Background
story
The Ancestors of Frederick
Frakes
researched by
Joseph I. Frakes
joef@tcity.com
1998
The History of
Frederick Frakes
Ancestors
by
Joseph
I. Frakes
"A good name is better
than precious ointment." Ecclesiastes 7-1
The following is a list of surnames which are
direct line ancestors of Joseph I. Frakes;
Ashcraft, Burrows, Calhoun,
Carr/Kerr, Coy, Cross, Culver, Dodson, Ellis, Frakes//Friggs, Grant, Ireland, Jenkins,
Kerr/Carr, Lanman, Lewis, Osborn/Osborne, Peers, Phillips, VanHorn, VanWinkle,
Below is a brief history of some of the
surnames.
Ashcraft
As published in "The Ashcraft Family,
Descendants of Daniel" by Martha Ashcraft Neal, 1994; Richard
Ashcroft, merchant of England, joined the East India Company in 1614.
Richard married Alice Towers, a niece of Sir John
Jolles, Lord Mayor of London, in 1615. In 1663, John Ashcroft,
the son of John and grandson of Richard,
was deeded a plantation in Barbados. But John had arrived in
Connecticut as early as 1632. Leaving the operation of his Barbados plantation to those
more inclined to stay in one place, for John was a seafaring
man. He made numerous trips between England, Barbados and America - with stops in
Connecticut and Virginia. The cargo out of Barbados would have been rum, molasses and
slaves.
John finally settled in Stonington, Connecticut, dying there 15
September 1680. This John must have been quite a lover as the
records of the General Court of 1664 show John Ashcroft and John
Carr arraigned together for endeavoring to entice women from their husbands,
concealing themselves in houses, writing letters which were intercepted, etc.
Many of the descendants of the Ashcroft/Ashcraft men continued
the tradition of problems with the law. in 1720 a Daniel
Ashcraft was tried for the murder of a Indian - beating him in the head
with a stone. In 1733-4, a Uriah Ashcraft was tried for the
murder of a stranger. Both men were acquitted.
The Ashcraft men made their way into Pennsylvania and in 1792,
Richard Ashcraft, a grandson of Daniel, froze to
death after falling into Chambers Mills Creek, in Pennsylvania. Richard's
wife was Elizabeth Carr. Richard saw
service during the Revolutionary War, serving as a scout in western Pennsylvania, under
Captain Bazil Bowell's Company.
Following Richard's death, his wife, Elizabeth,
took her sons and traveled to Kentucky, settling in Nelson County. Even there the sons
were know as fighters. Abijah Ashcraft, a son of Richard
and Elizabeth, was regarded as the most powerful of the Ashcraft
men. During the early 1800's, in the areas of Kentucky, it was the custom of the noted
fighters to make the rounds of the towns, at Court terms, musters, three day elections,
and the like. There, after warming up with some stimulants - often supplied by the Frakes
men - they would walk up and down the public thoroughfares, cry out their abilities and
generally ruin all takers. Capping the climax by declaring they could whip their weight in
wildcats. Stories of Abijah's fighting ability and his escapades
furnished much folklore in the early Kentucky settlements.
Richard and Elizabeth had a daughter, Mary Ashcraft, born 22 August 1771, who
was my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother.
Carr/Kerr
In his poem "The Raid of the
Kerrs" Ettrick Shepherd summed up the feelings Englishmen
had toward this Scottish border clan farnfly. "The Kerrs
were aye the deadliest foes that e'er to Englishmen were known, For they were all bred
left handed men, and fence [defense] against them there was none". Left handedness
was a decided advantage to have if you were fighting up a right curving castle stairwell,
as well as fighting a right handed swordsman. It is said; the male Kerr babies were born
with their right hand tied to their side.
Similarly, in his poem "The Reprisal", celebrating the storming of Femiehurst
Castle, Walter Laidlaw wrote "So well the Kerrs their left
hands ply, the dead and dying round them lie, the castle gained, the battle won, Revenge
and slaughter are begun". The clan chief at the time of the storming of Femiehurst
was Sir John Kerr. After the battle he and his men played
handball with the severed heads of their enemies. A game known as "Jedburgh
Ball", and based on this ancient and gory victory, is played today, but with leather
balls as substitutes for English heads.
Bodmer and McKie in "The Book of
Man" (1994), begin their treatise on the human genome project, by speaking
extensively about the Kerrs propensity for left handedness. The
history of this family is replete with revenge, bloodshed, and family honor.
The family claims Norman descent, and John Kerr, the hunter of
Swinhope, was the first to bear the family name. He is a contemporary of King
William the Lionhearted. Two brothers, John and Ralph
Kerr settled near Jedburgh in 1330. These two men founded the great branches
of the family. Ralph's line became the Marquesses of
Lothian, while John's rose to the Dukedom
of Roxburgh.
At different times both lines held the title Warden of the Middle Marsh which consisted of
the border area between England and Scotland. Although the line of descent is somewhat
muddied, it appears my ancestors descend from John, a 1573
listing of the Kerrs shows them the Lairds of
Cessforth, Femyherst (Femiehurst), Grenehead
(also known as Greneheid), Greyden (Graden), Gaitschaw,
Fadounsyde, Cavers, Linton, and Ancrum.
The Kerrs were fierce enemies of the English and were known by
many names such as fiding clans, foraying clans, dalesmen, marchmen, borderers and
mosstroopers. In a phrase, they were robber barons.
The Kerrs became allied to Frakes
family when Richard Ashcraft
married Elizabeth Carr/Kerr, great, great, great, great grand daughter of
the Laird of Graden. Elizabeth Carr
was the grandmother of Elizabeth Dodson, the wife of John Frakes, born 1786. But the
relationship of the Ashcraft and Carr
families tie together much earlier, see the history of the Ashcraft
line for a connection as early as 1664.
This is the second ancestral line of Scandinavian decent, in my direct line, the other
being the Frigg surname, which appeared in Scotland circa 1000
AD. And, being from the Norse family of Olaf Frydgevsson (Tryggvason).
Frigg is the source of the Frakes
surname.
In Norse (Germanic and Scandinavian) mythology, Frigg was the
supreme goddess and wife of Odin. Frigedaeg, a celebration of
the goddess Frigg, is where Friday, the sixth day of the week is
derived.
Cross
This is an old American family with well
documented roots back to London, England. Indications are, the family came from the
village of Doncaster, West Riding, Yorkshire. Leonard and Jane
Crosse sent their son, John, bound in service to
work for a Michael Tauney in the Maryland Coloney, The year was
1685, and John was in service for nine years. For the next 90
years John's descendants remained in Baltimore County, Maryland.
Elizabeth Cross, the wife of John Carr,
was born circa 1736, the daughter of John Cross,
and granddaughter of John Crosse, the immigrant ancestor.
Most of the descendants of the Cross clan went south, from
Maryland, circa 1772. First into North Carolina and, later, into Tennessee. One, a Zachariah
Cross married Ester Johnson, the niece of Daniel
Boone and settled in Logan County, Kentucky.
Frakes
The surname Frigg,
the origin of the Freak, Freke, Frakes surname comes from
Scotland. ("The Saga" a book of Norse origin, on and about the early Norse
settlers of Morayshire. Printed in the 12th Century, it is currently housed in the
repository office in Forres, Morayshire, Scotland.) "The Saga" records state
that Olaf Tryggvesson went viking when his first wife died in
childbirth; he ravaged Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and when in the Scilly Islands
he met a wise hermit and was converted to Christianity. He returned to Norway where his
people didn't take kindly to being forcibly converted. He had to flee (Circa 1000 AD) to
Morci. (Editors note: Morci now known as the County of Moray, Scotland.) He probably
arrived at Findhorn, in those days a major port but probably not large enough to attract
his enemies. There, using the name Frigg, he is recorded by
monks to be a King.
According to a Scottish researcher of the Frigg family, a Gordon
Milne of Aberdeen, most descendants of the Frigg
families, in Scotland, are today known as French or Fridge.
To his knowledge, none with the surname Frigg remain. The
surname Frigg is exclusive to Morayshire, Scotland, in the
parishes on, or just inland from, the coast. The surname Frigg,
or this spelling of the surname, appears to have completely died out by 1860. Frakes
is a "Old English" phonetic spelling of Friggs.
Taken from "The Old Parish Register", and microfiche indexes for baptisms and
marriages for Moreyshire, and to a lesser extent Banffshire, variations of the Frigg
surname, are; Freak, Freiss, Frake, Freke, French, Frice, Fridge, Friesh,
Frig, Frigge, Frise, Friz, Frize, Frug, Fruish, and Trigg."
Among the variations of Frigg is listed Freak.
It seems likely that some our Frakes ancestors were known as Frigg,
but with their movement to England, the Freak and other
variations took hold. I find it interesting that the Frigg name
can be traced back to Norway and the Frydgevsson/Tryggvason
surname. And, notice the closeness of Frydgevsson to Frigedaeg,
the name from which Friday is derived. Frigedaeg, is a
celebration of the goddess Frigg and comes from Scandinavian
mythology. All this seems to indicate our ancestors were from Scotland, but, before that,
probably Scaninavian.
Starting with early English records, a Francis Freke, probably
an ancestor to some of the modern day Frakes families, was born
between 1490 and 1500. That birth being recorded in Thorncombe, an area along the
southwest coast of England, later known as Devonshire.
Some recently discovered records indicate the name may have been recorded as Freale,
before the Freke variant appeared. The letter "K" was
the last letter added to todays alphabet, and was not fully accepted until the mid 1700's.
Therefore; the Freale variant is logical alternative.
Variants in the Frakes name appear in England, in the early
1600's and into the 1700's as; in Nottinghamshire, Frakes; in
Mammouthshire, Freak and Frake; in
London, Frake Frcaks, Frakes, Fraick, Fracke, Fraike; in
Leicestershire, Frakor and Fraker. All
these are, probably, descendants of the earlier surname Frigg.
An old family in America, ancestors of the Frakes
families arrived on this continent as early as March 12, 1611. When, included in the Third
Charter of the London Company, sailing to America and the Virginia Colony, were a Thomas
and Henry ffreake, "Ministers of God's Word". And, a
Sir Thomas Freake may have arrived at an earlier date.
In 1634, there is evidence that suggests some Freakes men may
have been banished from the Maryland Colony for taking part in the Rebellion of Josias
Fendall. That rebellion sought to align the colony with Parliament, and
opposed the Monarch.
In 1710 the Maryland General Assembly asked a Henry Freeks to
remove himself, his family, and his stock from land near the Nanticoke River, close to a
group of Nanticoke Indians. In that request, Henry was referred
to as "The English".
In 1715, Henry Friggs, the ancestor
of those Pennsylvania and Kentucky Friggs/Frakes men, purchased
300 acres of land on the Delmarva Peninsula, along Broad Creek, just east of the Nanticoke
River. Researchers have yet to connect the many Freke/Freake
immigrants with those early Friggs/Frakes men, and stories
abound to the origin of the Frigg name. Among the most
prevalent, of these stories, is a Scottish origin. In the opinion of this writer, the Frigg
name is Scottish, and Freke/Freake is nothing more than an
English variant of Frigg.
Many of the early Frakes men were known as FRIGGS,
FRIGS, FRIGG, and many other variations, it wasn't until the late 1700's
that the FRAKES variation begin to appear. There is no doubt of
the FRIGGS/FRAKES connection, land, tax, marriage and even
census records prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the link.
These early Friggs men left a well-defined migratory pattern
from that Delmarva Peninsula region, across the Chesapeake Bay, and westward, up the
Potomac River, into that disputed area of Pennsylvania.
These men seemed to maintain a loyalty to the Virginia Colony. When the King declared, in
1763, that there would be no white settlements west of the Allegheny Mountains, these Friggs/Frakes
men were at the forefront of the westward movement, guiding settlers and spying out that
very land for speculators.
A brawling group of frontiersman, these early Frakes men were
driven into new, largely unexplored, unpopulated, areas in their quest for a better life. John
Friggs was spying out the land of western Pennsylvania, in the 1760's.
"The Horn Papers", by W.F. Horn, puts Natty
Friggs (Nathan Frakes) at the point of Daniel
Boone's party on his expeditions into Western Kentucky, Indiana and
Illinois.
The family served their country with distinction during the Revolutionary War. Their
descendants have continued that service into the present day. As early settlers they led
the way into new territories; Pennsylvania in the mid-1700's, Kentucky in the late 1700's,
and Indiana by the early 1800's. As the westward movement continued, during the
mid-1800's, into Missouri, Kansas, and, eventually, reaching the waters of the Pacific
Ocean and the Oregon Territory, the Frakes family was there.
Many of the early FRIGGS/FRAKES men were farmers, meaning they
lived off the land, mostly hunters. Though, at times, they served as scouts (spy's),
leading expeditions into new territories. Court records, from the early 1800's, indicate
they were pretty good at making whiskey too!
Most FRAKES of today can trace their ancestors back to that
group of FRIGGS/FRAKES men who were in an area of Southwest
Pennsylvania in the 1760's. By the 1780's many of this group had migrated southwest into,
what is now, Nelson, Bullitt, Hardin and Bourbon Counties, Kentucky. While others, by the
early 1800's, moved directly west, into Ohio. But, with a few exceptions, the relationship
of these men is unknown. They were, nevertheless, most certainly, closely related
Many of the Frakes men fought for the Union, during the War
between the States. But, not because of any loyalty to the Union. Their reason had more to
do with the fear that their neighbors would burn their farms if they fought for the South.
Most Frakes were Southern sympathizers, and following General Thomas
Ewing reign of terror, where he ordered the women and children of all men
fighting for the Confederacy, hauled off to prison camps, where many died. And, following
his orders that all citizens of Jackson, Cass, Bates, Clay and Ray Counties, Missouri,
must establish their loyalty to the Union to the satisfaction of the Commander. They were
then transported to the State of Kansas. All who failed to establish their loyalty, to the
satisfaction of the Commander, were imprisoned. Thus; those counties remained a wasteland
during the War. So, needless to say, following the War between the States, western
Missouri wasn't too fond of the Union, or it's leaders.
During this time period, following the War, Quantrill trained
men fanned out along the Missouri, Kansas and Okla., borders, recruiting men and setting
up, so called, "Friendly Farms", to aid those willing to continue the fight. A
secret underground Confederate organization was set in place. Their assignment, to procure
the funds for new ships, arms and mercenaries from Europe. Their targets were Yankee
financiers, railroads, stagelines, banks, ect., ect..
The Dalton, James, Younger, Doolin and Sam Bass Gangs
were part of this plan. Mason Frakes Dalton was the fourth son
of James Louis Dalton. The "Dalton
Gang" being, Robert, Gratton, Mason (Bill), and Emmett
Dalton, along with various other men who rode with them. All sons of James
Louis Dalton and Adaline Lee Younger. Mason
Frakes Dalton was named for James Louis Dalton's
best friend, Mason Frakes. But, Mason Frakes,
along with other Frakes men, were running "Friendly
Farms", following the War, And the Dalton boy's, not
wanting to raise suspicions, of the operations of the Frakes
men, decided to change the name of Mason, and he assumed the
name William Marion Dalton (Bill, as he was known to lawmen)
During this same time frame, the Europeans, involved in this conspiracy, sent Emperor
Maximillian to rule Mexico, and planned to assist the Confederate Forces
from there. But, a little guy named Juarez, and his revolt,
financed with Union money, shot that down. And, basically put all plans on hold. In the
meantime, the Union sent all of its forces into the Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas
areas to try and close this operation. With the forces from Mexico tied up in their own
revolt - keep in mind, financed by the Union, to keep Maximillian from aiding the
Confederate cause - the southern underground movement was doomed.
Mason Frakes (William Marion) Dalton, Jim Wallace
and two Knight brothers robbed a bank in Longview, Texas, on May
23, 1894. Shortly after this robbery Bill was surrounded and
killed by U.S. Marshals, in Elk, Okla.
Mason Frakes, of Ray County, Missouri, was the son of Barnabus
Frakes, the son of Joseph Frakes, of Montgomery
County, Ky. Joseph was the son of Nathan (Natty
Friggs) Frakes.
The descendants of two early Kentucky men have been recorded in publications. The first
being "Squire Frakes of Hardin County, Kentucky",
1971, by Evelyn Marscena Frakes - Squire Frakes
is thought to be the son of Daniel FRIGGS/FRAKES. The second
book is "The Descendants of Philip and Phoebe
(Case) Frakes, of Nelson County, Kentucky", 1979, by Nina
Howlett Frakes.
In addition; my book; "Early Frakes Records, 1490-1820", was published in 1995.
Jenkins
Most of the following history is taken from
"Two Centuries in Elizabethtown and Hardin County, Kentucky", by McClure.
The Jenkins line can be traced back to John Jenkins, Jr., born
in Carmenthenshire, Wales, in 1716. He married Elizabeth Phillips,
who was born in Wales, in 1718. They came to America in 1764, landing in New York. They
settled in Loudon County, Virginia, where John
Jenkins father, John Jenkins Sr., died in 1772.
From Virginia the family moved northwest, into Fayette County, Pennsylvania, along Georges
Creek, where John owned a mill.
The Jenkins were Quakers and did not serve in the Revolution. Philip,
the only son of John, was a loyalist and served as Finance
Officer for King George III. How they were accepted by other
colonist is not known.
The family was in Kentucky and entered land on Doe Run Watercourse on the 16th of
September, 1798. In 1803, Philip Jenkins sold that land to Jonathan
Esaery and a mill was built on Doe Run. In 1973 that mill still stood and
had been converted into a well known eating place, called Doe Run Inn.
John Jenkins and Elizabeth Phillips
had a daughter Sarah Jenkins, who married Jonathan Dodson. Sarah and Jonathan
Dodson are my Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandparents.
Lanman
Probably a descendant of Samuel and
Mary Lanman (Landman), who are recorded in Massachusetts, in the
late 1600's. James Lanman was born in Fairfax County, Virginia,
in 1752. James was a soldier in the American Revolution,
enlisting at Charlestown, South Carolina, in July, 1776. He served as a Orderly Sergeant
for one year in the 1st Regiment of the South Carolina Rifleman, under Captain John
Hampton. He enlisted for a second time, for two years, as a Orderly
Sergeant, on 3 March 1781, serving in the 1st Regiment of Horse Soldiers, under Colonel William
Henderson. He received a pension for his service.
James son, George, was born in Caswell
County, North Carolina, the 30th of May 1793, or 1794, records differ. He died 19 February
1873, or 1874, again records differ, in Perry County, Indiana. George's
first wife was Mary (Polly) VanWinkle, the daughter of Alexander
VanWinkle and Phoebe Coy, pioneer settlers in
Bristow, Indiana. Polly was born 1796-1801, again records
differ. She died 30 August 1851. Polly and George are
buried at the Old Lanman Cemetery, in Perry County, Indiana.
Records differ due to research of two researchers having different dates.
George Lanman and Polly VanWinkle had
a daughter, Rebecca Lanman, born in
1818, she was my Great-grandmother.
