The earliest Frey ancestor on record is Johan Heinrich Frey born about 1588 in Konau, Kanton, Zurich, Switzerland and died before 1636 in Kanton, Switzerland. He was married to Anna Hoehn.
His son was Gregorious Frey, born 1610 Zurich, Switzerland and died 16886/87 Wingen, Alsace, France.
He was married twice, first to Elsbeth Ringer, then to Verena "Veronica" Oberdorfer. (my line descends from Verena.) About 1650 Gregorious moved his family from Switzerland to Wingen, Alsace which was in France at the time, but the heritage and native language was German. Gregorious was a carpenter and became a Justice in Wingen. He and his family were members of the Reformed Church. To see an historical documentation for Alsace by Ms. Scott, click here.
Gregorious' son, Johan Jacob Frey was born 1648 Zurich, Switzerland and died 1705 Wingen, Alsace, France. He married first Anna Catharina Rummel, then Anna Maria Schaub(en) from which my line descends. The son of Johan Jacob and Anna Maria, Johan "Hans" Peter Frey immigrated to the New World.
Johan "Hans" Peter Frey and his brother, Andreas are listed as passengers on the ship Samuel of London, arriving in Philadelphia August 17, 1733. Johan "Hans" Peter Frey was born 1689 in Wingen, Alsace. He married Anna Barbara Schmidt in 1716 France.This family sailed with a group of emigrants at the invitation of William Penn and founded a Moravian colony, Muddy Creek, Lancaster Co., PA.
Leaving Lancaster Co., PA between 1748 and 1750, the Frey family moved to Heidelberg Township, now Berks Co., PA. In 1764 Hans Peter moved his family to NC. They arrived in Rowan Co. and settled just south of the Wachovia tract. Moravian records show that his sons Valentine, Christian, and George came with their parents and that the older Freys had been married 50 years, with 19 great grandchildren, 67 grandchildren, in all 98 descendants. Hans Peter was the first interment at the Freidberg Moravian Church Winston-Salem, NC May 4, 1766. His wife Anna Barbara who died in 1768 is buried at Bethania Moravian Church, Bethania, Forsyth Co., NC.
Johann Valentine Frey, son of Hans Peter Frey, born 1721 Alsace died 1798 NC married Anna Barbara Binckele in Lancaster, PA in 1742. Though he was past the age of serving in the military, he is on record as a Revolutionary Patriot. He supplied food and horses at the Battle of Moores Creek and was assigned the duty of turning over ammunition from the citizens to the colonial forces. It was about this time the spelling of Frey became Fry in NC. Johan Valentine is buried near Winston-Salem, NC.
The son of Johan Valentine was Johannes "John" Fry born December 25, 1753 Heidelberg, PA, died after 1815 and is buried at Hope Moravian Cemetery near Winston-Salem, NC. John was married to Christina Waller (Muller) November 23, 1779 Rowan Co., NC. In 1801, John sold land his father left him in Rowan Co., NC and moved to Wayne Co., KY where he appears on the 1810 census with eleven children, only six have been identified: Peter, Valentine, Michael, Christina, John B., and Catherine.
I descend from Christina Fry, born 1794, who married James L. Ashbrook in Wayne Co., KY April 28, 1811. Christina died before 1829 leaving James L. Ashbrook with three daughters and a son.