French

The French Family in Merriott

17th Century Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob & Hannah French Immigration
18th Century Censuses 20th Century
19th Century Ilchester Gaol Records  

The earliest mention of the surname FRENCH in the Merriott records was on 20 May 1648, the baptism of Catharine FRENCH, daughter of James & Mary.

17th Century FRENCH families in Merriott 

MARRIAGES

MALES – 1 FEMALES – 3
January. 1655 Edward French als Lawrence; son of Jo. French als Lawrence; of Merriott,
m An Swane
29 December 1656 Anne French Daughter of John French als Lawrence; of Merriott
m Richard Tucker
2 September 1663 Mary French m Richard Burgis
19 October 1694 Sarah French m William Wilkins

BAPTISMS

James & Mary French 20 May 1648 Catharine
11 June 1656 Hezekiah
6 March 1663 Margaret 
Roger & Mary French 10 January 1651 Richard
Aaron & Elizabeth French 10 February 1651 Susana
Hugh & Elner French 1 August 1655 Marte?
John French 19 October 1673 Sarah 
John & Hester French 28 February 1674 Samuell 
Matthew & Susannah French 26 June 1670 Elner
31 March 1672 Hugh (Burial  11 July 1677)
1 January 1673 Mary 
25 June 1676 Matthew
14 April 1678 Josias
18 December 1679 Susannah 
Richard & Mary French 18 February 1676 John
18 January 1679 Thomas
22 November 1683 Mary 
1 April 1688 Anne
16 October 1693 Thomas
1 September 1695 Richard 
Hezekiah & Elizabeth French 30 September 1677 Mary
23 March 1679 Thomas
31 December 1684 Thomas
20 May 1691 Hezekiah
Marke & Katharine French 19 November 1682 Marke
James & Mary French  8 October 1685 Mary
28 November 1686 Robert 
22 March 1690 Mary 

BURIALS 

MALES FEMALES
Burial 30 August 1654 Aaron French
Burial in Woollen 14 September 1681 Arthur French
Burial 20 August 1673 Hugh French
Burial 8 June 1673 James French
Burial in Woollen 19 April 1691 James French
Burial 2 May 1676 John French
Burial in Woollen 25 December 1683 John French
Burial in Woollen 8 June 1692 Josias French
Burial in Woollen 31 May 1685 Marke French
Burial in Woollen 24 May 1686 Matthew French
Burial 14 December 1654 Richard French
Burial in Woollen t 6 December 1682 Roger French
Burial in Woollen t 5 February 1681 Thomas French
Burial in Woollen t 24 February 1683 Thomas French
Burial in Woollen t 28 October 1693 Thomas French

Burial in Woollen 27 February 1688 Anne French
Burial 4 February 1667 Ellaner French Wyfe of Hugh
Burial in Woollen 13 August 1682 Elianore French
Burial in Woollen 28 February 1680 Elizabeth French
Burial 12 June 1698 Elizabeth French
Burial in Woollen 5 February 1691 Hannah French
Burial in Woollen 6 January 1683 Jane French
Burial in Woollen 13 May 1683 Katharine French
Burial 30 August 1654 Mary French The wyfe of Richard
Burial in Woollen 6 November 1681 Mary French
Burial in Woollen 21 October 1683 Mary French
Burial in Woollen 21 August 1679 Mary French
Burial in Woollen 22 March 1684 Mary French
Burial in Woollen t 9 November 1685 Mary French
Burial in Woollen 27 April 1694 Mary French
Burial 29 April 1697 Mary French
Burial 30 June 1700 Mary French
Burial in Woollen 30 April 1686 Susannah French 

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18th Century FRENCH families in Merriott

MARRIAGES

MALES – 6 FEMALES – 5
23 February 1704 Thomas French m Jane Templeman
29 September 1712 Hezekiah? French m Eliz. King, Crewkerne
1 June 1715 Matthew French, of Merriott m Mary Bartlet, Litton
15 April 1760 James French m Mary Pattemore
14 January 1782 Josias French m Sarah Dight

21 May 1798 Samuel French m Hannah Lawrence
7 July 1728 Mary French m Robert Eason
10 August 1767 Mary French m Robert Lang
30 August 1768 Betty French m John Rowsell
3 May 1785 Sarah Marks French m Henry Baily
29 July 1800 Elizabeth French m Joseph Mitchell

BAPTISMS (or Burials if specified)

Josias (of Hinton, a Yeoman) & Elizabeth
French
25 June 1704 Josias
December. 1706 Matthew
1 February 1708 Elizabeth
No Date 1711 Tho.
Burial  9 May 1711 Tho
Burial  5 August 1711 Samuell
15 May 1713 Mary
Thomas & Jane/Ann (nee Templeman) French 9 May 1705 Samuel
4 May 1707 Mary
17 February 1712 James
14 May 1716 Hezekiah
10 May 1722 Eliz
Matthew & Mary (nee Bartlet) French 19 December 1715 Mary
19 December 1715 Susanna
17 July 1720 Mary
William & Sarah French 29 March 1716 Katharine
31 October 1717 William
6 August 1719 John (Born 12 July)
11 April 1721 Samuel
9 November 1727 Sarah
14 July 1730 Alice 
Mark & Elizabeth French 5 May 1724 Eliz
Matthew & Betty/ Elizabeth French
[Note: May be more than one family here]
1 July 1741 Mary (buried 7 February 1741/2)
13 July 1743 Mary
26 September 1745 Betty
Susannah (buried 16 August  1750)
4 March
1750 Catt
24 January 1752 Samuel
3 May
1755 Josias
22 January 1758 John
Samuel (buried 21 July 1767)
William (buried 7 January 1774)
Mark & Elizabeth French Baptism  15 February 1756 Sarah
Baptism  15 January 1758 John
Baptism  2 March 1760 Mark
Baptism  27 May 1762 William
Burial  28 August 1763 John
Burial  2 September 1763 William
Burial  27 December 1767 William
Baptism  30 April 1769 Samuel
Burial  25 August 1771 Mark
James & Mary (nee Pattemore) French Baptism 26 October 1760 Hester
Burial 6 June 1762 Samuel
Baptism 4 December 1763 Mary
Baptism 7 July 1765 Sarah
Baptism 24 January 1768 John
Baptism 21 April 1771 Samuel
Mark & Elizabeth French 12 January 1776 Hannah (buried 9 October 1781) 21 March 1781 John
William & Elizabeth (nee Trask) French 15 January 1777 James (buried 10 May 1778)
Susanna French 7 September 1778 Susannah, BC
John & Mary French 21 September 1781 Elizabeth
31 May 1784 Samuel
17 March 1789 John (buried 25 January 1786)
4 January 1791 William
2 February 1792 Alice
8 March 1793 Katharine
5 April 1795 Roger
27 January 1801 Sarah
Josias & Sarah (nee Dwight) French 3 July 1783 William
25 July 1785 Samuel
8 February 1787 Sarah
4 January 1788 Josias
29 December 1789 Catharine
2 January 1795 John
24 December 1797 Josias
10 January 1805 Anna Eliza
John & Susanna French 23 April 1786 Robert
Samuel & Hannah (nee Lawrence) French 5 January 1800 William
13 May 1804 Josias
13 May 1804 John
Samuel (a Miller) & Hannah (nee Bartlett)
French
10 January 1810 Samuel Bartlett
5 January 1813 Anna Eliza
[Note:  amended 19th April 2006 when Samuel & Hannah (nee Lawrence) French’s children were separated from this entry]

BURIALS 

MALES – 17 FEMALES – 16
24 April 1716 Hezekiah French
4 December 1717 Hezekiah French
9 September 1725 John French
27 January 1735 John French
25 January 1740 John French
20 November 1737 Josias French
16 May 1746 Josias French
15 August 1728 Mark French
13 February 1780 Mark French
21 January 1782 Matthew French
3 February 1784 Matthew French
22 September 1728 Richard French
26 May 1714 Roger French
1 October 1745 Samuel French
7 October 1770 Samuel French
5 September 1733 Thomas French
11 March 1762 William French
Illegible date 1712, illegible
forename French Wife of illegible
18 April 1742 Anne French
19 March 1730 Catherine French
5 April 1728 Eliz French
25 October 1730 Eliz French
3 June 1744 Elizabeth French
30 April 1758 Elizabeth French
29 April 1800 Elizabeth French
5 January 1712 Kat French
5 October 1701 Mary French
18 March 1704 Mary French
1 April 1705 Mary French
3 May 1724 Mary French
28 February 1768 Mary French
20 November 1720 Mary French?
15 November 1763 Sarah French


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19th Century FRENCH families in Merriott

The Somerset Record Office holds the following item: DDSP/319/347, Corfe.  Description:  Copy covenant by Samuel French of Merriott, miller, to surrender two messuages, [pieces of real estate], a cottage and lands (named).  Date:  1814

MARRIAGES pre 1837

MALES – 7 FEMALES – 7
9 May 1808 Josias French m Elizabeth Parker (Crewkerne)
1 November 1808 Samuel French m Hannah Bartlett
29 March 1818 Jacob French m Hannah Osborne
17 December  1826 Josias French m Catharine Wills
6 September 1827 Josias French m Rebecca Read
25 December 1834 Samuel French m Phoebe Gabe
19 January 1836 John French m Mary Farr
18 October 1806 Sarah French m John Gear
6 March 1810 Catherine French m Robert Rousel
28 January 1813 Alice French m Joseph Read
25 December 1815 Mary French m Abraham Osborne
4 March 1824 Catharine French m Henry Joseph Higgins
10 January 1828 Sarah French m William Trask
10 April 1831 Hannah French m James Hutchings


MARRIAGES post 1837 (extra detail)

Date

Year

Forename

Surname

Spouse

Age

Condition

Signed?

Abode

Occupation

Father

Father’s Occ

Witness

11-Jan

1870

William Henry

Taylor

Emma Read French

29

Bachelor

Yes

Ilminster

Builder

Matthias? Taylor

Builder

William French

11-Jan

1870

Emma Read

French

William Henry Taylor

34

Spinster

Yes

Merriott


Josias French

Brewer & Maltster

Harriett Podger?

18-Nov

1879

John

French

Mary Anna Rendall

24

Bachelor

Yes

Lower Street

Clerk

Josias French (deceased)

Baker

James Harry Rendell

18-Nov

1879

Mary Anna

Rendall

John French

24

Spinster

Yes

Church Street

Joseph Rendall

Inn Keeper

Anne Rogers Bodenham

20-Nov

1884

John Edward

French

Annie Norton

27

Bachelor

Yes

Merriott Mills

Miller

John French

Miller

Abel Norton

20-Nov

1884

Annie

Norton

John Edward French

23

Spinster

Yes

Sherrimoor Hill

Abel Norton

Butcher

Rebecca French

BAPTISMS 1800 – early 1876

Mary French 13 May 1804 Jacob, BC  Aged 8 Years
Susanna French 15 May 1809 Joseph, BC
Josias (a Farmer)  & Elizabeth (nee Parker) French 4 August 1810 Elizabeth  27 May 1816 Matthew
William (a Yeoman/ Maltster/ Brewer/ Miller)  &
Joan French
17 January 1809 William
16 January 1810 Sarah
27 March 1814 John Harley?
20 February 1816 Mary Ann
22 June 1818 Joan
18 June 1820 Richard
21 June 1824 Anna Eliza
Jacob (a Labourer) & Hannah (nee Osborne) French 23 May 1819 Abraham
9 June 1822 Mary
16 January 1825 Hannah
22 March 1829 Prudence
Abt 1830 William (in Haselbury)
Born 22 Sept 1839 Elizabeth (in Haselbury)
Josias (a Miller) & Rebecca (nee Read) French 22 May 1828 Samuel
4 February 1830 William
11 September 1832 Josias
2 September 1834 John
19 July 1836 Emma Read
Josias (a Labourer) & Catharine (nee Wills) French 31 May 1829 Ann
19 February 1832 Catharine
1 November 1835 Elizabeth
2 January 1842 Josias
Roger (a Yeoman/ Farmer) & Lucy French
See Shutteroaks Farm
9 February 1830 Lucy
12 June 1831 Samuel Harris
10 April 1833 Jane
7 April 1835 Sarah
4 July 1836 Sarah
2 July 1837 Nancy
11 May 1839 Charlotte
15 September 1842 Ellen
Abraham (a Labourer) & Martha French 7 April 1844 Elizabeth   Born 24 Mar 1837
7 April 1844 Frederick John  Born 4 Feb 1840
7 April 1844 Sarah Ann   Born 20 Mar 1843
Susan (a Single Woman) French 30 December 1855 John
Susan (a Single Woman) French 14 June 1857 John
Josias (a Baker/Miller) & Sarah Elizabeth French 9 August 1857 John
9 August 1857 Charles
18 May 1858 William
14 August 1859 Lucy Jane
William (an Inn Keeper) & Mary French.
See  The Bell Inn
9 June 1867 Anna Maria 30 March 1868 Sam?

Elizabeth French, Daughter of Jacob & Hannah

I’ve had contact from Julia Maine regarding Elizabeth French, daughter of Jacob & Hannah (nee Osborne) French.  Here are the details:


Elizabeth French & John Clough

Elizabeth French’s Granddaughter, Gertrude Isabel Abram 

Born 22 Sept 1839 Haselbury Plucknett  
Died 25 February 1922, aged 83 buried Hale Church, Hale, Lancaster  
Married  28 July 1864 John Clough Sion Chapel, Coughfold, District Haslington, Lancaster
Husband born 23 March 1845 Tunstead, Lancashire  
Husband died October 1912, aged 68    

Children

Sarah Hannah (Annie) Clough b 29 June 1865, Tunstead, Lancashire
d 20 Nov 1897 aged 32/3, buried Hale Parish Church, Hale, Lancashire
m 24 Sept 1892, Albyn Eden, Parish Church, Hale.  Albyn Eden born 1871 Runcorn, Cheshire, occupation Fireman.  Note: Albyn Eden remarried to a Mary E Sullivan at St Paul’s, Kirkdale, North Shore, Liverpool, Lancashire 1898.
Children of Sarah & Albyn Eden:

Gertrude Eden
born 21 Dec 1893 Widnes, Lancashire.  Married Philip Abram 21
Dec 1913.   Died 5 July 1972, Leicester.  Philip Abram was born 6 Oct 1868 Glasgow, Scotland, died 10 June 1952.
Children of Gertrude & Philip Abram:
1. Philip Albion Abram born 6 May 1915 Newport Baghel, Bucks, died 6 March
2003, Reading.
2. Gertrude Isabel Abram born 1917  Lugershall, Wilts, died Aug 1984 Leicester
3. Albert Edward Abram born 1921 Birmingham, Warwickshire, died 6 June 1994 Wales.
4. John Eden Abram born 23 June 1923 Grimsby.
Sarah Hannah Eden born 6 May 1895, Widnes, Lancashire.  Died 29 Nov 1975 Widnes.  Spinster.
James Thomas Clough b 20 Sept 1867 m Mary Bucknill
Children of James & Mary Clough:
Mabel Clough born 19 Aug 1899
Jack Clough born Jan 1902 died 28 Oct 1912

CENSUSES

By the time of the 19th century censuses of Merriott, the surname FRENCH was the 23rd most common surname recorded in Merriott.

Go to:  French in Merriott Censuses Page.

BURIALS 1801 – 1900

MALES FEMALES
27 March 1877 Charles Smith French 19
19 July 1855 George French infant
27 October 1855 Jacob French 60
8 September 1805 John French
6 February 1809 John French
4 August 1810 John French
16 April 1827 John French 69
6 December 1856 John French 22
18 March 1858 John French 2 y
10 April 1893 John French 37
14 February 1905 John French 85
21 July 1877 John Babstock French 71
5 September 1837 Joseph French 28
11 November 1875 Josiah French 78
21 April 1824 Josias French 69
8 February 1870 Josias French 37
23 March 1818 Matthew French 3
27 November 1863 Samuel French 35
20 December 1834 Samuel Harris French 3y9mo
15 December 1841 William French 51
20 April 1808 Anna Eliza French
21 May 1831 Anna Eliza French 7
7 May 1903 Annie French 41
20 August 1839 Cecilia French 18 mo
15 July 1845 Eliza French 10
9 September 1815 Elizabeth French 11
29 November 1817 Elizabeth French 35
11 March 1872 Elizabeth French 69
6 March 1843 Hannah French 73
19 July 1869 Hannah French 74
30 November 1833 Joan French 16
27 September 1808 Mary French
15 July 1823 Mary French 66
25 March 1869 Mary French 40
17 October 1879 Rebecca French 75
28 February 1895 Rebekah French 73
25 December 1828 Sarah French 74
11 July 1832 Sarah French 67
4 January 1889 Sarah Elizabeth French 54
19 March 1836 Susanna French 58

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Estate Duty Wills at the Somerset Record Office

FRENCH Josias 1832 Merriott [perhaps the Josias French buried 21 April 1824?]

1873 Returns of Owners of Land of more than one acre

FRENCH, John of Merriott; over 51 acres.
FRENCH, Josias of Merriott; over 2 acres.

19th Century Ilchester Gaol Records

Abraham FRENCH aged 24, born Merriott, last abode Haselbury, Date: 9/8/1841
Phebe FRENCH aged 40, born Merriott, last abode Merriott, Date 13/5/1840
Samuel FRENCH aged 24, born Hewish, Crewkerne, last abode Merriott, date 25/2/1840
Samuel FRENCH aged 26, born Hewish, Crewkerne, last abode Merriott, date 23/4/1840
Samuel FRENCH aged 26, born Hewish, Crewkerne, last abode Merriott, date 3/7/1840

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Immigration

To Australia

Prudence FRENCH, daughter of Jacob & Hannah (nee Osborne) French, emigrated to Australia in 1860 after marrying William CHICK at Axminster. They emigrated to New South Wales on the vessel “Chance”.  

Prudence’s brother William also emigrated to Australia, also to New South Wales, on the vessel “Maitland” in 1858, with his wife Elizabeth (nee Baker, of Agra, India) and their son Thomas, aged 1.  Thomas died on the voyage, and another son, John M, was born on the voyage.  This information comes from Kim French, a descendent of William.  Thankyou Kim!

20th Century FRENCH in Merriott

The Surname French was still in evidence in small numbers in the early part of the 20th Century in Merriott Parish Registers.
For more information, please contact sue@merriottfamiliesgenealogy.net