Author DFrench
In Cases of Conscience, Increase Mather
Sticky postThis post highlights a few aspects of the remarkable life of my 8th great paternal grandfather, Rev. Increase Mather (1639-1723). Increase is considered an influential representative of American Puritanism in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in seventeenth-century New England. (Increase is… Continue Reading →
John Spencer French 1931 – 2014 First sail upon returning home from Korean War – Long Island Sound This photograph was in a box of slides that contained photographs he took while serving during the Korean War. I found it… Continue Reading →
In researching my family history, I have encountered brick walls, bits and pieces, and on occasion a wealth of material. The richest vein of information that I uncovered has been material on Horace and Abram French. Horace E. French, son… Continue Reading →
“The inhabitants are largely agriculturalists, and remarkably free from the evils of litigation.” Thus is the description of the residents of Bloomfield, Connecticut, including my ancestors, in 1836. Below are my posts on the Spencer/Eggleston family: Spencer Family – Hartford,… Continue Reading →
The following post highlights the skill and longevity of the work done by carvers of gravestones in New England. Below are gravestones of direct ancestors (French, Simonds, Eggleston, Goodwin, Shed, Davis, and Thompson) from my paternal line and Butler from… Continue Reading →
Jesse French is my 5th great paternal grandfather (p. 61) Jesse French came from Billerica in 1763, and owned and occupied the estate on Pearl Street, above referred to as the “Upton place.” He was born April 6, 1739. Little… Continue Reading →
The Brothers French
Sticky postThe following provides brief biographical sketches of Josiah and Amos French, the brothers of my 3rd great paternal grandfather Abram French (Photo left). I have to admit a little familial pride, these French boys were an amazing, enterprising lot! I… Continue Reading →
(Story from History of Lowell, Mass., content edited) Among the men who were prominently identified with the early history of Lowell, few are more entitled to be held in respectful remembrance than Mr. Abram French. Mr. French was the fifth… Continue Reading →
George Anton Shonka (1874-1965), my daughters maternal great-great grandfather, was the son of Matej and Mary (Hajny) Shonka (Sonka). Matej (aka “Mathias”) and Mary immigrated to the United States in 1869 from Bechyně, Tabor, Bohemia, a region now part of… Continue Reading →
Lucile Lydia Bame was born on May 25, 1917, in Schuyler, Nebraska. She married Glenn Thomas Shonka on May 25, 1939. Lucile was the daughter of Vaclav Bame (1868-1950) and Katherina Fendrich (1877-1966). Following her graduation from Schuyler High School,… Continue Reading →
