French Family Association

The Official Website of the Surname French

Covered Bridge at Pequea Creek, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Home of the Frantz Family

Frantz Family

This web page was updated by Mara French on 4/9/12. Send any corrections or additions to marafrench@mindspring.com. Revisions: 2011, 2012.

FFA Home Page

Preamble

Immigrants with the Surname Frantz

Ship Samuel to Philadelphia, May 15th 1732

Early Settlers in Franklin Co., Pennsylvania from Germany

The Frantz Family DNA Project

DNA Test Group 4 Explanation

Sebastian Frantz, 1732

John Frantz, 1749

Benjamin Frantz, M.D., 1824

Bibliography

Preamble

The reason the FFA is researching this name is because the word you use in the German language to say French, in other words, the language French, is Französich. The French ancestors from DNA Test Group 4 immigrated from Germany, and the FFA is wanting to determine if their name was originally Franz or Frantz and changed to French at some point after immigrating to America, most likely about 1760.

The reason we believe this could be so is because, all of a sudden after the name Jacob Frantz no longer appears in West Virginia, the name Jacob French appears. A great majority of the spouses of this French family were German and lived in Pennsylvania. It could also be that the name French was changed to Frantz due to errors in translation, phonetics, spelling or interpretation. Frantz sounds phonetically like the surname French in the German language. Or maybe they changed it to fit in better with the German community. But, thereafter, they anglicized their name back to French. The FFA does not know if this family was German or British.

Immigrants with the Surname Frantz

1760-1790 in Pennsylvania

“A” Frantz family emigrated from Germany, sailed from Amsterdam, Holland, and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 1760. Some of them stayed in Pennsylvania for a while. The 1790 U.S. Federal Census lists 9 members with the surname Frantz. None match this French line.

Bastian and Christopher Frantz living in Canajoxharrie, Montgomery Co., NY
George, Nicholas, and Paul Frantz living in Bucks, PA
Baltzer and George Adam Frantz living in Cocalico, Lancaster Co., PA
Gottlieb and Jacob Frantz living on Water Street East Side, Philadelphia, PA

1810-1850 in Botetourt County, Virginia

Peter Frantz is listed in the 1810 census of Botetourt, VA, and his name is spelled Frantz. Also listed in this 1810 census in Botetourt, VA, are Dane, David, Henry, Jacob, Miche, and Michi Frantz. In the 1820 census in Botetourt, VA is Abram, Henry, Isaac, John, Michael, Nicholas, Peter, and Samuel Frantz. In the 1830 census in Botetourt, VA is Abraham, Henry, Isaac, Jacob, John, Michael, Peter, William, and Samuel. By 1840, only 4 are listed and only in Roanoke, VA: Henry, Jacob, Michael, and Peter. The 1850 census is always more extensive, because it is the first census to list all members of the household and not just the head of household. 85 are listed. Of these, important might be Peter Frantz of District 57 in Roanoke, VA, b. ca. 1772 in PA, m. to Hannah, but it does not match the names of the French family.

Dr. Benjamin Frantz of Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania

This article takes place in the county where the French family lived, and Waynesboro is only slightly east of Antrim. The Christian names of this Frantz family are quite similar to the French names. The names that are the same are Jacob, Isaac, Samuel, Mary, Anne, and John, but the time period is about 100 years too late. It states that the progenitors of the Frantz family were from Switzerland, which matches up with the Snively family who married into the French family.

This article does mention Anabaptists in Switzerland who were from the 1520s and 1530s. The Frantz family immigrated to Pennsylvania ca. 1670 or 1680. Pequea Creek is on the Susquehanna River, just where the French family resided.

Frantz1

Frantz2

Ship Samuel to Philadelphia, May 15th 1732

SAMUEL 11 AUG 1732
List of foreigners imported in the ship Samuel, of London, Hugh Percy, Master, from Rotterdam. Qualified Aug 11, 1732.

ALBRECHT, Jacob	ALDORFFER, Ferderich
ANDRESS, Johan Adam	BALMER, Christian
BALMER, Hans Michel	BALSBACH, Peter
BAUMGERTNER, Hans Mich	BECLIE, Hans Jacob
BEHLERDT, Johan Jacob	BENDER, Georg
BENDLER, John	BERGHEIMER, Wilhelm
BERNHEISEL, John	BERNHEISEL, Wendel
BERRET, Henrich	BEUDLER, Christian
BIRY, Christian	BOCKLE, Christoph
BOCKLE, Mattheus	BOCKLE, Ulrich
BOGER, Hans Paulaus	BOGER, Johan Philip
BRANDT, Samuel	BRECHBIL, Johannes
BRECHBUHLL, Wendel	BUMGARDNER, John
BURKHALTER, Ulrich	CRIST, Jacob
DEHR, Julius	DIRSTEIN, Michael
DOBLER, Leonhart	DOUBLER, Georg
EBBY, Henrich	ERDMAN, Johan Jacob
FISCHER, Hein Ulrich	FLEISER, Jacob
FRANTZ, Christ Jr	FRANTZ, Christ, Sr
FRIT, Peter	GEORG, Michel
GERHARD, Martin	GERLACH, Wendel
GERMAN, Benedict	GERMAN, Christian
GILLER, Martin	GLASSBRENNER, Johan Georg
GOCHNAUER, Jacob	GODEKE, Hans Georg
GUT, Jacob	HARTMANN, J H
HELFORD, John	HENEBERGER, John
HEYL, Georg	HEYLMANN, Johan Peter
HILLEGAS, Adam	HOLL, Hans Wendel
HORNING, Georg Ludwig	HOSTETTER, Oswald
KIEFFER, Friedrich	KIEFFER, Jacob
KIEFFER, Joh Leonhardt	KLEINHAUSS, Johan George
KLINGMAN, Georg	KLINGMANN, Hans Georg
KNEEHELL, Jacob	KNOCKEL, Laurentz
KORPER, Nicklas	KREIDER, Michael
KREMER, Johan SEBALT	LENTZ, Johannes
MAYER, Eliseus	MILLER, Johannes
MULCHSIAGER, Frederich	MULLER, Andreas
MUSELMAN, Hans	NEIDIG, Hans Adam
NUNGESSER, Johann George	OBERHALTZER, Jacob
QUIECHEL, Hans Georg	RAMSAUER, Henrich
SCHELLENBERGER, Peter	SCHERER, Samuel
SCHNEIDER, Peter	SCHULTZ, Joh Freiderich
SCHULTZ, Joh Philip	SEYL, Carl
SHETLER, Andreas	SLANTZEBERGER, Andreas
STAHL, Gotfried	STAUFFER, Jacob
STEGER, Hans Jerg	STEY, Peter
STRASS, Johan Nickel	UHLER, Anastasius
UHRICH, Johannes	WARTMAN, Caspar
WEIGELL, Martin	WENDEL, Augustus
WENDEL, Philip	WEYES, Jacob
WINDEMUTH, Georg Philip	WORBEL, Wendel
ZIEGER, Johannes	ZIEGLER, Joh Leonhart

A list of passengers, names and ages, on board the ship Samuel, from Percy, Commander, from Rotterdam.

Names	Ages
ABBRECHT, Jacob	37
ADRAS, Adam	16
ALDORFFER, Frederick	25
BALMER, Carl	26
BALMER, Christian	24
BALTSLUCH, Petter	23
BAUMGERTNER, John	20
BAUMGERTNER, Michiel	21
BEELERTH, Jacob	24
BEERETT, Henrich	34
BENDER, George	33
BENDLER, Christian	24
BENDLER, John	24
BERGHEIMER, Wihelm	26
BERNDHEISELL, John	20
BERNDHEISELL, Wendell	22
BIRY, Cristian	20
BOCKLY, Christopher Noffel	20
BOCKLY, Mathias	17
BOCKLY, Ulrik	19
BOGER, Paullus	40
BOGER, Philip	18
BRAND, Samuel	24
BRECHBIEL, John	19
BRECKBIEL, Wendell	24
BRECKLY, Hans Jacob	46
BURCKHOLTER, Ulerich	22
CHRIST, Jacob	22
CORBER, Nicklas	22
DEEBLER, George	21
DEEBLER, Lionhard	43
DOOR, Jenlis	33
EBBY, HENRICK	30
ERDMAN, Jacob	19
FISCHER, Ullerich	28
FLESSER, Jacob	23
FRANTZ, Christian Jr	26
FRANTZ, Christian Sr	47
FRITH, Petter	18
GEEMAN, Benedigt	20
GEEMAN, Christian	24
GEORG, Michiel	60
GERBACH, Wendell	22
GERHARD, Merlin	27
GLASSBRENNER, Georg	21
GOCHMAUER, Christian	17
GOCHMAUER, Jacob	20
GOEDAKE, Georg	24
GUTH, Jacob	20
HAILMAN, Petter	20
HANS, Georg Klien	22
HARTMAN, Friderick	33
HEELL, Wendell	34
HEFFER, Feridrick	49
HELFFURT, John	33
HELLIGASS, Adam	24
HENELBERGER, John	19
HEYT, Georg	31
HORNIG, Georg	20
HOSTEETTER, Oswald	80
JEDER, Martin	22
KEFFER, Leonhard	27
KIFFER, Jacob	27
KLINGMAN, Georg	27
KLINGMAN, Hans George	24
KNOCHEL, Lorents	30
KNOCKELL, Jacob	28
KRAMER, Sebald	32
KREITER, Michiel	30
LENTS, John	24
MEYER, Elias	42
MILLER, Andreas	22
MILLER, John	21
MOSIMAN, John	23
MULSCHLEGEL, Frederik	30
NEIDIG, Adam	29
NUNGESER, Johan George	25
OBERHOLTZER, Jacob	28
QUICKELL, Georg	30
RAMSUR, Henrick	30
SCHEER, Samuel	21
SCHELLENBURGER, Petter	33
SCHNEIDER, Petter	27
SEYT, Carl	27
SHITS, Frederick	22
SHITTLER, Andras	29
SIERLEIN, Michael	20
STAAL, Gottfret	30
STAUFFER, Jacob	19
STAUTSENBERGER, Andreas	25
STEGGET, Georg	30
STEY, Petter	30
STRASS, Nicolas	19
ULERICH, John	20
ULLER, Annastasius	23
WARDMAN, Casper	26
WEIGGELL, Merdin	24
WEISS, Jacob	45
WENDELL, Augustinus	16
WERHELL, Philip	34
WERHELL, Wendell	33
WETTSTEIN, Petter	26
WINDERMUTH, George Philip	25
ZIEGER, Johanes	41
ZIEGLER, Leonhard	21

Names of Women

NAME	AGE
ALBRECHT, Magdalena	30
AUGEN, Elisabeth	32
AUGEU, Margareth	30
BELERTH, Maria	19
BENDERIN, Kathrina	32
BENDLERIN, Elisabeth	23
BENDLERIN, Susanna	23
BERETHIN, Anna	28
BERGHEIMENN, Susanna	17
BERGHEIMERIN, Salome	25
BIRIN, Gertauth	22
BOCKLY, Barbara	42
BOGERIN, Eva	35
BRACHHIELIN, Anna	20
BRAND, Rossina	20
BURCKHOLTER, Ester	20
CHRISTIN, Anna	49
CREASMANIN, Maria	20
EBBERLIN, Veronica	17
EVY, Elizabeth	28
FISHERIN, Maria	28
FLESSERIN, Gretha	20
FRANTSIN, Anna	37
FRANTSIN, Barbara	20
FRANTSIN, Eva	19
FRANTSIN, Madgtalena	15
FRITH, Anganeas	17
GEEMAUIN, Anna	23
GEORGIN, Christina	20
GEORGIN, Thorodea	45
GERHART, Kathrina	45
GERHART, Mergreed	30
GOCHNOUERIN, Kathrina	18
GUTH, Susanna	20
HARTMANIN, Rossina	27
HEELLIN, Katrina	24
HELLIN, Barbara	33
HEYLIN, Barbara	30
HITFUTIN, Maria	30
HOSTETTIN, Maria	28
KIFFERIN, Elisabeth	18
KIFFERIN, Maria	23
KIFFERIN, Maria	25
KIFFERIN, Maria	46
KLINGMAN, Kathrina	24
KLINGMAN, Thoredea	25
KLINHASIN, Dorothea	19
KREMERIN, Margretha	27
KREMERIN, Sofia	16
KRESMENIN, Margretha	30
LENSTIN, Christina	49
LENTSIN, Maria	25
MERSTELIN, Gretha	19
MEYERIN, Susanna	16
MILLERIN, Anna	23
MOSIMAN, Anna	20
NEIDIGIN, Margreth	28
NORTIN, Sibilia	22
QUICKELIN, Maria	27
RAMSAURIN, Anna	32
SEYL, Kathrina	29
SHEER, Veronica	46
SHEHITTLERN, Margretha	27
SHELENBERGERIN, Maria	30
SILENAHEFFLIN, Frents	23
STAAL, Kathrina	32
STAUTSENBERGERIN, Silige	24
STEGGERIN, Kathrina	28
STEYLIN, Margretha	25
TEELEN, Kathrina	23
WARDMANIN, Greda	24
WEBERLIN, Sara	35
WEIGGELL, Dorothea	20
WEISSIN, Barbara	19
WEISSIN, Dorothea	40
WETTSTEIN, Elisabeth	23
WIRBELIU, Gretha	18
ZIEGERIN, Christina	40
ZIEGERIN, Margretha	16

Names of Children

NAME	AGE
ALBRETH, Michiel	13
ALBRETHIN, Christana	3
ALBRETHIN, Eva	9
ALBRETHIN, Maria	3
BECKLY, Henrick	12
BEERGER, Georg	12
BEIRETH, John	8
BELLER, Christian	8
BENDERIN, Katrina	3
BENDERIN, Maria	8
BERETH, Casper	3
BERETH, Henry	6
BERGHEIMER, Leonard	8
BERGHEIMER, Vellin	6
BOCKLY, Barbara	11
BOCKLY, Kathrina	8
BOGER, Mathias	13
BOGER, Michiel	12
BOGERIN, Justina	5
EBERLY, Barbara	12 [2nd wife of Andrew Snively]
EBERLY, Henrick	11
EVY, John	4
EVY, Kathrina	6
EVY, Lisbetha	8
EVY, Margretha	8
FISHERIN, Kathrana	4
FRANTS, Elisabeth	3
FRANTS, John	7
FRANTS, Michiel	6
FRANTS, Veronick	8
FRANTSIN, Judith	12
GERHART, Maria	8
HARTMAN, Georg	8
HELFURTIN, Margrath	10
HELL,Gottlib	9
HELLEN, Anna	11
HELLEN, Barbara	13
HELLEN, Kathrina	5
HELLIN, Maria	4
HELLIN, Rosina	3
HOSTETIN,Anna	6
HOSTETIN, Barbara	10
HOSTETIN, John	10
HOSTETIN, Veronica	3
KEFFER, Jacob	8
KEFFERIN, Lena	4
KLINGMAN, Petter	8
KRAMER, Friderith	9
KRAMER, George	12
KRAMER, Gottfrith	7
LENTS, John	3
MAYER, Michiel	12
MEYER, Adam	6
MEYERIN, Kathrina	3
MILLERIN, Maria	4
NEIDIG, Philip	6
NEIDIGIN, Ann	7
OBERHOLTSTER, Elisabeth	6
OBERHOLTSTER, Saml	3
QUICKELIN, Maria	8
RAMSAUR, John	9
SCHITTLERIN, Maria	5
SCHNEIDER, Elisabeth	5
SCHNEIDERN, Kathrina	7
SHELENBERGER, Georg	9
SHELLENBERG, Magalina	10
STAAL, Georg	12
STAYIN, Eva	3
STEGGERIN, Eva	9
STEYIN, Mergretha	5
STOUTSENL, Solome	6
SUTSIN, Barbara	11
SUTSIN, Susanna	5
WEISTIN, Kathrina	8
WEISTIN, Kilsana	10
WEISTIN, Rossina	13
WERHELL, Johanes	13
WERTZIN, Kathrina	9
WETTSTIN, Margretha	6
WULSHLEG, Abrah	8
WULSHLEG, Christian	5
WUNGESSER, Valendin	12
ZERGER, Jacob	12
ZERGERIN, Susanna	9

Early Settlers in Franklin Co., Pennsylvania from Germany

Jacob Frantz, J. Elmer Frantz

Dr. Frantz, was born Dec. 15, 1719 in Lancaster County.

Descendants:

Jacob, born March 1, 1773, settled on a farm
Anna, born Sept. 2, 1774. John Stoner
John, born March 13, 1778.
Elizabeth, born Nov. 2, 1780.
Barbara, born Nov. 9, 1784, and a niece of Dr. Frantz.
Christian, born Dec. 17, 1786.
Maria, born June 12, 1788.

The Frantz Family DNA Project

Ancestry.com has noted that the names Funk and Fanck, Franck, Franck, Fersch, Frand, Frank, Frech, Fremt, and Funck could actually have been French.

Frantz DNA Project (so far none match the French DNA Group 4)

Hi Charles at roots2012@kerchner.com on 1/16/2012

I have an odd situation to ask you about. In visiting your Frantz DNA website, I'm wondering if that family changed their name to "French" when they arrived in PA and VA? It seems we have a group of 11 DNA testees who registered under the surname French who could actually be Frantz. Please see Group 4 here:

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/french/default.aspx?section=yresults

These ancestors have the names Jacob, Henry, John, George, and Peter, the same as those on the Frantz website.

Here is an analysis of those charts:

http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/DNA/DNAGroup4Analysis.htm

Perhaps these 11 testees should have registered under your Frantz DNA website instead of French, could that be?

In looking at the, the French site at GROUP 04 http://www.familytreedna.com/public/french/default.aspx?section=yresults, it shows

14 22 15 10 13-14 11 13 12 12 11 29 17 9-9 11 11 24 16 21 32 12-13-13-14

and your tests at http://www.kerchner.com/frantz/frantzdna.htm show

14 22 15 10 14 15 11 13 11 13 11 31 18 9-9 11 11 23 16 21 32

I see only 7 mutations different, which is certainly a lot closer than it could be. So are the Frantz and French families one and the same?

Regards,

Mara French

Reply on 1/16/2012

Hi Mara,

Yes, it is possible that Frantz got changed to French somewhere along the way in the USA. Here is the latest website for the Frantz project: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/frantz

Encourage some who are close matches to my Frantz project members to join both projects. When they join my project I can use the tools provided by FamilyTreeDNA to compare and analyze their haplotypes in relationship to known Frantz males.

Charles

More on 1/16/212

Hi Mara,

I just visited the French site. I think you are referring to the French males in haplogroup G or G2, etc. If I am wrong in that assumption, please correct me.

I just now ran the FamilyTreeDNA matching analysis for the G2 haplogroup Frantz males and I see no matches to any French. So it appears that while the haplotypes of those French males looks similar to the Frantz males, it is not a close enough match to be relevant in a genealogical time frame. At least 85-90% of the markers should match at 37 markers. I don't see that.

Thus while the Frantz surname could have evolved in the USA to French, I don't see a YDNA genetic connection to uphold that connection. Thus at this point, I don't think it would be a good idea to suggest that those French males join my project. The genetic distance is just too large.

Best wishes,

Charles Kerchner

Emmaus PA

http://www.kerchner.com

During genealogy research for FRENCH surname we have noticed that FRANTZ surname is very similar. Recently we discovered German vs Swiss vs French heritage. Documents show these FRENCH immigrated to USA and were living in German communities with German wives in PA, MD and VA circa mid 1700’s.

My brother and cousin submitted DNA to FRENCH project and have 10+ matches in Group 4 FTDNA. We are still looking for the immigrant ancestor. Our haplo is G, specifically G2a3b1a

I notice that on the FRENCH FTDNA page are numerous R1b FRENCH in group 1,2,3 which match a number of FRANTZ.

I compared test 46677 Hamann Frantz 37 markers with 8909 FRENCH project and found they matched except for 4 markers DYS 385,439,391 and SDY. We do share haplo G2a3b1.

Can you tell me if the markers that match tell us we have common ancestry? Is it worth our time to look at all the FRANTZ genealogies for our FRENCH heritage?

Mara French has a great website which documents the research that has been done on this surname. http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/

Click on American charts. My ancestry resides in chart #136. We are waiting for DNA results from chart #129 who shows the name FRANZ/FRENCH.

On the same website is also a DNA comparison chart showing FTDNA with genealogies.

I would appreciate your input . Thanks so much,

Linda French Dawson

texas44@comcast.net

Hello Linda,

It is of course possible that the Frantz surname could have become anglicized to French here in the USA. But using the tools for finding matches, I see no close genetic matches to any French males in the FamilyTreeDNA database to any Frantz males. If you wish, have a French male record which is closest to the Frantz G2 group join my Frantz project so I can see that record within my project and use more of the tools available from FTDNA to compare and analyze possible matches. Just join one French male to my project for now to see what I can see.

Charles Kerchner

Frantz Project Admin

From Linda Hi Mara, those two DNA Haplotypes are not related.

Hello Julia,

My initial analysis is that I agree. I do not see a close YDNA genetic relationship that would suggest a shared male ancestor within a time frame of genealogical interest.

Charles Kerchner

I have Scottish ancestors who immigrated to PA and married Swedish women, because those were the women available. That doesn't change the Scottish into Swedes. Also, the English French line in New Jersey married Dutch women because those were the ones available.

My husband is G2a and his line is English.

Julia

My brother and cousin submitted DNA to FRENCH project and have 10+ matches in Group 4 FTDNA. We are still looking for the immigrant ancestor. Our haplo is G, specifically G2a3b1a

I notice that on the FRENCH FTDNA page are numerous R1b FRENCH in group 1,2,3 which match a number of FRANTZ.

I compared test 46677 Hamann Frantz 37 markers with 8909 FRENCH project and found they matched except for 4 markers DYS 385,439,391 and SDY. We do share haplo G2a3b1.

Can you tell me if the markers that match tell us we have common ancestry? Is it worth our time to look at all the FRANTZ genealogies for our FRENCH heritage?

Mara French has a great website which documents the research that has been done on this surname. http://www.frenchfamilyassoc.com/FFA/

Click on American charts. My ancestry resides in chart #136. We are waiting for DNA results from chart #129 who shows the name FRANZ/FRENCH.

On the same website is also a DNA comparison chart showing FTDNA with genealogies.

I would appreciate your input. Thanks so much,

Linda French Dawson

texas44@comcast.net

Hello,

I took a look because I was asked to. At this point I see no YDNA close connection between the Frantz and French G2 lines. Any connection is 1-2 thousand years ago, imo. Please remove me from this email thread. I get so, so much email as it is. Hope you understand. Thanks.

Charles Kerchner

You have been removed from Surname Project Frantz.

The Group Administrator for this project has decided to remove you from the Surname Project giving the following reason:

Hello,

Further analysis reveals that the genetic distance of this French male line is only a genetic distance (GD) of 14 at 37 markers test analysis. This is far too large to be considered related on the male line within a time frame of genealogical interest. Thus to not confuse other "French" male lines and attract them to my "Frantz" project by having a French surname kit in the project, I think it is best to remove your kit. You belong in the French surname project. Any connection of these male lines is likely 1000-2000 years ago, long before surnames came into existence in many cultures. Best wishes, Charles Kerchner, Project Admin

DNA Test Group 4 Explanation

Four DNA test for this French family match, and all research leads them to be from Germany. See DNA Test Group 4 results. The Group 4 immigrants with the surname French, most of whom came from Germany, emigrated to WV, KY, IN, TN, SC, and AL in the United States, and also to Canada as witnessed with FFA Chart #23. These emigrants were: Jacob, Henry, David, Philip, Jonathan, John Peter, George, and of course Isaac. The states in the U.S. seem to be mostly southern states.

So, let’s look at the time period involved. The immigration time period for those born and going to the U.S. fall between 1755 and 1810, a 65-year period, which could entail only 2 generations. FFA Chart #23 likewise falls between these dates. It is therefore possible that Isaac French first immigrated to one of the southern states, and then migrated north to Canada, but this is in no way proven.

No one has done research on which ship was involved and from which area in Germany these Frenches came. So, was there an “Isaac French” at an earlier date in the south who could be Isaac’s father – or perhaps his father’s name was Peter? There was an Isaac French who m. Anna Stone in 1804 in Mercer Co., KY, which is too late. There were not too many men named Isaac French in records of that time period.

It's said that Henry French of Mercer Co., KY was born in Germany and came to America after learning his trade as a blacksmith and gunsmith. There is a listing for the following names as being naturalized in PA in 1765 - Henry, Isaac, Jacob, and John FRANTZ.

Isaac1

The Ship Chance Passenger List 1765 lists Isaac Frantz among 216 passengers. He was able to sign his name and not sign it with an X. He signed the oath of allegiance. He arrived in the Port of Philadelphia on 9 Sep 1765 first from Rotterdam, Holland, and last from Cowes, England, and who took the oath of allegiance. Could Isaac have emigrated to PA in 1765 and migrate to Canada where son Peter was born in 1790? Mind you, that this is only a hypothesis. The name Frantz is in no way interchangeable with French. See the full text of “A collection of upwards of thirty thousand names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French, and other immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776”. The name Frantz has over 100 matches. Best to search for “Frantz,” by adding the comma to find 36 matches. Of interest is Henry and Peter Frantz in 1748, Georg Frantz in 1749, Jacob Frantz in 1751, and Isaac Frantz in 1765.

Isaac2

There is a listing for the following names as being naturalized in PA in 1765 - Henry, Isaac, Jacob, and John FRANTZ. Jacob may have immigrated to Philadelphia, PA in 1751, originally from Germany, but boarding ship in Rotterdam, Holland. See the Ship Brothers with Capt. William Muir.

The Ship Brothers lists Philip Frantz on the 1751 voyage as well as Jacob Frantz. No other surname among the 94 passengers is listed that is a relation to the French family.

It could be that some French ancestors left England and moved to other countries, such as Holland and Germany, before immigrating to America. These French men then took a Dutch or German wife and emigrated mostly to PA – hence the Pennsylvanian Dutch (or Deutsch meaning German), but in this case, the immigrated to Canada. Ref. [2] suggests the name French could have been Franch, Frinch, Frantz, Franz, Frensch, Fronch, etc.

One wonders if the surname Frantz belongs with the surname French? Take a look at FFA Chart #129, John French, possibly of Germany, where no DNA test for this family has yet been taken. Perhaps the name was changed to Frantz due to errors in translation, phonetics, spelling, or interpretation.

Sebastian Frantz, 1732

Descendants of 18^th Century Morrison’s Cove Setters lists the French family, but I don’t recognize any of the names, most of them being in the 19^th century. There are, however, 223 people with the surname Frantz. Looking for Jacob, George, Henry, and John Frantz, none match the French family dates. Differentiating between French and Frantz may be difficult.

GeorgeFrantz

Sebastian Frantz was born 04 Feb 1732 in Durlach, Kalsruhe, Wuerttemburg, Germany, and died 1805 in Seward, Schoharie, New York. He married Anna Magdalena Fritz 06 Jun 1752 in Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany, the daughter of Johann Georg Fritz and Anna Maria Blind. She was born 1733 in Wuerttemburg, Germany, and died 1817 in Seward, Schoharie, New York. They are buried at Zion Rural Cemetery in Seward, New York. They emigrated from Germany to America in 1753 giving birth to their first child aboard ship. It's not known when Sebastian changed his surname to France without record of his Naturalization. He may have been a member of the Committee of Safety in the 3rd Regiment of Albany County, New York, during the American Revolution.  The children of Sebastian France and Anna Fritz are: Mariah Magdalena France, b. 14 Oct 1753 - d. 1824, Ernst, Eva, Elizabeth, Jacob, Margaret, John, Catharina, Henry, Magdalena, Lorentz, and David. More website:

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/r/a/Frederick-M-France/GENE2-0001.html

http://www.geni.com/people/Sebastian-Frantz/4551955221520066305

http://www.ancientfaces.com/research/photo/371109