06/08/2026
Excerpt from The First Three Freds — by The Fourth
For most of my life, I had been unsure of who my namesake was. Was it the first Fred, the great Gilded Age capitalist, philanthropist, and patron of the arts? Or was it his third son, my great-uncle, the second Fred, born Lothrop Ames, who was the founder of the famous Langwater Guernsey herd, financier, socialite, and the builder of this imposing house? Or was it his only son, Freddie, my father’s first cousin and the good friend of his youth? The bold one, the flyer, the ocean racer, and early aviation entrepreneur?
My first week of life was spent in the Boston Lying-In Hospital. For some good reason, I hope, my parents hadn’t yet named me.
Soon after being declared viable and arriving safely home in North Easton, my parents named me Thomas. My brothers David and Bill objected strongly.
I was once again a nameless child. With Winthrop now fifteen years in the grave, once more into the breach dear cousins stepped my Great-Aunt Minnie, (known as Mrs. Frothingham). She had no children of her own but was fond of children and took a great interest in the lives of her nieces and nephews. According to Hazel Varella, who knew my great-aunt well, Aunt Minnie had asked my father to name me after her father, my great-grandfather, the first Fred.
