| Name |
Hugo Freer3 |
| Birth |
abt 1635, Normany, France3 |
| Death |
1698, New Paltz, NY3 |
| Burial |
New Paltz, NY3 |
| Burial Memo |
Old Huguenot Cemetery |
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| Misc. Notes |
Many spelling variations, earliest seems to be Frere. Others are Freer, Freyer, Frear, and even Vreer. Perhaps in France DeFrere.
In order to escape cruelties in Normandy, under the reign of Louise XIV, many of the people fled to the Palatine area of Germany. Great secrecy was essential and many lost their identity. Almost 1/7th of the population of Normandy left to search for a better life. Tradition has our Hugo and his wife Maria hid in large 'hogsheads' and were hauled across the border by ox cars.
Beleived to have come from Wicres, a hamlet in the district of LaBarree, near Lille, in Flanders. To the Palatinate in 1655, settling at Manheim. Here they stayed for a time. In the spring of 1660, the Dutch ship "Gilded Otter" brought several of these families to America. They were in New Amsterdam for a while, then they obtained permission from the Governor and moved to Esopus in Oct. of 1661 and the village of Hurley was founded the next year. Here in 1663, another Indian invasion was endured and the town burned. They stayed a while at Kingston, then went to Ulster Co.
There they petitioned Gov. Andros for land and built New Paltz in 1678. There were 12 Huguenot men and their families who owned the land in common and produce was put in a common store. The council was called the Duzine, which meant twelve, and they ruled the town for many years. The original twelve were called the "Patantees." Confirmation of ownership of land was dated1785 and signed by Governor George Clinton. The Duzine continued to function until 1826.3 |
| Spouses |
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| Children |
Hugo (~1668-) |
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Abraham (~1670-) |
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Isaac (~1672-1690) |
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| Children |
Mary (1676-) |
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Jacob (1677-) |
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Jean (1682-) |
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Sara |
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