Fritz, Wooldrich Fredrich

[fritts2.ged]

Died while serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War in 1781. A neighbor was shot by the Tories and he came to his aid, upon this act, the Tories then shot Wooldrich Fritz. He was buried at the Pilgrim Reformed Church Cemetery in Rowan county, North Carolina. Hans Ulerrich Fritz with his only son Wooldrich went down the Rhine River and boarded the English ship Elizabeth in Rotterdam. The ship Elizabeth sailed to the Isle of Wight, and then to America, arriving in Philadelphia Oct. 30, 1738. They lived in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Wooldrich Fritz b. 1730 d. Nov. 2, 1781, Wooldrich arrived in Philadelphia with his Father Hans Ulerich Fritz on Oct. 30th 1738. they came from Dettigen, West Germany. Dettingen is about 18 miles SSE of Suttgart. Wooldrich and his two sons, George and John, were soldiers in the service of North carolina in the American Revolution. A few weeks after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York, the American Revolution was ending. British troops were withdrawing to the ports. On the evening of Nov. 2, 1781, a band of Tories came to the house of Wooldrich and shot him. He died instantly. A friend, Valentine (Leonhardt) Leonard was fatally wounded at the same time. both wololdrich and Valentine are buried side by side in the old pilgrim church near Lexington, NC. In 1896, the citizens of Lexington erected a monument to these two patriots. Henry Fritts was only 11 years old at the time. Wooldrich spelled his name Fritz. His three sons, George, John, and Henry, all spelled their name Fritts. In 1869 the people of Lexington, NC erected a monument in his honor...transcribed, it says the following: The heroes buried in this spot were cruelly assasinated in their own homes by Tories near the close of the evolutionary War. They were patriots and bravely fought for America. (On the other side it said this)This monument was erected by citizens A.D. 1896 out of admiration for our brave dead. These men are of those who fought for and gained our liberty and independence (on either side it said the following) Wooldrich, Fritz, Born 1731, Died Nov. 02, 1781, 50 yrs old.: Leonard, Born Oct. 13, 1833, Died Nov. 13, 1781, 63 yrs. 1 month old.