(Leaving Hesse again to discuss Johannes Freh.)
Whom did Johannes Freh (or Fray, Frey) marry? He lived in the Robinson River Valley. A few records at the German Lutheran Church (now called Hebron) tell us very clearly that he married Rebecca Swindle. Let's look at these records.
Johannes Freh and wife Rebecca had Aron baptized 24 Mar 1776. The sponsors for the boy were Peter Klor, Michael Schwindel, and Hanna Schwindel. Peter Klor had married Mary Fray and he was the brother-in-law of Johannes. Michael Schwindel was Rebecca's brother. Hanna Schwindel (geb. Weber) [ geb. = geboren = born ] had married the brother, John, of Rebecca, so she was a sister-in-law of Rebecca. These are very typical family relationships, not friends. In the following, I will use modern spellings.
Michael Swindle and wife Elizabeth (geb. Utz) brought Hanna for baptism on 30 Jun 1776. The sponsors were Geo. Utz, Jr. (Elizabeth's brother); Rebecca Fray (Michael's sister); and Margaret Breil (Elizabeth's sister). Again, a nice set of family relationships. Though these sponsors were related by blood, a relationship by marriage is just as good.
Peter Clore and wife Mary (geb. Fray) brought Elizabeth for baptism on 12 Jan 1777. The sponsors were John Becker (Peter's brother-in-law), Rebecca Frey (Mary's sister-in-law), and Hanna Weaver. I believe this last name is a mistake for Hanna Swindle. Rarely, but it does happen, a woman is listed by her maiden name, not her married name (she married John Swindle). She was Peter's aunt.
Peter Clore and wife Mary (geb. Fray) brought Mary for baptism on 24 Aug (perhaps in 1782). The sponsors were John Weaver (Peter's uncle), Rebecca Fray (Mary's sister-in-law), and Hanna Swindle (Peter's aunt who married John Swindle).
Peter Clore and wife Mary (geb. Fray) brought John for baptism (date not specified, but born 18 Sep 1784). The sponsors were John Fray (probably, Peter's brother-in-law), John Weaver (Peter's uncle), and Hanna Swindle (Peter's aunt).
I have looked at hundreds of baptisms and traced out the relationships of the sponsors to the parents. The examples are typical, though the use of sponsors in another generation is not so common. Hanna (Weaver) Swindle seems to have been the youngest child in her family, as she was not married when her father wrote his will. Though there appears to be a generation jump, by physical age the difference may not have been that much.
There is no question that John Fray married Rebecca Swindle. There is no evidence there ever was a Rebecca Yowell, even though Mrs. Lewis made the statement that she was a Yowell. B. C. Holtzclaw said he could find no Rebecca Yowell. The reason, of course, is simple -- she was Rebecca Swindle. The maiden names of the other women come from many sources, included cases similar to ones we just analyzed.
(30 Jan 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.