Person:Humphrey Frere (1)

FREER, OF BLABY, LEICESTER, &c.

THE family of Frere was settled in Worcestershire early in the 14th century; in 1369 Humphrey Frere (son of Thomas, who was son of Jeffrey, M. P. Worc., and of Elizabeth, dau. & h. of John Lyttleton, of Frankley) came into possession of the Blanquetts in that co. by his marriage with Agnes Blanquett, and he and his descendants held that estate for 5 generations, Richard Frere in 1569 entering his Pedigree and Arms (Sable, a chevron between three dolphins' heads embowed) at the Vis. Worc. The Freers of Leicestershire were widespread in this co., and early in the 16th century branches were settled at Wigston, Enderby, Burton Overy, Narborough, Glen, Blaby, &c. In 1609, Thomas Freere held lands in Whetstone, and Henry Frere held lands in Gl en Magna; and in 1630, Richard Freer occurs as a freeholder at Wigston, and Wm. Freer at Newton Unthank. As early as 1296, Wm. Freer was rector of Sharnford. In 1545 Tho. Freer, of Burton Overy, was assessed 2s. 8d. for goods worth œ16 (Lay Subs. 133-153); and in 1575 Wm. Frear, of Little Stretton, 3s. for goods worth œ3. (Lay Subs. 18 Elizabeth.) The earliest Will at Leicester is that of Robert Frere, of Wigston, proved 1529. The branch whose Pedigree is here given was sett led at Blaby in 1580, and was it is thought connected with the Worc. family, as its members have long used the same Arms. In the Blaby registers, which commence in 1560, the name is variously spelt Freer, Frear, Frier, Fryer, and Freyer; and the earliest entry is the marriage of Thomas Freman, of Leicester, and Katherine Freer,of Blaby, 10 July 1580. William Fryer m. Jane James 8 Nov. 1585.

1.   WM. GEO. DIMOCK FLETCHER,. Leicestershire Pedigrees and Royal Descents. (Leicestershire Pedigrees and Royal Descents

   BY THE REV. WM. GEO. DIMOCK FLETCHER, M. A., VICAR OF S. MICHAEL'S, SHREWSBURY HON. EDITORIAL SECRETARY OF THE LEICESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL

   AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

   LEICESTER:

   CLARKE AND HODGSON, 5, GALLOWTREE GATE. 1887).