Below is an excerpt from a story told by Josiah Bowers (J.B.) French (my 3rd great grand uncle) from a collection of stories about the history of Lowell, Massachusetts in a book titled, “Contributions of the Old Residents Historical Association – Lowell, MA 1877. The Association was formed in December of 1868 by prominent (male only) members of the local community who were residents at the time of the city’s incorporation in 1836 and who had continuously lived in Lowell since that time and were at least 45 years of age. His recollections on early transportation in Lowell/Billerica/Boston includes a reference to his father, my 4th great grandfather, Luther French ( 1767-1846) and mentions the use of a pillion that was used when courting on horseback. That was a new term for me and sounds both romantic and perhaps uncomfortable! ( I added the illustration, it was not part of J.B.’s story).
I previously posted a story about the interesting and successful life led by Josiah in “The Brothers French.”
Questions, Comments and Corrections are Appreciated
Researching Horace and Maria
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
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.
(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.
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.”
(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.
