Holbrook line: William French about 1605-1681, Immigrant

William French is another confusing ancestor.  I'm quite sure he knew who he was, where and when he was born, and pretty much his entire life story, but he hasn't chosen to share this information with us.  Neither has anyone else, to date.  Plenty of people seem to think they know his parents, but there was an article published 100 or years ago proving that the William French born or christened March 15, 1603 in Halstead, Essex, England died in 1621, the son of Thomas French and Agnes Olmstead.  So that is not our ancestor.  There is another William French who was born in 1606 in Halstead, Essex, England but so far I haven't been able to trace that William down.  Perhaps he is ours and perhaps he is not. 

We also don't know who his wife was, beyond the name of Elizabeth.  She may have been Elizabeth Symmes or Elizabeth Godfrey, but I've seen no evidence for either theory.  The family came from somewhere in England and arrived on the ship "Defence" in the summer of 1635.  William was admitted as freeman in Cambridge soon after his arrival.  There were at least four children born in England and six in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony, although Robert Charles Anderson lists nine and is doubtful about one of those.  Elizabeth died and William married Mary Lothrop on May 6, 1669, and four children were born to this couple, all in Billerica, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

There are some fascinating questions about William beyond the usual who were his parents.  For instance, he is listed as being a tailor by occupation.  So, did he become a tailor here, or did he learn the trade in England for preparation here, or had he practiced the trade in England for several years?  The reason this is interesting is because he seems to have been quite an educated man.  He wrote to a friend in England about the religious professions of an Indian and that material was eventually included in a pamphlet published in England called "Strength out of Weakness; or a Glorious Manifestation of the Further Progress of the Gospel among the Indians of New England.  Held Forth in Sundry Letters from divers Ministers and Others." 

William was admitted to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1638, and was elected sergeant in 1642, and October in 1647.  He still owned an old musket and gun barrel at his death.  The French family moved from Cambridge to Billerica in 1652, and there William served as a deputy to the General Court at least three separate times.  He was empowered to marry others, which I believe was a civil rather than a religious duty at this time.  He acquired, bought, and sold land several times during his lifetime, but still had land valued at about 104 pounds when he died, which was included in his estate's value of roughly 207 pounds, after debts were paid.  This was a fair amount for a tailor to leave, especially since his will showed that he had provided for his first family at an earlier time.  He did leave twenty shillings to each of his grandchildren. 

The line of descent is:

William French-Elizabeth
Hannah French-John Brackett
Hannah Brackett-Joseph Stannard
John Stannard-Hannah Jordan
John Stannard-Hannah Hanchett
Libbeus Stannard-Eunice Pomeroy
Libbeus Stnnard-Luceba Fay
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants