The FREEMAN Family of Billinghurst in co. Suffolk, England and Eastham and Sandwich in Massachusetts

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EDMUND FREEMAN m. Alice Coles
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EDMUND FREEMAN (bp. 1596 - 1682) of Billinghurst and Sandwich m.
JOHN HODSOLL (prob. d. bef. 1553) of Ash
m. Anne Unknown (d. aft 1561)
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JOHN HODSOLL
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JOHN HODSOLL (d. 1572) of Stansted
m. Anne Unknown (d. 1572)
JOHN MAUNDY
(d. 1568) m.
ALICE TEMPLE
(d. 1610)
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JOHN HODSOLL (c. 1555 - 1617)
of Cowfold m.
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ANNE MAUNDY (d. 1613)

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BENNETT HODSOLL (bp. 1596 - 1630)

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MAJ. JOHN FREEMAN (bp. 1627 - 1719) of Eastham m. Mercy Prence
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THOMAS FREEMAN (1653 - 1716) of Eastham m. Rebecca Sparrow
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MERCY FREEMAN (1674 - 1747) m. Paul Sears

First Generation

JOHN HODSOLL (prob. d. bef. 1553) of Ash, Kent

Parents:

John probably died before 1553, when the Ash parish registers began. [Ref]

In a deed dated 19 Mar 1561, Anne, the widow of John Hodsoll of Ash, relinquished all rights to her husband's real property in Ash, including the Manor of South Ash, and in Kemsing and Stansted to his son William Hodsoll. [Ref]

Children of John Hodsoll:

  1. John Hodsoll

Second Generation

JOHN HODSOLL

Parents: John Hodsoll [Ref]

Children of John Hodsoll

  1. John Hodsoll married Anne Unknown.
  2. William Hodsoll died in late 1586. [Ref] He married Ellen Unknown. [Ref] He was the owner of the Manor of South Ash. [Ref]
    William signed his will on 13 Dec 1586; it was proved on 19 Jan 1586/7. [Ref] He mentioned his nephew William Hodsoll, his wife Ellen, his sister Lysse, niece Jone Hodsoll and nephew John, Robert and Henry Hodsoll. [Ref]
  3. Unknown Hodsoll inherited the Manor of South Ash. [Ref]
  4. Lysse Hodsoll

Third Generation

JOHN HODSOLL (d. 1572) of Stansted

Parents: John Hodsoll [Ref]

John Hodsoll appears to be the person of that name buried on 2 Oct 1572 in Stansted. [Ref] He married Anne Unknown. [Ref] She was buried on 27 Sep 1572 in Stansted. [Ref]

According to his son John's will, John Hodsoll owned a farm called Baker's in Stansted, Kent. [Ref] He left it to his son Henry, who apparently left it to his brother John.

Children of John Hodsoll and (perhaps) Anne Unknown:

  1. John Hodsoll died between 17 and 26 Nov 1617. He married first Anne Maundy. He married second Faith Unknown.
  2. Joan Hodsoll married Unknown Whitacre. Joan's brother John mentions his "sister Joan Whitacre" in his will. [Ref] Jone Hodsoll is mentioned in her uncle's will. [Ref]
  3. Robert Hodsoll was baptised on 30 May 1565 in Stansted. [Ref] He died between 26 Feb 1597/8, when a son was baptised, and 28 Jul 1598, when administration on his estate was granted to his relict Conisa. [Ref]
  4. Thomas Hodsoll died in 1631. [Ref] He was buried on 17 May 1631. [Ref, 2;52] He married, as her second husband, Dorothy Maxfield. [Ref, 2;52] Dorothy was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Maxfield. [Ref, 2;52] She was baptised on 4 Sep 1575 in Ash-by-Wrotham. [Ref, 2;52] She was buried on 21 Jul 1631 in Ightham. [Ref, 2;52] Dorothy married first William Parker. [Ref, 2;52]
    Thomas is referred to in his brother John's will. [Ref] Thomas was a gentleman of Ightham, Kent. [Ref, 2;52]
  5. Henry Hodsoll is the person of that name buried on 29 Aug 1599 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref]

JOHN MAUNDY (d. 1568)

Parents:

John Maundy was buried on 8 Dec 1568 in All Saints, Barking. He is probably the Unknown Maundy who married Alice Temple (?) and was the father of Anne. [Ref]

Children of John Maundy and Alice Temple:

  1. Anne Maundy was buried on 15 Sep 1613 in All Saints, Barking. She married John Hodsoll.

ALICE TEMPLE (d. 1610)

Parents:

Alice Temple was buried on 13 Sep 1610 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] Alice Temple married second, as Alice Maundy, Hugh Pope on 13 Nov 1569 in All Saint's Barking. [Ref] Hugh was buried on 29 Sep 1579 in All Saint's, Barking. [Ref] She married third John Bennett. [Ref] John was buried on 29 Apr 1595 in All Saint's Barking. [Ref]

Hugh Pope, citizen and mercer of London, signed his will on 27 Sep 1579; it was proved on 21 Oct 1579. [Ref] He mentions his five children; a sister and a brother and his "well beloved wife" Alice. [Ref]

John Bennett, citizen and armorer of London, signed his will on 24 Apr 1595; it was proved on 29 Apr 1595. [Ref] He named his friend John Hodsoll, mariner, overseer. [Ref]

Alice Bennett of the parish of All Saints, Barking by the Tower of London, signed her will on 19 Jul 1607; it was proved on 17 Sep 1610. [Ref] She named her daughter Anne Hodsoll, wife of John Hodsoll, and Anne's children Thomas, Elizabeth, John and Clement Hodsoll. [Ref] She also mentioned her brother John Temple and his children, the daughter of Thomas Temple, late of Faversham, Kent; son Peter Pope and his son; daughter-in-law Mary Pope; sister Dade and niece Alice Skelton. [Ref] This suggests that Alice is Alice Temple. [Ref]

Children of Alice Temple and Hugh Pope:

  1. Bartholomew Pope was baptised in All Saint's Barking. [Ref]
  2. Katherine Pope was baptised in All Saint's Barking. [Ref]
  3. Dorothy Pope was baptised in All Saint's Barking. [Ref]
  4. Ambrose Pope was baptised in All Saint's Barking. [Ref]
  5. Peter Pope was baptised in All Saint's Barking. He was named in his mother's will. [Ref]

Fourth Generation

EDMUND FREEMAN

Parents:

Edmund Freeman married Alice Coles. [Ref]

Children of Edmund Freeman and Alice Coles:

  1. Edmund Freeman was baptised on 25 Jul 1596 in Pulborough, Sussex. He died in 1682 in Sandwich. [Ref] He married first Bennett Hodsoll. He married second Elizabetha Raynier.
  2. William Freeman was baptised on 18 Nov 1598 in Pulborough. [Ref] He was buried on 16 Sep 1666 in Cowfold. [Ref] He married Christian Hodsoll, the sister of Bennett Hodsoll.

JOHN HODSOLL (c. 1555 - 1617) of Cowfold, Sussex

Parents: John Hodsoll [Ref] and (perhaps) Anne Unknown [Ref]

John Hodsoll was born about 1555, according to his stated age on 10 May 1608. [Ref] He died between 17 and 26 Nov 1617. [Ref] He married first Anne Maundy. [Ref] He married second, as her third husband, Faith Moorer. [Ref] Faith was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Barto) Moorer. [Ref] She was baptised on 28 Sep 1576 in St. Mary Colechurch, London. [Ref] She married first William Bacon. [Ref] She married second Thomas Bareham. [Ref] Administration was granted on the estate of Faith (Moorer) (Bacon) (Bareham) Hodsoll, a resident of Newington, Surrey, on 4 Aug 1641. [Ref]

John Hodsoll was a mariner and a major supplier of planking and other wood products to the Royal Navy. [Ref] He appears to be the John Hodsoll, who is listed as an investor in the Virginia Colony in 1612. [Ref]

John Hodsoll's will mentions property in Ratcliffe, Middlesex. Ratcliffe is in the parish of Stepney.

John Hodsoll, gentleman of Cowfold, signed his will on 1 Aug 1617; he added a codicil on 17 Nov and it was proved on 26 Nov. [Ref] He mentions his wife Faith; his son-in-law William Scates and his wife Elizabeth; godson John Scates, the son of his daughter Elizabeth; daughter Anne Sheffield, the wife of Thomas Sheffield, and her children; daughter Bennett Freeman, the wife of Edmond Freeman; daughters Katherine and Christian Hodsoll; sister Joan Whiteacre; brother-in-law Richard Moorer; his wife's daughter Faith Bacon; son John Hodsoll; nephew John Hodsoll, the son of his late brother Robert Hodsoll; his brother Thomas Hodsoll and his children. He left his daughter Elizabeth an orchard in the manor of Barking in Essex. He left his son John a farm called Bakers in Stansted, Kent, that had belonged to his deceased father John Hodsoll and, after him, to his deceased brother Henry Hodsoll. The executors were to be his brother John Gratwick and his son-in-law Thomas Sheffield. He left small bequest for the poor in the parishes of Ash and Stansted in Kent. [Ref]

Children of John Hodsoll and Anne Maundy:

  1. Anne Hodsoll was baptised on 27 Mar 1580 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She was buried on 24 Dec 1581 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney. [Ref]
  2. Thomas Hodsoll was baptised on 10 Dec 1584 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney. [Ref] He died between 19 Jul 1607, when his grandmother signed her will, and 1 Aug 1617, when his father signed his will. [Ref]
  3. Clement Hodsoll was baptised on 19 Dec 1585 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney. [Ref] He died between 19 Jul 1607, when his grandmother signed her will, and 1 Aug 1617, when his father signed his will. [Ref]
  4. Anne Hodsoll was baptised on 27 Jan 1586/7 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney. [Ref] She died between 19 Jul 1607, when one of her children was baptised, and 24 Aug 1625, when her husband signed his will. [Ref] She married Thomas Sheffield on 29 Jun 1613 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] He was buried on 27 Aug 1625 in St. Michael Cornhill, London. [Ref]
  5. Elizabeth Hodsoll was baptised on 24 Jan 1587/8 in St. Dunstan's, Stepney. [Ref] She was buried on 3 Nov 1625 in St. Margaret's, Barking. [Ref] She married William Scates before 12 Aug 1610, when her first child was baptised. [Ref] He was buried on 25 Jan 1620/1 in St. Margaret's, Barking. [Ref] Elizabeth married second Andrew Printup on 29 Oct 1621 in St. Margaret's Barking. [Ref]
  6. John Hodsoll was baptised on 24 Nov 1589 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] He died on 12 Nov 1628 in Shermanbury, Sussex. [Ref] He was buried on 13 Nov 1628 in Cowfold, Sussex. He married Elizabeth Gratwick on 27 Sep 1617 in Cowfold. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Comber) Gratwick. [Ref] She was baptised on 6 Feb 1601/2 in Cowfold. [Ref] She did on 14 May 1676 in Stanstead, Kent. [Ref]
    John Hodsoll of Shermanbury signed his will on 11 Jun 1628; it was proved on 25 Nov 1628. [Ref] He mentions Edmond Freeman and Bennett "his wife my sister" and their children John (his godson), Allice, Bennett and Elizabeth Freeman; the children of Thomas Sheffield and his deceased sister; his brother Norwood, Katherine "his wife my sister" and their daughter; William Skates, Elizabeth "his wife my sister"; the child of his his deceased sister Elizabeth, the late wife of Printopp; his brother-in-law and godson Richard Gratwick, the son of his father-in-law John Gratwick of Gervis; his sister Christian now wife of William Freeman and childrn; his wife Elizabeth; John Hodsoll, "my father deceased"; his uncle Thomas Hodsoll and his children; godson John Hodsoll, son of William Hodsoll, gent. "my cosen"; brother-in-law Ockenden Gratwicke; the son of his cousin Henry Hodsoll. The executors were to be his father-in-law and his brother-in-law William Freeman. [Ref]
  7. Katherine Hodsoll was baptised on 28 Jan 1591/2 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She was buried on 25 Feb 1636/7 in St. Olave Hart Street, London. [Ref] She married Warner Norwood on 24 Oct 1617 in St. Michael Cornhill. [Ref] He was buried on 24 Mar 1634/5 in St. Olave Hart Street, London. [Ref]
  8. William Hodsoll was baptised on 1 Apr 1593 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] He died by 12 Sep 1615, when another son named William was baptised. [Ref]
  9. Jane Hodsoll was baptised on 10 May 1595 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She died by 1 Aug 1617, when her father wrote his will. [Ref]
  10. Bennett Hodsoll was baptised on in All Saints, Barking. She was buried on 12 Apr 1630 in Pulborough, Sussex. She married Edmund Freeman.
  11. Margaret Hodsoll was baptised on 31 Oct 1597 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She was buried on 10 Nov 1597 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref]
  12. Christian Hodsoll was baptised on 23 Apr 1602 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She was buried on 24 Jul 1635 in Cowfold. [Ref] She married William Freeman by 20 Jul 1620. [Ref] William was the brother of her sister Bennet's husband Edmund Freeman.

Children of John Hodsoll and Faith Moorer:

  1. William Hodsoll was baptised on 12 Sep 1615 in Cowfold. [Ref] He died by 1 Aug 1617, when his father wrote his will. [Ref]

ANNE MAUNDY (d. 1613)

Parents: John Maundy and Alice Temple (?) [Ref]

Anne Maundy was buried on 15 Sep 1613 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] married John Hodsoll. [Ref]

Fifth Generation

EDMUND FREEMAN (bp. 1596 - 1682) of Billinghurst and Sandwich

Parents: Edmund Freeman and Alice Coles [Ref]

Edmund Freeman was baptised on 25 Jul 1596 in Pulborough, Sussex. [Ref] He died in 1682, age 92, in Sandwich. [Ref] He married Bennett Hodsoll on 16 Jun 1617 in Cowfold, Sussex. [Ref] "Edmundus Freiman and Elizabetha Raynier" were married by license on 10 Aug 1632 in Shipley, Sussex. [Ref] [Shipley adjoins Billinghurst.] Elizabeth was born about 1600. She died on 14 Feb 1676, age 76 in Sandwich. [Ref does not give the location][Ref says the year is 1675 and does not give her age]

Edmund Freeman came to New England in the Abigail in 1635, he gave his age as 45. [Ref][Ref] He brought his children Alice, age 17, Elizabeth, age 12, Edmund, age 15 and John, age 8. [Ref] He went first to Lynn and then to Sandwich in 1637. [Ref] Mr Edmund Freeman was one of the ten original proprietors of Sandwich on 3 Apr 1637. [Ref] Mr Edmund Freeman, Sr is in the Sandwich section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. [Ref]

Edmund was allocated 42 acres of meadow on 16 Apr 1640 in Sandwich. [Ref] On 13 (8) 1660 Edmund was granted about 60 acres of upland; in return he was to give some of his land back to the town. [Ref] On 18 Mar 1669 the town exchanged seven acres of land with Mr Edmund Freeman, Sr for land at 'Larance Hole', or thereabouts. [Ref] On 10 May 1670, the town sold this land to Thomas Burges, Sr and Edmund and Richard Bourne were appointed to lay out this land. [Ref]

Edmund frequently held important public offices. Edmund and John Vincent were the two first deputies from Sandwich. He was appointed a deputy again on 20 Apr 1669, 19 May 1671 and 18 May 1681. [Ref] On 17 Jun 1641 Edmund Freeman, gentleman, was an Assistant. [Ref] He was an Assistant 1640-6. [Ref] On 18 May 1660, 21 (3) 1674, 12 May 1679, 18 May 1680 and 18 May 1681 Edmund was appointed Selectman. [Ref] On 20 Jan 1664 and 14 Aug 1679 Edmund Freeman was appointed a rater. [Ref]

Edmund did other important tasks for the town. At a 7 Nov 1652 town meeting, Edmund Freeman, Edward Perry, George Allen, Daniel Wing, John Ellis and Thomas Tobey were appointed to take care of all of the dead fish [including whales] that the Indians cut up in town. [Ref] On 20 May 1655 he pledged one pound for the building of a meeting house in Sandwich. [Ref] On 17 Jul 1657 he agreed to pay one pound towards the minister. [Ref] On 28 Oct 1658 Mr Freeman was one of seven men chosen to lay out the bounds of each inhabitant's land for the Plymouth Court. [Ref] In 1659 Mr. Edmund Freeman and Richard Bourne were authorised to view land in Manomet and confirm it to Thomas Burges. [Ref] On 13 (9) 1660 Edmund was appointed to lay out an acre of land that had been granted to James Skiffe. [Ref] On 15 May 1663 Mr Freeman was appointed to help lay out land for Richard Smith. [Ref] On 11 May 1665 Edmund Freeman was appointed to a committee to agree with Mr Thomas Dexter, Jr about grinding the townsmen's corn. [Ref] On 1 Mar 1666 Mr Freeman was part of a committee to finish bounding land for the Court. [Ref] On 15 (5) 1671 Edmund was one of four people appointed to go with James Skiffe and look at upland and meadow that James wanted to exchange with the town. [Ref] On 13 (4) 167? all the men of the town were ordered to kill 12 black birds or pay a fine. The birds were to be brought before William Swift, Edmund Freeman, John Jenens and Stephen Wing. [Ref] On 22 (5) 1672 Mr Edmund Freeman, Sr, Thomas Burges, Sr, Micah Blackwell and William Newland were sent to confirm the township of Sandwich with the Oneshatenket Sachem of Monemet. [Ref] On 7 Aug 1673 James Skiffe, Edmund Freeman and Thomas Tobey were appointed to lay out land for John Smith. [Ref] On 12 (12) 1673 the town empowered Edmund, Thomas Dexter, Sr and Edward Perry to act on the town's behalf concerning Skawton Neck at the Court and to defend the town's claim against the Indians. [Ref] On 6 Apr 1678 the town decided that the Skawton Neck was to be improved for ten years by the townsmen in the eastern part of the town. Edmund Freeman, Edward Perry and Joseph Halloway were put in charge of chosing the people to do this. [Ref] On 18 May 1680 Mr Edmund Freeman was appointed to help account for the black birds killed on behalf of the town. [Ref] On 16 Aug 1681 Mr Edmund Freeman, Sr and Benjamin Nye were to view a parcel of land for Thomas Bornin. [Ref] On 16 Jan 1682 Mr Edmund Freeman, Jr was to see the minister paid. [Ref]

In 1638 Edmund was fined in Sandwich for not ringing his swine. [Ref] On 1 Mar 1641 Edmund Freeman was presented to the grand jury for lending an Indian a gun. [Ref] Ralph Allen, Sr. and his wife, William Allen, Richard Kirby, Peter Gaunt, Rose Newland, Edmund Freeman, Sr. Goodwife Turner and widow Knott were all presented to the Court for disobeying an 8 Jun 1651 order to attend public worship. [Ref]

In 1655 Thomas Tupper, Thomas Tobey, William Swift, Edmund Freeman and Nathaniel Fish were among the 19 Sandwich residents who signed a letter entreating Mr Leveridge to continue at Sandwich. [Ref]

Mr Beauchampe, London merchant, was Edmund's brother-in-law. [Ref]

Children of Edmund Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll:

  1. Alice Freeman was born in England in 1618. [Ref] She married Dea. William Paddy of Plymouth on 28 Nov 1639. [Ref]
  2. Edmund Freeman was born in England in 1620. [Ref] He married Rebecca, the daughter of Gov. William Prence, on 14 Feb 1649 in Sandwich. [Ref, gives the year][Ref][Ref does not give the location] He married second Margaret Perry on 18 Jul 1651 in Sandwich. [Ref] He settled in Sandwich. [Ref] Edmund Freeman, Jr is in the Sandwich section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. [Ref] On 20 May 1655 he pledged ten shillings for the building of a meeting house in Sandwich. [Ref] On 5 Nov 1657 he was one of five people appointed to make a rate of £24 14 shillings to pay Plymouth for the purchase of 'Manounscate' and to pay for catching wolves. [Ref] On 24 4 1658 he was a rater. [Ref] On 10-5-1672 he was a grandjury man for Sandwich. [Ref] By 13 (10) 1659 he had paid ten shillings toward the construction of the meeting house. [Ref] On 16 Feb 1662 Edmund was one of two men appointed to go to Plymouth to represent Sandwich in its dispute over fish with Barnstable. [Ref] On 15 May 1663 he was appointed grandjuryman. [Ref] On 15 May 1668 he was appointed selectman. [Ref] On 22 (12) 1675 Edmund was one of the men appointed to go with Daniel Wing to view a piece of meadow and to make an exchange for the town. [Ref] He was appointed grand juryman on 21 May 1678. On 21 May 1678 he was appointed Selectman. [Ref]
    some descendants of Edmund Freeman
  3. Bennett Freeman [Ref]
  4. Elizabeth Freeman was baptised on 11 Apr 1624 in Billinghurst. [Ref][Ref] She died after 24 Jun 1692 in Rochester. [Ref] She married John Ellis. [Ref][Ref] At the court held on 20 Aug 1644, John Ellis was accused of fornication with his later wife Elizabeth Freeman. John was publicly whipped. [Ref]
  5. Maj. John Freeman was baptised on 28 Jan 1626/7 in Billinghurst. [Ref] He died on 28 Oct 1719 in Eastham. He married Mercy Prence.
  6. Nathaniel Freeman [Ref]

Children of Edmund Freeman and Elizabeth Raynier:

  1. Cycella Freeman is a probable daughter. [Ref does not give the location] She was born in England in 1631 and died young. [Ref]

BENNETT HODSOLL (bp. 1596 - 1630)

Parents: John Hodsoll and Anne Maundy

Bennett Hodsoll was baptised on 23 Aug 1596 in All Saints, Barking. [Ref] She was buried on 12 Apr 1630 in Pulborough, Sussex. [Ref] She married Edmund Freeman 16 Jun 1617 in Cowfold, Sussex. [Ref]

Sixth Generation

MAJ. JOHN FREEMAN (bp. 1627 - 1719) of Eastham

Parents: Edmund Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll

Maj. John Freeman was baptised on 28 Jan 1626/7 in Billinghurst. He died on 28 Oct 1719 in Eastham, age 97. [Ref] He married Mercy Prence [Ref] on 14 Feb 1649/50 in Eastham. [Ref][Ref says 13 Feb 1649] [Ref says 13 Feb 1649 (O.S.)]

John Freeman is in the Sandwich section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. [Ref]

On 10 Jan 1664 the town of Sandwich agreed to view land that they might exchange for land owned by Lieutenant John Freeman. [Ref]

John was admitted freeman on 5 Jun 1651. [Ref] He was an inhabitant of Eastham on 22 May 1655. [Ref] He was deputy to the General Court from Eastham in 1653 and in 1662 - 1666. [Ref] He was Assistant to the Governor 1667 - 1692. [Ref] He was Deacon of the First Church in Eastham for many years. In 1685 he was appointed major. [Ref]

Children of John Freeman:

  1. John Freeman was born on 2 Feb 1650/1 in Eastham. [Ref][Ref says 2 Feb 1650] He died young. [Ref][Ref]
  2. John Freeman was born in Dec 1651 in Eastham. [Ref][Ref] He died on 21 Jul 1751. [Ref] He married first Sarah Myrick on 18 Dec 1672 [Ref] in Eastham. He married second Mercy Watson of Plymouth. [Ref] He was an inhabitant of Eastham before 1675. [Ref] He settled in that part of Harwich that is now Brewster. [Ref]
    some descendants of John Freeman
  3. Thomas Freeman was born in Sep 1653 in Eastham. He died on 9 Feb 1715/6 in Harwich. He married Rebecca Sparrow.
  4. Hannah Freeman married John Mayo [Ref, pp. 517-8][Ref, p. 169] on 14 Mar 1681 in Hingham. [Ref] John was the son of Samuel and Tamsin (Lumpkins) Mayo of Yarmouth and the grandson of John Mayo of Eastham. [Ref, pp. 517-8] He was born in 1656. [Ref] He died in 1726. [Ref]
    John owned lands in Long Island. [Ref]
    some descendants of Hannah Freeman
  5. Edmund Freeman was born in Jun 1657 in Eastham. [Ref][Ref] He died on 10 Dec 1718. [Ref] He married Sarah Mayo. Sarah was the daughter of Samuel and Tamsin (Lumpkins) Mayo of Yarmouth and the granddaughter of John Mayo of Eastham. [Ref, pp. 517-8] He settled in that part of Eastham that is now Orleans. [Ref] He was an inhabitant of Eastham before 1675. [Ref]
    some descendants of Emund Freeman
  6. Mercy Freeman was born in Jul 1659 in Eastham. [Ref][Ref] She died in 1744. [Ref] She was born in Jul 1659. [Ref] She is buried in Orleans with her husband, but her gravestone is illegible. [Ref] She married Samuel Knowles in Dec 1679. [Ref, 6;204][Ref, no month][Ref]
  7. William Freeman was born in 1663. [Ref] He married Lydia, the sister of his brother Thomas's wife Rebecca Sparrow. [Ref] Hamlin [Ref] does not list William as a son of John, but says that a William Freeman married Lydia Unknown about 1686.
    some descendants of William Freeman
  8. Patience Freeman married Lieut. Samuel Paine on 31 Jan 1682. [Ref]
  9. Prence Freeman was born on 3 Feb 1665. [Ref] He probably died young. [Ref]
  10. Nathaniel Freeman was born on 20 Mar 1669. [Ref] His gravestone refers to him as "Esq." and says that he died on 4 Jan 1760, age 91. [Ref] He married Mary Howland. [Ref, 54;103] She died on 29 Jan 1742/3. [Ref] Nathaniel and Mary had six children. [Ref]
    some descendants of Nathaniel Freeman
  11. Bennit Freeman died on 13 May 1716. [Ref] She married John Paine, Esq. on 14 Mar 1689. [Ref]

Seventh Generation

THOMAS FREEMAN (1653 - 1716) of Eastham

Parents: John Freeman and Mercy Prence

Thomas Freeman was born in Sep 1653 in Eastham. [Ref] He died on 9 Feb 1715/6 in Harwich. He married Rebecca Sparrow on 31 Dec 1673 in Eastham, MA. [Ref]

Thomas was an inhabitant of Eastham before 1675. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Freeman and Rebecca Sparrow. All of the births execept Rebecca's are in Eastham and given by Hamlin [Ref].

  1. Mercy Freeman was born in Oct 1674. She died on 10 Aug 1740 in Yarmouth. She married Paul Sears.
  2. Thomas Freeman was born on 11 Oct 1676. He died on 22 Mar 1716/7. [Ref] He married first Bathsheba Mayo on 22 Aug 1706 in Eastham. [Ref, 7;12] Bathsheba, the daughter of Nathaniel Mayo, died on 9 Jan 1706. [Ref, 4;33] He married second Mary Smith on 16 Oct 1707. [Ref]
  3. Jonathan Freeman was born on 11 Nov1676. He died on 27 Apr 1714. [Ref] He married Mary Unknown. [Ref]
  4. Edmund Freeman was born on 11 Feb 1680. He died on 10 Mar 1745/6. [Ref] He married Phebe Watson of Plymouth. [Ref]
  5. Joseph Freeman was born on 11 Feb 1682. died in Mar 1756. [Ref] He married first Lydia Thatcher of Yarmouth. [Ref] He married second Mrs. Mary Freeman on 9 Sep 1736. [Ref]
  6. Joshua Freeman was born on 7 Mar 1684.
  7. Hannah Freeman was born on 28 Sep 1687. She died young.
  8. Prence Freeman was born on 3 Jan 1689.
  9. Hatsall Freeman was born on 27 Mar 1691. He died on 23 May 1773. [Ref] He married Abigail Hallett of Yarmouth. [Ref]
  10. Rebecca Freeman was born 21 Apr 1694. [Ref]

Eighth Generation

MERCY FREEMAN (1674 - 1747)

Parents: Thomas Freeman and Rebecca Sparrow [Ref][Ref][Ref, p. 55]

Mercy Freeman was born in 10 Oct 1674 [Ref does not give the day] in Eastham. [Ref] She died on 30 Aug 1747 in West Brewster. [Ref says Yarmouth][Ref, p. 55] She married Paul Sears [Ref][Ref] in 1693 in Harwich. [Ref, p. 55] Paul and Mercy are buried in the old family burying ground at Bound Brook in West Brewster. [Ref, p. 56] This Cemetery is now called the Sears Cemetery and it is located in East Dennis, Barnstable, Massachusetts. Click here to see a photo of her gravestone.

Mercy signed her will on 13 Dec 1746; it was proved on 9 Sep 1747. [Ref, p. 57] She names her children Ebenezer, Paul, Thomas, Joshua, Daniel, Edmund, Rebecca Hall, Deborah Howes, Mercy Blackmore and Ann Bangs. [Ref, p. 57] Her estate amounted to about £562. [Ref, p. 57]

The inscription on her gravestone says: 74 yrs wife of Paul.

References

Adams, Arthur, "Mrs. Fritz Carleton Hyde (Harriet Virginia Baker)", memoirs section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 109, 1955, 219-220.

Brainard, Homer Worthington, "Prence Freeman of East Hampton, Conn.," The American Genealogist 17, 1940, 87-95.

Brownson, Lydia B. (Phinney) and Maclean W. McLean, "The Rev. Richard Bourne of Sandwich, Mass. (c. 1610 - 1682)," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 118, 1964, p. 83 -

Bush, Richard L., "English Ancestry of Bennett Hodsoll, first wife of Edmond Freeman of Sandwich, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 164, 2010, 104-111.

Crisp, Frederick Arthur, ed., Visitation of England and Wales, privately printed, London, 1913.

Editors, "Founders of New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 14, 1860, 297 - 346.

Freeman, Frederick,. The History of Cape Cod : Annals of Thirteen Towns of Barnstable County, Boston: W.H. Piper & Co., 1869, c1862. Online: Ancestry.com.

Hamlin, David, "First Settlers of Eastham, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 41-46, 167-170, 234-.

Hayward, Elijah, "Plymouth Colony Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9, 1855, 313-318.

May, Samuel Pearce, The Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears) of Yarmouth, Mass., 1638-1888: With an appendix containing some notices of other families by the name of Sears, Albany, J. Munsell, 1890.

No author, "Sandwich and Bourne Colony and Town Records," 1912, C.W. Swift, Yarmouthport, in Leonard H. Smith, ed., Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, v. 2, 1992, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore. Online: Ancestry.com.

Paine, Josiah, "Early Settlers of Eastham," in Leonard H. Smith, Jr., Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, V. 1, reprinted, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004, pp. 490 - 521.

Pierce, Josiah, "The Freemans - the Eastham Branch of the Sandwich Family - Maj. John Freeman," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 20, 1866, 59 - 61. Errata: 353 - 4.

Sherman, Ruth Wilder, "Who was Archibald Cole's Real Mother or what Do You Do when Records are Wrong?" The American Genealogist, 54, 1978, 103-8.

Vital Records of Plymouth, Mass. to 1850, New England Historic and Genealogical Society.

Vital Records of the Towns of Barnstable and Sandwich