I descend from John and Matthew French, early settlers in Hampshire County. Their move from Westmoreland Co. to Hampshire County is recorded in David E. Johnston's book, "The History of the Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory" published in 1906. "The Frenches. The ancestors of this family lived in Scotland, thence removed to Wales, and from thence, long prior to the American Revolution, came across the Atlantic and settled in the Northern Neck of Virginia--Westmoreland County, within the grant to Lord Fairfax. It was in Westmoreland, about 1735, that John French married a lady of Welsh extraction. Among the children born to them was a son, Matthew, in 1737. Settlers were pressing across the Blue Ridge and on to the South branch of the Potomac, and on and along the Big and Little Cacapon. As information came back from these people of the wonderland they had found, others became interested and made up their minds to go; among them John French and his family in about 1750, made their way up the Rappahannock and over to the South branch of the Potomac; locating at a place since well known as French's Neck, a beautiful and valuable body of land on the South branch of the river mentioned. John lived but a short while after reaching his new home, and his widow shortly after his death married Captain Cresap. The district in which John French settled soon became the County of Hampshire. There were several sons in the family other than Matthew among them William and James and a daughter Esther, who married John Locke." The author then goes on to follow the descendants of John and Matthew as they settled on the New River in Giles County. The book documents early French family settlers in the area being discussed as South Branch and French's Station. Does anyone know where French's Neck is located? I would also like any information about John's wife Martha French who married into the well known Cresap family from Maryland. I have seen her maiden name listed as Upshur and Flint. As far as I know, she remained in Hampshire County after her son, Matthew, migrated to the New River area. Dorothy Davis Webb TNGEN@aol.com Kapolei, Hawaii Researching: DAVIS, HALE, FRENCH, CLAY, PAYNE, TRAVIS, BUTTRAM and others in VA, WVA, TN

Absolutely. I have a cottage in FRENCH's Neck. I have a 400 year old oak, that sadly is near the end. I am sure the old oak was touch by a FRENCH, MURPHY, CRAPPER or CRESAP when it was a much younger... 100 or 200 years old. I am very interested in sharing information about the FRENCH-MURPHY connection. I have a quest this winter to find the FRENCH-MURPHY Cemetary on the MESSICK Farm -- next loop on the river above FRENCH's Neck. Dan Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: <TNGEN@aol.com> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 3:33 AM Subject: [WVHAMPSH-L] Hampshire Co. French's > I descend from John and Matthew French, early settlers in Hampshire County. > Their move from Westmoreland Co. to Hampshire County is recorded in David E. > Johnston's book, "The History of the Middle New River Settlements and > Contiguous Territory" published in 1906. > > "The Frenches. The ancestors of this family lived in Scotland, thence > removed to Wales, and from thence, long prior to the American Revolution, > came across the Atlantic and settled in the Northern Neck of > Virginia--Westmoreland County, within the grant to Lord Fairfax. It was in > Westmoreland, about 1735, that John French married a lady of Welsh > extraction. Among the children born to them was a son, Matthew, in 1737. > Settlers were pressing across the Blue Ridge and on to the South branch of > the Potomac, and on and along the Big and Little Cacapon. As information > came back from these people of the wonderland they had found, others became > interested and made up their minds to go; among them John French and his > family in about 1750, made their way up the Rappahannock and over to the > South branch of the Potomac; locating at a place since well known as French's > Neck, a beautiful and valuable body of land on the South branch of the river > mentioned. John lived but a short while after reaching his new home, and his > widow shortly after his death married Captain Cresap. The district in which > John French settled soon became the County of Hampshire. There were several > sons in the family other than Matthew among them William and James and a > daughter Esther, who married John Locke." > > The author then goes on to follow the descendants of John and Matthew as they > settled on the New River in Giles County. The book documents early French > family settlers in the area being discussed as South Branch and French's > Station. Does anyone know where French's Neck is located? I would also like > any information about John's wife Martha French who married into the well > known Cresap family from Maryland. I have seen her maiden name listed as > Upshur and Flint. As far as I know, she remained in Hampshire County after > her son, Matthew, migrated to the New River area. > > Dorothy Davis Webb TNGEN@aol.com > Kapolei, Hawaii > > Researching: DAVIS, HALE, FRENCH, CLAY, PAYNE, TRAVIS, BUTTRAM and others in > VA, WVA, TN >