Henry Fronk and Mary (Humlong) Fronk of Bracken County, Kentucky

Henry Fronk and Mary (Humlong) Fronk

The first difficulty with the Fronk surname is that it is often transcribed as "Frank."  It's not possible to know for certain which one was the original surname, but the majority of the descendants that I've followed, if not all, do use the Fronk spelling.

Henry Fronk, a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania married Mary Humlong (a daughter of George Humlong and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), also a Pennsylvania native, in Bracken County, Kentucky on 4 April 1815. 

 On 7 Aug, 1820, the recording date for the census of Kentucky that year, shows the family of Henry FRANK living in Germantown, Bracken Co., KY with the following persons in their home: 2 free white males < 10 years of age (one of these is George Humlong Fronk); 1 free white male of 10 years and less than 15 years old; 1 free white male of 26-44 years of age (this is Henry); 2 free white females of 10 years and less than 15 years of age; 1 female of age 16 years of age, but less than 26 (Mary.)  Also shown is a female slave over the age of 45. At this time, we can only know the names of 3 of the 8 people living here.

The 1830 census index shows no Henry Fronk or Frank in Bracken County. However when browsing, I find a family indexed under the name of Henry "Shouk."  This is a transcription error and actually the family of Henry and Mary.  There is no date recorded on the census form for 1830, but the date used for recording the census 1 June 1830.  (The census taker had 12 months to complete the census for 1830.)  Living at the family residence (shown on page 7 of Bracken County) are: 1 male younger than 5 (is this John?); 2 males of 10 -14 years old (one of these is George); 1 male of 20 years of age, but less than 30; 1 male of over 30 but less than 40 (Henry); 2 females of the age of 5, but younger than 10; 1 girl of 15 and younger than 20 and also (Mary) who is over 30, but less than 40. Again, we cannot be sure who all of the people are. 

In 1840 the family remains in Bracken County (shown on page 10) with: 1 male under 5 (William); 1 male of over 5 but less than 10 years old; 1 male of over 10, but younger than 15 (Henry Clay Fronk); 2 males of over 20 and younger than 30; 1 male of over 40 and less than 50 (Henry);  the females in the home are 2 - 1 is over 15, but younger than 20 and the other is shown as over 30 and younger than 40. (This likely shows that Mary was born between 1 June and the 7th of August in her birth year.)

Mary has died before the 1850 census and living with Henry (now shown as Henry, Sr) are: Henry Clay; Susan E, William W and a 62 year old woman Susan Case, who was also born in Pennsylvania. The relationship is not shown.  The census date for 1850 was 1 June.  The enumerator had five months to obtain the data, but all data was to be recorded as it was on 1 June 1850, not necessarily as it was on the day he arrived at the particular home.

On 3 November 1851, Henry Fronk, Sr. remarried Averilla Hollis. Averilla was 40 years old at the time and they had no children, at least none recorded. 

Of Henry's and Mary's children that I've found: 

George Humlong Fronk married Malinda Day on 29 March 1838 in Bracken Co., KY.

Susan E. Fronk married Lewis Ware in Bracken County, KY on 23 February 1854.

John did marry, but the maiden name of his wife is uncertain.

It also appears that William was married.

Henry Frank, born Jan. 24, 1791 in Berks County, Penn., died in Bracken County, March 24, 1880.

G. H. Fronk, March 17, 1817 - July 6, 1897.

Henry Clay Frank (died 14 Jan 1880, aged 50 years, 4 months and 29 days.)

Averilla (Hollis) Frank, born Aug 21, 1810 died Dec. 24., 1889.

All photos taken July 2009

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