THOMAS FRENCH:
http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/TCT222/TCT222/i0000313.htm
1539. Thomas12 French (John13) was born 1615.
He married twice. He married Mary Button ABT. 1639. Mary was born 1619. Mary was the daughter of John Button and Grace ______? (or Joanna). Mary died ABT. 1660 in Guilford, New Haven, CT. He married Deborah Button. Deborah died May 19, 1717.
also lived: Charlestown MA 1638 and Guilford, CT 1648
Lived in Charlestown, MA in 1638, came to Guilford, in 1648-(Talcott Genealogy)
***** Guilford Founders Family Tree 1639-1989
Thomas French, Planter
Thomas French came to Guilford either in 1643 or in 1648 (depending on the source), having gone first to Charlestown, MA about 1638. He is named on the 1650 list as a planter, but not a freeman. His home lot of three and one-half acres was next north of Henry Goldham's on Whitfield Street. In addition, he leased some lands and houses from John Caffinch for a period of time. Mr French had two wives. The first was Mary Button, and the second is known only by her first name of Deborah. He had a total of twelve children: Mary, Mercy, Elizabeth, Deliverance, Sarah, John, Martha, Thomas, Ebenezer, Rebecca, Samuel and Abigail. It is thought that he was one of the poorer planters. His name appears in the records of the Guilford Court in two lawsuits against John Evarts for damage to French's crops from Evarts' hogs. ***** His property, listed above, is directly adjacent the Town Green, probably the existing site of St. George's Church or close to it. *****
NEHGS Register Volume 47 pages 357-361
THOMAS FRENCH, OF GUILFORD, CT Communicated by A.D. Weld French, Esq., of Boston
Thomas French was among the earliest settlers of Guilford. His name is not on the plantation covenant. At the commencement of Town Records, Vol. A., page 1, under date August 14, 1645, is the following record. "Mr. Samuel Disbrow (Richard Bristow erased.) "Tho:Betts members of ye church" "Thos:French Planter took their oath." Charged agt. John Stone member of ye church ye particulars which he confest. Savage says: "Thomas French, Charlestown 1638, removed to Guilford 1650 or earlier." He probably came to Guilford about 1643. At the General Court or Meeting held the 20th of February 1649-50, when Mr. Whitfield's reasons were tendered to the church here (at Guilford) for his removal and read in public & enquiry made of every man in particular concerning his ability in paying to the ministers for the present and probability to continue according to ordinary Providence. Thomas French said he should be able to continue his present sum & said further that he was willing to add 6 S. per annum. It is probable that Mr. John Caffinge, when he left Guilford in the latter part of 1643, or beginning of 1644, got Thomas French to occupy his estate at Guilford. Mr. Caffinch sued French, April 1, 1651, at New haven, for the use of his house, land and cattle at Guilford. Probably French took them when Mr. Caffinch left that place. II New Haven Col. Rec. At a court Feb. 5, Anno 1651-2. Thomas French was called and admonished for saying in a clamourous & scandalizing way "yt he nor his family were not relieved according to their need - nor yt he could get any corn in the town for pay unless he came and offered them half so much more as it was worth, but when he did so, then they had corn enough for him, otherwise not, wherefore he was forced (to) go out of the town to get corn for his family" or words to that effect. To which he acknowledged that this was only true of particular persons. The court out of tenderness to his family pass it over, at present, with an admonition, to take more heed to his carriage reports & speeches. At a court May 3, 1655, he had two suits with John Everts with regard to hoggs, which were eventually arranged. At a town meeting on ye 23d of June 1665 Tho: French propounding in way of Petition to the town to have some relief on account of his daughter who was not wright in her own mind. When the town considered they request, It was put to vote & the vote passed in the negative, - That they did not see themselved engaged either to him or his & therefore did expect he shd. be returned to the place whence he came. And at a Town Meeting August 21, 1665. The town being informed yt notwithstanding Thomas French had been denied entertainment or admittance into this town either for himself or his daughter - yet he had hired lands of Benjn. Wright to settle on, - They did agree by vote as a prevention of him yt whosoever did any longer entertain either of them should give in sufficient security that they should be no damage to the town. These votes are now inexplicable. Thomas French had been a planter for 20 years, had owned lands in the town, and was a man of property. This Thos. French was probably another man, or else the daughter was married to another man. A Terryer of the lands belonging to Thomas French in Guilford as followith vix. 1 Prop. R. fol. 19. Imps. One Home lot containing three acres & a halfe, more or less so allowed ffronting up to the Green by the Pound running back to the land of William Chittenden on the west, along by the rears of the Home lots of Edward Benton, Jaiob Sheaffe & in part of Willm Chittenden on the north the Home lots of Henry Goldam on the south. About 1650 he sold this lot to Thomas Stevens, son of John Stevens, and bought the homelot of Henry Dowde in Crooked Lane, described as follows, I. Prop. R. fol. 7. Imps. One Home lot fronting to the street on the East & rearing back to the Home lot of John Stevens, bounded on the South with the home lot of John Mepham & on the North with the Home lot of Thomas Norton (then of John Norton & William Seward, Thomas dying in 1648) allowed for 2 acres more or less. This last lot had been sold by Henry Dowde to Samuel Blachley about 1647 who sold it to Thomas French who sold it to William Boreman about 1656. Boreman died 1661, and his representatives sold it to Nathan Bradley about 1663, and Bradley sold it to John Chittenden May 20, 1667. See I. Prop. Rec. fol. 19. "Thomas French hath sold and alienated all his houseing and home lot which he bought of Samuel Blatchley as abovesaid unto William Boreman" & I. Prop. Rec. fol. 14. "William Boreman hath with conseut of ye Court bought all Thomas French his houseing and home lot which was late Samuel Blachleys" & also sam fol. Henry Dowde & William Seward & Nathan Bradley (who had bought the whole estate of William Boreman, deceased) have sold and alienated the house & home lot containing about 2 acres unto Nathan Bradley of Guilford Jan. 18, 1663, who sold it to John Chittenden as stated above May 20, 1667/ The following entry is on the last page of I. Prop. R. fol last Feb 14 (55) Thomas French & William Boreman entered an alienation upon an exchange made betwixt them viz. The said French hath given & granted in exchange all his rights in the upland and meadow to be divided at Athammonassock unto the said William Boreman & his heirs etc for & in consideration of the said Boremans now home lot with all his land there adjoining to the said Thomas French & his heirs forever. Item one Home lot bought of Samuel Blachley late the lands of Henry Dowde lying next to the house lot of John Norton on the North & containing & Allowed for two acres. I. Prop. Rec. fol. 9. In a Town meeting February 11th 1673. Thomas French desiring that his son in law John Dudley might be accepted as a planter upon Thomas French engaging to give him 20 acres of land. The Town accepted John Dudley to be a planter.
NEGHS Register Vol. 47 page 359 cont. with genealogy Lists Thomas French, d. about 1665 married Mary Button, and Deborah Button, no dates given.
Page 361
Sept. 16, 1668 - Thomas French was granted three or four acres of land on this side of Clapboard hill swamp, with part of the swamp, accoring as the Townsmen viewing it shall judge meets that no highway be prejudiced thereby.
Feb. 11, 1673 - The town granted Thomas French liberty to exchange his land at Clapboard hill swamp, containing five acres and a half, allowing for it fourteen acres beyond East River. ***** Son of John French (source: family tree maker G153) ***** allen.mallory@@ibm.net who said that Thomas French married 2nd between 1660-1667 and 2 children Abigail and Samuel were born to Deborah (she says possibly the former wife of Walter Joy of Milford). The Guilford Families book I have did not have a last name for Deborah, the second wife, but it did list Samuel and Abigail were not children of Mary Button, but of Deborah______.
Thomas French and Mary Button had the following children:
child 1540 i. Hannah11 French (living status unknown).
child 1541 ii. Mary French. Mary died September 2, 1677. She married John Everts, Jr. September 14, 1665. John was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT 29 FEB 1639/40. John died December 28, 1692 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 52 years of age.
child 1542 iii. Mercy French (living status unknown).
child 1543 iv. Elizabeth French (living status unknown).
child 1544 v. Deliverance French (living status unknown).
child 1545 vi. Sarah French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT August 25, 1650. Sarah died May 19, 1717 in probably Killingworth, CT, at 66 years of age. She married twice. She married Nathaniel Parmelee in Guilford, New Haven, CT, October 24, 1668. Nathaniel was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT 1645. Nathaniel died 1676 in Indian Wars, at 31 years of age. She married Nathaniel Hayden January 16, 1677/78. Nathaniel was born in Killingworth, CT.
child 1546 vii. John French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT July 21, 1652. John died December 28, 1727 in East Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 75 years of age. He married twice. He married Mary Sheather in Guilford, New Haven, CT, July 31, 1678. Mary was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT March 14, 1653/54. Mary died January 22, 1706/07 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 52 years of age. He married Abigail COLE 1724.(1416) Abigail died in Guilford, New Haven, CT. Abigail participated in the (LDS) Ancestral File # event #D! #L.(1417) Hammonaset Cemetery: Tombstone Samuel, son of Mr. John and Mrs. Mary French was born 1682 and died 1688, he was ye first corps buried here.
child + 1082 viii. Martha French was born August 6, 1654.
child 1547 ix. Thomas French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT June 12, 1656. Thomas died February 28, 1658/59 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 2 years of age.
child 1548 x. Ebenezer French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT April 3, 1658. Ebenezer died May 3, 1736 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 78 years of age. He married Susanna Blatchley in Guilford, New Haven, CT, October 8, 1684. Susanna was born in Branford, CT? 1667. Susanna died January 19, 1727/28 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at 60 years of age.
child 1549 xi. Rebecca French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT January 10, 1659/60. Rebecca died October 10, 1660 in Guilford, New Haven, CT, at less than one year of age.
Thomas French and Deborah Button had the following children:
child 1550 xii. Samuel French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT August 21, 1667. Samuel died young.
child 1551 xiii. Abigail French was born in Guilford, New Haven, CT March 2, 1668/69.