Fretz

. . . delivered shingles for her husband, by horse and wagon, through wild and sparsely settled countryside.

She evidently had exciting experiences, was a very lively woman, had an excellent memory, and was very intelligent. She stood about 5 ft. 2 inches.

In later years she would visit in Ringwood, Ontario, where some of her children lived, and friends and relatives would gather, because they knew she would have something to recount, either a recent happening or memories.

Many times when delivering shingles she would tuck her youngest son beside her, soon he would fall asleep, and she would go off on a trip through lonely country, and it would often be a long trip. On many occasions she was accosted by highwaymen, but she knew the back country roads so well that she would "Whip up the horses and they would more than fly", she evaded them every time.

Jemima called much at the home of Mary Davis Brownsberger, in Ringwood, Ontario [ . . . ]

Mary Davis Brownsberger said that "Jemima would call at my home about 6 o'clock in the morning, she would be riding horseback, and be on her way to do shopping. She would say, 'Mary, I have come to have a cup of tea.'" Mary went on to say, "After having her tea she would then mount her horse and fly away."

Jemima Fretz Reaman called many times at the home of her grandson, John MacKenzie Raymond, in Stouffville and Ringwood, and she always had an audience of relatives and friends.

REAMAN. On the 31st of May, 1895, in Toronto City, Ont., Jemima, widow of the late John Reaman of Markham Township, aged 88 years and 9 days. She was buried on Sunday June 2d in Wideman's graveyard where a large concourse of relatives and friends assembled to pay the last respects to the departed sister. The funeral sermon was conducted by Samuel R. Hoover, from Amos 4: 12, and Gabriel Heatwole, from 1 Thess. 4: 13 18.

Alas, she has left us, her spirit has fled

Her spirit now slumbers along with the dead,

Her Savior has called her, to Him she has gone,

Be ye also ready to follow her soon

L.C. Wideman

In 1800 Jacob went with his parents to Canada, riding a bay horse of his own. It was not his intention to remain in Canada, but only to accompany his parent there, see the place, and return to Pennsylvania. But while assisting in building a log-house for his parents, he had the misfortune to break his leg, while felling a tree; and which not having been properly set, made him a cripple. After he was able to be about again, while assisting at some work he cut his other leg, and became lame in that also. Thus doubly crippled, he concluded to remain in Canada.

During the war of 1812, he and his team were pressed into the army to move stores and ammunition. He also took quite an active part in politics. Farmer, and wheelwright, and mem. of the Mennonite ch.

On 7 Jun 1800 (Reg 1 Mar 1802) John Powell et ux sold to John Frits 100 acres part of Lots 9 & 10 Concession 10 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A38 #343)

(Reg 22 Jul 1800) Robert Hamilton sold to John Fritz 400 acres in Lots 2 & 3 Concession 15 and Lots 2 & 3 Concession 16 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A24 #199)

(Reg 22 Jul 1800) Robert Hamilton sold to John Fretz 200 acres in Lots 7 & 8 Concession 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A24 #200)

(Reg 22 Jul 1800) Robert Hamilton sold to John Fritz 400 acres in Lots 2 & 3 Concession 15 and Lots 2 & 3 Concession 16 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A24 #199)

(Reg 14 Apr 1823) John Fritz sold to Abraham Winger 100 acres in the west ½ of Lots 9 & 10 Concession 10 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for $200.00 (A260 #6273)

(Reg 15 May 1816) John Fretz sold to Joseph Sherk 100 acres in the east ½ of Lots 7 & 8 Concession 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. for $200.00 (A127 #4969)

(Reg 18 Jun 1807) John Fritz willed to his grandchildren Daniel Sherk the west part of the west ½ of Lots 7 & 8, 50 acres & to Esther Sherk the east part of the west ½ of Lots 7 & 8 Concession 14 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A367 #7048)

(Reg 5 Oct 1818) John Fretz sold to Jacob Fretz 200 acres in Lot 2 Concessions 15 & 16 from the Niagara River, Bertie Twp. (A182 #5465)

(Reg 5 Oct 1818) John Fretz sold to Jacob Fretz 200 acres 2 in 15th & 16th cons NR Be (A182 #5465)

John Fretz, born Feb. 8, 1749, d Aug. 30, 1815. Mrd. Magdalena Fox, of Pa. She was b Apr. 1, 1748; died Sept. 23, 1820. He was a wheelwright, joiner and manufacturer. of Fanning Mills, and a member of the Dunkard church. His ancestry is involved in doubt. By some of the connection he is supposed to have emigrated from Germany*. He settled near Manheim, Lancaster Co. Pa., where probably all his children were born. In 1800 he emigrated to Welland Co., Canada, with all his family except his daughter Barbara, and son Daniel. They were six weeks in making the journey to Canada, taking their live stock with them. At night bells were put on the horses and cattle, and they were turned out to pasture. After milking the milk was put into the churn, which was fastened to the hinder part of the wagon, and their butter was churned as they proceeded. On the twelfth day of June they crossed the Niagara river on a raft. They swam the horses and cattle across. They were assisted in crossing by friendly Indians. They settled in the township of Bertie, Welland Co., Ont., on lots 2 and 3, concessions 15 and 16, which consisted of about 400 acres, on which he built a log house. Some time previous to his death he laid out on his property a family burying ground, in which he and his wife were buried, and is still used by his descendants as a place of burial. Among the relics retained of the home of John Fretz, a cupboard, made by him in 1801, is in the possession of his great-grandson, Jacob Fretz, of Fenwick, Ont., who also has an iron maul, an axe, a taper bit, and the old family Bible, published at Zurich, Switzerland, in 1539, and brought from Germany by the ancestor.