Key Facts

Parents:	unknown
Born:	unknown
Died:	by 20 October 1506 location unknown
Buried:	unknown

Note: I'd like to extend special thanks for researcher Jared Nathan for sharing his findings about 131346John.

131346John Friar was from Maidstone, Kent.1

Problem: Unresolved Who is 131346John's father? A record from the period 1460-1465 mentions a certain John Frere, the elder, who apparently owned or had interest in lands in Maidstone and Farleigh.2 Another record dated 13 October 1471 refers to "John Frere [...] and the heirs of John Frere for ever." 3 These records suggest that 131346John's father may have also been named John, but one cannot conclude so with much confidence.

By 1474 131346John had joined Corpus Christi fraternity in Maidstone.4 (This history of the fraternity provides some useful context.) He was elected warden for the fraternity in 1477 and 1478.5 A portion of the fraternity's meeting-hall still exists at N51.27435 E0.51937 but is now used as an office for a car rental company.

The surviving portion of Corpus Christi Hall

Along with his wife 131347Alice ___, 131346John is mentioned in the wills of his daughter 65673Elizabeth6 and son-in-law 65672William Fisher.7 65672William Fisher's will is dated 20 October 1506 (or 1508?) and describes his wife 65673Elizabeth as the heir of 131346John and 131347Alice Friar,7 so one may conclude that they had already died by the time 65672William wrote his will.

"my father[']s John Freer[']s [...]" Full page.6

"Elizabeth my wyff doughter and heyre of John Frere and Alice his wyff." Full page.7

Footnote:

*	Furthermore, a court record pertaining to 131346John's estate dated 1512 also mentions 65672William and 65673Elizabeth [or "Isabel" in this record] as executors.1

Sources Cited:

1: UK National Archives CP 40/998 (Court of Common Pleas / Plea Rolls / Chief Justice's roll, 3 Hen VI, Hilary term), on an apparently unnumbered page pertaining to 131346John's estate. I obtained an image of this record from: Anglo-American Legal Tradition, O'Quinn Law Library, University of Houston; <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT2/H8/CP40no998/bCP40no998dorses/IMG_1056.htm>, accessed 13 April 2022. You can see AALT's index entry for this record at <http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no998/CP40no998Pl.htm> by searching "1056."

2: UK National Archives reference C 1/28/534 (Chancery / Records of Equity Side: the Six Clerks / Early Pleadings and Proceedings, Richard II to Philip and Mary / Chancery pleadings addressed to [George Neville] Bishop of Exeter as Lord Chancellor / Downyng v Frere). I haven't seen the original record and merely used the abstract at the link provided.

3: UK National Archives reference CP 25/1/117/335 number 127, a record pertaining to Richard Dyne et al. and John Tilly et al. dated two weeks from St. Michael, 11 Edward IV [13 October 1471]. I have not seen the original record and merely used the abstract at <https://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_117_335.shtml>.

4: Walter B. Gilbert, The Accounts of the Corpus Christi Fraternity, and Papers Relating to the Antiquities of Maidstone [...] (Wescomb and Smith, 1865), page 7.

5: Walter B. Gilbert, The Accounts of the Corpus Christi Fraternity, and Papers Relating to the Antiquities of Maidstone [...] (Wescomb and Smith, 1865), pages 22 and 24.

6: UK National Archives record PROB 11/22/223 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury / Wills and Letters of Administration / Will Registers / Porche / Will of Elizabeth Fissher or Fisher, Widow of Maidstone, Kent). UK National Archives, accessed 24 February 2022. You can see a copy of the document here.

7: UK National Archives record PROB 11/18/319 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury / Wills and Letters of Administration / Will Registers / Holder / Will of William Fyssher or Fisher, Gentleman of Maidstone, Kent). UK National Archives, accessed 20 February 2022. You can see a copy of the document here.