William 'Bill' James Perry IV1,2

M, ID# 61
Father:William James Perry III (20 Jan 1904 - 27 Jul 1970)
Mother:Virginia Wilbur (23 May 1910 - May 2002)
     William 'Bill' James Perry IV is the son of William James Perry III and Virginia Wilbur. William 'Bill' James Perry IV married Margaret Diane 'Di' Alford, daughter of Huston Alexander Alford and Stella Shores, on 31 Jan 1959 at Baltimore, Maryland.

Citations

  1. [S41] Julia Perry Lawrence Research.
  2. [S8] Janet Beall Broadbent Research.

Katharine C. Perry1

F, ID# 62, (11 Sep 1905 - )
Father:BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II (20 Jan 1866 - 20 Apr 1943)
Mother:Maude St. Claire Conrad (13 Apr 1875 - 31 Jul 1931)
     Katharine C. Perry was born on 11 Sep 1905 at Staunton, Virginia. She was the daughter of BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II and Maude St. Claire Conrad. Katharine C. Perry married Norman Melvin James, son of Frank Wilton James and Nellie Ona Conrad, on 24 Jun 1933 at Staunton, Virginia.
      Katherine C. Perry was a teacher who resided in Springfield, OH.

Children of Katharine C. Perry and Norman Melvin James

Citations

  1. [S8] Janet Beall Broadbent Research.

Norman Melvin James1

M, ID# 63, (6 Jan 1908 - )
Father:Frank Wilton James (a 1882 - )
Mother:Nellie Ona Conrad (a 1883 - )
     Norman Melvin James was born on 6 Jan 1908. He was the son of Frank Wilton James and Nellie Ona Conrad. Norman Melvin James married Katharine C. Perry, daughter of BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II and Maude St. Claire Conrad, on 24 Jun 1933 at Staunton, Virginia. Norman Melvin James was buried at Jackson Co, Ohio.

Children of Norman Melvin James and Katharine C. Perry

Citations

  1. [S8] Janet Beall Broadbent Research.

Mary Frances Perry1

F, ID# 64, (6 Nov 1907 - 24 Jun 1928)
Father:BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II (20 Jan 1866 - 20 Apr 1943)
Mother:Maude St. Claire Conrad (13 Apr 1875 - 31 Jul 1931)
     Mary Frances Perry was born on 6 Nov 1907. She was the daughter of BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II and Maude St. Claire Conrad. Mary Frances Perry died on 24 Jun 1928 at Staunton, Virginia, at age 20. She was buried at Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia.
      Mary Frances Perry died of tuberculosis.

Citations

  1. [S8] Janet Beall Broadbent Research.

John Martin Perry1

M, ID# 65, (4 Aug 1915 - 26 Oct 1926)
Father:BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II (20 Jan 1866 - 20 Apr 1943)
Mother:Maude St. Claire Conrad (13 Apr 1875 - 31 Jul 1931)
     John Martin Perry was born on 4 Aug 1915 at Staunton, Virginia. He was the son of BrigGen William 'Willie' James Perry II and Maude St. Claire Conrad. John Martin Perry died on 26 Oct 1926 at Staunton, Virginia, at age 11. He was buried at Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia.
      John Martin Perry died of pneumonia.

Citations

  1. [S12] "Ella Virginia Auguste Perry (1870-1971) Research: Collection of hand-written Lanphier, Martin, Perry, Russell and Other Family Documents."

Edward Perry1

M, ID# 66, (17 Feb 1837 - 4 Jan 1916)
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Edward Perry was born on 17 Feb 1837 at Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell. Edward Perry married Ann Elizabeth Carson c 1860. Edward Perry died on 4 Jan 1916 at age 78.
      Edward Perry started Perry & Company clothing business in 1866.

Children of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Ann Elizabeth Carson1

F, ID# 67, (c 1831 - )
     Ann Elizabeth Carson was born c 1831 at Ireland. She married Edward Perry, son of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell, c 1860.

Children of Ann Elizabeth Carson and Edward Perry

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Joseph M. Perry1

M, ID# 68, (c 1866 - )
Father:Edward Perry (17 Feb 1837 - 4 Jan 1916)
Mother:Ann Elizabeth Carson (c 1831 - )
     Joseph M. Perry was born c 1866. He was the son of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson.

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Margaret "Madge" Perry1,2

F, ID# 69, (c 1873 - )
Father:Edward Perry (17 Feb 1837 - 4 Jan 1916)
Mother:Ann Elizabeth Carson (c 1831 - )
     Margaret "Madge" Perry was born c 1873. She was the daughter of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson. Margaret "Madge" Perry married David Campbell a 1882. Margaret "Madge" Perry died at 131 West Coulter Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was buried at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Child of Margaret "Madge" Perry and David Campbell

Citations

  1. [S3] "Elizabeth Harriet Perry Research."
  2. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

David Campbell

M, ID# 70, (a 1857 - )
     David Campbell was born a 1857. He married Margaret "Madge" Perry, daughter of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson, a 1882.

Child of David Campbell and Margaret "Madge" Perry

Perry Campbell1

M, ID# 71, (a 1883 - )
Father:David Campbell (a 1857 - )
Mother:Margaret "Madge" Perry (c 1873 - )
     Perry Campbell was born a 1883. He was the son of David Campbell and Margaret "Madge" Perry. Perry Campbell married Marna (Unknown) a 1908. Perry Campbell married Mary (Unknown) a 1913.
      Perry Campbell lived at 412 Dekalb St, Norristown, PA and at Flourtown, PA and worked as a lawyer. He had a first cousin named Alice Custis Perry Kluge, whose daughter was Nancy K. Hall.

Children of Perry Campbell and Marna (Unknown)

Citations

  1. [S3] "Elizabeth Harriet Perry Research."

Marna (Unknown)1

F, ID# 72, (a 1892 - )
     Marna (Unknown) was born a 1892. She married Perry Campbell, son of David Campbell and Margaret "Madge" Perry, a 1908.

Children of Marna (Unknown) and Perry Campbell

Citations

  1. [S3] "Elizabeth Harriet Perry Research."

Robin Campbell

M, ID# 73, (a 1909 - )
Father:Perry Campbell (a 1883 - )
Mother:Marna (Unknown) (a 1892 - )
     Robin Campbell was born a 1909. He was the son of Perry Campbell and Marna (Unknown).

Anna C. Perry1

F, ID# 74, (c 1868 - )
Father:Edward Perry (17 Feb 1837 - 4 Jan 1916)
Mother:Ann Elizabeth Carson (c 1831 - )
     Anna C. Perry was born c 1868. She was the daughter of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson. Anna C. Perry married John Bogan a 1882.

Child of Anna C. Perry and John Bogan

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

John Bogan

M, ID# 75, (a 1857 - )
     John Bogan was born a 1857. He married Anna C. Perry, daughter of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson, a 1882.

Child of John Bogan and Anna C. Perry

John 'Jack' Bogan

M, ID# 76, (a 1883 - )
Father:John Bogan (a 1857 - )
Mother:Anna C. Perry (c 1868 - )
     John 'Jack' Bogan was born a 1883. He was the son of John Bogan and Anna C. Perry. John 'Jack' Bogan married (Unknown) Howard a 1903.

(Unknown) Howard

F, ID# 77, (a 1887 - )
     (Unknown) Howard was born a 1887. She married John 'Jack' Bogan, son of John Bogan and Anna C. Perry, a 1903.

John C. Perry1

M, ID# 78, (c 1861 - )
Father:Edward Perry (17 Feb 1837 - 4 Jan 1916)
Mother:Ann Elizabeth Carson (c 1831 - )
     John C. Perry was born c 1861. He was the son of Edward Perry and Ann Elizabeth Carson.

Child of John C. Perry

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Ethal Perry

F, ID# 79, (a 1885 - )
Father:John C. Perry (c 1861 - )
     Ethal Perry was born a 1885. She was the daughter of John C. Perry.

Mary Ann 'Anna' Perry1

F, ID# 80, (c 1854 - )
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Mary Ann 'Anna' Perry was born c 1854 at Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell.

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry1,2,3

F, ID# 81, (c 1845 - )
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry was born c 1845. She was the daughter of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell. Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry married (Unknown) Dubbs a 1865.
      Sarah Jane Perry may have used the name Jennie. She was noted as a boarder in her parents' home on the 1880 census.

Child of Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry and (Unknown) Dubbs

Citations

  1. [S3] "Elizabeth Harriet Perry Research."
  2. [S12] "Ella Virginia Auguste Perry (1870-1971) Research: Collection of hand-written Lanphier, Martin, Perry, Russell and Other Family Documents."
  3. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Elizabeth 'Betsey' Sears1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

F, ID# 82, (8 Mar 1774 - 6 Jun 1853)
Father:William Bernard Sears I (1732 - 27 Apr 1818)
Mother:Elizabeth Young Whaley (1751 - 13 Oct 1823)
Charts:John Satchell Martin * lineage
     Elizabeth 'Betsey' Sears was born on 8 Mar 1774 at Fairfax Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Bernard Sears I and Elizabeth Young Whaley. Elizabeth 'Betsey' Sears married Robert Going Lanphier I, son of Going Lanphier and Elizabeth Wilkerson, in 1794. Elizabeth 'Betsey' Sears died on 6 Jun 1853 at Alexandria, Fairfax Co, Virginia, at age 79. She was buried at Trinity United Methodist Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia.
      Elizabeth Sears may have been born as late as 1774, but her birthdate from her tombstone has been used. She apparently had fourteen children.

Elizabeth had a millinery business specializing in trims and hats in her combination store/dwelling on King Street, Alexandria, VA from at least 1806 until 1820. E. Lanphier advertised in the 12 Jul 1820 Alexandria Gazette that she had moved three doors above her old stand on King Street where she maintained her millinery. Elizabeth also offered genteel accommodations for five or six boarders by the week, month or year in her large and commodious home and also noted she had a good front cellar to rent. She had rooms for lease in 1821 for up to six boarders.

By 1852 Elizabeth was weak, helpless as an infant, and had lost the ability to speak according to a letter from her daughter Harriet Lanphier.

Children of Elizabeth 'Betsey' Sears and Robert Going Lanphier I

Citations

  1. [S12] "Ella Virginia Auguste Perry (1870-1971) Research: Collection of hand-written Lanphier, Martin, Perry, Russell and Other Family Documents."
  2. [S3] "Elizabeth Harriet Perry Research."
  3. [S1] "Virginia Winslett Research."
  4. [S199] Samuel Pearce May (b. 1828), Richard Sares (Sears) Descendants.
  5. [S236] T. Michael Miller, Alexandria Artisans and Merchants.
  6. [S237] Cazenove Insurance Papers.
  7. [S238] William Francis Smith, T. Michael Miller, Alexandria, DC 1820-1830.
  8. [S514] Martin-Lanphier Family Record.
  9. [S598] Wesley E. Pippenger, Alexandria Tombstone Inscriptions.

Issac Perry

M, ID# 83, (a 1859 - )
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Issac Perry was born a 1859. He was the son of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell.

John R. Perry1

M, ID# 84, (c 1848 - )
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     John R. Perry was born c 1848. He was the son of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell. John R. Perry was buried on 25 May 1894 at Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Margaret 'Maggie' Perry1,2

F, ID# 85, (c 1857 - 17 Feb 1917)
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Margaret 'Maggie' Perry was born c 1857. She was the daughter of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell. Margaret 'Maggie' Perry died on 17 Feb 1917.

Citations

  1. [S12] "Ella Virginia Auguste Perry (1870-1971) Research: Collection of hand-written Lanphier, Martin, Perry, Russell and Other Family Documents."
  2. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Frank L. Perry1

M, ID# 86, (c 1854 - )
Father:John Perry (1804 - 7 Jun 1885)
Mother:Margaret Custis Russell (2 Mar 1812 - 2 Jan 1906)
     Frank L. Perry was born c 1854. He was the son of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell. Frank L. Perry was buried on 29 Aug 1879 at Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Citations

  1. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

(Unknown) Dubbs

M, ID# 87, (a 1840 - )
     (Unknown) Dubbs was born a 1840. He married Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry, daughter of John Perry and Margaret Custis Russell, a 1865.

Child of (Unknown) Dubbs and Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry

Charles Dubbs1,2

M, ID# 88, (c 1866 - )
Father:(Unknown) Dubbs (a 1840 - )
Mother:Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry (c 1845 - )
     Charles Dubbs was born c 1866. He was the son of (Unknown) Dubbs and Sarah Jane 'Jennie' Perry.
      This may be the Charles P. Dubbs that died April 1911 at 1925 North 13th Street.

Citations

  1. [S12] "Ella Virginia Auguste Perry (1870-1971) Research: Collection of hand-written Lanphier, Martin, Perry, Russell and Other Family Documents."
  2. [S371] Perry - Russsell Family Records.

Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I1,2,3

M, ID# 89, (Apr 1833 - 21 Apr 1902)
Charts:Virginia Custis Winslett lineage
William Langfitt Freseman lineage
     Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I was born in Apr 1833 at Ostfriesland (East Friesland), Germany. He immigrated c 1860. He married Sophia Schuette c 1861. Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I died on 21 Apr 1902 at Allegheny, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania. His estate was probated in Aug 1902 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
      Heinrich "Henry" Fresemann and Sophia Schuette's early lives are unclear. Questions remain as to how Heinrich and Sophia got to America, where they married, who the remainder of their children were, and whether Heinrich was German or Dutch as reported alternately on various sources. The first known record for the two together was an 1875 church record noting their family joined a Pittsburg, PA church. Henrich and Sophia likely immigrated to Pittsburgh specifically because Sophia had family in the area. Many Schuette families were located in the Philadelphia records found thus far, but no other Fresemann families. Both Henrich and Sophia reported on the 1900 census they immigrated in 1860, had been in the US 40 years and were married 39 years.

Only one Sophia born about 1836 and only two Fresemann males born about 1833 were noted immigrating to America in the 1860 time frame: Jan (Dutch name for Johann) Fresemann who traveled alone and Jacob Fresemann who traveled with a Sophia Fresemann and arrived in late 1859. Although Heinrich's full name has not been found, it is presumed the Jacob and Sophia Fresemann traveling together to Baltimore and then Pittsburgh were in fact our Heinrich and Sophia. Sophia Fresemann, age 23 born in 1836, and Jacob Fresemann, a mechanic and painter age 25, traveled from Bremen, German on the ship Gustav, a bark type of ship. Also on board were a Friedrich and Maria Schuette, age 56 and 58 respectively who may have been Sophia's parents or other relatives. Note that young men sometimes changed their names upon emigration to avoid being detained for mandatory military service.

The ship started in Hamburg although it is unknown whether Jacob and Sophia got on board in Hamburg or Bremen. Jacob and Sophia arrived in Baltimore, MD in 12 Nov 1859 with a declared destination of Pittsburgh, PA; they were also included on the list of passengers entering Baltimore during the quarter ending 31 Dec 1859. Of note, the transcription of this immigration record states the ship or the couple originated from Hanover, which is not a port.

This Sophia and Jacob Fresemann have tentatively been identified as our ancestors because our ancestor Sophia was from Hanover and Henry was from Leer both which are relatively near Breman; this Sophia and Jacob Freseman were going to Pittsburgh where our ancestors resided; Sophia and Jacob's birth dates align with the birth dates of our ancestors; this immigrant Jacob and our ancestor Heinrich both worked as painters; and because no other immigration records have been found for our Heinrich and Sophia in this period. Thus, if this was our Sophia traveling with Jacob, she was likely already married when she arrived in America; pretending to be married would have been very difficult given the German emigration documentation requirements.

However if Sophia and Jacob were our ancestors and were arriving already married in late 1859, a child would likely have been born in 1860. Our ancestors' first known child was born in Sep 1862, lending credence to Jacob and Sophia not being our Heinrich and Sophia. In 1900 Henry and Sophia reported they had had 11 children, although only 8 are lisited in the Pennyslvania church records. Our ancestors could have married in Germany as early as 1857 when Sophia was 21 and had a child or children there and during the earlier years after their immigration who were deceased.

Our ancestor Heinrich's full name was tentatively presumed to be Johan Jacob Heinrich Freseman: Johan because his grandson knew him by that name and his named his first son Johan; Jacob because he appeared to immigrate with his wife using that name; and Heinrich because he commonly used that name and Henry in America. German given names included a saint's name and either Johan or Jacob qualify as such.

Heinrich Freseman was noted in the 1875 Allegheny church records as coming from Ostfriesland, Germany. Heinrich likely came from the river-port city of Leer, Germany or near there. Ostfriesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony and includes a chain of islands off the northern coast called the East Frisian Islands. Ostfriesland is the middle section of Frisia, sandwiched between North Frisia in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and West Frisia in the Netherlands. Thus Friesland straddled the German-Dutch border. People from East Friesland were of a different ethnicity than the Germans. That ethnic group spoke a different language closer to Dutch than to German, and East Friesian was the closest language in the world to English.

In 1806 East Frisia was annexed by the Napoleanic Kingdom of Holland and in 1811 became part of the French Empire. Napoleon undertook huge social reforms, including in 1811 reforming the ancient Frisian naming system by introducing the use of family names, whereupon many families took the surname Fresemann or some derivation thereof. In the following years East Frisians registered their family names often based on their father's name, area where living or their master's name if unfree. Thus it is unlikely our Fresemann family can be traced before 1811.

In 1813 East Friesland was occuppied by Russia; by 1815 it was ceded to Hanover; and after he immigrated East Friesland was reannexed by Prussia in 1866. Thus, during the time our Fresemann ancestors lived in East Friesland, their ethnic group and language stayed intact while borders and nationalities shifted. Administratively today Ostfriesland belongs in three districts -- Aurich, Wittmund and Leer -- and the city of Emden in Germany.

East Frisia was predominantly Protestant, whereas in Leer, Norden and Aurich, the Lutherans were the dominant church. When Heinrich arrived in Allegheny, PA there were Dutch Reformed churches available for the Fresemann family to attend in Pittsburg. That his family chose to attend a German Lutheran church beginning in 1875 underscores the fact they were actually Lutheran and possibly German. Correspondence with a researcher maintaining a Fresemann research website for that area of Friesland-Holland-Germany did not result in the identification of our Heinrich.

H. Freseman was listed on 9, 10 and 12 Oct 1890 in the Daily Trial list in the Pittsburg Dispatch for a criminial case brought against him by the Commonwealth government; the specifics were not published. This could either be Heinrich or his 21-year-old namesake son.

As noted, in 1880 Heinrich state he and his parents were born in Germany and in 1900 he stated on the census he and his parents were born in Holland. Although Heinrich's grandson William Langfitt Freseman stated his ancestors were Dutch he may have believed that because Leer was only six miles from the Dutch border. Heinrich's family was traced to Leer, Germany because of a watch which descended in the family. Given William Langfitt Freseman's statements, the pocket watch he owned had descended in the family to his grandfather, the immigrant Heinrich Fresemann. The key-winding men's pocket watch made by Jos. Grape of London about 1750 and engraved "AF" on both the inner and outer case has a paper in the case that says "J. J. van Zwoll Uhrmacher [watchmaker] in Leer Osterstrasse," which is a street in the town of Leer (Ostfriesland), Lower Saxony, Germany, along the Dutch border. The watchmaker was still in business in 2017 but did not respond to requests for data about the watch. Leer was probably where the watch was purchased, though it could be where the watch was serviced, and the location may be close to or where the Fresemann family lived.

Where Henry and Sophia worshiped in Pittsburgh between 1860 and 1874 is not known. In 1875 the Heinrich Fresemann family joined the Die Deutsche Evangelisch Lutherische Sankt Matthaus Gemeinde; the church was later renamed Saint Matthew Lutheran Church. (Of note, as of 2017 ancestry.com erroneously transcribed the family church record to be the deaths of the family members.) Heinrich's family including his wife Sophia Schuette and eight of their eleven children were listed on the member register (literally the register of people or souls) at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, PA as joining the parish on 9 Dec 1875. This Heinrich Fresemann in this church record was proved to be our ancestor because his wife's maiden name aligned with a name known to be intermarried in the Freseman family as discussed below and three of his sons reported by his grandson William Langfitt Freseman were included in this church record. Heinrich was noted in the record as coming from East Friesland and his wife Sophia Schuette from Hanover, Germany. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Records contain registers of members (1873-?), baptisms (1874-1911), confirmations (1874-1935), marriages (1873-1916), and deaths (1873-1897). Included in the member register were the name of member, name of father/maiden name, birthdate, birthplace, time when joining the church, reason for leaving church, date of death, and children.

In 1900 Henry and Sophia reported 5 of their 11 children were still alive -- they would have been John, William, Henry, Claudius and Concordia -- and 4 of these 5 children corresponded to the children's names Henry's grandson William Langfitt Freseman reported to this researcher in the 1960s. As for their daughter Emilie, nothing could be found about her other than her listing in the church's family birth register; her siblings Lydia, Jesse and Amos all died young according to church records. After the births of their twin children in 1879, no further births were shown to Heinrich and Sophia up through 1885 in the St Matthews birth register.

In 1880, the year Heinrich and Sophia's youngest son died, the church record stated Heinrich and his (unnamed) brother separated from each other in 1880 because of negative brotherly burdens and he (which man was unclear) was no longer considered a family member. This may be when part of the Freseman family moved to Minnesota as was reported by William Langfitt Freseman to this researcher. According to a Uschi Boes, a German researcher who maintains a robust website of Fresemann data, a H. Freesemann emigrated alone on 4 Oct 1869 from Ostfriesland and left Bremerhaven, Germany, but the record does not say which town he came from. This man could be Heinrich's brother to whom the church records refer. Furthermore, a Henry Freseman, grocer, was listed in the 1869 Minneapolis, MN City Directory at Freseman and Blume grocery located on Hennepin. Henry report he and his parents were born in Germany and Sophia reported she and her parents were born in Hanover.

Heinrich anglicized his name to Henry. He worked as a house and sign painter his whole life. His grandson also called Henry an artist, which aligns with his 1868 newspaper advertisement that Henry painted with hand and pen. This researcher believes all taxes assessed to men named Henry Freseman between 1864 and 1866 in District 22 and 23 were to our ancestor because residences where taxed correspond to those of our ancestor in Pittsburg city directories and business names correspond to business advertisements our ancestor used in that city. In 1864 Henry, living in District 23 at Liberty Street, Pittsburgh, PA was taxed 5% on his $50 income in a special IRS tax assessment; this may have been a war bond assessment. That same year Henry was taxed at 3% on his $50 income and for his business taxes as a retail dealer paid $10. In 1865 he was noted living in District 23 at 611 Liberty and paid $9.55 tax or 5% on his $191 income. That same year, Freseman and Moulter, retailers at Penn and Hand, were taxed $10 on business taxes. In 1866 Henry was living at 305 Federal Street and was working as a painter. The IRS taxed his $440 income in 1866 at 5% for a total of $22 tax in May 1866. Also in 1866 in District 22 he paid $10 as a retail dealer. His sons had still not started working in professions and were not listed.

A Jacob Freseman was noted on the same 1866 tax list living at 42 Sampson Street, Pittsburgh and taxed at 5% on his $110 income and separately taxed for his piano; if this man was the immigrant Jacob Fresemann from 1859, which is unlikely because this was the only time Jacob appeared on available taxes and he never appeared on the census, then this reseacher's theory about the immigrant Jacob Fresemann being the same man as Heinrich Fresemann is incorrect, and thus Jacob Heinrich would not be our ancestor's name. On the other hand Jacob could be Henry's brother.

In 1867 Henry was noted as the head of Freseman & Pepperday & Company on (no number) Federal Street in Pittsburgh. The listing stated painters, hand and pen. In 1868 Henry was noted living at 303 Federal Street. This year he had a significant advertisement which stated he was "of Freseman & Peperday, house & sign painters, hand and penn." In 1875-1876 Henry was noted as a painter at 60 Liberty Street. By 1878 Henry had moved to 27 Esplanade in Pittsburg and was still working as a painter.

On the1880 Allegheny, Allegheny Co, PA census Henry was enumerated as Henry Freisman, age 47, residing on Federal Street with his wife Sophia, age 43, and their six children: John 17, Amelia 14, Wilgur 12, Henry 10, Clara 3, and twins Amos and Conde 10 months. This was an interesting list given that Clara, noted as daughter, was actually a son. Henry was working as a painter.

In 1880 and 1882 Henry was listed as a painter at 302 Federal Street; this was his third address on that street. Although evidently living in Pittsburg in 1880, Henry could not be found in the 1880 federal cenus. In 1883 and 1884 Henry Freseman and John W. Freseman, both painters, appeared in the city directory living at 64 Adams, Pittsburgh, PA; in 1884 his son William was also noted on the city directory living with them. In 1886 the city directory showed Henry Freseman, painter; and his son J. W. Freseman, painter; and his son Wm L. Freseman, drug clerk, living at 64 Adams, Pittsburgh, PA. In 1887 H. Freseman and his son J. W. Freseman, both painters, were living at 64 Adams; and his son W. L. Freseman, clerk, was living at 2801 Penn Av. In 1890 Henry, listed as a painter, was noted at both 50 Allegheny Av and at 64 Adams on one line implying a work and home address; William L., a clerk, was also at the Adams address and was employed as a clerk. Henry C. Freseman junior, a clerk, was listed at 167 Ohio Street, thus making it clear that his father Henry senior was still living in Pittsburg at this time.

On 12 Feb 1890 the Pittsburg Press reported Henry Freseman, a painter living on Franklin Street in Allegheny, met with the mayor to report his oldest son age 30 embezzled $300 from him and left the country. Henry reported his son worked with him and, after collecting money from a customer, had ran away. Henry "refused to make so serious a charge as embezzlement against his son and decided to give the prodigal a changed to repent and return with the cash." Henry's oldest son was John who was a painter about age 27.

After that point in time 1890 a H. Freseman was on criminal court docket several times that year, however it is unknown if this was the father or the son by that name. On 20 Sep the Pittsburg Daily Post showed the grand jury returned a bill against H. Freseman for embezzlement. By 28 Sep 1890 H. Freseman was being indicted by the grand jury. The same month the newspaper listed Gilmore and Co vs Freseman for trial. The Commonwealth listed H. Fresemann (sic) for prosecution beginning on 9 Oct 1890 according to the Pittsburg Dispatch.

In 1891 Henry was still listed as a painter at the 64 Adams address and his son William was listed living at 2927 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh that year. In the 1893 city directory Henry Freseman, agt (agent?) -- likely the father as opposed to his namesake son; and his two sons John Freseman, painter, and William Freseman, druggist clerk, were living at 64 Adams in Pittsburgh, PA. By 1897 the household consisted of Henry Freseman, painter; Claudius (Rev Claude) Freseman, A. D. student; and Henry C. and Wm L., both salesmen, thus showing both Henry senior and junior were still in Pittsburg. Henry was also a member of St Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1873 until 1897.

In Sep 1898 Henry and Sophia's youngest daughter Condordia, age 21, married Cassius A. Seanor in Denver, Co. Whether Condordia moved to Denver alone or with her parents is not known, however the Ballenger & Richards twenty-ninth annual Denver city directory for 1899 and again in 1900 included Henry Freseman, painter, and Cassius Seanor, clerk, at 917 22nd Street in Denver, CO. In 1900 there did not appear to be any other Freseman families established in Denver City, so this researcher wondered what drew the patriarchs there at almost 70 years old.

In the 1900 census Henry Freseman age 69 was shown living in a working class neighborhood at 917 22nd Street, Denver, Arapahoe Co, CO with his wife Sophia age 63. Henry reported being born in Holland and Sophia reported her birth in Germany. They reported a 39-year marriage, which does not align with their life story if they were married in either 1859 or 1860. Living with the couple were four boarders. In 1900 their son William Luther said his father was born in Holland; their son Henry said his father was was born in Minnesota and mother in Holland; and their son Claudius in 1910 said his father was born in Holland and his mother in Germany. Henry and Sophia were noted at the same address in 1901 in the city directory and he was listed as a painter. Also renting at the same address was their daughter Mrs. Concordia Seanor and an unknown salesman, Charles B. Seanor, likely Concordia's husband's relative.

By 1902 Henry and Sophia had moved back to Allegheny Co, PA. Henry was listed as working as a painter and living at the intersection of Montclair Street and Greenfield Avenue, in Pittsburg on the south of the Allegheny River in the 1902 Pittsburgh city directory. This man is believed to be Henry senior because his namesake son continued in the grocery business both before and after this date. On 18 Apr 1902 the Pittsburg Daily Post noted a Henry Freseman and his wife executed a document with William L. Freseman for $1589; in this context either Henry and his wife Sophia received a court judgement against their son or turned over property to him worth that amount or this could be a court settlement for Henry's namesake son.

On 22 Apr 1902 the Pittsburg Daily Post noted Henry had died suddently on 21 Apr 1902. Henry's obituary in the 23 Apr 1902 Pittsburg Daily Post noted he was a pioneer house painting contractor. Henry died at age 70 and his body was held at the home of his son Henry at 803 South Canal Street in Allegheny. Henry senior had been living with his "only" daughter Concordia Freseman Seanor of Montclair Street near Hazelwood Avenue, Squirrel Hill; this indicated his other daughters were deceased. Henry died suddenly while playing with his three-year-old granddaughter Amelia Seanor.

However, the Pittsburg death index noted that Henry B. Freseman born in 1834 in Germany died at age 68 in 1902. This is the only known use of the initial B in his name.

On 21 May 1902 the Pittsburg Daily Post court judgments for Aug 1902 including Henry Freseman and S (likely his wife Sophia) -- C. S. Seanor for $275; C. S. would be their daughter Concordia Sophia with whom he was living at his death, so this may be part of his estate settlement. By 1903 Henry's wife Sophia was listed as the widow of Henry and was living with her son Henry C. Freseman at 15 Leland Avenue, Allegheny, PA.

When interviewed by this researcher about his grandfather, William Langfitt Freseman provided data that was either too general or was not accurate, but the data did provide pointers to help research the family, such as discovering the Schuette line. According to Henry's grandson, William Langfitt Freseman:
--his grandfather was John Freseman who was born and married in Pittsburgh, PA; there is no indication any of that data is correct unless Heinrich's full name, which has never been found, was Johan Heinrich.
--part of the Freseman family settled in Minnesota after they came to America from Europe; although Fresemans have been noted in Minnesota simultaneously with Henry residing in Pittsburgh, if and how the Minnesota Fresemans connect to Henry is unknown.
--Fresemans married into the Langfitt family, hence William Langfitt Freseman's cousin, Dr. William C. Langfitt, an American of Scotch ancestry, who died and was buried in Pittsburgh, PA. There were many William Langfitts online from Pittsburgh, but none obviously married to Fresemans. A Dr. William S. Langfitt born about 1874 in PA and married to Mazie L. was living on Davis Ave, Pittsburg in 1920; Mazie was age 28 but had no children up through 1940 at which point they had moved to FL.
--Fresemans manrried into the Hogaboom (means "Big Tree") family from Groningen Province in the Netherlands about 1790. Groningen is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands, bordering Friesland to the west. Prior to the year 689, Groningen Province was part of the Frisian Kingdom. Although the Dutch records online go back through the 1600s, no Hogaboom-Fresemann marriages were discovered.
--Fresemans married into a Norwegian family named Schuytie in Minnesota in the 1830s; in fact Henry's wife was from the German family Schuette, although other family members may be Schuettes as well. The only "Schuytie" noted in records were Samuel and Agness arriving in 1836 in NY; obviously this was not a popular spelling.

Freseman was also spelled Freisman, Friesman, Frees/zeman, Frees/zmann, etc, and appears to be spelled Fresemann in Ostfriesland where Heinrich was from. The spelling Fresemann may have been also been interchangeable with Vriesman.


Detailed sources:

--East Frisia, wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Frisia, accessed 2017.
--Today's Trial Lists, H. Fresemann, Pittsburg Dispatch, 9 Oct 1890, p. 3, column 1 and 10 Oct 1890, p. 12, column 4. Also Monday's Trial Lists, H. Fresemann, Pittsburg Dispatch, 12 Oct 1890, p. 13, column 7. http://panewsarchive.psu.edu/search/pages/results/?city=&rows=20&searchType=basic&proxtext=fresemann.

Children of Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I and Sophia Schuette

Citations

  1. [S16] Interview, William Langfitt Freseman (1901-1970), 1967.
  2. [S546] Fresemann Family Church Register.
  3. [S547] Fresemann-Schuette Records.

Johann "John" Diedrich Wilhelm Fresemann1,2,3

M, ID# 90, (28 Sep 1862 - )
Father:Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I (Apr 1833 - 21 Apr 1902)
Mother:Sophia Schuette (Jun 1836 - 20 Jun 1905)
     Johann "John" Diedrich Wilhelm Fresemann was born on 28 Sep 1862. He was the son of Heinrich "Henry" B. Fresemann I and Sophia Schuette. Johann "John" Diedrich Wilhelm Fresemann was confirmed on 9 Apr 1876 at Saint Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania.
      By 1904 Johann "John" Diedrich Wilhelm Freseman who had consistently been reported in the Pittsburgh, PA family home with his father and/or brothers in the city directories was living at 10 Gay Street, Buffalo, NY as John W. Freseman; he was still a painter. John was still at that address in 1908 and by 1910 was renting at 18 William in Buffalo, PA.

John's birth date was changed from the 1870 date reported by his great nephew William L. Freseman to 1864 to correspond with the family birth order in the St. Matthew's family register. His birth date may be 2 years late because Lutherans were generally confirmed at age 14 and his confirmation date was 1876. (St. Matthews Evangelical Church records, p. 18 & 93, electronic version.)

Citations

  1. [S16] Interview, William Langfitt Freseman (1901-1970), 1967.
  2. [S544] Freseman - Guenther Records.
  3. [S546] Fresemann Family Church Register.