Various accounts of his arrival indicate that he arrived in Maryland in 1671 at the age of 21. One account says the “"The ancestor of the French family went from France to England with William the Conqueror in the person of Theopohilus de French." One line of his descendants settled in Wexford about 1300 and in 1425 a branch of the Wexford Frenches migrated to Galway where the family prospered and multiplied. They soon become accepted as one of the "Tribes of Galway" and Walter French was the sovereign of Galway (equivalent to mayor) in 1444. Some of this group moved into Roscommon about 1620 and become the Frenches of French Park and from them came Field Marshal Sir John French. The descendants spread throughout North America.” He may have been transported from Galoway, Ireland by Thomas Notley, along with 52 other adventurers who planned to settle permanently.[ [1050]]

Land records show that at his death he owned a 50 acre tract called Mayland and 110 acres called Hopton Park (Guest’s Neck, Evans Quarter, Indian Quarker, Cole Brook, Koaxes). He is listed as owner of the later, 129 acres, on the 1709 rent rolls and in 1707 (Chron. of St. Mary’s). He also has 150 acres known as Wolver Hampton in the 1707 rent rolls. This was land owned by his father-in-law in 1681. Starting in 1751, John French, Sr. is listed as the owner of Hopton Park, listed in varying sizes until 1770, when he willed it (1767 will) to Ignatius French, who had it until 1787. (http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/dawsonm/genealogy/owners/ownersF.htm)

The Last Will of JAMES FRENCH , Dated March 4, 1733, St.Marys County, MD, Pgs. 26-27

In the name of God, Amen, I, James French of St.Mary's County______ being weak in body but of sound mind & memory, blessed be God, do make this my last Will & Testament in form as follows:_____I give & bequeath unto my beloved grandson, John French, to him and his heirs forever, one hundred & ten acres of land to be laid out on the West side of my land & also on the west side of a Branch unto my well beloved grand child, Mary Leake, wife of John Leake, to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever. Item: My Will is that my good & trusty servant, James Kirby shall be free from servitude on the day of my death. Item: My Will is after all my just debts are paid, all that remains of my personal Estate be equally divided amongst all my grandchildren. Item: I constitute & appoint my said grandchild, John French, my whole & sole executor of this my last Will & Testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal on this fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord, 1733

James French (SEAL)

Signed, sealed & published to be his las Will & Testament in the presence of:

John Thompson
James Ruil(?)
Elizabeth French. 21. 6.

March 17, 1733
John Thompson and Elizabeth French, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Will, being duly & solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose & say that they saw the testator, James French, sign the foregoing Will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will & Testament that at the time of his doing so he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they subscribed their respective names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of John French, grandson & heir at law, which same, John French did not object to the ____of the said Will.
Sworn to before me Tho. Aisquith (?), Dep. County Clk. of St. Mary's County.

Named in grandfather Beard's will as an heir in lieu of his grandsons William and Robert Meekin.