Other Trees
As the extant records of Virginia have been searched for the Fretwell name, it is noted that only one other Fretwell is found between 1763 and 1786 in Virginia when William leaves Essex County and settles in Cumberland County where he writes his will. He is Thomas Freeman Fretwell and no family has been connected to this individual as yet. His death in 1770 tells us his children, if any, were born before that year.
William and Mary Fretwell had their children between 1730 and 1752. By 1763, the older ones are most likely beginning to marry and have families of their own.
Thus, when the probate begins for William's estate in 1788, we find eleven of his children have scattered around Virginia after 1763: John in Louisa County, Susanna in Prince Edward County, Mary in Buckingham County, William and Alexander in Albemarle County, and Thomas, Joseph, Nancy, James, Richard and Leonard in Cumberland County with their father and mother.
Yet, there are other Fretwells scattered around Virginia and adjacent states during the last quarter of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. They are the Other Fretwell Family Trees, some of whom are known to be born in England and some found in America, origins not known.
Born in England
Thomas Fretwell, b. ca1780, emigrated to Mercer Co., PA - with descendants
George Midgley Fretwell, b. 1791, emigrated to Baltimore Co., MD - with descendants
John Fretwell, b. 1802, emigrated to Henry Co., VA - with descendants
John Fretwell, b. 1826, emigrated to St. Lawrence Co., NY in 1850 - no known family
John H. Fretwell, b. 1827, emigrated to Washington Co., PA in 1900 - no known family
_____ Fretwell & Sarah, b. ca1828, emigrated to Lenawee Co., MI - with descendants
John Fretwell, b. 1833, emigrated to Idaho Co., ID in 1880 - no known family
Edwin Fretwell, 1850 - 1902, emigrated to San Francisco, CA - no known family
John Raby Fretwell, b. 1851, emigrated to Iron Co., UT - with descendants
Orson Pratt Fretwell, b. 1854, emigrated to Iron Co., UT - with descendants
Alexander Fretwell, b. 1871, emigrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1897. A year later, his wife and children joined him there.
Thomas Fretwell was born in England ca1780. He settled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1830 with his wife, Hannah. They were the parents of eight known children: Hannah, Thomas, John, Mary, Maria, Ann, Adah and Eliza, all born in Blacktoft, Yorkshire, England. His son, Thomas moved west to Wisconsin and his son, John remained in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Thomas was a farmer and died before his wife, Hannah (d. 11 Feb 1861).
Son Thomas Fretwell (1806-1862) was a sergeant in Co. C, Eighteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, U.S. Army. He enlisted 25 Dec 1861 and died 21 July 1862 in Macon, Georgia. Thomas's son, Oliver P[erez] Fretwell (b. 1844, PA), served in Co. I, Sixth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, U. S. Army. He enlisted 1 June 1861 and was disabled when he was discharged 20 February 1864. Thomas and Oliver are the only known Fretwells to serve on the Union side during the American Civil War.
Son John Fretwell (1809-1885) married Charlotte A. Urch. They were the parents of five known children: Sarah, Zelotes, Ann, John and Harriet. John was naturalized and became a U. S. citizen on 5 May 1847. His descendants flourished, some living today in Allison Park, Pennsylvania and Mentor, Ohio.
George Midgley Fretwell, b. 1791
George Midgley Fretwell was born in England in 1791 and married first Elizabeth Roebuck in 1813 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. They were the parents of four known children: Jesse, John, Matilda and Roebuck. George was a farmer and settled in Baltimore County, Maryland. In 1853, George married second Margaret Lilley. They were the parents of four known children: Eliza, George M., Jessie and Ann. Their descendants continue to live in the Baltimore area.
John Fretwell, born ca1802, married Elizabeth Burnett 20 May 1833 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. They were the parents of four known children: Samuel, Kate, Malinda and George. In 1850, John worked as a blacksmith and resided in Henry County, Virginia. In 1860, Elizabeth was a widow and continued to reside in Henry County, Virginia as do their descendants to the present day. Note: Descendant Nancy Fretwell Thompson wrote in 1984: "....I have quite a few things about g-grandfather, Immigrant John William Fretwell (1812-1855)..." Descendant Sam Fretwell wrote in 1983: "The Fretwell family has resided in the Bassett, Virginia area of Henry County since the early 1800s,...descendants of John Fretwell, a teacher, who came from England..."
_____ Fretwell and Sarah, b. ca1828
Sarah Fretwell was born in England in 1828. She emigrated to the United States in 1876 and it is not known whether her husband was with her. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are known: Thomas, John and George. She still lived with George, her son, in 1910 in Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan. Thomas worked as a well digger and George was a carpenter in Adrian. John moved west to Thayer, Neosha County, Kansas. He was the mayor of Thayer in 1901 and 1902. His descendants are found today in Joplin and Kansas City, Missouri. One great-great grandson, Norman Elliott Fretwell, has volunteered his time for many years to the Boy Scouts of America and the Missouri Boys State.
Edwin Fretwell, b. 1850 - d. 1902
Edwin Fretwell was born in England in1850. He emigrated to San Francisco, California where he worked as a bookkeeper with Thompson Bros. in 1873. He married Annie Livesey in 1875. They had no known children. Edwin became the president of the American Bank and Trust Company in the city. On a return visit to England, Edwin died there in 1902.
In his lifetime, Edwin Fretwell had a long association with Charlotte Crabtree, the American actress. After his death, his widow lived in San Rafael, CA and disputed "Lotta's" claims to Edwin's estate. The city of San Francisco accepted a gift from the popular entertainer in 1875: Lotta's Fountain. It survived the 1906 earthquake and still stands today in the financial district at the intersection of Market, Geary and Kearny Streets. Visit http://www.mistersf.com to see the fountain.
John Raby Fretwell was born in England in 1851. He emigrated to America in 1873 settling in Iron County, Utah. John married first Olive Coombs in 1875. They were the parents of ten children. Those known children were Maryann, William, Sarah, Rosabell, Joyce and David. Some of their descendants settled in Bingham County, Idaho. John married second Lucille Fennemore. They were the parents of Mildred, Donald, George, Grant, Helen and Keith. Some of their descendants moved to Fresno and Menlo Park, California.
Orson Pratt Fretwell, b. 1854 -
Orson Pratt Fretwell was born in England in 1854. He emigrated to America in 1873 settling in Iron County, Utah. It is not yet known whether John Raby Fretwell and Orson Pratt Fretwell were brothers. Orson married Sarah Ann Dutton in 1878. They were the parents of six known children: Kate, William, Thomas, John, Herbert and Arthur. A descendant resided in Menlo Park, California.
Found in America
William Fretwell (b. ca1765-1775) of Augusta County, VA
William A. of Caswell Co., NC
John of Ohio
Lemuel Fretwell (b. ca 1766) of Prince Edward County, VA
No known descendants
William Fretwell (b. ca1766-1779) of Henry County, VA
William (b. ca1792-1797)
John Fretwell (b. ca1770-1780) of Pendleton, SC / John of SC
Joseph Younger et al
James Fretwell (b. 1770-1780) of Augusta County, VA
Dabney
James T.
William Fretwell not William Hiram Fretwell (corrected 5/22/2011)
Irvin
Hugh
Richard and Elizabeth Fretwell (no record found)
Samuel Faris Moses Fretwell (b. ca1804)
James Barbour Fretwell (no record found)
James Barber Fretwell (b. 1831) of WV
William Fretwell, born ca1765-1775, married Nancy Hailey, 7 January 1799 in Albemarle County, Virginia. In 1810, a William Fretwell headed a household in Augusta County, Virginia. By 1813, a William Fretwell and Nancy, his wife, of the County of Augusta in Virginia purchase a plot of ground in the Town of Waynesborough. In 1818, William Fretwell and Nancy, his wife, sell a lot in Waynesborough. In 1820, a William Fretwell headed a household in Augusta County, Virginia. By 1828, William Fretwell has sold various pieces of property and no further records are found for him in Augusta County. It is assumed that the female in his household (age 26-45 in 1810 and 1820) was his wife and the male in his household in 1810, age -10 and in 1820, age 16-26, was his son. This son could be a William Fretwell with descendants in Caswell County, North Carolina OR John of Ohio (see below).
William Fretwell married Nancy Atkinson 15 August 1811 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. They were the parents of one known child: William A. Fretwell, born in 1815 who settled in Caswell County, North Carolina. Their descendants moved on to Rockingham County, North Carolina and Pittsylvania County, Virginia. (back)
John Fretwell of Ohio was born ca1795-1797 in Virginia. On 29 July 1814, John volunteered for the war against Great Britain in the company of Captain Christopher Morris, 4th Regiment, Virginia Militia Brigade in Augusta County, Virginia. In his pension file for service in the War of 1812, John is described in height about 6 feet with blue eyes. He was discharged 29 January 1815 at Norfolk, Virginia. In 1855, he received a bounty land warrant for eighty acres. John married first Margaret Mars 9 September 1819 in Alabemarle County, Virginia. They were the parents of eight children of whom six are known: Sarah, John, Robert, Richard, Mary and Henry. After the birth of Robert, the family moved to Pickaway County, Ohio. Margaret died there in 1859 and John married second Elizabeth Walters 13 May 1866 Franklin County, Ohio. They had no children. John Fretwell died 9 June 1877 and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Clintonville, Ohio. His descendants are still to be found in Pickaway County, Ohio. (back)
Lemuel Fretwell, born ca1766, appeared on the tax list of Prince Edward County, Virginia in 1787. If he was twenty-one years of age, he was born in 1766. No other documents have been found for an individual with this name.
No known descendants.
William Fretwell (b. ca 1766-1779) appeared on the tax lists of Surry County, North Carolina in 1787 and 1789. If he was twenty-one years of age or older, he was born ca1766-1768. He also appeared on the federal census of 1790 as the head of household in the Salisbury District of Surry County. His age was given as 16+ years, thus born by 1774 or earlier, a single male. In 1800, a William Fretwell appeared on a personal property tax list in Henry County, Virginia. If he was twenty-one years of age or older, he was born by 1779 or earlier. None of these records indicate whether William had a family but place him in the vicinity of the William Fretwell of Henry County, Virginia (see below).
William Fretwell was born ca1792-1797 in Virginia. It is assumed that he could be a son of the William Fretwell of Surry County, North Carolina (see above). A William Fretwell married first America Curtis, 14 March 1831 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. A William Fretwell married 27 July 1837 in Henry County, Virginia. He married a widow with six children. She was Mary J. Oaks Norman. William and Mary were the parents of four known children: Martha Ann, Mary Elizabeth, William Samuel and Lucy America Fretwell. William Samuel Fretwell left Henry County, Virginia for Rockingham County, North Carolina and his son, George moved on to Pittsylvania County, Virginia. (back)
John Fretwell, born ca1770-1780, was polled in 1800, 1803 and 1806 on the tax lists of Surry County, North Carolina. John married Leah Gentry 24 March 1801 in Surry County, North Carolina. They were the parents of four known children: Joseph Younger, Bryan, Polly Ann and Elizabeth. John was a farmer and they resided in Pendleton, later Anderson, County, South Carolina. He appeared on the federal census in Pendleton / Anderson, South Carolina from 1810 to 1840. Descendants settled in Pickens and Oconee Counties in South Carolina and west to California and Oregon. Note: Kennon Bry Fretwell (1853-1940) of Portland, Oregon and the grandson of John Fretwell said “at the beginning” there were three Fretwell brothers, two of them living in states adjacent to South Carolina. It is assumed that the three brothers were somewhat close in age. They are likely to be the Lemuel of Prince Edward County in Virginia, the William of Surry County, North Carolina and the John of Anderson County, South Carolina named here. (back)
(John)
(Bryan and Mary)
James Fretwell was born ca1770-1780. He headed a household of four individuals in Augusta County, Virginia in 1830 (Federal Census MF#29, R#668, p. 15). The head of the household is a male, age 50-60. There is a female, age 50-60 (wife?), a male, age 30-40 (son?) and a male, age 20-30 (son?). It is assumed there were other children in the family besides these two sons, although no other appropriate documents have been found for James Fretwell. His sons could be --
Dabney Fretwell was born ca1795-1798 in Virginia. His first wife’s name is unknown. They were the parents of five known children: William, Sarah, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Polly/Mary. His second wife was Abigail McKnight. They were married 25 June 1840 in Rockingham County and had no known children. Dabney was a stonemason. His descendants remain in Augusta County to the present day. (back)
James T. Fretwell was born ca1805 in Virginia. It is believed that he married three times. His first wife was Nancy Loury. They were the parents of five known children: William, Sarah, Margaret, James and John. James married second Rebecca Lovery. They were the parents of Hamilton, Richard and Tom. James married third Ann Monroe. They were the parents of Robert, Emma, Elizabeth, Carson, Rebecca and Alice. Most of the descendants of James T. Fretwell remain in Augusta County, Virginia into the early twentieth century. (back)
William Fretwell, born ca1780-90, heads a household in Jackson County, Alabama in 1840. A Levica Fretwell heads a household in Pulaski County, Illinos in 1850 and 1860. She was born in Tennessee. The children were born in Alabama before 1840 and in Illinois after 1840. [ Irvin ] and Hugh are among the children with Levica.
Irvin Fretwell was born ca1833 in Alabama. He married twice and lived in Polk Co., Arkansas, then in Clay and Somervell Counties, Texas. “Erby” Fretwell served in the 56th and 66th Regiment of the Alabama Partisan Rangers during the Civil War. His widow in Glen Rose, Texas applied for a pension. (back)
Hugh Fretwell was born ca1838 in Alabama. He worked in Scott County, Missouri and it is assumed his descendants are found in Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties in Missouri. (back)
Richard and Elizabeth Fretwell of Virginia have been reported to be the parents of Samuel Faris Moses Fretwell by one of his descendants. No document has been found to substantiate this claim.
Samuel Faris Moses Fretwell was born in Virginia as early as 1790 and as late as 1804. He was listed on the federal census of the Territory of Michigan in Iowa County in 1830 and again in 1836 in Iowa County, Wisconsin Territory. A Samuel Faris Moses Fretwell married Sarah Woods ca1836 and appeared on the 1840 federal census of Iowa County, Wisconsin. In 1850 and 1860, they resided in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Samuel died in Weber County, Utah ca1872. Samuel and Sarah Fretwell were the parents of eight known children: John, Daniel, Frances, Elizabeth, Joseph, Nephi, Mary and Samuel. After Samuel’s death, Sarah settled in Bear Lake County, Idaho with her daughter. Other children were in Toole and Weber Counties in Utah. (back)
James Barber / Barbour Fretwell married Maria Jane Cockrell in Virginia as reported in letters written by his Fretwell descendants. No document has been found to substantiate this marriage. They are said to be the parents of James Barber Fretwell.
James Barber Fretwell was born 29 August 1831 in Rockingham County, Virginia. As a young man of nineteen years, he is found in the gold fields of Eldorado County, California in 1850, but was a farmer in Sonoma County by 1860. He continued to farm for the rest of his life moving on to Tulare County and, finally, Ventura County. James married Maria Jane Doyle 19 September 1869 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. They were the parents of ten known children: Charles, Hattie, Edwin, Etta, Florence, Laurence, Lydia, Mattie, Jessie and Bessie. Lawrence continued to live on in Ventura County after his parents were gone. (back)
e-mail: fretwell@cfu.net
Last Updated: January 22, 2012
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