Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Richard FRENCH (1620-?)

and Elizabeth (c1620-?)

Richard French and Elizabeth were my 8x Great Grandparents.   5 138 (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  No possible marriage has been found in the Sussex marriage indexes or the IGI.  Although Richard was born in Cuckfield, Sussex and raised his family there, his marriage to Elizabeth (or anyone else) was not recorded in the Cuckfield marriage register.

Richard French was baptised on 30 January 1619/20 in Cuckfield.  He was the illegitmate son of widow French, by "one Bryant as supposed".  Might his mother have been Joan Mudrell who married Francis French in Fletching, Sussex on 11 August 1600?  Francis, a husbandman, was buried on 12 June 1611 in Cuckfield.  Or might she have previously been the wife of William Frenche who in 1613 had a daughter Ann baptised in Cuckfield.  William was then described as a "filler at the furnis".  William's burial has not been found in the Cuckfield burial register, nor have I found a likely marriage for William before 1613.

On 11 June 1620, Joane Frenche of Cuckfield and daughter of widow Joane, was apprenticed to Richard Parkes, yeoman of Cuckfield, until the age of 21.  Four days later on 15 June Richard Parkes took on another apprentice, namely Henry Mitten, in husbandry until the age of 24.  Then on 20 August 1626, Francis French of Cuckfield was apprenticed to Richard Hammond, thatcher until he was 24 years old.

On 21 January 1634, 13 year old Richard French was apprenticed to John Garton, yeoman, until he was 24 years old.

Elizabeth's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.

Richard French and Elizabeth had 10 known children:

1. Anne French was baptised on 27 March 1642 in Cuckfield and buried there on 5 August 1642.

2. John French was baptised on 21 December 1645 in Cuckfield.

3. Richard French was baptised on 22 August 1648 in Cuckfield.

4. William French was baptised on 20 April 1651 in Cuckfield.

5. Thomas French was baptised on 1 October 1653 in Cuckfield.

6. An infant of Richard and Elizabeth was born on 5 July 1657 in Cuckfield and buried there on 9 July 1657.

7. Joane French was born on 4 July 1658 and her birth was register the Cuckfield parish registers.  She was buried there on 6 December 1659.

8. Henry French was baptised on 14 October 1660 in Cuckfield.

   Henry married twice.  Firstly Jone King by banns on 6 May 1694 in Cuckfield.  He then married Jane Vaughan on 6 April 1697 in Slaugham, Sussex.  At the time they were both of Cuckfield.

   Jone was buried in Cuckfield on 20 February 1697/8 and it was recorded in the burial register that she was Joan wife of Henry French of Holmstead. 

9. Charles French was baptised on 17 May 1663 in Cuckfield.  He was buried there on 14 September 1729.

   Charles married Susan Vidlers by banns on 2 June 1692 in Cuckfield.  They were both then single.

   Charles and Susan had the following child:

   1. John French was baptised on 22 July 1694 in Cuckfield and buried there on 19 August 1694.

   2. Charles French may have been part of this family.  He married Elizabeth Willing on 21 September 1748 in the Fleet Prison, London.  Charles was then a bachelor and chimney sweep and Elizabeth a spinster.  They were both of Cuckfield.

10. Frederick French, my 7x Great Grandfather, was baptised on 28 May 1667 in Cuckfield.  He married Mary in about 1691.  (They have their own page.)

Francis French and Joan Mudrell had 4 known children:

1. Elinor French was baptised on 28 June 1601 in Cuckfield.

2. Jone French was baptised on 7 April 1604 in Cuckfield.  Her father was then of Brode Street.

3. John French was baptised on 5 April 1607 in Cuckfield.

4. Frances French (son) was baptised on 12 August 1610.

FRENCH