This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Fedrick, Fedric, Frederick, Fredericks, Fredrick
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ji.2ADI/2335
Message Board Post:
Dear Frederick Families:
In conducting my Frederick research I have learned that many families with the Frederick
surname (with some variations in spelling) live in many states other than my area of
focus, which is North Carolina. I also see that we use various message boards to post our
requests for help in finding our ancestors. While this sometimes produces information and
leads to great contacts, it is not very efficient. My results have been disappointing,
even though I have met some very wonderful people.
I believe that many with the Frederick surname (here used generically to cover all
spellings) have common ancestors. What we probably will find are several (possibly many)
Frederick family ancestral lines, some connected and some very separate. Some will find
their ancestors are German, some English, some Scots-Irish, some French, and some from
other countries. We all will find, however, family that we did not know existed.
Even within a given state I see separate concentrations of Frederick families with no
obvious connection. I will give you an example from my own research. I am focusing on
Person County, North Carolina, the home of my father’s family. Less than 100 miles away in
Duplin County, North Carolina is a very large concentration of a very distinguished
Frederick family. I have found no connection between the two Frederick families or any
evidence that there is no connection. That bothers me.
Also, from my own research I have learned that in the early/mid 1800’s many Frederick
families moved from Person County, North Carolina, to Missouri and Kentucky. Some also
went to Illinois. I want to find these people, learn about them and the history of their
family in their adopted states, see their pictures, and attend their reunions. However, I
am having little luck in making connections.
I see the Frederick name in Washington, California, Texas, Alabama, Ohio, and on and on.
My research also revealed a concentration of Frederick families in eastern Pennsylvania in
the 1700’s. Many of us undoubtedly are descended from these early Pennsylvania families.
Accordingly, I suggest that we combine our efforts in a manner that will further each of
our individual research efforts but that also will create a body of Frederick research
available for all to use. I envision a national program that will bring some order and
structure to our individual efforts. I am open to suggestions, but to get the ball rolling
I propose that we have one or more Frederick Heritage coordinators from each state with a
large enough Frederick presence to make the effort worthwhile. We would select a central
coordinator (or coordinators) to organize the effort and make sure that it remained
focused.
While I am surely not the most qualified person to act as that central coordinator, I
gladly will take on that responsibility initially until we find someone with a better
skill set than mine. I envision a web site that will remain narrowly focused on Frederick
genealogical research.
While we eventually may want other web sites or message boards that are more personable in
nature (recognizing anniversaries, birthdays, etc.), that would not be part of this
Frederick Heritage site. It would be more limited in scope. The focus would be discovering
and sharing genealogical research and materials related to the Frederick and closely
allied surnames. While I do not want to imply that it would be purely academic in nature,
my vision is that it have a very narrow scope.
If such an effort has already been undertaken or is ongoing, please let me know. I have no
desire to re-invent any wheels and gladly would add my support to any effort that is
underway.
However, if there is no such effort and any of my Frederick “cousins” believe what I have
outlined has merit, please email me. If you are willing to act as a coordinator for your
state, please let me know. If you have ideas about the computer aspects of the web site,
please share them. If you are the administrator of this Frederick message board, please
contact me with your input.
I envision there being less bureaucracy and more fun, but we must keep our eye on the
ball, which is to learn about our Frederick heritage and to discover our ancestors.
I realize that what I have proposed is very general. That is why your input is so
critical. It will be our program,and it will take our ideas to make it have any value.
Please send me your thoughts.
Warmest personal regards.
Richmond Stanfield Frederick, Jr.
Note to Board Administrators: I am posting similar messages on several surname and county
message boards to obtain the widest distribution possible. Hopefully, I have not entered
any duplicate messages. As I am an administrator myself on several boards, I am sensitive
to spamming message boards.