John Howell 's Genealogue

300 Years of Freeney's in Delmar

Freeney -> Howard -> Howell

This all started as a result of seeing the spelling of Freeney as Freeny in the newly found Freeney family Bible (see earlier entry).  Now confident that both spellings are used in our family, a renewed effort was made to find more of our Freeney ancestors.  

We know our Freeney’s / Freeny’s have a long history in the town of Delmar which is split by the Maryland – Delaware state line.  However a new discovery made this week says that history goes much further back than we knew… Here is what I have learned from the research compiled by Charles Freeny III:

In 1707 Peter Freeny arrived from northern Ireland and settled near what is today the town of Delmar.  Peter’s grandson Joshua Freeny (who fought in the Revolutionary War), documented the following as reported in “Peter Freeny and His Descendants in America”:

The first of the family who came to America was Peter Freeny of Ireland, who settled in the disputed territory, near the boundary between Maryland and Delaware, near the town of Delmar. Here he cut and hewed the logs from the forest and built his home on the land he supposed to be in Maryland. When the boundary dispute was settled, the boundary line ran through his plantation but the home was then in the province of Delaware. Freeny was not pleased with the prospect of being a resident of Delaware, and wishing to remain a citizen of Maryland, carefully pulled down his home and carried the logs across the line and built his home on the part of the land that was in the province of Maryland.

Peter Freeny and his family were protestants and most likely were part of an ethnic group in Ireland known as the Ulster-Scots – persons descended mainly from Lowland Scots who settled in the Province of Ulster during a planned process of colonization during the 17^th century.

Our Connection (tree)

John Freeny (b.1675 Ulster, Ireland). John’s son, Peter Freeny (b. cir. 1695 Ulster, Ireland arrives Delmar area in 1707). Peter’s son, John Freeny (1718 – 1786) lived in Delmar. John’s son, Joshua Freeny (1739–1828) a Revolutionary War Soldier. His son, Richard Freeny (b. cir 1779). His son Peter Freeny (1810–1896). His son Thomas Barton Freeny, Sr. (1850 – 1884) whose headstone references his parents and was moved from his farm to St. Stephens cemetery. His son, Thomas Barton Freeney, Jr (1884 – 1950). And his daughter, Sara Marguerite Freeney (1911 – 1987) who married Dr. W. L. Howard (1906 – 2005).

Why Didn’t Marguerite Freeney Howard document this?

My grandmother, Sara Marguerite Freeney Howard is buried in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Delmar, DE with her husband, her parents (Thomas Barton Freeney, Jr and Sara Jane Webster Freeney) and her grandparents (Thomas Barton Freeney Sr. & Emily Goslee Freeney). Thomas Barton Freeney, Jr. was an optometrist in Delmar, DE.   

Until a few days ago I had not been able to trace further back than Peter and Elizabeth Freeney, who were the parents of Thos. Barton Freeney, Sr.  Our knowledge of Peter and Elizabeth was limited to the fact that their names were mentioned on Thomas Barton Freeney, Sr.’s gravestone – nothing more could be found.  I had always thought this unfortunate as Sara Marguerite Freeney Howard was interested in genealogy and did some research, but as far as I know never documented her father’s paternal Freeney / Freeny line. There is always the possibility that she was aware of the connections above, but did not believe they were hers.  On the other hand, the research we are relying upon was published after her death.  One final new tidbit that surfaced:  The names of Thomas Barton Freeny, Sr.’s siblings includes one Sara M. Freeny.

Thomas Barton and Emily Freeney Bible Found

Freeney -> Howard -> Howell

While packing the attic to move West, Dana DeRussy Langston re-discovered an 1873 bible belonging to Thomas Barton Freeney Sr (1850-1884), of Wicomico County, Maryland and his wife Emily Goslee Freeney (1849-1923). The bible records family births, deaths and marriages. There were also photos, documents, postcards and other memorabilia placed between many of the pages. Even a carefully wrapped lock of very light brown hair.

Some of the photos found in the Freeny / Freeney Family Bible include:

The complete set of scanned photos and documents that were included in the bible is here.

The new (to our research) family records information includes:

1. The spelling of “Freeney” as written by hand in the family records section varies between Freeney and Freeny.  So the same persons name in the bible could be spelled Freeny at birth, and Freeney at death.  
   


2. The spelling of Leonia Freeny's name (not Leona)


3. Leonia Freeny's birth date: 31 August, 1874 (previously had Cir 1874)


4. Fannie E. Freeny born 13 Jan 1876 (prev cir 1876)


5. Ella May Freeny born 27 May 1879 (prev cir 1879)


6. John Thomas Edgar Freeny b. Jan 28, 1882 (prev did not have a birth date, and did not have Thomas in his name)


7. Marriage date of Senora Anna Freeny.


8. Kathleen Ellen Freeny birth date (prev cir 1908)


9. Death date of Fannie E. Freeny.


10. Death date of T.B. Freeny Jr is 4 Jan 1950. (not 3 Jan 1950)


11. Death date for Ella May Freeny.


12. Death date for John Edgar Freeny.


13. Death date for Leonia Freeny.

The information confirms:

1. Marriage date of Thos Barton Freeney Sr.


2. Marriage date of Thos Barton Freeney Jr.


3. Birth date of Sara Marguerite Freeney.


4. Death date of Thos B. Freeney Sr.


5. Death date of Emily Goslee Freeney.