John was the 5th of 12 children (2nd son) born of Joshua French (1734-1791) and his wife Esther Wales (1738-1810). John's siblings were: Esther (b. 1756), Joshua (1758-1834), Prudence (b. 1759), Sarah (1760-1825), Hannah (b. 1763), Rachel (1765-1843), Charlottee (b. 1767), Jeddee (Jedediah) (1770-1833), Hettee (b. 1772), Elizabeth (b. 1779), and Wales (1782-1867).
At the age of 14 years, John enlisted on May 23, 1776 as a Private in Captain Seth Turner's Company, Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment. Captain Turner's Company was stationed at Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts for the defense of the seacoast. Hull is located on a peninsula at the southern edge of Boston Harbor. John served to January 1, 1777, 7 months and 9 days.
John French second married, May 16, 1782 at Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Hannah Wales (1759-1835) by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): Joseph W. (1785-1854), John (1785-1785), John (1787-1853), Hannah (1789-1801), Sally (Sarah) (1790-1870), Samuel Bass (b. 1793), Esther (1795-1796), Betsy (1796-1816), Mary (1799-1837), and William (1802-1869).
At the Braintree, Massachusetts adjourned town meeting held on March 17th 1788, John was elected one of seven Hogg-reaves. On May 14th, 1789, he was elected Braintree's South Precinct's Tax Collector. On May 31st 1790,he was elected one of six town Field Drivers. On August 9th, 1790 and May 11th 1791, he was again elected Tax Collector for the town's South Precinct. On March 7th 1791, he was elected one of three town Constables for the ensuing year. (Note: The south precinct of Braintree was not set off as its own township, Randolph, until March 9, 1793).
John and his family moved to Braintree, Orange County, Vermont before his 6th child was born there in January, 1793. In 1795, Colonel John French kept the first store in Braintree, Vermont. He moved to Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, 5 years later where he also operated a store. He was a prominent Mason, and the Randolph lodge often met at his house.
On November 6, 1813, John was elected, by the Vermont House of Representatives and Governor and Council meeting in joint committee, Brigadier General of the second brigade fourth division of the Vermont Militia. He resigned this position, October 30, 1816.
References:
(1) "Records of the Town of Braintree, 1640-1793" by Samuel A. Bates, 1886, pages 578-579, 589-590, 597, 600-601, 603, 608, 825, 844, 853 and 884-885
(2) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War." Volume VI, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1899, page 76
(3) French Family Bibles "The Mayflower Descendant A: Magazine: Of: Pilgrim Genealogy: and: History" by Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Vol. 44 No. 2, July 1994, pages 146-148
(4) "The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine Embracing A History of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military" Volume II. Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orange Counties, by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1871, pages 846, 998 and 1037
(5) "Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont Volume VI" by E. P. Walton, 1878, pages 33 and 165
At the age of 14 years, John enlisted on May 23, 1776 as a Private in Captain Seth Turner's Company, Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment. Captain Turner's Company was stationed at Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts for the defense of the seacoast. Hull is located on a peninsula at the southern edge of Boston Harbor. John served to January 1, 1777, 7 months and 9 days.
John French second married, May 16, 1782 at Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Hannah Wales (1759-1835) by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): Joseph W. (1785-1854), John (1785-1785), John (1787-1853), Hannah (1789-1801), Sally (Sarah) (1790-1870), Samuel Bass (b. 1793), Esther (1795-1796), Betsy (1796-1816), Mary (1799-1837), and William (1802-1869).
At the Braintree, Massachusetts adjourned town meeting held on March 17th 1788, John was elected one of seven Hogg-reaves. On May 14th, 1789, he was elected Braintree's South Precinct's Tax Collector. On May 31st 1790,he was elected one of six town Field Drivers. On August 9th, 1790 and May 11th 1791, he was again elected Tax Collector for the town's South Precinct. On March 7th 1791, he was elected one of three town Constables for the ensuing year. (Note: The south precinct of Braintree was not set off as its own township, Randolph, until March 9, 1793).
John and his family moved to Braintree, Orange County, Vermont before his 6th child was born there in January, 1793. In 1795, Colonel John French kept the first store in Braintree, Vermont. He moved to Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, 5 years later where he also operated a store. He was a prominent Mason, and the Randolph lodge often met at his house.
On November 6, 1813, John was elected, by the Vermont House of Representatives and Governor and Council meeting in joint committee, Brigadier General of the second brigade fourth division of the Vermont Militia. He resigned this position, October 30, 1816.
References:
(1) "Records of the Town of Braintree, 1640-1793" by Samuel A. Bates, 1886, pages 578-579, 589-590, 597, 600-601, 603, 608, 825, 844, 853 and 884-885
(2) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War." Volume VI, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1899, page 76
(3) French Family Bibles "The Mayflower Descendant A: Magazine: Of: Pilgrim Genealogy: and: History" by Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Vol. 44 No. 2, July 1994, pages 146-148
(4) "The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine Embracing A History of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military" Volume II. Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orange Counties, by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1871, pages 846, 998 and 1037
(5) "Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont Volume VI" by E. P. Walton, 1878, pages 33 and 165
John was the 5th of 12 children (2nd son) born of Joshua French (1734-1791) and his wife Esther Wales (1738-1810). John's siblings were: Esther (b. 1756), Joshua (1758-1834), Prudence (b. 1759), Sarah (1760-1825), Hannah (b. 1763), Rachel (1765-1843), Charlottee (b. 1767), Jeddee (Jedediah) (1770-1833), Hettee (b. 1772), Elizabeth (b. 1779), and Wales (1782-1867).
At the age of 14 years, John enlisted on May 23, 1776 as a Private in Captain Seth Turner's Company, Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment. Captain Turner's Company was stationed at Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts for the defense of the seacoast. Hull is located on a peninsula at the southern edge of Boston Harbor. John served to January 1, 1777, 7 months and 9 days.
John French second married, May 16, 1782 at Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Hannah Wales (1759-1835) by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): Joseph W. (1785-1854), John (1785-1785), John (1787-1853), Hannah (1789-1801), Sally (Sarah) (1790-1870), Samuel Bass (b. 1793), Esther (1795-1796), Betsy (1796-1816), Mary (1799-1837), and William (1802-1869).
At the Braintree, Massachusetts adjourned town meeting held on March 17th 1788, John was elected one of seven Hogg-reaves. On May 14th, 1789, he was elected Braintree's South Precinct's Tax Collector. On May 31st 1790,he was elected one of six town Field Drivers. On August 9th, 1790 and May 11th 1791, he was again elected Tax Collector for the town's South Precinct. On March 7th 1791, he was elected one of three town Constables for the ensuing year. (Note: The south precinct of Braintree was not set off as its own township, Randolph, until March 9, 1793).
John and his family moved to Braintree, Orange County, Vermont before his 6th child was born there in January, 1793. In 1795, Colonel John French kept the first store in Braintree, Vermont. He moved to Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, 5 years later where he also operated a store. He was a prominent Mason, and the Randolph lodge often met at his house.
On November 6, 1813, John was elected, by the Vermont House of Representatives and Governor and Council meeting in joint committee, Brigadier General of the second brigade fourth division of the Vermont Militia. He resigned this position, October 30, 1816.
References:
(1) "Records of the Town of Braintree, 1640-1793" by Samuel A. Bates, 1886, pages 578-579, 589-590, 597, 600-601, 603, 608, 825, 844, 853 and 884-885
(2) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War." Volume VI, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1899, page 76
(3) French Family Bibles "The Mayflower Descendant A: Magazine: Of: Pilgrim Genealogy: and: History" by Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Vol. 44 No. 2, July 1994, pages 146-148
(4) "The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine Embracing A History of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military" Volume II. Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orange Counties, by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1871, pages 846, 998 and 1037
(5) "Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont Volume VI" by E. P. Walton, 1878, pages 33 and 165
At the age of 14 years, John enlisted on May 23, 1776 as a Private in Captain Seth Turner's Company, Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment. Captain Turner's Company was stationed at Hull, Plymouth County, Massachusetts for the defense of the seacoast. Hull is located on a peninsula at the southern edge of Boston Harbor. John served to January 1, 1777, 7 months and 9 days.
John French second married, May 16, 1782 at Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Hannah Wales (1759-1835) by whom he had 10 children (5 sons and 5 daughters): Joseph W. (1785-1854), John (1785-1785), John (1787-1853), Hannah (1789-1801), Sally (Sarah) (1790-1870), Samuel Bass (b. 1793), Esther (1795-1796), Betsy (1796-1816), Mary (1799-1837), and William (1802-1869).
At the Braintree, Massachusetts adjourned town meeting held on March 17th 1788, John was elected one of seven Hogg-reaves. On May 14th, 1789, he was elected Braintree's South Precinct's Tax Collector. On May 31st 1790,he was elected one of six town Field Drivers. On August 9th, 1790 and May 11th 1791, he was again elected Tax Collector for the town's South Precinct. On March 7th 1791, he was elected one of three town Constables for the ensuing year. (Note: The south precinct of Braintree was not set off as its own township, Randolph, until March 9, 1793).
John and his family moved to Braintree, Orange County, Vermont before his 6th child was born there in January, 1793. In 1795, Colonel John French kept the first store in Braintree, Vermont. He moved to Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, 5 years later where he also operated a store. He was a prominent Mason, and the Randolph lodge often met at his house.
On November 6, 1813, John was elected, by the Vermont House of Representatives and Governor and Council meeting in joint committee, Brigadier General of the second brigade fourth division of the Vermont Militia. He resigned this position, October 30, 1816.
References:
(1) "Records of the Town of Braintree, 1640-1793" by Samuel A. Bates, 1886, pages 578-579, 589-590, 597, 600-601, 603, 608, 825, 844, 853 and 884-885
(2) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War." Volume VI, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1899, page 76
(3) French Family Bibles "The Mayflower Descendant A: Magazine: Of: Pilgrim Genealogy: and: History" by Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Vol. 44 No. 2, July 1994, pages 146-148
(4) "The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine Embracing A History of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military" Volume II. Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orange Counties, by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1871, pages 846, 998 and 1037
(5) "Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont Volume VI" by E. P. Walton, 1878, pages 33 and 165
Inscription
Gen. JOHN FRENCH
Born at
Randolph, Mass.
Mar. 26, 1762
Died at
Randolph, Vt.
May 14, 1829
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