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FRENCH Family History
This ancient surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is from an ethnic name for someone from France, derived from the Middle English (1200 - 1500) "frennsee, frenche" a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "frencisc", meaning french. In some cases it may originally have been more that a nickname for someone who adopted French airs. Irish bearers of the surname are said to be descended from Theophilus de Frensche, a Norman baron who accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066, a branch of whose descendants settled in County Wexford in circa 1300. Some of the same family settled in County Roscommon in circa 1620, this was the branch that produced Field marshal Sir John French (1852 - 1925), commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Forces in the First World WAr...Who have we missed?
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My great-great grandfather was Major General Sir George Arthur French b. 1841 Roscommon, d. 1921 London. No problem with his history, there's lots, & I still have the tea tray (once park of a service - there's a story) given him & Janet Clark Inness when they left his post as first Commissioner of the Northwest Mounted Police. But I would love to find out more about his father John French b. ca 1804 Morningpark, Dublin, m. Isabella Hamilton b. ca 1808. How does he link to the Frenchpark French's? I can't find anything on these two, & would be grateful for any light that can be shed!
Hello, We have been trying to find any info on Edward French, my great, great grandfather who emigrated to Canada in the early 1800's. He eventually became the Superintendent of the Mariner's hospital in Bathurst, New Brunswick, CA. HE died in the 1850's and his wife and some of her children left CA and came to Boston. We have the ship name of that voyage and my great grandfather John Henry French's naturalization papers from 1879. Any suggestions as to hoe we might find any info on Edward French?
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