Thomas, progenitor of the southern ("west") NJ Frenches, was a founding member of the Chester (now Moorestown), NJ, Monthly Meeting. See the link below for George DeCou's book, "Moorestown and Her Neighbors" - click the index link for "Religious Organizations" for the chapter concerning the Moorestown Meeting. For further information on Thomas French, click on the link marked "Pioneer Settlers" and scroll down to the paragraph on Thomas Ffrench. http://www.westjerseyhistory.org/books/decou1/index.shtml Here are some excerpts from the chapter on the Chester Monthly Meeting: "The first Meeting House in Moorestown erected in 1700 was a small log affair and stood on the northwest corner of Main Street and Chester Avenue. Chester Avenue was called the Great Road or Meeting House Lane in the early Meeting records. The lot on which the Meeting House stood was conveyed by James and Esther Adams to Matthew Allen, John Adams, William Hollinshead, Thomas French, Joseph Heritage, Thomas Wallis, John Cowperthwaite, William Matlack, Sarah Roberts (widow of John Roberts), Richard Heritage, all of Chester Township and Thomas Hooton and Timothy Hancock of Evesham Township trustees of Chester Meeting for fourteen shillings lawful money on Second month 9th, 1700. Money had been subscribed for the purchase of this lot and the erection of a Meeting House prior to the transfer of the land as will be clearly shown by the following entry copied from the records of Chester Preparative Meeting under date of Second month 9th, 1700. "Articles of agreement between John Hollinshead, James Adams, Matthew Allen, John Adams, William Hollinshead, Thomas French, Joseph Heritage, Thomas Wallis, John Cowperthwaite, William Matlack, Sarah Roberts, Richard Heritage, Thomas Hooton and Timothy Hancock in manner following: that is to say whereas the said parties (being all of the people of God called Quakers) having heretofore voluntarily contributed and collected among themselves the sum of Seventy-one Pounds, fourteen shillings (or thereabouts) current money for the purchase of land and for building of a Meeting House thereon for the worship of God in spirit and in truth which said acre of land is already purchased and the said house built accordingly." Debbie -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 7:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [FRENCH-L] FRENCHs as Quakers All, Historically, it is reported that Thomas FRENCH who was a progenitor of FRENCHs in NJ was of the Quaker belief. The devotion to the faith seemed to last several generations as Joseph (third generation) who married Allee gained permission from the Quaker authority before he married. Whether the religion came with that branch of FRENCHs of NJ who went to SC is not known. We only know that they came out of Quaker stock. Since the sons of Joseph and Hannah (Horn) FRENCH (son are fifth generation) participated actively in the RW, it must be assumed they did so outside of the strictures of the Quaker faith. There seems to be a breaking away from the faith. Whether they joined another church is not revealed. >From this it can be surmised that the Quaker records of NJ (pre RW) >should contain references to the FRENCH clan and its several branches. However, the group who went to SC are likely not to have followed the faith and, therefore, would not be in Quaker records (if any) in SC. Anyone care to comment. Best regards, Hugh