John Freeny

John Freeney first shows up in the Somerset Tax Lists in 1735 as a dependent in the Peter Freeney household suggesting he had just reached age 15 (b1720).

On Nov 01 1748 Peter Freeny, planter, conveyed land in the tract "Reeds Folly" to John Freeny (SoLR-B:106). John Freeny had the 53a tract "Freeneys Design" surveyed for him on Nov 14 1749 and received a patent for it on May 4 1752. It is located modern day (2018) on the eastern end of the town of Delmar just west of US Route 13. On Aug 17 1757, Thomas Flint of Worcester sold land in tract "Uncles Advice" to John Freeny (SoLR-B:189). On Oct 27 1764, James Badley, planter, sold 45a of tract "Addition To Collins Adventure" to John Freeny, planter of Worcester. This was land "where James Badley now dwells." (SoLR-C:238) This land includes the western portion of Delmar, MD in modern day and borders the state line (to its south). John Freeny had the 32a tract "Chance" surveyed for him on Jun 12 1771 and received a patent for it on Oct 27 1773 it was described as beginning at a "white oak abt 150 yds E-ward of County Road dividing Worcester and Somerset counties. It lies in modern day about a mile east of Delmar, MD and borders the stateline. John Freeny had the 322a tract "Polks Mistake" surveyed for him in Sussex Co. on Mar 17 1776 (SxSurv-A:199). This tract lies on the MD/DE line and includes modern central Delmar, DE and extends about a mile westward.

John Freeney's (as a planter) will was written Sep 4 1786 and proven in Sussex Co., DE on Sep 27 1796
- To son Joshua, all lands south of the West Line in Maryland except part of "Watermelon," all the lands I bought of Isaac Phillips excepted, and negro boy Samson
- To son William, all that tract I bought of Isaac Phillips being 230a lying in Worcester County in Maryland called "Florida" also negro girl Pegg
- To Newbold and Elijah Moore (as Moor), a part of the resurvey made from tract "Watermelon" lying on west side of my resurvey, they to pay reasonable charges and, if not, this land to go to Joshua Hastings
- To Joshua Hastings part of resurvey made from "Watermelon" on the north side of said tract
- To son John, negro boy Ebenezer
- To well beloved wife Elizabeth, all land east of the county road and north of the West Line and the new room with half the profits of the orchards and use of the still to still said cyder. The new room above and below for her use during her widowhood, negro woman Fern?, negro girl Grace, negro boy Caleb, and the land above including the kitchen, meat house and milk house.
- To daughter Sarah, negro woman Esther and her child Annis with her increase, one walnut desk and one walnut table
- To daughter Levinah, negro woman Florah and her child Grace & ten pounds current money
- To son Elijah, negro woman Winna and her increase and 15 pounds in money of goods from the estate
- To daughter Ann, negro girl Leah and her increase and one chest of drawers
- To son Thomas, all land north of the West Line and west of the county road and all my dwelling plantation that my wife is to have during her widowhood including the new kitchen and half the barn, negro man Peter, iron pot, pewter dish and basin, half dozen plates, feather bed/furniture (the second choice), half the orchard and still. If Thomas dies w/o issue then his share to son Elijah
- To daugther Mary, negro girls Amy & Leah
- To daughter Elizabeth, negro boy Harry and negro girl Annis. If Elizabeth or Mary either die w/o issue, then their share to go to the other
- Rest of estate to be equally divided between wife Elizabeth and daughters Elizabeth and Mary
- Wife Elizabeth and son Elijah to be executors
Witnesses: William Hearn, Jonathan Hearn, Elijah Hastings. John's wife Elizabeth refused to accept the will and opted for her thirds as noted Sep 27 1796. (SxW-E:136-137) On the same day, she assigned a land warrant to Samuel Elliott which became the "Elliotts Adventure" tract for 24.75a surveyed on Nov 9 1796 and approved Dec 17 1799 (SxPatents-V10:005) THIS CLUE LEADS THIS COMPILER TO BELIEVE THAT SAMUEL ELLIOTT'S WIFE WAS ANN FREENY.

John married Elizabeth Hearn?, daughter of William Hearn and Elizabeth Williams. (Elizabeth Hearn? was born about 1721 in Worcester Co., MD and died after 1796 in Sussex Co., DE.)