Image Ref : DRA 3574.tif

William French, 1920s

William John French of Leightor farm was born on 21 November 1896 and baptised on 17 January 1897 at Ashburton Wesleyan Methodist chapel. His parents were William Thomas French (born 1856) and Thirza Caunter (born 1868) of Sweaton; the couple married in 1890. [The marriage registration gives her surname as ‘Caunt’.] By 1921, at the age of 25, William John French is recorded as the head of the household at Leightor farm; his mother is widowed. His sisters included Hilda (image DRA 3554), Mary (DRA 3543), Eleanor (image DRA 3546) and Alice (image DRA 3547). He appears to be shown as a young child in image DRA 3576. DRA 4937 PW 106