Joseph George DeFriezb. 5 July 1821 London, London, England
m. 19 October 1842 Christ’s Church, London, England
d. 29 August 1887 London, Middlesex, England
Wife: Mary Ann Godfrey
Father: Joseph DeFriez; Mother: Sarah Harrington
Dr. Joseph George DeFriez was born in East London, 5 Beatty St. Commercial Road, England, July 5th, 1821. He was the oldest child of Joseph DeFriez and Sarah Harrington. His parents must have been well-to-do and thrifty people, as Joseph George was well educated, and they raised eleven children to maturity, and all seem to have married well.
Joseph George DeFriez and Mary Anne Godfrey were married at Christs' Church, Middlesex, England, October 19th, 1842.
He was a noted Medical Doctor, Surgeon, and Accoucher, having the following letters: M.D., F.R.C.S., & L.S.A. of England. In addition, he maintained a private practice, and was a parish doctor, and a dearly loved family physician. Also, he was a high-ranking Mason. These professional and social activities were the means of maintaining a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
He was successful financially, and gave his children the best in educational opportunities according to their class.
Dr. DeFriez was a lover of sports—especially boating and fishing—and in those outings was accompanied by his children, thereby cementing the love and understanding between them.
After he was fifty years of age his happy, successful life was disrupted and practically broken up because of religious differences arising between himself and members of his family.
Three of his sons, one daughter, and his wife joined the unpopular sect known as “Mormons,” rightly named the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and when his opposition and authority failed to induce them to recant, his bitterness and that of many of their friends, became so intense that it virtually amounted to persecution; therefore, to save further dissensions, and in the full belief that their course was right and justified, when Dr. DeFriez was away from home, one son, one daughter and his wife, quietly and unannounced, left England and sailed for America, and Utah. The other two sons went at different times.
This was a terrible blow—his authority defied, his dignity wounded, his social standing shattered, his home broken, his loved ones gone. He never seems to have regained his former prestige, but his life became lonely and morose. He refused to associate with the friends of his wife or children, or his wife’s kindred. He must have suffered greatly, and finally concluded he was not entirely right in the course he had taken, ‘tho’ he still considered himself wronged.
Several years after his wife’s departure, she received a book from her husband, entitled, “A Wife’s Duty.” On the fly-leaf he had written, “I will forgive you for all, if you will only bring my baby back to me,” and signed. But it was too late, his “baby” was married and had a home and children.
On the 29th of August, 1887, Dr. DeFriez attended a Masonic Banquet, and on returning home, complained of feeling ill. In less than two hours, he had passed away. Nothing is known in this country as to the cause of his death.
Overson, Margaret Jarvis. George Jarvis and Joseph George DeFriez Genealogy. Mesa, Arizona: 1957, ii:34–35.
m. 19 October 1842 Christ’s Church, London, England
d. 29 August 1887 London, Middlesex, England
Wife: Mary Ann Godfrey
Father: Joseph DeFriez; Mother: Sarah Harrington
Dr. Joseph George DeFriez was born in East London, 5 Beatty St. Commercial Road, England, July 5th, 1821. He was the oldest child of Joseph DeFriez and Sarah Harrington. His parents must have been well-to-do and thrifty people, as Joseph George was well educated, and they raised eleven children to maturity, and all seem to have married well.
Joseph George DeFriez and Mary Anne Godfrey were married at Christs' Church, Middlesex, England, October 19th, 1842.
He was a noted Medical Doctor, Surgeon, and Accoucher, having the following letters: M.D., F.R.C.S., & L.S.A. of England. In addition, he maintained a private practice, and was a parish doctor, and a dearly loved family physician. Also, he was a high-ranking Mason. These professional and social activities were the means of maintaining a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
He was successful financially, and gave his children the best in educational opportunities according to their class.
Dr. DeFriez was a lover of sports—especially boating and fishing—and in those outings was accompanied by his children, thereby cementing the love and understanding between them.
After he was fifty years of age his happy, successful life was disrupted and practically broken up because of religious differences arising between himself and members of his family.
Three of his sons, one daughter, and his wife joined the unpopular sect known as “Mormons,” rightly named the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and when his opposition and authority failed to induce them to recant, his bitterness and that of many of their friends, became so intense that it virtually amounted to persecution; therefore, to save further dissensions, and in the full belief that their course was right and justified, when Dr. DeFriez was away from home, one son, one daughter and his wife, quietly and unannounced, left England and sailed for America, and Utah. The other two sons went at different times.
This was a terrible blow—his authority defied, his dignity wounded, his social standing shattered, his home broken, his loved ones gone. He never seems to have regained his former prestige, but his life became lonely and morose. He refused to associate with the friends of his wife or children, or his wife’s kindred. He must have suffered greatly, and finally concluded he was not entirely right in the course he had taken, ‘tho’ he still considered himself wronged.Several years after his wife’s departure, she received a book from her husband, entitled, “A Wife’s Duty.” On the fly-leaf he had written, “I will forgive you for all, if you will only bring my baby back to me,” and signed. But it was too late, his “baby” was married and had a home and children.
On the 29th of August, 1887, Dr. DeFriez attended a Masonic Banquet, and on returning home, complained of feeling ill. In less than two hours, he had passed away. Nothing is known in this country as to the cause of his death.
Overson, Margaret Jarvis. George Jarvis and Joseph George DeFriez Genealogy. Mesa, Arizona: 1957, ii:34–35.
Dr. Joseph George Defriez died of Bronchitis, congestion of lungs according to his death certificate.
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