"6. Richard French, born in Topsfield, Aug. 18, 1676, called husbandman and yeoman in deeds, removed to Enfield, Connecticut, as early as 1699. He held no office in Topsfield, but his name occurs frequently on the Enfield records. He was chosen fence viewer, three times, surveyor of highways, three times, allower of town debts, twice, tythingman, four times, assessor, once, constable, once, and served on different committees a number of times. March 21, 1739, he was on a 'Comtee to Dignify ye Seats in ye meeting house according to the rules following: i.e. they shall adjust age usefullness Quallification and offices with the Last three years Lists' (History of Enfield, vol. 1, p. 388). He was also an 'Alower of Society debts, May 12, 1632' (Church Records, vol. 2). He was called Corporal, Dec. 15, 1730, and 'Sargeant, March 10, 1734/5. Some time after removing to Enfield, June 7, 1711, he sold to Ebenezer Averill of Topsfield a tract of upland in Topsfield, twenty acres more or less, 'a good perfect and Absolute Estate of Inheritance in fee Simple,' for £20 (Essex Deeds, 25:76). On June 5, 1699, Ephraim French conveyed by deed of gift to his 'cousin' (i.e. nephew), Richard French, 'all my housings and lands at Enfield after my death … He to live with me and maintain me.' (Hist, of Enfield, vol. 3, p. 1973.) Ephraim French, who had been in Enfield as early as 1687, died there in September, 1716. Under date of August 29, 1720, the records state that Richard French is 'possessed of a parcel of upland that Came to him by right of his uncle Ephraim French.' In 1731 he conveyed to John Meacham fifty acres 'originally belonging to the Grant of my uncil Ephraim French decd.' … His will, dated May 24, 1745, presented July 5, 1757, mentions his wife, not named, children: Elizabeth, Experience, Alice, Ephraim, Richard, and John, and makes the three sons executors."
