Author: John R Hamilton
Frederick fought in the Revolutionary War enlisting in Pennsylvania in the fall of 1775/1776 serving as a Private under General Nathaniel Greene from 1776 to 1781 (DAR #558529), in the Pennsylvania Line on the Continental establishment. Application for pension states that he served as a Private for four years and nine months in Captain Marshall's Company, under Colonel Stuart's Regiment in the Virginia Line. He was attacked by two Hessian soldiers, slewing both with his bayonet, and was pursued by other Hessian soldiers, but succeeded in escaping, by hiding in a cave.

Frederick moved from Pennsylvania to Southwestern Virginia at some point during the war. Frederick’s father-in-law Johan Braun (Brown) moved from Pennsylvania to Wythe County.

In September 1780, the Revolutionary War came to the Southern Mountains. Major Ferguson of the British Army threatened to burn the crops and homes of this region (Over the Mountain People), and also threatened to hang the leaders, if they did not lay down their arms and pledge allegiance to the King.

The response: a furious army was formed. Having returned to Virginia, Frederick joined with them. On September 25, 1780, this militia of the Watauga and Holston Valleys at Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River (Elizabethton) joined the Burke County militia - this group became known as 'Over the Mountain Men'. September 26th, the men spent the night at Shelving Rock; September 27th, they crossed Roan Mountain in the snow. (Here two men deserted to warn Major Ferguson of the Patriot Army). October 1st and 2nd, the men stopped to dry out; October 3rd, the men camped beneath Marlin's Knob beside Cane Creek; October 4th, they came to Gilbert Town; October 5th, they went to Green River; October 6th they spent the night at Cowpens. October 7th, with over 900 men (some joined along the way) at about 3:00 P.M., the Over the Mountain Men went into battle at what is now known as Kings Mountain National Military Park, South Carolina. In little over an hour, Major Ferguson was shot from his horse, killed with some 120 of his men, and his entire command captured. Major Ferguson is buried at this site. Kings Mountain was the beginning of a successful end to the Revolutionary War.

Frederick's life was spared and he went home.

Every year on October 7th, the Park together with the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and other Societies hold a ceremony honoring these 'Over the Mountain Men'. The Overmountain Victory Trail Association group, dressed in authentic attire, still walk from Elizabethton, Tennessee to this Park in South Carolina, coming in over the mountain during the ceremony, after which the different Societies walk up the mountain and lay wreaths at the Monument honoring these men that fought, some giving their lives.

On October 7, 1999, one of Frederick's great, great, great granddaughters, Shirley Marie Leonard Fredrickson, dressed in Colonial attire, attended this ceremony and laid a wreath to honor his service in this war. Shirley was a member of the DAR and her husband was a member of the SAR. Around year 2000 Shirley and her husband place a SAR headstone in the Malone Cemetery were Frederick was buried. John Hamilton (Col. Fielding Lewis Chapter member) was present for the placement of the headstone. This event placed John on his path to join the NASSAR.]

There appears in 1793 tax lists of Wythe County, Virginia, as Frederick's - (1 head count and 3 horses).

Land Grant, April 13, 1812, Washington County, Virginia 26a: On waters of Sluts Creek, North Branch of Main Holstein River adjoining MacDonald, Hensley & C. (This land grant may be to Frederick, Jr.).

Frederick applied for a pension in 1829, stating that he was a resident of the United States on March 18, 1818, and had not disposed of any property with intent to diminish it, so that he could come within the provisions of the Act of Congress passed in 1818. He owned 125 acres of broken and stony land in Washington County, Virginia, but upon which from its sterility, he could not subsist, so left. The land was worth but little. He had no family except his wife, and no trade. He misplaced his discharge. The Land Certificate of Pension was issued October 28, 1829, and he received $96.00 a year, at age sixty-eight, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, which was more convenient than Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia. He resided in Washington County, Virginia, with just his wife, which was only a few miles from Blountville, Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Frederick was residing with his son, Henry, when he died in 1845, Washington County, Virginia. He had disposed of his estate to his children before he died.

Frederick was born in Germany or Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Virginia at some point during the Revolutionary War. His wife's family, the Brauns, moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia at the same time and settled around the Wytheville, Wythe County, Virginia area. Frederick’s father-in-law later returned to Pennsylvania. Johan Braun made pledge of allegiance in Pennsylvania

Frederick's original homestead in Washington County was on the Gate City Highway west of Bristol in small community called Three Springs and located in Rich Valley.

Frederick's will can be found in the Court House in Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia. It is recorded in Book 9, Pages 12, 13, 14: