JOSEPH FRYE

JOSEPH FRYE


http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/9211/FRYE.htm

b. 19 Mar. 1712 Andover, MA

m. 20 Mar. 1732 MEHITABLE POOR (b. 4 Apr. 1714 Andover, d. 4 Jan. 1788 Fryeburg, ME)

d. 25 July 1794 Fryeburg, Maine

bur. Pine Grove Cemetery

Most of the information on Joseph is from the thesis "Major General Joseph Frye of Maine" by Kenneth E. Thompson of Portland.

As a younger member of a large family Joseph did not inherit a large portion of his father's estate and consequently he became a surveyor. He built his house on part of his father's land and praticed his trade in Andover.

In 1738 the Great Throat Distemper struck the Frye family killing all of their children. Over the course of this epidemic of diptheria or scarlet fever 5,000 children and young adults died in New England with 1,400 deaths in Essex Co. alone.(1)

In 1744 the War of the Austrian Succession finally dragged England and France into conflict. This war was known as King George's War in the Colonies and the prime threat in the area was from the French stronghold at Louisbourg. In 1745 Gov. William Shirley of Massachusetts pushed for an attack on the fortress. The General Court agreed and enlisted 3,000 men. On 7 Feb. 1745 Joseph was commissioned an ensign in Col. Robert Hale's 5th Massachusetts Regiment in the 5th Co. commanded by Capt. Jonathan Bagley with Lieut. Caleb Swan.(2)