Though not documented nor proven family oral tradition has it that Frederick Free may have been one of the thousands of mercenary soldiers (Hessian) brought by the British government to fight with the redcoats against the American colonists.

According to family legend he had a different surname at one time, but changed it when he deserted the British Army to take up the American cause. He considered himself "free" of British control and thus changed his name. However, in a guide "Hessian Names" authored by Johannes Helmut Merz, the surname is listed a Früehe which is German for the word free. Therefore it would seem that Freidrich Anglicized his last name to Free.

About 1810 he moved with his family to Ross County, Ohio and into Fayette County.

Story from the History of Fayette County, Ohio.
The Berkley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) Deed and Tax Rolls indicate Frederick Free lived and farmed there by 1782, and prior to 1788 he lived on the northern side of the Opeckon Creek. Frederick/s will named nine children, and his wife Polly was to hold possession of the "dwelling house, lately built, as long as she shall live", and daughter Susannah also to have possession as long as she remains single. He had already given 3 oldest sons and 4 daughters their full portion, so the farm was divided up and son Frederick Jr. got a portion containing 95 acres and son Phillip got 102 acres and was to take care of his mother and sister Susannah. Family tradition holds that Frederick was brought over by the British with Hessian soldiers to fight against the Patriots. He deserted that cause and espoused to that of the Patriots. No military record has been found to substantiate that fact. However there are records indicating he furnished supplies to Rev War soldiers and he was issued a Warrant for those services. By 1811 he moved to Ross Co. Ohio, settling on Buckskin Creek where he bought 187 acres.
 
Noble Crawford settled near the James Wilson family in 1800 and built his house on Buckskin creek near the present town of South Salem. Crawford's was the second house in the settlement. He sold his interests the same year to Frederick Free, and removed to Paint Township where he spent his remaining years. Frederick Free came to America as a Hessian soldier in the service of the English crown, but deserted the king's army and allied himself with the Patriot army in which service he fought through the Revolution, and in his old age received a pension for injuries incurred in the service. He married in the east, and had a large family, some of whom settled in the county and others removed to the west. Jacob Davis located on the west side of Buckskin creek about 1800, and there owned about seven hundred acres of land which he occupied for over fifty years. 

The family of "FREE" is of German origin and has been traced back to the Revolutionary War in America. The earliest ancestor known, FREDERICK FREE, was among the thousands of Hessian mercenary soldiers brought by the British Government to fight with the Redcoats against the American Colonists during the latter's struggle for independence. Frederick FREE deserted the British armed forces, espoused the American cause and married Polly?, the last name of his wife is not know.

He first settled in Berkley Co, Virginia and Pennsylvania where his children were born. In about 1810 he moved his family to a farm between Lyndon and South Salem, Ross County, Ohio. He became a respected citizen in the community.

The first recorded evidence found of the reality of this traditional account of Frederick FRWW is the following, quoted from the "History of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio" published in 1880 by Williams Brothers:" Buckskin Township. Noble Crawford made his house near the present location of Lyndon station, where he built the second house in the settlement. It was built of round logs, scotched down, and since weather-boarded, and is still occupied as a dwelling house. Mr. Crawford sold to Frederick FREE in 1800(?) and removed to Paint Township, where he afterwards made his home. Mr. FREE came to this country during the war of the Revolution as a Hessian soldier in the service of King George. He soon after, deserted the service of the English King and espoused the cause of the patriots, in whose ranks he fought during the war. He married in the east and lived to receive a pension for his services. His children were: John, Frederick Jr., Philip, George and others, nearly all of whom settled in this vicinity where their descendants now live. Frederick Jr. made his home in Iowa. " 

The Berkley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) Deed and Tax Rolls indicate Frederick Free lived and farmed there by 1782, and prior to 1788 he lived on the northern side of the Opeckon Creek. Fredericks Will named nine children, and his wife Polly was to hold possession of the "dwelling house, lately built, as long as she shall live", and daughter Susannah also to have possession as long as she remains single. He had already given 3 oldest sons and 4 daughters their full portion, so the farm was divided up and son Frederick Jr. got a portion containing 95 acres and son Phillip got 102 acres and was to take care of his mother and sister Susannah. Family tradition holds that Frederick was brought over by the British with Hessian soldiers to fight against the Patriots. He deserted that cause and espoused to that of the Patriots. No military record has been found to substantiate that fact. However there are records indicating he furnished supplies to Rev War soldiers and he was issued a Warrant for those services. By 1811 he moved to Ross Co. Ohio, settling on Buckskin Creek where he bought 187 acres.