quality.'
Thomas French, Sr., his wife and younger children emigrated and settled in Ipswich, where the younger Thomas had gone from Boston with John Winthrop, Jr., before July 23, 1638, when a planting lot of Thomas French, the elder is mentioned as a bound to land at the Reedy marsh.
Administration on his estate was granted to his widow November 5, 1639, and it was directed that 'the land which he left is to be disposed of by sale, or otherwise, by advice of the magistrates of Ipswich, for the maintenance of his wife and the education of his children which are not yet able to provide for themselves nor were disposed of in their father's life.'
Widow French was an Ipswich commoner in 1641. She died before March 10, 1658, when an inventory of the goods of Susan French, widow, of Ipswich, deceased, was taken, the total being Pound 12: 11: 6. Dorcas Ridelsdell, a witness in a case in Ipswich court in March, 1647, must have been an unmarried sister or a niece of Susan (Riddlesdale) French, who either accompanied the family to America or joined them there.
Children, baptized in Assington:
i. THOMAS, bapt. Nov. 27, 1608; presumably came to New England in the fleet with Winthrop in 1630, was a member of the Boston church in 1631 and was made freeman in 1632; m. Mary ________, presumably in Boston, about 1631; dismissed to the Ipswich church in 1638; d. Aug. 8, 1680; his widow, Mary, d. May 6, 1681.
French was a soldier in the Pequot expedition in 1687. He was called Sergeant French until 1664 and Ensign French thereafter. For his will, dated Aug. 3, 1680, see THE ANCESTRY OF LIEUT. AMOS TOWNS, pp. 45-47. Of his six children, his son John founded the French family of Topsfield and built the house which is the nucleus of the fine French-Andrews house near Newburyport turnpike.
ii. ALICE, bapt. April 9, 1610; probably came with her brother Thomas in the Winthrop fleet in 1630; m. Thomas Howlett about 1634. (See Howlett.)
iii. DORCAS, bapt, July 31, 1614; Dorcas French, maid servant to our brother John Winthrop the elder, was admitted to the First Church in Boston Aug. 10, 1634; m. (1) Christopher Peake Jan. 8, 1636; m. (2) Griffin Craft; d. Dec. 30, 1697, in Roxbury.
iv. SUSAN, bapt. April 22, 1616, probably came over with her sister Dorcas in 1634 and served in the family of John Winthrop, Jr., in Ipswich.
v. ANNE, bapt. March 12, 1619.
vi. MARGARET, bapt. March 12, 1619.
vii. JOHN, bapt. May 26, 1622; m. Freedom Kingsley about 1654; d. Feb. 1, 1697, in Northampton, Mass.
viii. MARY, bapt. Jan 6, 1624; m. George Smith about 1644 in Ipswich.
*See THE HISTORY OF PETER PARKER AND SARAH EUGGLES, by John William Linzee. Jr., Boston, 1913. pp. 412-422. See also, THE ANCESTRY OF LIEUT. AMOS TOWNE, by W. G. Davis. pp. 45-50. which Mr. Linzee's book and the present article correct in several important respects: (1) Thomas French, Sr., and Thomas French, Jr., being clearly differentiated and their relationship determined, and (2) Alice Frech who married Thomas Howlett being identified as the daughter and not the widow of Thomas French, Sr.
**Pages 578-584 in this volume"
(2) SOURCE: English Origins of American Colonists, p. English Origins of AMERICAN COLONISTS
WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NAMES OF IMPORTANCE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. BY WILLIAM GILBERT, [p.237] A DIGEST OF ESSEX WILLS. WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NAMES OF IMPORTANCE IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. BY WILLIAM GILBERT, page 239
163. FRENCH, THOMAS, the elder of Wethersfield, Essex, gentleman, 23 July, 1599. To poor of Halstead 40/- Ditto of West Wratting Cambridge 20/- Ditto of Snettisham Norfolk £3. Ditto of Much Bardfield 40/- Ditto of Little Bardfield 20/- Ditto of Whethersfield 40/- Ditto of Arkesden 20/-. To my daughter Mary now the wife of John Collin £20, and to her children John, William, Mary and Elizabeth Collin £20 each to be paid them "in the South Porch of the Parish Church of Much Bardfield." To my daughter Elizabeth now the wife of John Meade £20 and to her children Edward, Elizabeth, John and Agnes Meade £20 each to be paid as before. To the children of my son Thomas French (not named) £10 each. To Thomas Girton one of the servants of my said son 10/- To John French son of my son Thomas a silver bowl. To my wife Bridgit £5 and such goods as I had with her and possessed at the time of our marriage. Res. & Ex. son Thomas. Wit: Thomas Reynoldes, William Younge, William Purcas. Proved 31 Oct., 1599 by the Executor named. (P.C.C. Kidd, 73.)
SOURCE:
Source Information: Lea, J. Henry and J. R. Hutchinson. "Clues from English Archives Contributory to American Genealogy," Withington, Lothrop. "New York Gleanings in England," Hutchinson, J. R. "Genealogical Notes from the High Court of Admiralty Examinations," Gilbert, William. "A Digest of Essex Wills. With Particular Reference to Names of Importance in the American Colonies" New York Genealogical and Biographical Record . vols. 34-44, 47, 1903-1916.
(3) SOURCE: Cousin, Cousine - Descendants of Thomas French of Ipswich, MA, and others; Updated: Tue Apr 1 07:05:39 2003; Contact: Jim French - aroid@rci.rutgers.edu
"Will of Thomas French, Sr.
In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas French Senior of Ipswich being weak of body yet of perfect understanding and memory doe in case of death make this my last Will and Testament. In the first place I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who hath redeemed it by the precious blood of his Son; and I commit my body to the Earth, whence it was taken, to be buried in a Christian decent manner by my friends in hope of a blessed resurrection to eternal life. And as for my outward Estate which God
hath graciously given me in this world I doe thus dispose of it:
Inprimis, I give and bequeath to Mary my beloved wife the Bed whereon I use to ly, with all the appurtenances and furniture belonging thereto.
Moreover, I give to my son Thomas French my cloak and close-coat. Also I give to my son John French one Cow, which is to make up the full summe of thirty pounds which I formerly promised him for his Portion.
Also I give to my daughter Mary Smith, one Cow.
And to my son Samuel French, I give and bequeath he bed where he usually lieth, together with the Bedding and Bedstead belonging to the same.
Further, as concerning my lands at the Pequod lots, and my division lot of marsh at Plum Island, my will is that my sons Thomas and Samuel French for and in consideration of twenty pounds by them engaged according to to order unto my son Ephraim French as the remaining part of this portion (which summe of twenty pounds is almost all paid, and the remainder due upon demand), I say my Will is that those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall possess and enjoy the said Pequod lands, and division-lot of marsh to themselves and to their heirs forever, to be equally divided betwixt them.
Furthermore, I give and bequeath to my sonn Thomas French my dwelling house and homested with all the appurtenances and priviledges thereof and belonging thereto, and also by Lot lying in Labour-in-vain fields containing twelve acres more or less; with all the rest of my cattell, stocke of all sorts and moveable goods (not disposed of by this my will and testament) and to my son Samuel I give and bequeath two acres of upland joyning to Joseph Quilter's and two acres of meadow-ground at Reedy marsh; to be possessed by them respectively after my decease, provided always and my will is that my son Thomas French doe give full and free libertie to Mary my wife his mother to abide ad dwell in the said house and to make use of any room or rooms thereof for her convenient accommodation therein; as likewise to make use of all or any such moveable as I doe now leave in the hands of my son Thomas (not disposed of) as my be necessary ad convenient for her use and occasions from time to time; and all these during the term of her natural life, and after her decease my son Thomas shall deliver to my three children John, Samuell and Mary three of the biggest pewter dishes which shall then be left and remain that is to say, to each of them, one. Provided also, and my will is that my two son Thomas and Samuel doe carefully provide for their mothers comfortable maintenance and livelyhood and what is requisit thereto during her natural life; each of them allowing thereto proportionally to that part of my Estate which shall be by them received by vertue of this my testamt. And if through any neglect of failure, this way of maintenance should not be to their mother's satisfactin and content, my Will is, that those my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall allow to their mother ten pounds yeerly; nine pounds thereof to be paid by Thomas and twenty shillings by Samuel, in such pay as shall be suitable and necessary for her comfortable maintenance and livelyhood. And further, if it shall pleas God to exercise her with much prevailing weakness or continuing sickness that the aforesaid then pounds should not suffice to defray the charges of her expenses, my Will is that (over and above the ten pounds, and according to the like rate of proportion) those my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall supply her with necessaries suitable as her condition may require, that she be not exposed to suffering for want of what ought and might be procured for her. Also my Will is that my Lot in Labour-in-vain fields, and the two acres of meadow at Reedy Marsh shall stand bound respectively to my said wife during her natural like as securitie for the true performance of this my Will as respecting her maintenance by my two Sonns; and after he decease, the said lands (except what shall bee alienated (if any so be) by means of the securitie aforesaid) to remain to each of those my Sonns and to their heirs forever as is before mentioned and declared. And lastly, I doe name, appoint and constitute my son Thomas French to be the sole Executor of this my last will & testament.
August 3 1680
Witness: (no signatures)
Proved in Ipswich Court 28 Sep 1680, by Mary French and Samuel French.
{copied by Linda, sent to Essex-Roots}
Name: Thomas French , Sr.
Sex: M
Birth: BEF. 11 OCT 1584 in [baptismal date, Bures St. Mary Parish Register, never published.]
Death: BEF. 5 NOV 1639 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts [R. of Mass. Bay I: 278]
Note:
FFA: Bp. 11 Oct. 1584 at Bures St. Mary, son of Jacob, moved to Assington, C. 1585/6, m. Susan Riddlesdale, immigrated 1637 to Ipswich after their son, Thomas, Jr., and three daughters. Thomas, Sr. died bef 5 Nov. 1639 in Ipswich, MA (8 children). Thomas, Sr., was a farmer in Assington living on John Gurdon's land called Garlands.
Threlfall: Thomas French, Sr. followed Thomas, Jr. to Boston, abt. 1637, after Reverend Nathaniel Thomas and several remaining members of his congregation left Assington for Boston in late 1636. Thomas, Jr., was already in Boston when, on 12 April, 1631, Martha Winthrop wrote to John Winthrop, Jr. "at Mr. Downings howse in flet street neere the conduit" that "...To day I received a letter from thee by good man Freinch..." (Winthrop Papers, Vol. III, p. 26)
Brian Berry [10]: "After his arrival Thomas moved to Ipswich, where Thomas had already relocated. He is recorded for the first time in New England as owning land at Reedy Marsh in 1638 and 1639--in the deeds he is called Thomas French the elder. However, he died there before 5 Nov 1639 when it is recorded that "the administratio of the goods of Thomas French deceased is committed to his wife and the land which he left is to be disposed for sale or otherwise by the advice of the Magistrates of Ipswich for the maintenance of his wife and education of his children, which are not yet able to provide for themselves nor were disposed of in their Father's life."
Berry [10]: The widow French was a commoner in 1641. She died in Ipswich and the administration of her estate was granted to son John 28:7:1658 (Ipswich Quarterly Court Records, I:71).
DEATH: 1639, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts
"Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk, England & Ipswich, MA," NEHGS "Register," Vol 142, pg. 250.
Father: Jacob French b: ABT. 1553 in Assington, Suffolk, England
Mother: Susan Warren b: 1555 in Of Assington, Suffolk, England
Marriage 1 Susan Riddlesdale b: BEF. 20 APR 1584 in Boxford, Suffolk, England [baptismal date]
Married: 5 SEP 1608 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Par. Reg.]
Children
Thomas French , Jr. b: BEF. 27 NOV 1608 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Alice French b: 9 APR 1610 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Dorcas French b: 31 JUL 1614 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Susan FRENCH b: 22 APR 1616 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Anne French b: 15 MAR 1616/17 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Margaret French b: 12 MAR 1619/20
John French b: 26 MAY 1622 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}
Mary French b: 6 JAN 1623/24 in Assington, Suffolk, England [Parish Record}"
7.
Dorcas FRENCH
