Henry Freeman (abt. 1515 - 1585)

Born about 1515 in Northamptonshire, England

Husband of Joan (Rudd) Freeman — married about 1531 in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England

Descendants

Died 29 Apr 1585 at about age 70 in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England

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Biography

Birth

Born: Before 1515

Estimate based on oldest son's estimated birth date of about 1534.

Location unknown/no birth record. He was of Irchester, co. Northampton, England. ^[1]

His parents and ancestry are unknown.^[2]

Marriage and Children

Married: He married Joan Rudd, the daughter of Thomas Rudd of Higham Ferrers and Alice Pemberton. ^[1] They are estimated to have been married by 1531 if they had three children born by 1536.

She died prior to Henry Freeman making his will on 6 August 1580. The will of Thomas Pemberton (d. 1542) refers to “my cosyn Henry Freeman” and he served as a witness to the will of William Pemberton who died 1536.

Children of Henry Freeman and Joan Rudd:

• Thomas. Named as son and heir in father's will. if his brother Blase was born about 1536 and so his brother George about 1534, it would be reasonable to roughly estimate his birth as about 1532.
• George Freeman. Named in the will of his father and would appear to have been the second son. If his younger brother Blase was born about 1536 then it would be reasonable to date his birth as about 1534. His father’s will grants him various lands in Irchester, Knoston, and Irtlingburgh. He was still living when his father’s will was made on 6 August 1580.
• Blase Freeman. Born about 1536, estimate based on the apprentice records of the Skinners’ Company of London. He finished his apprenticeship in 1557, and would then have his three younger brothers be assigned to be his apprentice. He is named along with his older brother Thomas as an executor of his father’s will. He left a will dated 8 May 1590 and proved on 2 July 1590 naming his wife Dorothy, son and heir Thomas, daughter Elizabeth Sympson, and daughter Alice.
• John Freeman. Born about 1541, estimate based on the apprentice records of the Skinners’ Company of London. He was made the apprentice of Thomas Sexton in 1553, later the apprentice of his older brother Blase Freeman, and completed his apprenticeship in 1562. He was not named in the will of his father but as Blase was only mentioned as an executor and also received no inheritance by his father’s will, this cannot be used to establish if he was still living or not.
• Oswalde Freeman. Born about 1544, estimate based on the apprentice records of the Skinners’ Company of London. He was made the apprentice of his brother Blase Freeman in 1558; his release date from his bond is not recorded. Oswald was dead in the will of his father dated 6 August 1580. The will mentions Oswalde’s wife Margaret and their 6 children.
• Edward Freeman. Born about 1551, estimate based on the apprentice records of the Skinners’ Company of London. He was made an apprentice of his brother Blase in 1564 and completed his apprenticeship in October of 1572. Like his brother John, he is not mentioned in the will of his father.
• Elizabeth Freeman was named in the will of her father as Elizabeth Bowse and noted to have 6 children.
• Mary Freeman was named in the will of her father, likely deceased, and noted to have 7 children.

Death and Will

Died: Between 6 August 1580 and 29 April 1585.

Dates will made and proved.

Will of Henry Freman of Archester, co. Northt

Dated 6th Aug. 1580. Proved 29th April 1585. (P.C.C. 15 Brudenell).

To the mother church of Peterbrughe 6 d., vicar of Archester 12 d, poor of Archester 6/8, of Windlingburgh 6/8, Wolaston 5/-, Irtlingburgh 5/-, Higham Ferrers 6/8, Farnedish 20 d.

To my son Thomas Freeman 20/-, his three children 6/8 each. To my daughter Elizabeth Bowse 20/-, her six children 6/8 each. To each of my daughter Mary's seven children 6/8. To Margaret Freeman, late wife of my son Oswolde Freman decd. 20/-, and to her five children 6/8 each. To my son George Freeman 20/-. To repairs of Stable Bridge in Archester 2/-, of Dycheford Bridge in the same 2/-.

To my son George Freeman my messjuage in Londonend in Archester and a croft ?Meriwethers Yarde? and all my lands etc. free and copyhold in Archester, Knoston and Irtlingburgh late in the tenure of Margarett Freeman late wife of Oswald Freman decd. for life, and then to Henry Freeman, son and heir of the said Thomas Freman and his heirs for ever; also one yarde land ?Humberland? in Archester and all lands in Archester late in the occupation of the said Margarett Freeman which I have on lease from William Vaux Lord Harrowdon, for the term yet to come, and if he die first, the remainder to the said Henry Freman.

To my son Thomas Freman all my lands etc in Overdean and Netherdeane, co. Bedford, and in Archester and Knoston, co. Northt., to him and his heirs for ever; also the lease of my parsonage of Archester and of my windmill in Farnedishe, co. Bedford, and of a close ?Duffeehouse Close? and a dove house and one yarde lande and on other close now a hopyarde and a cottage in Archester which I have of William Vaus Lord Harrowdon for the rest of my terms; if he die first, then to the said Henry son of Thomas Freman.

To William Butter my clerke [blank]. Residue to relieve such of my children as have most need. Exors: my sons Blase Freman and Thomas Freman. Overseers: my son in law John Barnes and [blank], to each 6/8. I require my Exors: to deliver all court rolls especially such as be engrossed in paper books like to a Register of wylles to the owners of the same except such as my son Thomas shall hereafter fortune to get the stewardship of as I have had.

No witnesses. Proved 29th April 1585 by Thomas Freman, son, p.r. to Blase Freman.

Notes and Commentary

Henry Freeman of Irchester, co. Northampton heads the pedigree given in the Visitations of Northampton. No arms are given for this Freeman family. The Visitation is in error as it makes Henry the grandfather of Alice Freeman when he is in fact her great-grandfather.

He likely served as a steward for Thomas Vaux, 2nd Lord Vaux of Harrowden and then for William Vaux, 3rd Lord Vaux; he served as steward for the view of frankpledge held in the court of Lord Vaux in 1545 and in 1547. His will, and that of his son Thomas, mentions land in Irchester which he had from William Vaux, 3rd Lord Vaux. In addition to the land in Irchester, his will mentions holdings in Knoston and Irthlingburgh, co. Northampton and Overdean and Netherdeane, co. Bedford.

He married Joan Rudd, the daughter of Thomas Rudd of Higham Ferrers and Alice Pemberton. She died prior to Henry Freeman making his will on 6 August 1580. The will of Thomas Pemberton (d. 1542) refers to “my cosyn Henry Freeman” and he served as a witness to the will of William Pemberton who died 1536.

The four youngest sons of Henry Freeman appear as apprentices in the records of the Skinners’ Company and can be used to approximate their birth dates. Torrey in his TAG article uses these records to date to estimate their birth dates as Blase born 1536, John born 1541, Oswald born 1544 and Edward 1551. John, Oswald and Edward would all eventually become apprentices of their older brother Blase.

Henry Freeman left a will dated 6 August 1580 and proved on 29 April 1585. He died prior to 25 March 1585 when his son Thomas made his will and mentioned his father as deceased. The will of Henry Freeman names his son Thomas, son George, daughter Elizabeth Bowse, daughter Mary, Margaret Freeman late wife of my son Oswalde deceased, and a son Blase who only appears as an executor of the will.

Common Errors to Avoid

Incorrect parents: Online sources have been found suggesting he could be the son of Sir James Fremingham and Elizabeth Fremingham - this is incorrect. ^[3]There is no evidence this true, the name is wrong, and the location is wrong. SOURCE IN ERROR.

Sources

Footnotes and citations;

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Metcalfe, Walter C. ed. Visitations of Northamptonshire made in 1564 and 1618-19. (London, 1887):91 Freeman; p. 192 Rudd. Archives.org Copy Google Books Copy
2. ↑ The American Genealogist, vol. 13 (July 1936) p. 1-8. Alice (Freeman) Tompson) Parke, by Clarence Almon Torrey.
3. ↑ Geni. Henry Freeman, born 1505, died 29Apr1585. Son of Sir James Fremingham and Elizabeth Fremingham.

Source list:

• The American Genealogist, vol. 13 (July 1936) p. 1-8. Alice (Freeman) Tompson) Parke, by Clarence Almon Torrey.
• Metcalfe, Walter C. ed. Visitations of Northamptonshire made in 1564 and 1618-19. (London, 1887):91 Freeman; p. 192 Rudd. Archives.org Copy Google Books
• Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and His Wife Frances Helen Miller. (Concord: privately printed, 1948):419-425.