Jacob Jr. Frederick

JACOB JR. and CATHERINE (STEVENS) FREDERICK
An overview by: Arlene Gable

Jacob Jr. was the oldest son of Jacob Frederick Sr. He was born in Orange

Co. New York on 3 January 1791.

According to Veterans Pensions Records from the National Archives, Jacob

married Catherine Stevens in January 1809. Jacob was 18 and Catherine not

yet 17. According to a Bible Record, before the year was out they were

parents of Sarah, followed by another baby about every two years: in 1812 by

Albert, Rachel in 1814, Sally in 1816, William S. in 1817, Polly Ann in

1820, Benjamin 1822, Francis W. 1824, a baby who died at about 3 months of

age in 1827, Jacob S. in 1829, and Harriet in 1831; eleven children in all.

Jacob Jr. served in the New York Militia for three months during the War of

1812 as a private. His pension records indicate that he was a cook and

stationed on Staten Island.

This service entitled him to Bounty Land under the Bounty Land Act of 1850.

He legally disposed of the warrant of 40 Acres granted under this act,

which probably means he sold the scrip. Since he was entitled to 160 Acres

under the Bounty Land Act of 1855, he immediately applied for the 120 Acres

he had coming.

Sometime in the late 1850¹s Jacob and Catherine set out for the wilds of

Minnesota. They were in their mid-sixties. One researcher (Predmore) wrote that they

removed to Wisconsin. This sent later sleuths on a wild goose chase to

that state. It was almost true since earlier Minnesota had been part of

Wisconsin Territory.

One wonders why this late in their lives they set out on such a rigorous

adventure. Perhaps it was the availability of the Bounty Land. Perhaps it

was because five of their grown children with their families left New York

for Minnesota. We do not know the whereabouts of children Sarah, Sally,

William, or Benjamin; perhaps if they were deceased or had moved away there

was no incentive to remain in New York. We do know that Rachel was married

with a family and probably living in Orange Co. at that time, but not close

by. Perhaps it was because they were used to living with some of their

children or vice versa. In 1850 in New York Jacob and Catherine¹s daughter

and son-in-law Harriet and Josiah Cooper were living with them. In 1855,

they were living with son Jacob S. and his family. Perhaps since they were

getting older, the children felt they could not leave them and convinced

them to come along. Perhaps they, as well as their children, were caught up

in the hype from early day politicans and others who were singing the

praises of Minnesota. Language such as the Eden of the West may have

played a part in their decision. Perhaps they did not recognize that they

were leaving for pioneer conditions in a wilderness that might not be very

friendly and maybe they felt they were hale and hearty enough to handle

whatever lay ahead. At any rate they joined the exodus of Fredericks to

Minnesota.

It is unknown exactly which of the Fredericks came to Minnesota first

although we believe it was Nathaniel and Polly Ann (Frederick) Ferrel around

1854. If not the first, Francis W. was next, settling in Scott Co. He had

already lived in Pennsylvania. Harriet and Josiah Cooper arrived in Scott

Co. in the Fall of 1855. Jacob S. came after July 1856 in time to be counted

in the 1857 Minnesota Census. Albert shows up in the 1860 Minnesota Census,

perhaps having arrived in the late 1850¹s.

Jacob and Catherine probably did not travel alone. Family notes kept by

Harriet Gilman, a great granddaughter, say they came with Josiah and

Harriet. However, they were not counted in the 1857 Minnesota census. They

could have been missed but perhaps they came with Albert, the only one of

the emigrants who did not show in that census. But they did not remain with

Albert who settled in Wright Co. In September of 1858 Jacob was granted the

Patent to 144.65 acres of Bounty Land in Eagle Creek township, Scott Co.

Minnesota. (The difference in 120 acres that he had coming and the fact that

he was granted 144+ did not seem to bother anyone. Maybe he paid for it.)

The odd acreage was because the Minnesota River cut into the north end of

the claim. Son Francis W. and son-In-laws Josiah Cooper and Nathanial

Ferrell held land nearby, although census records show the Ferrells actually

living in Wright Co. Josiah Cooper¹s children stated in later years that

their father¹s land was very poor farming land so that was also probably

true of Jacob¹s claim. In 2000 this land is part of a large amusement park

(Valley Fair).

Early Minnesota census Records show the older couple living on their own. In

1860 Harriet¹s young daughter Kate is counted with them in the census.

Perhaps she was the legs for her grandparents. In 1865 Harriet and the

children are living with them as Josiah is in the army.

in 1866 brothers-in-law Josiah Cooper and Jacob S. Frederick picked out

Homestead sites in Stearns Co. (later Ashley township) and the two families

plus Jacob and Catherine sold their land and moved again. Jacob and

Catherine Homesteaded on land in Pope Co. just west of the claims of Josiah

and Jacob S. living in their own shack according to family notes.

Francis W. followed shortly thereafter and eventually settled further to the

west in Pope Co.

Jacob died in January of 1870 of polzy. Family notes call it a stroke. He

was 79 years old. He is buried in Lake Amelia Cemetery in Pope Co. near

Villard.

NOTES

Bounty Land