Benjamin Frey (abt. 1696 - abt. 1753)

Born about 1696 in Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Regina Christine (Merckle) Frey — married 1720 (to Nov 1753) in Colebrookdale, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about Nov 1753 at about age 57 in Frederick, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Robert Moody [send private message] and Garritt Grandberg [send private message]

N.B. For Benjamin's bio before editing on 28 Jan 2020, click here.

Biography

N.B. I am changing Benjamin's yob from 1703 to 1696 so that it is in line with other information I have. If you have information and a source in re Benjamin's actual yob, please enter it here and notify me and/or one or both of the profile managers. Thank you. ( Patricia Prickett Hickin, 2 Dec 2018.)

Benjamin Frey^[1][2] was born about 1696 in Roxborough, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania],^[3][4] the fourth of twelve children and the fourth of eight sons of Heinrich and Anna Levering Frey.

Family of birth

Note in re Benjamin’s father

Proof that Benjamin was a son of Heinrich is roundabout. The diaries of Moravian missionaries mention "Benjamin Frey, the brother of William Frey of Faklner Swamp, PA". There is also a receipt signed by William Frey stating he had gotten his share of his father's, Heinrich Frey, estate from his brother Jacob. This William did live at Falkner Swamp in PA. If William was a son of Heinrich and brother to Benjamin, then Benjamin is also a son of Heinrich.

Heinrich Frey moved from Roxborough to Towamencin Creek in 1709 when Benjamin was a boy.

29 Nov 1732. Province of PA issued a warrant to Benjamin Frey for a tract of land situate on North Branch of Perkiomen Creek in the County of Philadelphia. This was the Falkner Swamp Area. The survey was done 30 Apr 1736. However, Benjamin had obviously been living there for several years because in 1728 Benjamin Fry, along with Jost Hite & other settlers of Falner Swamp petitioned the Governor of PA for protection from the Indians. The patent was not signed by Thomas Penn until 11 Feb 1740, PB A-9, p.173. Recorded 20 Mar 1740.

A list of Landholders of Philadelphia Co in 1734 includes Benjamin Fry with 100 acres, listed next to his brother-in-law, Jacob "Mirkle".

Benjamin received a patent from the Penns on 11 Feb 1740 for 100 acres on Perkiomen Creek in Montgomery Co PA adj Pennypacker's Mill on the north and the Pawling land on the south. [This may have been the confirmation of ownership needed for Benjamin to dispose of his Pennsylvania land.]

Removed to Virginia 1736-1739. They were likely Moravian.

The Freys settled on 168 acres on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, north of the present town of Woodstock. Benjamin's will indicated a bequest to his son Samuel of this 168 acres, "being the place that formerly was William Hovers". This land was situated within the bounds of the disputed land between Hite-McKay and Lord Fairfax. Benjamin Frey had first contracted with his brother-in-law Jost Hite and settled on the disputed land; he later also purchased title to the land from Hover to have a clear title from Lord Fairfax. This is likely where the Freys initially settled after departing Pennsylvania and before settling on Cedar Creek.

Benjamin moved to Frederick County, Virginia, in 1743. Christen Ann is buried with her husband in a family graveyard. It is through the Moravian Society that it is proven that Benjamin was a son of Heinrich and Anna Catherine. "We went to William Frey's brother Benjamin of Cedar Creek, and on hearing we were from Bethlehem they received us gladly, and nursed the sick Leonard very well. May the Lord reward them." There are several other entries mentioning William's brother Benjamin in their diaries. There is some proof that Christen Ann may have been a Markley.^[5]

June 1744, Benjamin Frey, Sr. bought 500 acres on Cedar Creek in Frederick County VA. Benjamin was already a resident of Frederick Co. when he made this purchase, probably on the North Shenandoah River, part of the 140,000 acre tract of Jost Hite, a former neighbor in Pennsylvania. The two story stone house built on Cedar Creek was known as Fry's Fort. When Shenandoah County VA was formed in 1772 part of Frye land was in that county. Cedar Creek is the boundary between Shenandoah/Frederick Counties and the land lay on both sides of Cedar Creek. Frye's Fort is on the Shenandoah side.

An article in the Frey Journal, Spring, 2001 attempts to locate the original land of Benjamin Frey. The land of Jost Hite's was disputed by Thomas Lord Fairfax resulting in a 35 year court battle. Benjamin appears to have had a tract in the Seven Bends area of the north Fork of the Shenandoah near the Bowmans. Fairfax also issued warrants for some of the same land forcing some of the Hite settlers to abandon their claims - among them Benjamin Frey. 168 acres of this North Fork land was sold by Lord Fairfax on 6 May 1749 to William Hubers. Benjamin repurchased this 168 acre tract as evidenced in his Will of 6 Nov 1753 as "the Place that Formerly was William Hovers". He willed the land to his son Samuel who received a deed from William Hubers & wife on 6 May 1755. This tract was some 25 miles from Benjamin Frey's home on Cedar Creek.

23 Jul 1747. Moravian missionaries Leonhard Schnell and Vitus Handrup visited with Benjamin Frey, William Frey's brother, at Cedar Creek. 9 Dec 1749 Schnell and John Brandmueller visited with Benjamin Frey; "Brandmueller had fallen in the Cedar Creek and had become wet, he had an opportunity at Frey's to dry himself."

Will dated Aug 27, 1753 and proved Nov 6, 1753. Wife Cristen to live with son Joseph on the remainder of the homestead [Abraham had previously been deeded 200 acres.] Jacob had already acquired a Fairfax patent for land downstream of his father. Joseph's deed shows his land bounded both his brother Abraham and Jacob. Executors: sons, Abraham and Henry. Names sons, Jacob, Samuel, Benjamin, William. Daughters: Cristen, Elizabeth. There were bequests of money to Jacob, Benjamin Jr, Cristin, William & Elizabeth - perhaps to equal the distribution to his children. Samuel inherited the 168 acre tract on the North Shanandoah River where he was probably living at the time. Son Henry is know to have owned property in the Capon Valley.

Benjamin Frey's original will is in the County Clerk's office. He signed the will himself in English but the letters appear to have been written with difficulty.

Benjamin and Christen are believed buried in the family cemetery on the original tract of land along Cedar Creek.

From Marti Frye: Benjamin moved to Frederick county, Virginia in 1743. Christen Ann is buried with her husband in a family graveyard. It is through the Moravian Society that it is proven that Benjamin was a son of Heinrich and Anna Catherine. "We went to William Frey's brother Benjamin of Cedar Creek, and on hearing we were from Bethlehem they received us gladly, and nursed the sick Leonard very well. May the Lord reward them." There are several other entries mentioning William's brother Benjamin in their diaries. There is some proof that Christen Ann may have been a Markley.

Benjamin was a farmer.

In 1717, 'Regina Christen at age 18, migrated to New York with her father Abraham Merkle, from Bonfeld, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.^[6]

In 1720, when he was in his mid-twenties, Benjamin married Regina Merckle in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, or Frederick County, Virginia.^[7].

She bore him ten known children, eight sons and two daughters:

1. Cristen Frey
2. Elizabeth Frey
3. Joseph Frey
4. Samuel Frey
5. William Frey
6. Abraham Frye
7. Henry Frye
8. Jacob Frye
9. Benjamin Frye
10. Christena Anna Frye.

Children of Benjamin & Christen Merkle Frey

1. Abraham Frey, Abraham Frey, born 1722, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died February 26, 1807, Fallowfield Twp., Washington County, Pennsylvania; married Agnes Ann Young about 1749. Alternate date of death: d. February 01, 1807.
2. Henry Frey, Henry Frey, born August 1724, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died April 13, 1812; married Fanny Littler 1758.
3. Jacob Frey, (iii) Jacob Frey, born 1726, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died February 25, 1808, Frederick County, Virginia; married Mary "Molly".
4. Joseph Frey, Joseph Frey, born about 1727, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died August 1781, Frederick County, Virginia; married Ann Funk. Alternate date of death: 1814.

1. Samuel Frey, Samuel Frey, born 1729, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died August 15, 1814, Washington County, Pennsylvania; married Christina Speers September 1767 in Frederick County, Virginia. Alternate year of birth: 1727.
2. Benjamin Frey, Benjamin Frey Jr., born 1731, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died June 20, 1812, Shelby County, Kentucky; married Catherine Speers.
3. Cristen Frey, Christena Anna Frey, born 1733, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died 1781; married Joseph Powell 1752, Frederick County, Virginia.
4. William Frey, William Frey, born 1735, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died 1796: married Rachel Speers.
5. Elizabeth Frey, Elizabeth Frey, born 1737, Perkiomen, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

In November 1753, when he was in his later fifties, he died in Frederick County, Virginia], of unknown causes.

:: Alternate death information: Frye's Fort, Frederick County, Virginia^[8][9][10]

Citations

1. ↑ Parish, Timothy, Parish Family Tree URL: http://www.gencircles.com/users/timothyparish/2/data/2403 Unable to access on 28 Jan 2020.
2. ↑ Scott, Wendy <wendyscott@comcast.net>, The Scott Family Home -- Scott/Cauffman Family Copyright 2000-2005 by Jeff & Wendy Scott. Site established on February 14, 2000 This page was last updated on November 11, 2004. URL: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jjswbs&id=I03855
3. ↑ Parish, Timothy, Parish Family Tree URL: http://www.gencircles.com/users/timothyparish/2/data/2403 Unable to access on 28 Jan 2020.
4. ↑ Scott, Wendy <wendyscott@comcast.net>, The Scott Family Home -- Scott/Cauffman Family Copyright 2000-2005 by Jeff & Wendy Scott. Site established on February 14, 2000 This page was last updated on November 11, 2004. URL: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jjswbs&id=I03855
5. ↑ From Marti Frye.
6. ↑ Arrival of Regina Christine and Abraham Merkle aka Merckle, 1717 in New York, NY.URL: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ckron&id=I47215
7. ↑ Parish, Timothy, Parish Family Tree URL: http://www.gencircles.com/users/timothyparish/2/data/2403 Unable to access on 28 Jan 2020.
8. ↑ Harry Wright, Internet Home Page: Levering/Frey URL: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/r/i/James-Harry-Wright/index.html Note: JAMES HARRY WRIGHT; 2326 MUSSEL SLOUGH ROAD; HANFORD, CALIFORNIA 93230 CONT 209-583-9242 jamesw@CnetEch.Com .
9. ↑ Parish, Timothy, Parish Family Tree URL: http://www.gencircles.com/users/timothyparish/2/data/2403 Unable to access on 28 Jan 2020.
10. ↑ Scott, Wendy <wendyscott@comcast.net>, The Scott Family Home -- Scott/Cauffman Family Copyright 2000-2005 by Jeff & Wendy Scott. Site established on February 14, 2000 This page was last updated on November 11, 2004. URL: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jjswbs&id=I03855

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Frey-264 was created through the import of Moody-Howell_2011-06-05.ged on Jun 11, 2011 by Robert Moody.

• WikiTree profile Frey-338 was created through the import of Lois for WikiTree.ged by Kay Haden on Oct 10, 2011.

• Benjamin Frey [Frey-338] was adopted by Jon Cunnyngham on Feb 19, 2013.

• Merged Benjamin Frey [Frey-642] into WikiTree profile Frey-338 on Feb 19, 2013.

Sources

As far as I can see the following URL: is apropos of nothing relevant to this Benjamin Frey: //wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jjswbs&id=I03855 Please notifyy me if you have information to the contrary. Thank you, (Patricia Prickett Hickin, 8 February 2020).

• Charles Burgess, correspondence and copies of Frye family papers. Copy of receipt from William Frey and his son Jacob, stating that he is the son of Henry Frey.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SB9R-RVD : accessed 2015-11-11), entry for Benjamin /Frye/.

• Jon Frye, frye Family Association Journal. (4356 Chippewa Trail, Jamestown, OH 45335) Issue 3, Aug 1993; p.11.

• Henderson L. "Hank" Adams, correspondence and copies of his Frey and Spears family records. 1008 Beachview Drive, Ft. Walton Beach FL 32547 (850) 862-4671

• Levering, John. Levering family; history and genealogy ([Indianapolis?] Levering historical Association, 1897). URL: https://archive.org/stream/leveringfamilyhi00byuleve#page/n0/mode/2up. PDF URL: https://ia902608.us.archive.org/16/items/leveringfamilyhi00byuleve/leveringfamilyhi00byuleve_bw.pdf. Accessed 23 July 2017 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.

• Parish, Timothy, Parish Family Tree URL: http://www.gencircles.com/users/timothyparish/2/data/2403 Unable to access on 28 Jan 2020.

• Scott, Wendy <wendyscott@comcast.net>, The Scott Family Home -- Scott/Cauffman Family Copyright 2000-2005 by Jeff & Wendy Scott. Site established on February 14, 2000 This page was last updated on November 11, 2004. URL: http

• Wright, James Harry, comp. Levering/Frey URL: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/r/i/James-Harry-Wright/index.html Unable to access on 27 Jan 2020.

Notes in re Sources

FTW Vol 2 #2004. Have requested submitter info - Nov. 1, 1996 - 12/96 - other sources as discussed below. Lots of conflicting info. FTW birth location clashes with Sole's data from letter to Yates which shows PA. Weir research also shows PA. Sole notes the wife of Benjamin as "Christen Ann".

Weir sources:

"History of Washington county", McFarland (related to Abraham) Hite's grant - 1st settler

Will book #2 p99 Frederick, VA - have copy - Names wife Cristen and all children in order of age. Dated 27 Aug 1752 and states that Benjamin was ill. Proved 6 Nov 1753. Appraised at ,920. Sold 00.95.