| Notes |
John French, b. in England ca. Feb. 1635, immigrated age 5 mo. [4] with parents, m1. 21 Jun 1659 to Abigail Coggan, dau. of Henry of Barnstable. Abigail d. 5 Apr 1662. John m2. 3 Jul 1663 Hannah, dau. of John Burrage or Burridge of Charlestown, MA. Hannah d. 7 Jul 1667. John m3. 14 Jan 1668 Mary Rogers. Mary d. 16 Jun 1677. John m4. 16 Jan 1677/78 Mary, dau. of Francis Littlefield of Woburn, MA and widow of John Kittredge of Billerica. Mary d. 1719. John was a colonel in the militia, and was often in the Town’s service. He was wounded by the Indians in an assault on Quaboag in 1675, d. Oct 1712.
John French, son of William French (1), was born in Eng-
land, early in 1635, and was brought over to America by his parents
when but five months old. He died in Billerica, Massachusetts, in
October, 1712. He resided on the south side of Fox Hill, on the east
road. He was a soldier in King Philip’s War, and was a corporal in
the fight at Brookfield in 1675. He was wounded in this assault at
Quaboag (Brookfield), and in a petition subsequently describes him-
self as a “poor wounded” man. He was poor enough for a time, and
was harassed by the constable before he recovered from the losses of
the war. He was an influential citizen of Billerica, and held many
town offices from time to time. He married (first) June 21, 1659,
Abigail Coggan, daughter of Henry Coggan, of Barnstable, Massa-
chusetts. She died April 5, 1662, aged twenty-four, and he married
(second) July 3, 1662, Hannah Burrage, daughter of John Burrage,
of Charlestown. She died July 7, 1667, aged twenty-three, and he mar-
ried (third) January 14, 1667-68, Mary Rogers, daughter of John
Rogers. She died June 16, 1677, and he married (fourth) January 16,
1678, Mary Kittredge, widow of John. She died October 7. 1719,
surviving him. Children of the second wife: 1. Hannah, born Janu-
ary 20, 1663-64; married John Kittredge. 2. Abigail, born December
6, 1665; married Benjamin Parker. Child of the third wife: 3. Mary,
born March 4, 1669^70 ; married Nathan Shed. Children of the fourth
wife: 4. John, horn May 15, 1679; mentioned below. 5. Elizabeth,
born July 24, 1681 ; married December 25, 1706, Thomas Abbot. 6.
William, born November 26, 1683; died April 21, 1685. 7. Sarah, born
September 15, 1685; married --------- Flint. 8. William, born August
8, 1687. 9. Hannah, born February 18, 1692-93; married Jonathan
Richardson and Benjamin Frost.
A descendant of John French, named William French, a resident
of Dummerston in the New Hampshire grants, was the celebrated
victim of the Westminster massacre in 1775. As this was the direct
result of the first organized resistance to British authority in the
American colonies, William French has been claimed as the first
martyr to the cause of American Independence. On his gravestone is
this quaint inscription:
In memory of William French
Son of Mr. Nathaniel French, Who
was shot at Westminster, March ye 13th.
1775, by the hands of Cruel Ministerial tools
Of Georg ye 3d, in the Corthouse at 11 a’clock
At Night in the 23d year of his Age.
HFRF WILLIAM FRENCH his Body lies
for Murder his Blood for Vengeance Cries
King Georg the third his Tory Crew
that with a Bawl his Head Shot threw
For Liberty and his Countrys Good
he lost his Life his dearest blood.- A much married man...
katpafadded this on 17 Oct 2010
John and Abigail Coggin [dup. Abigall Cogin], June 21, [1659, in Barnstable.]* [Abigail Coggin. MR] John and Hannah Burridge, July 3, 1662.* [Burrage, July 3, 1663. MR] John and Mary Rogers, Jan. 14, 1667.* John and Mary Kittredge [dup. Kitteridg], wid., Jan. 16, 1677-8.* [Kitterige. MR] From Vital Records of Billerica
http://ancestorbios.blogspot.com/2012/02/poor-wounded-man-john-french.htmlA Poor Wounded Man – John French
B. 1635 in England
M. (1) 21 Jun 1659 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Abigail Coggan
M. (2) 3 Jul 1662 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Hannah Burrage
M. (3) 14 Jan 1668
Wife: Hannah Rogers
M. (4) 16 Jan 1678 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge
D. October 1712 in Billerica, Massachusetts
Emigrated: 1635 on the ship Defence
John French experienced the hardships of living in 17th century New England, having three wives who died young, and later becoming wounded while fighting Indians. He was born in 1635 in England to William and Elizabeth French, their third child. When he was still a small baby, the family boarded the ship Defence, landing in Boston on October 8th. The family settled in Cambridge, where John grew up. His parents had six more children there.
In 1653, the French family moved to the new town of Billerica and on June 21, 1659, John married Abigail Coggan of Barnstable. She died less than three years later at the age of 23, on April 5, 1662. He quickly married again on July 3rd of that year to Hannah Burrage of Charlestown. She bore him two daughters, but died on July 7, 1667 also at the age of 23. John married a third time on January 14, 1668 to Mary Rogers. She had a daughter in 1670 and died on June 16, 1677. Finally, on 16 Jan 1678, he married a fourth wife, Mary (Littlefield) Kittredge, who had been widowed with five young sons. John and Mary had six children together.
John served as a corporal in the militia in Billerica during King Phillip's War. On August 2, 1675, the militia met up with Indians in a swamp near Billerica called Quaboag (or Brookfield) where several settlers were killed. John was in the fight, and after shooting an Indian, he got hit by return fire, which cut off one of his thumbs and seriously wounded his body near his shoulder.
After the war, John petitioned the town for financial help, describing himself as "a poor wounded man." He was exempted from paying taxes for several years. He was also permitted to sit "at the table with Capt. John Lane and Mr. Crosby" during church services, and his wife Mary was allowed to "sit in the front gallery with Mrs. Foster and those women placed there." It was said that he was "an influential citizen of Billerica and held many town offices from time to time." John died in October of 1712 at the age of 77.
Children by Hannah Burrage:
1. Hannah French – B. 14 Dec 1664, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 9 Oct 1755, Tewksbury, Massachusetts; M. John Kittredge (1666-1714), 3 Apr 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Abigail French – B. 6 Dec 1665; D. 13 Mar 1723; M. Benjamin Parker (1662-?), 10 Nov 1697
Children by Mary Rogers:
1. Mary French – B. 4 Mar 1670; D. 21 Aug 1740, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Nathan Shed (1669-?)
Children by Mary Littlefield:
1. John French – B. 15 May 1679, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Ruth Richardson (1685-?), 13 Feb 1707, Billerica, Massachusetts
2. Elizabeth French – B. 24 Jul 1681, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 30 Sep 1754, Andover, Massachusetts; M. Thomas Abbott, 25 Dec 1706, Billerica, Massachusetts
3. William French – B. 26 Nov 1683, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts
4. Sarah French – B. 15 Sep 1685, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Joseph Frost (1683-?)
5. Hannah French – B. 18 Feb 1693; D. 12 Dec 1769; M. (1) Jonathan Richardson (?-1720), 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; (2) Benjamin Frost
6. William French – B. 8 Aug 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts; D. 25 Feb 1746; M. Mehitable Patten (1687-1743), about 1712
Sources:
"Lieutenant William French and his Descendants," John M. French, The New England historical and genealogical register, 1890
The Kittredge Family in America, Mabel T. Kittredge, 1936
Billerica, a centennial oration by the Rev. Elias Nason, July 4, 1876, 1876
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1635 - 1712 (77 years)
Set As Default Person 
[2, 5, 6, 7] 
