Barbara "Barbary" Franks

She came to this country with her parents around the age of 9 in 1750. She was sold into slavery to pay for her passage across the Atlantic Ocean. Her freedom was paid for by Jacob Franks who later became her husband. She was a small dainty woman and had a glad heart and hand for everyone. She was also a sturdy woman and stood well the trials and tribulations that the little colony had to suffer. Her husband had to make many trips to Maryland to trade and bring back commodities for the colony. On one such trip, Barbara accompanied him and on their way home, across the wild and rough country, she gave birth somewhere in the Chestnut Ridge Mountains to a daughter, whom she named Elizabeth. The next day she saddled her horse and with her new born, rode the rest of the way home. Mrs. Franks was then regarded as the sweet singer of the wilderness and many German settlers, the Trout mans, Smiths, and others, who had located in places from five to twelve miles distance came on the Lord's day to hear her sing.

Barbara (Brandenburg) Franks is mentioned in THE PLANTING of CIVILIZATION in WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

(f/g) Barbary Brandenburg Franks Birth: 1741, Germany Death: May 12, 1839 Fayette County Pennsylvania, USA

She was a small daianty woman and had a glad heart and hand for everyone. Her husband had to make many trips to Maryland to trade and bring back commodities for the colony. On one of these trips, Barbara accompanied him and on their way home, across the wild and rough country, she gave birth somewhere in the Chestnut Ridge Mountains to a daughter, whom she named Elizabeth. Mrs. Franks was then regarded as the sweet singer of the wilderness and many German settlers came on the Lord's Day to hear her sing. She is mentioned in "The Planting of Civilization in Western Pennsylvania." by DCurtis

Barbary (Brandenburg) Franks' tombstone in the glebe (graveyard) of St. Jacobs Church (named for Jacob Franks, since he gave the land for the church and glebe), German Twp., Fayette Co., PA. by Sandy

OBITUARY June 06, 1839 Maryland Gazette

Barbary Franks Died at her residence in German township, on Sabbath morning, the 12th ult. Mrs. Barbary Franks, in the 98th year of her age. (May 12, 1839) The deceased was born in Germany, A.D. 1741, and came to America in 1775, in company with her father, Conrad Brandenburg and family, who were in indigest circumstances. She was sold as a servant to pay the passage, to Mr. Miller, of Maryland, who treated his servants about as he did his slaves, with a great deal of severity. At length the day of her jubilee arrived, and she married a Mr. Jacob Franks, when they emigrated to Western Pennsylvania, and settled on the waters of Brown's Run, in the forest, with no other covering save the arch of the blue sky, adorned in the evening with the twinkling stars, which place, by care and industry afterwards became their asylum. Few women ever crossed the Alleghany Mountains with a more firm constitution. For, till the day of her death there never was an emetic entered her lips nor a lancet her veins. She was the mother of four sons and three daughters. These children obeying the Great command, went out into the land and married wives and husbands and became the parents of sixty four children. And as dutiful children will follow the example of their parents, there was added to them 303 children; those in part, following the same order, she lived to be told there were 93 of her fourth generation, making in all, a posterity of 460. She was enrolled a member of the German Presbyterian Church, and continued much upwards of 60 years. She was an affectionate mother-a good neighbor-kind and benevolent to all, till nature gradually gave way, and we trust she gently reposes in rest.

Life's duty done as sinks the days; Light from its load, the spirit flies, While Heaven and earth combine to say How blest the righteous when he dies.

4 sons, 3 daughters, 64 grand children, 303 great-grand children, and had 93 of her fourth generation.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Jacob Franks (1743 - 1802)

Children:

 George Franks (1765 - 1821)*

 Jacob Franks (1768 - 1836)*

 Michael Franks (1771 - 1845)*

 Conrad Franks (1782 - 1866)*

Burial: Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery McClellandtown Fayette County Pennsylvania, USA Maintained by: mutchmj Originally Created by: drbuck Record added: Jun 24, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 27777982 -tcd