The New York herald., 1876-03-17
REV. MANSFIELD FRENCH.

Rev. Mansfield French popularity known ''Chap-
lain French, " prominent Methodist minister aud q
widely known friend of the colored race died at his
pastoral charge, Pearsals, L. L., on wednes-
day morning, the 18th inst. aged sixtysix years.
Mr.. French had spent varied, active
and highly useful life. He was born at Manchester,
Vt, February 81, 1910. Tho youth of the deceased
preacher spent his father's farm and at tho
then noted Bennington Seminary, where he made cx-
cellent progress In classics and mathematics
During his theological studies and after their
petion he founded the seminary which soon became
Marietta College, principal OF Crclevlle Female
Seminary and founded the Granville Female Semi
nary. In 1882 he married Miss Austa M Wincho,
cousin OF DR.. Alexander winchell, the eminent
geologst In the year 1S45 he Joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church and entered her y:Incrant ministry in
the North Ohio Conference. Mr. French was fervent
and remarkably successful pastor for several years
hundreds being brought into the church through
his labors. Here also by church appointment,
he served President OF Xenia Female College and
Wiberiorce University. wberforce University
the rst college opened for the colorcd race in America
Soon alter the capture of Hilton Head and tho
South Carolina coast by the Sherman naval
expedition, at the urgent solicitation Of Lewis
Tappan and others, he went TO Washington
and laid before the President his views of the nations
duty toward the ''contraband slaves'' OF that
department. He then given q pass and COM
oeeSped SS Northern Soon after he
North and organized the great Cooper Institute
meeting OF February 30, 1862 The result OF this
meeting the organization Of the National Freed
mans Relief Association, whose object was the sus
tainng of the work of education OF the
so%h saSa the 81 OF or March, he seS
for Port Royal, with large corps of teachers.
These the first teachers furnished by the North
to the late slaves, the forerunners of great host to
follow them. He next secured for the black man tho
right 70 aght uoder the nag Of his country But the
with the authorities ncessantly for three days to OBJ
tain IT. When the order granted it was under the
most strict njuncons that its contents should not be
dlvulged in the North Dir. Stanton's wonds TO
Mr.. French were-"For heavens sake don't let the
NEW YORK HERALD get hold of this !"
The first result OF this authority the expedition
with the Darlington down the coast OF Florida,
for the double purpose OF destroying extensive salt
works Invaluable TO the rebel and OF ensting
coorcd troops This expedition was formally in charge
of the military officers but actually commanded by Mr.
French (who under fire in the action), and
1t completely successful in both its main objects
He wrote the enlistment roll himself and on the re-
turn of the vessel Port Royal he turned over 70
white officers tho "First South Carolina Volan-
teers," nearly 200 strong. Thus the black
man gained one more step toward the recog-
milton OF his rights as an American cuzen
This latter work was performed by Mr. French, under
commission as chaplain In the United states Army.
lie held this commission only twenty seven days less
than years. and upon H. under various Official desg
nations he executed ali the remainder OF his work in
the national service. His private papers for this
| period contain the original draft of the act of
Congress organizing the Frcedman's Bureau which
was his original conception. After Sherman's great
terror of South Carolina and Georgia he commis
stoned by General Gilmore June ~ 1865, to proceed
through those States and nsruct the planters freed
and other inhabitants OF the country generally IN
their Individual and relative duties under the
! der OF things developed by the war"
IL was during this tour that Mr. French gave
ample of poetca retribution upon the great rebel
! leader Robert Toombs Toombs had boasted the
floor of the United states Senate that he expected
call the roll OF his slaves under the shadow OF Bunker
Hill Monument" and July IL, 1865, Mr.. French
| called the roll OF freedom for those slaves
| at Mr.. Toombs house. while the owner
| skulSng in the neighooring swamp hiding
! away from United States soldiers. In tho
| political canvass OF 1865 letter signed by Messrs.
! Harlan, Wilson, Wade, Coax, Dclano Thayer Forney,
/ Pomeroy and Others addressed to Dir. French,
urgently requesting him consent to his nomination
| for the hrst United States Scnatorship from tho
newly reconstructed State OF South Carolina, but,
being more OF philsnthropist than poi-
| tican ho withdrew from the canvass which hts
friends had begun his behalf prcferrIng TO work in
the lnc OF duty which better suited his convictions
and mis- training AT the close OF his abors for the
! freedmen he returned TO New York and resumed the
| regular work Of the ministry in the New
| York East Conference, where he spent Eve
/ years OF useful pastoral labor, rewarded by
numerous conversions and the love OF very wide
clio of trends He survived the oblivion all the
pensions malicious partsans cast upon him during
tho and passed away In the confidence and love OF
all his brethren.