Janet's Genealogy

FreyII

New fines

Church: MORAVIAN CHURCH, BETHLEHEM, Marriages 1742 - 1800: Northampton County, PA.

1748, Feb. 16/27, Frey, Christina, and Johann Heinrich Heegner.

1756, Jan. 25, Frey, Heinrich, and Anna Maria Buerstler.

1745, Oct. 16, Frey, Magdalena, and Christopher Baus.

1757, Oct. 4, Frey, Maria Juliana, and Balthaser Heege.

1790, Aug. 26, Levering, Abraham, and Christina Cassler.

1793, Sept. 18, Levering, Anna Johanna, and Georg Gottfried Muller.

1748, May 8/19, Levering, John, and Susanna Bechtel.

1768, April 14, Levering, Maria Susanna, Johannes Merck.

Church: Part III - ST. MICHAEL'S & ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH Marriages 1770-1776: Philadelphia, PA

June 23, 1776 Frey, Jacob and Margaret Welt.

Oct. 28, 1771 Freye, Henry and Christina Smitb.

Church: Part V - ST. MICHAEL'S & ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH Marriages 1785-1795: Philadelphia, PA

June 30, 1789 Frey, widr, Antony and Barbara Giebelhaus, wid

Dec. 29, 1772 Conrad, John and Margaret Fry

Nov. 29, 1795 Bonner, Wilhelm and Nancy Frey.

Church: Part I - ST. MICHAEL'S & ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH Marriages 1745-1760: Philadelphia, PA

Nov. 26, 1754 Frey, Elizabeth and Rehm, Johann Michael.

Church: Part I - ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, P. E. Marriages 1759-1806: Philadelphia, PA 1763.

December 28, Thomas Fry and Eliz. Greenwood

Frey wills.

FRY, JACOB, District. April 10, 1792 - August 15, 1796. Provides for wife Catharine. To dau. Elizabeth a cow, etc. To dau. Christina wife of Lawrence ROHRBACH 7 shillings. To son Henry 5 shillings. To son Christopher 5 shillings. To sons Adam, Daniel and Abraham 5 shillings each. To dau. Catharine wife of Casper BRENSINGER 5 shillings. To dau. Elizabeth wife of Henry HESS and dau. Dorothy wife of John WECHT 5 shillings each. To son Jacob my plantation in District containing 50 acres also stock, etc., he paying to executors �100 to be divided among the children named above. Exrs: Son Christopher and son-in-law Henry HESS. Wits: Thomas LEE and Daniel YODER.

FRY, ELIZABETH. Abington. March 5, 1807. March 16, 1807. 2.591 To nephew Henry Meser, stove. To niece Elizabeth Shop, gown. To niece Catharine Meser, wife of Conrad Meser, and Magdalena Krier, wife of Peter Krier, shawl, and rem. of wearing apparel. Realty to be sold. To nephew Henry Meser, rem. of estate. Exec: Nephew Henry. Wit: Benjamin Foster, Elizabeth Faribee.

Wills: Abstracts, Book R: 1777 - 1781: Philadelphia Co, PA

FRY, GEORGE. Abington, Co. of Phila. November 28, 1777. August 26, 1778. R.97. Wife: Elizabeth. Children: George, Sarah, Mary Chrispinish, Susannah, John. Grandchildren: Children of Daughter, Susannah. Exec: Elizabeth and John Fry. Wit: Thomas Dungan, George Scott, John Goar.

FRY, EVE. German Town, Co. of Phila. Widow. October 8, 1776. August 31, 1778. R.98. Children: Barbara, Rachell, Godlieb, Jacob. Step Son: John Fry. Grandchildren: John and Elizabeth Peck. Exec: John and Godlieb Fry. Wit: Thomas Rose, Justus Fox, John

Wills: Index to Abstracts, F-H Surnames: 1682 - 1825: Philadelphia Co, PA FYE, ANDREW. February 7, 1815. 5.434. Book 5 willabstrbk5.txt FRY, ELLIS. March 4, 1819. 7.424. Book 7 Part B willabstrbk7b.txt FRY, EVE. August 31, 1778. R.98. Book R willabstrbkr.txt FRY, GEORGE. August 26, 1778. R.97. Book R willabstrbkr.txt FRY, JOHN. May 19, 1814. 5.255. Book 5 willabstrbk5.txt

Wills: Abstracts, Book K: 1752 - 1757: Philadelphia Co, PA FREY, JACOB. Hanover, Co. of Philadelphia. August 22, 1757. K.562. FREY, JACOB. Hanover, Co. of Philadelphia. March 5, 1751. August 22, 1757. K.562. Wife: Ease. Children: John, Adamkam, Meriles (Kelsey), Suyse Freyren and Margaret Freyren. Exec. and Overseers: Debrech Bucher, John Schnider. Wit: Christian Sackriter, Sebastian Kechly.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1819

Heir Kezia Frey N:92 9 11 1763 7 1 1764 Remarks: James Dunn. Hatfield. Co. of Phila. Yeoman. 9 Nov 1763. 7 Jan 1764. Friends: Jonathan, Kezia, Sarah and Jacob Frey. Exec.: Jacob Frey. N:92.

Decedent John Frey Philadelphia Co. Yeoman O:45 10 9 1766 7 11 1766 Remarks: John Frey. Phila. Co. Yeoman. 10 Sep 1766. 7 Nov 1766. Children: Enoch and Henry, Exec., Samuel, Jacob, William, Jonathan, Daniel, Hana and Catherine. O:45.

Decedent Wm. Frey Philadelphia Co. Yeoman O:268 30 4 1756 5 9 1768 Remarks: Wm. Frey. Yeoman. Phila. Co. Children: Henry, William, Catherine, widow of John Gesel, Christiana, wife of Geo. Segner, Salome, wife of Christopher Hensel, Elizabeh, Magdalena, wife of Christopher Pans, Verona, wife of Jos. Miller, and Jacob. Execs. son Jacob and Peter Herbemid. O:268.

Daughter Elizabeth Frey O:268 30 4 1756 5 9 1768 Remarks: Wm. Frey. Yeoman. Phila. Co. Children: Henry, William, Catherine, widow of John Gesel, Christiana, wife of Geo. Segner, Salome, wife of Christopher Hensel, Elizabeh, Magdalena, wife of Christopher Pans, Verona, wife of Jos. Miller, and Jacob. Execs. son Jacob and Peter Herbemid. O:268.

Son-in-law Christian Frey Q:450 28 5 1784 8 4 1784 Remarks: Christian Schneider, of Phila. Gentlemen. 28 May 1784. 8 April 1784. Wife: Anna. Children: Frederick, Eve Hartman, Margaret Rido, Susannah Miller, Fronich Frantz and Sarah, wife of Christian Frey. Execs.: son Frederick and son in law Henry Frantz. Q:450.

Decedent Jacob Frey Hanover, Philadelphia Co. K:562 5 3 1751 22 8 1757 Remarks: Frey, Jacob. Hanover, Co. of Philadelphia. March 5, 1751. Aug. 22, 1757. Wife: Ease. Children: John, Adamkam, Meriles (Kelsey), Suyse Freyren and Margaret Freyren. Exec. and Overseers: Debrech Bucher, John Schnider.

Witness Johannes Frey L:123 19 3 1758 26 5 1758 Remarks: John Reifsnyder. New Hannover, Co. of Philadelphia. Freeholder and smith. March 19, 1758. May 26, 1758. L.123. Wife: Dorothy. Children: John and Sebastian. Exec: Dorothy Reifsnyder, William Hottenstein.

Witness John Frey J:407 18 1 1748 6 6 1751 Remarks: Moyer, Christian. Franconia, Co. of Philadelphia. Yeoman. Jan. 18, 1748/9. June 6, 1751. Children; Christian, Jacob, Samuel, Elizabeth Oblinger and Barbara Reiff. Poor of Menonite Meeting of Salford and Fraconia. Grandchild: Esther Funck. Son-in-Law: Henry Funck. Exec: Christian Moyer, Henry Funck.

Witness John Frey J:254 29 3 1749 12 5 1750 Remarks: Shindler, Yost. Francony, Co. of Philadelphia. March 29, 1749/50. May 12, 1750. Sister's children in Germany. Cousins: Yost Pfannenkuenen, Hartman Tettermer and Margarett Tettermer. Exec: Hartman Fetterer.

The German Immigration into Pennsylvania though the Port of Philadelphia: 1700-1775 Chapter IX.

I am therefore not ready to accept the generally believed statement that the colony of Crefelders who settled at Germantown in 1683 were the only Germans around Philadelphia at that time. The evidence is scattering but none the less direct. Watson tells us that one Warner had settled at William Grove, two miles beyond the city limits as early as 1658. Also that Jurian Hartsfelder took up 350 acres of land in March, 1676, nearly six years before Penn's arrival. Pennypacker says he was "a stray Dutchman or German, who had been a deputy Sheriff under Andross in 1676." Rupp tells us that one Heinrich Frey had reached Philadelphia two years before Penn's arrival, and a certain Plattenbach somewhat later. There was a large general immigration in 1682, about 30 ships having arrived with settlers. We can no more divest ourselves of the belief that there were many Germans among these than we can that there were many Germans among the Swedes and Finns who first came fifty years earlier, because we know Gustavus Adolphus asked the Protestant German princes to allow their subjects to join his own subjects in forming the Swedish settlements on the Delaware. Johannes Printz, who succeeded Peter Minnewit as Governor, was a German, a Holsteiner, and he brought with him fifty-four German families, mostly from Pomerania. It is a very logical supposition that these were only a portion of the Germans who planted themselves along the Delaware at various times between 1638 and 1682. When therefore Rupp tells us that there were only about 200 German families in Pennsylvania in 1700, I cannot accept his statement, because I cannot escape the conclusion from all the evidence accessible, that those figures should be increased several hundred per cent. Neither do I doubt that in the fullness of time an abundance of confirmatory evidence of this view will be forthcoming.

Local History: Chapters XI & XII: The Germans & The Welsh: Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA

Among the various nationalities that settled Montgomery County, the German was an important one, and their descendants at this day within its limits are the most numerous. In less than a year after the landing of William Penn a colony of Germans, chie�y from Creisheim and Creyfelt, arrived in October, 1683, and shortly afterwards founded the village of Germantown. The Proprietary had been among them in their native land, and encouraged them to come. Here liberty of conscience had now been proclaimed, and an exemption from tithes, though neither was tolerated in Great Britain, or even to a very limited extent along the valley of the Rhine, where also were the frontier lines of powerful France, and the frequent wars of Germany, the results of which combined were all powerful incentives to emigration to those more peaceably and liberally disposed. To facilitate this a company was organized at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and numerous pamphlets circulated throughout Germany in the language of its people, setting forth the peculiar advantages of the distant colony. Hence it need not be a wonder that the weaker of the persecuted sects were disposed to come first, for no matter however strong the attachments of nativity, the Fatherland presented from their experience in the past, no bright or sanguine future. The doctrines of the Reformation had been established almost a century and a half; yet, through the connection of church and state the progress to toleration was very slow. Francis Daniel Pastorius, in his "Beschreibung Pennsylvania" (published at Leipzic, 1700) under, the date Oct 24, 1685 gives the following account of the settlement: "With the wish and concurrence of our Governor, I lay out and planned a new town, which we call Germantown, or Germanopolis, is a very fine and fertile district, with plenty of springs of fresh water, being well supplied with oak-, walnut- and chestnut-trees and having beside excellent and abundant pasturage for the cattle. At the commencement there were but twelve families of forty-one individuals, consisting mostly of German mechanics and weavers. Our German society have in this place now established a lucrative trade in woolen and linen goods, together with a large assortment of other useful and necessary articles." He enumerates the lot-holders as Tunis Conderts, John Strepers, Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Paul Wolff, Jacob and Peter Schumacher, Johannes Kassell, Rynier Tissen, Jan Lucken, Gerhard Heinrich, David Sherkges, Wigart Levering, Gerhard Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Andreas Souplis, William Claus, and Dirck Rittenhouse, Dirck Keyser Sr., and William Strepers.

On the 7th of May, 1691, Thomas Lloyd, as Deputy Governor, granted naturalization to Dirck, Herman, and Abraham Opdegraef, Johannes Cassels, Jacob Schumacher, Dirck Keyser, Arnold Cassel, Peter Dirck Keyser, Peter Schumacher, Sr., Peter Schumacher, Jr., William and Claus Rittinghuysen, Johannes Kusters, Heinrich Unchholt, Isaac and Mathias Jacobs, Wigert Levering, Isaac Sheffer, Paul Wolff, William Streepers, Johannes Bleickers, Reiner Herman, Andreas Souplis, David Scherkes, Hans Peter Umstat, Reinert Tissen, Jan Lucken, Peter Klever, Heinrich Frey, Hans Andreas, Kramer Jurgen, Isaac Schumacher, Peter Kurlis, Gerhard Levering, and Jan Williams. About three-fourths of this number settled withinn the limits of the present county, where their descendants are still numerous.

Among the settlers prior to the close of 1703 were Heinrich Pennebacker, Johannes Kuster, Johannes Umstat, Claus Jansen, and Jan Frey; John Jacob, in 1704; Edward Beer, Gerhard and Herman Indehoffen, and Dirck and William Renberg, before the close of 1707. In 1708 we find here William and Cornelius Dewes, Herman Kuster, Christopher Zimmerman, Johannes Scholl, and Daniel Desmond followed in 1709 by Jacob, Johannnes and Martin Kolb and John Strayer. The settlement so increased that Van Bebber gave one hundred acreas towards a Mennonite meeting house, which, was, built prior to 1726, its trustees being, Heinrich Seller, Herman Kuster, Claus Jansen, Michael Zeigler, and Martin, Henry, and Jacob Kolb. Henry Frey, who settled in this vicinity, is stated to have arrived in the Colony two years before the landing of Penn.

But even prior to the Skippack settlement there is reason to believe that some of those Germantown settlers had located themselves in some of the lower townships, as, for instance, Cheltenham, Springfield, White Marsh, Abington, Moreland, and Upper Dublin; for the Shoemakers, the Tysons, the Snyders, Clines, Ottingers, Cleavers, Redwitzers, Rinkers, Bartlestalls, Melchers, Leverings, Reiffs, Conrads, Lukenses, and Yerkeses were located pretty early there, and became substantial landholders. It is not the design to enter here minutely into the names even of the early and conspicuous German settlers over the county, for that more properly belongs to the local history of the several townships; the object now being only a general treatment of what relates to the subject.

History: Local: CHAPTERS LXXIII - LXXIV: Springfield & Towamencin Townships: Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA

TOWAMENCIN TOWNSHIP. By Wm. J. Buck. TOWAMENCIN [See NOTE] township is one of the central townships of the county, bounded on the northeast by Hatfield, south by Worcester, southeast by Gwynedd, southwest by Perkiomen and west by Lower Salford. Its greatest length is four and a half miles, breadth nearly three, with an area of about six thousand acres. The surface is slightly rolling, and the soil a red shale. It is watered by the Skippack and Towamencin Creeks. The former has a course of nearly three miles, but furnishes no valuable water-power. The latter is a branch of the Skippack, and lies almost wholly within the township, and in a course of six miles propels two grist-mills. These streams also receive several tributaries within this territory, all of which go to help the volume of the Skippack, a confluent of the Perkiomen. [NOTE: The name of this township is spelled both Towamencin and Towamensing. Though there is good reason for thinking that Towamensing was the original spelling, we have adopted Towamencin because it is spelled in official proceedings at Norristown, and has been for many years. End NOTE.]

Towamencin is a name of Indian origin, and no doubt was taken from the stream bearing it. In March, 1728, the territory was formed into a town ship, and at the request of the petitioners called Towamencin. A draft thereof in the records states its area to be "about five thousand five hundred acres." Although its boundaries have not since been changed, yet, like all other early surveys, its area is now made somewhat more, no doubt in part brought about by a closer or more exact measurement through the increased value of lands. A list of the land-holders and tenants of this township was prepared in 1734, which we now propose to give here in full, being thirty-two in number, which necessarily must contain some of its earliest settlers, of whom, to a limited extent, a further account will be given: William Tennis, 25

The first land probably taken up in Towamencin was a grant of one thousand acres from Penn's commissioners of property to Benjamin Furley, June 8, 1703. This was purchased nine days later from Furley's attorneys by Abraham Tennis and Jan Lucken, who, in 1709, divided it, each taking five hundred acres. This tract embraced the northern part of the township and extended to the present Skippack road, and perhaps as far down as Kulpsville. Here they settled and made the first improvements, and even to this day the descendants of John Lucken or Lukens retain a portion of the ancestral tract. Henry Fry purchased twelve hundred and fifty acres on the Towamencin Creek from Benjamin Fairman, December 10, 1724, on which he also was the first settler. The Tennis family, it appears, for awhile flourished here.

Heinrich Frey or Fry, a native of Altheim, in Alsace, it is stated, came to Pennsylvania before the arrival of William Penn and settled near Roxborough. In 1692 he was married, at Germantown, to Catharine, daughter of Wigart Levering. They had nine children, of whom six were sons. He purchased, as has been mentioned, twelve hundred and fifty acres on Towamencin Creek in 1724. It is a family tradition that two of his sons walked up from the Wissahickon, a distance of eighteen or twenty miles, on Monday mornings, bringing their provisions along with them for the week, for the purpose of making a clearing and erecting a house, which they completed by the following spring. A few Indians, who appeared friendly, were still lingering here, having a couple of wigwams on the banks of the stream. The chief, who visited the scene of their labors, observed them eating bread, when they gave him a piece, which he ate and pronounced good. On the following week they brought him an extra loaf, at which he was greatly delighted, and in return the following day brought them a saddle of venison. The eldest of these brothers was Jacob, who had two sons and two daughters, whereof Daniel Fry is still living on the homestead at the good old age of ninety-four years, and yet very active. The family possess an ancient burial-ground in the township, which is now in a dilapidated condition. In the assessment of 1776 we find, as in 1734, the name of Jacob Fry with two hundred acres. The late Jacob Fry, of the Trappe, member of Congress and auditor-general of Pennsylvania, is represented as a descendant of this family

EARLY CHURCHES IN TOWAMENCIN - MENNONITE. -Not half a mile above Kulpsville, on the west side of the Sumneytown turnpike, stands the Mennonite meeting-house, a plain, one-story stone building, about twenty-four by twenty-eight feet in size, erected in 1805. It is situated on a knoll, at the foot of which flows a small stream, which in a short distance loses itself in the Skippack Creek; near by stand several gnarled and venerable oaks, the whole presenting an olden-time appearance. There is reason to believe, from the early dates on the tombstones, that the first house of worship here may have been erected before 1750, and not likely much later. This building stood until near the building of the present meeting-house, having been destroyed by fire. The society having been remiss in keeping or preserving records, a difficulty exists to supply authentic data. An aged man of the vicinity related to a friend, in 1858, that he remembered well the old stone meeting-house, to which he had gone to worship with his father about the year 1788; that it had the appearance of being very old then and stood near the site of the present building. A log school-house was adjacent, which has been for sometime substituted by a more substantial one, of stone. To the antiquarian the graveyard attached to this meeting-house in several respects, is an interesting one to visit. In extent it may cover two acres, and it has undoubtedly been used for burial purposes for at least a century and a half. A stone was discovered here bearing the date 1733, and another of 1741. One without a date bears the inscription, "Yellis Cassel, a. 85 y." Many of the inscriptions are in German and several of the earliest have become illegible. In our recent visit the following surnames were taken down from its numerous tablets: Overholtzer Eisenhart Boorse Delp Stauffer Drake Ebert Cassel Ruth Frey Kulp Vanfussen Hughes Keaton Stover Detweiler Mitchell Rinewalt Hendricks Blackburn Hechler Metz Neisz Rosenberger Godshalk Allebach Frederick Gehman Keeler Moyer Bernt Schlosson Bookhamer Boyer Hallman Kratz Swartz Kepler Zeigler Keyser Clemmer Nice Klein Snare Hunsicker Eaton Freed Nuss Funk Roop.

History: Local: CHAPTER LV: Frederick Township : Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CHAPTER LV. FREDERICK TOWNSHIP. By Henry S. Dotteror FREDERICK TOWNSHIP is bounded on the northwest by New Hanover and Upper Hanover townships; on the east by Perkiomen Creek, flowing from north to south, separating it from Marlborough and Upper Salford Townships; on the southeast by Perkiomen township; and on the southwest by Limerick and New Hanover townships. It contains an area of thirteen thousand four hundred and forty acres, is about five miles wide on the northwest border, four and three quarters miles long on the southwest, and one and one-half miles wide on the southeast. Its centre is fifteen miles distance northwest from. Norristown, the county-seat, and thirty-two miles from Philadelphia Throughout the township strong spring issue from the slopes and in the valleys, and are the sources of an umber of streams which flow through and enrich the land. Deep Creek falls into the Perkiomen in the north, and Swamp Creek from the north-west and Mine Run from the south enter it in the south. The tributaries of Swamp Creek are Old Goshenhoppen Run and Society Run. The surface of the township is decidedly rolling, verging to a hilly character; but it is well adapted to farming in all parts except in the north, where the Deep Creek hills attain considerable eminence, and in the southwest, between Swamp Creek and Mine Run, where rise the bold and rocky Stone Hills. The soil in the western portion, embracing the broad and fertile valley between Swamp Creek and Society Run, is red shale, easy of cultivation and free from stones; on the plateau between Society Run and Old Goshenhoppen Run, including the eastern slope of the last named stream, being the central part of the township, it is a white clay; and the eastern section, inclining towards Perkiomen Creek, is a yellow, sandy soil, somewhat encumbered with bowlders. All the tillable sections have been brought by the untiring industry and thorough husbandry of the inhabitants to a high state of cultivation and productiveness. Perkiomen, Swamp and Deep Creeks possess remarkably interesting and picturesque features. At their junctions the scenery is notably striking and rugged. The swift flowing waters of these streams, dashing over and between smooth worn stones and falling over the numerous dams, which check their free course, furnish beautiful views, worthy of the artist's pencil. In the past they abounded in fish, and they are yet frequented by lovers of fishing from near and far. The primitive forest has almost entirely disappeared. On the high grounds of the township grow oak, hickory, ash, walnut, chestnut, butternut, maple, gum, tulip-poplar, hemlock, pine and spruce, besides the smaller growths, sassafras, dogwood, wild cherry, persimmon, spice-woods, juniper, sumac, elder and hazel, and the blackberry, whole-berry, raspberry, sheep-berry and strawberry. In wet places the mottled-grinded button-wood or water beach may be found, towering to a great height. Along Swamp Creek grows a species of hickory bearing nuts of extraordinary size and of hard, thick shell. On Deep Creek and its affluents spruce and other evergreens grow to the exclusion almost of other trees. The land here is inclosed and devoted to grazing young cattle, which are driven into the pasture called in the Pennsylvania German, Baschtert -in the spring-time and left without further attention until fall.

The villages in the township, none of which are incorporated, are Zieglerville, Frederick, part of Perkiomenville, Klein's or Frederick Station, Obelisk and Delphi or Zieglerville Station Zieglerville, in the southern portion, is located on the Perkiomen and Sumneytown Turnpike, at the point where the Great road diverges from it to the west, while the turnpike continues towards the north. It was, before the building of the railroad, an important meeting point for stage lines. Here the passengers from Pennsburg and Boyertown met three times each week, and were transferred from small, antiquated coaches to the commodious and stylish omnibuses drawn by four or five horses; and here on the alternate days the returning passengers were again separated and sent their different ways. The inn, located on high ground in the forks of the road, and facing to the south, was an old time house of genuine entertainment to the traveler and drover; it was of breadth disproportioned to its two-story height, and a welcoming piazza extended before its entire front. A modern building of brick has taken the old tavern's place. At present the village contains one general store, a post-office, two blacksmith-shops, one wheelwright-shop, one tinsmithery, one tannery, one school-house, two clothing-manfactories, one shoe-making, one tavern, one saw-mill, one flour-mill, forty-four dwelling-houses and about two hundred inhabitants. A lodge of the Knights of Pythias meets here. A German weekly newspaper the "Wahrheits Freund," was published here in 1858.

EARLY PURCHASERS. -The circumstances connected with the taking up of the large tract of twenty-two thousand three hundred and seventy-seven acres by the Frankfort Land Company, a large portion of which lies along the northwestern border of Frederick township, naturally brought that territory into special prominence. The powerful influences put to work by the German company, seconded most heartily by the proprietary, drew settlers, immigrants from Germany, speedily to that vast property; at first, to the banks of Schuylkill, at and about the mouth of Manatawny Creek, and soon after, in much larger measure, to the broad valley of Swamp Creek. The lower or southwestern part of this alluvial plain lies in Frederick township. As soon as the impetus given by the organized effort in Germany had somewhat spent its force, the immigrant now and then chose for himself' !and along the banks of the lower Swamp Creek and of Society and Old Goshenhoppen Runs. Here, beside the clear springs and sparkling stream, close to the green meadows, he dug a cave in the sloping banks or built a rude hut for a dwelling-place.

Before the arrival of the actual settler, however, the choicest portions of land had passed from the proprietary into the hands of purchasers and speculators of England and Philadelphia, from whom the pioneers made purchases.

By patent dated the 8th of Fourth Month, 1703, there, as granted to Nathanial Puckle a tract of four hundred and fifty acres, extending from, the northeastern end of Limerick into the Stone Hills. By virtue of a warrant dated the 21st of Tenth Mouth (December), 1716, there was laid out to James Shattick five hundred acres, part of a great tract which William Penn granted to Richard Pearce on May 4, 1682.

PIONEER SETTLERS. Andrew Frey, mason, on August 5, 1718, purchased two hundred acres of David Powell

May 22, 1729, "William Frey, of Parkeawming, yeoman" bought of James Steel two hundred acres part of the latter's purchase of December 17, 1728, located in the western portion of the township. Bertolet's Mennonite meeting-house stands upon this tract. He was the son of Henry Frey and Anna Catharine Levering, who were married on the 26th of April, 1692, at Germantown before Francis Daniel Pastorius, justice of the peace. It is stated that Henry Frey came to Pennsylvania before the arrival of Penn. William Frey married Veronica Markley.

Their children were

Henry, married January 25, 1756, Anna Maria Buerstler

William

Catharine, married John Gesel

Magdalena, married October 16, 1745, Christopher Baus

Veronica, married Joseph Miller

Jacob, born January 1, 1726

Christina, married February 16, 1748, Johann Heinrich Seegner

Matthias Salome, married Christopher Hensel

Elizabeth.

April 5, 1768, William Frey conveyed to his son Jacob Frey one hundred and fifty-seven and one-quarter acres and about the same time to Zacharias Nyce the remainder of about forty-three acres. He died in the summer of 1768. He took part in the religious movement which grew into the Moravian Church and his sons and daughters took positions of usefulness in the educational and mission work of that society. He is buried beside his wife at Bertolet's Mennonite meeting-house. Many years after his death, when the correct date of this occurrence had been forgotten the plain dwellers of the country side, void of sentiment, yet sensible of the respect due an even, upright walk, placed a stone to mark his grave bearing the epitaph, couched in the dialect spoken there,--

"Zum Andenken en WILHELM FREY

Der erste ansitler von diesem landgud er starb 1770 seyn alter ist uns unbekand doch war er hoch beijahrt."

Veronica Frey, who afterwards was the wife of Joseph Miller, sailed from New York on the 9th of January, 1743, for England in the ship "Jacob," which carried a Moravian company and she afterwards, with her husband, was stationed at the Brethren's institution in Germany. Jacob, son of William Frey, was a carpenter. On December 17, 1749, Jacob Frey was one of twenty-two single brethren, who left Bethlehem for Christian's Springs, in Northampton County. He married Susanna Sophia Bertolet, daughter of Jean Bertolet, a Huguenot refugee, who came to Pennsylvania in 1726, and settled in 0ley.

Their children were:

Esther, first wife of Samuel Bertolet

Elizabeth, married January 26, 1790, Samuel Bertolet (his second wife)

Magdalena, married, November 5, 1792, Johannes Schlichter.

BARTOLET, SAMUEL. Frederick. December 20, 1804. February 11, 1805. 2.440 To wife Elizabeth, all estate until daughters Esther and Elizabeth are 18. If she remains a widow. When daughters are 18, personalty to be appraised, wife to live with mother in law Susanna Fry, and to receive interest of 300 pds. yearly during widowhood. If she marries to receive interest of 200 pds. To sons John and Daniel, farm in Frederick, 184 acres, 40 perches subject to maintenance of wife, at valuation. To each child 500 pds. when 21. Son Samuel to receive 75 pds. more than other sons. To son Daniel 75 pds. more than other sons. To daughter Susanna 50 pds. To daughter Esther and Elizabeth, 50 pds. At wife's death personalty to be sold and money divided among children: Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, John, Daniel, Susanna, Esther and Elizabeth. 5 acres of woodland to be sold. Execs: Wife Elizabeth, sons Abraham and Samuel. Wit: Francis Leidig, Benjamin Markley.

BECHTEL, SAMUEL. Londonderry. March 23, 1809 & February 14, 1814. April 11, 1814. To wife, who is not named, plantation whereon I now live, in Londonderry, cont. 55 acres, during life; afterward to be sold. To son Samuel a plantation in Londonderry, cont. 77 acres & allowance, paying $800 to my estate at wife's decease. Estate to be equally divided among 7 children, David, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, Sarah and Hannah. Executors: Son Samuel Bechtel and son-in-law Henry Reece. Wits: George Passmore, John Michener.

Henry Antes, an influential settler, came to the township early in 1730.

His career is sketched elsewhere.

Frederick Reimer came from the Palatinate. He arrived in the ship "Thistle," and the declaration at Philadelphia on the 29th of August, 1730. On the 22d January, 1731, he purchased of Henry Pannybacker one hundred acres, and on the 6th of August, 1736, of Joseph Groff, forty-one acres, one hundred and six and a half perches, both tracts on Society Run. On the 29th of March, 1735, he was naturalized by act of Assembly. He died early in 1758. His wife's name was Elizabeth.

Their children were

Elizabeth

Salome, born April 15, 1719, in the Palatinate, married John Herger and died November 24, 1800

Susanna

Barbara

John Peter, married, November 28, 1752, Rachel Zieber

Johannes, married, January 23, 1760, Maria Catharina Kuntz

Ludwig, married, September 11, 1763, Susanna Kuntz

Anna Margaret

Catharina

Elizabeth, married, Solomon Grimley.

John Miller, husbandman, on the 10th of August, 1732, bought of Humphrey Morrey and John Budd one hundred and twenty-five acres between Swamp Creek and Society Run at the confluence of these streams. He was a practitioner of medicine. He was married, in 1732, to Elizabeth Frey, born in 1717, and a daughter of Henry and Anna Catharine Frey, maiden name, Levering.

Their children were

Catharine, born November 8, 1733, married Henry Happel

Salome, born September 7, 1735, married Daniel Knauss

Elizabeth, born January 24, 1737, married Jacob Eckel

John, born February 7, 1738

Anna, born November 2, 1739, married John Marburger

Joseph, born November 2, 1740

Henry, born May 8, 1742

Anna Maria, born in November, 1744

______, died in infancy

Magdalena, born November 12, 1747

Jacob, born November 17, 1749

John Philip, born November, 1751

Christian.

Dr. Miller died September 16, 1755; his widow died in 1758.

The early settlers were mostly Germans. Their descendants and the present inhabitants retain the German language in the modified form known as the Pennsylvania-German dialect

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1819

Heir Sarah Frey N:92 9 11 1763 7 1 1764 Remarks: James Dunn. Hatfield. Co. of Phila. Yeoman. 9 Nov 1763. 7 Jan 1764. Friends: Jonathan, Kezia, Sarah and Jacob Frey. Exec.: Jacob Frey. N:92.

Heir Jacob Frey N:92 9 11 1763 7 1 1764 Remarks: James Dunn. Hatfield. Co. of Phila. Yeoman. 9 Nov 1763. 7 Jan 1764. Friends: Jonathan, Kezia, Sarah and Jacob Frey. Exec.: Jacob Frey. N:92.

Heir Jonathan Frey N:92 9 11 1763 7 1 1764 Remarks: James Dunn. Hatfield. Co. of Phila. Yeoman. 9 Nov 1763. 7 Jan 1764. Friends: Jonathan, Kezia, Sarah and Jacob Frey. Exec.: Jacob Frey. N:92.

Witness Johannes Frey K:457 24 7 1756 18 9 1756 Remarks: Penter, Jacob. Co. of Philadelphia. Cordwainer. July 24, 1756. Sept. 18, 1756. Children: Elias, Jacob, George, Mary Elizabeth, wife of Philip Fidler, Catherine, wife of Bernhard Gilbert, Anne and Mary. Exec: Wife, Eve and son-in-law Bernhard Gilbert.

. Witness John Frey J:254 29 3 1749 12 5 1750 Remarks: Shindler, Yost. Francony, Co. of Philadelphia. March 29, 1749/50. May 12, 1750. Sister's children in Germany. Cousins: Yost Pfannenkuenen, Hartman Tettermer and Margarett Tettermer. Exec: Hartman Fetterer.

Pennsylvania German Pioneers

In the first period, namely from 1680 to 1708, some came by chance, among whom was one Henry Frey, whose wife is said to be still living. He came about the year 1680. About the same time some Low Germans from Cleve sailed across the ocean, whose descendants are still to be found here, some of whom were baptized by us, others still live as Quakers.

Other Frey/Fry in PA.

Land: Family Name Index Vols. 1 - 8, by Township: Original Land Records Series for York County, PA THE CHANCEFORDS: CHANCEFORD AND LOWER CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIPS: COMPLETE COLONIAL FAMILY NAME INDEX

Fry, Peter

THE MANOR OF SPRINGETTSBURY - COMPLETE COLONIAL FAMILY NAME INDEX

Fray, Godfrey Fray, Martin Fray, Tobias Fred, Peter Frederick, Philip Freed, Jacob Frey, Peter Fries, Jacob Fries, John Fries, Simon

SHREWSBURY AND SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIPS - FULL COLONIAL FAMILY NAME INDEX

Fry, John

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