The French family lived in Essex but as you can see I haven't got very far back. There is a possible connection with Southfleet in Kent where a Charles French was born in 1811; he was a butcher and living with my Essex French family in 1841.

My Essex French's were cattle auctioneers, later butchers, and moved to London in the 19th century. This family has been the most difficult to research, which is particularly annoying as French was my maiden name. I would love to hear from anyone related to any of these families.

Richard's parents were possibly John French and Mary, but this is unconfirmed.

Generation No. 1

1. RICHARD 2 FRENCH (JOHN 1) He married SARAH FRIART on 13 December 1785 in Stisted, Essex.

Child of RICHARD FRENCH and SARAH FRIART was:

2. i. JOHN 3 FRENCH, b. 06 October 1793, West Ham; d. 17 August 1857 , West Ham.

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN 3 FRENCH (RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 06 October 1793 in West Ham, and died 17 August 1857 in West Ham. He married MARIA CHALLIS 18 June 1823 in West Ham, daughter of ANTHONY CHALLIS and MARY. She was born in 1798 in Vange, Essex, and died December 1883 in Camberwell.

Children of JOHN FRENCH and MARIA CHALLIS were:

3. i. JOHN 4 FRENCH, b. 05 March 1824, West Ham Essex; d. 19 August 1877, Rotherhithe.

ii. SARAH FRENCH, b. 1835.

4.iii. WILLIAM FRENCH, b. 1832, Plaistow.

iv. ELIZABETH FRENCH, b. 1838.

v. RICHARD FRENCH, b. 1827, West Ham; m. HANNAH LAMBERT, December 1876, West Ham

Generation No. 3

3. JOHN 4 FRENCH (JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 05 March 1824 in West Ham Essex, and died 19 August 1877 in Rotherhithe. He married SARAH SHALES 05 October 1853 in St. Peters Church Brighton, daughter of THOMAS SHALES and SARAH HARMAN

Children of JOHN FRENCH and SARAH SHALES were:

5. i. ARTHUR JOHN 5 FRENCH, b. 21 September 1856 , St Luke Middx; d. 17 July 1936 , Brockley.

6.ii. HERBERT FRENCH, b. 1865, Rotherhithe.

7.iii. MARY JANE FRENCH, b. 1859, Rotherhithe; d. March 1892, Lewisham.

8.iv. SARAH ADA FRENCH, b. 1861, Rotherhithe.

v. EDITH FRENCH, b. 1863, Rotherhithe; d. December 1909, Camberwell.

vi. JOHN FREDERICK FRENCH, b. 1854, Barking, Essex.

4. WILLIAM 4 FRENCH (JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 1832 in Plaistow. He married MARTHA RICHARDSON 25 September 1855 in Plaistow. She was born 1832 in Camberwell.

Children of WILLIAM FRENCH and MARTHA RICHARDSON were:

i. MARIA E 5 FRENCH, b. 1858, Plaistow.

ii. HARRY FRENCH, b. 1865, Deptford; d. 12 December 1891, Sydney, Australia, of TB.

9. iii. JESSIE FRENCH, b. 1862, Islington.

iv. WILLIAM RICHARDSON FRENCH, b. 1860, Deptford.

Generation No. 4

5. ARTHUR JOHN 5 FRENCH (JOHN 4, JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 21 September 1856 in St Luke Middx, and died 17 July 1936 in Brockley. He married CATHARINE SHELLEY 27 February 1910 in Hatcham Park, London, daughter of PHILLIP SHELLEY and MARY BRIGHTEN

Child of ARTHUR FRENCH and CATHARINE SHELLEY was:

9. STANLEY JOHN 6 FRENCH, b. June 1911, New Cross; d. July 1948, Petts Wood Kent; m. LILIAN ELSIE RISELEY, June 1943, Lewisham; b. 15 November 1908, London; d. 26 November 1974, Sidcup Kent.

6. HERBERT 5 FRENCH (JOHN 4, JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 1865 in Rotherhithe. He married CLARA THOMPSON December 1889 in Camberwell.

Children of HERBERT FRENCH and CLARA THOMPSON were:

i. DORIS IRENE 6 FRENCH, b. 1902, Greenwich.

ii. GLADYS MAY FRENCH, b. 1902, Greenwich.

iii. EDITH FRENCH, b. 1890, New Cross.

iv. HERBERT FRENCH, b. 1896, Deptford.

7. MARY JANE 5 FRENCH (JOHN 4, JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 1859 in Rotherhithe, and died March 1892 in Lewisham. She married TOM SARGENT STOCKMAN September 1889 in Lewisham.

Child of MARY FRENCH and TOM STOCKMAN was:

i. MARY FRENCH 6 STOCKMAN, b. 1892, Catford.

8. SARAH ADA 5 FRENCH (JOHN 4, JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born 1861 in Rotherhithe. She married FREDERICK WILLIAM STANDFAST September 1890 in Islington, son of JOHN STANDFAST and MARY ANN.

Children of SARAH FRENCH and FREDERICK STANDFAST were:

i. ALICE MARY P 6 STANDFAST, b. 1893, Stoke Newington .

ii. JOHN FREDERICK STANDFAST, b. 1905, Hackney; m. DORIS REDPATH .

Generation No. 5

9. STANLEY JOHN 10 FRENCH (ARTHUR 5, JOHN 4, JOHN 3, RICHARD 2, JOHN 1) was born June 1911 in New Cross, and died July 1948 in Petts Wood Kent. He married LILIAN ELSIE RISELEY June 1943 in Lewisham, daughter of ARTHUR RISELEY and SUSAN CORNEY. She was born 15 November 1908 in London, and died 26 November 1974 in Sidcup Kent.

Child of STANLEY FRENCH and LILIAN RISELEY is:

i. VALERIE JOAN FRENCH, b. 07 December 1945, Farnborough Kent; m. WILLIAM JOHN COUBROUGH STUART, 15 July 1972, Sidcup Kent