Colonel James Frye III was born on January 24, 1710 in Bradford, Massachusetts to James Frye II and Joanna Sprague. Frye settled in Andover, Massachusetts. His family home, built around 1730 still stands to this day.[1] Frye was an ironworker by trade and operated an ironworks shop in Andover.
Frye married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Osgood on November 28, 1734 in Andover, Massachusetts. Together they had two children. Elizabeth Osgood died on December 8, 1756.
Frye married a second time, to Sarah Robey on May 27, 1757 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Together they had several children, most notably Lieutenant Jonathan Frye (1742-1793) and Ensign Frederick Frye (1760-1828) who both served as Officers in the Revolutionary War.[2]
Frye was a veteran of the French and Indian Wars, serving with George Washington at the capture of Louisburg in 1745. Frye was promoted to Captain with the 4th Essex County Militia Regiment in 1754 and later served on the Crown Point Expedition. On April 19, 1775, Frye served as the Colonel of the Essex County Militia, known as “Frye’s Regiment”[3] and marched this regiment to Lexington.
Colonel Frye's Regiment was absorbed into the 10th Massachusetts Regiment (Cambridge Brigade) with Frye as the senior Colonel of the Brigade.[4] Frye was in command of this Regiment when it became part of the Army of Observation in May 1775 and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill on June 17 of the same year.[5]
He later commanded the 6th Brigade of the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston.
As a result of wounds suffered at the battle of Bunker Hill, Colonel Frye died on January 8, 1776 at his family home in Andover. He is buried at Old North Parish Burying Ground, in North Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts. His grave headstone reads: "IN MEMORY OF COLONEL JAMES FRYE, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE JAN THE 8TH 1776... WHILE IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE SUPPORTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"
Colonel Frye is represented as a propositi in The Society of the Cincinnati. The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army who served together in the American Revolution. Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members. Now a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the principles and ideals of its founders, the modern Society maintains its headquarters, library, and museum at Anderson House in Washington, D.C.[6]