| Nils Larsson Frande/Friend |
"...By 1668 Nils Larsson had adopted the name Frande, meaning "kinsman"
or "blood relative" in Swedish. Nils Larsson played a very prominent role in
the Swedish community until his death at Upland in the winter of 1686-87. He
became known as Nils Larsson Frande, meaning "kinsman" or "blood relative"
in Swedish, possibly because of his influence among the Indians who
considered him a "blood brother." New Sweden, though settled by the Swedes,
was eventually was taken by the English and under English rule, his adopted surname became anglicized to "Friend."...."
Nils (Nicholas) was born about 1620 in Goteborg, Sweden (?), and died in December 1686 in Upland, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania.
He married Anna Andersdotter about November 1656 in Upland, she was the daughter of Anders Andersson and Christina Goolbrant (Guldbrand?).
Nils and Anna had 11 (10 surviving) children:
Brigitta (Brita) Nilsdotter, b. 1657, who married John Cock or Cox.
Anders (Andrew) Nilsson, b. 1659, who married Rebecca Helm
Carin (Catharine) Nilsdotter, b. 1661, who married Olof Dalbo.
Anna Maria (Mary) Nilsdotter, b. 1663, who married Gabriel Cock or Cox
Johannes (John) Nilsson, b. 1666, who married Anna (Hendricksdotter) Coleman
Susannah Nilsdotter, b. Abt. 1670,who married Enoch Enochson
Sarah Nilsdotter, b. Abt. 1672, who married Amos Nichols
Gabriel Nilsson , b. Abt. 1674, who married Maria Van Culen
Lars (Lawrence) Nilsson, b. Abt. 1676, who married Sarah Jaquet
Barbara Nilsdotter, b. 1676, who married ?
His sons used the patronymic Nilsson (daughters used Nilsdotter)and the surname Friend interchangeably. Ultimately, Friend became the family surname.
In September, 1686 Nils Lawson (Friend) was named Constable of Chester Township, but in early December, 1686 he became gravely ill and his son Andrew took over as Constable on December 3, 1686.
"The earliest Courts of Upland County were held at his house, and subsequently at the "House of Defence,"which was built on his land, where, doubtless, the Courts under the Proprietary government were for some time held.
He kept a kind of tavern, and entertained the Justices of the Upland Court, a service which he had also performed for the Justices of an earlier Court, the records of which are now lost. There is evidence that he acted as an arbitrator by appointment of this Court as early as 1673.
This noted Swede died in 1689, leaving a widow and several sons, who were
afterwards known by the name of Friend. The widow survived her husband till about the year 1724, when she died at the advanced age of 106 years..." Source: "History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania From the Discovery of the Territory Included Within its Limits to the Present Time", by George Smith, M.D., Philadelphia: printed by Henry B. Ashmead, Nos. 1102 and 1104 Sanson Street, 1862.
Nils and Anna's eldest son, Anders (Andrew) was to become the progenitor of the Ivydale, Clay Co., West Virginia "Friend" line and Anders' son Israel was named ambassador to the Indians by the governor of Maryland in 1725.
Their second son, Johannes (John) was to be the progenitor of the Garrett Co. (formerly Allegany Co.) Maryland "Friend" line.
Johannes' grandson John Lewis Friend Sr. was the first white settler to the Garrett Co. area in 1765. The land he purchased from local Indians eventually became the town of Friendsville.
This is Friend special interest page:
* Nils (Nicholas) Larsson Friend
Also check out these other Friend pages:
* Anders (Andrew) Nilsson Friend
* John Lewis Friend Sr.
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