FREEMAN Ralph

1703 - 1777  (73 years)

• Name	FREEMAN Ralph
  Birth	20 May 1703	Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA
  Gender	Male
  Death	12 Apr 1777	Richmond, Cheshire Co., NH
  Notes	Notes for RALPH FREEMAN: History of the Town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, from its first Settlement, to 1882. by William Bassett (1884) Dan Freeman, son of Ralph Freeman and Sarah Capron, lived near the Aaron Kelton place; born June 16 1745. He removed quite early to Winchester. Had five children. Yankee Freeman's The ability to purchase land became a major factor in the Freeman's migration movements. Few people wished to risk settlement in a new area of the wilderness, until a town was laid out. Particularly in New Hampshire where the raids on newly settled areas, by the French and Indians, continued until 1765. Massachusetts was active in Granting of these new settlements in New Hampshire, in hopes of claiming more land. They issued Land Grants to the Veteran's of the "Indian Wars", whom they owed a debt too. These Grants created towns in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, on both sides of the river. Ralph Freeman III, our line, the grandson of the first "Ralph Freeman of Dedham", was one of these settlers to New Hampshire. The extremely rough hills of northern New England, contained only small pockets of fertile land , along the river valleys, on which to grow crops. The climate was more severe with a shorter growing season, with intense winters filled with heavy snowfalls. Only the very hardy could survive the difficult living conditions. The men and women who settled this area were Americans in true pioneer spirit. Ralph Freeman III settled his family in the town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Richmond was Granted by Massachusetts, on 20 June 1735, to Captain Joseph Sylverster's men, called Sylvester-Canada Grant. It was later Granted to Joseph Blanchard and others, by the governor of New Hampshire , on 28 February 1752. A triangular tract in the north part of Richmond was annexed to Swanzey Township on 11 December 1762. The townships were divided into 70 different shares about 6 miles square in size. The settlers were responsible for setting up the township, clearing land for roads and erecting a grist and saw mill. They assume the rights of self government, church and school. Ralph Freeman III, moved his family from Richmond to Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, the next westerly township, on the Upper Connecticut River. In the book, "The History of the Town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, From its First Settlement, to 1882" by William Basset, 1884, it states, "Dan Freeman, son of Ralph Freeman and Sarah Capron, lived near the Aaron Kelton place, born June 16, 1745. He removed quite early to Winchester. Had 5 children." page 389. The township of Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, was Granted to Col. Josiah Willard and 63 others, on 11 February 1952. He had the proprietary rights to distribute land and assumed responsibility for setting up the township. Winchester is located on the Ashulot River in the south-west corner of New Hampshire. During the "King George War" in the early 1750's, troops were constantly moving to and from the Connecticut River Valley region, and many people became interested in this previously unexplored land. They saw it not only as rich farm land, but as a valuable area for speculation. Settlers had to locate near rivers for their connections to the New England Markets. But links to markets were only one aspect of the problems facing the new settlers. The frontier itself was nearly self-sufficient in foodstuff supply, thus, local markets were almost non existent for a pioneer family. Unable to produce large amounts of marketable agricultural surplus, encumbered by transport problems, burdened by high land costs, the aftermath of War time financial policies, new settlements in the 1750's were not as quickly absorbed by the commercial system of the region as most new settlements had been in the 1600's and in such, living conditions changed rapidly within large families. Each son had to carve himself out a new settlement, in the wilderness and begin a new farm, without the financial aid of his parents. Such was the life of the Freeman's.
  Person ID	I3186	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	10 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	FREEMAN Ralph Gershon Jr.,   b. 20 Apr 1662, Dedham, Norfolk Co., MA d. 15 Aug 1725, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA (Age 63 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	DAY Sarah,   b. 14 Jun 1664, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA d. 16 Sep 1716, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA (Age 52 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	Abt 1689
  Family ID	F3188	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	CAPRON Sarah,   b. 11 Mar 1708, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. 1789, Richmond, Cheshire Co., NH (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	29 Oct 1726	Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA
  Children	1. FREEMAN Ebenezer,   b. 07 Apr 1727, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. 08 Sep 1775, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA (Age 48 years)  [natural]   2. FREEMAN Jemina,   b. 24 May 1729, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. 28 Oct 1813, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA (Age 84 years)  [natural]   3. FREEMAN Samuel,   b. 08 Aug 1732, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA  [natural]   4. FREEMAN Sarah,   b. 08 Aug 1732, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA  [natural]   5. FREEMAN Benjamin,   b. 31 Mar 1734, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. Abt 1807, Swanzey, Cheshire Co., NH (Age 72 years)  [natural]   6. FREEMAN Esther,   b. 25 Jul 1736, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA  [natural]   7. FREEMAN Nathan,   b. 23 Jul 1738, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. 02 Oct 1825 (Age 87 years)  [natural]   8. FREEMAN Ralph Jr.,   b. Abt 17 Feb 1740, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. Abt 1806 (Age 65 years)  [natural]   9. FREEMAN Samuel,   b. 16 May 1743, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA  [natural]   10. FREEMAN Dan,   b. 16 Jun 1745, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. 06 Mar 1834, Wendall, Franklin Co., MA (Age 88 years)  [natural]   11. FREEMAN Sarah,   b. Abt 1746, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA d. Abt 1764, Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA (Age 18 years)  [natural]
  Family ID	F3186	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Apr 2024