Who was William French?

William French (1653–1691) was born in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States and died in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. 6 researchers on YourRoots have this ancestor in their family trees.

How many people are researching William?

Right now, 6 researchers on YourRoots have William in their trees. The ancestor migration map traces 6 generations of this lineage.

What records do they have for William?

Records vary by researcher and can include census, vital, parish, cemetery, and family sources.

How do I compare family trees?

Use Compare Tree on an available researcher profile to compare overlapping people and records.

William French 1653–1691

Public Tree Person

What is a Public Tree Person?

A Public Tree Person is an ancestor documented independently by multiple YourRoots tree owners. When several researchers' family histories converge on the same person, we publish a shared page that combines what they've documented.

Why this is a Public Tree Person

Full name consistent across 6 independent trees

Birth year and location consistent across 6 trees

Death year and location consistent across 6 trees

Compare a Public Tree Person with your own tree using Compare Tree.

B Reliability

Reliability Score: B

Medium — based on the source tree

Grade scale

A 3 criteria (Strong)
B 2 criteria (Medium)
C 1 criteria (Basic)

Verification checklist

Record available
Descendant's record available
Star tree owner

6 researchers on YourRoots have William French in their family trees — each with their own records and documentation. Trace the migration path across 6 generations. If this ancestor is in your tree too, you can compare what you've found and fill in the gaps together.

Last updated: August 25, 2026 · Reliability: B — verified across 6 independent trees

Born 31 Mar 1653 · Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Died 22 Feb 1691 · Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Father John French

Mother Grace Kingsley

Siblings Deacon Thomas French, Dependence French, Elizabeth French Wheelock, Hannah French, John French, Jonathan French, Mary French, Mary Mercy French, Samuel French, Temperance French, Thomas French

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Researchers connected through William French 1653–1691

and 5 more tree owners connected with William French 1653–1691

Immediate Family

Parents

John French

Grace Kingsley

Spouse(s)

No spouse recorded

Children

No children recorded

Biography

William French was born in 1653 in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States, the child of john french and grace kingsley. William French passed away in 1691 in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States.

Sources

Life Timeline

1653

Birth of William French in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Birth

1691

Death of William French in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Death

Oldest Ancestor Line from William French

This ancestor line traces from Wissington, Babergh District, Suffolk, England (1485) to Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts (1653) across 6 generations.

Direct Lineage

generations

Frequently Asked Questions

: William French (1653–1691) was born in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States and died in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States. 6 researchers on YourRoots have this ancestor in their family trees, each with their own records. This page combines what they've independently documented and assigns a Reliability Score (B) based on cross-tree validation.
: Right now, 6 researchers on YourRoots have William in their trees. They're working independently, so connecting with them is a good way to cross-check your records and find things you might have missed. You can also explore the ancestor migration map that traces 6 generations of this lineage geographically.
: It varies by researcher — some have census records, others have marriage certificates, parish registers, or family Bible entries. Scroll up to see exactly what each person has cited.
: Use the "Compare Tree" button on any researcher's profile above. You can compare your tree side by side with theirs, see where your records overlap or differ, and collaborate to fill gaps.