Persifor Frazer
Encyclopedia
Persifor Frazer was an American
farmer, soldier, and industrialist, and the founder of one of the most prominent families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Frazer, the son of John and Mary Smith Frazer, was born in Newtown Township, Pennsylvania
, not far from Philadelphia. He married Mary "Polly" Taylor on October 2, 1766, and managed a prosperous farm near Brandywine Creek. They raised ten children, many of whom established their own successful businesses and lineages. Grandson Persifor Frazer Smith was a leading brigadier general
in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War.
Frazer became a leading regional political figure resisting the growing British power in the colonies. During the American Revolutionary War
, in early 1776, he was elected as the captain of Company A, Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion and later was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
of the Fifth Pennsylvania Line, both under "Mad Anthony" Wayne
. Frazer was captured at the Battle of Brandywine
and held as a prisoner of war
in the Walnut Street prison in Philadelphia until his parole. He was later appointed as a brigadier general
in the Pennsylvania militia.
In a letter to his wife in July 1776 Frazer expressed negative opinions towards the blacks serving in many New England regiments of the army.
Following the war, Frazer was an iron manufacturer and merchant, owning and operating the Sarum Forge. He and his wife are buried in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church in Middletown, Pennsylvania
.
Other descendants include Persifor Frazer Smith (son of Mary Anne), general in the Mexican American War, and Joseph Smith Harris
(grandson of Mary), president of the Reading Railroad.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
farmer, soldier, and industrialist, and the founder of one of the most prominent families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Frazer, the son of John and Mary Smith Frazer, was born in Newtown Township, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States . Newtown Township is the oldest township in Delaware County. The population was 11,700 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, not far from Philadelphia. He married Mary "Polly" Taylor on October 2, 1766, and managed a prosperous farm near Brandywine Creek. They raised ten children, many of whom established their own successful businesses and lineages. Grandson Persifor Frazer Smith was a leading brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War.
Frazer became a leading regional political figure resisting the growing British power in the colonies. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, in early 1776, he was elected as the captain of Company A, Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion and later was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the Fifth Pennsylvania Line, both under "Mad Anthony" Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
. Frazer was captured at the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
and held as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in the Walnut Street prison in Philadelphia until his parole. He was later appointed as a brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the Pennsylvania militia.
In a letter to his wife in July 1776 Frazer expressed negative opinions towards the blacks serving in many New England regiments of the army.
Following the war, Frazer was an iron manufacturer and merchant, owning and operating the Sarum Forge. He and his wife are buried in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church in Middletown, Pennsylvania
Middletown, Pennsylvania
Middletown is the name of more than one location in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: 17057, of the Harrisburg metropolitan area*Middletown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania: 18017...
.
Descendants
Children of Persifor and Mary Frazer:- Sarah (1769–1841)
- Robert (1771–1821)
- Mary Anne (1774–1845), who married Jonathan Smith
- Persifor (1776–1798)
- Martha (1778)
- Mary (1780–1862), who married Joseph Smith, her brother-in-law Jonathan's brother
- John (1781–1783)
- Martha (1783–1867), who married William Morris
- Elizabeth (1786–1788)
- Elizabeth (1788–1857), who married Henry Myers
Other descendants include Persifor Frazer Smith (son of Mary Anne), general in the Mexican American War, and Joseph Smith Harris
Joseph Smith Harris
Joseph Smith Harris was an American surveyor, civil engineer, and railroad executive. Largely self-taught, he worked on several projects for the U.S. government, including the Coast Survey of the Mississippi Sound in 1854–56 and the Northwest Boundary Survey of 1857–61...
(grandson of Mary), president of the Reading Railroad.
Further reading
- Frazer, Dr. Persifor (great-grandson), General Persifor Frazer: A Memoir Compiled Principally from His Own Papers. (Philadelphia: privately published, 1907).