Father of Anders Nilsson Friend
Husband of Anna (Andersdotter) Friend

Nils Friend (38303205)

Suggested edit: Biographical Information on Nils Larsson Friend (Anglicized from Frande)

Swedish Settler, Constable of Chester Township, Pennsylvania, Merchant Captain, Tavern Keeper, Immigrated to American Colonies in 1648

One relatively unknown forefather, progenitor of the Friend family in America, is Nils Larsson, who arrived in New Sweden on the Swan in 1648 and served as a warden for Governor Rising in 1654. Two years later, he married Anna Andersdotter (possibly the daughter of Anders Andersson the Finn) and settled at Upland (now Chester), where they raised a family of ten children. His house was also the location of the Swedes' quarterly court sessions after Armegot Printz sold the Printz family's Tinicum Island estate.
Nils Larsson played a very prominent role in the Swedish community until his death at Upland in the winter of 1686-87. He became known as Nils Larsson Frände, meaning "kinsman" or "blood relative" in Swedish, possibly because of his influence among the Indians who considered him a "blood brother." Under English rule, his adopted surname became anglicized to "Friend." In 1668, Nils and two other Swedes, secured a permit from the governor of the new province of New Jersey to buy lands from the Indians in present Gloucester County. The resulting acquisition led to a large Swedish settlement centering around Raccoon Creek (present Swedesboro, New Jersey).
Nils Larsson Frände also acquired lands in present Bucks County, Pennsylvania which he traded to William Penn in return for 800 acres east of Red Clay Creek in New Castle County. Penn built his Pennsbury estate on Frände's former land.
At the time of his death, Nils Larsson was serving as Constable for Chester township. His wife Anna survived him by about 40 years and was said to be over 106 when she died.
by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig
Fellow, American Society of Genealogists
Fellow, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
Historian, Swedish Colonial Society

Originally published in Swedish Colonial News,
Volume 1, Number 3 (Spring 1991)

Contributor: Shaun Creighton (49577013)∼
Nicholas Larsson Friend (Frande) was born about 1619 and died in Upland County, later Chester County, PA in 1687. His will was dated December 20, 1686 and was recorded in Philadelphia County Book A, Page 145. He married Anna Andersdotter in New Sweden, PA in August 1656. Annika, a
daughter of Anders Anderson and Christina (Goolbrandt) Andersdotter, was born about 1638 and died in Chester, PA in 1724.

Allegedly, Nicholas Larsson, originally called Nils Larsson, arrived in New Sweden aboard the ship SWAN in 1648. By 1668, he had adopted the surname Frande and in that year he was granted a permit by the Jersey governor to buy west Jersey lands from the Indians.

Records refer to Nils Larsson Friend, Nils Larsson, Neals Larsson and Neals Lawson. There is some controversy over whether this is one person or if there were two or more people with similar names who had wives name Annika. Some records say Nicholas Friend was born in Dorsetshire, England.

On June 15, 1686, "Neiles Lawrson Friend" was granted 800 acres called "Oak Hill" on the east side of Red Clay Creek in Chester County PA.

A 1689 deed records Anna as "Anne friend widow and relcit of Neal Lawsa als ffriend Late of Chester ...". In other words, Annika Friend, widow of Neals Larson, alias Friend, who had lived in Chester County.