Person:John Freeman (17)

From The Freeman Families of Nova Scotia... (Page 394): Edward Freeman of Stotfold, Bedford County, England, did not mention his wife in his will, dated 1 November 1586, so it maybe assumed that she pre-deceased her husband. Seven sons were mentioned, but no daughters. Edward and Thomas were named as the executors in the will, which was proved at London on 4 August 1587. Also named were Richard, Nicholas, John, the younger, and George.

John Freeman, the younger, was probably born about 1570 in Stotfold, and upon reaching the age of twenty-four years, received property in Stotfold field and thirty pounds, bequeathed him in his father�s will.

He married Priscilla Angelo on 3 September 1595 at St. Ann�s Church in Blackfriars, London, and they were the parents of six children, one daughter and five sons. Their first three children were sons, all named John, each of whom died soon after birth, as did their only daughter. Of the two surviving sons, Samuel and John, Samuel is mentioned as the eldest son in his mother�s will. In the Parish Registers at St. Ann�s, are recorded the baptismal dates for four of the children. The fifth child was baptized at St. Olave, Jewry, London, with the notation on the register "by reason their church is now abuilding". No date of birth or baptism was found for the son, Samuel.

John was a haberdasher by trade, and a man of considerable means. He and Priscilla resided in the precinct of Blackfriars, near Ludgate, London. He went into partnership with William Bannister, a draper in London, for the purchase of water conduit heads and pipes in Clerkenwell. These pipes were connected to a house located on property owned by John, and was referred to as "The Glass House", because a Venetian, during the reign of Elizabeth, attempted to introduce the manufacture of Venetian glass in England, and this house had been his workplace. On one side of the Glass House Yard was the Ireland Yard, where William Shakespeare once owned a house, and on one end was the Play House Yard, so named from the theater where Shakespeare acted while he resided in Blackfriars.

In his will, dated 21 July 1620, John bequeathed the above property to his son Samuel, which in later years caused him to be involved in law-suits. Shortly before his death, John built a new house which was located by the old Palace Gate at Westminster, and this house, and 300 pounds, was also willed to Samuel. He also willed property and 300 pounds to his son John, and one third of his estate to his wife Priscilla, who was named as sole executrix of the will, which was proved in London on 28 September 1622.

John Freeman died in 1622 and was buried 25 September 1622 in the vaults beneath the Church of St. Ann, Blackfriars. Priscilla survived her husband by eight or nine years, and in her will, dated 27 December 1630, and proved 7 June 1631, made bequests to her grandson Henry, son of Samuel. She was buried beside her husband on 25 February 1630-31.

St. Anne Soho, 57 Dean St. W1. The church in which John Freeman and Priscilla Angelo were married was burned in the London fire of 1666, was rebuilt by Christopher Wren, and was destroyed in 1940 by German bombs. The steeple which stands today was built by Cockerell in 1802-6. 1