Cork-Cutters by Royal Appointment: French and Company     Notes on the French Family John French – PCC Will (National Archives) will dated 16 May 1825, probate date 8 November 1827. John French, aged 84, was buried 19 September 1827 at East Farleigh, Kent (Kent: Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, transcribed records, Ancestry online).     Will Summary John French of East Farleigh, Kent, cooper. sons John French and David French, executors. daughter Mary Weeks, wife of Thomas Weeks of East Farleigh, labourer. other children: Gabriel French, Richard French, Barnabas French, William French. daughter Sarah Harvey, the wife of {blank} Harvey of London, chairmaker. daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Field of Tovil [in the Maidstone district], Kent, carpenter. grandson Beal French, the child of my deceased son Beal French. David Powell and Henry Powell, under 21 years of age, children of daughter Sarah Harvey by her former husband Francis Powell. David French – PCC Will (National Archives) will dated 11 April 1835; probate date 26 April 1836. David French, aged 56, of ‘Crutched Fryers’, was buried 9 February 1836 at Commercial Road, Philpot Street, Wycliffe Chapel, formerly in Cannon Street Road, denomination: Independent (England & Wales Non-Conformist Burials, FindMyPast online).     Will Summary David French of Crutched Friars, City of London, cork-manufacturer. dear wife Elizabeth French, sole executrix. witnesses: W. French, B. French.         Note: The will mentioned no children.     Family History Notes A marriage at St Olave’s Church, Hart Street, City of London, on 4 September 1808 (London Marriages, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online):     David French, bachelor, of the parish, and     Elizabeth Usborne, spinster, of Staplehurst, Kent;     by licence; witnesses: Eliza Bigg, John Thatcher. Note: No London baptisms of children from this marriage have been found. (London Baptisms, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online). A marriage at All Saints, Frindsbury, Kent, on 3 April 1804 (FreeREG):     Beal French and Barbara Durrant, both of the parish;     witnesses: John French, Thomas Pakes. Just six months later, on 18 October 1804, Beal French was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Chatham, Kent (FreeREG). A son of Beal and Barbara French, named Beal French, born 4 March 1805, was baptised on 10 April 1805 at the Independent Ebenezer Chapel, Chatham, Kent (FreeREG). A marriage at St George-in-the-East, Tower Hamlets [East London] on 23 September 1831 (London Marriages, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online):     Beal French, bachelor, and Mary Abigail Lewis, spinster,     both of the parish; by licence;     witnesses: William Lewis, Elizabeth Ann Baggs[?]. Baptisms at Wycliffe Chapel Philpot Street – Independent, Stepney, London (Non-Conformist Record Indexes, FamilySearch Historical Records) Children of Beal and Mary Abigail French [née Lewis] Birth Baptism 03 Aug 1833 13 Oct 1833 Beal Frederick French 19 May 1835 28 Jun 1835 David French 18 Mar 1837 18 Jun 1837 George Augustus French [death 1852, aged 15, Stepney, (GRO Online Indexes)] Births registered in the Stepney district (GRO Online Indexes), mother's maiden surname: Lewis; and deaths (GRO Online Indexes). Note: details need to be confirmed from original records. 1839 Arthur John French 1841 Walter Percival French 1843 Mary Elizabeth French death 1843, aged 0, Stepney 1844 Amelia French 1846 Alice French death 1846, aged 0, City of London 1849 Agnes French death 1849, aged 0, Stepney 1850 Emily Adelaide French 1852 Joseph French death 1852, aged 0, Stepney Marriage in 1862 registered in the Hackney district (FreeBMD):     David French and Emma Snewin. Births registered in the Hackney district (GRO Online Indexes) mother's maiden surname: Snewin Note: details need to be confirmed from original records. 1866 David Edgar French death 1872, aged 5, Hackney 1868 Harold French [mother's maiden surname: Mervin (spelling error?)] 1870 Ernest French 1873 Lewis French 1875 Alice French 1877 Mabel French 1879 Percy French 1880 Hubert French 1882 David French Beal French, aged 84, death registered 1889, Lewisham district (FreeBMD). Will probated 17 January 1890 (Probate records, gov.uk). The Will of Beal French late of "Mayfield", Court Road, Eltham, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, who died 27 December 1889 at "Mayfield", was proved at the Principal Registry by Beal Frederick French, Solicitor, and David French, Cork Merchant, both of 51 Crutched Friars in the City of London, the sons, the Executors. Walter Percival French, aged 52, death registered 1893, Camberwell district (FreeBMD). David French, aged 76, death registered 1911, Lewisham district (FreeBMD). Will probated 26 August 1911 (Probate records, gov.uk). David French of 51 Crutched Friars, London, and Mayfield, Eltham, Kent, died 3 August 1911 at Mayfield. Probate London 26 August to Beal Frederick French, gentleman, Percy French and Hubert French, cork merchants, and Eric William Mann, coal agent. David French, aged 76 years, of Mayfield, Court Road, Eltham, was buried 5 August 1911 at St John the Baptist, Eltham (London Burials, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online). Beal Frederick French, aged 83, death registered 1917, East Preston district (FreeBMD) [includes Worthing, West Sussex]. Will probated 8 June 1917 (Probate records, gov.uk). Beal Frederick French of Northdale, 22 Victoria Road, Worthing, died 21 April 1917. Probate London 8 June to Alice Lucy Hall, spinster, and Hubert French, lieutenant R.N.V.R. [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve]. Percy French, aged 41, death registered 1920, Watford district (FreeBMD). Will probated 11 February 1921 (Probate records, gov.uk). Percy French of Royston Bushey Hertfordshire died 14 May 1919 [1920?], Administration (with Will) London 11 February to Clara French widow. [Note: see the notice in The London Gazette transcribed below.]. Lewis French, aged 72, death registered 1945, Wandsworth district (FreeBMD). Will probated 27 June 1945 (Probate records, gov.uk). Lewis French of 20 Lytton Grove, Putney, London S.W.15 died 20 April 1945. Probate Lewes 27 June to Hubert French retired stopper manufacturer and Alan Lyell captain H.M. army. Hubert French, aged 88, death registered 1969, Hastings district (FreeBMD). Will probated 19 September 1969 (Probate records, gov.uk). Hubert French of Oakwood, Telham, Battle, Sussex, died 25 February 1969. Probate Brighton 19 September. [Note: confirm this is the same Hubert French, cork merchant]. Pattenmakers’ Company – New apprentice records (London Apprenticeship Abstracts, 1442–1850, FindMyPast online database).     Date: 16 August 1796         David French, son of John, Farleigh, Kent, cooper, to Joshua Hardy.     Date: 14 September 1799         Thomas French, son of John, East Farleigh, Kent, cooper, to Joshua Hardy.         [Note: Thomas was not mentioned in his father’s will (see the will summary above)         to suggest that he died without issue before the will was written in 1825]. Pattenmakers’ Company – List of Past Masters elected to Master of the Company:       Beal French 1867, 1870, 1872, 1875 David French     1873, 1876 A list of members of the Pattenmakers’ Company, given in a report published in 1890, named David French, 51 Crutched Friars, E.C., and Beresford Villas, Amhurst Road, Hackney Downs, N.E. (The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. A list of master, wardens, court of assistants, and livery, 1890, Internet Archive ). Notices in the London Gazette     Publication Date: 4 November 1845 Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership lately subsisting between us the undersigned, as Cork Manufacturers, and carried on under the style or firm of Widow French and Nephew, at No. 51, Crutched-friars in the city of London, has been dissolved, as from the 31st day of December 1844, the said Elizabeth French having resigned her interest in the business in favour of her nephew, the said Beal French, who will continue to carry on the business as heretofore, and also will discharge all liabilities, and receive all monies due to the late partnership.     Dated 30 October 1845.       Elizabeth French, Beal French.     Publication Date: 9 July 1852 Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Beal French and William Bradley Butler, carrying on business as Cork Manufacturers, at No. 178, Piccadilly, in the county of Middlesex, under style or firm of French and Butler, has been this day dissolved by mutual consent, and that the same business will for the future by carried on by the said Beal French, on his sole account, who will discharge all claims on the late firm, and to whom all payments are to be made.     Dated 13 June 1852.       Beal French, W. B. Butler.     Publication Date: 8 January 1869 Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Beal French, David French, and Arthur John French, carrying on business as Cork Merchants and Manufacturers, at No. 51 Crutched Friars, in the city of London, is this day dissolved, as far as regards the said Arthur John French; and that the business will henceforth be carried on by the said Beal French and David French, under the style or firm of Beal French and Son; and that all debts due to or from the said late partnership will be received and paid by them.     Dated 31 December 1868.     Beal French, David French, Arthur John French.     Publication Date: 7 March 1879 Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Beal French and David French, carrying on business at 51 Crutched Friars, in the city of London, as Cork Merchants and Manufacturers, under the style or firm of Beal French and Son, has been dissolved, by mutual consent, on and from the 31st day of December last. All debts due to or owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said David French alone, who will continue to carry on the said business on his own account.     Dated 4 March 1879.       Beal French, David French.     Publication Date: 4 July 1911 Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, David French, Percy French, and Hubert French, carrying on business as Cork Merchants and Manufacturers, at 51 Crutched Friars, in the city of London, under the style or firm of ‘B. French and Son’, has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the thirtieth day of June 1911. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Percy French and Hubert French.     Dated 1 July 1911.     David French, Percy French, Hubert French.     Publication Date: 15 March 1921 Percy French, deceased. Notice is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the estate of Percy French, late of "Royston," The Avenue, Bushey, in the county of Herts, and who carried on business in partnership as "Beal French & Son," at 51 Crutched Friars, London E.C., deceased (who died on the 14th May 1920, and to whose estate letters of administration were, on the 11th day of February 1921, granted to Clara French, in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice), are hereby required to send the particulars . . . . etc.     Publication Date: 5 December 1930 Notice is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Hubert French and Lewis French, carrying on business as Cork Manufacturers and Merchants, at 51 Crutched Friars, in the county of London, E.C.3, under the style or firm of Beal French and Sons, was dissolved as and from the 30th day of November 1930, by mutual consent.     Dated 2 December 1930.       Hubert French, Lewis French. Census Returns, maintained by The National Archives, can be viewed at the Ancestry family history website. Name and relation to Head of household Marital Status Age Occupation Birth Place 1851 census – 26 Stepney Green, Mile End Old Town [East London]                         Reference: HO107/1553 (folio 431, pp. 22–23) Beal French Head Married 46 Merchant Chatham, Kent Mary A French Wife Married 39   Stepney [London] Beal F French Son   17 Articled Clerk Mile End Old Town David French Son   15 Apprentice Mile End Old Town George A French Son   14 Scholar Mile End Old Town Arthur J French Son   11 Scholar Mile End Old Town Walter P French Son   10 Scholar Mile End Old Town Amelia French Daughter   6 Scholar Mile End Old Town Emily A French Daughter   4 months Stepney [London] Frances Edwin Servant   20   Shadwell [London] Notes: The death of Mary Abigail French in 1856, aged 45, was registered in the Stepney district (GRO Online Indexes). 1861 census – 16 Amhurst Road, Hackney [East London]                         Reference: RG09/154 (folio 94, p. 30) David French Son Unmarried 25 Cork manufacturer St George-in-the-East Arthur French Son Unmarried 22 Cork manufacturer Stepney [London] Walter French Son Unmarried 20 Architect Stepney [London] Mary Lewis Mother- in-law Widow 72 Housekeeper Stepney [London] Elizabeth C Lewis Visitor Unmarried 47 Lady Stepney [London] Eliza Jarman Servant Unmarried 27 House servant Whitechapel [London] Notes: Beal French, the head of the household and the father of David and his brothers, was not at home on census day. Mary Lewis was the mother-in-law of Beal French and the grandmother of David and his brothers. The next transcribed census return shows Beal French as a visitor in East Farleigh, Kent. 1861 census – Frith Hall, Dean Street, East Farleigh, Kent                         Reference: RG09/499 (folio 114, p. 2) Gabriel Kennard Head Married 49 Farmer of 290 acres employing 25 men, 8 boys Chatham, Kent Sarah Kennard Wife Married 45 Farmer’s wife Marden, Kent     ... five Kennard children ... Beal French Visitor Widower 56 Cork merchant Chatham, Kent Amelia French Visitor   16 Cork merchant’s daughter Mile End Old Town Emily A French Visitor   10 Cork merchant’s daughter Mile End Old Town   1871 census – 2 Percy Villas, Eltham, Kent [southeast London]                         Reference: RG10/762 (folio 83, p. 25) Beal French Head Widower 66 Cork merchant Chatham, Kent Beal F French Son Widower 37 Solicitor Stepney Amelia French Daughter Unmarried 25   Mile End Arthur J French Son Unmarried 31 Cork merchant Mile End Alice Goldsmith Servant Unmarried 21 Housemaid Eltham, Kent Sarah Ireson Servant Unmarried 34 Cook Ellingham, Suffolk 1871 census – 5 Rectory Villas, Hackney [East London]                         Reference: RG10/313 (folio 59, p. 20 & folio 60, p. 21) David French Head Married 35 Merchant Stepney Emma French Wife Married 38   Hackney David Edgar French Son   4   Hackney Harold French Son   2   Hackney Ernest French Son   1   Hackney Mary Ann Charter Servant   36 Nurse Melbourn, Cambridgeshire Charlotte S Sangster Servant   22 General servant Hoxton [East London]   1881 census – Station Road, Eltham [southeast London]                         Reference: RG11/728 (folio 118, p. 25) Beal French Head Widower 76 Gentleman Chatham, Kent Emily A French Daughter Unmarried 30   Stepney Caroline Taplin Friend Unmarried 35   Thame, Oxfordshire Ellen Mann Servant Unmarried 28 Housemaid Sandhurst, Kent Elizabeth Muffett Servant Unmarried 22 Cook Dorset 1881 census – 193 Amhurst Road, Hackney [East London]                         Reference: RG11/290 (folio 87, p. 9) David French Head Married 45 Cork merchant and manufacturer employing 16 men & 6 boys Stepney Emma French Wife Married 42   Hackney Lewis French Son   7   Hackney Alice French Daughter   5   Hackney Mabel French Daughter   3   Hackney Percy French Son   2   Hackney Herbert French [Hubert] Son   9 months Hackney Mary A Charter Servant Unmarried 46 General servant Melbourn, Cambridgeshire Louisa M Chaplin Servant Unmarried 17 General servant Hackney   1891 census – Mayfield, Eltham [southeast London]                         Reference: RG12/516 (folio 53, p. 48) David French Head Married 55 Cork merchant, Timber Stepney Emma French Wife Married 52   Clapton, Hackney Ernest French Son Single 21 Timber Hackney Lewis French Son   17   Hackney Hubert French Son   10   Hackney David French Son   9   Hackney Mary A Charter Servant Single 56 Domestic Melbourn, Cambridgeshire Dora Smith Servant Single 31 Cook Bethnal Green Esther Bradford Servant Single 22 Housemaid Woolwich Notes: In the 1891 census David French’s brother, Walter P French, single, aged 50, engineer, was a patient at ‘Camberwell House, Lunatic Asylum’, Peckham Road, Camberwell (reference: RG12/472, folio 163, p. 9). Walter died two years later. 1901 census – Mayfield, Court Road, Eltham [southeast London]                         Reference: RG13/544 (folio 69, p. 25) David French Head Married 65 Cork merchant Commercial Road E, London Emma French Wife Married 62   Clapton, London Alice French Daughter Single 25   Hackney, London Mabel French Daughter Single 23   Hackney, London Percy French Son Single 22 Assistant cork merchant Hackney, London Hubert French Son Single 20 Assistant cork merchant Hackney, London David French Son Single 19 Stock broker's clerk Hackney, London Alice Teneman Servant Single 26 Cook Charlton, London Daisy Furnell Servant Single 20 Housemaid Hookey Hole, [Wookey Hole], Somerset   1911 census – Mayfield, Court Road, Eltham [southeast London] David French Head Widower 75 Cork merchant Commercial Road, London Alice French Daughter Single 35   Hackney Downs Mabel French Daughter Single 33   Hackney Downs Grace Rebecca Brotherton Servant Single 27 House parlourmaid Deddington, Oxfordshire Susannah Morris Servant Single 34 Cook Taliesin, Cardiganshire, Wales Notes: Burials at St John the Baptist, Eltham (London Burials, London Metropolitan Archives, Ancestry online).     08 Jul 1909   Emma French, aged 70 years, of Mayfield, Court Road, Eltham     05 Aug 1911   David French, aged 76 years, of Mayfield, Court Road, Eltham Death notice in The Times, 5 August 1911     On the 3rd Aug., David French, of Mayfield, Eltham, Kent, and     51 Crutched Friars, aged 76. Funeral to-day (Saturday), Eltham, 3:15. Marriage announcement in The Times, 17 October 1911     Mr. P. French and Miss C. Hubbard.     A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place very quietly, between     Percy, third surviving son of the late Mr. David French, of Eltham, Kent, and     Clara, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Charles Hubbard, of     Canonbury, N. [Islington, London]. 1911 census – Medeto, Arden Rd, Finchley [north London] Hubert French Head Married 30 Cork merchant Hackney Madeline Olga Paulovna French Wife Married 27   Hendon Karl Gustav Ardolf Kreuger Visitor Married 57 Metal merchant Westphalia, Germany Rosa Lydia Kreuger Visitor Married 51   London Harriet Elizabeth Butler Servant Single 21 Domestic Paddington [London] Notes: A marriage in 1910 registered in the Kingston [south-west London] district (FreeBMD):     Hubert French and Madeline O P Kreugar [Kreuger]. A marriage in 1882 registered in the Hendon [north-west London] district (FreeBMD):     Gustav Kreuger and Rosa Lydia Everitt. A birth in 1883 registered in the Hendon district (FreeBMD):     Madeline Olga P Kreuger. Therefore, it appears that in the 1911 census the two visitors may have been the parents of Madeline. Copyright © WhistlerHistory 2021.