My French family were butchers who lived in Essex. My earliest known ancestors are John French and Elizabeth Dunmore who were married in 1723 in Sible Hedingham in Essex, their children were born in Halstead.

Richard French, John French's grandson and my 3xg-grandfather who was born in Halstead, was apprenticed to Thomas Brushfield, citizen and butcher in Aldgate High Street. After his apprenticeship, he became a Freeman of the City of London Worshipful Company of Butchers. Richard lived in Harrow Alley, Aldgate, where he had a butcher's shop. His three sons, John, James and Thomas, were admitted as Freemen of the Company by patrimony.

The connection with the butcher trade ended with my grandfather Arthur John French, who ran a butchers shop with his mother Sarah.

JOHN FRENCH married Elizabeth Dunmore on 9 July 1723 in Sible Hedingham, Essex.

Children:

John French b.August 1725 in Halstead, Essex

(also Ambrose b.1727 and Thomas b.1729, both born in Halstead)

JOHN FRENCH m. (1) Susan Winterflood in 1749 Halstead and (2) Ann Newton in 1754

Children:

Richard French b. 10 August 1766 in Halstead

(also Elizabeth b.1756, Ann b.1760, Henrietta b.1762, Joseph b.1765, William b.1779, all born in Halstead)

RICHARD FRENCH m. Sarah Wallis on 17 April 1791 in St Botolph Aldersgate

Children:

John French b. 6 October 1793 in West Ham, Essex.

(also James b.1792 West Ham, Thomas b.1797 Stepney, Edward b.1801 Stepney, William b.1804 Stepney, Sarah b.1807 Stepney, Richard b.1808 Stepney, Charles b.1809 Aldersgate, Jane b.1813 Aldersgate)

JOHN FRENCH m. Maria Challis on 18 June 1823 in West Ham.

Children:

John French, b. 5 March 1824 in West Ham Essex

(also Sarah b.1835, William b.1832, Elizabeth b.1838, Richard b.1827 all born in West Ham)

JOHN FRENCH m. Sarah Shales on 5 October 1853 in St. Peters Church Brighton

Children:

Arthur John French b. 21 September 1856 in St Luke Middx

(also John Frederick b.1854 in Barking, Mary Jane b.1859 in Rotherhithe, Sarah Ada b.1861 in Rotherhithe, Herbert b.1865 in Rotherhithe, Edith b.1863 in Rotherhithe)

ARTHUR JOHN FRENCH m. Catharine Shelley on 27 February 1910 in Hatcham Park, London

Child:

Stanley John French b. June 1911 in New Cross

STANLEY JOHN FRENCH m. Lilian Elsie Riseley in June 1943 in Lewisham

Child:

Valerie Joan French b. 7 December 1945 in Petts Wood, Kent

VALERIE JOAN FRENCH m. William John Coubrough Stuart on 15 July 1972 in Sidcup

Children:

Robert John Stuart b. 30 May 1974

Graeme George Stuart b. 3 March 1977

Edward Iain Stuart b. 9 July 1979

Laura Jill Stuart b. 9 July 1979