The French's Neck mentioned in the email below is in today's 
Hampshire Co., West Virginia, along the South Branch of the Potomac, 
at the point where the South Branch meets the North Branch of the 
Potomac.  Other names for this place are "Forks of Potomac", French's 
Station", and "South Branch".  The name "French's Station" I think 
came into use after the railroad was built (pre-Civil War) because 
there was a depot located here.

On today's USGS map, this neck of land sandwiched between a bend in 
the South Branch and the North Branch of the Potomac, right at the 
point where these two rivers meet, is labeled as "South Branch 
(French Sta)".  The road leading into this remote spot is called 
French Station Road.

All of Hampshire Co. (part of Frederick Co. until 1754) was within 
the Northern Neck Proprietary.  The numbered lots along the Wappacomo 
or Great South Branch River were surveyed by James Genn in 1748/49 at 
Lord Fairfax's instruction.  You can view the grants, and some of the 
later surveys, online at the Library of Virginia's web site.  Some of 
the grants were rerecorded in the Frederick and Hampshire Cos. deed 
books.  Also subsequent sales of the lots are recorded in the deed 
books of Frederick and Hampshire counties, and often mention the lot 
numbers, and sometimes give a complete history of ownership of the 
lots.  If you are researching the French family, I encourage you to 
access the courthouse records in Frederick and Hampshire counties.

Hope this helps,
Jane Ailes

At 03:58 PM 12/14/2008, Judith Bailey Gabor wrote:

<snip>
>  In about 1750, John French and his family made their way up the 
> Rappahannock and over to the south branch of the Potomac, locating 
> at a place since well known as *French's Neck*, a beautiful and 
> valuable body of land on the south branch of the river. John lived 
> but a short while after reaching his new home, and his widow, 
> shortly after his death, married Captain Cresap.
>
>[In 1906, David Johnston, great-grandson of Martha French and Jacob 
>Straley, penned this history [above] of the New River area of 
>western Virginia and the families who settled there.] /History of 
>Middle New River Settlements/ p402
>
>As time passed John secured large tracts of land in this area now 
>known as Hampshire and Upshur counties in West Virginia. According 
>to tradition John named Hampshire county for the county Hampshire 
>[Southampton, central southern area] in England where the French 
>estate was located. Upshur County was given the name for his wife 
>Martha Upshur. Part of this land became known as French's Neck. 
>Before his death in 1750, John largely owned all the land in 
>Hampshire and Upshur Counties. John died soon after settling in 
>Frederick Co, and Martha was appointed administrator of his estate 
>on 16 Nov 1750. /French Families of America 1700-1980/ p4
>
>John French of Frederick Co 246 acres and 300 acres, tracts 61-62 in 
>Plat on Wappacomo or Great S. Br. of Potomack R. 27 Aug 1749, 
>surveyed by Mr. James Genn.
>/Frederick Co VA Land Grant Book G/ pp 309-310

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html