ABRAHAM FRENCH
1768-1850
Abraham French, one of the founding fathers of Pittsfield, was born October 21, 1768 in Stratham, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas and Anna (Tilton) French. At the age of seven he was left fatherless so apprenticed at an early age to learn the trade of joiner and cabinetmaker. Little else is known about his early years except that he attended the common schools in Hampton Falls during the winter and learned to read, write and cipher.
At the age of 21 Abraham came to Pittsfield to complete the interior work on the Old Meetinghouse, now the Community Center. It had already been framed and sheathed and he was hired to do all of the finish work. Part of his effort is described in the August 19, 1869 issue of The Suncook Valley Times:
The pulpit was a large, high, indescribable, pepperbox, finished in the highest style of art, with angles and curves truly wonderful, from which the good minister [gave sermons].... Over his head was a huge octagonal sounding board, finished with great skill, and suspended from the ceiling by an iron rod ... .
On January 11, 1796 Mr. French married Hannah Lane of Stratham. She was born November 12, 1772, the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Cate) Lane. They had 11 daughters about whom more will be mentioned in the biography of Hannah.
Abraham French
When Reverend Christopher Paige, first minister of the church, was dismissed in 1796, Abraham bought his home on the south side of town, a home that he had erected on the Parsonage Lot after completing work on the Meetinghouse. It was a very elaborate structure befitting the minister's station in life.
From his new home on the south side of town, Mr. French successfully ran his farm and continued with his carpentry work. He ran a sawmill, dealt in lumber and according to his grandson, John Swett, managed a carpenter shop for making the cases for old-fashioned stately eight-day clocks. These were probably cases for the famous Jones clocks made in the Dowboro region of Pittsfield at the time.
John Swett, his grandson, described Mr. French as a "shrewd businessman". He remembered him later in life as "a genial old man, who had a keen sense of humor, who smoked his pipe, drank his mug of cider, and took cheerful views of temporal affairs, notwithstanding the severe Calvinism of his religious creed."
Abraham was a very tolerant man. He was personally dedicated to the Calvinist Baptist religion. Indeed, it was in his house on October 29, 1801 that the Calvinists of town met to organize a new church under the leadership of the recently arrived and later to be minister extraordinaire, Benjamin Sargent. Upon his death, he left the pews he owned in the church to his son, Charles. On the other hand, his wife Hannah was a devout Congregationalist, a regular church attendee and an original member of that church in Pittsfield. Apparently this caused no discord in the family.
Mr. French lived throughout his life in the same home on top of what became known as French Hill. Upon his death September 10, 1850 at the age of 82, the house passed to his wife. In later years it became the property of Asa Bartlett of Civil War fame, and in recent years has belonged to William Ely, Gilbert and June Paige, and Scott and Arlene Brown.
In all likelihood, Mr. French was originally buried in the Old Meeting House Cemetery. Today his remains are in Floral Park. Because that cemetery was begun at least two decades after his death he was probably moved there at a later date. He is buried beside his wife, who died July 1, 1854 at the age of 81. In the same lot are his son Abraham, Jr., who died at the age of 33 on December 9, 1841 and daughter Eliza, who died at the age of 25 on October 31, 1836.
Mr. French was a highly respected founding father whose contributions extended well past his lifetime. He will also be remembered for his progeny without whom this town, state and indeed the nation would not be the same.
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SOURCES |
Biographical research and written profile by Larry Berkson, Historian, Pittsfield Historical Society |
Bacon, George F. Manchester and Its Leading Business Men (Boston: Mercantile Publishing Company, 1891), p. 54.
Chapman, Jacob and James H. Fitts. William Lane of Boston, Mass. (Exeter: John Templeton, 1891), Vol. 1, pp. 30-32.
Clark, John B. Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men (Manchester: John B. Clark, 1882), pp. 15659.
Early Vital Statistics, Pittsfield, New Hampshire, in the possession of the Pittsfield Historical Society. Floral Park Cemetery Records, in the possession of Larry Berkson.
French, John C. Grace Fletcher, pamphlet, November 1896, in the possession of the Pittsfield Historical Society.
Merrimack County Registry of Probate, Concord, New Hampshire, Abraham French #3465. Pittsfield Tribune, August 11, 1883.
Suncook Valley Times, April 22, 1869.
Suncook Valley Times, August 19, 1869.
Swett, John. Public Education in California (New York: American Book Company, 1911).
Valley Times, June 18, 1909
Willey, George B. (Ed.). State Builders (Manchester: The New Hampshire Publishing Corporation, 1903), pp. 342-43.