I don't know if this will help, but just in case -- the document binding Philip B. French to Jonathan Rue as a bricklayer, plasterer and stone mason 21 February 1821 states that he is the orphan of John French, deceased. This John French is not Henry French's son John French. Henry's son John died April 1870. I am still looking for my notes from research I did in Lincoln County. I believe I am correct that John French died there and his widow was named Catherine. She remarried very quickly to one of the administrators of her husband's estate. I haven't been able to connect them to Henry yet, but a John French was the bondsman for Henry's daughter Christiana when she married Bennett Bull in 1789. David French was a witness. This could not have been Christiana's brother as bondsman because he was born in 1788. Unfortunately, the only records for the John French in Lincoln were very limited. No will, no administration papers, no children listed. Because of an action by the Administrative Office of the Courts here in Kentucky, all our circuit court records have been removed to Frankfort to Library and Archives. This does not include records held in the County Court Clerk's Office so while I can't search lawsuits in Lincoln or Mercer now, we still have the deeds, marriages, and probate records. Also Samuel French was definitely Henry's brother. There is a record or rather was a record that definitely stated Samuel was Henry's brother in a deposition attested to by Hugh McGary in the Mercer Circuit Court Records, Bundle F. Mr. Houts refers to Samuel French as the brother of the complainant Henry French. In one of the e-mails, Jacob is referenced as a brother of Henry. Does anyone have proof of this? I have been struggling, along with everyone else, with this brickwall for years too. Any help appreciated. Dianna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marilyn Horton" <mteach209@msn.com> To: <french@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 9:41 AM Subject: Re: [FRENCH] Philip French > >From family names and looking at other stuff, I think it was very popular > >in > the 19th century to name babies after presidents or other respected, > prominent people. Also, they gave sons the surname of a grandparent on > the > mother's side. I am sure that is where Warner French got his name. I > just > can't find them. > > mhh > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FRENCH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >