| Name |
Thomas ffrench |
| Birth |
Oct 1639, Nether Heyford, England |
| Death |
1699, Rancocas, New Jersey |
| Father |
Thomas ffrench (~1600-1673) |
| Mother |
Sara (~1610-1652) |
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| Spouses: |
| 1 |
Jane Atkins |
| Birth |
abt 1640, England |
| Death |
5 Aug 1692, Rancocas, Burlington Co, NJ |
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| Marriage |
12 Jun 1660, Parish Church of Wilton, England |
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| Marriage |
25 Jul 1696, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting |
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| Notes for Thomas ffrench |
| Thomas ffrench (old English spelling, unknown when changed to modern French) founder of the New Jersey branch of the French family emigrated to America from England. He landed with wife, Jane and the children who decided to come with him, at Burlington, NJ on the 23rd day of July 1680. He was born in England and died in New Jersey. Although it is known that he was buried on the family homestead, the exact location is not known. Thomas ffrench was married twice. He married in England at age 21. His first wife and he lived together for 32 years when Jane died. Thomas remarried at age 57 to Elizabeth Stanton. Thomas died 3 years later at age 60. He had 15 children, 9 girls and 6 boys. The family tree was first researched and published by Howard Barclay French of the seventh generation. I believe that he branches from another line of the family because their are no Howards in this/my direct line. The genealogy was a two volume privately published book. It's title: "Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French, Vol I 1639-1785, Howard B. French" & "Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French Vol II 1785-1913, Howard B. French." On the inside cover : "Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Library" Gift of Mr. Howard B. French, President Stamped twice across the label reads "Withdrawn from P.C.P. & S. Library" On another page is written: "Compiled & Published by Howard Barclay French of the seventh generation. Vol I Philadelphia, Privately Printed 1909. Copyright (Vol I) 90 65, 1909; Copyright Volume II 90 66, 1909. These volumes have just been found as part of the permanent collection of the Buffalo and Erie County Libraries. Review of the books show that Thomas ffrench was a fervent Quaker and was imprisoned on three different occasions for his beliefs. His internments are recorded in a book written by a great Quaker minister, Joseph Besse and published in 1753, entitled "The Sufferings of the Peoples called Quakers." He was baptized as were all his children in the protestant Episcopal Church of S.S. Peter and Paul in Nether Heyford, England. The Quakers broke from the established church but baptized their children within the church. The Quakers married within their meetings but recorded the marriages with the Church but refused to bury their dead in the Church yard. Therefore, most dates of death are unknown unless someone recorded the death in the family bible. Thomas was baptized on 11/13/1639 in the Protestant Episcopal Church of S S Peter and Paul, Nether Heyford. Thomas was a member of the Society of Friends. He came to America in 1677 with William Penn, Thomas Ollive and many other of the original signers of the Concessions and Agreements. Thomas ffrench was one of 150 men who signed this agreement for the purchase of of Burlington County, NJ. He came in 1677 just long enough to stake out his claim. He then returned to England in the same ship, "the Kent" which had brought him and the others. He returned to America in 1680 with his wife and nine children. 4 boys and 5 girls, the eldest 16 and the youngest 4. The ship was the "Kent," the master, Gregory Marlowe. Thomas ffrench settled a tract of 600 acres located on the banks of the Rancocas about 4 miles from Burlington. He was Commissioner of Highways from 1684-1685. Thomas ffrench was an active member of his church and prosperous businessman. |
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