NEIL Richard French, Sr. is believed to have migrated
from Ireland in 1845 through the Port of New Orleans, later moving to Newton County.
Neil French appears on a membership roll for Spring Hill (Erin Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Newton County, Mississippi, dated October 28, 1855. The roll includes the following members:
George Doole, John Vance, Neil French, John Henry, Mary Vance, Nancy Vance, Sr., Nancy Vance, Jr.,
Eliza Gault, Eliza Vance, John F. Jackson, Hester A. Davison, Sarah J. French, Margaret J. Vance.

According to the Mississippi Death Certificate for James French, (Neil's son) his parents were Neil French and Eliza Vance, both born in County Antrim, Ireland.

Neil is not located in the 1850 Census, although we are able to locate two of his sons living in Newton
County, Ms. with other families. While it may seem as a difficult proposition, it appears from current
records, Neil may have left his children in the care of others in Newton County and may have gone
back to Ireland and returned with another wife, Isabella. Son, James French, age 9 was living in the
household of George Armstrong, born in Ireland on the 1850 Mississippi Census. Son, George French
age 7, was living in the household of William Sessums and his wife Anne on the 1850 Mississippi
census. Son Thomas and daughter Margaret has not been located on this 1850 census.

According to letter dated 1852 from George French, still in Ireland, to his son Benjamin who was in
NewtonCounty, reference is made to Neil French and wife Isabella. I believe, as do others, that Neil's first
wife was Eliza J. Vance, born in Ireland and they married there and had four children. Information
handed down through generations, is that Eliza died on the voyage to America in the Atlantic Ocean
between 1845-1848. Therefore, Eliza is my great great great grandmother. None of this information
is actually confirmed, lots of speculation as to what happened.

Neil probably then married Isabella, either back in Ireland or in America.

I cannot place Eliza Jane in any of the Vance families that came to Newton County in 1840's, but it is quite possible that Eliza Jane was another daughter of Thomas James Vance, Sr. and Margaret Nancy Ann McCannon (ages fit), that married before she started to America, therefore we are not sure of this fact. Eliza Jane died enroute to America and was buried at sea. Neil Richard French and Eliza Jane Vance had four children born in Ireland. Some of them have been located on Newton County Census records in other home on the 1850 census, before Neil Richard married again to Isabella Dooley. Son George was in the household of William Cooksey 'Billie" Sessums and his wife Mary Ann Vance (a daughter of Thomas James Vance, Sr.), where he was listed as a "nephew". That would mean that Eliza Jane and Mary Ann were probably sisters. This is not documented, just speculation.

Neil is located on the 1860 Federal Census of Newton County, Ms. living next to William Willis:

Richard Frianch, age 50, Ireland
Isabella, 36, Ireland
James, 19, Ireland
George, 17, Ireland
Margaret, 15, Ireland
David, 9, Mississippi
Jane, 7, Mississippi
Isabella, 5, Mississippi
William 2, Mississippi

Neil and wife Isabella were dead by 1870, according to all indications, the children being scattered in different homes. Also, we have no marriage records for this period. No more information after the
above 1860 Federal Census.

Some of the children went and lived in Texas after they were grown, as indicated in this document.
Son James stayed in Newton County.

Land Patent for Neil French shows property NESE, Section 17, Township 8N, Range 11 E, dated May 1, 1860. This property according to "Family books of Mississippi" is located off what is today, Hwy 489, Newton County, Ms. in the Stamper Pond area. 40.1 acres.Eliza Jane Vance, first wife of Richard Neil French, may also have been a child of Thomas James Vance, Sr., and Margaret Ann McCannon. She was born ca. 1817, Ireland, and according to family tradition, died at sea during the migration to America. Neil left some of their children with family and friends in Newton County, went back to Ireland, took a new wife, Isabella Doole, and returned to Newton County with her.

Eliza Jane Vance, first wife of Richard Neil French, may also have been a child of Thomas James Vance, Sr., and Margaret Ann McCannon. She was born ca. 1817, Ireland, and according to family tradition, died at sea during the migration to America. Neil left some of their children with family and friends in Newton County, went back to Ireland, took a new wife, Isabella Doole, and returned to Newton County with her. Eliza and Richard Neil were the parents of the following children:

Thomas French2 (1840, County Antrim, Ireland-1884, Bosque County, Texas); married Martha J. Reed
James French (1840, County Antrim, Ireland-1927, Erin community, Newton County, Mississippi); married Matilda Vance
George French (ca. 1843, County Antrim, Ireland—after 1880, Texas); married Mary Jane Heslen. George was one of two children left behind in Newton County while his father went back to Ireland to find a new bride. He lived with the family of William Cooksey Sessums and Mary Ann Vance Sessums during this time.
Margaret French (1845--). No further information.

Rev. N. R. French is a native of Newton County, Mississippi. When very young was left an orphan to fight lifes battles, as were many others during the strenuous days of re-construction period. He went to Texas to build a home for himself in 1877. Here he was converted, and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the age of eighteen. Soon after he became impressed with a call to the gospel ministry, and having only a limited education, he began the struggle alone to better qualify himself for more efficient work in the Lord's vineyard. His principal education and theological instruction, he obtained at Buffalo Gap, Texas, under the tutelage of Rev. R. W. Benge, and Prof. C. N. Murray, who strove earnestly to thoroughly indoctrinate him in the "Whosoever will gospel." To their credit, and also that of Brother French, for the past eight years of their work has been "Tried as by fire" and found of the pure gold kind. "By their fruits ye shall know them."
He was licensed and ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by Red Oak Presbytery at South Fork, in 1894. Since that time he has been actively engaged in pastoral work. In 1900, he was married to Miss Anna Loper, of Conehatta, Mississippi, who has been an efficient helpmeet in his ministerial life and work. On account of the failing heath of his wife, he removed to his present home, in 1903 and affiliated with Mississippi Presbytery, taking full ministerial work in its bounds.
He was a Commissioner to the General Assembly meetings at Dallas, Texas, Fresno, California, and Bentonville, Arkansas, and earnestly opposed any alliance with the Northern Presbyterian Church. So. earnest was his protest against the "merger" among his own flock, during that memorable struggle, that not one member of his churches yielded to the misrepresentations, and seductive influence of the traitors of our church. Much persuasion, even fascinating promises, and glitter of gold, in increased salary, etc., was urged upon him. But he preferred rather to remain with the people of God, than to enjoy "Larger Things," for a season.
"Not for ease or worldly treasure,
Nor for fame, my prayer shall be--
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee."
Since 1907, his work has been more active and successful than ever before. He has preached 767 sermons; has witnessed 350 conversions; has had 182 additions to his churches.
It is his pleasure at all times to be loyal to the rulings of the General Assembly, and its various Boards. And, like all true christians he ever rejoices at the progress our beloved church is making notwithstanding bitter persecution, fierce antagonism, and loss of property.
"Sure I must fight if I would reign--
Increase my courage Lord!
I'll bear the toil endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word."
"Be thou faithful unto death and I will
give thee a crown of life."

Neil's parents bought steerage on a cattle boat. From Northern Ireland to Galveston Tx. His father died soon after the ship put out to sea. His widow delivered Neil on the ship and died shortly thereafter. A great uncle told Auntee and Aunt Eloise that they tried to find an island to bury her and after three days decided to bury her at sea. He said he was standing there as a boy and saw the sharks attack her before her body hit the water. Grand Daddy, as an infant, was given to a relative, an uncle named John French. He was called Red John and had two other sons. Red John took grand daddy back to Union and began to raise him as one of his own children. However, he was a very cruel man. Those were very hard times in Indian Country. When grand daddy was almost seven years old, Red John whipped him with a hand saw. That was all he could take. He ran away from home and went to West Texas. As a child he was taken in by a charitable rancher whose wife raised him. She taught him to read and write and play the piano. He worked as a ranch hand and used to tell Tom, Bill and me stories about life on the ranch. Anyway, when he was 18, the rancher sent him off to Buffalo Gap College to study for the ministry. He graduated and was ordained. He became an evangelist and traveled from Texas into Mississippi conducting revivals. In Connehatta, Mississippi, he had a young woman pianist, a graduate of the Mississippi College for Women. They fell in love, married, and she traveled with him eventually winding up in Gurley where he was the minister 41 years. He died in 1939, at age 84, of pneumonia. So, go back 84 years and that was when he arrived here. He was one of the founders of the Covenant Presbyterian movement. Written by Robert B. French Jr.
AnitaPenn