I copied and OCR'd this from the Romney Library, but regretfully did not get the credits from the doc. I was going to tuck it into my notes folders -- paper and computer -- but thought it would interest my fellow list members. It is interesting from both a historic and genealogic perspective. Surnames -- FRENCH, GUTHRIE, MURPHY,KUYKENDALL, PARKER, TAYLOR, CORBIN, PIERCE, BUFFINGTON, NELSON, FOX, SHEPHERD, BLUE, etc. The history helps explain the importance of the towns -- like Oldtown, FRENCH's Neck, FRENCH's Station, South Branch, etc -- where the South Branch meets the Potomac. Later came the slow trains that stopped at these places and yet later, the fast trains passed them by and made some of the towns ghost towns -- FRENCH's Station, South Branch, etc. Some of you may have seen the old advertising bills like for FRENCH's Milled Flour, FRENCH's Mill, or FRENCH's hats at the libraries. I am lucky enough to have a couple copies of some of them. Imagine the barges floating down the South Branch and then down the Potomac. The barge men would meet farmers and merchants clear down to other counties like Prince George's (MD) and Alexandria (VA). Some men met women and brought them back, beginning the migration of families into Allegany and Hampshire Co. Also, remember the river travel on the Potomac began at Westernport, the most western port on the Potomac. And, the same probably happened on the Shenandoah. Some of my ancestors migrated from the Shenandoah, to the South Branch to the North Branch (Potomac). And now I suspect the migration was somehow connected to the rivers and commerce on the rivers.... Commerce in lumber/wood products, coal, wheat, farm products, etc. Not a whole lot different than today. In reading, you will note the superscript references show on the same line. Dan Harris _________________ FRENCH John FRENCH of Welsh ancestry was granted land by Lord Fairfax on the South Branch of the Potomac, in what is now Hampshire County, in the year of l749.68 From the records of court of Winchester, Virginia, he died shortly after leaving five children, Matthew, James, Joseph, Ester and Ann. Ester married John LOCKE. Judge David E. JOHNSTON in "History of the Middle New River Settlement" published a number of years ago, says that the widow of John French married Captain CRESAP. Her name was Martha. It is not known if the latter is true, he would probably be a descendant of Daniel FRENCH that came to Virginia about 1650. James FRENCH died in 1773, and left the following will69: In the name of God, Amen. I, James FRENCH of the County of Hampshire and Colony of Virginia, being weak of body, but perfect memory, blessed be to God, do lay this 14 day of October in the year of our Lord 1773 do make this my last will and testament in a manner as follows, that is to say -- I bequeath to my son Robert FRENCH the tenement or parcel of land I now live on with a full childs part of all my personal estate and also 20 pound is to be paid by my son William FRENCH to the said Robert FRENCH when he comes of age, and also to my other son William, Bequeath that tract or parcel of land known by the name of the Lower BLUE adjoining Hugh MURPHY's tract of land in the County of Hampshire and Colony of Virginia and also a full childs part of my personal estate and also I bequeath to my dear and loving wife, Mary FRENCH the negro boy Daniel until my sons comes of age for the support of raising them and when the said Robert FRENCH comes to the age then the said negro boy is to be sold and equally divided between them and I also constitute and appoint my wife Mary FRENCH, with Robert PARKER, Executors of this last will in trust for the intents and meaning of these present. In the witness thereof, I the same James FRENCH have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Witness Hugh (X) MURPHY James FRENCH David (X) CORBIN Recording of a suit in Chalkley's Augusta County Records, show that the widow, Mary, married again, this time to a man named James MURPHY. The following Grantor-Grantee (lease and release) appear recorded in Hampshire County: - 1771 FRENCH, Mathew w. Sarah to John FOX, 246 Acres on South Branch. 70 - 1794 FRENCH, Robert, one negro woman named Minna to William BUFFINGTON. 71 - 1801 FRENCH, Robert - Richard NELSON. 72 - 1795 FRENCH, William, 225 acres on Little Cacapon to Robert FRENCH. 73 - 1797 FRENCH, William of Romney to Friend GRAY. 73 - 1797 PIERCE, James (w. Frances Ann) one acre in Romney to William FRENCH. 74 - FRENCH, Robert 260 acres on Little Cacapon. 75 Ever since Hampshire became sparsely settled it seemed the inhabitants have had a surplus of wheat, and it has furnished them a means of obtaining ready money. 77 In the ear1y days after the Revolution the matter of transportation was a serious hindrance to commerce. 78 Goods had to be hauled from the cities in wagons, and the products of the farm had to be taken to market in a like manner, at least in most instances. 79 Hampshire had an important advantage in this particular. Through the most fertile and productive valley of the country ran the South Branch River. By means of boats this river was made to perform an important service. 80 Had a person chanced to pass up the South Branch in those days, at the various eddies and places of easy access, he would have seen scores of barrels of flour. 81 When the river began to rise, boatmen would come and build boats, load the flour upon them and float away to the market. 82 The boats used were usually mere flat structures, built temporarily for the purpose of transporting this flour and sold for lumber when their destination was reached. 83 Such places or points on the river bank where the products could be easily loaded come to have names, such have remained as "Maple Landings and FRENCH's Neck. The men who carried these cargoes down the river, often tied up at a desirable farmhouse and looked the girls of the family over as to eligibility of a wife. 84 Such was the case of William FRENCH when he married Hester SHEPHERD of Shepherdstown 85. New and different names then those of the first pioneers now began to appear in Hampshire County. Robert FRENCH settled six miles east of Romney and founded Frenchburg. In 1861, it was burned by Federal soldiers on the pretext that the inhabitants were giving aid to Rebel Bushwhackers. The Federals refused to recognize bushwhacking as a legitimate method of warfare, and for this the little village was wiped out. 86 William FRENCH built the old log home at what became known as FRENCH's Station when later the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad came to Hampshire County. His son, William Jr, built the brick home that is now in possession of his granddaughter, Brady FRENCH. The other adjoining BRADY Farm is in possession of another granddaughter, Catherine BLUE. In the Civil War, Charles FRENCH, son of William, joined the partisan rangers in November, 186287. He married Harriett TAYLOR who died soon after their marriage and then later married her sister Mary Susan, who were the parents of four children88. Here once again the FRENCH, PARKER, TAYLOR and GUTHRIE became interwoven with many connections and interrelations. A bill of sale, recorded in the court of Hampshire after the death of William Jr., shows that along with farming, milling and the mercantile business the FRENCHes were also hat makers. Many fur hats are listed in this bill of sale of 188189. … FRENCH 1-John FRENCH, b. abt. 1710, d. 1750, m. 1730 Martha ?? 2-James FRENCH, d. 1773 3-William FRENCH Sr., b. September 27th 1770, d.7-22-1831, m. Hester SHEPHERD, b.ll-24-1771, d. 8-18-1849 4-William FRENCH Jr, b. September 27th 1770, d.12-29-1881 Francis FRENCH, b. 3-30-1804, d. 11-17-1807 James FRENCH, b. 7-12-1807, d. 7-28-1824 Married - William FRENCH and Susan TAYLOR, 5-31-1825, b. 6-17-1802, d. 10-9-1867 - 2nd to Lizzie PUGH 5-21-1874, d. 1880. Children of William and Susan - Elizabeth Hester, b. 5-1-1826, d 9-1-1849, m Newton GUTHRIE 1845. - Mary Ellen, b. 9-30-1828, d. 10-19-1908. - James Francis, b. 2-4-1831, d. 2-4-1845. - Wi1liaim Taylor, b. 10-10-1833, d. 12-29-1874. - John, b. 1836. - Susan Taylor, b 1840 (dead) - Charles Montgomery, b. 10-10-1841, d. 5-19-1915. m. Mary Susan TAYLOR - Susan FRENCH, b. 12-16-1845, d. 1851. Grandchildren - Susan Marie GUTHRIE, b. 111-1847, m. Isaac BLUE, d. 3-3-1921 - William Newton GUTHRIE, b. 8-25-1849 m. Susan KUYKENDALL, d. 12-25-1915. Great Grandchildren - Elizabeth BLUE, m. Thomas LONG - Thomas BLUE Other - Newton Brown GUTHRIE - Hannah Blue GUTHRIE b. July 13 1877, m. Henry Martin VANCE - William French GUTHRIE - Elizabeth French GUTHRIE, b. Sept. 13 1881, m. Charles HARMISON - Frances Taylor GUTHRIE - James Kuykendall GUTHRIE - Robert Finley GUTHRIE - Mary Lawson GUTHRIE Both the eighth and ninth generations of the descendants of John FRENCH are still living in Hampshire County.