Henry French I (son of Unknown French)47 was born Abt. 1755, and died date unknown. He married Unknown.
Notes for Henry French I: Henry is at present a man of mystery. In 1982, we discovered through another descendant (Maidie Strellman of Bellevue, WA) that Henry had received a land grant from the State of North Carolina for his services in the Revolutionary War. A copy of this grant is in the files of Ruth N. Duffy. According to Ms Strellman, the size of the grant indicates the rank the man would have held at the time he was paid off. The size of this grant (150 acres) indicates Henry was an Ensign. The grant is located in what is now Washington County, TN. The grant was issued 25 Aug 1779, and recorded on 11 Jul 1788. No explanation is given for the delay between the issuance and the recording. There is one possible explanation: In 1784 North Carolina ceded part of its western lands to the federal government. Before Congress had time to act, North Carolina took back those lands. Meanwhile, the citizens of that area, being without state or federal protection, formed a new state, the State of Franklin. This state functioned for about three years but was never taken into the union. It ultimately became part of the State of Tennesse. In 1788, North Carolina again gained control of the area, pardoning the leaders of the now defunct state of Franklin, and assuming the functions of a state. This could explain the delay in recording, since the land grant of Henry French and all the other land grants in that area were dated identically, 11 Jul 1788, and were recorded by one Sam Johnston
This information only serves to increase the mystery of Henry French, since the only Revolutionary War record we have found lists a Henry French as a member of the "Illinois Regiment of the Virginia State Troops." If they are the same person, why is North Carolina paying off the Virginia veterans? Also, no record has ever been found where any Henry French ever applied for a Revolutionary War pension. We have also discovered that there was a fire in the National Archives in Washington, D. C., which destroyed all records received there before Nov 1800. This would account for some of the mystery.
Another mystery: We have a copy of a marriage record in Washington County, TN, where Henry French married Catherine Heatrone on 30 Dec 1817 (photostat in Strellman file). Also, there is a record of a marriage of Henry French and Catherine Watson on 29 Dec 1817--also in Washington Co. (Duffy file). Obviously this is a case of miscopied information. The Strellman record is a photostat. If this is the same Henry, it would have to be a second marriage since William L. French was born in 1795 and John Peter French in 1793.
There is a lot of fascinating information in the Greene County courthouse, Greeneville, TN, concerning the Frenches. We found that Henry purchased 100 acres of land in 1801, and the cost was "40 pounds." So, we know that Henry was in Greene County by 1801. Ruth Duffy has a copy of this deed. A peculiar thing about it is that it is signed by "Henry French---his mark," indicating that Henry was unable to write. Yet by 1818, when another deed was recorded (sale of a farm to his two sons, John P. and William L.), his signature appears written by himself. Apparently he had learned to write during those 17 years. There were two other deeds recorded between 1801 and 1818 which gave Henry approximately 400 acres of land by 1818.
The above information is taken from the French Family Record, written in 1982, compiled by Ruth French Duffy and Philip A. Duffy.
Other information shows that the NC land grant was issued in 1787, No. 836, 150 acres, Washington County on the waters of Cherokee Creek. Maidie Strellman has obtained information that the land grant had nothing to do with military service. Perhaps it was purchased from a.veteran to whom it was granted, a common occurrence.
The current family tree includes the assumption that the people mentioned in the 1809 deed are Henry I and his siblings, and that Henry married Catherine Heatrone, not Catherine Watson, in 1817. Perhaps Catherine was a schoolmarm who taught Henry to write his name in 1818! Or possibly we are confusing two different Henrys. Some researchers believe that this Henry was the one who married Abigail Anderson in Frederick, VA in 1790. A letter from Willa Norwood to Maidie Strellman makes clear that Abigail's Henry was not this Henry.
It is possible that the Barbara French who married Pleasant Phillip in Greene Co., 3 Dec 1817, was another child of Henry's. Henry had a sister named Barbary. Of course Barbary may have been marrying rather late in life, as Barbary was probably a variant spelling of Barbara.
Maidie Strellman reports: I think Henry French lived near Providence on the Greene Co/ WA Co line 6 miles from Limestone. He had property on limestone Cr. at one time. His neighbor was John Cosson who lived in Providence and also Edward Ross is here who witnessed deed.
Also from Maidie Strellman: The Greene Co. Deeds Book 2 carries the following item on Page 318
Indenture 4 Mar 1818 HENRY FRENCH, Senr, and his son JOHN PETER FRENCH, both of Greene Col, TN, $480 pd, 50 acr tr on Mill creek, a branch of Big Limestone. Wit: WILLIAM FRENCH, EMANUEL LAMON, JOSEPH LAMON.
On page 319:
Indenture 4 Mar 1818 HENRY FRENCH, Senr, and WILLIAM L FRENCH, both of Greene Co., TN, $490 pd, tr being on Mill creek branch of Big Limestone & adj cor of CASSON, being 98 acres. Wit: JOHN P FRENCH, EMANUEL LAMON, JOSEPH LAMON.
On page 511:
Indenture 31 Oct 1809 SCHOLFIELD MADDEUS and THOMAS LOYD, both of Greene Co., TN, $180 pd. 50 acre tr on draught of Bid Limestone, part tr of 100 acres granted by NC to JOHN COLSON and by COLSON to FRENCH. Wit: HENRY FRENCH, ABEL LOYD, ADAM FRIKER Reg 15 Sept 1813.
Enoch, Henry, and Hugh French lived in the area of Winchester, Virginia, according to one researcher, but any connection to this Henry is unknown. Donald L. French Jr. claims he heard when young that Henry came from Pennsylvania, but there is no evidence of this.
Henry French I (b. Abt. 1755, d. date unknown)
Notes for Henry French I: