Joseph Freeman (abt. 1639 - abt. 1682)

Born about 1639 in Middlesex, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1682 at about age 43 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

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Biography

Children; Elizabeth, Edward, Henry, John

Much conflicting information has been passed down about the Freeman family. The man who was called John is most likely Joseph. He was married to Elizabeth Gosse. He emigrated from London, probably arriving at Philadelphia.

From copies of the Freeman pedigrees from various sources connected with the Heralds Visitation, it is clear that the emigrant was Henry Freeman son of Joseph Freeman, baptised 2nd October 1639 at St Mary At Hill, Middlesex. Joseph’s wife was Elizabeth Gosse.

He in turn was the son of William Freeman baptised 14 Jan 1592/3 and his wife Mary Orell. ^[1]

Marriage license: 14 Mar 1666-7 Joseph Freeman, of St Botolph's, Bishopsgate, Cit. & Fishmonger, Bachr, abt 27, & Elizabeth Gosse, of the same, Wid., abt 30; at St Botolph's afsd.Book1666-7CollectionEngland: Canterbury - Marriage Licences issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1660 to 1668

notes

Many sources say Joseph drowned in the Delaware River shortly after arriving in Philadelphia. He may have been on board a boat going to New Jersey.

Fraud

There is much false information online about this family. The above may be from a book written by Anjou, famous for fraud, Correction: Joseph Freeman (not styled "gentleman") was married at St. Botolph's Bishopsgate, 7 March 1666/7 to Elizabeth Goffe (not Gosse). They had two children baptized there, both named Elizabeth, one on 12 Jan 1667/8 the other on 1 Aug 1672.

John Freeman of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, aged about 24 was married to Mary Dockwra of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, 6 Oct 1693, by license (Vicar-general). He is certainly not identical with John Freeman of St. Botolph, Aldgate, bache-lor, who was married by license at St. Paul's Ca-thedral, London 14 Jan 1743 by Samuel Powers. It seems strange that Mr. Anjou so conven-iently found the birth (not baptismal) records of Henry and Edward Freeman at St. Sepulchre. Willis Freeman^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Achievements Ancestral Services in Northgate Canterbury Kent England, from C.R. Humphery-Smith, Director of Research, dated 19 April 1979
2. ↑ https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/freeman/4109/

• England, Extracted Parish and Court Records