Charles Friend (abt. 1730 - abt. 1811)

Born about 1730 in Rockingham County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel (Tackett) Friend — married 20 Sep 1783 in Virginia, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1 Nov 1811 at about age 81 in Monroe, Virginia (now WV), United States

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Biography

Charles Friend was born in Chester County, PA (now Delaware County) circa 1733 (Alternate birth dates: 1730, 1731), the son of frontiersman and pioneer Israel Friend (abt.1693-abt.1749) and his wife Sarah House (maiden name unknown) of Frederick County, Maryland. Israel was Sarah's first husband, her second being John Valentine House, Jr., of Maryland.

Both Charles's father and grandfather were on good term with the native populations, so much so that in 1725 Israel was appointed by the Governor of Maryland as Ambassador to the Shawnee. At the time of his birth Charles and his family were the only known white settlers on the Upper Potomac, their cabin being near Andahetam (Antietam), the infamous Civil War battlefield. Family lore has it that Israel was with the party of surveyors that set the Fairfax Stone.

Charles was likely named after his father's brother, who also lived not far from the family at Williamsport, Maryland.

Charles was believed to be 19 or 20 when his father died in 1750, and yet, since Charles received 120 acres outright in Israel's Will without having to wait until he reached the age of adulthood, it's possible that he was a bit older.

Family genealogists believe that he had at least four children.

At some point in his adult life, Charles sold his land on the Potomac and moved south to Monroe County, Virginia, living there until his death in 1811. According to Van Pontius, of Union, Monroe, Charles was a tavern owner who's bar sat "on the southwest corner of [what is currently] Route 219, by the stop sign." At the time of his tavern this corner consisted of "lots 3 and 4 in Union."

Friend must have had some sort of relationship with the family of Charles Brooking (abt.1757-aft.1817), also of Monroe: Friend provided marriage bond surety for Nancy Brooking, (daughter of Charles) in her December 1803 marriage to William Lawrence. A month earlier Charles himself provided surety for his daughter Susanna's marriage to William Lawrence's brother John; perhaps Charles simply could not cover two bonds in one month, and Charles Friend stepped in to help.

For more on the ancestors of Charles Friend, and for sourcing please see the Wilkitree profile for his father Israel.

Sources

• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/i/g/Joy-Riggleman/GENE6-0010.html
• US Marriage Records, 1590-1900, Ancestry Family Data Collection