Lancelot Freek / Freak

[Whipby]

A work colleague has just found out from a genealogy relative that he has an ancestor called Lancelot Freek who married in 1699 to Mary Walton. I think he said Weardale, or Witton le Wear, I can't quite remember! 

I've done a bit of digging for him and have found some records from Stanhope, Co. Durham which seem to relate to this man.  There are also some records on the IGI, some baptisms of his children etc, and I've found a burial record in the Durham Bishops Transcripts which may be of a second wife, Frances, in 1764.  If so, it seems he came from Greenhead which I think may have been a farm, or a hamlet connected to the farm, near Stanhope.

My colleague isn't overly interested in genealogy in general, but is curious as to what Lancelot's occupation might have been.

I just wondered if anyone else is researching Lancelot by any chance and knows or could point us to a record that might confirm his occupation?

Many thanks!

[littlebootsy]

Just quickly looking on Ancestry, the name Lancelot Freek only brought up one entry from a private members tree. It says:


Title: Marriage of Lancelot Freak and Frances Nicolson

Attached To: Lancelot Freek (died 1749)


I don't trust some information on people's trees, so I would be cautious, however you could try contacting the owner (cpepperd) for more information. Unless you know who that person is?

[angelfish58]

The North East Inheritance database has a couple of 18th century wills for Freaks in Weardale who were both blacksmiths  ,

[Whipby]

Thank you angelfish58 and littlebootsy for the info, I'll investigate further and pass this on to my colleague, much appreciated.

[cpepperd]

Hello..just came across this post as I was digging around for information on Lancelot Freak...and I am cpepperd who was mentioned earlier!  I believe I am descended from John Freak who died in Easgate in 1677..Further down the Freak line, it would appear that most of the Freaks were lead miners, although I have no clue as to what Lancelot did for a living.  Greenhead also features further in time in my family tree but with the Collingwood family.  If anyone would like access to my tree please let me know    It is called the Wildsmith Family tree on Ancestry. 

[Whipby]

Hi and thanks for posting!

Do you know how your John is connected to Lancelot by any chance?  I have very little information to go on, although I know my colleague will be thrilled to find out anything at all about him.

I'm going from memory here but I think I've seen something with Blacksmith as Lancelot's occupation but at the moment can't find my notes so I may be thinking of something else!

Or maybe it was one of his sons who was a blacksmith.