2338.Ens. Thomas French. Born ca Nov 1608 in Assington, Suffolk. Thomas was baptized in St. Edmund’s, Assington, on 27 Nov 1608.16 Thomas died in Ipswich, MA on 8 Aug 1680.16
Estate of Thomas French, Sr. of Ipswich
Essex Probate Docket # 10190
In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas French 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 Earth, 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:
Imprimis, 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 Thomas French 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 French, I give and bequeath he bed where he usually lieth, together with the Bedding and Bedstead belonging to the same. Further, 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 French for and in consideration of twenty pounds by them engaged according to to order unto my son Ephraim French as the remaining part of this 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 possess and enjoy the said Pequod lands, and division-lot of marsh to themselves and to their heirs forever, to be equally divided betwixt them.
Furthermore, 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 by 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 moveable 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 ad 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 moveable as I doe now leave in the hands of my son Thomas (not disposed of) as my be necessary ad convenient for her use and occasions from time to time; and all these during the term of her natural life, and after her decease my son Thomas shall deliver to my three children John, Samuell 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 son Thomas and Samuel doe carefully provide 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 my testament. And if through any neglect of failure, this way of maintenance should not be to their mother's satisfaction and content, my Will is, that those my two sons 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 pleas God to exercise her with much prevailing weakness or continuing sickness that the aforesaid then pounds should not suffice to defray the charges of her expenses, my Will is that (over and above the 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, that 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 like as securitie for the true performance of this my Will as respecting her maintenance by my two Sonns; and after he 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 forever 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
Witness: (no signatures)
Proved in Ipswich Court 28 Sep 1680, by Mary French and Samuel French
Source: Printed "Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts; 1635 - 1681," In three volumes,The Essex Institute; Salem, MA; 1916
Submitted by: Linda Herrick Smith
Ca 1630 Thomas married Mary. Mary died in Ipswich, MA on 6 May 1681.16
2339.Alice French. Born ca 1610 in Assington, Suffolk. Alice was baptized in St. Edmund’s, Assington, on 9 Apr 1610.16 Alice died in Ipswich, MA on 26 Jun 1666.16
Ca 1634 Alice married Dea. Thomas Howlett. Born ca 1606 in South Elmham, Suffolk. Thomas died in Ipswich, MA 1677/8.16
Thomas first married Alice French, second Rebecca (___) Smith, widow of Thomas Smith.
Thomas was one of the ten first settlers in Agawam (later renamed Ipswich). He was deputy from Ipswich in 1635, and from Topsfield in 1665.
2340.Edward French. Born ca 1612 in Assington, Suffolk. Edward was baptized in Assington, Suffolk, in 1612. Edward died in Salisbury, MA on 28 Dec 1674.
Ca 1627 Edward married Ann Goodale, daughter of John Goodale & Elizabeth. Born on 15 Sep 1609 in Dennington, Suffolk. Ann died in Salisbury, MA, on 9 Mar 1683; she was 73.
2341.Dorcas French. Born ca 1614 in Assington, Suffolk. Dorcas was baptized in St. Edmund’s, Assington, on 31 Jul 1614. Dorcas died in Roxbury, MA on 30 Dec 1697.78
3 Jan 1636[/7] Dorcas first married Christopher Peake in Roxbury, MA.16 Born ca 1612.16 Christopher died in Roxbury, MA on 23 May 1666.16
Dorcas second married Lieut. Griffin Craft. Born ca 1603.16 Griffin died in Roxbury, MA on 4 Oct 1689.16 Religion: was admitted to Roxbury church as member #45.
Griffin Crofts, Crofte, Crafts, or Craft. Among his descendants, in eastern Massachusetts ‘Craft’ was favored, but in western Massachusetts and Connecticut ‘Crafts’ was more common.
Griffin came to Roxbury in 1630, probably with his wife Alice and daughter Hannah in the fleet with Winthrop. He was a freeman 18 May 1631. He was lieut. selectman, rep. 1663-7, ar. co. 1668.25
‘Griffith Crofts’ was admitted to Roxbury church as member #45. As ‘Griffin Crofte’ he was freeman, 18 May 1631.16
“Lieutenant Griffen Craft, immigrant ancestor of Craft and Crafts family, came to New England with Winthrop’s company and settled in Roxbury in 1630. He located on the west bank of Muddy river. His wife Alice and daughter Hannah came with him. There are reasons for believing he was from Yorkshire, England, and was born about 1600, and family tradition states that he came on the ship ‘Arabella.’ He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631. He was a deputy to the general court in 1638-63-64-64-65-66-67. He was a juryman in 1640. He was commissioned lieutenant of the militia, September 10, 1653, and resigned his commission February 21 1675-76. He is supposed to have been part owner of a grist mill on Muddy river. He was selectman in 1650, and serverd until 1673, with the exception of two years, 1665 to 1667, during which time he was one of a committee of three to give the selectmen orders [what does that mean?]. He was commissioner to end small causes from 1659 to 1670 inclusive. He was often on committees to decide boundaries and settle estates. The last few years of his life he was blind.”108
Check out Joan S. Guilford’s book The Ancestry of Dr. J.P. Guilford, Volume 1, pp. 178-184 (Orange, California, 1990) for more on Griffin Craft and his descendants.
2342.Susan French. Born on 31 Jul 1614 in Assington, Suffolk. At the age of 1, Susan was baptized in Assington, Suffolk, on 25 Apr 1616.17
2343.Ann French. Born ca 1617 in Assington, Suffolk. Ann was baptized in Assington, Suffolk, on 15 Mar 1617.17
2344.Margaret French. Born ca 1619 in Assington, Suffolk. Margaret was baptized in Assington, Suffolk, on 12 Mar 1619.17 Margaret died in Ipswich, MA in Nov 1633. Buried on 25 Nov 1633 in Ipswich, MA.17
2345.John French. Born ca 1622 in Assington, Suffolk. John was baptized in St. Edmund’s, Assington, on 26 May 1622.17 John died in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on 1 Feb 1697.17
Ca 1654 John married Freedom Kingsley, daughter of John Kingsley (7 Sep 1614-Jan 1678) & Elizabeth Stoughton. Born ca 1636 in Dorchester, MA. Freedom died in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on 16 Jul 1689.17