Author DFrench
My maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ellen (Courtney) Grace, was born in March 1863 in Meriden, Connecticut. She married William Grace in 1887 and had four children (Raymond Sr., Edward, Kittie and Joseph). Mary died on October 2, 1923, in Rockfall (South… Continue Reading →
The header for my blog features a painting by American academic realist painter Don Troiani and is titled “Lexington Common.” The painting captures the emotions of the local militia as they prepared to meet the British in Lexington, Massachusetts on… Continue Reading →
When I started this family history blog, my stated goal was “to tell short stories to open a window on the history of the United States and Canada through the migration of these families.” To date, stories have explored the… Continue Reading →
Huguenots were French Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who followed the teachings of theologian John Calvin. France and other European counties during this period were seeking to forcibly convert Protestants back to Catholicism. To escape persecution, many members… Continue Reading →
In about 1685-6, my 8th g-grandparents Cornelis and Jannetje Doremus, emigrated to America from Holland, and settled at Acquackanonk (now Paterson), New Jersey. Below is a brief biography details the life of Cornelis Doremus and his link to my paternal… Continue Reading →
While scant information is available, history shows us that Effie MacPherson MacLeod was certainly made of sterner stuff. Effie is my paternal 4th Great Grandmother. In 1803, six-year old Effie came from the Isle of Skye, Scotland to Prince Edward… Continue Reading →
Below is a wonderfully story written about Dennis and George Maloney (my 4th and 3rd great-grandfathers) by Jim St. Clair, a teacher and historian who resides in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I had the pleasure to communicate with Mr. St…. Continue Reading →
The following is a brief story about my maternal great-uncle, Sargent Joseph Aloysius Grace (1892-1918) of Middletown, Connecticut, who died on October 11, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Operation in World War 1. Joseph enlisted in August 1917 and was serving… Continue Reading →
