Joshua Fry

Joshua Fry (ca. 1700-1754) was a surveyor and a pioneer, a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, a justice of the peace and a militiaman.

Born in Somersetshire, England, Fry studied at Oxford and by 1720 had emigrated to Virginia. After heading the grammar school connected with the College of William and Mary, and holding a professorship at the College itself during the 1730s, he moved to the Virginia Piedmont with his wife and children. They settled in an area of Goochland County that shortly afterwards became part of the newly-created Albemarle County. Fry was named first presiding justice of the new county and county surveyor.

Albemarle became a county on Jan. 1, 1745, and was first represented in the session which convened February 20, 1746. Joshua Fry was a House Members from 1746 until his death in 1754. The identity of the other burgess during this time is unknown. Joshua Fry died on May 31, 1754, and was succeeded by Peter Jefferson.