Person:William Freathy (1)

William Freathy
b.Bef 1617
d.Aft 25 Apr 1688
m. Bef 1651
  1. Joan FreethyEst 1651 -
  2. Elizabeth FreathyEst 1653 -
  3. John FreethyEst 1656 - Bef 1692
  4. James FreethyEst 1658 - Bef 1690
  5. Samuel FreathyEst 1660 - 1685
Facts and Events
Name William Freathy
Gender Male
Alt Birth? 22 Aug 1612 St. Michael, Landrake, Cornwall, England
Birth[1] Bef 1617
Alt Marriage 13 Jan 1639/40 Plymouth, Devon, Englandto Elizabeth _____
Marriage Bef 1651 to Elizabeth _____
Occupation[1] 28 Oct 1684 York, York, Maine, United Statesferryman
Occupation[1] York, York, Maine, United StatesFisherman
Death[1] Aft 25 Apr 1688 based on York Deeds (9:63)
Alt Death? 1688 York, York, Maine, United States

Background and Immigration

William Freethy is first found in the Province of Maine, on Richmond Island. He migrated in 1635, and upon arrival works as a contract laborer/fisherman for John Winter. William, along with several other fisherman working for John Winter, got into a dispute and left their positions. Apparently William Freethy returned shortly thereafter. "Wm Farethye" is shown on the Richmond Island accounts for 27 May 1639 as owing £11 6s. 9d., balanced against the £10 he was owed for two years wages. John Winter notes in a letter 27 Jun 1640 that William "Freythy" was no longer working for him, although he had filled three years of service. He is a brother of Alexander Freethy, who is found in 1636 on Richmond Island S1.

Legal Troubles

Anderson reports that William "Frethey" was charged in Saco, Maine with profaning the Sabbath by carrying boards (i.e. working). He was fined 20s. [Anderson references Maine Provincial and Court Records 1:75-76]. William "Fraisey" was sued in 1641 in New Hampshire, and on 31 Aug 1643, "Wm Fraysey [was] presented for neglecting the ordinances of God & refusing to live in an orderly course of life among his neighbors." On 10 Sep 1645, he was fined 6s. 8d. and fees for fighting [Anderson references the Provincial Papers of New Hampshire 40:5, 11-12, & 17]. In York, on 19 Oct 1667, "William Freathy [was] complained of by James Grant, grand jury man, for being drunk; William Freathy owns his offense, fined five shillings" [Maine Provincial and Court Records 1:300].S1

Residence

William Freethy resides in Portsmouth (New Hampshire) by 1640 and in York (Maine) not later than 1652. He is a freeman in York by 22 November 1652. On 28 Oct 1684 the York Court appointed William Freathy "to keep a constant ferry for strangers as well as for town inhabitants, over the other side of the river, where John Stover once lived, to that way lately cut which goeth over to Spruce Creek, & so to Strawbury Banke, to which end he said Freathy is enjoined to provide canoes or a boat, suitable to transport men or horses or both as occasion requireth over said river" [Maine Provincial & Court Records '3:205].S1

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 William Freethy, in Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (Boston, Massachusetts: NEHGS, 1999-2011)
    Vol II p.583-587.

    See text for details