Vincent Fry Homepage

Vincent Fry of Rowan and Davidson Counties, North Carolina, owned land on the Uwharrie River near Johann Peter Fry's family. Vincent married Mary Snow, at a latter age than usual, but he made up for it in time. At about 86 years old his youngest child Kessiah was born, by his wife Matilda Padgett. After Matilda died he married again to widow Mary D. Bridewell. Our Mary Snow is not to be confused with a younger relative of the same name. And also, do not confuse the Joseph Fry who was married in 1794 with our Joseph Vincent Fry. I have twelve Joseph Fry's on my gedcom, it was a common name.

A Fry family history was written by Velva Davis, And another Fry history was written by, Nora Headley Bendon, my grandfather, Clyde Headley's sister. Nora was Vincent's g-great-granddaughter, and the grandmother of Gene Pursell the famous Irish Tenor of the Lawrence Welk TV show of the 1950's. Nora wrote that Vincent's name was Joseph and that he was a Shoemaker, born in England. Vincent's 1850 Census, however, states that he was born in North Carolina. His ancestors were probably from Pennsylvania like many ancestors of Carolinians. Vincent's had a grandson named Joseph Vincent Fry. Many Frys left the Franco/Swiss area and migrated through the British Isles. These families were known to give two or more children the same first name, but called them by their middle name. Eventually in America the first name was dropped in favor of the name they were known by, such as Vincent in this case. Peter Fry, son of Henry Fry and Anna Hirtzeller, of Swiss descent, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1685 on the Francis and Dorothy. He was a shoemaker and even married a woman named Schumacher (the boss's daughter,) whose surname came from her father's profession. Janet stated Peter died in Forsyth, North Carolina. This Peter was the brother of Henry Fry who married Anna Catherine Levering, and is probably related to Vincent. Vincent and an unknown Henry Fry are listed in the same area. But the Peter Fry who lived in Forysth County 1759 is claimed to be Peter Pelzer Fry who we are not related to, so our Peter Fry would have died before the 1759 Index. This Frey line is also of Swiss descent. The Henry whom Vincent lived near was a Baptist. The other Frys in the area were Moravians. I have not seen Vincent listed in a church so don't know what his was, but his son David was a Mormon from 1832 to the day he died.

I am a descendant of Vincent Fry through his eldest child David Fry. David was born in North Carolina but moved around a lot. Actually, it was the Moravians who were always on the move, forming new settlements to spred their religion. David and Dorothy Stewart were married 29 May 1823 in Monroe County, Indiana. David became an Elder in the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1832 and stayed with founder Joseph Smith's family who later reorganized into RLDS which is now known as the Community of Christ. David to Kansas a while before going to Iowa where he lived in Lee County, on the Half Breed Reservation according to his 1840 Census. I have no idea why he lived there, but my grandfather said he himself was half Native American, mostly from his mother Caroline Smith, but his father George W. Headlee was almost half Native American as well. This information about the Half Breed Reservation is also in Latter Day Saints records as well as other information sent to me by Brenna Stokes. A Biography of Amon Fry son of David Fry has a little history of other family members as well. At the George Headlee page below, is a photo copy of an original letter written by Amon Fry to his brother Joseph and signed A. F. Amon Fry, with W. H. brother William Henry, as well. It is an interesting account of the lives of our family. Our Charles and William Smith and David Fry were Pioneers at Bigler's Grove. David and his wife Dorothy Stewart are buried at Bigler's Grove Cemetery, Harrison County, Iowa.

David's third daughter Mary Ann Fry married George J. Headlee. David Fry's fourth daughter Elizabeth Fry and her husband Lewis Coon are buried together. David's fifth daughter Amanda "Jane" Fry married Ansalum Coon, brother of Lewis Coon, Elizabeth Fry's husband above. Jane later married James Headlee, brother of George Headlee. You will find more of Ron Potter's pictures, and information of the children of George J. Headlee and Mary Ann Fry at Our Headlee webpage about their son, George Washington Headlee and his wife Caroline Smith, both descended from Royalty.

Vincent Fry was 87 when the June 1850 census was made, in Green Co. Indiana. Born in Rowan Co, NC, he lived on the Uwharrie River according to land documents stating he sold ten and a half acres to John Lambeth, Jr. for $11.90.

I think the old letters from the Rootsweb Message Board give us clues to where Vincent lived in NC and the family he was with. Benjamin and Bryant moved to Indiana with Vincent. Peter "Pelzer" Fry and Catherine Walk were the parents of this Benjamin. Vincent's name is on legal documents with Benjamin and Briant/Bryant Fry, and later Vincent moved to Indiana with them. I do not know who the parents of Bryant were. On the same page as Vincent in the actual 1840 Indiana Census is: Peter Fry, age 20-30 was Vincent's son; Philip Fry 20-30; and Martin Fry 30-40 need proof of parents, but I believe he was the g-great-grandson of Henry Fry and wife Anna Catherine Levering through their son Benjamin Sr, and his son Benjamin Jr. At that time Vincent was listed as 60-70.

Vincent's second son Peter Fry married Jimina Clark, and Vincent's eldest daughter, Hannah, married John Arthur, 4 July 1828 in Monroe, Indiana. Vincent's third son, Daniel Fry, married Amanda Clark. They lived in Magnolia Twp, Iowa during the 1856 Census. Vincent's daughter Jane Fry married Malcomb Wheeler. Vincent's fourth son James, married Mrs. Sarah Pickett. Vincent's youngest son, William Henry Fry married Caroline Brassfield. Vincent's daughter Elmyra married Andrew Miller. Vincent's youngest daughter, Elizabeth, married Michael Gentry. Vincent had at least three grandsons named Joseph, and one named Joseph Vincent Fry, who never married.

My grandparents, Clyde Oliver Headley and Sybil Laura Newman, (both descended from Royalty)daughter of the Superintendent of Schools for Sarpy Co, Nebraska, Prof. J. Walter Newman, and granddaughter of Nebraska Senator and Congressman, William D. Rowles.

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