Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 958E162329CD314985CE3CC4B153F4536AD1

Notes:

Biography:


BIOGRAPHY: Isaac Fretz, born in Bedminster Twp., Bucks Co., Pa.. Feb. 12, 1771; died Nov. 1, 1843. Married Susanna Kratz, of Hilltown Twp. May 28, 1793. She was born Sept. 3, 1775; died Mar. 20, 1798. Children: Abraham, Enos, Susanna. In the year 1800, Isaac married his second wife, Veronica Kratz, of Skippack, Montgomery Co. She was born Oct. 28 1778; died 13, 1821. Children: John, Elizabeth, Jacob, Isaac, William, Mahlon, Mary, Samuel. In 1822 Isaac married his third wife, Betsey Landis. She was born Nov. 16, 1799; died Feb. 13, 1887. In early life Isaac Fretz followed the vocation of farmer. He owned and lived on the farm in Tinicum Twp. now owned and occupied by Henry F. Myers. He also for a time had teams on the road freighting goods from Philadelphia to Easton, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, with an occasional visit to Pittsburg and other points west. During his absence from home Mar. 4, 1804, his barn was struck by lightning and burned. On this occasion his wife Veronica, displayed heroic energy, in rescuing horses and cattle from the burning building, and undoubtedly would have perished herself in the flames, had she not at last been held back by the neighbors. In spite of all efforts to rescue the cattle from the flames, one horse and fourteen (some say 21) head of cattle perished. In 1815, Isaac built what is now known as the Fretz Valley Mill, on the Tohickon Creek, and in addition to farming operated the mill. During his busy life he succeeded to competency, and accumulated nearly 300 acres of land. He and wives were members of the Mennonite church. He, however, respected all denominations, and would never (without reproof) allow any one in his presence to speak lightly of any church, or church ordinance.

Isaac married KRATZ, Susanna on 28 May 1793. Susanna (daughter of KRATZ, Abraham and MOYER, Barbara) was born on 3 Sep 1775; died on 20 Mar 1798. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: F27EEF5BEA7AED41BA0E3574BFE291FBEA67

Notes:

Biography:


BIOGRAPHY: Christian Fretz, (son of Weaver John) was born in 1734. He married Barbara Oberholtzer in 1757. She was born Nov. 20, 1737. Their married life ran through a course of forty-six years. He died May 1, 1803. His wife survived him twenty years, and died May 8, 1823. It is a noteworthy fact that at the time of her death, she was the mother of twelve children, had a hundred and nine grand children, and a hundred and three great grand children. Previous to his father's death, Christian, and his brother Isaac, lived on what is known as the Isaac Fretz' homestead, situated in Tinicum Twp., now owned by Henry F. Myers. He was one of the executors of his father's estate, and inherited the old homestead in Bedminster under the conditions previously mentioned in the will, and where he subsequently lived and died. To the homestead he added by purchase from his son John, the tract known as the "Poor Fields," in 1793, and which consisted of about 30 acres. He and his wife were members of the Mennonite church, and worshiped in the ever memorable Old Stone Church at Deep Run, which was the oldest Mennonite congregation in Bucks county. In his day the Indians were yet quite numerous, and often quite troublesome. It is related that he had a very fine horse, to which the Indians took a particular fancy, and wanted to buy, but he would not sell it. The Indians however, determining to gain possession of the horse, came by night and stole it. Some time after, he ascertained where the horse was, and went to the Indian camp, arriving at evening, and seeing the horse turned out to pasture, he cencealed himself until slumber had fallen upon the inhabitants of the wigwam. The Indians had a custom of just before retiring for the night, to go outside of their wigwarns and shout and make a great noise to frighten away the wild beasts. Knowing this to be the signal for retiring, be waited until he thought they were sound asleep, and then entered the lot, secured the horse, and returned home with it. It is also related that his son Joseph had a very fine young horse, and that during the Revolutionary war, when Washington's Army was encamped below Newtown, that foraging teams, accompanied by an officer on horseback, came to Christian Fretz's place for hay for the army, that the officer saw the horse, and in conversation with the foragemen, said it was a fine horse, that he would try and buy it, but if he could not buy it, he would have it anyway. The conversation between the officer and men was overheard by one of Christian's daughters, who ran to the house and told her brother, who was sitting at the loom weaving. As the officer was coming to the house by the front way, to see him about the horse, he not wishing to part with it, leaped through the window, ran to the barn by the back way unobserved by the officer, mounted the horse, and rode towards the Haycock Mountain. The officer however saw him as he dashed away with the horse, and followed some distance until he lost track of him. He rode the horse up through the wilderness country, a part of the time fording up the streams to cover his tracks and hid the horse at the place now known as Shellenberger's mill. A few days later the officer came again to Christian's place, and told him that he would have that horse.
The next day, however, Christian accompanied by a neighbor went to the Encampment at Newtown, and laid the matter before the General in command. The General gave him a writing of protection, told him not to trouble himself about the horse, and if the officer should come around again, to hand him that paper. In a few days the officer came the second time, and very impudently made demands for the horse, whereupon Christian handed him the paper from the General in command. He looked it over, dropped it and left. Among the relics of Christian Fretz's home is a table now owned by Mrs. Lapp, who lives at the Doylestown Mennonite meeting house, which was used in his family, and on which he, being a wealthy man, counted his money. The table was bought at the public sale of Christian Fretz's effects by Joseph Wisler, and is now in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Lapp. The children of Christian and Barbara Fretz, in the order of their birth are, viz: John, Agnes, Joseph, Henry, Martin, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Barbara, Christian, Mary, Elizabeth.

Christian married OBERHOLTZER, Barbara in 1757. Barbara (daughter of OBERHOLTZER, Martin and KOLB, Agnes) was born on 20 Nov 1737; died on 8 May 1823. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 640A882FA85FB24D90089FA3C42816575EF3

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 1E6ECD6A11E4BA44B608473FE86E10238324

Notes:

Reference: Moyer Family, by A. J. Fretz, 1896.

John Fretz was a weaver by trade and was known as "Weaver John." Of his public services nothing is known of special interest, further than that he was one of the committee to form the new township of Bedminster in 1741. John and his wife, Barbara, and their immediate descendants were Mennonites and worshipped at Deep Run, first in the old log church, built about 1746, and later in the old stone church built about 1766, and which stood for over 100 years. John's last will and testament was dated January 29, 1772, and was probated on March 3 of the same year, which shows he died between the two dates."

Biography:


BIOGRAPHY: The 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, formerly known as the Palatinate, or Rheinish Prussia.
They were 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. That they were of German origin, is also evident from the fact that on the opposite side of the Rhine, in the province of Alsatia, there are to this day, living where they have lived for the past two or three centuries, many Fretz's of an old Alsatian Stock, who claim they are of German origin, ''as all true Alsatians are".
The Province of Alsatia was annexed to France in 1648, prior to that time it was always under German Dominion, and while the French language was exclusively taught in the schools, the language spoken is a German dialect, with decided variations in different localities.
At what port the Fretz ancestors landed, or the exact date of their arrival into this country is not known, but may have been between the years of 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, and they chose rather than to give up their religious liberty to leave the "Fatherland," the land of their birth, and the homes of their kindred and friends, the graves of their ancestors, and all the hallowed associations of the home and country of their nativity, and found for 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 its subjects, and naturally enough they turned their steps hither, where they too, might enjoy liberty of conscience. And thus are we, as their descendants, citizens of this great liberty loving country. How we, of today, should prize this liberty! Think what our Ancestors sacrificed to enjoy it. How they left their native land, a country established many hundreds of years, to seek a home in the new world, in the wilds of America.
They came about thirty-five years after the charter was granted, and the great seal of England, with the signature of Charles II. was affixed, and William Penn became the proprietor of Pennsylvania. They were here about thirty-five years before the French and Indian war, in which George Washington, was a British Colonel. Our first ancestor, John Fretz, slept beneath the sod before the fires of the Revolution were kindled, or about three years before the battle of Lexington.
They came when the country was but sparsely settled, when the inconveniences were great, and when the equally dangerous red man infested the land. They were still living during the period when some of the great subjects which eventually led to the war of the Revolution were being agitated, and their children were settled with families during the bloody struggle for Independence, and although being non-combatants, they were true and loyal to the American cause, and aided it as best they could, without compromising their religious faith by bearing arms.
Our ancestors and their immediate descendants were Mennonites, who worshiped at Deep Run, Bucks Co., Pa., first in the old log church, which was probably built in 1746, and later in the old stone church, built in 1766, and which stood for over a hundred years. They no doubt aided in erecting this church, both by contributing of their means and labor, and from it they were carried to their last earthly resting place in the cemetery adjoining. There may their ashes rest in peace until the trump of Gabriel shall awake the dead to come forth, and obtain the inheritance of the faithful.
Which of the two brothers was the elder is not known as no records of the birth of either have been found.
Christian, settled in Tinicum township, Bucks Co., Pa., along the Tinicum Creek, on what is now known as Heaney's Mill.
It is not known where John Fretz at first settled. He afterward settled in what was then Plumstead township, but now Bedminster, on what is known as the Old Fretz Homestead, situated about one mile North East of Bedminsterville, now owned by Ely Fretz, and occupied by his son, Mahlon M. Fretz.
The homestead originally consisted of 230 acres of land, which John Fretz purchased of Bartholomew Longstreth in 1737 or 1738, for which he paid 106 pounds. The release being given in the latter year in the month of May. The tract when purchased had a house, barn, and other buildings, but 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 - viz, 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, and is known as "Weaver John." Of his public services nothing is known of especial interest further than that he was one of the committee to form the new township of Bedminster in 1741.
He was twice married, but the maiden name of neither wife is known. By his first wife Barbara, he is known to have had five children, and by his second wife, Maria, three. There may have been more, but if there were they died young.
John Fretz died in 1772, probably in February. His last will and testament, was dated January 29, 1772, and was probated on the third day of March of the same year, which shows that he died between the two dates given. The provisions of the will were that his son Christian should have the farm, and pay 800 pounds, and each of the children were to have equal shares, except the sum of 60 pounds which was to be distributed among the children of his first wife, and which came from their Grandfather, (probably on the mother's side.)
To the widow was willed a 100 pounds of which she was to receive the interest as long as she remained his widow. She was to have the house in which George White lived at that time.
The last Will and Testament of John Fretz, as an old and rather peculiar document, will no doubt be interesting reading, and of sufficient importance to warrant its insertion in the history of the connection.

Will:
In the name of God Amen. I, John Fretz, of the Township of Bedminster in the County of Bucks in the Province of Pennsylvania, Weaver being sick in body, but of sound memory blessed be God unto this day the twenty-ninth day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two make this as my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:
First of all it is my Will that when it shall please God to call me out of this world my body shall be decently buried, and my soul I recommend to God my Savior.
Secondly, I Will that all my just debts shall be paid carefully out of my estate, and rest disposed of as followeth, that is to say, I give unto my beloved wife Maria, one hundred pounds lawful money to be paid out of my estate and the said hundred pounds shall be put on interest, and my wife shall have the interest yearly during her natural life, or so long she remains my widow, and if she shall want any of the principal of the said hundred pounds so that the interest would not be sufficient for her yearly maintenance, it shall be allowed to her sufficient to maintain her during her natural life, or so long she remains my widow, and if any is remaining of the said hundred pounds after her decease; or if she marries again, the remainder shall be equally divided amongst my children in equal shares, and it is my Will that my wife shall live in the house wherein George White lives now, during her natural life or so long she remains my widow, and my Executors shall finish the house off sufficiently and build a good stable to the house to put her cow in and her hay, and my son Christian Fretz shall let her have so much meadow hay as to give two cows, and my said son Christian shall give unto my said wife yearly eleven bushels of good winter grain half wheat and half rye, and to sow yearly one acre of Buckwheat, and to plow a half acre of land for Indian corn, and to plow and sow a half acre for flax yearly during her natural life, or so long she remains my widow, and my wife shall have a row of apple trees in my orchard, the fourth row from the barn, and my wife shall have to choose a cow from my cows which she please, and her bed and clothes and the furniture belonging to her bed, and my wife shall have one iron pot, and two pails, and all her household goods which she brought to me she shall take again, and my said wife shall have liberty to cut firewood on my place sufficient during her natural life or so long as she remains my widow. The garden by the house of George White shall be for her during her natural life, and it is further my Will that all my children shall have equal shares - except sixty pounds lawful money shall be paid unto the children of my first wife out of my estate which money came by their Grandfather, and the said sixty pounds shall be equally divided amongst my said children of my first wife. And as all my children which are married have had fifty pounds apiece it is my Will that my son Mark shall have fifty pounds likewise to make him equal with the rest, and my son Henry shall have so much as my children from my first wife except what is above excepted, and except the fifty pounds which is paid unto my children when married.
And it is further my Will that my daughter Barbara shall have one hundred pounds lawful money out of my estate, and a cow, and a bed, all which she shall have when she comes to the age of eighteen years, and my son Henry shall have his share when he comes to the age of twenty-one years - and no sooner. And it is further my Will that my son Christian Fretz shall have all my lands to him, his Heirs and assigns, and he shall pay eight hundred pounds lawful money for my said land or plantation, and to have the half of the grain in the ground with the place, and he is to pay the Legatees as the Will directs, and he, the said Christian fulfill all the articles mentioned in this Will to my wife accordingly and my son Christian shall have always a equal share with the rest of my children.
He, the said Christian, my son, shall pay unto John Fretz my son, and Jacob Fretz, and Jacob Kulp, my son-in-law, for my daughter Elizabeth, her share fifteen months after my decease, and unto my son Abraham two years and three months after my decease, and unto my son Marcks, three years and three months after my decease, and the said Barbara, my daughter which is mentioned in this Will she shall have no more of my estate as the hundred pounds, and the cow, and bed, as above mentioned, and Lastly, I do ordain, constitute, appoint my sons Christian and John Fretz, to be my Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, whom I do empower authorize to sell all my Estate except what is in this Will excepted and to pay all my debts and the Legacies aforesaid in my name, utterly revoking and disannulling all other and former Wills or Testaments and Executors by me before this time made or named Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have to this presents set my hand and seal this the twenty-ninth day of January in the year 1772.

Sealed signed pronounced
declare by this presents this
as my last Will and Testament John Fretz.
in the presence of us,
Daniel Kratz,
Jacob Kolb.

His children in the order of their birth were, viz:
John, Jacob, Christian, Abraham, Elizabeth, Mark, Henry, and Barbara.

Johannes married MEYER, Barbara in 1727. Barbara (daughter of MEYER, Hans) was born in 1710; died on 12 May 1799; was buried in Bedminster Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 810EB1206E21CE4B85588FB796686F2EC68B

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: E3BA5DAABC3B3C43BEBE2AEABC3E2423EB9F

Martin married KOLB, Agnes on 2 Nov 1736. Agnes (daughter of KOLB, Henry and Barbara) was born on 18 Apr 1713 in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 15 Feb 1786 in Bedminster Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States; was buried in Bedminster Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 536456FFCF2D774BBCEC640A0EAAB6BA08D9

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 853618391E68E640882DD4F78B392301202F

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 72995C92DDBE20489CD40C5BC2149FE42CF8

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: 8B5A391F6E638D42B7B34776AD746A9B2AF8

Henry married Barbara. Barbara and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _UID: E90637479C885642AE93AE732B47EE4B36CD