Line in Record @I0394@ (RIN 337291) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FA1
NOTE: All of the names furthor back on this line came from WFT Vol. 45, Tree 2022. Jeffrey Sarivano of Colorado Springs, CO. says he'll mail me what he has. 7 June 2000There is a tradition in the Fretz family which tells the story of 3 brothers that fled from
the Baden, the Grand Duchy of Manheim, Germany, because of religious persecution; but it is not known what became of 2 of them. John Fretz, of Lancaster Co., could not have been one of these brothers, as the persecution took place many years before he was born; but his father, it is quite probable, may have been one of the brothers.On the other hand, the tradition of the Bucks Co., Fretz's ancestors is that 3 brothers fled from Germany because of the religious persecutions, and that one of them died on the voyage; The other 2, Christian and John, landed and settled in Bucks Co., PA. The same year, John Fretz of Lancaster Co., settled in Welland Co., Canada, John Fretz of Haycock Twp., Bucks Co., PA. (son of Weaver John Fretz), settled in Lincoln Co., Canada.. It is said that Jacob Fretz, son of Lancaster John, visited them, but the could establish no mutual relationship.
A Brief Fretz Family History of John and Christian Fretz and a complete Genealogical Register was written by Rev. A.J. Fretz of Milton, N.J. ( I couldn't find the town)
Mennonite Publishing Co., Elkhart, Indiana, 15 Aug. 1890,
Begun in 1872- actual work in seriousness-1888
THE FRETZ FAMILY HISTORYThe brothers, John and Christian Fretz, together with a third brother, (name unknown, and who died on the voyage) emigrated from near the city of Manheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. This was formerly known as the Palatinate, or Rheinish Prussia. Baden, is the site where the early Roman conquerors built the hot baths.
The Fretz ancestors are of German origin, as is quite evident from the fact that they wrote and spoke the German language, and were connected with a distinctively German church.
The Mennonite Church, of which Menno Simon, (a Hollander by birth), was it's founder, had it's rise in Holland. Eventually this religion spread to the adjoining countries of Germany and Switzerland, where they became quite numerous.The Fretz family lived on the opposite side of the Rhine, in the province of Alsatia. Many are still there today, living where they have lived for the past 3 or 4 centuries. Since they are of Alsatian stock, they claim to be true Germans.
The province of Alsatia was annexed to France, in 1648. Prior to that time it was always under German dominion. But, since the French language was exclusively taught in the schools, the language is spoken with a German dialect, with decided variations in different localities.
At what port the Fretz ancestors landed, or the exact date of their arrival into the country, is not known. It had to have been between 1710 and 1720. It is said that they came to this country during what was known as "The Last Persecution". They were given the alternative of connecting themselves with the State Church, or leave the country. They chose to leave their "Fatherland", the land of their birth, their homes, families and friends, and the graves of their kindred dead. They found themselves a home in a strange and far off land, where they could worship God "under their own vine and fig tree," according to the dictates of their own conscience, without fear of molestation.
Undoubtedly, they had heard that America afforded a refuge for the oppressed and granted religious liberty to all it's subjects. So, it was only natural that they would become citizens of this great liberty loving country. How we, of today, should prize this liberty! Think of what our ancestors sacrificed, so that their children and progenies, could enjoy it. How they left their native land, to seek a home in the wilderness of this new land.
America was sparsely settled and the inconveniences were great. The equally dangerous Redmen still inhabited this country. The Fretz's were living through a period in which a war led to the Revolution. Their children were settled with families, during this bloody struggle for independence. Since the Fretz'z were non-combatants, they were still true and loyal to the American cause. They aided it as best they could, without compromising their religious faith by bearing arms.
Our ancestors and their immediate descendants were Mennonites, who worshipped at Deep Run, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At first in an old log church, which was probably built in 1746, and later in the old stone church, built in 1766, and stood well over 100 years. They no doubt aided in the erecting of this church, both by contributing of their means and labor, and eventually to their final resting place in the adjoining graveyard.
It is not known, which of the 2 brothers was the eldest. No record of birth have been found for them. Christian, settled in Tinicum Township, in Bucks County, along Tinicum Creek, on what is known as Heaney's Mill. It is not known where John Fretz first settled. Later he settled on the Plumstead Township, but is now Bedminster. It was owned later by Ely Fretz and was then passed on to his son, Malon M. Fretz.
This homestead originally consisted of 230 acres of land, which John purchased from Bartholomew Londstreth in 1737 or 1738. He paid 106 pounds for it, and taking possession of it in May 1738. It already had a barn, house and other buildings on it and was surrounded on all sides by vacant and unimproved wild land. A veritable wilderness. The homestead now includes the whole or part of four farms. Samuel High's 69 acres, Ely Fretz's 57 acres, Isaac L. Fretz's 44 acres and Reuben Miller's 60 acres.
John Fretz was a weaver by trade. He was called "Weaver John" by all who knew him.
He was on a special committee that formed the new Township of Bedminster in 1741. He was married twice, but the maiden names of his wives are unknown. He had 5 children by his first wife, Barbara and 3 by his second wife, Maria. If there were more, they probably died young.
John Fretz, our first ancestor to the Colonies, was know as "Weaver John", because of his profession.John Fretz died in 1772, probably in February, because his last will and Testament was dated on 29 Jan. 1772 and was probated on 3 Mar. 1772
Weaver John's Will
In John's Will, it made the provision for his son Christian to have the farm, and paid 600 pounds. Each of the children were to have equal shares of money, except the children by his first marriage received an additional 60 pounds each, that came from their Grandfather's estate on his first wife's side of the family. The widow received the interest on 100 pounds for as long as she remained his widow. She was to have the house in which George White lived, at the time of John's death. His son was to finish off the house and buile a stable on it for 2 cows. The son should give his mother 11 bushels of grain, half rye and half wheat, and to sow yearly 1 acre of Buckwheat, 1/2 acre of flax and 1/2 acre of Indian corn. His wife should have a row of apple trees, the 4th row from the barn. She shall have all of the bed, clothes and furniture. She is to have the iron pot and 2 pails, and all of the household goods that she brought into the marriage. She shall have the liberty of cutting sufficient firewood on his place, for as long as she remains his widow.
(The Ziegenhain Gene. has only 2 of their children listed, John and Jacob Fretz.)
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.34053.0]
Individual: John Fretz
Place: Pennsylvania
Year: 1710-1720Primary Individual: Fretz, John
Family Members: Brother Christian
Source Code: 8042
Source Name:
SCHELBERT, LEO, and SANDRA LUEBKING. "Swiss Mennonite Family Names: An Annotated Checklist." In Pennsylvania Folklife, vol. 26:4 (Summer 1977), pp. 2-24.Source Annotation:
Date and place of arrival or settlement. Periodical published by Pennsylvania Folklife Society, P.O. Box 92, Collegeville, PA, 19426. Also see no. 9968 below.Source Page #: 10
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.34053.1]Individual: John Fretz
Place: Pennsylvania
Year: 1710-1720Primary Individual: Fretz, John
Family Members: Brother Christian
Source Code: 9968
Source Name:
YODER, DON. Rhineland Emigrants: Lists of German Settlers in Colonial America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. 170p.Source Annotation:
Composed of 24 articles excerpted and reprinted from Pennsylvania Folklife. Especially important because of the difficulty in finding early numbers of this periodical.Source Page #: 130
Marriage Notes for John Fretz and MARIA-337083
Line in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0127@ (MRIN 124491) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL Natural
Line in Record @I0394@ (RIN 337291) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FA1
NOTE: All of the names furthor back on this line came from WFT Vol. 45, Tree 2022. Jeffrey Sarivano of Colorado Springs, CO. says he'll mail me what he has. 7 June 2000There is a tradition in the Fretz family which tells the story of 3 brothers that fled from
the Baden, the Grand Duchy of Manheim, Germany, because of religious persecution; but it is not known what became of 2 of them. John Fretz, of Lancaster Co., could not have been one of these brothers, as the persecution took place many years before he was born; but his father, it is quite probable, may have been one of the brothers.On the other hand, the tradition of the Bucks Co., Fretz's ancestors is that 3 brothers fled from Germany because of the religious persecutions, and that one of them died on the voyage; The other 2, Christian and John, landed and settled in Bucks Co., PA. The same year, John Fretz of Lancaster Co., settled in Welland Co., Canada, John Fretz of Haycock Twp., Bucks Co., PA. (son of Weaver John Fretz), settled in Lincoln Co., Canada.. It is said that Jacob Fretz, son of Lancaster John, visited them, but the could establish no mutual relationship.
A Brief Fretz Family History of John and Christian Fretz and a complete Genealogical Register was written by Rev. A.J. Fretz of Milton, N.J. ( I couldn't find the town)
Mennonite Publishing Co., Elkhart, Indiana, 15 Aug. 1890,
Begun in 1872- actual work in seriousness-1888
THE FRETZ FAMILY HISTORYThe brothers, John and Christian Fretz, together with a third brother, (name unknown, and who died on the voyage) emigrated from near the city of Manheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. This was formerly known as the Palatinate, or Rheinish Prussia. Baden, is the site where the early Roman conquerors built the hot baths.
The Fretz ancestors are of German origin, as is quite evident from the fact that they wrote and spoke the German language, and were connected with a distinctively German church.
The Mennonite Church, of which Menno Simon, (a Hollander by birth), was it's founder, had it's rise in Holland. Eventually this religion spread to the adjoining countries of Germany and Switzerland, where they became quite numerous.The Fretz family lived on the opposite side of the Rhine, in the province of Alsatia. Many are still there today, living where they have lived for the past 3 or 4 centuries. Since they are of Alsatian stock, they claim to be true Germans.
The province of Alsatia was annexed to France, in 1648. Prior to that time it was always under German dominion. But, since the French language was exclusively taught in the schools, the language is spoken with a German dialect, with decided variations in different localities.
At what port the Fretz ancestors landed, or the exact date of their arrival into the country, is not known. It had to have been between 1710 and 1720. It is said that they came to this country during what was known as "The Last Persecution". They were given the alternative of connecting themselves with the State Church, or leave the country. They chose to leave their "Fatherland", the land of their birth, their homes, families and friends, and the graves of their kindred dead. They found themselves a home in a strange and far off land, where they could worship God "under their own vine and fig tree," according to the dictates of their own conscience, without fear of molestation.
Undoubtedly, they had heard that America afforded a refuge for the oppressed and granted religious liberty to all it's subjects. So, it was only natural that they would become citizens of this great liberty loving country. How we, of today, should prize this liberty! Think of what our ancestors sacrificed, so that their children and progenies, could enjoy it. How they left their native land, to seek a home in the wilderness of this new land.
America was sparsely settled and the inconveniences were great. The equally dangerous Redmen still inhabited this country. The Fretz's were living through a period in which a war led to the Revolution. Their children were settled with families, during this bloody struggle for independence. Since the Fretz'z were non-combatants, they were still true and loyal to the American cause. They aided it as best they could, without compromising their religious faith by bearing arms.
Our ancestors and their immediate descendants were Mennonites, who worshipped at Deep Run, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At first in an old log church, which was probably built in 1746, and later in the old stone church, built in 1766, and stood well over 100 years. They no doubt aided in the erecting of this church, both by contributing of their means and labor, and eventually to their final resting place in the adjoining graveyard.
It is not known, which of the 2 brothers was the eldest. No record of birth have been found for them. Christian, settled in Tinicum Township, in Bucks County, along Tinicum Creek, on what is known as Heaney's Mill. It is not known where John Fretz first settled. Later he settled on the Plumstead Township, but is now Bedminster. It was owned later by Ely Fretz and was then passed on to his son, Malon M. Fretz.
This homestead originally consisted of 230 acres of land, which John purchased from Bartholomew Londstreth in 1737 or 1738. He paid 106 pounds for it, and taking possession of it in May 1738. It already had a barn, house and other buildings on it and was surrounded on all sides by vacant and unimproved wild land. A veritable wilderness. The homestead now includes the whole or part of four farms. Samuel High's 69 acres, Ely Fretz's 57 acres, Isaac L. Fretz's 44 acres and Reuben Miller's 60 acres.
John Fretz was a weaver by trade. He was called "Weaver John" by all who knew him.
He was on a special committee that formed the new Township of Bedminster in 1741. He was married twice, but the maiden names of his wives are unknown. He had 5 children by his first wife, Barbara and 3 by his second wife, Maria. If there were more, they probably died young.
John Fretz, our first ancestor to the Colonies, was know as "Weaver John", because of his profession.John Fretz died in 1772, probably in February, because his last will and Testament was dated on 29 Jan. 1772 and was probated on 3 Mar. 1772
Weaver John's Will
In John's Will, it made the provision for his son Christian to have the farm, and paid 600 pounds. Each of the children were to have equal shares of money, except the children by his first marriage received an additional 60 pounds each, that came from their Grandfather's estate on his first wife's side of the family. The widow received the interest on 100 pounds for as long as she remained his widow. She was to have the house in which George White lived, at the time of John's death. His son was to finish off the house and buile a stable on it for 2 cows. The son should give his mother 11 bushels of grain, half rye and half wheat, and to sow yearly 1 acre of Buckwheat, 1/2 acre of flax and 1/2 acre of Indian corn. His wife should have a row of apple trees, the 4th row from the barn. She shall have all of the bed, clothes and furniture. She is to have the iron pot and 2 pails, and all of the household goods that she brought into the marriage. She shall have the liberty of cutting sufficient firewood on his place, for as long as she remains his widow.
(The Ziegenhain Gene. has only 2 of their children listed, John and Jacob Fretz.)
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.34053.0]
Individual: John Fretz
Place: Pennsylvania
Year: 1710-1720Primary Individual: Fretz, John
Family Members: Brother Christian
Source Code: 8042
Source Name:
SCHELBERT, LEO, and SANDRA LUEBKING. "Swiss Mennonite Family Names: An Annotated Checklist." In Pennsylvania Folklife, vol. 26:4 (Summer 1977), pp. 2-24.Source Annotation:
Date and place of arrival or settlement. Periodical published by Pennsylvania Folklife Society, P.O. Box 92, Collegeville, PA, 19426. Also see no. 9968 below.Source Page #: 10
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.34053.1]Individual: John Fretz
Place: Pennsylvania
Year: 1710-1720Primary Individual: Fretz, John
Family Members: Brother Christian
Source Code: 9968
Source Name:
YODER, DON. Rhineland Emigrants: Lists of German Settlers in Colonial America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. 170p.Source Annotation:
Composed of 24 articles excerpted and reprinted from Pennsylvania Folklife. Especially important because of the difficulty in finding early numbers of this periodical.Source Page #: 130
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.74468.24]
Individual: Barbara Meyer
Place: Carolina
Year: 1734Primary Individual: Meyer, Barbara
Source Code: 2883
Source Name:
HALL, CHARLES M. "Pal-Index": A Surname Index of Eighteenth-Century Immigrants. Salt Lake City: Global Research Systems, 1979. 147p.Source Annotation:
Data on immigrants from France (Alsace-Lorraine), Switzerland, southern Germany, and some adjacent places, arriving between 1727 and 1775. "Palatines" was a term adopted from British merchants and the people of Philadelphia whose first contact with large migrations from continental Europe in the 1700s was with Palatines (Pfaelzer in German), people from the Palatinate (Pfalz). A third of the immigration in this period was from what later became Baden-Wuerttemberg. Information includes name, origin, date, place of settlement, and sometimes the religion. About 6,500 names gathered from about 50 sources.Source Page #: 76
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.74469.3]Individual: Barbara Meyer
Place: Carolina
Year: 1738Primary Individual: Meyer, Hans
Family Members: Wife Kljvree Huber; Child Regula; Child Jacob; Child Anna Margreth; Child Barbara; Child Verena
Source Code: 1952
Source Name:
FAUST, ALBERT BERNHARDT. Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: The National Genealogical Society, 1920. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1976. xi, 122p.Source Annotation:
Swiss emigrants from the Canton of Zurich to Carolina and Pennsylvania, 1734-1744, with index of surnames. About 2,000 persons listed. For nos. 1952 and 1960 in one volume, with Leo Schelbert's "Notes on Lists of Swiss Emigrants," see item. no. 8040.Source Page #: 86
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 3, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Sep 10, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.74469.7]Individual: Barbara Meyer
Place: Carolina or Pennsylvania
Year: 1771Primary Individual: Meyer, Hans Jacob
Family Members: Wife Elsbeth Wurtz; Child Hans Jacob; Child Barbara; Child
Source Code: 1960
Source Name:
FAUST, ALBERT BERNHARDT, and GAIUS MARCUS BRUMBAUGH. Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies. Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: The National Genealogical Society, 1925. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1976. ix, 243p.Source Annotation:
Contains lists of emigrants from the Cantons of Bern and Basel, 1709-1795, taken from the official archives of those cities. Items nos. 1952 and 1960, with Leo Schelbert's "Notes on Lists of Swiss Emigrants" from item no. 8040, pp. 245-255, are all in the reprint in one volume.Source Page #: 175
Marriage Notes for John Fretz and Barbara MEYER-339761
Line in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_FREL NaturalLine in Record @F0126@ (MRIN 124482) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
_MREL Natural