"Thomas French, Sr., b. Oct. 11, 1584, at Bures St. Mary, Suffolk County, England, son of Jacob, moved to Assington ca. 1585/86, married Susan Riddlesdale 5 Sept. 1608, Assington. Thomas French, Sr., immigrated to Massachusetts with his wife Susan Riddlesdale and 7 of their 8 children. The family came over in three groups, in 1630, 1633 and about 1637, and most settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Thomas, Sr. died shortly after immigrating, before Nov. 5, 1639, while his widow lived another twenty years, and administration of her estate was on March 10, 1658/9 in Ipswich" [FFA Chart 1]
11. Dorcas French
Maid servant to Gov. Winthrop-HDF
Brian Berry [Was Mary French a Scudamore?]: Came to New England in 1633 on three year service as maidservant to John Winthrop. Admitted to First Church in Boston, 10 Aug. 1634. She died either 14 Oct. 1694 or Dec. 30, 1697 in Roxbury. [FFA Chart 1]
12. Susan French
Immigrated in 1633 to serve the Winthrop family for 4 years. No more known [Brian Berry]
13. Anne French
Baptized on 15 Mar 1619/20 - immigrated to the U.S. with her father. [Brian Berry]
14. Margaret French
buried in churchyard St. Edmund's parish [FFA Chart 1]
15. John French
John French, b. May 22, 1622 was also a tailor. He immigrated with his parents and his two sisters, Anne and Mary They joined Thomas, Jr. about 1637 in Ipswich. John married Freedom Kingsley, from Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, and their four sons and six daughters were born in Ipswich.. John and Freedom then moved to Northampton, which placed them on the edge of the wilderness in western Massachusetts, much to the disappointment of his father-in-law, John Kingsley who remained in Rehoboth. [FFA Chart 1]
HDF: Was a tailor in Ipswich, being among the first settlers of the Colony. Was a freeman in 1648. He moved to Northampton, NIA and held land at Deerfield, moving from Rehoboth, MA, in 1676. Brian Berry: "Was Mary French a Scudamore?", p. 4: ~ed Elinor Thompson. From: Ancestors of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles:
John French of Ipswich was a Denison subscriber in 1648 to pay this tax he must have been of age and therefore born before 1627, which agrees with the Assington record.
[His wife's father was John Kingsley.] John Kingsley was a member of the Church at Dorchester the 23 Aug. 1636 and Elizabeth Kingsesely a little later in 1636.
Four deeds of John French of Ipswich, Taylor, and Freedom his wife as well as the similarity of names of children to those of John French of Northampton, indicate the identity of the two families. John French was entitled to a share in Plumb Island in 1664.
(Suffolk 1: 99) The will of Wm. Lane of Dorchester, mentions Thomas Rider .... and Freedom Kingsley my faithfull servant..." Made 28 Feb. 1650
(Plym. P.) The will of John Kingsley of Rehoboth, made 2 Nov. 1677 mentions, to be buried by my wife Allice in the North Corner of my house lott ... for John French hath left mee in my old age, when 1 had most need of him. proved 5 Mar. 1678-9...(Ipswich. Deed IV:99) 1 John French of Ipswich ... Tayler ... for forty five pounds ... payed unto me by Thomas Lull of the same Towne weaver ... sell my now dwelling house and land ... with barne, out houses, yards, orchyards, Gardens, fences, with all ppptenances ... containing by estimation two acres ... scituate ... in Ipswich ... Haveing the land of Thomas Mattealfe toward the south, the land of Joseph Quilter toward the west, John Pindars land toward the north, the streate or way toward the east. To have and to hold ... and peaceably to possess. from the first day of June next con-dng which will be in the yeare 1678 Thence forward forever ... the eight of June Anno Dom 1677 John French and a seale ffreedom French
From: History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton. by Joseph B. Felt
1733. Thomas, and other children of John French, had removed to Deerfield.
[all above from FFA Chart 1]