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Simon French (1740–1823), son of Joseph French and Ruth Knowles
Dorcas Shackford (b. 1742), daughter of John Shackford and Dorcas Lovejoy
Simon French, the son of Joseph and Ruth French, was born on 27 October 1740 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. [1] Mr. Simon French died on 2 or 3 August 1823 in Candia, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. [2][3] He married first Dorcas Shackford. He married second Comfort (Moore) Weeks. [3] Comfort Weeks of Greenland or Hampton in Rockingham County married [first] Coffin Moore on 13 March 1760. [4][5] Coffin, the son of William Moore, was born on 25 February 1739 in Stratham, Rockingham County. [4] He died "at a good old age" in Candia, New Hampshire. [4] Coffin Moore was a doctor. [4]
Dorcas, the daughter of John and Dorcas Shackford was born on 22 October 1742 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts. [6]
"[Simon French] married a daughter of John Shackford, Sen. of Chester. She was a feeble woman, and was mostly confined to her bed for nine years, and they endured severe hardships." [7]
Simon went to Candia in 1764. [3]
Simon of Candia signed the New Hampshire Association Test (patriot loyalty oath) of 1776. [8]
Simon French, husbandman of Candia, made his will on 19 January 1803. He left 30 dollars to his daughter Ruth Colby, the wife of Samuel Colby, husbandman of Derby and 15 pounds to his daughter Dorothy Rankin, the wife of Andrew Rankin, husbandman of Littleton, Grafton, New Hampshire. He said this was their full portion along with what they received when they married. He asked his executor to provide a comfortable maintenance for his wife Comfort French. He left the rest of his estate to his son John French and named him his executor. The will was proved on 1 September 1823 and John French posted bond the same day. [9]
Children of Simon French and Dorcas Shackford:
i. Ruth French died on 3 September 1831 in Derby. She married Samuel Colby.
ii. Dorothy ("Dolly") French married Andrew Rankin on 20 October 1790 in Candia. [2][3]
iii. John French was born on 25 March 1770 in Candia. [3] He died on 24 December 1845. He married [his stepsister] Comfort Moore on 20 December 1792 in Candia. [2][3] Comfort was the daughter of Dr. Moore. [3] She died on 1 December 1834. [10] John and Comfort are buried in the Candia Village Cemtery. [10]
John's gravestone says "John French died Dec. 24, 1845; aged 75 years." [10]
John was a farmer in Candia. [3]
References:
1. Vital Records of Salisbury Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915).
2. New Hampshire: Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1654-1969. (From microfilmed records. Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014) > Deaths F to 1901, image 12773, entry for Simon French; Comfort Moore > Brides M to 1901, image 270661, entry for Comfort Moore; Andrew Rankin > Grooms Q to R 1901, image 3386, entry for Andrew Rankin.
3. Biographical Review: This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of the Leading Citizens of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Co., 1895), 609–10. 4.
4. "NEHGS Membership Applications, 1845-1900," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org. Letter from E.B. Moore, grandchild of Coffin Moore, dated 3 May 1858.
5. George Freeman Sanborn, Jr., and Sanborn, Melinde Lutz Sanborn, Vital records of Hampton, New Hampshire : to the end of the year 1900, vol. 2 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992), 121. Digitized book available on AmericanAncestors.org.
6. Vital Records of Andover, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, vol. 1, vol. 2 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1912).
7. John Carroll Chase, History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn: A Supplement to the History of old Chester (Derry, NH, J.C. Chase, 1926).
8. "Inhabitants of New Hampshire, 1776," database with images, Ancestry > F, image 44.
9. "New Hampshire, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1643–1982," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8996) > Rockingham > Estate Papers, No. 10625–10707, 1823, image 1040–1052, Entry for Simon French.
10. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 16 May 2023), memorial pages for
John French (1770–24 Dec 1845), Memorial ID 43794384, citing Candia Village Cemetery, Candia, Rockingham County, NH; Maintained by Nancy Moore (contributor 47010715).
Comfort Moore French (1769–1 Dec 1834), Memorial ID 43794402, citing Candia Village Cemetery; Maintained by Maxine Kravitz (contributor 47454452).
Map: Portion of an 1892 map of Rockingham County
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16-May-2023