FRENCH, Alice

Notes:

Thomas French and his sister Alice had arrived in New England by 1632, and their two next younger sisters, Dorcas and Susan, came in 1633. Their parents and younger siblings sailed for New England after 1633, and are not included in this phase of the study.

Alice married HOWLETT, Thomas Abt 1633, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Thomas (son of HOWLETT, William) was born Abt 1606, England; died 22 Dec 1677, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married CUMMINGS, John 1 Dec 1655, Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts. John (son of CUMMINGS, Isaac Deacon and ANNE) was born Bef 9 May 1630, Mistley, Essex, England; died 1 Dec 1701, Dunstable (Now Hudson), New Hampshire. [Group Sheet]

Thomas — PEABODY, Lydia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

See Notes for his wife, Elizabeth Kinsley concerning his injuries whenshe was killed.

From "The Cummings Memorial, A Genealogical History of the Descendants ofIsaac Cummings, An E arly Settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts", compiledby Rev. George Mooar, New York, 1903:

John Cummings married Sept. 13, 1680, Elisabeth, daughter of Samuel andHannah (Bracket) Kinsl ey, of Billerica, Massachusetts. Hannah Bracket,daughter of Capt. Richard and Alice, was bap tized Nov. 4, 1634, in Boston.

He is probably the John who is designated "Serg't Cummings", and was oneof a small garrison i n Dunstable established December 25, 1702 undercommand of Lt. Col. Jonathan Tyng. It is usua lly stated that it was thegarrison at his own house which was assaulted, July 3, 1706, by a p artyof two hundred Mohawk Indians. His house stood on the right hand of theroad from Dunstab le to the present town of Tyngsborough, about a halfmile from Dunstable.

The stories of the attack are not harmonious in all particulars. Itseems to be agreed that t here was a company of soldiers in the garrisonat the time and that they were surprised. "A t sunset a Mr. Cummings andhis wife went out to milk their cows and left the gate open. Th e Indianswho had advanced undiscovered, started up, shot Mrs. Cummings dead('Goody Cummings d ied July 3, 1706, at Night) upon the spot, and woundedher husband who had his arm broken, bu t was so fortunate as to reach thewoods while the Indians were engaged in the house. That ni ght he lay ina swamp in the northerly part of Tyngsborough, about a quarter of a milewest o f the great road, and a few rods south of the state line. The nextday he arrived at the garr ison near Tyngsborough Village." (I. N. H.Hist. Coll. 133)

He is spoken of as selectman in 1711 and in the same year the house ofMr. John Cummings was r eported as one of seven fortified houses inDunstable, having two families, two males, two sol diers, and 21 personsin all.

"Serg't Cummings & Henry Farwell were deputed in 1717, Jan. 10, by voteof the town to get a m inister as soon as they can."

May 20th, 1725, after the sad occasion of Capt. Lovewell's defeat, bothJohn Cummings and Joh n Cummings, Jr. joined with the Selectmen and othercitizens in petitioning the Governor and C ouncil of Massachusetts. forprotection in the defenceless condition of the community.

The question arises whether the elder John had remarried. It is onrecord that "John Cumming s of Groton, weaver, and wife Elisabeth, widowof John Sollendino, sold land in Groton, 1732."

From the book "Cummings Genealogy, Isaac Cummings 1601-1677 of Ipswich1638 and Some of his De scendants", compiled and published by Albert OrenCummins, Montpelier, Vermont, 1904:

John Cummings b. in Boxford 1657, and lived in Dunstable; m. Elizabeth,Dau. of Samuel and Ha nnah (Brackett) Kinsley. She was born in BraintreeNov. 22, 1657. They settled on the Nathan iel Cutler place in the southpart of Nashua, where his wife was killed by the Indians, July 3 , 1706.He was also wounded, (arm broken), but escaped to a swamp about 1/2 milesouth and nea r the present state line, and remained in hiding over night,then made his escape to 'Farwel l block-house', near now 1904 Fay Brothers'Hermitage. - Belknap , I, 173

John — KINGSLEY, Elizabeth. [Group Sheet]

John married KINSLEY, Elizabeth 13 Sep 1680, Probably Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth was born 22 Nov 1657, Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; died 3 Jul 1706, Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Thomas was one of the proprietors of the town of Dunstable, New Hampshire, and had a tract of land measuring 1-1/2 miles by 40 rods, east of Hills Meadow (now in Hudson, New Hampshire). Deacon Thomas Cummings was an early settler of Dunstable. Jan. 3, 1712. He was among several persons to whom William Brattle deeded some 2000 acres. In 1718. He owned 125 acres of the Brattle Farm in that town. He was a carpenter by trade. He was elected deacon of the church. He lived perhaps in the southern part of the old town of Dunstable, as his son joined in 1733 in a remonstrance against the location of the meeting house in the northern part of the town, near the old site. He was buried at the cemetery near what is now called Little's station, which is north of the Massachusetts state line. The inscription reads: "Here lyes the body of Deacon Thomas Cummings, aged 64 y. 17 d. Deceased Jan 20, 1722-3."
Thomas was in Boston for several years, for whom William Mumford, stone-cutter, became surety, July 19, 1694. Two children's births are on record there to Thomas and Priscilla. During the Indian disturbances, many of the inhabitants of Dunstable were obliged to find refuge elsewhere. In 1696, two-thirds of the settlers had fled, and in 1699 only 20 heads of families remained.

Thomas married WARNER, Pricilla 19 Dec 1688. Pricilla (daughter of WARNER, John and SYMONDS, Pricilla) was born 25 Sep 1666, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; died Aft 1725. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From "The Cummings Memorial, A Genealogical History of the Descendants ofIsaac Cummings, An E arly Settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts", compiledby Rev. George Mooar, New York, 1903:

Nathaniel Cummings - He was early settled in Dunstable. He is put downas one among the twe nty heads of families contributing to the wood-ratefor the minister in 1699. In 1718, he sig ned a paper as one of tenproprietors of Brattle Farm, owning 108 acres. In 1725, he petition edwith others to Governor and Council for protection against Indians. Hiswidow was living, F eb. 3, 1729 when her son John gave a bond to support.In 1720 he was one of four persons, fo r whom pews were made in themeeting-house.

Nathaniel married PARKHURST, Abigail 14 Apr 1697, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Abigail was born 11/11 Mar 1664/1665, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died Aft 1729. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married FRENCH, Samuel Lieutenant 24 Dec 1682, Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Samuel was born 1647, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Unites States; died Aft 1704, Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From "The Cummings Memorial, A Genealogical History of the Descendants ofIsaac Cummings, An E arly Settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts", compiledby Rev. George Mooar, New York, 1903:

Abraham Cummings - His marriage to Sarah Wright was by Rev. Jabez Fox.His children's births a re recorded in Woburn, with the exception ofJosiah's, which is recorded in Dunstable. He wa s a contributor to thewood-rate there in 1699, when there were but twenty heads to contribute .

From the book "Cummings Genealogy, Isaac Cummings 1601-1677 of Ipswich1638 and Some of his De scendants", compiled and published by Albert OrenCummins, Montpelier, Vermont, 1904:

He was born in Boxford and removed with his father to Dunstable about1680, where he evidentl y was living in 1689 - he being one of those whocontributed to the ministers' "wood-rate". H e m. Feb 28, 1687 Sarah,Dau. of Dea. Joseph and Elizabeth (Hassell) Wright, of Woburn, wher e helived about ten years. He died and his widow m. 2nd Sept. 4, 1707,Aaron, son of Phineha s and Mary (Priest) Pratt, b. in Charlestown,Massachusetts. 1654 and died Feb 23, 1735, age d 84 years. She wasdistinguished for he sagacity and energy. She had a very extensivepracti ce in midwifery at Hingham and its vicinity, a branch of themedical profession then largely c onducted by females. She D. Dec. 25,1752, aged 84 years, "lamented by all who knew her."

Abraham Cummings married Sarah Wright on Feb. 28, 1686/7. The marriagewas performed by Rev. J abez Fox. Sarah's parents were Deacon JosephWright and his wife Elizabeth Hassell Wright. Abr aham and family lived inDunstable. They had 6 children; Abraham (1689-1755), Joseph (1692-).S arah (1693/94), Jacob (1695-), Josiah (1698-1761) and Eleazer(1704-1736).

Abraham married WRIGHT, Sarah 28/28 Feb 1686/1687. Sarah was born 25/25 Feb 1669/1670, Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died 25 Dec 1752, Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Mary — FARWELL, Oliver Lieutenant. Oliver was born 1691; died 5 Sep 1724, Naticook, New Hampshire. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From "The Cummings Memorial, A Genealogical History of the Descendants ofIsaac Cummings, An E arly Settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts", compiledby Rev. George Mooar, New York, 1903:

Deacon Jonathan Cummings . . He settled in what is Merrimac, New Hampshire, on afarm known later as th e Wm. McKeen place. It was then in the bounds ofNaticook (Litchfield), which included the ea st and west sides of theriver, but is was set Merrimac in 1746. He was selectman in Litchfie ldin 1744; moderator of the first town meeting in Merrimac and selectmanthere, 1748-49-51 ; member of the Merrimac Church at it formation in1771; elected deacon, Nov. 2, 1772.

A Susanna Cummings married March 26, 1778, Capt. Thomas Barnes, whosefirst wife Rachel died 1 771. He died 1805. Was this Jonathan'sdaughter, or his son Joseph's widow?

From A.O. Cummins:

He bought about 6000 acres of land in Merrimac about two miles west ofThornton's Ferry, and t here settled. Sold a part but kept a large farmbordering on Naticook pond. Very good land b ut considerably uneven. Hewas one of the founders of the church in Merrimac, and one of th e firsttwo deacons. Was a leading man in the affairs of the town, and a deaconmany years. T he births of his children are recorded in the old Dunstablerecords. (This was when Merrima c was a part of Dunstable.)

Jonathan was the 'kinsman of Lovewell's 3rd Expedition who was toaccompany his kinsman, Willi am Cummings home.

From NEGHR, Vol. 63, July 1909, page 296, within an article aboutLovewell's Men on the 3r d & final expedition, by Ezra Scollay Stearns,A.M., of Fitchburg, MA:

"WILLIAM CUMMINGS, son if John & Elizabeth (Kinsley) Cummings . ..enlisted from Dunstable, an d it is stated by Symmes that on the outwardmarch at Contoocook he became disabled by a woun d previously received,and was sent home in care of a kinsman. . . .

"JONATHAN CUMMINGS, son of Dea. Thomas and Priscilla (Warner) Cummings .. . enlisted from Dun stable. On the outward march, 'when they came asfar as Coontoocook' Jonathan Cummings was de tailed to assist his kinsmanWilliam Cummings to his home. They were cousins, and were the on lyrepresentatives of the Cummings family who were grantees of Suncook. . .. The misstatemen t of Judge Potter that Josiah Cummings was the soldierwho was sent home with his kinsman Will iam Cummings is repeated in theCummings genealogies. In an official list of sixty-two men wh o served inthe second expedition under Capt. Lovewell, but did not serve in thethird expediti on, is found the name of Josiah Cummings. This list wasprepared by a committee of the Genera l Court. (See Massachusetts.Archives, Vol. 72, p. 367) On account of service in the seconde xpedition he was a grantee of Voluutown, now Petersham. Josiah Cummingswas a son of Abraha m and Sarah (Wright) Cummings. . . He was a cousin ofJonathan and of William Cummings."

Jonathan married BLANCHARD, Elizabeth Abt 1726. Elizabeth was born 19/19 Jan 1704/1705; died 28 May 1774, Hillsboro County, New Hampshire. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ephraim settled on land in the south easterly part of what is now Hudson (Nottingham West), on land that had been laid out to his father and grandfather as part of their share of the proprietary lands of the town of Dunstable more than 40 years earlier.

Ephraim's home was located on the south side of Bush Hill at the bottom of a long descent on the south side of the present highway. It seems likely that Ephraim settled there about the time of his marriage in 1732.

The incorporation of the town of Nottingham took place in 1770. He was one of the prominent early citizens of the town.

He was moderator of annual town meetings in 1762 and 1763, and was a member of the board of selectmen in 1756, 57, 62, 63 and 1766, he was a delegate to the General Court of New Hampshire, in 1760.

We find no record of the death of Ephraim or of that of his wife Elizabeth. He died about March 9, 1771, according to the diary of Nathaniel Merrill, who made Ephraim's coffin, and he gave the date of Ephraim's funeral as March 11, 1771.
-
Recorded information regarding Ephraim:
1. His name appears on the tax list of Nottingham West,1733. ( History of Hudson, N.H., p. 95 )

2. In 1737 he received 2 pounds for providing breakfast at the ordination of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill.

3. He and Elizabeth sold land in1740.

4. Oct. 29, 1746 Warrant issued for Ephriam Cummings and Robert Evans to appraise the estate of Phineas Spaulding. He signed the inventory on Nov. 7, 1746. (Probate Records Of The Province Of new Hampshire Volume 3 1741-1749 • New Hampshire Wills • 1746 ).

Ephraim married BUTLER, Elizabeth 1732, Nottingham West, New Hampshire. Elizabeth (daughter of BUTLER, John Deacon and WILSON, Elizabeth) was born 4 Sep 1704, Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]