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Descendants of FRIEDRICH FREY

Generation No. 3

3. HEINRICH (HENRY)³ FREY (JACOB², FRIEDRICH¹) was born June 17, 1653 in ALTHEIM, PROVINCE OF ALSACE LORAINE, GERMANY, and died 1734 in ZEIGLERVILLE, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA. He married ANNA CATHERINE (LEVERING) FREY April 26, 1692 in GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA¹, daughter of JOHN LEVERING and MAGDALENA LEVERING.

Notes for HEINRICH (HENRY) FREY:
HEINRICH FRY CAME TO AMERICA FROM ALTHEIM, ALSACE-LORRAINE, GERMANY/FRANCE, ON BOARD THE SHIP MARKUS, WITH CAPTAIN SOUDER, MASTER. THEY ARRIVED IN THE SOUTH RIVER OF THE DELAWARE, IN ABOUT THE YEAR 1680. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 YEAR BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP OF GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA WAS ESTABLISHED.

IT IS SAID OF HEINRICH FRY, THAT HE CAME TO AMERICA, BEFORE WILLIAM PENN....AND MNARRIED IN 1692, IN THE NEW LOG CHRUCH IN GERMANTOWN, ANNA CATHERINE LEVERING, DAUGHTER OF WIGARD LEVERING. HE IS SAID TO HAVE TAKEN UP 250 ACRES OF LAND IN TOWAMENCIN TWONSHJIP, IN 1712, AND IN 1716, 550 ACRES IN FREDERICK TOWNSHIP. HE GAVE 200 ACRES OF THE LATTER TRACT TO HIS SON, JACOB, AND 200 ACRES TO HIS SON WILLIAM. JACOB FREY, MARRIED A DAUGHTER OF JEAN BARTOLET, A HUGUENOT, WHO CAME TO GERMANTOWN IN 1726. A DAUGHTER OF HENRY FREY, ELIZABETH WAS BORN IN 1717, AND MARRIED JOHN MILLER, WHO BOUGHT 125 ACRES IN FREDERICK TOWNSHIP, IN 1732, AND IS MENTIONSED AS A "PRACTITIONER OF MEDICINE." DR MILLER, DIED SEPTEMBER 16, 1755. HIS WIDOW DIED IN 1758. THEY HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN.

HENRY FRY BUILT WYCK, IN GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (TODAY, THIS IS PHILADELPHIA) WHICH TO THIS DAY IS ONE OF THE SHOW PLACES IN THE COUNTY. IT IS ON GERMANTOWN ROAD. THIS WAS IN 1675-1680, AND SOME CLAIM THAT HE WAS AMERICA'S FIRST GERMAN SETTLER.

HE WAS NATURALIZED AS A U.S. CITIZEN IN GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, MARCH 7, 1690.

HEINRICH WAS A CARPENTER BY TRADE.

HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE MEMBERS OF THE PROTESTANT LUTHERAN CHURCH.

HEINRICH FREY BOUGHT A LARGE TRACT OF LAND WEST OF PHILADELPHIA AND NEAR FALKNER'S SWAMP. THIS REGION IS NEAR ZEIGLERSVILLE, PA.

HEINRICH AND HIS WIFE WERE BURIED ON THEIR PLANTATION NEAR ZEIGLERSVILLE, IN WHAT IS CALLED THE FREY-BERTOLETT CEMETARY, MONTGOMERY CO., PENN. TOGETHER WITH HIS NEPHEW REVERAND ANDREW FREY, A DAUGHTER, AND OTHERS INCLUDING MANY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER THAT IS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE FRY FAMILY ASSOCIATION. IT WAS WRITTEN BY THE FATHER OF OUR PIONEER, HENRY FRYD, HEINRICH FREY. THE LETTER IS SELF EXPLANATORY. THIS LETTER IS FREQUENTLY QUOTED BY PROFESSOR WILLIAM I. HULL, AND OTHER AUTHORITIES ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS. (SEE HULL'S WILLIAM PENN AND THE DUTCH QUAKER MIGRATION TO PENNSYLVANIA, 1935 pp. 317-318. THIS FATHER WITH THE REST OF HIS FAMILY CAME TO AMERICA SEVERAL YEARS AFTER IT WAS WRITTEN:

DEAR SON,
YOUR LETTER FROM FAR AWAY AMERICA REACHES US BE THE HAND OF THE BRAVE CAPTAIN SOUDER, AND IT GAVE US GREAT JOY. AMERICA, ACCORDING TO YOUR WRITING, MUST BE A BEARTIFUL LAND. WE REJOICE GREATLY THAT YOUR NAME IS AMOUGH SUCH GOD FEARING PEOPLE, AND THAT THE INDIANS OF YOUR COMMUNITY ARE A PEACE LOVING PEOPLE.

DEAR HENRY, SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM US THE CONDITIONS IN SOUTH GERMANY HAVE BECOME VERY MUCH WORSE. THE FRENCH HAVE WROUGHT MUCH DEVASTATION AND THIS IS PRESSING US VERY HARD AT THIS TIME, AND BESIDES THIS, WE ARE SUFFERING A PLAGUE OF HIGH TAXES. THOUSANDS WOULD GLADLY LEAVE THE FATHERLAND IF THEY HAD THE MEANS TO DO SO.

A MERCHANT FROM FRANKFORT WAS WITH US LAST WEEK AND INFORMED US HOW ALONG THE RHINE A MUNBER OF FAMILIES HAD BANDED TOGETHER AND ARE PLANNING TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION OF A YOUNG ENGLISHMAN, NAMED WILLIAM PENN, WHO RECENTLY VISITED THE COMMUNITY, TO GO TO AMERICA AND THERE ESTABLISH NEW HOMES.

AFTER I HAD RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION, I WENT AT ONCE TO OUR PASTOR, WHOSE PARENTS ARE AT WORMS ON THE RHINE, AND BEGGED HIM URGENTLY TO LEARN WHAT TRUTH THERE WAS IN THESE REPORTS, AND TO FIND OUT IF POSSIBLE, IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO JOIN THEM AND GO TO THE NEW WORLD. HE INFORMED ME THAT IN A PLACE CALLED KRUGSHAM, NEAR WORMS, MANY WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR THE NEW WORLD.

WHEN I GAVE THE GOOD MAN YOUR LETTER TO READ, HE WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED AND SAID THAT YOU WERE NOW ON THE VERY LAND TO WHICH THESE EMIGRANTS WERE GOING.

AMERICA IS THE ONLY DREAM OF YOUR SISTERS CATHERINE, AND ELIZABETH. CATHERINE IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD, BUT SHE ASKS DAILY WHEN WE ARE GOING TO OUR BROTHER IN AMERICA?

YOUR DEAR MOTHER, ALSO YOUR BROTHER PETER, YOUR SISTERS CATHERINE AND ELIZABETH GREET YOU HEARTILY AND PRAY TO THE DEAR LORD THAT HE MAY PROTECT YOU AND KEEP YOU.

YOUR TRUE FATHER
HENRY FREY

SPECIAL NOTE: THE FATHER, HENRY FREY, LATER CAME TO AMERICA, TO JOIN HIS SON.

NOTE: FROM CHARLES BURGESS (HEINRICH FREY FAMILY ASSOCIATION) (HFFA HISTORIAN) 780 BELLEVUE AVE., GAP, PENNSYLVANIA 17527-9606:
"CONVENTIONAL WISDOM USES A LETTER PURPORTING TO BE FROM HEINRICH'S FATHER. INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF THE LETTER SUGGESTS IT WAS WRITTEN AS FICTION AND INCLUDED AS A NOVEL ABOUT EARLY DELAWARE VALLEY LIFE. A BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN UNCOVERED WHICH APPEARS TO BE FOR HEINRICH WHICH SHWOS HEINRICH'S PARENTS TO BE JACOB FREY AND ANNA HERTZELLER OF HINTERWIL, (UERKEIM) IN AARGUA, GERMANY, AND JACOB'S FATHER WAS FREIDRICK FREY OF GUNDETSWIL, IN ZURICH, CANTON SWITZERLAND.

THE HISTORY OF THIS MAN'S COMING TO AMERICA, WITH ONE FRIEND NAMED PLATTERBACH, (NOTE: THEY WERE THE FIRST TWO GERMANS TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY) WAS WRITTEN IN GERMAN BY A. BARBA. IT WAS PRINTED IN THE ALLENTOWN, PENN. "MORNING CALL", IN A CONTINUING STORY FORM. IT WAS WRITTEN IN GERMAN BY LUDWIG AUGUST WOLIENWEBER, AND TRANSLATED BY PRESTON A BARBA. THE PARENTS AND FAMILY OF HEINRICH FREY FOLLOWED HIM TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE TWO MEN, FREN AND BLATTERBACK BEFRIENDED A YOUNG INDIAN BOY THEY FOUND IN THE FOREST WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THEY NURSED HIM BACK TO HEALTH. HE WS THE SON OF URGURT, THE CHIEF OF THE LENNI LENNAPI INDIANS. WHEN HENRICH FREY RETRUNED THE BOY TO HIS FATHER, THE CHIEF GAVE FREY A LARGE GRANT OF LAND. HE TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD HAVE ALL THE LAND HE COULD WALK THRU FROM THE SETTING TO THE RISING OF THE SUN. THE PATH FREY TOOK DURING THIS WALK IS STILL TO THIS DAY, CALLED RISING SUN AVE., AND IT IS IN GERMANTOWN. THE GRANT OF THIS LAND WAS RATIFIED BY WILLIAM PENN IN 1691, AND HAS BECOME A PART OF THE ARCHIVES OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTHORITY: FRY FAMILY ASSOCIATION RECORDS, THE PENNA. ARCHIVES, GERMAN AMERICAN ARCHIVES, DRL J. CULVER HARTZELL, OF CINCINNATTI, OHIO, THE BOOK OF THE LEVERING FAMILY.

Notes for ANNA CATHERINE (LEVERING) FREY:
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>Here you go. By the way, did you know there's a Heinrich Frey Family
>Association?
>
>
>
> According to the historian Abraham M. Cassel, "Heinrich Frey and
Joseph
>Blatenbach were the first two German emigrants who came to Pennsylvania.
>They
>emigrated in 1680 and settled in Philadelphia." The notice of his wedding
>to
>Anna Catherine Levering, which was, according to German tradition, nailed
to
>the
>front door of the church, together with the certificate, follows:
>
>
> Whereas, Henry Fry, of Altheim, in the province of Alsace, in High
>German,
>now inhabitant of Germantown, in the county of Philadelphia, bachelor, and
>Annie
>Catherine Levering, of the county of Bruck, likewise in High Germany, a
>young
>woman, after due consultation with their respective parents, have produced
a
>sufficient certification of their clearness of all other engagements, under
>the
>hand of several credible persons, unto one of the Justices of the Peace, in
>the
>bailiwick of Germantown, and have published and affixed their intention of
>marriage in the meeting-house of the said twon on the 24th of the first
>month
>past.
>
> As no objections were filed, the ceremony was performed, and THIS
>Certificate witnesseth that the said Henry Fry and Anna Catherine Levering
>have
>this day solemnized such their marriage by taking one another as husband
and
>wife, according to the law of this country, and before and in the presence
>of
>us, whose names are hereunder written at Germantown, the 26th day of the
>second
>month [April], 1692.
>
> Francis Daniel Pastorius,
> Justice of the Peace
>
>
>Witnesses: Wigart Levering, Gerhard Levering, Magdalena Levering, Hans
Peter
>Umstat, Arnold Cassel, Henrich Shellenberg, Jon Ponder, Andrew Supplee,
>Manigha
>May, Catein Tompkins, William Rittinghuysen, Henrich Zollern, Jacob Pfoutz,
>Henrich Bucholtz, Elias Tossen, Honnas Miller, Elizabeth Cassel, Herman
>Trapman,
>Sara Hendricks, Anecki Supplee, Maria Bonus and others.
>
>
>
> Heinrich Frey, along with three others, came to America about 1680,
>before
>the advent of William Penn. Frey's party located on a plain near
>Wissahickon
>Creek, between Roxborough and Germantown.
>
> On October 1, 1692, Frey bought one hundred acres of land in
Roxborough
>next
>door to Gerhard Levering from John Jennett. In the decade following, Frey
>and
>his family had moved from Roxborough to Towamencin Creek, near Shippack, in
>western Philadelphia County. According to a deed dated March 26, 1713,
Frey
>and
>his family later relocated to Whitemarsh Township.
>
>
> According to "Levering Family, History and Genealogy," by Colonel John
>Levering, published 1898:
>
> "Henry Frey was an enterprising and successful man, and a mechanical
>genius.
>Tradition says he made the first plow used in the province. He was, as he
>states in several documents, a turner, by trade. Mr. Cassel wrote,
>"Heinrich
>was a Turner. I have a beautiful quart jar that he turned for my
>great-great-grandfather Christopher Saur, who, having studied medicine in
>Germany, before he came to America, established a drug store and apothecary
>in
>Germantown before he commenced printing. No glass jars could be had, and
at
>that time, no facilities for importing them. Frey turned a great number of
>quart, half-gallon, and gallon jars for him, out of a peculiar kind of
wood,
>which shows no grain, with tight fitting lids, and cornices to them. They
>were
>painted or varnished."
>
>
> Frey had two brothers, William and Andrew, who immigrated at about the
>same
>time, and settled nearby, in Skippack. The Frey brothers, along with a
well
>known religious leader, Henry Anter, John Bechtel, and others, of various
>religious tendencies and persuasions, belonged to the "Associated Brethren
>of
>Skippack," an alliance for religious union and information.
>
> Rather than writing a will, Heinrich and Catherine Frey entered into
>the
>following contract with their children:
>
>
> ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT indented made concluded and agreed upon this
>twelfth
>day of october ano Dom one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two BETWEEN
>Henry
>Free of the County of Philadelphia and Province of Pensilvania Yeoman and
>Kathrin his wife of the one part and Jacob Free of the same place Turner,
on
>of
>the sons of the said Henry and Kathrin, Eliza Free, Rebecca Free and Amaly
>Free
>three of the daughters of the said Henry and Kathrin of the other part in
>manner
>following, viz. FIRST the said Henry Free and Kathrin his wife for the
>consideration hereinafter mentioned have granted bargained and sold and by
>these
>presents Do grant Bargain and sell unto the said Jacob Free all and
singular
>the
>cows horses mares colts sheep and hoggs with all the household goods Linen
>bedding brass pewter goods and chattles which belong to them the said Henry
>and
>Kathrin in the said Province or elsewhere in America.
>
> To have and to hold all and singular the said Goods chattles and
>promises
>hereby granted or mentioned so to be unto the said Jacob Free his Executors
>administrators and assigns forever and the said Henry Free and Kathrin his
>wife
>their heirs Executors and administrators shall and will warrant and forever
>Defend the said granted promises and every part thereof unto the said Jacob
>Free
>his Executors administrators and assigns against all person and persons
>whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof.
>
> In consideration whereof the said Jacob Free for himself his heirs
>Executors
>and administrators Doth Covenant promise and grant to and with the said
>Henry
>Free and Kathrin his wife Elizabeth Free, Rebecca Free and Amaly Free their
>and
>every their heirs Executors administrators and assigns joyntly and
severally
>by
>those presents that he the said Jacob Free his heirs and assigns shall and
>will
>well and sufficiently maintain and keep the said Henry and Kathrin with
good
>sufficient and competent meat drink washing and lodging and apparel fitt
and
>covenient for them During their Lives and the Life of the Longer liver of
>them
>and also shall and will find allow Provide and maintain and keep them the
>said
>Elizabeth, Rebecca and Amaly with good sufficient and competent meat Drink
>washing lodging and apparel fitt and convenient for them untill they attain
>to
>their respective ages of Eighteen years or be married which shall first
>happen
>and also pay or caused to be paid to each of them the said Eliza Rebecca
and
>Amaly the sum of ten pounds Lawfull mony of America at their said
respective
>ages of Eighteen years or Days of marriage which shall first happen and
give
>to
>them and each of them the said Eliza Rebecca and Amaly as good a legacy or
>portion of the said Goods and chattles as their eldest sisters have had and
>Lastly for the true performance of all and every the Covenants payments
>articles
>and agreements herein contained which on the part and behalf of every of
>them
>the said parties are and ought to be observed kept payd Done and performed
>they
>the said parties Do bind and oblige themselves their heirs Executors and
>administrators each to the other his heirs Executors and administrators in
>the
>penal sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds Lawfull mony of America aforesaid
>firmly by those presents. In witness whereof the said parties have
>interchangably set their hands and seals hereunto the Day and year first
>above
>written.
>
>Sealed and delivered in the presence of his
>Jacob Levering Henry X Fry
>George Fry marck
>
> her
> Kathrin X Fry
> marck
>
> Elizabet Fry
> Rebecka Fry
> Amelee Fry
>
> Endorsed on the document is the following:
>
> Received the Eighteenth Day of August anno Dm 1735 of the within named
>Jacob
>Fry the sum of Ten pounds in full with all other Legacies Portions Matters
>or
>things whatsoever within mentioned Due or becoming Due by the within
>articles
>unto the within named Elizabeth Fry now being my wife. I say recd.
>
> By me Johannes Muller.
>
>
> Received the Nineteenth Day of November AD one thousand Seven Hundred
>and
>thirty seven of the within named Jacob Fry the sum of Ten pounds in full
>with
>all other Legacies Portions Matters or things whatsoever within mentioned
>due or
>becoming Due by the within articles unto the within named Amely Fry now
>being my
>wife I say recd.
> By me frederich Leinbach
> Amelia Leinbach
>
>
> The document is written in English and looks like a title deed. The
>parchment is nearly two feet long. The contract is still in the possession
>of
>Frey family descendants.
>
>---------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> The earliest record of John Wigard Levering and his wife, Magdalena
>Boeckers, appears in the records of the Presbytery of the Evangelical
Parish
>of
>Gemen, Munster Stadt, Westphalia, Germany. On March 22, 1674, the first
>wedding
>banns for "John Wigard Levering, Rosier's son, with the chaste virgin
>Magdalena
>Bokers, of Essen," were proclaimed.
>
> Most of what is known about Wigard's life in Germany comes from his
>family
>Bible, which is still in the possession of his descendants. In the Bible
in
>written the following, in German:
>
>
>FAMILY REGISTER OF WIGARD LEVERING
>
> I, Wigard Levering, was born in Germany, in the Principality of
>Westphalia,
>in the District of Munster, and town of Gemen. My father's name was Rosier
>Levering, and my mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Van de Walle, who was
>born
>in Wesel. In the twenty-third year of my age, I, Wigard Levering, was
>married
>to my beloved wife, Magdalena Boker. Her father's name was William Boker,
>and
>her mother's name was Sidonia Williams Braviers, of the city of Leyden, in
>Holland. The above said Magdalena, my wife, was also born in Leyden, and
>God
>hath blessed us with the following children, to wit:
>
> The first born, Joanna Sophia, born in Gemen, in the year of our Lord
>1672,
>in March, and died in the third week.
>
> The second, Anna Catherine, born in Mulheim on the Rhur, in March,
>1673.
>
> The third, Maria Elizabeth, born in July, 1676, and died in the
>eighteenth
>week of her age.
>
> The fourth, William Levering, was born the 4th day of May, 1677.
>
> The fifth, Amelia Anna Sophia, was born in the middle of July, 1682.
>
> The sixth, Anna Sibella, was born in the middle of September, 1684.
>
> The above named children were all born in Mulheim on the Rhur, in
>Germany,
>and the following six children were born in North America, in the province
>of
>Pennsylvania:
>
> The seventh, Herman, was born the 18th of November, 1686, and died in
>the
>fourth year of his age, in May.
>
> The eighth, Elizabeth, born the 7th day of January, 1689, and died in
>the
>fourteenth year of her age, in September.
>
> The ninth, Sidonia, born the 23d of April, 1691.
>
> The tenth, Jacob Levering, born the 21st of January, 1693.
>
> The eleventh, Magdalena, born the 13th of January, 1695, and died in
>the
>third week of her age.
>
> The twelfth, Magdalena, born the 4th of June, 1696.
>
> The last, after the perfect number of twelve, was an untimely birth.
>
> God, who is the father of all that are called children, in heaven and
>on
>earth, have mercy on my children who are still in the land of the living,
>that
>they, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Chirst, may be born again, and
>registered with their children in heaven; that they, after they are taken
>from
>this vain world, the parents with the children, and the children with the
>parents, may rejoice before God in a happy and blessed eternity. Amen.
>
>
> William Penn acquired his estates in what eventually became
>Pennsylvania by
>patent in 1681. He began travelling throughout Holland and Germany,
>recruiting
>settlers. At the same time, he took partners, thereby acquiring the
>services of
>agents to bring in even more settlers. One of the earliest partnerships,
>organized about 1683, was the Frankfort Company; a partner in the Frankfort
>company was Jacob Van De Walle, the uncle of Wigard and Gerhard Levering.
>
> The most active partner in the Frankfort Company was Francis Daniel
>Pastorius, a learned man who came from a family of some wealth and position
>in
>Germany. In August, 1683, he arrived in Philadelphia aboard the America
>with
>thirteen families, thirty-three people in all, and founded Germantown.
>
>
> Wigard and Gerhard Levering emigrated in 1685. Their agreement with
>the
>Frankfort Company is at the Pennsylvania Historical Society:
>
>
> We, the subscribers, do acknowledge and confess by these Presents,
that
>we
>have contracted and agreed together, that Doctor Thomas Van Wylick and
>Johannes
>Le Brun, in behalf of the Pennsylvania Company, in which they, and other
>friends
>of Frankfort and other parts, are engaged, to accept or receive me, Wigard
>Levering, old 36 or 37 years, and Magdalena Boeckers, old 36 years, and
four
>children, Anna Catherine, William, Amelia, and Sibella, respectively 1/2, 2
>1/2,
>5 and 9 years, to and for the service of the aforementioned Company, to
>transport by shipping out of Holland or Ingland, to Pennsylvania, upon
their
>cost."
>
>
> In August, 1685, the Frankfort Company conveyed 50 acres of land in
>Germantown to Wigard Levering. Levering removed to Roxborough in 1691 or
>1692.
>Wigard Levering's Roxborough residence was on the southwestern side of
Ridge
>Road, nearly opposite the Leverington Hotel.
>
> At the time of his immigration, both Wigard and Gerhard Levering
>indentured
>themselves to the Frankfort Company. Apparently, Wigard tired of the debt
>early
>in his residence in the United States, and having gained an appreciation of
>the
>benefits of a large legal staff, Levering managed to outwit Herr Pastorius.
>The
>following document appears in the Pennsylvania records (the spelling is
from
>the
>original):
>
>
> To the Proprietary & Gov'r of Pensilvania & Territories thereof in
>Councell
>mett.
>
> An humble Petition of Francis Daniel Pastorius in the behalf of the
>German
>Company, Sheweth,
>
> That whereas the said Company above 14 years ago did transport Wigard
>Levering his wife, four children & brother into this Province & lent unto
>him at
>West 16L 4s to pay his debts there, & further disbursed on the
>Transportation of
>him and his family 57L 18s 11d expecting that all this sum should by little
>&
>little be deducted here, of the said Wigard & his brother's wages: He
>instead
>of deducting, sued the said Comp; as debtors to him & to deprive me, the
now
>Agent of the sd Company of all advice & assistance in Law, employed all the
>Attorneys in the Country, who pleading that he the sd Wigard, his wife & 4
>children are not to disaccount anything for their Transportation, obtained
>Judgmt in the last County Court against the said Compy, for 32L 16s 10d.
>Now
>supposing the said German Company had Intended to transport the sd Wigard
>his
>wife & children gratis or free, as I have proofs to the contrary, Yet
seeing
>his
>Brother's part of the 57L 18s 11d (wch he besides the aforementioned 16L 4s
>lent
>unto him in Germany allows to be defalkable) comes to 12L 17s 6d, the said
>Comp;
>cannot owe him but 29L 16s 10d. For wch the said Wigard's brother having
>workt
>163 days less than he should have done & Wigard himself 500 days less, both
>together do greatly outbalance his, his wife's & children pretended free
>transportation.
>
> Therefore your Petitioner in the behalf of the sd German Comp. humbly
>entreats you to grant to have the cause tried again (a thing he thinks not
>so
>unheard of as that a Plaintiff should employ all the Lawyers to impede &
>hinder
>the Defendants to get any) And to the end that a Just Cause may not suffer
>by my
>unskillfullness in pleading & notorious want or defect to express myself
>sufficiently in the English tongue to the full understanding of a Jury; May
>it
>please the Govr & his Councill to appoint a Person learned in the Law to
>patronize or manage the same. And as your Petitioner requests these things
>only
>for Justice & Truths sake, so (he hopes) It will tend to the preventing
both
>of
>others, who being transported by the said Company's disbursmt may probably
>follow the steps of Wigard; as also to the allaying of dissatisfaction of
>several honest hearted people in Germany and especially oblidge your
>Petitioner.
>
> F.D. Pastorious
>
>
> On the back of the petition is the following endorsement:
>
>
> At a council held at Philadelphia, die Lunae 15th April, 1700.
>Present,
>William Penn, Pro'r & Gov'r.
>
>Edward Shippen Thomas Bedwell
>Griffith Owen John Hill
>David Lloyd Saml. Preston
>John Donaldson John ffenwick
>
>
> Upon reading of the within Petition in respect the Petitioner was but
>Agent
>for the German Company, who are Strangers & absentees, It was the Opinion
>and
>Resolve of the Gov'r & Councill that the Petitioner & the within Wigard
>Levering
>appear before the Gov'r & Councill the 24th inst., with a friend with each
>of
>them, that understands the German & Dutch Languages & to bring with them
all
>papers & accts relating to the said difference, when the cause shall be
>heard
>extrajudicially and if the Gov'r & Councill shall see cause thereafter to
>hear &
>decide it Judicially they will do so. And that the Secretary acquaint the
>said
>Daniel Pastorius and he the said Wigard Levering herewith.
>
> Signed by order
> Pat. Robinson, Secr'y
>
>
>
> During the last twenty-eight years of his life, Wigard Levering lived
>with
>his son, William, in Germantown. For eleven years, things apparently went
>well,
>but by 1728, conflict had arisen between the father and son. In response
to
>William's complaints, Jacob Cadwalader wrote the following letter:
>
>
> Philada, the 3d of 6m, 1728.
>
>Frd. William Levering:
>
> Thy father who is very old & cannot live long according to the Course
>of
>nature, seems to Complain very much of thy hard dealing, & would not be
>satisfied without carrying it further, but I thought it the best way to
>prevent
>it if possible, for any difference between father & son cannot be of much
>credit
>to Either, and when a father hath been kind to a Son and given him all or
>most
>of what he had, there is a dutiful gratitude owing to a parent from a
Child,
>and
>he ought if possible to make his parents life Easie and Comfortable without
>oppression or giving any Just occasion of uneasiness and Complaint. And as
>our
>parents have dealt very tenderly with us in our Infancy & youth & born with
>all
>our infirmities with abundance of patience, it is our duty to Cherish them
>in
>their old age, and as far as in us Lies to give them no Just occasion of
>grief
>or uneasiness. And our duty to our parents will undoubtedly Entail a
>blessing
>on us & our posterity and we ought to bear with the peevishness of age,
>without
>taking any notice of it. Therefore pray let me Entreat & prevail with thee
>for
>the Credit and reputation of the family, to prevent all grounds & occasions
>of
>offence and let what is past be buried in oblivion & forgott & as the Laws
>of
>God & men direct & oblige as Let us pay all dutiful regards to parents and
>study
>peace with all mankind, which is the Cordial Advice of
>
> thy sincere Frd.
> Jno Cadwalader
>
>
> Pray make all things Easy to thy father & do not keep anything from
him
>that
>can be thought reasonable.
>
> He reckons part of the produce of the whole plantation (Except the 100
>acres
>he gave thee) is his due & ought not to be detained from him, neither
fruit,
>Winter or Summer grain.
>
>
> Wigard lived another 17 years. He died in 1745, and was buried on the
>family farm, on the banks of the Wissahiccon River.
>
>
> The will of Wigard Levering:
>
>
> I Wichert Levering of the Township of Roxborrow in the County of
>Philada in
>the Province of Pennsylvania, Joyner, being in good health of Body and of a
>sound and perfect mind and Memory and calling to mind the frailty of this
>transitory Life and that its appointed for all flesh once to dye, Do make
>and
>ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following,
>revoking,
>Disannulling and making utterly void and of none effect all former and
other
>Wills by me at any time heretofore made.
>
> Imps. I will that all my Just Debts and ffuneral expences be paid and
>Discharged by my Executor hereinafter named with all convenient speed after
>my
>Decease.
>
> Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Katherine ye sum of tenn
>pounds
>lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid her by my Executor hereafter named
>within twelve months after my Decease.
>
> Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Amelia the sum of tenn
>pounds
>lawful money afd to be paid her by my said Executor hereafter mentioned,
>within
>two years after my Decease.
>
> Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sebilla the sum of tenn
>pounds
>lawful money afd to be paid her by my sd Executor within three years after
>my
>Decease.
>
> Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Son in law Peter Indehaven ye sum
of
>tenn
>pounds lawful money afd to be paid him by my sd Executor within ffour years
>after my Decease.
>
> Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Son in law William Tunes ye sum of
>tenn
>pounds lawful money afd to be paid him by sd Executor within ffive years
>after
>my Decease.
>
> Lastly. I give and Bequeath unto my Son William Levering whom I
hereby
>constitute ordain and appoint sole Executor of this my Last Will and
>Testament
>all other my Estate and Effects of what kind soever. In Witness whereof I
>have
>hereunto put my hand and Seal this twenty third Day of August in the year
of
>our
>Lord one thousand Seaven hundred and fforty two.
>
> Wichert Levering
>
>Signed, Sealed, published pronounced
>and declared by the said Wichert
>Levering as his last Will & Testament
>in ye presence of us.
>Witnesses.
>William Levering Smith,
>Hannah Levering
>Thos. Yorke
>
>
>
> The inventory of the estate:
>
>
>To one bead and Beading. . . . . . . . . . . . .L 3.00.0
>To 2 bed steds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.10.0
>To one Cobert and one Chest. . . . . . . . . . . 1.10.0
>To waring apparrel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.15.0
>To Sate of Curtings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00.0
>To one bible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.10.0
>To one song book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01.6
>To 2 Spice Boxes and a bible frame. . . . . . . . 0.04.0
>To one Table and 5 Chears. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.03.6
>To 2 benshes and one Tobaco Knife. . . . . . . . 0.02.0
>To 3 Iron Potts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.16.0
>To pare Tongs and Shifell and pare hand Irons. . 0.14.0
>To 2 puter Dishes and 4 plats. . . . . . . . . . 0.14.0
>To one Stone Gudg and puter mog. . . . . . . . . 0.03.6
>To one morter and Iron box and a Gudg. . . . . . 0.03.0
>To one Chamber Pott and Porenger. . . . . . . . . 0.01.0
>__________________________________________________------
>________________________________________________L 13.7.6
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The Levering family is probably descended from an ancient Teutonic
>family
>which entered England with William the Conqueror. The family settled in
>Leverington, a large village, divided into the townships of Leverington St.
>Leonards and Leverington Parson Drove, located in the north end of
>Cambridgeshire, deep in the fens. Leverington is ninety-nine miles north
of
>London. The patriarch of the English family was John De Leveryng, born
>about
>1250 in Leverington; John's son was Robert, born about 1280 in Leverington.
>In
>1316, Robert De Leveryng became a lessee of the Wisbech Barton Manor.
>
>
>
>Forgive the formatting that was created when I imported all this stuff.
>
>Happy Easter!
>
>Kirk
>
>
>
>
>
>

Marriage Notes for HEINRICH FREY and ANNA FREY:
THIS WAS THE FIRST MARRIAGE IN THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS COUPLE WERE BURIED ON PART OF THEIR FARM. SEVERAL OF THEIR SLAVES WERE BURIED THERE AS WELL. RECENTLY THE DESCENDENTS OF THIS COUPLE ENCLOSED THIS PLOT WITH A STONE FENCE AND A MONUMENT WAS ERECTED TO THEIR MEMORY.

COLORNAL JOHN LEVERING'S "LEVERING FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY (1897) RECORDS THE MARRIAGE, ON APRIL 26, 1692, OF HEINRICH FREY TO ANNA CATHERINE, THE 16-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OF WIGARD LEVERING, ONE OF THE TWO AMERICAN PROGENITORS OF THAT FAMILY, THE OTHER BEING HIS BROTHER GERHAND. THE AUTHOR MILTON RUBINCAM, OF WASHINGTON D.C., IN AN ARTICLE IN THE NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, 1941, V. 29, PAGE 138-139, STATES THAT THIS HEINRICH FREY WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL IMMIGRANT WHO CAME TO AMERICAN SOIL, BUT RATHER, HIS FATHER, HEINRICH WAS. HE REACHED THIS CONCLUSION BECAUSE, THE BRIDEGROOM OF 1692, WAS IN REALITY THE SON OF THE IMMIGRANT, AND NOT THE IMMIGRANT HIMSELF. IN 1680, THE SON HEINRICH MUST HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 28 YEARS OLD, HIS DIATE OF BIRTH THUS TENTATIVELY BEING PLACED IN 1652, 24 YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF HIS ALLEGED BRIDE, ANNA CATHERINE LEVERING. HE CERTAINLY WAS A YOUNG MAN AT THE DATE OF HIS FATHER'S LETTER, IN 1681. IF WE AGREE WITH OTHER WRITERS THAT HE WAS THE BRIDEGROOM OF 1692, HE WAS THEREFORE ABOUT 40 YEARS OLD, A NOT IMPROBABLE DATE FOR HIS MARRIAGE, ALTHOUGH UNUSUAL FOR THOSE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE AS A RULE MARRIED EARLY.

THE PRECISE WORDING OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIDICATE OF 1692, QUOTED BY COL. LEVERING (OP. SIT., PP 97-98), SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED. IT READS, IN PART: "WHEREAS HEINRICH FREY, OF ALTHEIM, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALSACE, IN HIGH GERMANY, NOW INHABITANT OF GERMANTOWN, IN THE COUNTYOF PHILADELPHIA, A BACHELOR, AND ANNA CATHARINE LEVERING, OF THE COUNTY OF BROICH, LIKEWISE IN HIGH GERMANY, A YOUNG WOMAN, AFTER DUE CONSULTATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE PARENTS, HAVE PRODUCED A SUFFICIENT DERTIFICATION OF THEIR CLEARNESS OF ALL OTHER ENGAGEMENTS." NOTE CAREFULLY THE WORDS OF THIS NOTE. AS STATED ABOVE, IF HEINRICH THE SETTLER WAS ABOUT 28 YEARS OLD IN 1680, HE WAS ABOUT 40 AT THE TIME OS HIS MARRIAGE TO ANNA C. LEVERING, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT A MAN 40 YEARS OF AGE WOULD FIND IT NECESSARY TO WRITE TO GERMANY FOR HIS FATHER'S PERMISSION TO TAKE A WIFE. IT SEEMS MORE PROBABLE THAT THE HAPPY BRIDEGROOM WAS A YOUTH UNDER AGE, (AS WAS HIS WIFE IN 1692), AND THAT HE WAS A SON OF HEINRICH FREY, IN AMERICA AS EARLY AS 1680, AND A GRANDSON GHERE FORE OF HEINRICH FREY OF HEILBRONN, WURTTEMBERG, WHO WROTE THE LETTER OF FEBRUARY 6, 1681. FOR CONFIRMATION OR REBUTTAL OF THIS THEORY, IT IS HOPED THAT WHEN WORLD CONDITIONS HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL, DESCENDANTS OF THIS FREY FAMILY WILL INVESTIGATE THE CHURCH RECORDS OF ALTHEIM, AND HEILBRONN.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE MARRIAGE RECORD OF HEINRICH FREY AND HIS WIFE, ANNA CATHERINE LEVERING:

THIS WAS THE FIRST QUAKER WEDDING TO TAKE PLACE IN GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. THE NOTICE THAT THE SEDDING WOULD TAKE PLACE WAS NAILED FOR THREE SUNDAYS TO THE DOOR OF THE MEETING HOUSE.

"HEINRICH FREY, A NATIVE OF GERMANY, AND ANNA CATHERINE LEVERING MARRIED IN GERMANTOWN IN 1692. MARRIED BY FRINDS CEREMONY IWHT FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS, CONDUCTING."

WITNESSES:
WIGARD LEVERING AMILE SUPPLEE
MAGDELENA LEVERING ARNOLD CASSEL
GERHARD LEVERING ELIZABETH CASSEL
HANS PETER UMPSTAT HEINRICH SHELLENBERGER
WILLIAM RITTENHAUSEN JOHN PONDER
ANDREAS SUPPLEE JACOB PFOUTS
HEINRUCH BUCHOLOTZ CATEIN TOMPKINS
ELIAS FOSSEN HEINRICH ZOLLERN
HONNAS MILLER

THE SOURCE FOR THIS FAMILY HISTORY IS: MISS SARAH FRY, OF NORRISTOWN, PA. THE LEVERING FAMILY BOOK, PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES, FRY FAMILY ASSOCIATION RECORDS, DR. J.C. CULVER OF NORRISTOWN.

       Children of HEINRICH FREY and ANNA FREY are:

JACOB⁴ FRY, b. 1694, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. 1784, MONTGOMERY CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

ii.

WILLIAM FRY, b. 1695, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. June 15, 1758, FREDERICK TSHP, MONTGOMERY CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

iii.

ELIZABETH CATHERINE FRY, b. 1717, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

iv.

HENRY FRY, b. 1698, ROXBOROUGH (OR GERMANTOWN), PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. 1758, LOUDOUN CO, VIRGINIA.

MAGDALENA FRY, b. 1699, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

vi.

ABRAHAM FRY, b. 1700, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

vii.

BENJAMINE (FREY) FRY, b. 1700, ROXBOROUGH (OR GERMANTOWN), MONTGOMERY CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. March 1753, "FRYE FORT", FREDERICK CO., VIRGINIA.

viii.

JOHN FRY, b. 1703, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. October 23, 1766, FRANCONIA TWSHP., MONTGOMERY CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

10.

ix.

GEORGE FRY, b. 1705, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. 1750, VIRGINIA.

11.

ELIZABETH AMELIA (FRY) LEINBACH, b. 1719, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. June 05, 1781, GRACEHAM, FREDERICK CO., MARYLAND.

xi.

REBECCA FRY, b. 1718, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

12.

xii.

ELIZABETH (AMELIA) BARBARA (FRY) MILLER, b. 1719, ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA CO., PENNSYLVANIA; d. 1781, FREDERICK TWSHP., MONTGOMERY CO., PENNSYLVANIA.

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