FRENCH, Ruth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: John French III
• Birth: 14 Oct 1710, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

John married KITTREDGE, Mary on 30 Oct 1732 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of KITTREDGE, Dr. John III and ABBOTT, Mary, daughter of KITTREDGE, Dr. John III, daughter of ABBOTT, Mary) was born on 23 Feb 1713 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 27 Mar 1759 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary French
• Name: Mary Kittredg
• Birth: 23 Feb 1712/13, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Burial: Madison, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
• Name: John, Jr. French
• Death: 17 Dec 1745, Madison, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Age: 66

Notes:

Birth:
Age: 0

John married RICHARDSON, Ruth on 13 Feb 1708 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Ruth (daughter of RICHARDSON, Thomas and STEVENSON, Mary Stimpson) was born on 4 Dec 1685 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1728 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 4 Dec 1685, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: 6 Nov 1730, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: USA

Dr. married ABBOTT, Mary on 19 Apr 1707 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of ABBOTT, Thomas and STEWART, Sarah) was born on 23 Jul 1686 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 22 May 1743 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Tewksbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Wars: Soldier in King Philip's War and a corporal in the fight at Brookfirld
• Name: John French I
• Residence: Lived on the South side of Fox Hill, on the east road, Newington, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA
• Immigration: 1635; At 5 months, with his parents
• Death: Oct 1712, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: 20 May 1713, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

John French, b. in England ca. Feb. 1635, immigrated age 5 mo. [4] with parents, m1. 21 Jun 1659 to Abigail Coggan, dau. of Henry of Barnstable. Abigail d. 5 Apr 1662. John m2. 3 Jul 1663 Hannah, dau. of John Burrage or Burridge of Charlestown, MA. Hannah d. 7 Jul 1667. John m3. 14 Jan 1668 Mary Rogers. Mary d. 16 Jun 1677. John m4. 16 Jan 1677/78 Mary, dau. of Francis Littlefield of Woburn, MA and widow of John Kittredge of Billerica. Mary d. 1719. John was a colonel in the militia, and was often in the Town’s service. He was wounded by the Indians in an assault on Quaboag in 1675, d. Oct 1712.

John French, son of William French (1), was born in Eng-
land, early in 1635, and was brought over to America by his parents
when but five months old. He died in Billerica, Massachusetts, in
October, 1712. He resided on the south side of Fox Hill, on the east
road. He was a soldier in King Philip’s War, and was a corporal in
the fight at Brookfield in 1675. He was wounded in this assault at
Quaboag (Brookfield), and in a petition subsequently describes him-
self as a “poor wounded” man. He was poor enough for a time, and
was harassed by the constable before he recovered from the losses of
the war. He was an influential citizen of Billerica, and held many
town offices from time to time. He married (first) June 21, 1659,
Abigail Coggan, daughter of Henry Coggan, of Barnstable, Massa-
chusetts. She died April 5, 1662, aged twenty-four, and he married
(second) July 3, 1662, Hannah Burrage, daughter of John Burrage,
of Charlestown. She died July 7, 1667, aged twenty-three, and he mar-
ried (third) January 14, 1667-68, Mary Rogers, daughter of John
Rogers. She died June 16, 1677, and he married (fourth) January 16,
1678, Mary Kittredge, widow of John. She died October 7. 1719,
surviving him. Children of the second wife: 1. Hannah, born Janu-
ary 20, 1663-64; married John Kittredge. 2. Abigail, born December
6, 1665; married Benjamin Parker. Child of the third wife: 3. Mary,
born March 4, 1669^70 ; married Nathan Shed. Children of the fourth
wife: 4. John, horn May 15, 1679; mentioned below. 5. Elizabeth,
born July 24, 1681 ; married December 25, 1706, Thomas Abbot. 6.
William, born November 26, 1683; died April 21, 1685. 7. Sarah, born
September 15, 1685; married --------- Flint. 8. William, born August
8, 1687. 9. Hannah, born February 18, 1692-93; married Jonathan
Richardson and Benjamin Frost.
A descendant of John French, named William French, a resident
of Dummerston in the New Hampshire grants, was the celebrated
victim of the Westminster massacre in 1775. As this was the direct
result of the first organized resistance to British authority in the
American colonies, William French has been claimed as the first
martyr to the cause of American Independence. On his gravestone is
this quaint inscription:
In memory of William French
Son of Mr. Nathaniel French, Who
was shot at Westminster, March ye 13th.
1775, by the hands of Cruel Ministerial tools
Of Georg ye 3d, in the Corthouse at 11 a’clock
At Night in the 23d year of his Age.
HFRF WILLIAM FRENCH his Body lies
for Murder his Blood for Vengeance Cries
King Georg the third his Tory Crew
that with a Bawl his Head Shot threw
For Liberty and his Countrys Good
he lost his Life his dearest blood.

A much married man...

katpafadded this on 17 Oct 2010

John and Abigail Coggin [dup. Abigall Cogin], June 21, [1659, in Barnstable.]* [Abigail Coggin. MR] John and Hannah Burridge, July 3, 1662.* [Burrage, July 3, 1663. MR] John and Mary Rogers, Jan. 14, 1667.* John and Mary Kittredge [dup. Kitteridg], wid., Jan. 16, 1677-8.* [Kitterige. MR] From Vital Records of Billerica

http://ancestorbios.blogspot.com/2012/02/poor-wounded-man-john-french.htmlA Poor Wounded Man – John French

B. 1635 in England
M. (1) 21 Jun 1659 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Abigail Coggan
M. (2) 3 Jul 1662 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Hannah Burrage
M. (3) 14 Jan 1668
Wife: Hannah Rogers
M. (4) 16 Jan 1678 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge
D. October 1712 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Emigrated: 1635 on the ship Defence

John French experienced the hardships of living in 17th century New England, having three wives who died young, and later becoming wounded while fighting Indians. He was born in 1635 in England to William and Elizabeth French, their third child. When he was still a small baby, the family boarded the ship Defence, landing in Boston on October 8th. The family settled in Cambridge, where John grew up. His parents had six more children there.

In 1653, the French family moved to the new town of Billerica and on June 21, 1659, John married Abigail Coggan of Barnstable. She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662. He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown. She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23. John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers. She had a daughter in 1670 and died on June 16, 1677. Finally, on 16 Jan 1678, he married a fourth wife, Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge, who had been widowed with five young sons. John and Mary had six children together.

John served as a corporal in the militia in Billerica during King Phillip's War. On August 2, 1675, the militia met up with Indians in a swamp near Billerica called Quaboag (or Brookfield) where several settlers were killed. John was in the fight, and after shooting an Indian, he got hit by return fire, which cut off one of his thumbs and seriously wounded his body near his shoulder.

After the war, John petitioned the town for financial help, describing himself as "a poor wounded man." He was exempted from paying taxes for several years. He was also permitted to sit "at the table with Capt. John Lane and Mr. Crosby" during church services, and his wife Mary was allowed to "sit in the front gallery with Mrs. Foster and those women placed there." It was said that he was "an influential citizen of Billerica and held many town offices from time to time." John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.

Children by Hannah Burrage:
1. Hannah French – B. 14 Dec 1664, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 9 Oct 1755, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. John Kittredge (1666-1714), 3 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts

2. Abigail French – B. 6 Dec 1665; D. 13 Mar 1723; M. Benjamin Parker (1662-?), 10 Nov 1697

Children by Mary Rogers:
1. Mary French – B. 4 Mar 1670; D. 21 Aug 1740, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Nathan Shed (1669-?)

Children by Mary Littlefield:
1. John French – B. 15 May 1679, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Ruth Richardson (1685-?), 13 Feb 1707, Billerica, Massachusetts

2. Elizabeth French – B. 24 Jul 1681, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 30 Sep 1754, Andover, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Abbott, 25 Dec 1706, Billerica, Massachusetts

3. William French – B. 26 Nov 1683, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts

4. Sarah French – B. 15 Sep 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Frost (1683-?)

5. Hannah French – B. 18 Feb 1693; D. 12 Dec 1769; M. (1) Jonathan Richardson (?-1720), 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; (2) Benjamin Frost

6. William French – B. 8 Aug 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 25 Feb 1746; M. Mehitable Patten (1687-1743), about 1712

Sources:
"Lieutenant William French and his Descendants," John M. French, The New England historical and genealogical register, 1890
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
Billerica, a centennial oration by the Rev. Elias Nason, July 4, 1876, 1876

John married LITTLEFIELD, Mary on 14 Jan 1677 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of LITTLEFIELD, Francis and HILL, Jane) was born on 14 Dec 1646 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 7 Oct 1719 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Tewksbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Between 1640 and 1900, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
• Birth: 14 Dec 1646, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: 7 Oct 1719, Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

This is a test to see if it syncs with FTM

Thomas married STEVENSON, Mary Stimpson on 5 Jan 1669 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of STEVENSON, Andrew and ALCOCK, Jane) was born on 17 Jan 1647 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 7 Jun 1690 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married FRENCH, Hannah on 3 Aug 1685 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Hannah (daughter of FRENCH, John and BURRAGE, Hannah) was born on 11 Jan 1663 in Billerica, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 9 Oct 1755 in Tewksbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Abbott-85

Thomas + STEWART, Sarah. Sarah was born about 1647 in Essex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 16 Feb 1716 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Stewart-365

Notes:

William Stewart of Lynn is believed to have been the same William captured at the Battle of Worcester and transported on the John & Sara in May 1652 and put to work in the Iron Works at Saugus.

William testified in Middlesex County court in 1653, aged twenty-four. That puts his birth at about 1629. Sarah Abbott died 16 February 1715/16, 'a. abt. 69 y.' That puts her birth at about 1646/47.

As a servant of the Iron Works, William is unlikely to have had a young family who somehow managed to follow him from Scotland.

It seems more likely that Sarah was William's very young widow who married Thomas Abbott nine months after William died in 1664.