Nils Larsson Friend: From Sweden to the Colonies - Biography, DNA, Family Tree

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)

Family tree, Nils Larsson Friend (1620-1686), 9th Great Grandfather, down to Stella McNierney (1902-1972), my paternal Grandmother.
He was apparently involved in the "Long Finn Rebellion" against the policies of the British, who had taken control of all colonies of New Netherlands.  A more prominent role in this incident,  my ancestor Hendrick "Henry the Finn" Coleman was an organizer and perused by the British to the point of taking refuge with the Delaware Lenape Indians for a few years.  

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