My post today is taken from one of the early wills of Lincoln County, still Virginia at the time it was written.  If you remember, Kentucky County, once a part of Fincastle County, Virginia, became Kentucky County in 1777.  In 1780 Kentucky County was divided into Jefferson County, Fayette County and Lincoln County of Virginia.  Years ago Ritchey and I visited the Lincoln County Clerk’s office.  Since many of the early records of what was to become Kentucky were stored here, I made copies of the first 67 pages of the early will book, pages that contained wills.  At the time I wasn’t as interested in inventories, appraisements and other death related papers.  All these wills will come in handy for a blog later in the month.  Included in the wills I copied was Paul Froman’s will.

A little background information.  Paul Froman came to America from Germany about 1725-1730 and settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia about 1730-1731.  Paul married Elizabeth Hite, daughter of Joist Hite and his wife Anna Maria DuBois, also German immigrants.  There are five known children of Paul and Elizabeth.  Sarah Jane Froman, born November 15, 1732, is considered the first female child born in the Shenandoah Valley (John George Bowman was the first male child born April 27, 1732).  Sarah married John Overall.  John Paul Froman was born October 16, 1734.  Maria Christina was born March 1, 1736.  Elizabeth was born May 8, 1737, she married Nathaniel Cartmell.  Son Jacob Froman has no birth date available.  It is possible there were other children born to the couple, perhaps some who died young, as was inevitable at that time period, or for whatever reason were not listed.

Paul Froman purchased 600 acres of land from John Branson’s 1,000 acre survey, dated June 10, 1739, deed in Orange County. 

March 3, 1746, Paul was sworn in as Constable for Frederick County, taking over for William Stevenson.

Paul Froman was a German immigrant who became a naturalized citizen in Frederick County, Virginia, August 4, 1747, according to the court records of that day.  ‘Paul Froman a German Protestant having made it appear to the Court that he has been an inhabitant of this Colony seven years and not absent therefrom two months at one time during the said term and having produced a certificate under the hand of the Rev. John Bartholomew Reiger that he had received the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as the Act of Parliament directs, too the oaths proscribed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Oath of Abjuration and subscribed the test in order to obtain naturalization, the same is admitted to record.’

Paul Froman ran a mill, known as Froman’s Mill, on Cedar Creek on the land he owned.  This mill is mentioned in Order Book 5, 1753-1754, of Frederick County, Virginia, date April 2, 1754.  ‘Stephan Hotsenpolla, Robert Allen and Samuel Pritchard, having in compliance to an order of this Court returned that they have marked a road from Sandy Ford to Froman’s Mill, ordered that Robert Glass, Nathaniel Cartmill, Nathan Cartmill, John Thomas, Robert Hodgson, Jacob Cooper, Jacob Frey, Martin Grider, John Cook, Samuel Vance, Benjamin Fry, Abraham Fry, Paul Froman, John Tuckerman, Peter Miller, John Capper, Joseph Fosset, Philip Harihill, Andrew Longacre, Richard Freson, Richard Fajsat, Nathaniel Carr, Joseph Glass, John Becket, Adam Hunter, Philip Crow, Samuel Glass, John Dyer clear and keep the same in repair according to the prayer of their petitioner and it is further ordered that Paul Froman, Jr., be overseer of the said road.’  This is interesting to have the men who lived in this neighborhood listed.  It was quite common for the people who lived in the area to keep up the road.

Frederick County was taken from Orange in 1743, and it was from Frederick in 1766/1767 Paul sold most of this land to Abraham Farree/Farrell.  This was in anticipation of moving to Pennsylvania.  Paul Froman was at this point in life perhaps 55 years of age, having married in 1731 at the age of 20.  His two sons, Paul and Jacob were about 30.  Military records of Monongahela City in Pennsylvania gives information of Abraham Decker, Tobias Decker, John Decker, Adam Wickerham, Paul Froman, Jacob Froman, James Devore and Jacobus Devore coming to the area in 1768.  This was just after the Indian title to lands in the southwestern part of Pennsylvania were extinguished due to the treaty of November 5, 1768, giving individuals the ability to purchase land for the rate of 5 pounds for one hundred acres.  I would say that the two Froman’s were sons of Paul that came and purchased land.  Patent No. 3783 contained 70 acres and was described as ‘adjoining the Monongahela River, and Jacob Froman down the river, and Tobias Decker on the north.’  An order from the military records at the time talks about viewing a road from Fort Dunmore to Paul Froman’s Mill on Shirtees Creek – possibly from someone with the surname Shirtee?  I could not find it on a map, and names have been changed.

In Pennsylvania Land Records for 1769, new purchases, we find Jacob Froman purchased 300 acres of land April 17, on the west side of Monongahela, joining Maple run, including his improvement [W.S. Monongahela now Washington County].  Paul Froman, Sr., purchased 300 acres of land April 17, on the west side of the great crossing and joining the line including his improvement [On Youghiogheny River adjoining Maryland Lint, Fayette County].  Paul Froman, Jr., purchased 300 acres of land April 17, on the west side of the Monongahela, adjoining Pigeon Creek, including his improvement (On West Side of Monongahela River, now Washington County].   

After ten years in Pennsylvania, Paul Froman and family moved to what was then Lincoln County, Kentucky, the area later becoming Mercer County.  I think this move was more about his sons, Paul and Jacob, moving to Kentucky, and the parents, Paul and Elizabeth, moving with them.  By this point Paul, Sr., was in his seventies.  My thought is he came with his sons to be part of their lives and live out his years with his family.  His wife Elizabeth was still living, as he named her in his will.  Three to five years after moving to Kentucky Paul Froman died.  His will was written April 28, 1783, and was produced in Lincoln County Court May 20, 1783, less than 30 days later.  Paul gives bequests to Elizabeth, and sons Paul and Jacob, and unnamed daughters, some of whom are deceased, whose share would go to their husband or children.   

Paul Froman traveled a great deal in his lifetime – at a time when travel wasn’t as easy as today. The mileage from Germany to New York is approximately 3,900 miles via ship. From New York to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is about 300 miles; another 120 miles to Bedford County, Pennsylvania and an additional 470 to Mercer County, Kentucky. Remarkable! 

Will of Paul Froman

Lincoln County Virginia Wills, Book 1, Pages 46-47

In the name of God, Amen.  The 28^th day of April in the year of our Lord God 1783, I, Paul Froman, Sr., of Lincoln County of Virginia, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God for it, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.  That is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like and decent manner at the direction of my executors, not doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God.  And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise, dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First.  I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my beloved wife the thirds of my whole estate together with my household goods.  Likewise, I give to my well-beloved son Paul Froman, Jr., forty dollars, and to my daughters twenty dollars each, to be paid out of my estate and each of my daughters that are deceased, the same shall be given to their husbands or children.  And the residue after my debts be justly paid I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Jacob Froman, whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain my only and sole executor of this my last Will and Testament, all and singular my mass acres and tenements by him to be freely possessed and enjoyed and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all other wills and testaments by me in anywise before this time named and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.  Signed, sealed, published, pronounced

And declared by the said as his last Will and Testament.

Paul Froman

In the presence of John Gritton, his mark

John Summit, his seal

John Woolman, his seal

Christian Summit, his seal

At a Court held for Lincoln County the 20^th day of May 1783

This will was proved by the oath of Christian Summit, a witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.  And on the motion of Jacob Froman, the Executor therein named, who made oath and executed and acknowledged bond as the law directs, a certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste.  Willis Green, County Clerk