There are obviously many Fretwell immigrants we have not discovered. Some of these immigrants may be listed in documents we have not yet found, but it is also likely that there are immigrants for which no documentation exists anywhere. Of the Fretwell immigrants we know about, listed below, none has been established as being one of our ancestors.
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1655 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
John Fretwell arrived in Maryland in 1657 pg 172 --Skordos, Gust, editor, Early Settlers of Maryland --Index names of immigrants, Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1968
William Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1658 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
John Henry Fretwell, Quaker, and Peter Fretwell, Quaker, left the village of Baddesly Ensor in Warwickshire, England some time around 1658. They were last recorded in Gaddesly Ensor by their sister, Margery in 1660. Margery kept the Quaker records in the village, and in that year she wrote that her brothers had "gone with Friend Cowsnocke". We know that a Mr. Cowsnocke was a Quaker from the village of Hartshill, about six miles away from Baddesley Ensor. --An unpublished genealogy exists.
William Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1659 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1659 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
G. Fretwell arrived in Virginia in 1665 --Nugent, Nell Marion, abstracter. Cavaliers and Pioneers. Abstracts of Virginia Lands. --Reprint, Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1969
Fra Fretwell arrived in Virginia in 1670 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Roger Fretwell arrived in Maryland in 1671 pg 171 --Skordos, Gust, editor, Early Settlers of Maryland --Index names of immigrants, Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1968
John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677 pg 143 Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677 pg 144 --Sheppard, Walter Lee, Jr. editor. Passengers and ships prior to 1684 --Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1970
John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678 pg 109 Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678 pg 109 --Smith, Samuel History of Nova Ceasaria, or New Jersey, Burlington, New Jersey James Parker 1765 pp 77-111.
John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678 Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678 --Boyer, Carl, 3rd edition, Ship Passenger Lists New York and New Jersey (1600-1925) Newhall, CA. 1978 edition
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Barbados 1679 --Brahdow, James C, editor omitted chapters --Hotten's lists, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co. 1982 His family genealogy was published in 1770, and an updated version was also published in 1880. Period covered by these publications is 1560-1886.
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1680 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Philadelphia, PA. 1683 pg 2 --Myers, Albert Cook Quaker Arrivals at Philadelphia 1682-1750. --Reprint, Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1969
Ralph Fretwell arrived in Barbados in 1683-4 --Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
Ann Fretwell arrived in the New World in 1760 pg 38 --Coldham, Peter Wilson Vol. 8 Northern Circuit Bonded Passengers to America. Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Co. 1983
William Fretwell arrived in the New World in 1775 pg 2 --ibid Vol. 19 1983
Thomas Fretwell arrived in Pennsylvania in 1832 pg 42 John Fretwell arrived in Pennsylvania in 1834 pg 41 --Erie Society for Genealogical Research, Erie City, PA. Naturalizations 1825-1906 Erie, Pennsylvania, The Society 1783
William Fretwell was born in Silkstone, Yorks, England, left for the New World in 1850 --antecedence known
William Fretwell, christened 31st May, 1857 at Balsover, Derbyshire, England, left for America in 1885 --an unpublished genealogy exists
Document 'B'. 1 of 1: From a letter to James Hosford Fretwell by Laurence Fretwell, England (still living, in his late 70's in 2004). Laurence Fretwell is author of the book titled, "The Fretwell Pedigree, Vol. 1."
"133 Peter Fretwell and 134 John Fretwell. Both of these were Quakers. They left for America whilst still comparatively young men. By doing so, they moved out of further local [English] records. At that time (before William Penn's settlement of Pennsylvania in 1681) the Quakers were looking for a place in the New World to establish a settlement. A number of people were sent out there with various preparatory tasks. Peter and John were probably just two of these. They did however suffer as a result of the Atlantic crossing, as Joan Allen's book, 'The Quakers of Hartshill,' tells us from letters sent back to England.
"133 Peter Fretwell and 134 John Fretwell.
Both of these were Quakers. They left for America whilst still comparatively young men. By doing so, they moved out of further local [English] records.
At that time (before William Penn's settlement of Pennsylvania in 1681) the Quakers were looking for a place in the New World to establish a settlement. A number of people were sent out there with various preparatory tasks. Peter and John were probably just two of these.
They did however suffer as a result of the Atlantic crossing, as Joan Allen's book, 'The Quakers of Hartshill,' tells us from letters sent back to England.
The concern of the two men hardened into action. In the summer of 1658 they set sail for Barbados with Peter Cowsnocke from the Isle of Man who had joined their venture. On the voyage he and one of the Warwickshire men became so ill that when they arrived in the West Indies it took them weeks to recover. From a letter from Henry Fell to Margaret Fell at Swarthmore, 7th October 1658… 'Peter Cowsnocke and one of ye Warwickshire Friends have not yet recovered their healthes'… Later in the month, Henry Fell to George Fox… 'Peter Cowsnocke and ye two Warwicks Friends who are for New England…it is like all passé away from hence ye next weeke (if ye Lord will) to Virginia in a ship that goes thither, & from thence ye ship after some tyme goes to Rhode Island. Soe that those 3 Friends may be serviceable there in Virginia while the Shipp stayes, and we saw little likelihood of passage for them otherwise at present'…. Eighteen months later, 3rd April 1660, Joseph Nicholson of Boston wrote to Margaret Fell… 'I could never heare any things of Peter of the Ill[e] of Man but what I heard at Shelter Island and at Rode Island that he and two other friends cam[e] from Barbadus in a vessill longe ago but nevere was heard of since.' The consensus of all Quaker historians has been that the three were lost at sea on their voyage from Virginia to Rhode Island.
The concern of the two men hardened into action. In the summer of 1658 they set sail for Barbados with Peter Cowsnocke from the Isle of Man who had joined their venture. On the voyage he and one of the Warwickshire men became so ill that when they arrived in the West Indies it took them weeks to recover. From a letter from Henry Fell to Margaret Fell at Swarthmore, 7th October 1658… 'Peter Cowsnocke and one of ye Warwickshire Friends have not yet recovered their healthes'… Later in the month, Henry Fell to George Fox… 'Peter Cowsnocke and ye two Warwicks Friends who are for New England…it is like all passé away from hence ye next weeke (if ye Lord will) to Virginia in a ship that goes thither, & from thence ye ship after some tyme goes to Rhode Island. Soe that those 3 Friends may be serviceable there in Virginia while the Shipp stayes, and we saw little likelihood of passage for them otherwise at present'….
Eighteen months later, 3rd April 1660, Joseph Nicholson of Boston wrote to Margaret Fell… 'I could never heare any things of Peter of the Ill[e] of Man but what I heard at Shelter Island and at Rode Island that he and two other friends cam[e] from Barbadus in a vessill longe ago but nevere was heard of since.' The consensus of all Quaker historians has been that the three were lost at sea on their voyage from Virginia to Rhode Island.
That assumption by these modern Quaker historians, however, appears to be incorrect because, far from being dead, 17 years after Nicholson's letter, Peter and John turn up.
Indeed, they seem to have spent considerable time and energy traveling between the island of Barbados and New Jersey, as the Immigration Records show:--
Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. (Baltimore Geneal Pub Co 1970) John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. The fact that they traveled so often between Barbados and New Jersey so many times is quite suggestive. We know that at that time the Quakers were negotiating the purchase of an uninhabited region of New Jersey to serve as a Quaker settlement. However, when William Penn was granted the authority to establish a Quaker settlement, that became Pennsylvania in 1681, the region of New Jersey being purchased became incorporated into Pennsylvania."
Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. (Baltimore Geneal Pub Co 1970) John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1677. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. John Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678. Peter Fretwell arrived in New Jersey in 1678.
The fact that they traveled so often between Barbados and New Jersey so many times is quite suggestive. We know that at that time the Quakers were negotiating the purchase of an uninhabited region of New Jersey to serve as a Quaker settlement.
However, when William Penn was granted the authority to establish a Quaker settlement, that became Pennsylvania in 1681, the region of New Jersey being purchased became incorporated into Pennsylvania."
26 July 1655. Miles Burrowes of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, clothier aged 39, deposes that Edward Cole took out a financial obligation to him. He has appointed Ralph Fretwell of Barbados, merchant, as his attorney. (MCD 6).
10 February 1658. Certificate that Elizabeth Cooke, relict and administratrix of James Cooke of London, merchant, has appointed William Fretwell of Barbados, merchant, as her attorney. (MCD 8). [Note that this is the first we have proven that a William Fretwell was in Barbados concurrently with Ralph Fretwell. Both are shown as "of London."]
31 January 1659. Copies of bonds of this date signed by William Fretwell of London, now bound to Barbados in a joint venture with Edward Browne on the Phoenix, Mr. Francis Steward, to John Upshan, citizen and girdler of London, Samuel Banister, citizen and haberdasher of London, and Edward Browne of London, merchant. (MCD 9).
23 November 1659. Anthony Wyne of London, merchant aged 31, deposes at the request of William Mackerness of London, cooper, as attorney for Richard Rands of Northampton, shoemaker, that on 22 November 1653 Ralph Fretwell of London, merchant, being then bound to Barbados, signed a financial obligation to Rands. (MCD 9).
5-6 August 1731. The following bound to John Taylor to serve 4 years in Jamaica: William Fretwell of Pontefract, Yorkshire, tallow chandler aged 21; John Barnfield of Old Brentford, Ealing, Middlesex, brick and tile maker aged 20. (CLRO: ATSM/180-181).
26 October 1739. Depositions taken at the Coffee House in Philadelphia in a case brought in Chancery by Robert Maddocks of London to establish the death of William Rhodes, alleged to have died overseas leaving a wife named Isabella in England. Deponents include: Esther Hulbert, innkeeper aged 37, late wife of William Parker deceased, who knew William Rhodes in 1731 before he shipped to North Carolina from Philadelphia by the Esther and Jane which was presumed lost at sea; Edward Fretwell, formerly Deputy Collector for Philadelphia, gent aged 59; William Sumerset, merchant aged 40. (NGSQ 61/36-37).
The following two Fretwells are listed in the "Emigrants in Bondage" part of this CD.
Fretwell, Ann. Awaiting transportation Lent 1760. Yorkshire. Fretwell, William. Sentenced to transportation Lent 1775. Derbyshire.
The presence of names in this section does not prove that these persons were transported to the Americas. A good number of convicts who are listed in the court records as having been sentenced to transportation were subsequently given a free pardon or had their sentence commuted on condition of serving in the Army or Navy. In the cases of Ann Fretwell and William Fretwell, however, separate documentation proves that they were transported to America.