Bridget Freeman

Not the daughter of Francis Burgess Fowler

The information from an Internet tree below is questionable. Apparently Francis Fowler was too young to be the father of Bridgett, the first wife of Bridges Freeman of Jamestown. Fowler and Freeman were friends and there is some indication that Bridgett was a close relative of his, perhaps a niece.

Also, none of the children is proven. Most are questionable in fact. There may be descendants but from a DNA study, we know that some of those who believe they are descendants on the male line are NOT descendants since of the families tested the Y-DNA results are not in the same haplogroup so one or more are NOT Bridges Freeman's descendants. See his profile.

About Bridgett Freeman; what is known and some possible connections

"...We also know that Bridges Freeman was married to a lady by the name of Bridgett. We can be fairly confident in stating that Bridgett was not the daughter of Bridge's friend and neighbor, Francis Fowler. First of all, the early colonist, Francis Fowler was born about 1601-1602 and would have been too young to be the father of a daughter of marriageable age in 1635. Additionally, in the 150 acres of land granted to Bridges Freeman by West on Dec 1st 1635 it specifically stated "50 acres for the personal adventure of his wife Bridget Freeman." In usage, the term "personal adventure" designates those persons who paid their own way to come to the colony or performed other services such as exploration etc. were entitled to a grant of land. With the close relationship between the Fowlers and Bridges (i.e. land bequeathed to Bridges upon the death of Mrs. Frances (Antonia) Fowler) it may well be that Bridget was, in some way related to Frances or Antonia as a sister, niece or cousin. I have seen pedigree where Frances had a sister named Bridget...but have not seen documentation to support that information. Another possibility that has been brought up is that Bridges may have married the widow Bridget Lowther who leased land next to a parcel owned by Bridges Freeman in 1632. She also, may be a candidate if 1) she was of an age where she could have born children and 2) if she was eligible for head rights and they were not issued when she first arrived. We do not know her maiden name...so she may have been related to Mr. or Mrs. Fowler. Thomas J. Reed has done extensive research on the early Virginia Freeman families and he had found a record for the arrival of an 18-year-old lady named Bridget Prowes who arrived shortly after Bridges brought in his brother Bennett.... another possibility if she was entitled to head rights..."

Random Internet Family Tree Information. Take with a Grain of Salt

http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/getperson.php?personID=I98376&tre...
Born 1606 , , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location [3, 4] Gender Female Died of, James City, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location [3, 4] Buried of, James City, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location [3, 4] Person ID I98376 Full Tree | Larson

Father Francis Fowler, b. 22 Apr 1580, Lees, Dalbury, Derby, England Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 26 Mar 1658, , , Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (77 years) Mother Alice Wepham, b. Abt 1584, of, , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location, d. Yes, date unknown Married 21 Nov 1601 , , Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location Family ID F41093 Group Sheet

Family Bridges Freeman, Sr., b. 1603, Preston, Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxford, England Find all individuals with events at this location, d. 1655, Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (52 years) Married 1635 Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location [3, 4] Children

1. Bridges Freeman, Jr., b. 1637, Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States ,

	2. Henry Freeman,  b. 1646, Jamestown, James City, Virginia, United States ,  d. 5 Apr 1696, , York, Virginia, United States   (50 years)

	3. James Freeman,  b. 2 Feb 1649/50, St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia, United States ,  d. 23 Jan 1687/88, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States   (37 years)

• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Nov 24 2019, 13:39:53 UTC

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https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LT93-N12

GEDCOM Note

More Information from Find a Grave

Birth: 1605 Oxfordshire, England Death: 1650 Virginia, USA

Bridget Evelyn Fowler was the daughter of Francis Fowler. She married Bridges Freeman, about 1629-1632. She was the mother of Bridges Jr., James, and Henry, according to Garland Evans Hopkins, author of Freeman Forbears. She may have had a brother named Francis, as well, whose wife was Anatonia.

Family links: Spouse: Bridges Freeman (1603 - 1665)*

Children: James Freeman (1630 - 1687)* Bridges Freeman (1637 - 1687)*

• Calculated relationship

Note: no known marker, death date estimated

Burial: Pasbyhay Original burying Ground Jamestown James City County Virginia, USA Plot: unknown

Created by: GenealogyJoan Record added: Mar 03, 2015 Find A Grave Memorial# 143269961

More Information about Bridget and family

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mysouthernfamily/...
Lt. Col. Bridges FREEMAN "the Immigrant"

1603 - 1655

ID Number: I72201

TITLE: Lt. Col. RESIDENCE: ENG and Jamestown, VA BIRTH: 1603, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England DEATH: 1655, Jamestown, Virginia RESOURCES: See: [S2757]

Family 1 : Bridgett Evelyn FOWLER +Henry FREEMAN James FREEMAN Notes

Father: Thomas FREEMAN b: 7 Feb 1579 in Preston, Crowmarsh, England; Mother: Frances BENNETT b: 1585 in Norden, Surrey, England. Children: Bridget FREEMAN b: ABT 1637 Bridges Jr FREEMAN b: ABT 1640 d: 23 Jan 1687 Henry Jr FREEMAN b: CA 1642 d: bef Apr 1676 + Martha_Elizabeth HOPKIN b: 1646 d: Apr 1671 James FREEMAN b: 2 Feb 1649 d: May 1711 + Mary HANCOCK b: ABT 1648 Lt. Col. Bridges Freeman (1603-1663) One of the most typical of early Virginia's gentleman settlers was Lieutenant-Colonel Bridges Freeman. In a sense, he is a prototype of the great mass of early Virginians. He was prominent, yet not so

Life Sketch

Notes for Bridget Fowler :

With no solid evidence, Bridget has been called the daughter of Francis FOWLER, VA Burgess in 1642 and deceased by Feb 1643/4, apparently based on patents of lands granted "by the will of Mrs. Antonia Fowler the late relict of Mr. Francis Fowler part of a dividend due sd Fowler by patent Aug. 4, 1639."

Two hundred acres of this land was bequeathed to Capt. Bridges FREEMAN.

Lists of persons living in VA provide the following:
James City, 1623 Francis FOULER; Elizabeth City, 1623 William FOULLER; Elizabeth City 1624 Widow FOWLER; James City, 1625 Francis FOWLER, age 23.

Based on the patents of land granted by Antonia FOWLER, and the FOWLERs listed, Bridget may have been the sister of::

William FOWLER (b. about 1595) married Margaret; Francis FOWLER (b. about 1602; d. between Apr 1642 and Feb 1643/4) married Antonia; Miss FOWLER married Capt. Henry BROWNE; and possibly others.

"Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1624/5" 3rd Edition, Published by Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 1987. P. 294-295

14 Sept. 1646 John White in London wrote to Capt. Robert Shepard from debts due him from the estate of "my honest friend Mr. Fowler, dec'd." stating that Capt. Browne and Capt. Freeman had already sent him two hogsheads of tobacco to pay last year's interest and he wanted them to send more.

On Feb. 25 1643/4, Capt. Henry Brown, Esqr., patented 900 acres in James City, on Journing poynt Creek, below the plantation seated by Mr. Francis Fowler, due by will of Mrs. Antonia Fowler, the relict of Mr. Francis Fowler, being part of a devident due Fowler by patent 14 Aug. 1639 and due Brown by order of court dated 21 Nov 1643.

On 20 Dec 1648, Mr. Bennet Freeman patented 400 acres in James City, part of the devident of Mr. Francis Fowler, adjoining Capt. Bridges Freeman by Mrs. Antonia Fowler, dec'd and by Capt. Freeman given to Bennet Freeman and 200 acres bequeathed by Mrs. Fowler equally to Richard Balfin and Thomas Dennington and by them assigned to Bennet Freman.

From this it appears that Bridges Freeman married Bridgett ____ a relative of Mr. Francis Fowler or his wife Antonia. Bridgett was probably a sister of Ann, wife of Capt. Henry Browne.

Bridget Fowler 2 CONT Sources: Sources:

Bridget Fowler 2 CONT Sources: Sources: 1. Family group record copied from records of Blanch Thompson ofLayton, Utah. 2. FREEMAN FORBEARS, A-12 all page 13-14-22 A-2 VAA2. 1 BIRT

GEDCOM Source

95NL-942 Millennium File https://search.ancestry.com/collections/7249/records/108211507