John French, a tailor by trade, moved from Ipswich to Topsfield about the year 1664. Some ten years later he built the house which forms the nucleus of the French-Andrews house, so called, still standing near the newbury port turnpike in Topsfield and well known to antiquaries. He was admitted a commoner of Topsfield in 1675/6 and took the oath of allegiance and fidelity in 1678. He was corporal and clerk of the local military company, served the county on grand and trial juries and the town in various minor offices. Phebe (Keyes) French committed suicide by drowning in May, 1701, and in December of that year John French deeded his home to his son John in return for the usual consideration of care in his old age. He died about the year 1706, and his children divided his estate by agreement in August, 1707, his son John being the administrator.509