This post highlights a few aspects of the remarkable life of my 8^th 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 the English literal translation of the name Joseph, which originates from the Hebrew language. Wikipedia)

Increase was married to Maria Cotton, the daughter of John Cotton, who was a prominent minister and founder of the Congregational Church in New England. (Post about John Cotton: Dear John from Oliver Cromwell).

Increase Mather (as was not the case with his son, Cotton Mather) is remembered as a voice of reason during the hysteria over the Salem Witch trials.  As a clerical leader, he sought to lend caution to the direction of the trials. 

In Cases of Conscience, Increase Mather forcefully related his distrust of spectral evidence to convict witches. He argued that it would be better that ten witches go free than the blood of a single innocent be shed. One Mather biographer wrote that, “No zeal to stamp out crimes ever drove him from his belief that, whatever the fate of the guilty, the innocent must never be in peril.” His strong words of disapproval for spectral evidence so prominently used by the Court of Oyer and Terminer ended the trials after the directive from Governor Phips at the end of October, recently returned from his expedition in Maine. (Salem Witch Trials in History and Literature – An Undergraduate Course, University of Virginia – Spring Semester 2001)

Increase served as President of Harvard College (1692 to 1702) during which he often commuted by ferry to Cambridge from his home in Boston’s North End, where he continued to serve his congregation.

Increase faithfully kept a diary of his days, the following are a few select examples: (The Autobiography of Increase Mather)

March. 14. 1688/9. My Lord Wharton introduced me to the King unto whom I sayd, I congratulate your Majesties happy accession to the Crown, and I implore your Royal favor to New England. (William III “of Orange”)

April. 9. 1691. Madame Lockart this morning about 9h introduced me to the Queen, and then left me alone that so I might the more freely represent before her Majesty the case of New England. (Queen Mary II)

January. 1 1708/9. Is this the first day of that year in which I am to dye and to go into the eternal world ! Oh, blessed be God if it be so! If I dye quickly some few will Lament my death. Whereas if I live awhile longer, age will make me useless. It is a great mercy for a minister not to outlive his work.

June. 21. 1709. This is my sinfull birth day. I am this day 70 years old. I set it apart before the Lord.

On April 4. 1714, the Lord saw meet to take from me my wife, who had bin the dear companion of my pilgrimage for more than 52 years. God made her a great blessing to me. By her hee gave me ten children, 3 sons and Seven daughters.

When he died on August 23, 1723, his will stated, “I do hereby signify to my Executor, That it is my Mind & Will that my Negro Servant called Spaniard shall not be sold after my Decease; but I do then give Him his Liberty: Let him then be esteemed a Free Negro. Jun 4, 1719.”

In 2017, Harvard held an exhibition focusing on the life of Increase Mather and his historic legacy. The exhibit’s introduction reads, “In a time when universities are grappling with the historical legacy of the names and symbols that describe their campuses, Increase has become one of the more controversial namesakes of the undergraduate Houses and on Harvard’s campus more broadly.” After review, there was no action taken to remove the Mather name from the undergraduate (Mather House) residential house.

Mather House Exhibit Scrutinizes Slaveholding Namesake’s Past Increase: What is in a Name?

Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery (May 2022)

Family Connection: Increase Mather – Nehemiah Walter – Caleb Trowbridge – Josiah Bowers – Luther French (4th gg)

Comments and Suggestions Appreciated. Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved by David R. French.

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 amazing that someone in the dinghy, being towed behind sailboat, took the photo with no one paying the least bit of attention. My father (on right) is hand-line fishing in his white t-shirt and khaki’s. (1954)

Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved by David R. French.

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 of Abram and Elizabeth (Simonds), was born in 1843 in Lowell, Mass. and died in 1903 in Malden, Mass. Horace, my 2nd great (paternal) grandfather, owned a clothing/tailoring shop in Lowell. In 1871, he married Laura Foster. The photographs (of Horace and Maria) were found in his grandson George‘s (my grandfather) personal belongings.

Laura Maria Foster (French) was born in 1850 in Lawrence, MA and died in 1896. Laura was the daughter of Levi T. Foster and Mariah Richardson. Levi’s 3rd great grandfather, Reginald, of Little Badow in Essex England, landed at Ipswich MA in 1638. The Foster family is linked to the Hilton family.

Horace and Laura’s records included the following information:

• Horace’s death and location of his grave
• U.S. and Massachusetts census records (1850/60/65/80/1900)
• Marriage record
• City directory listings for Lowell, Medford and Malden, MA
• Horace’s Civil War Draft Registration
• Horace’s Mason Lodge membership.

Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved by David R. French.

“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, Connecticut

Introducing Annie and John Spencer

John William Spencer

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 my maternal line.

Must See! The Farber Gravestone Collection includes over 13,500 images documenting the sculpture on more than 9,000 gravestones, most of which were made prior to 1800. This amazing resource for early New England gravestones, sponsored by the American Antiquarian Society, also has a FAQ on the history of gravestones during this period.

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 is known of him. His name does not appear on the Lunenburg or the Fitchburg records as occupying any official position. He married, April 14, 1761, Abigail Jaquith. The births of eight children are recorded as follows:

Jesse, born at Billerica, October 11, 1762.
Samuel, born at Fitchburg, March 14, 1763.
Thomas, born at Fitchburg, May 8, 1765.
Luther, born at Fitchburg, September 25, 1767.
Abraham, born at Fitchburg, January 22, 1770.
Ebenezer, born at Fitchburg, June 19, 1772.
Abigail, born at Fitchburg, September 11, 1774. (died 1776)
Abigail, born at Fitchburg, June 6, 1777.

Some of his descendants lived here as late as
the middle of this century. Edmund, a grandson, (son of Thomas), now holds a
position in the office of the Pullman Palace Car Works, Pullman, 111.; and his
brother, Joseph C, is a retired druggist, at Indianapolis, Ind. A grandson of Jesse French, —Josiah B., —settled in Lowell, where he
was a prominent citizen, was president of a bank, manufacturer, railroad
manager, and in 1849 and 1850 mayor of the city.

(Page 38.) The roads across the territory were few in number and are indicated on the map. The principal and oldest ones were—the road entering the town from Lunenburg near Jonathan Holt’s place, and by Pearl and Blossom streets, turning west at a point now the corner of Main and Blossom streets, running over about the same location of the present Main and Prospect streets, over Flat Rock and Dean hill to Ashburnham; another entered the town near Ephraim Whitney’s place, running westerly and passing the garrisons of Joseph Spafford and Isaac Gibson, continuing over Pearl hill and northwesterly to the garrison of John Fitch. Another road started from a point near Jesse French’s place, on the first named road, running westerly to Jonathan Woods’ near the river, thence on about the location of the present Intervale Road, Bemis road, Wanoosnoc road and Turnpike road, near the garrison of Samuel Poole, and on to Westminster line.

Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved by David R. French.

The 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 have written several posts about Abram: Leading Citizen – Abram French, Priceless – Abram French, and Which Abram Are You.

Mr. Amos French belonged to the class of men who made their way into the world unaided, and without encouragement of any kind. He was in every respect a self-made man and the success which he secured in his years later was the fruit of his own persevering effort and stern self-denial.

( the History of Lowell”)

(Edited excerpt from the History of Lowell) Mr. Amos B. French was born in Billerica, July 3, 1812, and died in Lowell, March 23, 1890. Mr. French was descended from a family whose members were among the early colonial settlers. His common ancestor in this country was Lieutenant William French, who arrived here in 1635, and was elected the first Representative of the town of Billerica in 1663-64. Amos received his early education in the country schools of his native place, and came to Lowell at the age of 11 years to engage in business. At different times he was employed by the manufacturing companies of Lowell, and in 1835 was the keeper of a restaurant. He afterwards engaged in the crockery business with Mr. Puffer, under the firm name of French & Puffer, in which business he continued for twenty-seven years.

Amos served the city as member of the Board of Aldermen in 1870-71. At the time of his death he was a Director of the First National Bank, a Director of the Lowell Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a Trustee of the Lowell Institution for Savings.

I recently came across a much more detailed story about the life of Amos, he had a very interesting and, some might say, sweet career. Amos B. French – The story is contained in a book entitled, Twirling Jennies: A History of Social Dance in the City of Spindles by Ruth Evans”

“(Josiah) French was one of the most highly respected businessmen and citizens of his day. He was known for his generosity and financial acumen.”

French Estate

The Winnipesaukee Water War and the 1859 Fight for NH Property Rights (Article posted by the New England Historical Society) Great article about this long running New England water war – “On Sept 28, 1859, James Worster led 50 angry farmers, mill operators, loggers and laborers in a vain effort to destroy a 250-foot dam that controlled the outflow of Lake Winnipesaukee. The dam regulated how much water flowed into the Merrimack River and powered the cotton cards, the spinning frames and the power looms of the enormous textile mills in Lowell and Lawrence, Mass. It was just one battle in the Winnipesaukee water war that had gone on for years.”

…. “When the men showed up, the sheriff arrived and sent them away. Undeterred, they came back in the afternoon and began removing the planking. The Lake Company’s agent, Josiah French, and his assistant tried to stop them. In the course of the struggle, French’s assistant struck one of the men on the hand with an iron bar. Some of them tried to push French off the dam. The dam attackers left again, only to return around nightfall with a larger crowd. Worster arrived with the 50 men wielding axes and iron bars. They came from as far away as Concord. And they brought with them a law enforcement officer who arrested French and his assistant for assault and battery.” …. “French was then sued for assault because he’d clubbed a rioter’s hand with an iron bar. A jury acquitted him.”

Comments, edits and suggestions are welcome!

Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved by David R. French

(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 in a family of eleven children.  He was born in Billerica, Mass., Dec. 13, 1803, and died at Lowell, April 11, 1879. 

Abram was descended from Lieut. William French, who was born in England in 1604.  He married in England, came to New England aboard the “Defense” in 1635, and died Nov. 20, 1681.  From this ancestor the line of descent runs as follows:

• Jacob French was born January 16, 1639-40, married Mary Champney, Sept. 20, 1665, and died May 20, 1713.

• William French was born July, 1668, married Sarah Danforth, May 22, 1695, and died Sept. 30, 1723.

• Ebenezer French was born August 5, 1707, married Elizabeth Hill, Aug. 27, 1729, and died Dec. 31, 1791.     

• Jesse French was born April 6, 1739, and married Abigail Jaquith, April 14, 1761.

• Luther French was born in Fitchburg, MA on September 25, 1767, married Sarah Bowers, Aug. 28, 1796, and died in Lowell, March 15, 1846.

Mr. (Abram) French received his education in the public schools of his native town, and went out of school assisted his father in the work of the farm.  At the age of 17, he went to Lexington, Mass., where he was employed in a general country store for a few years, after which he went into the dry goods business in East Lexington for himself.  In 1835, he came to Lowell and was identified with business interests here for the greater part of his life.

Mr. French, in early manhood was a stanch Democrat, became a member of the Free Soil Party during the struggle between the north and south, and attended the Free Soil Convention at Buffalo in 1848.  On the formation of the Republican Party he joined that party and remained a Republican till his death.

During the anti-slavery agitation he was active in the movement in Lowell, and was strongly in favor of abolition, and so deep was the impression of those trying times that his sympathy for the colored race remained always true and steadfast.  Though taking an active interest in public affairs, he never sought office.  He was a member of the Common Council in 1852 and 1853, and afterward of the School Board for a number of years.  He early joined the Free Masons, and was a member of Pilgrim Commandery of Knights Templar.  He filled various positions of trust and was a Trustee of the City Institution for Savings, and a Director of the Lowell Mutual Fire Insurance Company for many years.

In religious belief he was a Unitarian from boyhood, and was a constant attendant at the Church of the First Unitarian Society of Lowell.  Mr. French was twice married; first, on July 21, 1831, to Elizabeth Simonds, of Lexington, Mass., and second, on Nov. 20, 1855, to Alice Dean of Providence, R.I.  By his first wife he had: Charles A., born April 18, 1832; who married Elizabeth M. Holbrook, of Boston; Elizabeth, born July 7, 1834, who married Charles Darrow, of Boston; James O., born Jan. 5, 1838, who died in childhood; George W., born March 8, 1840, who married Jennie S. Hall, of Boston; and Horace E., born Feb. 24, 1843, who married Laura M. Foster, of Medford. By his second wife he had: Alice, born Sept. 3, 1856, who married Frederic P. Spalding, of Lowell; Gertrude, born Nov. 29, 1857; and Anna, born Sept. 20, 1859, both of whom died in childhood.

For many years he was a merchant tailor, occupying a building on Central Street, which he purchased from the Middlesex Mills Company in 1841.  During his ownership the Appleton Bank was one of his tenants, several prominent professional men occupied offices in the building, and Mr. French’s store was a rendezvous for many men who afterwards rose to distinction in the Democratic Party.  In 1849, he sold the building to the Appleton Bank, intending to remain as a tenant, but a long delay in rebuilding caused him to change his plans, and later he went into the retail clothing business, under the American House Hotel, from which he retired in 1868.

Additional Posts about Abram:

Priceless – Abram French

Which Abram Are You?

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 the Czech Republic.  After a brief stay in Iowa, the Shonka’s established deep roots in Nebraska.

George and Stazie

George
married Anastasia ‘Stazie’ Prokes on June 26, 1901 and they resided for
a number of years in the village of Richland, Nebraska and raised four
children.  George worked at the Richland State Bank, eventually serving
as bank manager.  During his years of service to the bank, George
encountered “yeggs” on at least one occasion.  I wondered the very same
thing you are probably asking, what are yeggs?

n. “thief, burglar,” especially “safecracker.” 

The news account on the right was published in the Omaha Bee and a later, more detailed story (below) on the same event .

Saturday, April 18, 1896 – Enterprise – Special Dispatch to the World Herald

Revelers
Scare Yeggs Away From Bank Safe Robbers Get Contents of the Safety
Boxes, but Leave $3,000 at Richland Blow Door of Vault

Richland,
Nebraska, December 8. —Young people returning from a dance shortly
after midnight his morning are believed to have frightened three robbers
in the act of rifling the vault of the Richland State Bank here.
Several private deposit boxes and valuable contents of all the others
were carried away, but the yeggs failed in their attempt to blow open
the money safe, containing about $3,000, before they became unease and
fled.

George Shonka,
managing cashier, discovered the robbery this morning, and said no
figures on the loss had yet been compiled, as the bank officers did not
know what the private boxes contained. The loss may be heavy, as the
community consists of well to do farmers.

The
yeggs forced the front door and blow off the vault door. Schuyler
police saw a high powered closed car speed east through that town, eight
miles east of here, about 2 a. m., and now believe it contained the
robbers, escaping toward Omaha, where police were notified. Some wires
out of Richland were cut, supposedly by the robbers. State law
enforcement officials at Lincoln were notified by Sheriff Harennet of
Colfax County.

George Anton Shonka

“A bank was organized in 1906, with George Shonka, president. It was robbed in the early 1920s, and closed in the 1930s, but all depositors were paid 100 percent of their holdings.”  Source: Virtual Nebraska, University of Nebraska – Lincoln/ Richland, Cascade County.

Comments/Reviews  Appreciated!© David R. French and French in Name Only, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to David French and French in Name Only with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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, Lucile worked for Eacker Motor Company, who sponsored her in the Miss Schuyler contest, which she won! Lucile is my daughter’s maternal great-grandmother.