24/25 dna match between #1023, William of Billerica, and Thomas of Ipswich lines.
New dna results: 24/25 match of my line, Thomas of Ipswich, MA [his father was Jacob of Assington, Suffolk, England] with William of Billerica,MA, #1023. [Family Tree DNA search also found a 25/25 match with the line of Samuel French of Boston, born in about 1793, not posted in the French dna project pages.] What makes the match with William, #1023, interesting is the speculation that he is the son of William French, of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, England. William may be the brother of Thomas French, of Ipswich, MA, in my line. All of this is unproven, and highly speculative, but interesting nevertheless.
Need to find the NEHGS article, but meanwhile, here is a quote:
"William French was born in England, perhaps 15 March 1603, at Halstead, Essex, although this has not been proven. He may also have been son of William of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk Co., England; see "Thomas French of Assington, Suffolk, England & Ipswich, MA," NEHGS "Register," Vol 142, pg. 250. According to custom house documents, he was born in Essex Co. in 1605."
