James Harris French was born in England in 1817. He arrived in Sydney, NSW in 1841. He married Mary Blue, daughter of William (Billy) Blue and Elizabeth Williams. They had no children.

James Harris French helped establish the suburb of Willoughby (Sydney NSW) by holding a meeting at his farm in 1865 to beg the Governor of the day to declare Willoughby a Municipality.

After 30 years of service with the council, he passed away in 1893, leaving a very substantial estate. The book details his bequests which are still very significant today. Mary Blue passed away in 1895. She is buried with her son Robert from a previous marriage.

Henry French, brother of James Harris French, was born in England in 1819. He arrived in Adelaide, SA in 1847. He married Ellen Riordan who had arrived in Adelaide some two years previously.

Henry French Snr and Ellen had a family of 5 children. After the death of Henry in 1859 and two of their daughters Catherine (Kate) in 1852 and Caroline in 1861, Ellen left Adelaide with the remaining 3 children, Michael, Mary Ellen and Henry Jnr and travelled to Sydney in search of her brother-in-law James Harris French.

The book shows the family tree charts of Ellen’s family, both in Willoughby and Coolongolook (on the mid north coast of NSW). Forty two photographs compliment the research of the family and where they lived.

Published in 2015.

(book is A4 size, 310 pages and spiral bound)

Cost: $115.00 (includes postage), 1 copy available
Available from author; postal order, or cheque, and details to:
Mrs. Catherine Williams, PO Box 4, CAIRNS, QLD. 4870
Enquiries: Email the author