Freeman Surname
Nicholas Freeman (1)
Simon Freeman (2) b. about 1600 in London, England m. Elizabeth Calcot daughter
of John Calcot and Isabell Standish
Ralph Freeman, Sr. (3) b. 14 Dec 1629 St. Peters, Cornhill, London Co., England,
d. 25 May 1718 Attleboro, Bristol Cty, MA. Married 21 Oct 1652 in Dedham, Norfolk
Co, MA to Katherine Lyon b. 1630 in Dedham, Norfolk Cty, MA to William Lyon
and Anne Carter.
Ralph Freeman, Jr. (4) b. 20 Apr 1662 Place: Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA, d. 15 Aug 1725 Place: Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA, m. Sarah Day about 1689
Benjamin Freeman (5) b. 6 July 1693 in Dedham, Norfolk Cty, MA, d. 1 May 1724 in Attleboro, Bristol Cty, MA. He m. 3 Jul 1718 Attleboro, Bristol Cty, MA to Rachel Peck b. 18 Apr 1698 in Attleboro to Hezekiah Peck and Deborah Cooper. They had at least one son, Samuel Freeman.
Samuel FREEMAN (6) Born: Abt 1720 Place: Attelboro, Bristol Co., Mass., Died: 31 Dec 1772 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester Cty, Mass. Married: 9 May 1744 Place: Needham, Norfolk, MA to Mary CHUB Born: Abt 1724 Place: Mass. Their children:
Benjamin FREEMAN, Born: 24 Oct 1744 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 22 May 1806 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Samuel FREEMAN Born: 27 Sep 1746 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 26 Sep 1772
Rachel FREEMAN Born: 9 Sep 1748 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Comfort FREEMAN Born: 23 Aug 1750 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA , Died: 1 Dec 1806 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA>
David FREEMAN Born: 1753, Christened: 11 Jan 1753 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Jared FREEMAN Born: 27 Dec 1753 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: Aft Apr 1810 Place: Lanesboro, Berkshire, MA
Walter FREEMAN Born: 26 Aug 1754 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 16 Oct 1754 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Mary FREEMAN Born: Oct 1755 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 8 Aug 1757 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Martha FREEMAN Born: 14 Sep 1757 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 9 May 1804 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA m. Jedediah Ellis
Mary FREEMAN Born: 14 Sep 1757 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Walter FREEMAN Born: 20 Aug 1759 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Rainy FREEMAN Born: 22 Mar 1763 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
Chester FREEMAN Born: 7 Nov 1766 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA, Died: 8 May 1767 Place: Sturbridge, Worcester, MA
From: "New England" page 547 & 548
FREEMAN
The surname Freeman is of ancient English origin. The coat-of-arms: Three lozenges, or. Crest: a demi-lion rampant gules, holding between his paws a like lozenge. Motto: Liber et Audax.
(I) Edmund Freeman,
immigrant ancestor, was born in England
in 1590, and came in the ship "Abigail" in July, 1635,
with wife Elizabeth and children Alice, Edmund, Elizabeth and
John. He settled first in Lynn, Massachusetts, early in 1636.
Lewis says in his history of Lynn: "this year (1636) many
new inhabitants appear in Lynn and among them worthy of note Mr.
Edmund Freeman, who presented to the colony twenty corslets or
pieces of plate armor." He was subsequently of the Plymouth
Colony and with nine associates was soon recognized by the government
as a suitable person to originate a new settlement. He was admitted
a freeman, January 2, 1637, at Plymouth and after being a short
time a resident of Duxbury, settled in what was incorporated later
as the town of Sandwich. Most of the grantees of that town were
formerly of Lynn. Freeman had the largest grant and was evidently
the foremost man in the enterprise. He was elected an assistant
to the governor and commissioner to hear and determine causes
within the several contiguous townships. He was one of the first
judges of the select court of Plymouth county. During the persecution
of the Quakers, he opposed the course of the government and was
once fined ten shillings for refusing to aid in the baiting of
Friends under pretence of the law. "Preeminently respected,
always fixed in principle, and decisive in action, nevertheless
quiet and unobtrusive, a counsellor and leader without ambitious
ends in view, of uncompromising integrity and of sound judgment,
the symmetry of his entire character furnished an example that
is a rich legacy to his descendants." He died in 1682 at
the advanced age of ninety-two. His will is dated June 21, 1682,
and was offered for probate, November 2, 1682. He was buried on
his own land on the hill in the rear of his dwelling house at
Sandwich. It is the oldest burial place in the town. His grave
and that of his wife are marked by two boulders which he himself
placed in position after his wife died, and they are called from
a fancied resemblance "the saddle and pillion." His
home was a mile and a quarter west of the town hall and near the
junction of the old and new county roads to the Cape. He married
Elisabeth _____, who died February 14, 1675-76. Children: Alice,
married Deacon William Paddy; Edmund, married Rebecca Prence;
Elizabeth, born 1625; John mentioned below; Mary, married Edward
Perry.
(II) Major John Freeman,
son of Edmund Freeman, was born 1627, and lived in Sandwich until after
his
marriage, December
30,1649, when he had deeded to him lands at Skauton Neck, in Sandwich,
an a few years later removed to Eastham, Massachusetts. here he
is mentioned in records as among the earliest settlers, with Governor
Prence. He was a large landholder there; in 1676 he bought land
in West Brewster from the Indians; in 1691 the town of Eastham
conveyed to him two islands as security. He was for many years
prominent in public affairs; deputy, 1654-62; selectman, 1663-73;
assistant in the government, 1666, and several years, and December
7, 1692, appointed to the bench of common please. He was also
prominent in military affairs, and did service in the Indian wars.
For many years he was deacon of the Eastham church. His wife was
Mercy, daughter of Governor Prence. She died September 28,1711,
aged eighty years. He died October 28, 1719. Both were buried
in the graveyard at Eastham. His will was dated June 1, 1716,
and after providing for his family he mentioned his negroes, to
whom he gave freedom with "four acres of land, a horse, and
a cow," and says further in regard to them, "I desire
my children to put them in such ways that they may not want." Children:
John, born February 2, 1650, died in infancy; John, December 1651; Thomas, September,
1653; Patience, married, January
31, 1682-83, Lieutenant Samuel Paine; Hannah, married, April 14,
1681, John Mayo; Edmund, mentioned below; Mercy, July, 1659; William,
about 1660; Prince, February 3, 1665-66, died young; Nathaniel,
March 20, 1670-71; Bennet, March 7, 1672.
(III) Lieutenant Edmund (2) Freeman, son of Major John Freeman, was born in June 1657, died December 10, 1717. He lived in that part of Eastham called Tonset. he was a man of distinction, and for many years selectman of Eastham. He married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Mayo and Tamzin Bumpkin. The latter married (second) ____Sunderland. Sarah survived her husband, and died between March 26, 1736-36, and March 5, 1745, the dates when her will was made and proved. Letters of administration were granted to her and to Isaac, eldest son, February 25, 1718. Children: Ruth, born about 1680;Sarah, married Benjamin Higgins, May 22, 1701; Mary, married, about 1703, Samuel Hinckley; Isaac, married, March 16, 1715-16, Bethiah Sturgis; Ebenezer, mentioned below; Edmund, married (first, April 22, 1725, Lois Paine, (second), September 25, 1729, Sarah Sparrow; Experience, married Thomas Gross; Mercy, married, October 14, 1717. Thomas Cobb, of Eastham; Thankful, married October 16, 1718, Jonathan Snow; Elizabeth, married Isaac Pepper; Hannah, born 1698; Rachel married, October 2, 1729, Thomas Gray.
(IV) Ebenezer, son of Lieutenant Edmund (2) Freeman, settled in that part of Eastham since known as Wellfleet. According to tradition he was the first of the name to settle there.
The line continues through Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, Samuel and Timothy.
Query: Ran across your page while searching for Freeman info. I must ask where you got the info about her father being Ralph. The vital records book for Sturbridge clearly indicates that the Martha born 14 Sep 1757 was twin (with sister Mary) daughter of Samuel Freeman and Mary (elsewhere found to be Mary Chubb of Needham intention to be married to Samuel filed April 20, 1744). Same source confirms Martha's marriage to Jebediah Ellis on April 28,1774.
I only have copies of the Freeman Sturbridge vital records
here, but the book is at the town library. If Jebediah was born
in Sturbridge as you say, then there is an excellent chance his
parents are given. I'll have a look.
Martha's sister Rachel is a direct ancestor of mine.
Dave Welcker
Plymouth, MA
Email Dave
Another great family website that contains Freeman information
More of Comfort's descendants can be found here: Click here.
Old Sturbridge
Village has this information on the Freeman family which is quite extensive.
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