The following sources reference French's neck as part of the enormous 
Lord Fairfax grant. I someone can pinpoint this area on a modern map, I 
would be happy to know exactly where it is - even Taco Bell is on one 
corner & Chuckee Cheese is on another.



Ancestors of this French family [John French born ca 1710, died 1750] 
lived in Scotland, thence removed to Wales, and from thence, long prior 
to the American Revolution, came across the Atlantic and settled in the 
Northern neck of Virginia -- Westmoreland County, within the grant to 
Lord Fairfax. It was in Westmoreland, about 1735, that John French 
married a lady of Welsh extraction. Among the children born to them was 
a son, Matthew, in 1737. Settlers were pressing across the Blue Ridge 
and on to the south branch of the Potomac, and on the Big and Little 
Cacapon. As information came back from these people of the wonderland 
they had found, others became interested and made up their minds to go. 
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

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