Thomas French

Notes:

Involved in two suits over hogs in May 1665 with John Evarts (1 601 - 1669), whose notes contain more on this subject. Involved in another lawsuit, dealing with slander, which is mentioned in depth in Steiner.

"Thomas Fench was here [Guilford, CT] early and had his home lot next north of Henry Goldam's. It contained three and a half acres. His House occupied the present site of that of Henry W. Chittenden."

Thomas was "one of the poorer planters" of Guilford. CT. He is mentioned as a Planter in the Freemen list of 1650, and a Freeman on the list of 1659. Steiner mentions also that the first record relating to care for the poor in the town is in reference to him, taking place about 1665. Quoting largely from this record, Steiner states: "'Thomas French, propounding in way of petition to the Towne, to have some reliefe, on account of his Daughter which was not wright in her minde. When the Towne had considered his Request, it was put to voat: And the voat past one the Negative: Viz. yt they did not see themselves engaged, either to him or to his, and, therefore, did expect that she should be Retturned to the place from whence she came.' This harsh vote French did not obey, and on August 21, 1665, the 'Towne being informed yt, notwithstanding Tho: French had been denied entertainment, or admittance in to this Towne, Wither for himself or his Daughter, yett had hiared Lands of Benjamin Wright to settell one: They did agree by vote, as a Prevention: That, whosoever did any longer entertain either of them, should give sufficient sequritye, that they should be no damage to the Towne.'"

Type: Book
Author: Steiner, Bernard Christian
Periodical: A History of the Plantation of Menunkatuck and of the Original Town of Guilford, Connecticut Comprising the Present Towns of Guilford and Madison
Author: Written Largely from the Manuscripts of the Hon. Ralph Dunning Smyth
Publication: Bernard Christian Steiner; 1897: Baltimore
Text: p 87
Text: p 54
Text: pp 127-8, 232

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=myfamtree&id=I04540

Thomas married Mary Alice Button in 1639 in Guilford, New Haven Co, Connecticut. Mary was born about 1620 in England; died in Jan 1660 in Guilford, New Haven Co, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah French was born on 25 Aug 1650 in Guilford, New Haven Co, Connecticut; died on 19 May 1717 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co, Connecticut.