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.

(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?