Thomas ffrench (old English spelling, unknown when changed tomodern French) founder of the New Jersey branch of the Frenchfamily emigrated to America from England. He landed with wife,Jane and the children who decided to come with him, atBurlington, NJ on the 23rd day of July 1680. He was born inEngland and died in New Jersey. Although it is known that hewas buried on the family homestead, the exact location is notknown. Thomas ffrench was married twice. He married in Englandat age 21. His first wife and he lived together for 32 yearswhen Jane died. Thomas remarried at age 57 to ElizabethStanton. Thomas died 3 years later at age 60. He had 15children, 9 girls and 6 boys. The family tree was firstresearched and published by Howard Barclay French of theseventh generation. I believe that he branches from anotherline of the family because their are no Howards in this/mydirect line. The genealogy was a two volume privatelypublished book. It's title: "Genealogy of the Descendants ofThomas French, Vol I 1639-1785, Howard B. French" & "Genealogyof the Descendants of Thomas French Vol II 1785-1913, Howard B.French." On the inside cover : "Philadelphia College ofPharmacy Library" Gift of Mr. Howard B. French, PresidentStamped twice across the label reads "Withdrawn from P.C.P. & S.Library" On another page is written: "Compiled & Published byHoward Barclay French of the seventh generation. Vol IPhiladelphia, Privately Printed 1909. Copyright (Vol I) 90 65,1909; Copyright Volume II 90 66, 1909. These volumes have justbeen found as part of the permanent collection of the Buffaloand Erie County Libraries. Review of the books show thatThomas ffrench was a fervent Quaker and was imprisoned on threedifferent occasions for his beliefs. His internments arerecorded in a book written by a great Quaker minister, JosephBesse and published in 1753, entitled "The Sufferings of thePeoples called Quakers." He was baptized as were all hischildren in the protestant Episcopal Church of S.S. Peter andPaul in Nether Heyford, England. The Quakers broke from theestablished church but baptized their children within thechurch. The Quakers married within their meetings but recordedthe marriages with the Church but refused to bury their dead inthe Church yard. Therefore, most dates of death are unknownunless someone recorded the death in the family bible. Thomaswas baptized on 11/13/1639 in the Protestant Episcopal Church ofS S Peter and Paul, Nether Heyford. Thomas was a member of theSociety of Friends. He came to America in 1677 with WilliamPenn, Thomas Ollive and many other of the original signers ofthe Concessions and Agreements. Thomas ffrench was one of 150men who signed this agreement for the purchase of of BurlingtonCounty, NJ. He came in 1677 just long enough to stake out hisclaim. He then returned to England in the same ship, "theKent" which had brought him and the others. He returned toAmerica in 1680 with his wife and nine children. 4 boys and 5girls, the eldest 16 and the youngest 4. The ship was the"Kent," the master, Gregory Marlowe. Thomas ffrench settled atract of 600 acres located on the banks of the Rancocas about 4miles from Burlington. He was Commissioner of Highways from1684-1685. Thomas ffrench was an active member of his churchand prosperous businessman.