On the French Family Association web site they mention Thomas being a possible child of William of Lowestoft, Suffolk, however, they note that the DNA analysis of the two families are different and do not appear to be related.
?V. Christopher- b.c.1560
Ref:
French Family Association- www.frenchfamilyassoc.com
2II. JACOB (THOMAS 1)
b.c.1553
m. 27 Sept. 1578 Bures St. Mary, Essex, SUSANNE WARREN, probably the d. or grand-d. of William and Katherine Warren of Bures
bur. 11 Nov. 1615 Assington
Bures St. Marys
Bures in on the border of Essex and Suffolk along the River Stour. Jacob moved to the northern, Assington part of the area c.1585. Bury was mostly owned by the Gurdon family and Thomas lived on a farm in Assington called Garlands which was owned by John Gurdon.
Issue-
VII. Robert- bpt. 25 June 1600 Assington, ? d.s.p.
Ref:
Bures and Assington Parish Registers
3III. THOMAS-
bpt. 11 Oct. 1584 Bures St. Mary, Essex
m. 5 Sept. 1608 Assington, Suffolk, SUSAN RIDDLESDALE (bpt. 20 Apr. 1584 Boxford, Suffolk, inv. 10 Mar. 1658 Ipswich, MA), d. of John and Dorcas Riddlesdale
adm. 5 Nov. 1639 Ipswich, MA
St. Edmund's- Assington
In John Gurdon's will dated Assington, 6 Dec. 1621, mention is made to "the messuage or farm house wherein one Thomas French doth now inhabit, called Garland's."(1)
Thomas Jr. and Alice were among the earliest members of the Boston church and were followers of John Winthrop. John Bluette wrote to John Winthrop Jr. from Groton, Suffolk, 4 Mar. 1632/3 and sent his loving commendations to "my schollers Thomas French and John Clarke." Thomas Gostlin wrote to John Winthrop Jr. from Groton 11 June 1633 in regard to sending over a maid: "she is one of the goodman Frenches daughters of Assington. I have sent 2 of them, one for your father and the other for you. Your father must take his choice. The eldest must serve 3 yeeres, & the youngest 4... pray let them be delt as well with all as any of the same quality."(2)
Thomas Sr., his wife, and younger children emigrated and settled in Ipswich before 25 July 1638 when a planting lot of Thomas French the elder was mentioned as a bound to land at Reedy Marsh. Thomas Jr. had moved to Ipswich from Boston with John Winthrop Jr.
The administration of Thomas' estate was granted to Susan 5 Nov. 1639. Susan was listed as an Ipswich commoner in 1641. The inventory of her estate was taken 10 Mar. 1658, the total being � 12/11/6.(3)
Issue- all children bpt. in Assington