General Notes

Ancestral File Number:<AFN> 1RGP-CWF
Thomas French, Jr., b. Nov. 27, 1608, and his sister Alice, boarded the Arabella with the Winthrop Fleet and sailed to Massachusetts. They were joined about three years later by their sisters Dorcas and Susan, who were servants for the Winthrop family, like Alice. Thomas was a humble tailor when he married Mary Scudamore, who was a member of the prominent family. Thomas, Jr. and Mary lived a long life together in Ipswich.Thomas fought in the Pequot war, for which he obtained some land. He left a will and we have the inventory of his property. At the time of his death he owned five sheep, three lambs, four cows and eight swine. Settlement to the west was hindered by Indians, who killed some Frenches and drove others back from the frontier." [FFA Chart 1]

On April 8, 1630 The Arbella departed Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and arrived at Salem, Massachusetts, June 13 and following days. Flagship of the "Winthrop Fleet"

Sources: J. B. Threlfall, "Thomas French of Assington..." NE1-1GR 1988, 250-252. [Edith Lillie Bartley listing] , Robert Charles Anderson, "TheGreat Migration Begins" Vol 1, Ipswich Vital Records,
Possibly from "Fifty Families from Essex County, England", sent by Mara French, book by John Threlfall: " Thomas was baptized 27 Nov. 1608 a tAssington, Sufrolk, England. He came to New England with the Winthrop Fleet of eleven ships carrying about 700 colonists, which sailed from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, in April and May, 1630, and which arrived inJune and July following. The first of these ships landed at Salem on 13 June. Thomas French first settled in Boston and presumably was married there about the next year, 1631. His wife is identified only as Mary. Thomas French was made a freeman of the colony on 6 Nov. 1632. About 1634 he moved to Ipswich and appears there on record first in 1635 in thefollowing land records.
20 April 1635-There was Granted to Thomas Scott ... Likewise an hous lott in Mill Streete havinge Thomas French on the Southeast.
20 April 1635-There was Granted to Robert Mussey ... likewise an hous lott in Mill Streete lyinge betweene Thomas French and Richard Jacob.
20 Feb. 1636/7-There was granted to Serg. French ten acres of upland at the hither end of a Neck lying beyond Reedy marsh, to be laid out by the lott layers. Granted to Sedent French, a parcell of upland and medow containing about three acres on the South side of th River, adjoyning his planting lott.

From these we know that his house was on Bridge Street just off Mill Street.

About 1637 his parents and his younger brother and sisters joined him at Ipswich. Three sisters had crossed over to New England earlier.
Thomas French fought in the Pequot War in 1637, for in 1672, he petitioned the colonial government for a grant of land northeast of Salisbury in behalf of himself and eight other Ipswich men who had been of service in that campaign."

Brian Berry: " His name [Thomas French, Jr.] appears on the list oforiginal members of the First Church of Boston between those of JohnWinthrop, Jr. and his wife."

Thomas took the Freeman's Oath in Boston 6 Nov. 1632. He was in Boston when, "this 17th of the first month Called March, 1634" John Strattonwrote to John Winthrop, Jr. "in Aggawaam per Jno. Gallopps boate" that "I have putt my sister a suite of Moyheare to making att Goom. Frenches, she were best gett the taylor to take her Measure and send per Jno. Gallop."(Winthrop Papers, Vol. III, pp. 156-7). Agawam, later Ipswich, had been planted by John Winthrop Jr. and twelve others in 1633). From this, andfrom a 1647 deed, we know he was a tailor.
His will, dated Aug. 3, 1680, was proved 28 Sept. 1680; inv. 25 Aug.1680.
There is no record of Thomas and Mary's marriage, but seven children are known, the conception of the first is consistent with a marriage in MA in1631.

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England in the 17th century was a land beset by religious strife. Unlike our country today, th