Son of Thomas, born 1608. Mentioned in letter of John Bluette of Groton as ‘my scholar’ [“Life & Letters John Winthrop”]37

Emigrated to America by 1631 when he was a member of the Boston, MA church. Freeman, 6 Nov 1632. Dismissed to Ipswich Church, 27 Jan 1638/9.

Freeman 6 November 163238, Vol. 1, pg. 367

He was a soldier in the Pequot expedition and was called Sergeant to 1664, and Ensign thereafter.

Ensign Thomas French of Ipswich was in New England as early as 1637 when he was a soldier in the Pequot War. In 1672 he petitioned the colonial government for a grant of land northwest of Salisbury, in behalf of himself and eight other Ipswich men who had seen service in that campaign. French is first mentioned i the Ipswich records in 1638 when he was designated Thomas French, Jr. Thomas French, Sr., who came to Ipswich from Boston in 1635 with his wife Alice, has been confused with him, notably by Mr. Hammett, the distinguished Ipswich genealogist. Whether or not any relationship existed between them is not determined. The elder man was a member of the Boston church in 1631, a freeman on November 6, 1632, was dismissed to the Ipswich church in 1638, and administration on his estate was granted to his widow Alice on 5: 9: 1639. She subsequently married Ensign Thomas Howlett of Ipswich and Topsfield.

Thomas French’s chief public duties were military and judicial. lHe was a subscriber to Major Dennison’s compensation in 1648. He is called Sergeant French until 1664, and Ensign French henceforth. In 1664 he testified to the mutinous behavior of Samuel Hunt and others during the training of the Ipswich troop on Wolfpen plain. He served on the trial jury of the County Court in 1651, 1652, 1657-1660, 1662, 1664, 1669, 1672, 1674-1675, and 1678, and on a jury of inquest in 1676. He is listed as a voter in town affairs in 1679 and as a commoner in 1678.

As with most of the adult male population of Ipswich, Thomas French signed the petition to keep Mr. John Winthrop, Jr. in town, 21 June 1637508, Vol 3, pg 433

Ensign Thomas French and Thomas French, Jr. were sureties on the bond of Samuel French when young Samuel was charged with a misdemeanor wth Lydia Browne at court 26 March 1667174, Vol 3, pg 398

Had service in the Pequod War. Proposed for Lieutenant, 25 March 1639 (but apparently not confirmed; in a letter of that date Daniel Dennison writes to John Winthrop “Our company wanting some officers, have according to their liberty, made choice of some, whom they desired me to propound to the Court or Council. They wre willing to express their love and liking to Sergeant French and Sergeant Howlett proposing the former for Lieutenant, the other for Ensign”508, Vol 4, pg 106

On 18 May 1664 “Sergt. Thomas French deposed that being ordered by Major Genll. Denison to carry two soldiers who were stubborn off the field to prison, he went to them and persuaded them to submit themselves, promising to mediate for them”174, Vol 3, pg 140

Appointed ensign at Ipswich 18 May 166438, Vol 4, 2, pg 106

John Stratton writes from Boston under date of 17 March 1633/4: “I have put my sisster a suit of mohair to making at Goodman French’s. She were best get the tailor to take her measure and send per Jno. Gallop”

Thomas French’s inventory included eleven yards of homemade cloth.508, Vol. 3, pg. 157

Ensign French died August 8, 1680. His wife, Mary, survived until May 6, 1681. his will, dated five days before his death, follows:

“In the name of God Amen. I Thomas ffrench senior, of Ipswich being weak of body yet of perfect understanding and memory doe in case of death make this my last Will and Testament. In the first place I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who hath redeemed it by the precious blood of his son; and I commit my body to the Eath, whence it was taken, to be buried in a Christian decent manner by my friends in hope of a blessed resurrection to eternal life. And as for my outward Estate which God hath graciously given me in this world I doe thus dispose of it: inprimis, I give and bequeath to Mary my beloved wife the Bed whereon I use to ly, with all the appurtenances and furniture belonging thereto. Moreover I give to my son Thoams ffrench my cloak and close-coat. Also I give to my son John French one Cow, which is to make up the full summe of thirty pounds which I formerly promised him for his Portion. Also I give to my daughter Mary Smith, one Cow. And to my son Samuel ffrench I give and bequeath the bed whereon he usually lieth, together with the Bedding and Bed-stead belonging to the same. ffurther, as concerning my lands at the Pequod lots, and my division Lot of marsh at plum-Island my Will is, that my sons Thomas and Samuel ffrench for and in consideration of twenty pounds by them engaged according to my order unto my son ephraim French as ye remaining poart of his portion (which summe of twenty pounds is almost all paid, and the remainder due upon demand), I say my Will is that those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall possesse and enjoy the said Pequod lands, and division-lot of marsh to themselves and to their heirs forever, to be equally divideed betwixt them.

“ffurthermore, I give and bequeath to my sonn Thomas French my dwelling house and homested with all the appurtenances and priviledges thereof and belonging thereto, and also my Lot lying in Labour-in-vain fields containing twelve acres more or less; with all the rest of my cattell, stocke of all sorts and movable goods (not disposed of by this my Will and testament) and to my son Samuel I give and bequeath two acres of upland joyning to Joseph Quilter’s and two acres of meadow-ground at Reedy marsh; to be possessed by them respectively after my decease: Provided always and my Will is, that my son Thomas French doe give full and free libertie to Mary my wife his mother to abide and dwell in the said house and to make use of any room or rooms thereof for her convenient accommodation therein; as likewise to make use of all or any such moveables as I doe now leave in the hands of my son Thomas (not disposed of) as may be necessary and convenient for her use and occasions from time to time; and all these during the term of her natural life; and that after her decease my son Thomas shall deliver to my three children John, Samll, and mary three of the biggest pewter dishes which shall then be left and remain, that is to say, to each of them, one. Provided also, and my will is, that my two sons Thomas and Samuel doe carefully parovide for their mothers comfortable maintenance and livelyhood and what is requisit thereto during her natural life; each of them allowing thereto proportionally to that part of my Estate which shall be by them received by vertue of this testamt. And if through any neglect or failure, this way of maintenance should not be to their mother’s satisfaction and content, my Will is, yt those my two sonns Thomas and Samuel shall allow to their mother ten pounds yeerly; nine pounds thereof to be paid by Thomas and twenty shillings by Samuel, in such pay as shall be suitable and necessary for her comfortable maintenance and livelyhood; And further, if it shall please God to exercise her with much prevailing weakness or continuing sickness that the aforesaid ten pounds should nto suffice to defray the charges of her expences; my Will is, that (over and aboue ye ten pounds, and according to the like rate of proportion) those my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall supply her with necessaries suitable as her condition may require, yt she be not exposed to suffering for want of what ought and might be procured for her. Also my Will is, that my Lot in Labour-in-vain fields, and the two acres of meadow at Reedy Marsh shall stand bound respectively to my said wife during her natural life at securitie for the true pformance of this my Will as respecting her maintenance by my two Sonns; and after her decease, the said lands (except what shall bee alienated (if any so be) by means of the securitie aforesaid) to remain to each of those my Sonns, and to their heirs for ever as is before mentioned and declared. And lastly, I doe name, appoint, and constitute my son Thomas French to be the sole Executor of this my last will & testament.”

August 3 1680 Thomas ffrench, Sen.
Witness: no signatures

Inventory of the estate of Ensigne Thomas French taken Aug. 25, 1680, by Jonathan Wade and John Whipple; his waring apparell Linon & woolin, 4li. 10s.; the grat beed in the parler with what belongs toe it, 7li. 10s.; a trundle beed with what belongs toe it, 3li.; thre chests, 20s., 7 cushins, 20s., 2 li.; 4 payer of sheets, 40s., 4 pilowbers, 8s., 2li. 8 s.; 22 napcines, 30s., 3 tablecloths, 20s., 2l9. 20s.; 11 yds. of hommade cloth, 1li, 13s.; warming pann 8s., yd. & halfe of serge, 6s., 14s.; a cutlach & belt, 6s., 3 small baskits, 2s., 8s.; 2 bruches, 2s., smal looking glas, 1s., 3s.; 6 chayers, 6 s., table & foorme, 7s., 13s.; one spitt, fire pan, tonges, gridirone, tramell, 18s.; 9 pewter dishes, 27s.; 2 pint pots & a half pint, two poreingers, one beacer cup, 2 poringer, 1li. 17s.; two bras Ketls. 2li. 15s.; one Irone pott, 3 scilits, a scimer, 14s.; tine ware, 6s., 9 spones, 18d., 7s. 6d.; barels, payels, trayes, kelers, 14s.; earthen ware, 8s.; old axe & howe, 3s., books, 10s., 13s.; 3 loads of haye, 30s.; a bed given to Samuel French with what belongs toe it, 4li. 15s.; a meane bed with what belongs toe it, 2li.; doz. halfe of trenchers, 18d., sithes, 2s., 3s. 6d.; 5 sheep & thre Lames, 2li. 13s.; 4 cowes, 12li.; 8 swine, 3li, 11s.; his dweling hous & barne & homestead with the privelidg belonging, 70li.; 12 accers of Lande at Laber in vain, 60li.; 2 accers of Land by Scotes Lane, 10li.; 2 accers of march in the comon feild, 10li.; debts due by booke, 71li. 7s. 6d.; total, 217 li.15s. 6d. Debts he oweth, 34li. 8s.5d. making total, 183li. 7s. 1d.509

Thomas French and his siter Alice had arrived in New England by 1632, and their two next younger sisters, Dorcas and Susan, came in 1633. Their parents and younger siblings sailed for new england after 1633. Alice married Thomas Howlett and Dorcas married first Christopher Peake and then Griffin Crafts. Susan may have been a servant in the household of John winthrop Jr. for a time, but otherwise left no record in New England.

In a letter dated Groton 14 March 1632/3 John Bluett asked John Winthrop, Jr. to remember him to “my schollers Thomas French and John Clarke”508, Vol 3, pg 108

At a selectman’s meeting 31 January 1660[/1] eight men, including Thomas French, were granted liberty to “clear and break up a parcel of land at Scott’s hill to have two acres each for six years upon condition that they sow four bushels of good hay seed on every acre, to keep up the fence a year so that the English grass should get head, the hay seed to be sown with the last crop”174, Vol 3, pg 271

The inventory of Ensign Thomas French was taken 25 August 1680 and totalled 217 pounds 15s. 6d. including 150 pounds in real estate: “his dwelling house & barn & homestead wth the privelege belonging,” 70 pounds; “twelve acres of land at Labor in vain,” 60 pounds; “two acres of land by Scotes Lane,” 10 pounds; and “two acres of marsh in the common field,” 10 pounds173, Vol 3, pgs 380-381