Henry Freeman (1672 - 1763)

Born 7 Aug 1672 in Oxfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Baignoux) Freeman — married 16 May 1695 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1763 at age 91 in Woodbridge, Middlesex county, New Jersey

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Uncertain Origin

Henry Freeman is widely believed to have been born in England. The story of his arrival at Philadelphia as a young man was accepted by most writers of his history, but backed up by slim evidence. He would have arrived in 1685 or 1690. No records have been found.

-+Many older books may have relied on information from Anjou, known for fraud and invention.—^[1]

Another theory is that he was born in New Jersey. His father died by the time Henry was about 15 and he and his mother appeared in Woodbridge. No record exists of his mother, who presumably died fairly young. The following is his basic story.

Biography

Henry Freeman was possibly born in London in 1669. Sources differ on his father’s name, some say it was Joseph. Other sources claim it was either John or Edward.

The story is that he emigrated to Philadelphia on one of the Penn voyages, as a young man with his father and brothers and sister. His father fell overboard in the Delaware River and drowned. Most versions of his history say he was then apprenticed to a Quaker family. Henry left the Quakers because he was not happy with the strict treatment he received. He went to Woodbridge, New Jersey where he lived with a Presbyterian family. As a young man he prospered in business and married. ^[2]

Henry finished his education in Woodbridge and became a judge of Common Pleas. According to one reference, "He became prominently identified with the public affairs of Middlesex county, New Jersey. He was for many years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of that county, and was conspicuous as a champion of the rights of the colonists against the autocratic encroachments of the royal governors."^[3] He also was a farmer.

His wife was Elizabeth Baignoux aka Petit. They lived a long life in Woodbridge, NJ, raising twelve children. He died in 1760 and was buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ. ^[4] Will proved October 13, 1763.

Sources

1. ↑ Willis Freeman: https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/freeman/4109/
2. ↑ Several versions of this story about the drowning of Henry's father, the apprenticeship to Quakers, and his settlement in Woodbridge are recounted in Myers, Patty, Ancestors and Descendants of Lewis Ross Freeman, pg 1-2.
3. ↑ American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Vol. 4, 1918.
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11050724/henry-freeman

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11050724/henry-freeman
• https://www.geni.com/people/Judge-Henry-Freeman/6000000000914183244
• Olive Tree genealogy, records of the Dutch Reforned Church, accessed from DavidWilson.com, via Find a Grave
• Myers, Patty, Ancestors and Descendants of Lewis Ross Freeman, pg 1-2