Johan Wilhelm FRANK was born in 1731 in Germany. He immigrated to America and arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 9 September 1749 on board the Ship Saint Andrew with James ABERCROMIE, Master. His name was soon Americanized to William FRANK as were those of most German immigrants. He soon afterward joined the steady stream of German and Scotch-Irish immigrants who came down the Great Wagon Road from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia into the Peidmont of western North Carolina.
He was married to Barbara WALK who was born on 15 October 1735. She was the daughter of Martin WALK (WALLACH) Sr. and his first wife, who was a MICHEAL, daughter of Nicholas MICHEAL. This marriage may have taken place in Culpepper County, Virginia since Martin WALK, Sr. resided there.
William FRANK moved his family to Rowan County, North Carolina in 1753 and settled on Abbott's Creek in that part which later became Davidson County. His brother-in-law, Martin WALK, Jr. also moved his family south and settled near Bathabara in what is now Forsyth County, North Carolina. William FRANK owned 400 acres of land in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1759. He continued to obtain lands in Rowan County which eventually reached a total of 1,120 acres.
William FRANK was replaced as overseer of the road by Stuffel SIFFER on 16 February 1770 and on 3 February 1773 Martin BYERLY was appointed overseer of the road from "Abits Creek" to Lick Creek instead of William FRANK.
He wrote his will on 25 May 1799 with Thomas CARWEY, Thomas CARSON and Jno. CARSON his witnesses. He gave his whole estate to his wife, Barbara, while she remained a widow "but in case she should marry she is then only to be entitled to her third of the same". Then the lands were given to his four sons: Martin, John, William and Peter FRANK. Also named were his nine daughters: Elizabeth FAR (DARR), Catharina FRANK, Barbara GRIMS, Mary LOOP, Susanna CONRAD, Eve BIERLY, Hannah CAPELY, Rebecca CAPELY and Sarah WALLISE. He named his son-in-laws, Charles GRIMS and John CAPELY, the executors. William FRANK died on 15 November 1804, age 73 yrs. 4 mos., and is buried at Beck's Church in Davidson County, North Carolina. His will was probated in 1805. His widow, Barbara WALK FRANK, died on 15 October 1815, age 79 yrs. 4 mos. 4 das., and is also buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery in Davidson County.
The children of William FRANK and Barbara WALK were:
1. Martin FRANK was born in 1752 in Pennsylvania or Virginia and died on 4 February 1802 in Rowan County, North Carolina; buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery. He was married to Barbara BOSS, born about 1760, daughter of Phillip BOSS and Anna SPEYDELL.
After Martin's death, Barbara BOSS FRANK on 30 November 1805 agreed to marry John RICKART, Jr. He gave a bond that in case of a disagreement or separation he would not "molest her property". The estate of Martin FRANK consisted of 400 acres and was divided equally between his eight heirs (7 children and widow). John RICKART was appointed the guardian of the orphans of Martin FRANK on 5 February 1808. They were: George, John, Francis, Barbara and Andrew. The children of Martin FRANK and Barbara BOSS were:
i. Phillip FRANK was born in 1782 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died in 1839. He was married to Anna Mary HEDRICK.
ii. John FRANK was born in 1784 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He was married on 10 January 1819 in Rowan County, North Carolina to Elizabeth HEADRICK. They moved to Putnam County, Illinois.
iii. Frances FRANK was born in 1788 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She was married to Adam CONRAD. They moved to Tennessee.
iv. Peter FRANK.
v. Andrew FRANK.
vi. Barbara FRANK.
vii. George FRANK.
2. Elizabeth FRANK was born on 27 December 1754 and died in 1825. She was married to Melchior DARR, Jr., born in 1754 in Pennsylvania.
3. John FRANK was married in Rowan County, North Carolina during Governor Alexander MARTIN's term (1783) to Barbara LOPP, daughter of Jacob LOPP. They moved to Harrison County, Indiana.
4. Sarah FRANK was married on 28 November 1795 in Rowan County, North Carolina to Jonathan WALK. They moved to Pike County, Illinois and later to Fairfield, Iowa.
5. Hannah FRANK was married to John KEPLEY. They moved to Harrison County, Indiana.
6. Barbara FRANK was born in 1761 Rowan County, North Carolina and died about 1826. She was married to John Charles GRIMES, born 24 January 1761 and died 2 February 1830. They are both buried at Old Pilgrim Reformed Church Cemetery.
7. Anna Maria FRANK was born on 23 May 1763 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 26 August 1853. She was married to John Peter LOPP, born 29 September 1760, son of Jacob LOPP. They are buried in the Old Pilgrim Reformed Church Cemetery.
8. Susannah FRANK was born on 23 April 1765 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 29 July 1838. She was married to Henry (Heinrich) CONRAD, born 30 December 1762 and died 15 April 1834. Both are buried at the Old Pilgrim Reformed Church Cemetery.
9. Eve FRANK was born on 18 February 1767 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 1 August 1836. She was married to Peter BYERLY.
10. William FRANK was born on 5 February 1769 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 16 May 1855. He was married on 12 November 1796 in Rowan County, North Carolina to Barbara BYERLY. They are both buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery.
11. Catherine FRANK was born on 20 February 1771 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 2 March 1842; buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery. She was never married.
12. Rebecca FRANK was born on 22 February 1773 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 17 September 1837; buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery. She was married to Henry KEPLEY.
13. John Peter FRANK was born on 22 December 1774 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died on 15 September 1828; buried at Beck's Reformed Church Cemetery. He was never married.
Some other descendants of William FRANK (Johan Wilhelm FRANCK) are found in the quarterly journal called The Ridge Runner (Vol. 4 No. 2, August 1975) on page 119 which had an article titled, "North Carolina Deaths, Marriages and Legal Notices, 1826-1830, Taken from the Greensboro Newspaper, 5 May 1830". Among the offerings was a legal notice from the Davidson County North Carolina Superior Court of Equity, April Term 1830. It states, "William FRANK & others vs. Geo. FRANK, Andrew FRANK, Adam CONRAD & his wife Catherine, Frederick ROSS & his wife Barbara, Daniel FRANK, Jones FRANK, John FRANK, Susan FRANK, Molly FRANK, John BIERLY & his wife Cathetine, Sally FRANK, Betsy FRANK, Barbara FRANK, Andrew GRIMES, Matthias SAPPENFIELD & his wife Christiana, Phillip COONSE & his wife Rebecca, and John KESSLY & his wife Hannah. Petition for the Sale of Lands. Every of said defendants resides without the state." I suspect that this is probably the estate settlement of John Peter FRANK, son of William FRANK, who died in 1828 leaving his siblings and their children as his heirs since he was never married. Based upon this information, as such, I concluded that John FRANK, son of William FRANK, may have had the following children:
i. Daniel FRANK.
ii. Jones FRANK.
iii. John FRANK.
iv. Susan FRANK.
v. Molly FRANK.
vi. Catherine FRANK, married to John BIERLY.
vii. Sally FRANK.
viii. Betsy FRANK.
ix. Barbara FRANK.
The reasoning behind these being the children of John FRANK is simple enough. William FRANK (Johan Wilhelm FRANCK) had 4 sons: Martin, John, William and John Peter. The children of Martin are known, thus eliminating him as the father. William was still living so he would have received his share and John Peter was never married. Thus it leaves John FRANK as the only choice. The Andrew GRIMES noted as an heir or defendant in the legal notice was probably the son of John Charles GRIMES and Barbara FRANK, daughter of William FRANK (Johan Wilhelm FRANCK). The Christiana, wife of Matthias SAPPENFIELD, and Rebecca, wife of Phillip COONSE, are unknown.
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Sources:
Heritage Book of Davidson County, North Carolina, p. 200.
W.A. Frank Family History. Compiled from information given by Don Frank Elliott, Greensboro; Mrs. Randolph Earnhardt, Spencer; C. William Loftin, Jackson Hill; and Henry Reeves, Lexington.
Rowan County, North Carolina Tax List: 1759.
Rowan County, North Carolina Will Book E, p. 153-154.
Rowan County, North Carolina "McCubbins File".
Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Book 14, p. 381 or 481.
Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Book 23, p. 319.
Rowan County, North Carolina Division of Estates, Book A, p. 115.
Rowan County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds.
The Ridge Runner Vol. IV No. 2, August 1975, p. 119.
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