Like many 18th century immigrants to North America’s British held territory, documentation is sparse for this family. Below is what I have been able to piece together from the available records and family lore.
Johann Georg Friederich/Frederik and his family arrived at Philadelphia, Pa. from the Palatinate region of Germany via the ship Loyal Judith in 1732, or via the ship Townsend in 1737 (records conflict). I tend to believe the 1737 Townsend record, as other researchers have found that this ship’s passenger list details a family with names and ages that fit our Friederich family:
Johann Georg Frederich/Frederik, abt. 47
Anna Maria Hoob, 32
Maria Catharina, 19
Gertrauth, 17
Hans Noa, 16
Eva Barbara, 13
Christoph, 2
Whenever they arrived, the Frederick (I will use the English spelling from this point on) family settled near what is now Hamlin in Lebanon County, Pa. In the 1730s, Hamlin was part of Lancaster County, Pa. and, interestingly, near the town of Fredericksburg, Pa. Fredericksburg, Pa., despite the name, is not connected to our family. The town was apparently founded and named after a settler named Frederick Stump, who killed ten Native Americans there in January 1768. (source: Wikipedia for Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pa.). But, don’t despair! There is a Fredericksburg, Ohio that is named after descendant Jacob Frederick.
Back to our immigrant Frederick family. Anna Maria Hoob/Hoos Frederick is said to be the second wife of Johann Georg Frederick. Johann’s first wife was Margretha Barbara Bosch, and it is believed she died prior to Johann Georg’s immigration to North America.
Family lore and the Will of his second wife, Anna Maria, tell us that the children of Johann Georg Frederick and first wife Margretha Barbara Bosch are:
Hans Jacob, 1713-1713
Antonius, 1715-1734
Maria Catharina, 1717-1796 (named as a step-daughter in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Gertraud, 1719-1784 (named as a step-daughter in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Hans Noah, 1721-1756 (named as a step-son in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Eva Barbara, 1721-1771 (named as a step-daughter in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Jerg Jacob, 1727-1731
Anna Maria, 1729-1729
Anna Elizabeth, unknown
Children of Johann Georg Frederick and his second wife Anna Maria Hoob/Hoos, are:
John Christopher, 1730-1784 (named as a son in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Barbara, 1731 – ? (named as a daughter in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Jans Jorg, 1733-1734
Anna Maria, ?-1790 (named as a daughter in Anna Maria’s Will, see below)
Of these children, I am most focused on Hans Noah. Noah, my 6x Great-Grandfather and the father of Thomas Frederick, was killed in a Native American raid on his farm in October 1756. During this raid one, perhaps two, children of Noah were killed, and young Thomas was taken captive. Click here for more details on the raid and kidnapping.
We (myself and other researchers) have found the Will of a George Frederick in the Lancaster County, Pa. archives. We believe this to be the Will of our Johann Georg Frederick as it mentions his wife, Anna Maria Frederick. George Frederick’s Will is dated 8 December 1763, and in it he refers to himself as a Baker. George’s Will was witnessed by Adam Kingmaker, Christian Kramer and George Leisiger. George Frederick’s Will, as originally written, leaves everything (house, household goods, real estate, fruit, grain, husbandry tools, clothing, money, bonds, etc;) to his wife Anna Maria Frederick, and she is also named Executor. The Will states that Anna Maria will lose all rights to George’s estate if she remarries (this was not uncommon in this time period).
Later, on 16 August 1766, a memorandum was added to George’s Will that granted one English shilling of sterling to each of his children still living at the time of his death. The shilling was to be paid within six weeks of George’s death, and the children are specifically excluded from all further claim against George’s estate.
There are two later Witnesses to the Will. The first is Jacob Keller, who attested on 25 March 1771 that George Frederick brought the Will to him and told him that this was his final Will. The second, Adam Kingmaker, attested on 15 April 1771 that he saw George Frederick sign this last will containing the Memorandum.
George Frederick died in Lancaster, County, Pa. in March 1771. His burial place is unknown.
The Will of George’s second wife, Anna Maria Frederick, dated 20 March 1784, has been located in Lancaster County, Pa. This Will was proven in Court on 3 March 1790. In this Will, Anna Maria identifies herself as the widow of George Frederick. and makes the following distributions:
One pound Pennsylvania currency to the children of her stepson Noah Frederich.
Twenty shillings to stepdaughter Eva Gethel.
One pound money to the children of stepdaughter Gertruad.
One English shilling sterling to the widow of her son Christoph Frederich.
One pound money to stepdaughter Maria Catherina Ketner.
her daughters Barbara Rowland and Anna Maria Hower are to divide the remainder of the estate.
Son in law Sebastian Hower is appointed Executor of the will.