Gerrit Freer Papers (1677-1840)

Finding Aid Completed by Eric Roth, July 17, 1999
Last updated August 2024

Inclusive Dates: 1677-1840
Volume: 1 folder, 22 items
Collection ID: MSS.070
Language: English
Acquisition: Unknown
Access: Unrestricted. Request for permission to publish materials from these records should be discussed with the Archivist/Librarian of HHS
Preferred Citation: [Author/title/date], Gerrit Freer Family Papers, Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY
Digital Access: Digitized in 2021, hosted online in New York Heritage t

Biographical Note

Gerrit Freer C-7 (1) was baptized on April 30, 1727, born to Hugo Freer (b. 1691)and Brejen Terpenning (daughter of Jan Terpening of Flanders). On March 14, 1748 he married Maria Freer C-54 (baptized 1729), daughter of Jonas Freer and Catrina Stokerad. Between 1749 and 1773, Gerrit and Maria Freer had ten children. According to Ralph LeFevre, Gerrit resided in the hamlet of Butterville in the town of New Paltz, New York (2). Gerrit Freer is also listed as signer of the Articles of Association and as private in the 1st Ulster County Regiment under Col. Johannis Hardenbergh during the Revolutionary War (3). Gerrit Freer died in 1804.

Collection Description

The papers primarily document the settlement of Gerrit Freer's estate in New Paltz after his death in 1804. Records include his will (1804), and bound and loose estate inventories, receipts and quit-claim deeds (1804-1808). Other records of interest include:

a fair copy of the New Paltz Patent (1677),

legal documents concerning the division of the lands within the patent (1703, 1713),

bonds of Gerrit Freer to Isaac Hasbrouck, Jacob Hasbrouck, Jun., Philip LeFevre and Joseph Hasbrouck (1754, 1761, 1796, and 1799, respectively),

bill of sale of Nen, an enslaved woman, to Jonathan LeFevre (1796),

guardianship papers of Sarah Sluyter under the care of Peter LeFevre (1797),

quit-claim deed between Ezekiel Elting and Peter LeFevre (1823),

will of Johannis LeFevre (1831), and

vendue list of Daniel LeFevre (1840).

The papers are arranged chronologically. All items are housed in one folder in an archival box.

Link to all Gerrit Freer Papers

Related Collections at HHS

Other collections at the Huguenot Historical Society Library relating to the Freer family:

Cyrus Freer Papers (1889-1916), MSS.018.
Hugo Freer Family Papers (1677-1721). MSS.112
Wilhelmus and Moses Hasbrouck Family Papers (1753-1897), MSS.028. Contains records of Gerrit’s brother Johannis Freer C-6 (1725-1797) and other Freer family members.
Researchers may also want to consult the Bible and Religious Book Collection and Ciphering Book Collection, MSS 208, which also house items with Freer family history.

Notes

1. Heidgerd, Ruth. The Freer Family: Descendants of Hugo Freer, Patentee of New Paltz. The Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, NY, Inc. (1968). Unless otherwise noted, all genealogical information is taken from this source.

2. LeFevre, Ralph. History of New Paltz and Its Old Families. Fort Orange Press, Albany NY (1909): p. 359.

3. Heidgerd, Ruth P. Ulster County in the Revolution.... Ulster County Bicentennial Commission (1977).