Return to main file
Major John Freeman (bp. 1627–1719), son of Edmond Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll
Mercy Prence (say 1631–1711), daughter of Governor Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster
John Freeman, the son of Edmond Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll, was was baptized on 28 January 1626/7 in Billinghurt, county Sussex. [1] He died on 28 October 1719, age 97, and was buried in the ancient burial ground in Eastham. [2] He married Mercy, the daughter of Governor Thomas Prence, on 13 February 1649/50 in Eastham. [1][2]
Mercy Prence was born say 1631. She died on 28 September 1711 in Eastham. [2]
On 10 June 1673 John Freeman signed a receipt to Mary, the widow of Governor Thomas Prence, for the legacy given his wife. [3]
In 1644 the Court granted land to "those that goe to dwell at Nausett [Eastham]." John was an early settler of Eastham and his name appears on a 22 May 1655 list of inhabitants. [4]
John settled in that part of Eastham that is now Orleans. [2]
John was propounded to take up his freedom on 5 June 1651. He was made a freeman on 3 June 1652. [5, 2: 167; 3: 7]
Mr. John Freeman was chosen to be on the grand inquest jury on 2 June 1651. [5, 2: 168]
John was chosen a surveyor of the highways for Eastham on 7 June 1653. [5, 3: 33]
John was a deputy in 1653, 1656 and every year from 1662 to 1666. [2] He was one of the first selectman in Eastham. [2]
He was appointed to be the ensign bearer of the Eastham military company on 6 March 1654/5. [5, 3: 74] He was appointed Major of the Barnstable militia in 1685. [2]
John was chosen an Assistant in 1667 and was re-elected regularly until the union of the colonies in 1692. [2]
Major John Freeman of Eastham made his will on 1 June 1716 and added a codicil on 16 June 1716. He named his eldest son John Freeman, his son Edward Freeman, his youngest son Nathaniel Freeman, his son John Mayo, his son Edmond Freeman, his daughter Mercy Knowles, his daughter Patience Paine, his son John Paine, his daughter Rebecca Freeman, the widow of Thomas Freeman, and his grandchildren William Freeman and Lydia Godfrey. His freed his "Negros Toby and Bess" and left them a bequest. Inventory was taken on 19 November 1719, it is incomplete but values the land he left Nathaniel Freeman, Esq. at 1,000 pounds. It was presented on 15 December 1719. [6]
John's heirs noted that "there is and hath been some uneasyness and dissattisfaction among the Children & heirs of Major John Freeman Late of Eastham with Refference to ye disposition of his estate by his Last will and testement." That here might be a peaceful settlement they agreed the following on 27 January 1719/20. All of John's personal estate, except the "Quick stock" given to his son Nathaniel, the part given to his deceased son Thomas's widow Rebecca, and his wearing apparel (which his sons were to have) was to be divided among his four daughters or their heirs. Mercy, the wife of Samuel Knowles, Patience, the widow of Samuel Paine, Hannah, the wife of John Mayo, and the children of John Paine were each to have a quarter share. Each of the sons was to have the land their father deeded or bequeathed to them. His silver money and plate were to be divided among John Freemen (the eldest son), Nathaniel Freeman, the representatives of his deceased son Edmond, Mercy (the wife of Samuel Knowles), Patience (the widow of Samuel Paine), John Paine (for his children), Hannah (the wife of John Mayo), Rebecca Freeman (who was to have half a share). [6]
Children of Major John Freeman and Mercy Prence:
i. John Freeman was born on 2 February 1650. [2] He died young.
ii. John Freeman was born in December 1651 in Eastham. [7] He died on 27 July 1721 in Harwich. [7] He married first Sarah Merrick on 18 December 1672 in Eastham. [7] Sarah, the daughter of William Merrick, was born on 1 August 1654 and died on 21 April 1696. [7] He married second Mercy ___, the widow of Elkanah Watson of Plymouth before 1698. [7] Mercy was born about 1658 and died on 27 September 1721, age 62. [7] John and Mercy are buried in Brewster (then in Harwich). [7]
iii. Thomas Freeman was born in September 1653. He died on 9 February 1716. He married Rebecca Sparrow.
iv. Edward Freeman died between 16 June 1716 and 27 January 1719/20.
v. Lieutenant Edmond Freeman was born in June 1657. [2][8] He died on 10 December 1718. [2] He married first Ruth Merrick in January 1677/8. [9, 1: 577–8] He married second Sarah Mayo about 1681 in Eastham. [8][9, 1: 577–8] Sarah, the daughter of Captain Samuel Mayo and granddaughter of Reverend John Mayo, was born on 19 December 1660. [8]
vi. Mercy Freeman was born in July 1659. [2][9, 2: 909] She died in 1744. [2][9, 2: 909] married Samuel Knowles in December 1679 in Eastham. [2][9, 2: 909][20] He was born in 1651 and died in 1737. [9, 2: 909]
vii. William Freeman was born about 1660/1, probably in Eastham. [2][21] He died in 1686 in Eastham. [21] He married Lydia Sparrow. [2]
viii. Patience Freeman married Samuel Paine on 31 January 1682. [2][22]
ix. Prince Freeman was born on 3 February 1665. [2] He died before 1 June 1716.
ix. Hannah Freeman died on 15 February 1743/4. [2] She married John Mayo. [2]
x. Nathaniel Freeman was born on 20 March 1669. [2] He died on 4 January 1716. [2] He married Mary ___. [2]
xi. Bennett Freeman died on 13 May 1716. [2] She married Deacon John Paine on 14 March 1688/9 in Eastham. [2][9, 2: 1125]
Endnotes:
1. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Volumes I-III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, 3 volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 576–82.
2. Joseph Paine, "The Freemans—The Eastham Branch of the Sandwich Family—Major John Freeman," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 20 (1866): 59–63, 353–5.
3. The Editors, "A Receipt of the Heirs of Governor Thomas Prence," Mayflower Descendant 33 (1935): 97–100.
4. David Hamlin, "First Settlers of Eastham, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6 (1852): 41–46.
5. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668, vol. 5, 1668–1678, vol. 6, 1678–1691 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1866).
6. "Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, vol. 3:340–2, 387–8.
7. George Ernest Bowman, "John Freeman of Eastham and Harwich," Mayflower Descendant 33 (1935): 100–14.
8. Alfred Alder Doane, The Doane Family and Their Descendants, 2nd Edition (Boston: the author, 1960), 52–52.
9. "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized books, AmericanAncestors, originally published as Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015).
10. Charles Thornton Libby, “The Knowles Family of Eastham, Mass.,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 79 (1925): 286–97.
11. Mary Walton Ferris, Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines, vol. 2 (Milwaukee: Cuneo Press, 1931–1943), 363.
12. Mrs. M.L.T. Alden, "The Snow Genealogy," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 102 (1948): 47.
Last revised: 31-Aug-2023