The Fraley Family is my father's family. My grandfather, William Jason Fraley, died in his early thirties with a burst appendix. My grandmother, Cordelia Sparks, wasn't able to handle the death of her husband and left her children with various Fraley relatives to raise. My Dad, John Franklin Fraley, was raised by his grandmother and grandfather, David A. Fraley and Linda Barker. All these circumstances, plus my parent's divorce, made it difficult, if not impossible, for any family history to be passed down.

After the death of my brother, Charles Roger, I stumbled upon a website that posted genealogy by private researchers. I found a distant relative that had done extensive research on the Fraley family. I was amazed at how much information there is on the Fraley Clan in Colonial Virginia. It seems that most Fraley's descended from one couple back in the 1700's, Frederick & Chloe Friley. Because most people of the colonial era did not read and/or write, the family name evolved over time to Fraley.

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Fraley Genealogy Page

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The Fraley family is well documented in Virginia deed records, census information, wills, military records, etc. There is quite a bit of information about the Fraley family in the Library of Virginia, including a letter from Daniel Boone, who is believed to be a cousin of the Kentucky Fraley's. There is even a book being published about the Fraley's by Penny Fraley Richardson.

Below you will find documentation that details some interesting colonial history and mentions Frederick Fraley or his sons in each linked document. There are also some good links to websites that have Fraley information or are just good genealogy sites.

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Frontier Forts of Southwest Virginia

Fraley Kills An Indian

Frederick Fraley’s Son Chased by Indians

The VAGenWeb Project-Russel County, KY

Fraley Family Genealogy Forum

The Library of Virginia

Native American Links

VA Gen Web