Person:Samuel French (8)

See my photos of the gravestone located in a desolate woods with about nine other old stones on property owned by Tony Jones, jeweler in Evansville, IN. Most of those stones are entirely illegible or virturally under ground. He also has original of the land deed signed by President James Madison, which he showed to us (see photos of the old frame house owned by Samuel French. The 25 inch tall gravestone reads "Sacred to the memory of Samuel French departed this life September 21,1841 age 52 Years 3 months 16 days (those numerals are a bit faded and the bottom of the stone with the days is partially sunken. The stone has a vertical crack on the right fourth from top to bottom. This stone is not likely to last much longer. Beside that stone is a much taller (4 foot) stone so covered with moss the the inscription is virtually impossible to read and too fragile to attempt cleaning without better preparation. However a recorded inscription of that stone is reported to read," Julia A., wife of Samuel French born Oct 11, 1796 Died April 4, 1854 Our faith is in God...(unreadable more). A third stone between these is about 16 inches tall. The inscription there is partically legible as what appears to be: In Memory of Katherine French was born Nov 3, 1820 departed this life March 18, 1881 aged 1 y 15 days. Another stone is recorded to read George H. French Died June 28, 1847 aged 62 yrs., 9 Mo. 27 days (calculted for bith a 1 July 1784). Another stone is entirely covered by overgrowth leaning against a tree. I am not certain that these stones are in Lawrence or Orange County, IN and doubt that I could find them again without Tony's guidance again.

See my Bruner files for more data on this French family.

Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1840 Individual: French, Samuel County/State: Orange Co., IN Location: N West Twp Page #: 052 Year: 1840