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Freese Surname

The surname Freese is probably English in origin but I am unaware of its meaning. Over the past several hundred years it has been used interchangeably as Freeze in spelling.


1st Generation:

James Freese was born circa 1641-1642 7. He died circa 1686 in Falmouth, Cumberland Co., Maine.

James is the earliest known member of this line and first appears in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1657. He moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts, probably in the late 1660's. He was a shipwright. He moved on to Falmouth, Maine after 1674, where he is said to have been killed by Indians during a short war. His widow afterwards returned to Massachusetts and was remarried.
James married Elizabeth circa 1666 in Massachusetts. She was born circa 1642 10 and died on June 16, 1722 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts 10.

They had they following children:

1 James Freese was born on March 16, 1666/7 in Amesbury 7 or Salisbury 11, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died on February 1, 1717/18 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 13.
James married Mary Merrill on June 29, 1697 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 13. She was born on September 18, 1675 in Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died after 1716.
They had the following children:
Hannah Freese (1696/7-???)
md. Thomas Haskins
Elizabeth Freese (1702-???)
Isaac Freese (1716-???)
2John Freese was born on October 1, 1669 in Amesbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 12.
3Katherine Freese was born on January 31, 1670/71 in Amesbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 12.
4Frances Freese was born on September 28, 1674 in Amesbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 12.
5Jacob Freese

2nd Generation:

Jacob Freese was born on September 25, 1685 in Casco Bay, Cumberland County, Maine 6. He died on November 5, 1727 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.

Father: James Freese
Mother: Elizabeth

The Freese Families posits that Jacob was the son of James Freese Jr. (1666/7-1717/8). It seems more likely that he was the son of James Sr. Jacob was probably born shortly before his father was killed by Indians. He moved with his mother to Gloucester, Massachusetts not long after this where his birth was recorded in their vital records (as being born in Casco Bay, Maine.) As a youth, Jacob moved to Hampton, New Hampshire, where he remained. In Hampton, Jacob married to Rachel Chase before 1704. They had at least 8 children: Joseph, Benjamin, Jonathan, Jacob (see next generation), Rachel, Elizabeth, Anna, and Catherine. Jacob died on November 5, 1727 in Hampton, New Hampshire. His wife Rachel died sometime after 1737. Both were buried in the Landing Cemetery at Hampton, where their tombstones are still standing to this day.
Jacob married Rachel Chase before June 14, 1704 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She was born on April 27, 1687 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. She died after 1737 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

They had the following children:

1 Joseph Freese was born on October 6, 1710 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. He died on July 8, 1752 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Sarah Sherburne on March 20, 1734/5 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
2 Benjamin Freese was born on August 29, 1712 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. He died on June 26, 1715 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
3 Jonathan Freese was born on December 29, 1714 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. He died on April 5, 1748 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Sarah Ayer on July 1, 1736 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
4 Jacob Freese
5 Rachel Freese was born on October 9, 1718 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. She died on January 16, 1735/6 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
6 Elizabeth Freese was born on January 18, 1721/2 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5. She died on May 10, 1722 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
7 Anna Freese was born on March 1, 1722/3 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.
8 Catherine Freese was born on June 12, 1726 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5.

3rd Generation:

Jacob Freese Jr. was born on October 10, 1716 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 5,7,15. He died on April 20, 1780 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 7,15.

Father: Jacob Freese
Mother: Rachel Chase

He was married in Hampton on March 30, 1735 to Susanna Gordon. They had at least 4 children: Anna, Gordon, Andrew (see next generation), and Elizabeth. Eventually, Jacob moved with his family to Epping, New Hampshire. There, Jacob died on April 20, 1780.
Jacob married Susanna Gordon on March 30, 1735. She was born circa 1720 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

They had the following children:

1 Anna Freese
2 Gordon Freese
3 Andrew Freese
4 Elizabeth Freese was born on January 18, 1740/1.

4th Generation:

Andrew Freese was born on October 8, 1738 or October 1, 1747 7,15 in Hampton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He died on October 19, 1814 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15,19. He is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

Father: Jacob Freese
Mother: Susanna Gordon

As a youth, he moved with his family to Epping, New Hampshire, where he married Shuah Thurston in 1769. Soon after the marriage the family moved from Epping to Deerfield, New Hampshire, where they remained. Andrew served in the Revolutionary War. He was a selectman in Deerfield in 1777, 1778 and 1779.
Andrew married Shuah Thurston on December 14, 1769 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15.

They had the following children:

1 Sarah Freese was born on October 11, 1771 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15. She died on October 27, 1772 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15.
2 Sarah Freese was born on May 23, 1774 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15,21. She died on February 6, 1853 in Andover, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire 15,21.
She married Isaiah Langley on January 4, 1793 21. (He was born on October 25, 1770 in Durham, Massachusetts 21 and died on August 1, 1852 in Andover, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire 21.
They had the following children:
Lydia Langley (1793-1799)
Andrew Freese Langley (1796-aft. 1860)
md. 1st. Mehitable Dow
md. 2nd. Nancy Dow
Samuel Langley (1798-???)
md. Dorothy Currier
Shuah Freese Langley (1800-aft. 1860)
md. Eliphalet Griffin
Lydia Chase Langley (1802-aft. 1870)
md. Peter Evans Swett
John Langley (1804-1837)
md. 1st. Ploma Fisk
md. 2nd. Hannah Thompson
Sally Chase Langley (1807-1827)
Dudley Freese Langley (1809-aft. 1865)
md. Malvina S. Hayes
Isaiah Langley (1811-1835)
Nancy Ann Langley (1815-1896)
md. Royal Friend Eastman
Mary Ann Langley (1817-1821)
Jacob Freese Langley (1820-???)
3 Anne Freese was born on August 7, 1776 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15. She died on August 27, 1849 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15.
She married James Tucker. (He was born on December 12, 1770 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire and died on August 10, 1826 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.)
They had the following children:
Charles Tucker (. 1801-???)
Harriet W. Tucker (1803-1847)
md. Dyer Hook Sanborn
Eliza S. Tucker (c. 1805-???)
md. Theodore Dame
Dudley Freese Tucker (c. 1806-aft. 1870)
Benjamin F. Tucker (c. 1811-???)
Mary Ann Tucker (c. 1812-???)
md. Dewitt . Butler
Andrew G. Tucker (c. 1813-???)
Gordon Freese Tucker (c. 1819-aft. 1880)
John True Tucker (c. 1822-???)
Franklin Gilman Tucker
4 Jacob Freese was born on October 29, 1778 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15. He died on August 14, 1843 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 19,20. He is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
He married Eunice James on March 28, 1804. (She was born on February 20, 1783 in Northwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire and died on July 3, 1865 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 19. She is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
They had the following children:
Andrew Freese (1804-1860's)
md. Sally True Jenness
Benjamin James Freese (1806-1872)
md. 1st. Sally Morrill
md. 2nd. Jane Canfield
Joseph Warren Freese (1810-1829)
Jacob Freese (1813-1833)
Jackson Freese (1816-aft. 1870)
md. Martha E. Hanscomb
Eunice James Freese (1819-1848)
md. Gilbert Robinson
John McClary Freese (1821-1902)
Clarissa Ann Freese (1823-1913)
5 Gordon Freese was born on May 26, 1781 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 15,16. He died sometime between 1860-1870 in Levant, Penobscot Co., Maine.
He married first Hannah Allen on February 17, 1802 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 17. (She was born on December 14, 1784 in New Hampshire and died circa 1827 in Levant, Penobscot Co., Maine.)
They had the following children:
Sarah P. Freese (1802-aft. 1880)
md. Benjamin T. Clark
Darius C. Freese (1804-aft. 1870)
md. Mercy R. White
Eliza Jane Freese (1808-1847)
md. Royal Washington Clark
Hannah Freese (1812-aft. 1849)
Gordon P. Freese (c. 1815-aft 1870)
md. Emily S.
Andrew Jackson Freese (1816-1904)
md. Elizabeth Merrill
Nancy C. Freese (1818-bef. 1849)
Drucilla Freese (1820-1863)
md. Moses W. Batchelder
Elmira A. Freese (1822-1837)
Joseph Warren Freese (1823-1845)
He married second Effie Allen, probably in 1827. (She was born circa 1792 in New Hampshire 18 and died sometime between 1850-1858 in Levant, Penobscot Co., Maine.)
They had the following children child:
Mary Susan Freese (1828-1912)
md. Isaac Curtis Ham
Samuel Higgins Freese (1830-1831)
Caroline C. Freese (1832-aft. 1880)
md. Joseph P. Rowell
He married third Rebecca Corson on December 6, 1858 in Levant, Penobscot Co., Maine. (She was born circa 1790 in New Hampshire and died between 1860-1870 in Levant, Penobscot Co., Maine.)
They had no children.
6 Dudley Freese

5th Generation:

Dudley Freese was born on October 16, 1787 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,15. He died on April 5, 1843 4 or April 15, 1843 7,19,22 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

Father: Andrew Freese
Mother: Shuah Thurston

Dudley always lived in Deerfield, New Hampshire and it is said that he always lived in house in which he was born. In early life, Dudley was a teacher, and he was afterwards also a farmer, miller and a land surveyor.

Dudley also served as a Representative for the New Hampshire State Legislature. He was also a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Deerfield from 1832 to 1842, having to resign due to ill health. Dudley died on April 5, 1843 in the house he was born in, at the age of 55. His widow died in 1885.

Dudley married Ruth Stearns on December 13, 1810 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,8.

They had the following children:
1 Sally Stearns Freese was born on May 7, 1812 8 or August 7, 1812 4,7,23 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She died on May 24, 1875 in Lowell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 7,23.
She married first William Norris on November 10, 1835 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7,23. (He was born on September 20, 1813 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 23 and died on October 17, 1841 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,23.)
They had the following children:
William Freese Norris (1836-1838)
William Norris (1838-1899)
md. Juliette G. Fay
Joseph Dudley Norris (1841-1841)
She married second George Washington Norris on August 3, 1842 23 or in August 1843 4. (He was born on August 9, 1819 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 23 and died in 1897 in Lowell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts 24.)
They had the following children:
George Franklin Norris (1844-1844)
Sarah Marietta Norris (1846-1930)
md. Edward Reader
George H. Norris (1849-1850's)
Clara Georgianna Norris (1852-1937)
infant Norris (c. 1854-c. 1854)
Celia Adele Norris (1856-1925)
md. Henry Llewellyn Tibbetts
2 Dudley Freese was born on March 23, 1814 7 or March 29, 1814 4,8 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He died on June 14, 1838 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,8,19. He is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
3 Mary Elizabeth Freese was born on September 9, 1817 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7,8. She died on October 14, 1903 in Amesbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts 14. She is buried in the Parade Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
She married Enoch French Stevens, Junior, on November 17, 1836 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7. (He was born on October 30, 1808 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4 and died on October 15, 1859 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He is buried in the Parade Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.)
They had the following children:
Horace St. Clair Stevens (1837-1913)
md. 1st. Abbie Jane Langley
md. 2nd. Nancy S. Dickey
Mary Elizabeth Stevens (1838-1838)
Hobart Walter Stevens (1839-1921)
md. 1st. Caroline Ophelia Smith
md. 2nd. Laura J. Stevens
Dudley Freese Stevens (1841-1920)
md. Ida A. Tilton
Enoch Woodbury Stevens (1843-1924)
md. Charlena J. Coffin
George Newton Stevens (1845-1846)
Mary Elizabeth Stevens (1847-1926)
md. Horace H. Bean
Sarah Georgianna Stevens (1849-1930)
md. Edward Sherburne
George F. Stevens (1850-1928)
md. Florence Martha Prescott
Frank Pierce Stevens (1852-1906)
md. Mira B. Hilton
Clarabelle Stevens (1855-1946)
md. Allen Eaton
Fred Eugene Stevens (1858-1937)
md. Augusta Ann Hazelton
4 Abigail Stearns Freese
5 Caroline Stearns Freese was born on June 19, 1821 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7,8. She died on August 4, 1865 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 7. She is buried in the Griffin Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
She married Nathan Griffin on January 14, 1843 4 or January 17, 1843 7 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. (He was born on July 3, 1817 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4 and died on September 16, 1896 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He is buried in the Griffin Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.)
They had the following children:
LaRoy Freese Griffin (1844-1916)
md. Ruth Annie Fitts
Dudley Nathan Griffin (c. 1847-1918)
md. Anna Augusta Hinkley
Roger Burrill Griffin (c. 1854-1893)
md. Minny
Carrie Leona Griffin (1859-1886)
md. George B. Smith
6 William G(ordon?) Freese was born on June 24, 1823 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7,8. He died on September 9, 1903 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
He married Susan E. Batchelder on January 9, 1850 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 7. (She was born in September 1825 in Nottingham, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 18 and died on July 29, 1911 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She is buried in the Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.)
They had the following children:
Dudley Freese (1850-1920)
md. Jennie C. Harvey
John Frank Freese (1853-1949)
md. Lizzie Gertrude
William E. Freese (1857-1907)
Olive E. Freese (1859-1941)
md. Jacob Freese Robinson
7 Martha Winkley Freese was born on May 10, 1827 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire 4,7,8. She died on December 1, 1916 in Northwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She is buried in the East Northwood Cemetery, Northwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
She married Winthrop True Prescott on January 27, 1851 7. (He was born on January 16, 1824 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire and died on October 3, 1905 in Northwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He is buried in the East Northwood Cemetery, Northwood, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.)
They had the following children:
Martha Florence Prescott (1851-1938)
md. George F. Stevens
Charles Herbert Prescott (1853-1920)
md. 1st Mary Margaret Craig
md. 2nd Anna E. Chrestien
Bertine Odell Prescott (1859-1930)
md. Mary Frances
Nellie Rose Prescott (1869-1970)
md. Allan MacFadden

6th Generation:

Abigail Stearns Freese was born on July 22, 1819 4 or July 26, 1819 1,2,3,7,8,9 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. She died on June 3, 1858 in Sanbornton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire 1,2,3,9,25. She is buried in the Park Cemetery, Tilton, Belknap Co., New Hampshire.

Father: Dudley Freese
Mother: Ruth Stearns

She was named after her maternal aunt, Abigail Stearns, who died in 1814, at the age of 16. Abigail (also called “Abbie”) was raised in Deerfield, New Hampshire, where she married Jeremiah D. Tilton in 1840. At the time of the marriage, Jeremiah had recently returned to Deerfield from Maine where he had received part of his education. He had lofty ambitions in being a minister, yet was trained as a farmer, tanner and shoemaker since birth.

Abigail's family subsisted as farmers, tanners and shoemakers in Deerfield from 1840 until 1850. In 1850, Abigail moved with her family to Limerick, Maine, where her husband acquired a position as a pastor in the Baptist church there. They only stayed there for a few years and in 1854, moved to Sanbornton, New Hampshire, where Jeremiah was a minister at the First Baptist Church. Abigail spent the rest of her life in Sanbornton. Abigail gave birth to her youngest child William on June 2, 1858, but sadly complications developed. She died the day after on June 3, 1858, at the age of 38. She was buried in the James Cemetery in Deerfield, New Hampshire. Her husband remarried two years later. After his death in 1893, both of their bodies were exhumed and they were reburied at the Park Cemetery in Tilton (near Sanbornton), New Hampshire.

Abigail married Jeremiah Dearborn Tilton on December 31, 1839 1, December 31, 1840 4,7,9 or December 30, 1840 25 in Deerfield, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
For information on their children, see his page.

Sources:

1. Runnels, Rev. M.T. History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. Alfred Mudge & Son, Boston, 1881.
2. Death certificate of Abigail S. Tilton, 1858, Belknap Co., NH
3. Tombstone inscriptions, Park Cemetery, Tilton, New Hampshire
4. Van Wagenen, Avis S. Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and His Descendants. Courier Printing, Syracuse, NY, 1901.
5. Sanborn, George F. Vital Records of Hampton, New Hampshire, to the end of the year 1900. New England Historical Society, Boston, 1992.
6. Noyle, Libby and Davis. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Southworth Anthoensen Press, 1928-1939.
7. Freese, John W. Freese Families. Caustic Claflin Co., Cambridge, MA.
8. Chapman, Jacob and Fitts, James H. Lane Genealogies, Volume 1. John Templeton, The Newsletter Press, Exeter, NH, 1891.
9. J. D. Tilton Family Record, New Hampshire Historical Society
10. Vital Records of Gloucester, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. The Essex Institute, Salem, 1924.
11. Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, 1915.
12. Vital Records of Amesbury, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, 1913.
13. Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. The Essex Institute, Salem, 1911.
14. Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910. http://www.familysearch.org
15. Thurston, Brown. Thurston Genealogies, 1635-1892, Second Edition. Brown Thurston, Portland, ME, 1892.
16. Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900. http://www.familysearch.org
17. New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947. http://www.familysearch.org
18. Assorted US census records.
19. Tombstone inscriptions, Freese-Fogg Cemetery, Deerfield, New Hampshire
20. Death notice of Jacob Freese, New Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette, Aug. 24, 1843
21. Eastman, John R. History of the town of Andover, New Hampshire, 1751-1906. The Rumsford Press, Concord, NH, 1910.
22. Death notice of Dudley Freese, New Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, May 11, 1843.
23. Morrison, Leonard A. Linneages and Biographies of the Norris Family in America, from 1640 to 1892. Damrell & Upham, Boston, MA, 1892.
24. Massachusetts Death Index, 1841-1910. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcsrch/VitalRecordsSearchContents.html
25. Carter, Rev. N. F. The Native Ministry of New Hampshire. Rumford Printing Co., Concord, NH, 1906.