Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. IV, Part 73

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 878

USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. IV > Part 73

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All his life long Judge French manifested his fondness for the cultivation of the soil, and he had an extensive reputation as an agriculturalist. In 1857 he went to Europe, where he travelled for a year on an agricultural mission, and communicated the results of his observations in addresses, letters to the New England Farmer, and in a very full treatise which he published on farm drainage. He had a great love for trees, and was active in orna- menting his native town with them. He set the elm trees in front of his father's office, and was a leader in setting other trees on Chester street, and active in ornamenting Exeter in a like manner. He was president of the Rockingham Agricultural So- ciety from its organization in 1852 till he left the state. For many years he was a contributor to agri- cultural papers. Dartmouth conferred the honor- ary degree of Master of Arts upon him in 1852; and he was elected an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Cambridge, July, 1861. He was a man of amiable disposition and even temper, and fulfilled his public and private duties with equal fidelity. He married (first), October 9, 1838, Anne Richardson, born in Chester, September 26, 1811, daughter of Chief Justice William Mer- chant and Betsey (Smith) Richardson. She died at Exeter, New Hampshire, August 28, 1856, and

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he married (second) Pamela M. Prentice, of Keene. The children of Henry F. and Anne French were: Harriette Van Mater, William M., Richardson, Sarah Flagg and Daniel Chester.

(IX) Ilarriette Van Mater, eldest child of Judge Henry F. and Anne (Richardson) French, was born September 29, 1839, and married July 9, 1864, Major Abijah Hollis, of Milton, Massachu- setts (see Hollis, VII).

(Il) Samuel, third son and child of Edward and Ann French, resided in Salisbury, where he signed petitions in 1658, and was a member of the church in 1677 and 1687. He died July 26, 1692, in Salisbury. Administration of his estate was established November 16 following. He was mar- ried (first), June 1, 1664, in Salisbury, to Abigail Brown, daughter of Henry and Abigail Brown, of Salisbury. She was born February 23, 1644, in Salisbury, and died January 11, 1680, in that town. Samuel French's second wife was named Esther, and she survived him. Six of his children were born of the first wife and three of the second, namely : Abigail, Hannah, Samuel, Henry, Joseph, Nathaniel, Johanna, John and Esther. (Nathaniel and descendants receive extended mention in this article. )

(III) Joseph, third son and fifth child of Samuel and Abigail (Brown) French, was born about 1676, in Salisbury, and resided in that town, where he was a cordwainer. His will was made March 20, 1745, and proven September 18, 1749. This goes to show that he was prudent, as his will was probably made some years before his death. His wife's name was Hannah as indicated by his will. Their children were: Abigail, Samuel, Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Joseph.

(IV) Samuel (2), eldest son and second child of Joseph and Hannah French, was born December II, 1699, in Salisbury, and lived in that town until the establishment of the province line in 1741 threw his home into South Hampton, New Hampshire, where lie continued to reside throughout his life. He had sons, Samuel, Henry, Benjamin and, prob- ably, Simon, and a daughter, who married Moses Page. Benjamin settled in Gilmanton.

(V) Samuel (3) French, called Samuel, Jr., lived for a time in Salisbury, and was perhaps all his life in the same location. A part of that town was included in South Hampton, New Hampshire, by the establishment of the province line in 1741. The birth of his fifth child is found in the records of the South Hampton church, from which it would appear that he was a resident of South Hampton inn 1753. His wife's name was Mary, and their chil- dren were: Reuben, Green, Henry, Samuel, Ezekiel, Ruth, Deborah, Hannah and Mary. (Mention of Ezekiel and descendants forms a part of this article. )

(VI) Samuel (4) French married Anna Sweat, June 24, 1771, by whom he had among other chil- dren : Samuel, born December 22, 1778; Reuben, born March 19, 1784; Anna, born July 26, 1788.

(VII) Samuel (5), son of Samuel (4) and Anna (Sweat) French, was born December 22, 1778. He married Susanna (Sukey) Tilton, of Loudon, March 21, 1804. Their children were: Eliza, born July 11, 1805; Clarissa, born November 10, 1806; Hiram, born August 8, 1808, married Lydia Bachelder, of Loudon, November 25, 1830; Olive, born June 30, 1810; Samuel, born November 9, 1812; Mary Ann, born December 26, 1814; Reuben Lowell, born April 19, 1818; and two others.

(VIII) Reuben Lowell, third son and seventh child of Samuel and Susanna (Tilton) French, was

born in Loudon, April 9, 1818. He received his edu- cation in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he became a clerk in the country store of his brother Hiram in Gilmanton, but soon followed his brother to the Water street store in Pittsfield. Soon after- wards, in company with James Munroe Tenney, an early playmate, later well known as a brilliant and prominent merchant of Boston, he purchased the store of his brother Hiram and soon after became sole owner of the lucrative business, continuing therein nearly forty years. During this time he won the reputation of being an unostentatious and upright man, honest in all his dealings. His word was never broken nor his honor tarnished. In public affairs he proved himself an able and useful citizen, was prominently connected with banks, a leading trustee of Pittsfield Academy, and for many years its treasurer. He was the main mover and. persistent promoter of the Suncook Valley railroad, the wa- ter works, and shoe manufactory. He was also the leading spirit in the laying out of the Floral Park Cemetery, and a large owner. Though as- piring to no political office, he was honored by his party to an election to the state senate. He was a warm and sincere advocate of temperance, good order and sobriety, and heartily identified himself with every movement looking to the best welfare and greater prosperity of the community and town.

In early manhood he publically confessed his faith in Christ and united with the Congregational Church in 1843. He continued a devout and active member through life. He was chosen to positions of responsibility in the church, was elected deacon in 1855, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school. He was also treasurer of the society. When his old church home was burned on the morning of February 14, 1876, he was the first one moving for its rebuilding, and generously gave one thousand dollars in aid. The old bell in the tower was a precious gift, and from its melted metal he had a new bell cast and donated it to the society. At his death. which occurred December 14, 1896, the village and town lost a true christian friend, and the family a loving father. As a mark of respect during the funeral services, in which Rev. Samuel Bell officiated. all places of business were closed. Special music was rendered by a local quartet, and his remains were laid at rest in Floral Park Cemetery.

Mr. French was married, August 15, 1844, to Mary Jane, daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza B. (Bickford) Nutter. She was born in Barnstead, August 16, 1827, and was the granddaughter of Deacon Ebenezer Nutter of Revolutionary fame, and one of the early settlers of Barnstead (see Nutter). Mrs. French and her elder sister Eliza who became later the wife of Andrew Bunker, of Concord, were in 1840 students in the old acad- emy. After her marriage to Mr. French they lived in the house now owned by Charles S. French. Later the house was bought and remodelled, and became their home for over fifty years. It is now occupied by their daughter, the wife of Clarence Edwin Berry, grandson of the pioneer Jolin Berry. The house was built for comfort, and is sufficiently elevated in the center of the village to command a beautiful and picturesque landscape.

Mrs. French united with the Congregational Church in 1840, during the pastorate of Rev. Jona- than Curtis, and as long as able, like her husband, was a faithful and active worker. For forty years she sang in the choir, was a faithful and successful teacher of a class of boys in the Sunday school, as those now living will testify, and an efficient

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director in the Ladies' Aid Society connected with the church. After the death of her husband she was an invalid, unable to leave her home or converse with her friends, but bore all with christian resignation and was ready when the summons came to go up higher ! Her death occurred November 2, 1903.

Mrs. French was the mother of five daughters, namely : Laura Celestia, Helen Lowell, Mary Nut- ter, Susan Gates and Annie Eliza. The first be- came the wife of George B. Smith, of South Had- ley, Massachusetts. She was well educated, the possessor of fine musical talents, and a popular school teacher. She died at Atlantic, Massachusetts, leaving one daughter, Catherine Smith, now the wife of Frank H. Hobbs, of Baye, New Jersey. The second and third died when small children. Susan Gates became the wife of Clarence E. Berry, of Pittsfield (see Berry). Annie Eliza, the young- est, was born February 24, 1867. Her preliminary studies were pursued in public schools of Pittsfield, and the academy under the instruction of Professor D. K. Foster. Afterwards she entered Abbot Acad- emy at Andover, Massachusetts, for a two years' course, but was obliged to leave before its com- pletion on account of ill health. After regaining her normal health she attended the School of Ex- pression in Boston to prepare herself for a public reader and instructor in elocution, from which she graduated with much distinction. Her fine personal appearance won her many friends as a public reader. Among the places where she gave public readings before large and cultivated audiences were Tremont Temple, Steinert and Music Halls, Boston, and many of the principal cities of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She taught elocution for several years in Boston and vicinity, and for one year at a promi- nent female college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She spent several months abroad in 1892. In early life she united with the Congregational Church, then under the pastorate of Rev. George E. Hill. She was a member of the orders of the Daughters of the Revolution, and Daughters of New Hampshire, and an active and potent factor in the promotion of both. She was also a member of the Abbott Club, devoting herself so closely to its interests as to cause failure of health. April 23, 1892, she was united in mar- riage to Captain George E. Mahoney, of Boston, at the parental home in Pittsfield. Her married life was short, and she died childless, October 26, 1897. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Samuel Bell, of Deerfield, assisted by Rev. George E. Love- joy, pastor of the church, a select quartet furnishing appropriate music.

(VI) Ezekiel, fifth son and child of Samuel (3) and Mary French, was born May 20, 1753. He married (first) Hannah, daughter of Dr. Nehe- miah Ordway, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and married (second) Sally Smith, of Loudon. He was a farmer. Their children were: Polly, Hannah, Sally, Eunice, Thomas and John.

(VII) John, son and sixth child of Ezekiel and Hannah (Ordway) French, married Lucy Tilton Prescott, who lived to be nearly ninety-four years old. He moved from Loudon to Gilmanton and became a representative citizen of the town, and a wealthy farmer, owning at the time of his death thirteen hundred acres. He was a member of the Congregational Church. His age was seventy-five years. His children were: Thomas H., Samuel Prescott, who graduated from Dartmouth College in 1841, and became a celebrated physician in Mas- sachusetts; John O., who also became a physician and celebrated surgeon in the Civil war, married (first) Martha Peaslee, and (second) Martha Per-

cival, of Massachusetts ; Ann M., who married ( first) Daniel Williams, of Gilmanton, ( second) William Brackett, of Epsom, and (third) Nathaniel Clough, of Loudon; and Warren B., who now resides on the old homestead in Gilmanton.

(VIII) Thomas H., first child of Dr. John and Lucy Tilton (Prescott) French, was born in Gilman- ton in 1815. He was a farmer and in political faith Whig, like his ancestors. He held a captain's commission in the state militia, and at the time of his death at the age of thirty-seven was about to be promoted. He married Sarah Ann, daughter of Richard Brown, of Loudon. Their children were : Merwin E., a farmer in Gilmanton and a soldier in the Civil war, who married Addie M. Gilman and had children (John H., Mabel and William A.) ; Al- bin H., Harland P. and Harriet Newell, the two last dying respectively at one and two years of age. Mr. French survived his wife by two months. Mrs. French was a member of the Congregational Church.

(IX) Albin H., second child of Thomas H. and Sarah Ann (Brown) French, was born in Gilman- ton, March 27, 1849. He spent his early life with his grandfather, John French, on a farm in Gilman- ton. He received his preliminary education in the district school of his native town. He attended Pembroke Academy, Northwood Seminary and Pittsfield Academy, finally returning to Gilmanton Academy, and fitting for college under Professor Edgar R. Avery, of Tilton Seminary, his tutor for one year. He then studied medicine as his one hundred and third student, under the instruction of Dr. Nahum Wight, who had previously instructed his two uncles, Samuel P. and John O. French. He afterwards entered the University of Vermont at the age of twenty-two, and also had access to the class rooms, taking advantage of the opportunity to study Latin and Greek. Graduating in 1875, he was in practice at Epsom till 1883, when he re- moved to Leominster, Massachusetts, where he had a drug business in connection with his practice until 1887, when he returned to Gilmanton, New Hamp- shire, on account of poor health, but soon left for a tour of hospital work in Boston and New York City, attending many clinics, reviewing in surgical lines. He has taken a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic in New York City, and at Long Island College Hospital, New York, in the meantime. He returned to Gilmanton in 1892, but after a few weeks' rest he located at Pittsfield village, where he has been in active practice for thirteen years. During the thirteen years of practice in Pittsfield, and the sur- rounding towns of Chichester, Epsom, Loudon and Gilmanton, he has only lost one day from his pro- fessional duties. He has ridden twenty-four days and nights without sleep in bed, and his work-day for thirty years has averaged seventeen hours. He keeps three horses, and his practice is an extensive one. He was a delegate to the National Medical Convention in New York City in 1880.

Aside from his large practice he owns, what is known now as a historic fact, the pioncer farm. as the following certificate shows, where the first white woman set foot on the soil of Gilmanton, and passed one night in town with no other woman nearer than Epsom.

The certificate taken from the proprietary his- tory of Gilmanton, dated 1845 reads as follows :

"I, Hannah Mudgett, the wife of Benjamin hereby certify that I was born 9th of June 1739 was married to Benjamin Mudgett on the 21st of Dec. 1761-and arrived in Gilmanton on the evening of the 26th-7, Dec. the same year, where I have lived ever since. I moreover state that I was the first

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white woman who ever set foot in Gilmanton, was the first woman who ever came here to settle, and that I passed one night is town before any other woman arrived. This I now state in my 78th year.

her mark

"Hannah X Mudgett"

"Nov. 3, 1817."

Her son Samuel was the first male child born in town.

Dr. French's farm comprises two hundred and forty acres, the finest and most picturesque of Gil- manton. He has spent thousands of dollars in improvements, and his buildings are of the best. His farm is in a high state of cultivation. Where the present fine buildings stand the first white male child was born. He is a member of the Grange, and New England Order of Protection. He mar- ried (first) Emogen F. Grant, of Gilmanton, Au- gust 23, 1873, who died at forty-one years of age, leaving one daughter, Ethel M., and (second) Lila M., daughter of Albert and Olive Jane (Towle) Thompson, of Chichester, September 19, 1892.

Like his ancestors, the Doctor is a Republican in politics. He is one of the representative citizens of the town and has served nine years on the Board of Education, three years as chairman. Mrs. French is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

(X) Ethel M. French resides at home.

(III) Nathaniel, fourth son and sixth child of Samuel and Abigail (Brown) French, was born December 8, 1678, in Salisbury. He was a resident of Hampton in 1701, and later made his home in Kingston. He married Sary Judgkin (probably Judkins), and they were the parents of seven chil- dren, most of whom settled is points north of Kings- ton, in Rockingham and Belknap counties. They were: Samuel, Nathaniel, Sary (died young), Jona- than, Sary, Benjamin and Mary.

(IV) Nathaniel (2), second son and child of Nathaniel (1) and Sary (Judgkin) French, was born April 1, 1709, in Kingston, and continued to reside in that town. No record appears of his mar- riage, but his wife's name is given as Abigel. Their children were : Elizabeth, Abraham, Nathaniel, William, Secomb, Abigel, Mary and Marthay.

(V) William, third son and fourth child of Nathaniel (2) and Abigel French, was born May 23, 1738, in Kingston, and settled in Stratham, New Hampshire. His wife's name was Olive, but no record appears of her maiden name, or of their marriage.

(VI) Reuben, son of William and Olive French, was born December 1, 1765, in Stratham, and re- sided in Newmarket, New Hampshire. His wife Lydia, was born January 26, 1766, in Stratham. Their children were: Thomas, Lucy and Polly.

(VII) Thomas, eldest child of Reuben and Lydia French, was born July 17, 1786, in New- market, and died December 10, 1864, in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, where he was an early resident. He married Elizabeth Foss, who was born May 22, 1790, and died August, 1834.

(VIII) James, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Foss) French, was born July 29, 1811, in Tufton- borough. During his early life he was a country merchant in the town of his birth. In 1851 he moved to Moultonboro, and continued in business on a larger scale until 1869, when he retired, his son James succeeding him. He joined the Methodist Church in 1858, and was active in religious work, and a liberal contributor to the cause of religion. He was an aggressive advocate of Republican princi-

ples, an earnest anti-slavery man, and allied with temperance movements, and took the lead in keep- ing up party organization in his town and in edu- cating the voters. The town was strongly Demo- cratic for many years, therefore he was never chosen to hold any local office with the exception of that of postmaster of Moultonborough, in which capacity he served for many years. He married Eveline Ann Moulton, who was born March 30, 1814, and died October 18, 1899, daughter of Simon and Lydia (Miller ) Moulton, the former born 1783, died 1867, and the latter born 1788, died 1860. Mr. French died November 4, 1886. Simon Moulton was a son of Nathan Smith and Mehitable (Per- kins) Moulton, and Lydia (Miller) Moulton was the daughter of Edward Brown and Ann (Smith) Miller, the former named having been an officer in the revolutionary war. Moultonborough was named in honor of the ancestor of Eveline Ann (Moulton) French. James and Eveline had four children : James E .; Lydia E., who married Simeon Estes ; George B .; and John Q. A., who died in child- hood.

(IX) George Barstow, son of James and Eve- line Ann (Moulton) French, was born at Tufton- borough, New Hampshire, November 27, 1846. He attended the common schools, New Hampshire Con- ference Seminary and Female College, Tilton, from which he graduated as valedictorian in 1868, and Dartmouth College, which he entered in 1868 and from which he graduated in 1872. He assisted materially in defraying the expenses of his law studies by teaching for three winters and in taking the census of three towns in the year 1870, per- forming all the field work on foot. He served as principal of Milford (New Hampshire) high school from September, 1872, to June 25, 1874. He pursued a course of study in law with Wadleigh & Wallace, Milford, New Hampshire, from Sep- tember, 1874, to the summer of 1875; from October, 1875, to June, 1876, he studied with Nathan Morse, of Boston, Massachusetts, and attended lectures at Boston University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts in May, 1876, and to the New Hampshire bar in September of the same year. He began the practice of his pro- fession at Nashua, New Hampshire, September 1, 1876, and has been actively engaged there ever since, a period of almost thirty years. His practice has been general and laborious; he argues his cases before juries and law courts, has been connected with many important cases, and has acted as counsel for some of the largest corporations of Nashua for many years.

Mr. French was president of the Nashua Trust Company for eleven years, and at the present time (1907) is director in the same. He was president for one term of the New Hampshire Bar Associa- tion; for a number of years was a member of the Board of Education of Nashua ; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1889, and was ap- pointed on the committee to revise the statutes, but declined to serve. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now a member of the Congregational (Orthodox) Church. He also holds membership in Rising Sun Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Holeb Club, of which he is president, which is devoted to fish- ing and hunting, having a club house and camp in Maine. Fishing and hunting are the recreations to which Mr. French turns when seeking rest and recuperation from business pursuits. He is a Re- publican in politics.

Mr. French married, at Milford, New Hamp-

C. H. French

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shire, December 24, 1879, Sarah French Burnham, a graduate of Milford high school and Wheaton Semi- nary. She is a daughter of Dexter S. and Harrict M. (Crosby) Burnham, who died December, 1892, and March, 1903, respectively. Dexter S. Burnham was a druggist and hardware merchant at Milford, a member of the Board of Education of Milford, for many years, president of the Milford Savings Bank for a number of years, and a leading member of the Orthodox Congregational Church. Harriet M. (Crosby) Burnham was a descendant of the Crosby family, of which Dr. Dixi Crosby and others were distinguished representatives. The children of George B. and Sarah F. (Burnham) French are: Ruth Hawthorne, born at Nashua, October 17, 1880, graduate of Nashua high school, 1898, Smith College, 1902. Robert Allan, born at Nashua, September 13, 1882, graduate of Nashua high school, 1901, Dartmouth College, 1905, now at Harvard Law School. Helen Burnham, born Nashua, September 5, 1884, graduate from Nashua high school, 1902, attended Andover Academy from 1902 to 1903; and Smith College from 1903 to 1904. George Moulton, born Nashua, May 2, 1888.

(Second Family.)

Several families of this name are de-

FRENCH scended from very early settlers in Massachusetts. The founders of this sketch are frequently referred to as the Braintree Frenches. Many good citizens have sprung from them.

(1) John French was born in England about 1612, and emigrated to New England about 1635. He was admitted a freeman in 1639, and after living in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a short time he re- moved to Braintree, where he was a resident as early as 1640. He died August 6, 1692, aged about eighty years. He married (first) Grace

who died February 28, 1681, aged fifty-nine years. Married (second), July 8, 1683, Elinor, daughter of Rev. William Thompson, widow of William Veazey. She died April 23, 17II, aged eighty-five. His chil- dren, all by his first wife, were: John, Thomas, died young; Dependence, Temperance, William, Elizabeth, Thomas and Samuel.

(II) Thomas, seventh child and fourth son of John and Grace French, was born in Braintree, March 10, 1658, and died there September 22, 1717. His wife, Elizabeth, who died December 23, 1718, bore him children: Elizabeth, Thomas, Moses, Jona- than, Rachel, Samuel, Abijah, Ebenezer, Sarah and Seth. (Mention of Moses and descendants appears in this article.)

(III) Thomas (2), second child and eldest son of Thomas (I) and Elizabeth French, was born August 5, 1698. He married (first) Rebecca ; (second), November 5, 1723, Mary Owen. By his first wife he had one child, and by the second eleven.

(IV) Elijah, second child of Thomas (2) and Mary (Owen) French, was born November 23, 1726. Before 1790 he removed from Massachusetts to Washington, New Hampshire, where he died January 15, 1800, aged seventy-three. He married, July 13, 1750, Mary Clark, who died January 7, 1812. They had nine children, several of whom set- tled in Washington, viz .: Joseph, Abraham, Isaac, Betsey and Seba.

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Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. IV, Part 73

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 878

Author: Stearns, Ezra S; Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918; Parker, Edward E. (Edward Everett), 1842-1923
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 878