It looks farly clear to me that the Dorchester MD Nowells were neighbors of Frenchmen. The records below show: 1) James Nowell transfering land that he appearantly got from Anthony/Antoine Le Compte called "Chance" to John Harwood. LeCompte was one of the Frenchmen naturalized in MD in the 1660s or 70s. 2) James Nowell Sr. transfers land adjacent to "Chance" to his son John in 1699, 3) much later in 1754, Edward Nowell gets part of "Nowell's Plantation" adj. "Harwoods Chance". The Dorchester Nowells at least associated with some Frenchmen, and it looks like Edward was likely descended from the James and/or Johns. If the Nowells were Nevills (based on the Queen Anne Co. William Nowell and William Nevill records similarities) maybe Edward identified himself as French because his father James or John married one of the LeCompt girls? The Lecompt family became quite prominent and Edward may have been pround to have their blood. Who knows? ABSTRACTS OF THE LAND RECORDS OF DORCHESTER CO MARYLAND, James A. McAllister Jr. 4 old 70/Jan 20 1689/90 James Nowell of Dorchester county, planter and Margaret his wife to John Harwood same county, carpenter: "Nowell's Pokety" called "Chance" formerly laid out for Anthony Le Compte. Wit: Phill Pitt, Margaret Bleth. Acknowledged Mar 4 1689/90 before Henry Trippe and John Brooke. Thomas Pattison, clerk. Vol A, p. 58. 5 old 151/Jun 6 1699/James NOWELL Senr. Of Dorchester County, planter, to his son John NOWELL of Dorchester Co, planter: 150 a. called "NOWELL's Pockety" on the north side of Monsieurs Creek of Great Chaptank river, anj land laid out for Anthony leCompte called "Chance". If said John dies w/o lawful issue, said land to revert to doner. Ackn: Mar 6, 1699. Vol B 15 old 99/March 4, 1754/ William Meredith and Lettice his wife of the Colony of Virginia in King and Queen County in Parish of Strayton, Gent. to EDWARD NOWELL of Dorchester County, Mariner: part of tract called "NOWELL's Plantation" on Choptank River, adj. "Harwoods Chance" and "St. Anthonys" and containing 300 a. more or less. William Byus and John Trippe or either of them, named Attorneys for grantors to acknowledge deed. Wit: James Noell, Michael Edwards. Proved by wit and acknowledged by Wiliam Byus and John Trippe, Attorneys, March 19 1754 before Thomas Macheel (?) And James Cox Gray Justices.