William Frazer

- 1788

• Name	William Frazer
  Gender	Male
  Died	ca 1788	King William Co. VA
  Notes	The will of Falvey Frayser has survived and is among the Gregory Papers at the Virginia State Library (Archives). He mentioned his sister Mary, Anne, Susanna Richeson: his brothers: William and Thomas; his mother and his "Cousin from the Ferry" at West Point. Thomas was named executor of the will. Thomas Frayser, executor of Falvey's will, was the son of a William Frayser. Most of his property was left to the children of his brother, William. Falvey received 2666 and 2/3 acres of land in recognition of his services as a Lieutentant in the Virginia Continental Line for three years. He was not married and had no children. -------------------- Given the information in Falvey Frayser's will, his family were the children of William Frayser at West Point. He was a ship builder and built ships for the Virginia State Navy, one of which was the "Tempest." There is much in the old Williamsburg Gazette regarding the ferry and the business activities of the Frazers. William Frazer, Jr. who in 1759 was issued a patent to 900 acres of land from Thomas Mallory's estate, lying on the Mattaponi River below Madison's Creek, the patent for which was registered in the Secretary's Office in Williamsburg in Land Patent Book No 33 page 547. According to the history of King William County, the crossing was established in 1764 for Frazer?s Ferry, on the Mattaponi River. By 1774, Frazer operated a ferry across the Mattaponi between his Ordinary at Wakema in King William and the opposite bank near King and Queen Courthouse. At one time Fraser's Ferry was manually pulled by mules on each side, from the King William side to the King and Queen side of the Mattaponi River. Later, Frazer built a warehouse at Wakema to inspect tobacco. The Virginia legislature in 1777 Virginia legislature approved a shipyard at Frazer?s Ferry for repairing and refitting vessels used by the Virginia navy. In the summer of 1781, Frazer's shipyard on the Mattaponi built flatboats for General LaFayette for use in the American Revolution. George Washington mentions in his diary for May 1768, "Set of from Colo. Bassetts for Nomony. Crossd over to Claibornes from thence by Frazers Ferry to Hobs hole dining at Webbs Ordinary." Nomini was a Westmoreland County neighborhood clustered around Nomini Creek, which emptied into the Potomac River about 12 miles below Washinton?s birthplace at Pope's Creek. From Claiborne?s ferry, his party rode through King William County to cross the Mattaponi River at William Frazier?s (many spellings) ferry. They then proceeded almost due north through King and Queen County, crossing into Essex County where they stopped in the afternoon for dinner at Webb?s tavern (for the Webb family of Essex County. A petition to Virginia General Assembly by John Frazer, Jr., executor & son of William Frazer, deceased, who was employed by the Navy Board in 1776 with John Roane to furnish supplied to the builders of ships of war on the Mattaponi River, asking for the relief from debts accrued by testator (King William Co. - 1787/11/22 & 1788/11/04).
  Person ID	I36175	Master File
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2016

  
  

  Children	1. Falvey Frazer,   b. ca 1740,   d. Aft Oct. 4, 1777, Battle of Germantown, PA  (Age ~ 37 years)   2. Ann FRAZER,   b. ca 1750, Maryland ,   d. Aft 1810, Lancaster Co. VA  (Age ~ 61 years)   3. Mary Frazer   4. Susanna Frazer   5. William Frazer, II   6. Thomas Frazer
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2016
  Family ID	F14923	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart