Vrijer, a former Mennonite family in the Dutch province of North Holland. Four of its members served as pastors:

1. Frans Albertsz Vrijer was preacher in the Frisian congregation of Barsingerhorn-Kolhorn 1723-ca. 1755. Though he had not re­ceived a special training for the ministry, he later trained some Mennonite preachers. His son was
   
2. Albert Fransz Vrijer, trained by his father, serving at Barsingerhorn-Kolhorn 1741-1755, Den Ilp-Landsmeer 1755-1770, and Wormerveer-Noord 1770-1798. He published Leerreden . . . (Amsterdam, n.d.-1791) (Naamlijst 1792, 57 f.).
   
3. Adriaan Vrijer, a son of (2) Albert, was preacher of Oosterend on the island of Vlieland 1778-1798 (Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1912), 891).
   
4. Gerrit Vrijer Az (1842-1896), a grandson of (2) Albert, was a pastor of the congregations at Mensingeweer 1868-1873, Staveren-Molkwerum 1873-1875, Poppingewier 1875-1879, Noordeinde van Graft 1879-1882, Den Horn 1882-1884, and Broek op Langendijk 1884-1896. He was educated at the Amsterdam Mennonite Seminary.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 864. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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