Re: The French Family of Galway, Ireland
-
In reply to:
Re: The French Family of Galway, Ireland
Janelle French 7/05/03
Can anyone provide me with documentation on the James French who arrived in St. Mary's county Maryland in 1671?
My oldest ancestor James French (my mother is a French of Hardin county KY) was said to have come from Galway Ireland in 1671 to St. Mary's county. I have heard that the book "Colonial Settlers St. Clements Bay 1634-1780 St. Mary's County, Maryland. Mary Louise Donnelly. Ennis, Texas: 1996" has him being from Ireland but have not been able to document that with hard facts anywhere else. It seems to me that the book reference is the only mention of James being from Galway. If James French is in the book is their any documentation or footnote? I started to hear this "story" of James ancestry around 1999, the same time that the book was published. Needless to say that I am starting to question it.
I have seen where James French was transported by Thomas Notley of Dorset, England in 1671. He was transported at the age of 21 along with 52 other adventures who planned to settle permanently in Maryland. I suspect that the ship left from England and that James was a native of England as well. I find it hard to believe that in the 1600’s a ship would take James from Galway Ireland to England, board another ship in England, then leave for the colonies. This does not seem practical or financially sound.
I also have seen were James was a servant to Luke Gardiner in 1674. The family "tradition" was that James French was sent to America from the wealthy merchants of Galway (tribes of Galway) to manage lands. It seems to me if he were wealthy land holder or his family has money he would not arrive in 1671 and serve as an indentured servant.
In addition, James French inherited 129 acre plantation called "wolverhampton". This property was inherited through his marriage to Elizabeth Meekin. It does not seem that James had any land untill his marriage to Elizabeth. Again this goes against the tradition that James was from a wealthy "tribes of Galway" family
These facts lead me to question James's Irish heritage.
Anyhow, just trying to sort fact from fiction. I know information on James and the "Tribes of Galway" is posted all over the Internet but believe most of this is due to the book saying James was from Ireland and not based on fact.
Any help or comment on the matter would be a great help