The following information was sent to my cousin, Karen Mohr (Mohr One Name Study) in 1992 from Kenneth Kysor, Cattaraugus County Historian. I believe that the information had been previously submitted by another French researcher to the historian. I am not the author. 1. Our earliest known French anecestor was John French, b. ca 1763. Hew was at Williamstown, Oneida Co., NY on 3 Feb 1816, according to dates contained in the wills. (Oswego Co. was formed 1 March 1816, and Williamstown was one of the townships which formed Oswego). 1820 census page 054, Williamstown, Oswego Co., NY: Males u/10 18/25 45/U Females U/10 10/15 26-45 John French 1 1 1 1 1 2 John French, Jr. 2 1 0 0 1 0 John French died 24 June 1827, and is buried at Williamstown Cemetery. His wife was Elizabeth, who died 18 October 1828, is also buried at Williamstown. Earlier History: Extensive research has been and is being conducted by Ethel Nichols and Clifford W. Straitor in Mass. & Vermont of vital records which might give some background of John French. Here are some possible leads: a. At Greenfield, Franklin Co., Mass., a John French married a Elizabeth Bascom on 29 Feb 1787. (Vital Records, Greenfield) b. A Bascom family history, "Thomas Bascom and his descendants" (Sutro Library, San Francisco) Elizabeth Bascom, b. at Greenfield, 2 Sept, 1765 m. at Greenfield, 29 Feb 1787, John French, and removed to Kingston, Canada, West. Elizabeth's parents were Elihu Bascom, b. Lebanon, Conn. 13 Jan 1738-9, m. at Northhampton, 21 Sept 1762, his relative Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Bascom. Elizabeth, who married John French, had a sister Abigail, b 11 Dec 1763, married Melzer Wentworth and settled in western new York. c. A Wentworth family history, "Descendants of John Wentworth", (Sutro Library, San Francisco) states that "Melzar Wentworth, married, moved to Canada and was never heard from. 2. John French, b. ca 1794, Mass/Vt 3. Cyrus French, b. 10 Oct 1798, Mass/Vt 4-8 daughters _______________ 2. John French, b. ca 1794, Mass/Vt d. most likely Sherman Twp, Clark Co., Wis., after 1870, m. Cynthia, b. ca 1796 Oswego Co., NY, according to the 1855 New York Census. John was located on the 1830 Census at Orwell, Oswego Co., NY with one male child under 10, one male child under 16, one female under age 5; he and his wife are in the 30/40 age bracket. On the 1840 census of Mansfield, Cattaraugus Co., NY one male under five, two under 10, one under 20, one under 30, he is in the 40/50 age bracket - females - one under 16, his wife appearing in the 30/40 age bracket. On the 1850 census at Ellicottville, Cattaraugus Co., NY, as a Farmer,: French, John 56 Mass Page 239 Cynthia 54 NY John A. 17 NY Cyrus D. 14 NY Cynthia 12 NY French, William 31 NY page 240 Amelia 30 Penn The 1855 census at Ellicottville indicates he was born in Vermont, and had been at Ellicottville for 18 years. Cynthia and son, John A., both born Oswego Co., NY In 1860 on 11 August he was still at Ellicottville: French, John A. 28 NY Wagonmaker John 66 Mass, Basketmaker Cynthia 22 NY Cyrus D. 24 NY Carriage maker French, William 41 NY Amelia 39 Penn Melissa 9 NY George 11 NY(King) Amelia 7 NY William 4 NY In 1870 he was at Sherman Twp, Clark Co., Wis (Sherman Twp was fromed from Loyal 1 April 1873) French, Byrus D. 34 NY Farmer (family 51) Lucy A. 24 NY Cyrus D. 1 NY French, John 76 VT Without work (family 52) William N. 51 NY Farmer Amelia A. 50 Penn 10. William N. French, b. 16 Sept 1818, m. Amelia A. Miller, b. 10 April 1819, d. 22 Feb 1890. Moved to Wisconsin after 1860. 11. Mary Jane French, b. 20 Oct 1827, Oswego Co., NY m. William Nichols. Moved to Wisconsin around 1860. 12 John A. French, b. Feb. 1832, Oswego Co., NY. 13. Cyrus Dewitt French, b. 14 May, 1836, m. Lucy Ann Kidney. Moved to Wisconsin after 1860. 14. Cynthia French, b. ca 1838. ______________ 3. Cyrus French, b. 10 Oct 1798, Mass/Vt. d. 5 Sept 1872, m. Eleanor Duffee, b. 19 Oct 1795, died 21 March 1865. Both buried at Williamstown Cem., NY. Cyrus and Eleanor lived their entire lives at Williamstown. Nine children. _____________ 12. John A. French, b. Feb. 1832, Oswego Co., NY, m. Elsie, b. Feb. 1840, NY On the 1865 census at Ellicotville as a Wheelwright. On the 1870 census, he is lat Great Valley, Cattaraugus Co., NY, as a Wagonmaker, owns real estate, $1200. On the 1875 census he was a wagonmaker at Humphtrey; and in 1880, still at Humphrey as a Farmer. In 1900 they are still at Humphtrey with a Grandson, Gordon A. French, b. Mar 1886, age 14, NY with them. By 1920, Elsie is still at Humphtrey, with daughter Eunice, and Grandson, Gordon A., Elsie owns her Farm. 28. John K. French, b. ca 1861, NY 29. Eunice French, b. Oct 1862, NY 30 Harriett French, b. ca 1867, NY 31. Emma L. French, b. ca 1870, NY 28. John K. French, b. ca 1861, NY. Known only from the 1870 census. Cannot locate on the 1880, 1900 or 1910 census. At this time it is presumed that Gordon A. French, b. March 1886 is his son. 52. Gordon A. French, b. March 1886, NY. __________________ Hope this helps someone. And I hope the formatting isn't lost when I send it out! Marion Scherer