Joseph, William, Simon & Lafford French 1797-1801 "The widow and her children removed to Warren County, East Tennessee, in 1795. . . ." quoted from Missouri Pioneer Families History; Bryan, Wm. S. and Robert Rose; St. Louis: Bryan, Brand, 1876. The identified sons of William FRENCH of SC -- Hugh and John -- probably died before 1850. Their identified wives are listed as head of households in 1850 census, Missouri, along with children who were named in the above document. After an analysis of census records 1830, 1840, 1850, I estimate Hugh was born between 1780 - 1790. Thus he would not be the "over 16 male" shown in the older William FRENCH of SC 1790 Census. The younger William French shown there in 1800 is probably the son of the older William FRENCH of SC. Based on birth location of Hugh's children given in the 1850 Missouri census, the Hugh FRENCH family were in Tennessee during the period 1819-1825 and moved from TN to MO in the period 1825-1827. Not all of their children have been located in the 1850 census at this time and it is possible the missing children, probably the older children, were also born in TN and thus a possibility that Hugh FRENCH & wife Sally (Sarah)FRENCH, were in Tennessee shortly after their marriage in Christian County, Kentucky in 1814. Records are needed between 1814 and 1825 to document the location of Hugh French and family. Census records 1830, 1840, 1850, --John's potential birth year ranged from 1790 to 1800 one census year and 1800 to 1810 another census year]. Since he appears to have married for the first time after his move to Missouri abt 1820, I believe he was born about 1800 but no further proof of this has been found. [JF NOTE: search death records, court records and military records in Missouri between 1840 and 1850. At least one minor child shown in 1850 census. Birth dates of the older William French's children will help determine when the older William FRENCH was living.] Three of the identified daughters of William FRENCH of SC have marriages recorded in Warren County, Kentucky -- Hannah marries William Cox in 1797; Polly marries Isaac Clark in 1800 and Sally marries Joseph Elledge in Jul 1801. This information comes from a transcription of the Warren County, Kentucky Marriage records. Conclusion: At least some of the older William FRENCH of SC family are living in Warren County, Kentucky as early as 1797 and probably remained there at least through July 1801. Conclusion: Widow FRENCH shown in 1800 SC census living next to Lafford does not appear to be the widow of William FRENCH of SC. Conclusion: Hannah's husband may not be called 'Samuel' since the marriage record identifies him as 'William Cox' A search of the Warren County, Kentucky, Deed Books show no entries in this time period for a William French. The following from transcriptions of Warren County, Kentucky Deed Books: A Joseph French survey of 200 acres is referenced in a land transaction in 1808 -- conclude a Joseph FRENCH was living in Warren County, KY before 1808. A land transaction in 1821 documents that this 200 acres was first patented in 1811 by the then owner, Payne, and shows this early Joseph FRENCH assigned the land to Hudspeth who in turn assigned it to Payne who is the owner selling tracts of land in 1821. [Payne sold this 200 acres along with 400 additional acres for $3000.00] Conclusion: Joseph FRENCH did not patent the 200 Acres he had surveyed and may have left the area. The Joseph FRENCH survey referenced in 1808 does not mean Joseph FRENCH was living on the KY land in 1808. [JF NOTE: Future research--see if this Joseph FRENCH connects to the Joseph FRENCH family in Illinois by 1815 & appearing on 1820 Census in Illinois. Note that the identified Joseph FRENCH in Illinois is too old to be Joseph, son of Lafford FRENCH of R. War. A Lafford French marries a Matthew's girl in IL in 1815.] THE FRENCH BROTHERS The beginning of the story of the South Carolina Revolutionary War FRENCH's by J French The French brothers--William, Joseph, Lafford, Simon, --lived in South Carolina and fought in the Revolutionary War. (ref Lafford's pension records and a documented audit of Simon, William and Joseph's revolutionary war records in South Carolina) Lafford FRENCH remained in Spartanburg, South Carolina until a few years before his death when he removed to Rutherford, North Carolina in the area that later became Polk County, North Carolina. (ref pension records & census data) 1795-1796--Some time after the 1790 census, probably 1795-1796, based on reported dates of South Carolina land transactions, William, Joseph and Simon FRENCH families, and no doubt several neighboring families, left South Carolina heading westward in search of new land and opportunities. They probably headed north to the Cumberland Gap, then followed the Wilderness road to just past Crab Orchard where some turned onto the Cumberland Trace rather than continuing on to Louisville. This group traveled WSW through Kentucky, stopping in Kentucky just before reaching what is today the boundary with Tennessee in the general area of Christian County Kentucky, which borders Montgomery County, Tennessee. (ref documented migration routes and state/county maps of that period). 1797--William and Joseph FRENCH lived, for a period of time, just east of todays Christian County Kentucky. William FRENCH and Joseph FRENCH are found in Warren County, Kentucky, in the 1797 Tax List, along with other families who intermarried with the William French children. Warren County Kentucky was established late in 1796 and was created from a portion of Logan County. 1799--Simon FRENCH settled in Christian Co. Kentucky and is 1st shown in land grant records of that state beginning in 1799. In the 1810 & 1820 US Census Simon is shown in Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky. In 1830 Census he is shown age 60-70 with probable wife 50-60. He reportedly died 26 Feb 1831, in Christian Co. Kentucky, with his will recorded in that county's Records. The Simon FRENCH House, located on Carter Rd., South of Barkers Mill - Hensleytown, was declared an Historical Site. Registration Photo dated April 30, 1979. To Be Continued