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Joseph French (b. 1702), son of Joseph French and Abigail Brown
Ruth Knowles (b. 1707), daughter of Simon Knowles and Rachel Joy
Joseph French was born on 27 February 1701/2 in Salisbury. [1] He married Ruth Knowles of Hampton on 22 July 1731 in Salisbury. [1]
Ruth Knowles, the daughter of Simon and Ruth Knowles was born on 30 September 1707 in Hampton. [Ref]
The evidence that Joseph married Ruth, the daughter of Simon and Rachel Knowles, is circumstantial. She appears to be the only Ruth Knowles of Hampton of the right age. The names of her children coincide with those of her father and siblings, but these were also common names in the French family.
Joseph's father left him a parcel of salt marsh in Salisbury that he said that he had gotten from his father, Joseph French of Salisbury, deceased. [2]
Children of Joseph French and Ruth Knowles: Births recorded in Salisbury. [1]
i. Abigail French was born on 4 February 1731/2. She probably died young.
ii. Ruth French was born on 21 September 1733. She probably died young.
iii. Abigail French was born on 25 December 1736,
iv. Joseph French was born on 2 February 1738/9.
v. Simon French was born on 27 October 1740. He died on 3 August 1823. He married first Dorcas Shackford. He married second Comfort Weeks.
vi. Ruth French was born on 2 July 1744.
1. Vital Records of Salisbury Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915).
2. "New Hampshire, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1643–1982," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8996/) > all counties > vol. 35–38, images 105–6.
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17-May-2023