The ancestry of Daniel is copied from the Nick Stanford family tree (no longer in the internet), and from Henry Biddall Swanzy: The families of... (hereafter Swanzy). This book was published in 1908 (for private circulation). Also Rev W.B.Stanford contributed information.

Belturbet, in Co. Cavan in Ireland, is located at one of the best places for crossing the River Erne between current Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was seized by the Irish in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and the last stronghold to fall to Cromwell in 1653. The map shows the north-central part of Ireland, the dark line being the border to Northern Ireland. In Belturbet, a "Corporation" was founded in 1613 (see history Belturbet). The "Corporation of the Borough of Belturbet" was established on March 30th 1613, under a Charter from King James (Rot. Pat. 11 Jac.I p1 m.27). The Charter placed the corporation in the charge of thirteen Burgesses, one of whom would be elected annually to the office of Provost by the other twelve. The burgesses were also empowered to return two members to the parliament in Dublin.  The Town Book records survived for the year 1613 and for the years 1661 onward. Revenue was raised through market tolls and customs.  The town grew from (in 1619) 34 single-storied thatched or shingled houses that stretched between the Church and the top of Deanery Street to a really prosperous Irish town. "Acts made and enacted by the Provost, Free Burgesses and Common Council of Belturbet at the Clark of the Market there held on the fourth day of December 1657 before Richard West deputy-provost as followeth." [...] These bye-laws governed grazing on the commons, turf-cutting allocations, controlling pigs and buying and selling in the market. The Corporation quickly restored the exclusively British and Protestant character which had marked it before the 1641 Rebellion and the bigotry and intolerance of the Cromwellian era was much in evidence as 'quagners', 'papists', 'Sabbath-breakers', those implicated in gaming and disparaging the government of the town', and such pursuits were subject to punitive bye-laws.  The second major crisis to confront the Corporation was again due to the resolve of the Stuart King to modify charters of all towns in England and Ireland, which they felt were inimical to the monarchy. This, in conjunction with sustained efforts by Tyrconnnell, the Lord Deputy, to allow Catholics into the Army and corporate life in Ireland caused concern among the settler population. At first the attitude of Belturbet Corporation, and of others such as Belfast and Enniskillen, was cautiously co-operative. Then, with the accession of James II the Protestant population felt itself seriously threatened. In September 1687, Matthew French Sen., Provost, signed an order empowering him to present to Matthew French, Jun. and others the deeds for the Town and authority to insert in them certain clauses. This presumably was a legal manoeuvre to keep the town and its privileges out of control of King James II. These were the last entries made by Matthew French, Provost, before the town was taken by Galmoy for King James in the Spring of 1688.  Attempts were made to fortify the town along a line from the Church through the Fair Green to Deanery Banks, where some of the mounds and trenches are still visible. In January/February 1688, many Protestants fled County Cavan for Enniskillen....  This [chaotic] period ended with the occupation of Belturbet by Galmoy (for King James) in the early days of the Williamite Wars, a minor Battle of Belturbet around the Churchyard and re-establishment of the Corporation in 1693. Provost.  Every year a Provost was elected in Balturbet. These were (the ones relevant for this ancestry with year): 1661 Richard West, Thos Philipps, Phebus Bignall, 1662-1667 Mathew French, Hugh Culme, Capt Thos Coote, 1669 Richard French, 1670 Mathew French, 1671-1673 Richard French, Thos Worshipp, Thos Gwyllim, 1675 Mathew French, John Vause, Richard West, 1678 Matthew French, Richard West, Mathew French junior, 1682 Daniell French, 1685-87 Mathew French, Capt.Meredith Geogh, 1687-1693 no Provost due to Williamite wars, William Clarke, 1700 Daniell French, John Robinson, Abraham Cottnam, John Jones, 1705 Luke Stanford, Francis Jarman, etc.

Mathew French and Elinor
Elinor was 1st married to Daniel Desminieres of Dublin, a man of french descent.
Mathew was the son of Richard French and Susanna. Richard had a hardware business in Dublin but lived and traded in Belturbet. He died 1637. [Swanzy, p.1.]
Mathew was repeatedly elected Provost of Belturbet (see above). He seems to have played a major role in the affairs of the town. In 1687, attempts were made to fortify the town along a line from the Church through the Fair Green to Deanery Banks, where some of the mounds and trenches are still visible. In January/February 1688, many Protestants fled County Cavan for Enniskillen, among them Matthew French and his family who then went on to England. Matthew French was attainted by the parliament of King James in Dublin in 1689 on grounds of "having absented himself from this Kingdom". Daniel French, also prominent in the Town Book, High Sheriff of County Cavan in 1690, was also attainted. According to Some Account he was a Major supporting William of Orange and....' in the spring of 1690 he set out from Belturbet with sixty horse, captured Sir Gerard Irvine and sent him a prisoner to Lord Blaney.....'
Children of Mathew and Elinor: 1645 Richard, 1647 Mathew (Mathew Junior; see above), Daniel (1685 x Isabella), Mary (1672 x John Warburton), Elinor (1682 x James Tisdall).
[ From Swanzy, p.6: Elinor, dau. of ?? Johnston, and widow of Daniel Desminieres, of Dublin, 2nd son of Robert Desminieres, of Rouen, freeman of Dublin, 1639, and brother of John Desminieres, Lord Mayor of Dublin, 1666. ]

William Bedell
William was Vicar of Kinawley, diocese of Kilmore, 1634-37, and Rector of Rattlesden, Suffolk, 1644-70.
He was the son of the Right Rev. William Bedell, the famous Bishop of Kilmore (1629-1642).

Daniel and Isabella
Children: Elinor, Mary (x John Fletcher), Susaana.
Daniell was elected to Provost of Balturbet in 1682, and after the Williamite wars again in 1700 (see above). In 1690 he was High Sheriff of Co. Cavan.
[ From Swanzy, p.26: Major Daniel French of Belturbet, High Sheriif, Co. Cavan, 1690, J.P. Co. Cavan, (warrant books, Record Office), attainted by James II. as Daniel French, of Belturbet, Merchant, was active in the cause of William of Orange. In the spring of 1689 he sat out from Belturbet with sixty horse, captured Sir Gerard Irvine, and sent him a prisoner to Lord Blayney. In the Irish Civil Correspondence, State Papers, Dublin Castle, there is a letter from him, dated 5 Aug., 1702. For the charge brought against him in his father's will, (apparently the unfounded suspicion of a sick man) and his vindication, see {Swanzy} p.4.   He w. 1685, Isabella, niece of Ambrose Bedell, of Cam, Co. Cavan, J.P., High Sheriff Co. Cavan, 1668, sister of Ambrose Bedell, junior, of Carn, and youngest dau.f of the Rev. William Bedell, Vicar of Kinawley, diocese of Kilraore, 1634-37, and Rector of Rattlesden, Suffolk, 1644-70, eldest son of the Right Rev. WILLIAM BEDELL, the famous Bishop of Kilmore, 1629-42. Major French d. 1702, admon. 19 Feb., 1702-3 to Arthur Noble, of Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, the principal creditor, Isabella, the widow, renouncing her interest. She d. 1718, (will dat. 21 June, proved Prerog. 18 Aug.). ]

Luke and Anne
Children: 1686 John, Robert, Thomas, daughters.
He was elected Provost of Belturbet in 1705 (see above).
He was Luke Stanford, of Belturbet, "a merchant of large dealing" (see below at his son John).

John and Elinor
Children: John, Bedell, Daniel, Anne, Charity, Isabel.
John was High Sheriff in Co. Cavan in 1734.
[ From Swanzy, p.28: Elinor French, m., Kilmore licence 22 Nov., 1707, Capt. John Stanford, High Sheriff, Co. Cavan, 1734 and Co. Monaghan, 1741, J.P. Co. Cavan 16 Jan., 1723-4, B.A. T.C.D. 1706, (entered 27 Nov., 1701, aged 15), jure uxoris of Carn, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, which he claimed in right of his wife, eldest son of Luke Stanford, of Belturbet, "a merchant of large dealing", by Anne Hecclefield his wife. Capt. Stanford d. 1745 (will dated 28 May, proved 20 Nov.). ]
Selected sentences from the will of John Stanford: ...Worthy Estate and he disposes of it as follows. He bequeaths unto his Dear Wife Elinor Stanford the "Six Poles of Carn" in the County of Cavan during the term of her natural life together with all plate household goods + furniture to be equally divided at her decease among her children Daniel, Ann and Charity; and after her decease to bequeathed the said "Six Poles of Carn" unto his said second son the said Daniel Stanford for the term of his natural life....
Carn stayed in the family for at least 5 generations.
[ From Swanzy, p.28: Isabelle Stanford inherited a diamond ring, a little mare called Polly, and £200 from Richard Le Hunte of Artramont, Co Wexford, MP 1771-76. ]

(2017.04.12)   Originally April 2013.