Draft; Supporting Notes and Documentation for Nicholas.
1733, Nicholas Friend, son of Johannes Friend, was first found on the tax list for the Monocacy Hundred (WMG 3:4:99), and the next year he is mentioned as a settler "about the great marsh" on Conococheague Creek, now Williamsport, MD (PAA 3:1:39). In 1737 Neals was mentioned in his father's will (NJA 1:30:189).
Apr 1750 George Washington surveyed Neals land on Little Capacon Creek, which was about two miles from the mouth of the South Branch of the Potomac River.
1752 Neals Friend, along with three others were directed by the Frederick Co, VA Court to mark and lay out a road from the mouth of the South Branch of the Potomac and his place to Winchester (FCC 4:226).
1753, in Frederick Co, Court, Neals Friend reported that they have marked the best route from the South Branch Potomac to Winchester, and the court appointed Neals overseer for the construction of the said road (FCC 4:405).
Between 1756-1763 the area around the South Branch of the Potomac was frequently under attack during the French & Indian Wars, with many of the settlers fleeing and most of the stocks and live stock destroyed and killed. Still, it appears Nicholas and his family remained in the area.
1761, Nicholas Friend of Hampshire Co, VA, received a patent for 142 acres on the Potomac River two miles below the mouth of Little Cacapehon River in the said county. Surveyor, George Washington (Gray 2:128).
1763-1766, Pontiac's Uprising. Most of these attacks occurred on the west side of the Allegany's. With the conclusion of the treaty in 1766, migration westward over the Allegany's began, though periodic raids would continue in the West Augusta Districts up to 1788.
1768, Nicholas Friend of Hampshire Co, VA sold his 142 acres on Little Cacapon River. He probably left the next year for Friendsville, MD or PA.
1772, the last record found for Nicholas Friend was on the 1st Tax list for Brothersvalley Township, where he was taxed and listed a single man, probably living with son Augustine (PAA 3:22:14).
At "Buffalo Marsh," cabin... Since Nicholas Friend died here during the Friends occupation of the cabin, and since Nicholas has been looked back upon as a centenarian, he must have lived to with in a few years of 1791. (Olsen, Chap. XI, p79)
Nicholas does not appear in any records after 1772, yet his sons do, consequently in all probability he died well before 1791.
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Monocacy Hundred: In the mid 1700's Prince George's Co, MD included the entire western portion of that colony. A hundred was a political and taxation unit, carried over from English law, smaller than a county and consisting of enough land to raise approximately one hundred fighting men. Monocacy Hundred is the on north side of the Potomac River situated along the Monocacy River where it joins the Potomac River near Poolesville, MD; generally 22 mi. south east of Hagerstown.
The "great marsh" is present day Williamsport, MD, at the confluence of the Conococheague Creek and Potomac River.
Cacapon Creek, Hampshire Co, VA (present day Morgan Co, WV) enters the Potomac River on the WV/MD border, a few miles east of Oldtown, MD [39° 37' 13"N, 78° 16' 58"W].
Cacapon Creek, USGS map
historical.maptech.com/getImage.cfm?fname=wlsp12ne.jpg&state=MD1733, Monocacy Hundred, Prince George (now Frederick) Co, MD.
- Taxables -
William Sheppard Junr. & Charles Friend, 2;
Nicholas Friend, John Friend, Peter Cox, Brewer Cox, 4.
(Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol.3, no.4, pp99-100, Russell, Donna V. FASG, "1733 Taxables," from MD State Archives, Proprietary Papers, 1703-1769, Black Book No.2).
PA Arch., Ser.3, Vol.I (Minutes of the Board of Property to Lands in Pennsylvania) - Minute Book K. p39.
[1734] 28th, 5mo. Mr. Samuel Blunston Sr. this is to let you understand that the Inhabitants about the great Marsh where Edmund Cartledge does live have met and made general Conclusion for to get grants from you for to settle any where upon the Water of Conehecheegoe and likewise upon the Waters of Andiatom on the North side of the line that George Noble and John Smith did run. Joseph Hickman, Edward Parnell, John Dobkin, James Conron, John Williams, William Clarke, William Varnell, Thomas Owen, Charles Friend, Abraham Fish, James Hendrica, William Sherwell, Peter Hart, Humbleson Lyon, Thomas Oncail, Nicholas Hammon, Richard Spencer, Samuel Baldwin, John Surfurance, Samuel Owen, Francis Hickman, Joseph Hickman, Jun'r John Stull, Edmund Cartledge Jun'r, John Nicholas, Edward Nicholas, John Gosedge, Neils Friend, John Friend, John Giadin, Charles Smith, John Ryle, James Coborn, William May, John Sawphorus, James Williams.
1737 Mar 8, Salem Co, NJ; Nicholas ("sons, Neals. . .) Friend was named in the will of his father, Johannes Friend (NJ Arch, Ser.1, Vol.30, p189).
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Gruber, Terry. "Colonial Hampshire County Road Orders"
www.rootsweb.com/~wvhardy/tgart7.htm [accessed Jan 2005]
Frederick County (VA), (Court) Order Books 1-5 (microfilm at the Handley Library, Winchester, WV)
1749/50 Feb 15: On the petition of Providence Williams, Samuel Hopkins, Richard Poulson, Friend Cox, John Newton, John Hopkins, William Smith, Francis Spencer, William Biggerstaff, and John Friend for a road to be laid off and cleared from Frederick Town to the Mouth of the South Branch of Potomac. Ordered that the said Williams lay off the same and be overseer thereof and that the petitioners clear and keep the said road in repair. (Frederick Co, VA, Court Order Book, 3:210)
1752 Aug 4: Ordered that Neals Friend, William Demose, John Rogers, and Peter Julian being sworn before a Justice of the Peace for this county do mark and lay off a road from the mouth of the South Branch and also from Neals Friend's the nearest and best way to the town of Winchester and make a report thereof to the next Court. (Frederick Co, VA, Court Order Book, 4:226)
1753 Mar 6: Neals Friend, William Demose, Owen Rogers, and Peter Julian, having made their report that they have marked a road the most convenient way from Winchester Town to Potomac River [illegible] order for a road to be cleared to the mouth of the South Branch. Ordered that the said road be cleared according to law.
Neals Friend is appointed overseer of the road from Potomac River at Neals Friend's to the Falling Springs and that the tithables eight miles on each side of the said road work on the same under him as their overseer and that he clear and keep the same in repair according to law.
Peter Julian is appointed overseer of the road from George Potts to the South Branch Road, and it is ordered that the same under him as their overseer and that he clear and keep the same in repair according---[rest is missing] (Frederick Co, VA, Court Order Book, 4:405)
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Special articles on the Prelude to the French and Indian War
www.fortedwards.org/cwffa/history.htm [accessed Jan 2005]
Timeline for our sites in the French and Indian War; Ft. Frederick along the Potomac River in MD.
- 1749, Spring - 1752; George Washington's gains his license and surveys lands along the Cacapon River for Lord Fairfax.
1761 Sep 4, patent, K:330 to Nicholas Friend of Hampshire Co, VA; 142 acres on the Potomac River two miles below the mouth of Little Cacapehon River in the said county. Surveyor, George Washington (Gray, "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants", Vol.2, p128). (survey not found in Joyner). 1768 Feb 27, VA, Hampshire Co, Nicholas Friend of same, sold (lease and release) 142 acres to Lawrence Hass of same, on Little Capon River; witnesses, Isaac Cox, David Cox, Nicholas Decker; recorded 8 Mar 1768.
1776 Mar 25, will of Richard Hougland. Mentions: wife Elizabeth; horse I bought from Augusteen Friend; three tracts in Hampshire Co, Virginia Colony. One on creek between William Ramsey line and Charles Bruices; second south side of New Creek Ridge known as Rol-licks; third on division ridge little creek Capon and both sides of Isaac Elis path. Vol.21, p259. Bedford Co, PA.
1755 Mar 28, survey, Hampshire Co, VA for Andrew Friend, assignee of Henry Fracks/Friggs; 252 acres including plantation where he lives at upper end of Long Bottom of Potomac; chain carriers, Henry Fraks Jr. & William Smith; Surveyor, Thomas Rutherford. Warrant 10 Oct 1753 (Joyner, Vol.4, p24). 1763 Apr 1, patent, M:153, to Andrew Friend of Hampshire Co, VA for 252 acres on the Potomac River in said county, Surveyor Thomas Rutherford (Gray, "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants", Vol.2, p150) 1793 Oct 25, VA, Hampshire Co, deed, Andrew Friend, to John Hartley, for 252 acres on South Branch Potomac River; witnesses, William Biggerstaff, Frederick Houghty, Thos. Dutty; rec. 15 Jan 1794 (from Corinne Diller). [comment; Andrew Friend is the son of Nicholas Friend].
1755 Mar 28, survey, Hampshire Co, VA for John Friend, assignee [1763] of Neills Friend of Frederick Co; 194 acres on Potomac, adj. his own land & Neills Friend; chain carriers, Neills Friend, Harman Greathouse. Surveyor Thomas Rutherford. Warrant 18 Mar 1754 (Joyner, Vol.4, p24). 1763 Apr 2, grant, M:154, VA, Hampshire Co, to John Friend of Hampshire Co; 194 acres on the Potomac River is said county, adjacent Neill Friend's patent, Surveyed by Thomas Rutherford (Gray, "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants", Vol.2, p150). 1765, Aug 10, John Friend and wife Carenhapeck Friend of Hampshire Co, to Dennis Pursley of Frederick Co, 194 acres for £25 near the Potomac River, adjacent to Keil Friend. Lease and release (Hampshire Co (W)VA, Deed Bk 1, p309; Shuck, Larry G. "Hampshire & Hardy Counties, (W)VA Abstracts..." Closson Press, 1996. p34) [comment; this is Nicholas's son].
1763 Feb 26, survey Hampshire Co, VA for John Friend, assignee of Neills Friend; 110 acres on Potomac River, (from warrant, where Alexander Debbutts has improved), adjacent where John Friend lives. Chain carriers; Andrew Friend & Benjamin Purcell. P&M John thingys. Warrant 1755 (Joyner, Vol.4, p24). 1766 May 28, patent, N:13, Hampshire Co, to John Friend of said county; 110 acres on the Potomac River in the said county (Gray, "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants", Vol.2, p169).
1763 Feb 26, survey, Hampshire Co, VA for Nicholas & John Friend; 150 acres on Potomac River, 3 miles below mouth of Little Cacapehon, adjacent, Enoch Enoch, Nicholas Friend, John Friend. Chain carriers, Andrew Friend, Benjamin Purcell; Surveyor Thomas Rutherford. No warrant (Joyner, Vol.4, p24). 1768 Jan 19, grant, O:120, Hampshire Co, to Nicholas Friend & John Friend of Hampshire Co, VA; 150 acres on the Potomac River in said county; surveyed by Mr. Thomas Rutherford. The property adjoins lands of Enoch Enoch, Nicholas Friend and John Friend (Gray, Vol.2, p194).
Adjacent Deeds.
- 1765 Dec 7, patent V:546, Hampshire Co, VA, Thomas Triplett, 245 acres, on Sidling Hill, Road from John Keeith to Neil Friend, recorded 12 Jun 1792 (Gray, Vol.3, p148).
- 1765 Dec 11, patent Z:211, Hampshire Co, Angus McDonald, 370 acres adjacent Andrew Friend, the Long Bottom on the Potomac River (Gray, Vol.4, p14).
- 1765 Dec 12, patent Z:212, Hampshire Co, Angus McDonald, 445 acres, on Pappaw Ridge, opposite John Friend (Gray, Vol.4, p14).
- 1768 Nov 6, Dennis Purcell and wife Susannah Purcell to Lawrence Haff 194 acres for £50 near the Potomac River adjacent to Neil Friend. Land originally granted to John Friend and he to said Purcell. Lease & release (Hampshire Co (W)VA, deed Bk 2 for 1767-1771, p116)
- 1769 Feb 6, survey, VA, Hampshire Co, for Stephen West, 280 acres on draws of Potomac River, near John Friend. Chain Carriers, John Johnson & James Pursel. Marker, Isaac Cox. Surveyor, Richard Riggs (Joyner, Vol.4, p73).
- 1769 Feb, 10, survey, VA, Hampshire Co, 315 acres for Robert Craigen of Frederick Co, on north side of Sidling Hill, called "Little Zoar", on draught of Neil Friend's Run. Surveyor Richard Rigg (Joyner, Vol.4, p14).
- 1778 Jan 6, patent X:486, 128 acres in Hampshire Co, on path from Bickerstaff's to Jacksons Mill, under Sidling Hill on Andrew Friends & Jenns Run, near Potomac River (Gray, Vol.3, p216).
- 1809 Dec 5, VA, Hampshire Co, warrant to William Alderton, assignee of David Alderton for 13½ acres, surveyed 30 Jun 1813, on Potomac River, adjoining Fryback Greenwall, Nicholas Friend; (B2:261) (Gray, Vol.4, p76)
www.rootsweb.com/~wvhardy/fryjefmap.gif[accessed Jan 2005]
"Carte de la Virginie et du Maryland" A portion of the Fry and Jefferson Map, 1755
The portion shown is the area that was colonial Hampshire County and Frederick County. The Wappocomo River is the South Branch of the Potomac (French "ou la Branche du Sud"), Cohongaronto is the North Branch of the Potomac. The other rivers and streams shown are still known by the same name today (note the spelling of Cacapon as Cacapehon).
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From West Virginia's Forts: Cox's Fort (1755 - 1766), was near Paw Paw Ridge, and a settlers' blockhouse (1750) used by the VA colonial militia. It was located at the mouth of Little Cacapon Creek.
"The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799"
memory.loc.gov/ammem/mgwquery.htmlCox's Fort at Little Cacapon River, (W)VA. George Washington surveyed 240 acres for Friend Cox, 25 April 1750, and it was probably on this same trip that George Washington surveyed the land for Nicholas Friend (patent K:330).
Friend Cox, is the s/o Gabriel Petersson thingy and Maria Nilsdotter Friend (d/o Nils Lasson Friend)
The fort was built around 1755 to protect lines of communication between Ft. Frederick and Ft. Cumberland during the French and Indian Wars. In 1770, George Washington mentions a stop, where Cox's fort formerly was. By George Washington's estimate, it was 8 miles from Old Town, a two day march from Ft. Cumberland, and a three days horse back ride from the Youghigney (George Washington's letters and diary).
Some of his letters disclose a little of what times were like in the area, and the fear of Indian attacks were high, as one of the largest battles in the area was fought only a few miles from Ft. Cox. Letters were written by George Washington debating on abandoning the fort for stronger enclaves and he recommended that all settlers leave with their stock if that was the decision. It appears the fort was not evacuated.
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The First Assessment List.- This assessment list was taken for Brothersvalley Township of Bedford County (this township included all of what is now Somerset County lying west of the Allegheny Mountain) in 1772 for the 1773 taxes.
1773; Taxables in the County of Bedford Co (PA Arch., Ser.3, Vol.22. pp2-53).
Brothers Valley Township.
p12. Friend, Andrew, 50 acres, 10 cleared, tax 4.0.
p13. Friend, Augustine, 100 acres, 2 cleared, tax 7.6.
p13. Friend, Charles, 200 acres, 10 cleared, tax 3.0.
p14. Inmates: Nicholas Friend, tax 1.0 (the same for all inmates).
(In 1773, Turkeyfoot was still a part of Brothers Valley. Inmates is a term for a renter, or someone living in another household)
The acreage is from
www.pa-roots.com/users/bedford/taxlists/tl1772brothersvalley.html[accessed Dec 2004]
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Sources:
Gray, Gertrude E., comp. "Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants". 4 vols. Baltimore, MD: Gen. Pub. Co., Inc., 1987-1993.
Joyner, Peggy S. comp. "Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys" 5vol, Portsmouth, VA: P. Joyner, 1985-87.
Shuck, Larry G. "Hampshire & Hardy Counties, (W) Va., Abstracts: Hampshire County, Wills, 1780-1794, Deeds, 1757-1786: Hardy County, Wills, 1786-1824, Deeds, 1786-1800 " Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1996.
Olsen, Evelyn G. "Indian Blood." Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Co., 1967. (strongly advise staying away from this reference, too many errors to sort out)
Tracey, Grace L. & John P. Dern, "Pioneers of Old Monocacy: The Early Settlement of Frederick County, Maryland, 1721-1743," Baltimore, MD: Gen Pub Co. 1987.
