Jeremiah Collins Fraser (1763 - 1847)

Born 20 Jan 1763 in Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Husband of Jerusha Nancy (Day) Fraser — married 1790 in Addison, Addison, Vermont, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Aug 1847 at age 84 in Oswego, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lynn Gerdes [send private message]

• This person is a "dead end" so far with no parents found. Any information / leads greatly appreciated!

Biography

• Jeremiah Frazer was born on 20 Jan 1763 in Scotch Plains, NY ^[1] to unknown parents.

Military Service

• He joined the N.J. Militia in 1775, age 12/13 in Scotch Plains, NJ under Capt David Palmer / Col James Holmes, serving for one year (two six month enlistements). He was discharged in Dec and in 1776 he joined the 1st Regiment of the N.Y. Line commanded by Col Van Schaick (Capt John Graham).

• Information from Compiled Revolutionary War Service Records includes monthly rolls and date he was taken POW (23 Jul 1779). Pages 1389-1425 ^{[2][3] [4]}

• Jeremiah's name was erroneously returned on a list of the dead and in 1784 a will was recorded for him in the state of New York^[5]

• In 1794, a US War Bounty Land Warrant is recorded and is signed with the same signature as on his pension record. Unfortunately this record is largely illegible^[6] The warrant number is 14058. It may have been executed in Middlebury, VT.

• On 25 Sept 1832, Jeremiah applied for pension. This application outlines his service, places he lived between his time as a POW and the date of application, and that he joined at roughly age 13 but that he has no documents proving his birth date.^[7]
  • There are 81 pages of hand written documents in this file.
  • Pension application narrative about where he lived, dates in brackets added, ? where text is difficult to read: “...And kept imprisoned till the close of the war [1783], that he was then released, that he went from there ?to a place? called Bay of Chateau below Quibbons remained there three or four years [thru 1791?], then returned back to Lake Champlain at Ticonderoga, remained there about three years [thru 1794?], then returned to New Jersey about one year [1795?] returned to Lake Champlain and had lived in ?Orwell, ?Shoreham, ?Ferrisburgh, [and] Bristol in the state of Vermont ?removed to Champion in New York lived here ? years one year at ?Caughnawaga? then to Kingston, ?NY? Canada then in Bastard then to Morristown where he has resided the last four years [since 1828?]”
  • This collection of documents also includes correspondence from Eva Briggs (author of Genealogy of the Coles and Allied families). She states she believes the “Collins” listed as a child may actually be Collin Jeremiah b. 1796 in ??ville Canada, d. 1883. She wrote several times in the early 1900's requesting any other information from his pension/enlistment paperwork however the Department told her they did not have the manpower to copy all of his documents for her. She also states Jeremiah escaped from captivity and stayed in Canada until after 1812. His pension statements state he remained captive until the end of the war. (listed above).
  • Also included are documents from his son Joseph requested the pension be continued to support his sister who could not support herself.
  • There is a note, under where his children are listed, saying his parents names not stated.

• Jeremiah is listed in a few Daughters of the American Revolution applications ^[8] and in a couple Sons of the American Revolution applications^[9]

• A Fort Plank/Fort Plain website lists Jeremiah Frazer: “JEREMIAH FRAZER, RWPA #S13093. He was born at Scotch Plains, New Jersey on January 20, 1763. He died in Oswego Township, Oswego County, New York on August 16, 1847. He served as a private in Captain David Palmer's Company [sic] of Colonel [James] Holmes Regiment and was engaged in the Battle of Saint Johns. In 1778 he enlisted in Captain John Graham's Company of the First New York Regiment and states his regiment marched to Johnstown and Fort Stanwix in 1778. While out from Fort Stanwix on July 28, 1778 he and 24 others were out to cut hay under the command of Lieutenant William Skudder and were surprised by a party of Indians under the command of a Frenchman. Jeremiah states six of Skudder's Company were killed and the remainder carried to Caughnawaga and held there until the war's end. Frazer also fought in the Battle of Monmouth.” This seems to be a very brief summary of his pension application.^[10]

Post Revolutionary War

• After the war, it seems Jeremiah moved around quite a bit according to his pension file, however he is found on 29 years worth of censuses from Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario. At some point he married Jerusha Nancy Day likely before the birth of their first child (Diadama? born about 1792).

• Jeremiah and his family are found in the Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario census records for the following years:
  • In 1801, Jeremiah and Jerusha with their children Diaidama, Collins, William, Jeremiah Jr, and Daniel. Last name transcribed as "Trasher"^[11]Image^[12]
  • In 1803, Jeremiah (32) and Jerusha (30) with their children Diadama (11), Catharine (ikely should be Collins) (7), William (6), Jeremiah Jr (4), and David (2).^[13] Jerusha's family (the Days) are also listed in the 1803 census. (As a note, Jeremiah would have been 40 this year, given a birth date of 1763)
  • In 1806, Jeremiah and "Rusa" (Jerusha?) with their children Collins, Diana, Jeremiah Jr., and Wm. (William).^[14] Image^[15]
  • In 1814, Jeremiah Fraser with family composition of 1 male between 50-60, 1 female (presumed adult), 3 males between 0-16, and 3 female children.^[16]
  • In 1818, Jeremiah Fraser with family composition of 1 male between 50-60, 1 female (assumed adult), 2 males between 0-16, and 2 female children. His son, Daniel (16-50) is living separately.^[17]
  • In 1820, Jeremiah Fraser with family composition of 1 male, 1 female, 3 male children, and 3 female children. Sons William and Jeremiah Jr. are living separately.^[18]
  • in 1821, Jeremiah T? (note says Fraser?) with family composition of 1 male, 1 female, 4 male children, 3 female children. Son Jeremiah listed separately.^[19]
  • In 1823, Jeremiah Fraser with family composition of 1 male adult, 1 female adult, 2 male children, 2 female children. Son Joseph living separately.^[20]
  • In 1825, 2 Jeremiahs are listed on the Bastard census. This census doesn't seem to differentiate his son as Jr. The family compositions are listed as
    • 1 adult male, 1 adult female, 4 males between 0-16, 4 females 0-16
    • 1 adult male, 1 adult female, 1 male between 0-16, and 1 female 0-16^[21]
  • In 1826, there are again two Jeremiahs:
    • 1 adult male, 1 adult female, 1 male between 0-16, and 2 females between 0-16.
    • 2 males over 16, 2 females over 16, and one female 0-16.^[22]
  • In 1827, Jeremiah Frasure with family composition of 2 males over 16, 2 females over 16, and 1 female 0-16. Jeremiah Jr. listed separately.^[23] Of note, the last name is spelled "Frasure" on this record.
  • In 1832 Jeremiah Frasure Sr's family is listed as 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16, one female over 16, and 4 females under 16.^[24]
• The Bastard Township censuses were all found linked from Ontario GenWeb's Census Project page^[25]These census records are all transcripts.
• Images of some of the census records can be found on the OntarioGenWeb > Leeds & Grenville GenWeb > Census webpage ^[26]

• In Sons and Daughters of the Loyalists in Ontario, pg 124 ^[27], Jeremiah Fraser's children are listed as: Jeremiah of Bastard, Collins of Bastard, William of Bastard, Daniel of Bastard, Joseph of Bastard, Charlotte (Chatterton), Jerusha, and Mary (Stevens).
• In his pension paperwork, children are listed as: Collins, William, Daniel, James, Jerusha, Charlotte Chatterton, Polly Burtch, and Joseph born Mar 13 1803.
  • Believe Mary Stevens and Polly Burtch to be the same person - working on this person.
  • In census records, a daughter Diadama is listed - is this Charlotte or Jerusha?
  • Is James from the pension paperwork actually Jeremiah?
  • In 1803, a son David is listed, this may be Daniel.

• Jeremiah died on 16 Aug 1847, in Oswego, NY. (date of death in pension paperwork linked previously) He is buried at Black Lake Cemetery in Morristown, NY ^[28]- No obituary has been found.

• His final will was recorded 22 Oct 1847^[29]

Research Notes

• A Genealogy of the Coles and Allied Families ^[30] has a reference to Jeremiah’s parents, however is likely in error. It says his father “was Simon, son of David (b. 1646), who was the son of Reverend James Fraser of Brae (b. 1610?).” This suggests his grandfather and father must have been much older than usual at their son's births (1646 – Simon birth date unknown – Jeremiah in 1763).
  • Several other texts contradict this, saying Rev James Fraser of Brae left no male issue. One example is the Historical Account of the family of Fraser or Frisel ^[31]
  • If the information in Coles and Allied families is correct about his mother dying when he was young, we would be looking for a female who died prior to 1775.
  • He possibly had a brother, Simon, born in 1760
  • Coles and Allied families says Simon came to the Colonies before the revolt against Great Britain. It says Simon married the daughter of natives of Scotland who came to the Colonies before Simon’s arrival.
  • States he married Nancy Day prior to 1790, no supporting information given.

• Mother: Probably born between 1713 and 1750 (would put her between 13 and 50 at Jeremiah’s birth in 1763. Very unlikely she was as old as 50 at his birth). If Coles and Allied families is correct, she was born in the Colonies to Scottish immigrants.

• A Jeremiah Fraser is listed on a muster roll in 1785 in New Carlisle, Ontario ^[32] - unsure this is same Jeremiah. (line F827)

• A Jeremiah Fraser is mentioned on a Vermont History and Genealogy website ^[33] Unsure if this is same Jeremiah, however given he married a Jerusha/Nancy day it’s plausible. This site says he arrived in Bristol, VT in 1795.

• An 1830 Census from NY Ward 13 shows a possible J Frazier, however the ages are off to be this Jeremiah (oldest male is 30-39) ^[34]

• An 1840 Census from Hammond, NY (10 miles from Morristown), shows a Jeremiah Fraser (male age 70-79), living with assumed wife (female age 60-69), a female (20-29), and a female (10-14). ^[35]

• A land grant for 500 acres was recorded in NY in 1791 for a Jeremiah Frazer, according to an index^[36]

• Wood and Day surnames found on census records for 1801^[37]

• Revolutionary War info regarding supplies and clothing^[38]
• The New Jersey Soldier^[39]

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data:Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C. // accessed online 6 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1995/images/MIUSA1775D_135600-00233?pId=21863
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data:View Sources. // accessed online 6 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1309/images/MIUSA1775C_116866-01416
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data:Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls; 602384; War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; The National Archives in Washington, D.C. // accessed online 6 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/4282/images/miusa1775a_113614-00534?pId=1169264
4. ↑ National Archives; Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Soldiers who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War; Record Group Title: War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records; Record Group Number: 93; Series Number: M881; NARA Roll Number: 653 // accessed online 6 Sept - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1309/images/MIUSA1775C_116866-01429?pId=144349 2022
5. ↑ //accessed online 23 Sep 2022 - Source Citation Letters of Administration (New York County, New York), 1743-1866; Index, 1743-1910; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (New York County); Probate Place: New York, New York Description Notes: Letters, Vol 002, 1784-1786 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005522881_00121?usePUB=true&pId=2094059
6. ↑ Warrant Range: 13400-14220 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., War Bounty Land Warrants, 1789-1858 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. // accessed online 23 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1165/images/miusa1788_057948-00765?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=9bae831c70c45b69d7494e95ba10b62a&usePUB=true&_phsrc=llj3198&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=78707
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data:Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C. // accessed online 6 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1995/images/MIUSA1775D_135600-00220?pId=21863, pages 204-284
8. ↑ https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A041978
9. ↑ https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/161731
10. ↑ https://www.fort-plank.com/Additional_Partisans_A_G.html
11. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4365-1.html
12. ↑ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/images/leeds-census-bastard_kitley_1801_2_7.jpg
13. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4668-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
14. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/926-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
15. ↑ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/images/leeds-census-bastard_1806_2_2.jpg
16. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4671-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
17. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4673-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
18. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4674-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
19. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4754-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
20. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4675-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
21. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4432-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
22. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4666-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
23. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4679-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
24. ↑ http://geneofun.on.ca/ontariocensus/transcripts/pre1851/4682-1.html, accessed online 23 Sep 2022
25. ↑ http://www.geneofun.on.ca/db.php?database=ogwcensus&template=ogwcensus-online.html&search=URL&find=/pre1851&sort=COUNTY,TWP,YEAR
26. ↑ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/research-census.html, accessed online 7 Nov 2022
27. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/49231/images/FLHG_LoyalistsinOntario-0124?pId=61853
28. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86490041/jeremiah-collins-frazer
29. ↑ Probate Records (Oswego County, New York), 1816-1915; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Oswego County); Probate Place: Oswego, New York Description Notes: Letters Test and Admin, Vol A-B, 1825-1849 // accessed online 23 Sep 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005116299_00291?pId=2744233
30. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/17261/images/dvm_GenMono003360-00077-1?pId=151
31. ↑ https://archive.org/details/historicalaccoun1825ande/page/170/mode/2up?view=theater
32. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/48451/images/OntarioSettlers-002345-118?pId=352749
33. ↑ https://vermontgenealogy.wordpress.com/?s=William+Day
34. ↑ Year: 1830; Census Place: New York Ward 13, New York, New York; Series: M19; Roll: 98; Page: 410; Family History Library Film: 0017158 // accessed 6 Sept 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4410628_00804?treeid=184037350&personid=182399040381&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=llj2623&_phstart=successSource&pId=2184544
35. ↑ Year: 1840; Census Place: Hammond, Saint Lawrence, New York; Roll: 334; Page: 87; Family History Library Film: 0017204 // accessed online 6 Sept 2022 - https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/184037350/person/182399040381/hints
36. ↑ accessed online 4 Oct 2022 - Ancestry.com. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1998. // https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/49315/images/FLHG_RevWarBountyLandGrants-0216?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=FlT13&_phstart=successSource&pId=90161&rcstate=FLHG_RevWarBountyLandGrants-0215%3A1168%2C3224%2C1299%2C3259
37. ↑ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/images/leeds-census-bastard_kitley_1801_6_7.jpg
38. ↑ https://www.fortticonderoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Holmes-4th-NY.pdf
39. ↑ https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/Revolution/Soldier.pdf

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86490041/jeremiah_collins-frazer: accessed February 23, 2024), memorial page for Jeremiah Collins Frazer Sr. (20 Jan 1763–16 Aug 1847), Find a Grave Memorial ID 86490041, citing Black Lake Cemetery, Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA; Maintained by glenstreet (contributor 47219576).
• Book: A Genealogy of the Coles and Allied Families, by Eva Grace Fraser Briggs, 1928. Note: I have found significant errors in this book. The author has Jeremiah's line descended from the Rev. James Fraser of Brea (1639-1699) who in reality, apparently died without any male issue who lived to adulthood.