Edward Freeman (abt. 1740 - 1788)

Born about 1740 in Oxfordshire, England

Husband of Alice (Parker) Freeman — married 16 Feb 1767 in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1788 at about age 48 in Chipping Norton, Oxford, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Jo Freeman [send private message]

Biography

Edward was born about 1740 maybe in Oxfordshire, England or somewhere nearby. His baptism is not listed in the records of Chipping Norton. Not sure if he had any siblings.

Edward's father was Samuel Freeman (b abt 1715). Samuel Freeman had 2 brothers: Edward and Joseph and maybe some sisters. These brothers were mentioned in the will of Edward in 1756. The father of these 3 brothers was maybe John Freeman.
The only Freemans in Chipping Norton at the time of Edward's birth were John Freeman (who died in 1740) and Joseph Freeman & wives Mary then Sarah. Joseph had several children in Chipping Norton.

Samuel evidently did not live in Chipping Norton. No records show him there. His brother Edward's will also mentions kinswoman Elizabeth, daug. of John Watts of Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire, which in on the north side of Oxfordshire, 21 miles from Chipping Norton.
Maybe this was Samuel's sister -- Elisabeth Freeman married John Watts, Jan 12, 1752 at Henington, Warwick, Worcester^[1]. Maybe this John Watts was the one born in Statford-on-Avon in 1726^[2]

Here are 2 options for Edward's birth, though neither of them look very likely:
Edward Freeman born 1738^[3] in Bicester (about 18 miles east of Chipping Norton). His father was John
There was another Edward Freeman born in 1741^[4] in Cuddesdon/Cuxham (about 26-34 miles SE of Chipping Norton). His father was William. Edward named his sons Samuel Edward and William Hammond.
A 3rd Edward Freeman was born in 1735^[5] in Combe (12 miles SE of Chipping Norton), but he died in 1743 (age about 7). His father was William, Mother Eliz.
These were the only 3 births of Edward Freeman in Oxfordshire, England and none of them seem right for this man.

Edward married Feb 16, 1767^[6] to Alice Parker, in Chipping Norton, Oxford, England. Alice had been a servant girl in his uncle Edward's house before she married Edward. (Since their first child was christened in August, 1767, it's likely that she was pregnant when they married in Feb.)

Edward was a barber in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England.

There are 3 wills for an Edward Freeman in Chipping Norton:
1765 is for Edward's uncle, Edward, a barber and periwig maker^[7]
Will of Edward Freeman of Chipping Norton (date Jan 15, 1765, though the record shows he was buried on Jan 4, 1765)^[8] Will mentions
Edward, nephew, son of my brother Samuel
Edward, son of my nephew William, joiner of St Marylebone London
Mary Powell, daug of brother Joseph
kinswoman Elizabeth Darby
kinswoman Elizabeth d of John Watts of Stratford on Avon.
And servant Alice Parker

2 more wills:
1788 is for this Edward, the barber. (I haven't been able to locate this will in the British Archives^[9], but I have copies of the 1765 and 1807 wills.)

1807 is for his son Edward, a distiller and innkeeper in Chipping Norton (he named his mother, Alice in the will. It seems that his father left him a tavern, and he provided for his mother if she outlived him.)

So, it's evident from this that Edward on this page was a barber in Chipping Norton and probably also owned a tavern.

Edward passed away in 1788 In Chipping Norton, Oxford, England.
Burial records of Chipping Norton & Over Norton 1775-1812:^[10]
Edward Freeman, buried March (30?), 1788, age 48
[This would make his birth year 1740]
Find A Grave: Memorial #171754610

His uncle Edward's (1717-1765) will mentions:
kinswoman Elizabeth Darby (prob aunt of Edward 1740-1788)
kinswoman (prob cousin) Elizabeth d of John Watts of Stratford on Avon. Elizabeth Freeman married John Watts, Jan 12, 1742 in Hennerton, Warwickshire (54 miles SE of Chipping Norton, near Reading)^[11]

Children of Edward Freeman and Alice Parker:
(All born in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England)

1. Edward Freeman, bapt Aug 14, 1767, Chipping Norton, par: Edwd. & Alice^[12]
2. Ann Freeman, bapt Apr 13, 1769, Chipping Norton, par: Edward & Allice^[13]
3. Samuel Edward Freeman, bapt Mar 25, 1771, Chipping Norton, par: Edwd. & Alice^[14]
4. William Hammond Freeman, bap Nov 30, 1772, Chipping Norton, par: Edwd. & Alice^[15]
5. Elizabeth Freeman, bapt Aug 1, 1774, Chipping Norton, par: Edwd. & Alice^[16]
6. Mary Freeman, ch: Mar 3, 1777, Chipping Norton, par: Edward & Alice^[17]
7. John Freeman, bapt June 12, 1778, Chipping Norton, par: Edwd. & Alice^[18]

Research Notes

Will of Edward Freeman the elder of Chipping Norton, barber, signed 31st August 1787^[19]: bequests made to:

Wife Alice

Sons Edward, Samuel Edward, William Hammond and John

Daughters Ann, Elizabeth, Darby and Mary

Will proved at Oxford on 7th May 1788

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ9T-4YK
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSBY-9Y2
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J77P-K9M
4. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3JB-G5Z
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9S3-GV9
6. ↑ Marriage - http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~frrc/genealogy/gbdata2.html
7. ↑ Will $ - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D550715
8. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNT-SKYP?i=89&cc=3293406
9. ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D550715
10. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DJ-CHTZ
11. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ9T-4YK
12. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3JY-PRZ
    
13. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J77R-15H
14. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBZH-XFZ
15. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9SS-R2G
16. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J77T-MFF
17. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWVL-Z55
18. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5B9-988
19. ↑ Oxford Archdeaconry Wills, Archive Reference: 128/4/26 Archive Reference 2: Will, 217.227; 128/4/26 Link to image on Will on Findmypast.co.uk

• Freeman Family History -https://web.archive.org/web/20210929014211/http://rfmin.net/mjgen/freeman/English-Freemans.html
• FAG - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171754610