He was the son of António Freire, an agricultural employee, and wife Joana Maria, both born in Sobral de Monte Agraço, São Quintino, from where he took his surname.
He had however, before his marriage, eight natural children from three different mothers, and was the Godfather of his grandson José de Almada Negreiros.
Since he refused to marry her she ran off back to Benguela, where she died of childbirth of her fifth child.
Their oldest natural child was daughter Elvira Freire Sobral (São Tomé Island, Mé-Zóchi District, Trindade, Roça Saudade,[1] – São Tomé Island, 29 December 1896), who was recognized and raised by her father, married in São Tomé Island, Água Grande District, City of São Tomé, at the Parrish of Conceição, on 30 April 1892 António Lobo de Almada Negreiros and died at childbirth of and with her daughter.
She studied in Coimbra, at the Colégio das Religiosas Ursulinas, where she won the fame of a skilled drawer.