Descendants of Noah French 1754-1843 from updated file located on Ancestry.com updated Sep 6, 2003 Entry 1629 by Jan-Marie McCabe. Taken from Jan McCabe 10-23-03: We're still trying to identify the parents of Noah. Per his military records, at the age of about 16, Noah served as an express rider during the Revolutionary War. In these records, Noah's father is listed as John. However, one of Noah's grandsons, Zerah French (1827 - 1890), identifies Noah's father as William French. Perhaps Zerah was actually referring to Noah's grandfather, rather than his father. Because of information that connects Noah to Essex County, Union County, and Morris County, NJ, we've been trying to work back from Noah and down from John French (the brick mason) and his wife, Susannah of Woodbridge, who were in Middlesex County as early as 1680. John (c.1650 - 1713) and Susannah were from Staten Island before being in Woodbridge. Many of John and Susannah's descendants were in Essex County and Union County (including David French (1747-1838) who fought during the Revolutionary War. Other male descendants of John and Susannah also fought during the Revolutionary War. Because this military connection seems at odds with a Quaker heritage, it appears that this family is a completely separate French line, distinct from the Quaker line of Thomas (b 1611 in England). At this time, I'm particularly interested in William French, who married Antie Sebring in Middlesex County, NJ in 1742. Antie Sebring had a brother Leffert, who posted the marriage bond with William French when he obtained the marriage license in Middlesex County. I believe this William is descended from John (the brickmason) and Susannah French. Lafford (born in 1753) would fit nicely into this family, as he would have been named for his uncle. Also, Lafford names his son William. This theory would then resolve what seems to be a strange DNA connection from the "military" Frenchs to the Quaker Frenchs. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a male "French" descendant of Noah French to participate in the DNA project. I'd gladly contribute to the cost if one could be located. I'm still looking -- I've found many descendants -- just no direct male Frenchs. But, even if I find someone, this won't help to prove or disprove the above theory.