Edmund Freeman (1620-1673) and His Wives Rebecca Prence and Margaret Perry of Sandwich, Massachusetts

Edmund/Edmond  Freeman was baptized in Billingshurst, Sussex, England on 26 November 1620, the son of Edmund and Bennet (Hodsoll) Freeman. [McLean] I wrote about Edmund and Bennet here and here.He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. I also descend from Edmund’s brother Major John Freeman and his sister Elizabeth Freeman. I wrote about Major John here and Elizabeth here.

Edmund came to New England 1635 at age 15 with his parents on board the Abigail. [Hotten] They settled first Saugus (now Lynn), Massachusetts and then moved to Sandwich on Cape Cod where Edmund Sr was one of the founders. The elder Edmund was an important man in the colony and referred to as Gentleman in records. Edmund of this sketch was an original settler in the Bournedale section of Sandwich. [Merrick]

Edmund married, first, Rebecca Prence, on 22 April 1646 probably at Eastham, Massachusetts. [Plymouth VR p 665] She was born before 22 May 1627 at Plymouth, the daughter of Thomas and Patience (Brewster) Prence. [She is included in the 1627 division of cattle] Her father became Governor of Plymouth Colony and her grandfather William Brewster was a Mayflower passenger. Rebecca’s sister Mercy Prence married John Freeman, Edmond’s brother.

Rebecca and Edmund had two daughters [listed in settlement of Edmund’s estate]:

1. Patience born about 1647, probably at Sandwich; married Joseph Burgess
2. Rebecca born before July 1651 perhaps as early as 1648, probably at Sandwich; married Ezra Perry and had ten children

Rebecca died before 18 July 1651 when her husband remarried. She may be the Reb[ecca Fre]eman buried 23 March [no year given but with other 1648 entries] If that is the case, then her daughter Rebecca may have been born in 1648 and the mother perhaps died in childbirth or of complications afterward. 

Edmund Freeman married, second, Margaret Perry at Sandwich on 18 July 1651. [Sandwich Vital Records in MD 14:109] In most printed accounts which refer to early Perry’s of Sandwich, it is claimed that Margaret Perry was sister to Ezra Perry. [Brownson/McLean]

Margaret and Edmund had six children, born Sandwich:

3. Margaret born 2 October 1652 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:169]; m.  John Fish 

4. Edmund born 5 October 1655 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:109]; m. Sarah Skiffe

5. Alice born 29 March 1658 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:109 as “Eales”]; m. Isaac Pope

6. Rachel born 4 Sept 1659 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:110; the last digit in the year has been written over and is fairly illegible—Freeman and Savage have it as 1659]; m. John Landers

7. Sarah born 6 February 1662 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:110]; m. Richard Landers

8. Deborah born 9 August 1665 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:1110]; m.  Thomas Landers

I descend from Rachel. It’s wild that three Freeman sisters married three Landers brothers. Their parents were neighbors in Sandwich.

Edmund served for seven years as deputy to the General Court beginning in 1669.  [McLean] Edmund Freeman Jr was on the 1643 Sandwich list of men able to bear arms. [Stratton]

Edmund lived off Ploughed Neck Road, near land owned by his brother John Freeman who removed to Eastham, as well as Jedediah Allen and Thomas Landers.

In his father Edmund Freeman’s 21 June 1682 will, his real estate was bequeathed to his sons Edmund and John. 

Land transactions:

• On 29 April 1674 Edmond Freeman Jr of Sandwich for fatherly affection to his son Joseph Burge and daughter Patience his wife, deeded six acres of upland in Sandwich, being formerly in the possession of Edmond Freeman Sr. It was acknowledged at court by Edmund Freeman and his wife Margaret Freeman who gave up her right to the land on 2 March 1674/5. [PCR 5:2:379]
• On 4 March 1696/7, Edmund (as Edmund Freeman Sr, gentleman) gave his son Edmund, “for love, good will and affection” his messuage or tenement on which he now dwells, with all the upland, meadow ground, marsh, and all other lands in Sandwich, with his dwelling house, barn, and orchards. It is a very detailed document, outlining where Edmund Sr would live, and how all the cows, sheep, horses, hay and pastures should be handled. [Records of the Superior Court of Judicature, Boston, Docket 6397] It seems certain that Margaret was deceased by this time as her approval would have been required. 
• At a later date, Edmund Freeman Sr required clarification of his action and “was informed that he had given away to his son all that he had, leaving nothing to dispose of to his daughters,” nor for his own use. Perhaps Edmund Sr’s health was impaired and his mind and memory were failing. [McLean]

Margaret died, probably at Sandwich, between 2 March 1674/5 [deed to Patience and Joseph Burge] and 4 March 1696/7 [not mentioned in the deed to Edmund Jr]. 

Edmund died, intestate, at Sandwich before 5 January 1703/4 when Ezra Perry, his son-in-law, was appointed administrator of his estate. Inventory was taken in March 1703/4 by Elisha Bourne and Benjamin Perry. It was valued at £42 14s. While living he deeded most of his land to his son Edmund. The amount of £8 was “due to the Estate from his son Edmond Freeman.” [Barnstable County PR 2:166 admin.; 2:171 inventory] 

Edmund the son appealed the case that he owned money to the estate to the Superior Court. The papers for the earlier court proceedings would have been destroyed by the 1827 Barnstable courthouse fire. At the 1 July 1704 court session, Edmund denied that he had goods or money belonging to his father at the time of his death. He also claimed the inventory of his father’s estate was “pretended.” [Docket 6397] 

At court on 3 July 1704, Major John Freeman, brother of the deceased, aged about 77 years,  said that his brother Edmund told him that his son Edmund owed him £6, but he could not get it from him. On 12 March 1703/4 Edmund Freeman declared the testimony of his uncle John was “a pack of lyes.” On 23 March 1704/5 Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Administrator of Edmund Freeman’s estate, appeared at court stating his friend Ensign Daniel Parker would act as his attorney at the Superior Court. The case was decided against Edmund and judgment awarded to Ezra Perry. [Docket 6397] Seems a foolish strategy for Edmund to question the word of his uncle Major John Freeman, who was so well-respected in the Colony.

The final distribution of the estate occurred 9 June 1705. Edmund was to receive £15; Isaac Pope and Alice his wife £9 7s; Richard Allen of Sandwich 1s 10p; John Fish and wife Margaret £1, 13s, 8p; John Launders and Rachel his wife £1 6s; Patience Burg widow £5 8s; Ezra Perry and wife Rebekah £12 14s 6p. [Barnstable County PR 2:190] His two youngest daughters, Sarah and Deborah, are not on the distribution list, so it is possible they received their full portions at their marriages. 

Sources:

Barbara Lambert Merrick, Mayflower Families In Progress Elder William Brewster, 1997

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

RA Lovell Jr, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People, 1986

Maclean McLean, The American Genealogist, “Mr. Edmond 2 Freeman of Sandwich Mass and His Family,” 40:103 (1964)

John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality…1600-1700, 1874

Rev. Frederick Freeman, Freeman Genealogy in three parts, viz: I. Memorial of Edmund Freeman of Sandwich and his desc., II Memorial of Samuel Freeman of Watertown and his Desc., III Notes, Historical and Genealogical of Families of the Name of Freeman, distinct from Parts I and II, or whose connection is not clearly ascertained, 1875

Lydia Brownson and Maclean McLean, NEHGS Register, “Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Mass.,” 115:86 (1961)