RE:Today's Topics: 1. Some French's in Mass., Vt., and Ind. (the cooks) Message: Thanks Marie I am trying to find more info on this line as I am descended from The John FRENCH in Braintree born in Cannot find this place in Scotland A real brickwall Lorri http://www.rootsweb.com/~vermont/WashingtonCoHistory12.htmEphraim Eddy FRENCH. [Sketch furnished by a friend.] -- The progenitor of the FRENCH family in America was John FRENCH, born in 1612, who came from Thorndic, Scotland, to the Massachusetts colony, when about twenty years of age, and in 1639 was admitted as a freeman in Dorchester. He removed to Braintree in 1648, and from him have descended most of the name in New England. They are generally people of marked individuality. Samuel FRENCH, a native of Salisbury, Mass., born January 29, 1789, married Lydia SAMPSON, born at Woodstock, Vt., December 2, 1779. Samuel emigrated to Vermont when a boy, with a Mr. BAKER, and engaged in felling trees, clearing land, and other pioneer work. After his marriage he located on a wild lot in Washington, and in time his labors were successful in making a comfortable home for himself and wife and their four sons and three daughters, -- Deborah, married John PAINE; Lucy (deceased), married Alfred BROWNING; Leander (deceased); Ephraim E.; Lydia (deceased); Philona (deceased), married Addison RIPLEY; Samuel, Jr., died young. Mr. FRENCH was a hard working farmer, and a good and useful citizen. He died in 1850. Ephraim Eddy FRENCH, of Barre, son of Samuel and Lydia (SAMPSON) FRENCH, was born in Washington, Orange county, Vt., January 31, 1814. Ephraim had but the educational advantages of the common schools of Barre, where his parents had removed when he was four years old. His surroundings-those of a farmer boy of three-quarters of a century ago could not restrain or limit his desire for a broader culture, and while at work in the fields his book was his companion; every leisure moment was given to study, and he fitted himself for a teacher, which avocation he pursued successfully for six winters in Barre and vicinity. He continued tilling the soil, however, until he was twenty-three, when, his health being much impaired, he was forced to relinquish this occupation. In the spring of 1838 he commenced the study of law with Newell KINSMAN, Esq., in Barre, and, after one year under his tuition, was taken into partnership by Mr. KINSMAN, and at the September term of the County Court, 1841, Mr. FRENCH was admitted to the bar, and in 1844 as a practitioner in the Supreme Court. He continued as a law partner with Mr. KINSMAN five years, then opened an office for himself, and soon had a lame and lucrative business, mostly in Orange and Washington counties. --------------------------------- Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains.