Peter Freed, of Union County, PA – Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Fried?
Jacob Fried and his wife Elizabeth of Richland Township (Quakertown), Bucks County, had a son named Peter, born in the mid-1770’s.It has long been a mystery what became of Peter.
There were two Peter Freeds, born around that time, who could have been that Peter.Peter Fried, of Hellam Township, York County, PA (1777-1854) has been widely assumed to be the Peter in question.But the York County death register indicates that his father was Henry Fried.Peter Freed, of Center Township, Union (formerly Northumberland) County, PA (1770’s-1832) may be the son of Jacob and Elizabeth.
Jacob Fried died before 1782, in Richland Township, and his estate documents described his farm and listed members of his family.(According to tax lists, he was dead in 1779, when “Widow Freed” was listed in Richland Township, indicating that estate documents were not always filed in a timely manner.)Based on the 1790 census, Elizabeth’s three youngest sons, Henry, Abraham, and Peter were apparently living with her.In 1800, only Henry Freed was living in Richland, on the family farm on the Tohickon Creek, near Quakertown.It is not known where Abraham or Peter were at this time, although in 1807 estate documents show that Paul, John and Peter Freed were in Bucks County, at least to collect their share of their parents estate. It is not clear where Peter Freed or Abraham Freed were between the mid-1790’s and 1807.Peter could have been in Virginia with his older brothers, in Northumberland County, in Western Pennsylvania, or somewhere in Bucks County.His older brother Abraham settled in Northumberland County prior to 1807.
The Peter Freed, who lived in Union County, may have been the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Freed, of Richland Township, Bucks County, PA.No evidence, other than circumstantial, has been found to prove this link, but it is likely.He appeared in Northumberland County at about the same time as Abraham Freed, son of Jacob of Richland.They both appear in the 1810 census in Northumberland County.
Peter Fried, of Hellam Township, York County lived near Henry Fried, the brother of Jacob, and was closely associated with him.The York County death register states that his father was Henry and that he was born in Bucks County.His son Abraham, who should have been in a position to know, gave this statement.
No documents directly link Peter Freed, of Center, to Jacob’s family, but his first son appears to be named Jacob, which would conform to the “German naming convention” often seen in early German immigrants in Pennsylvania, if his father was Jacob Freed.Germans usually named the first son after his father’s father.Peter, of Hellam, named his first son Henry, which does not prove that Peter’s father was Henry, but indicates that this is a strong possibility.In the book The History of the Freed Family, it is stated that his first son was Henry.Henry was born less than a year after Peter’s marriage.
Peter Freed, of Union Township, was married to “Nancy”, according to a land transfer in 1828.Peter died in 1832, and Nancy died before him.They had the following children:
Jacob Freed, born 1805
Susan Freed, born about 1810, married to George Swineford, died before 1840.
Rachel Freed, born 1817, married to Daniel Berger
Nancy Freed, married to Jacob Berger
Abraham Freed, born 1820 (not confirmed)
Peter Freed, born 1822 – He became a tailor, married Sarah Manbeck, settled in Alfaratta, Mifflin County, and served in the Civil War.
Hannah Freed, born before 1830
Peter and Nancy may have had another son and perhaps two other daughters, according to census records.
These dates are approximate and information is not complete.
More Replies:
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Re: Peter Freed, of Union County, PA u2013 Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Fried?
Brenda Barraclough 3/27/07
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Re: Peter Freed, of Union County, PA u2013 Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Fried?
Yvonne Dunn 3/01/11
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Re: Peter Freed, of Union County, PA u2013 Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Fried?
Al Kernz 3/29/07
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Re: Peter Freed, of Union County, PA u2013 Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Fried?