Individual Details
William French
(1605/06 - )
William French (age 30) and his wife Elizabeth (age 32) were sworn in on the ship Defence on 4 Jul 1635. William’s children were also sworn in on the ship on 4 July 1635: Elizabeth (age 6), Marie (age 2), Francis (age 10), and Jo (of John) (age 5 mos), along with Elizabeth French (age 30). This second Elizabeth was a caretaker for the children. My thought is that she was a close member of the family, maybe a sister or William, born in 1605 (but then they would be twins and no Elizabeth is listed for William’s family in the parish register. They boarded at the same time as Roger Harlakenden and his family. Also in this group was Robert (an adult man, last name unknown) and Sarra Simes, age 30, both servants of Roger Harlakenden who boarded right after William and Elizabeth French in the same group. Some genealogists believe Sarra Simms, 30, also listed, was Elizabeth’s sister. But most important is that two others besides William and Eliza French are listed as servants of Roger Harlakenden, and they are: Robert, a man Servant; and Sarra Simes 30 Servant.
William French the Emigrant
We know that the William we are looking for who immigrated to Billerica, MA, was born in 1605/6 in Halstead. He married a woman named Elizabeth, as listed on the passenger list of 1635. Other researchers say her maiden name was Godfrey or Symmes, but I find nothing conclusive of the sort. In fact, William’s father, also named William, married Elizabeth Symmes as his last wife.
William emigrated with four children from London in July 1635. They were Francis b. 1624/25 (he was William’s youngest brother by his father William French and Elizabeth Symmes); Elizabeth b. 1629; Maria b. 1633; and John b. 1635 (dates according to ship records). They were probably all baptized in America as they were hiding out in England. This is why I was looking in London, but I also heard that they could have taken a ship from Harwich Essex to London because the captain of that ship was first on that ship, and then on the ship Defence that went from London to New England.
William French the Emigrant
We know that the William we are looking for who immigrated to Billerica, MA, was born in 1605/6 in Halstead. He married a woman named Elizabeth, as listed on the passenger list of 1635. Other researchers say her maiden name was Godfrey or Symmes, but I find nothing conclusive of the sort. In fact, William’s father, also named William, married Elizabeth Symmes as his last wife.
William emigrated with four children from London in July 1635. They were Francis b. 1624/25 (he was William’s youngest brother by his father William French and Elizabeth Symmes); Elizabeth b. 1629; Maria b. 1633; and John b. 1635 (dates according to ship records). They were probably all baptized in America as they were hiding out in England. This is why I was looking in London, but I also heard that they could have taken a ship from Harwich Essex to London because the captain of that ship was first on that ship, and then on the ship Defence that went from London to New England.
Events
| Birth | 1605/06 | Halstead, Essex, England | |||
| Marriage | Elizabeth |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth (1603 - ) |
| Child | Sarah French ( - 1710) |