FREEMAN Samuel

Notes:

SAMUEL FREEMAN, SON SAMUEL FREEMAN #5 (1746-1772)

(& SF#6 son Chester, and grandson Chester)

While Samuel Freeman #6 may have enjoyed a childhood life of relative complacency in his father's comfortable household, his brief life as an adult was fraught with tragedy. Born September 27 1746, he married (by necessity) at the age of twenty, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Cheney of Sturbridge. Four months later their first child, Chloe, was born; she lived only three months. The year following they had a son, Ebenezer, who lived but a day. In 1770 Chester was born, the only of Samuel's children to reach adulthood. In February of 1772 they had Samuel. In August of that year Samuel #6 became a widower, with two young sons to care for; a month later, he too died at the age of only twenty-six.

Probate records indicate that his father Samuel Freeman #5 was first named guardian of the children. When he died one month later, Benjamin was appointed the task. The number in Benjamin's care reduced to one the following summer, when little Samuel, barely a year in age, also died.

During his brief stint as a family man, I believe Samuel Freeman #6 resided on a 55-acre farmstead purchased by his father from Abijah Newell of Dudley. The precedent existed for Samuel #5 to purchase land for a son, then later—when the son had the resources—convey title.67 Samuel did not live long enough to realize ownership. When he died his estate included only personal property, inventoried at L51.3.1. Notes due (including one from his brother Benjamin for L41.17.1) increased it to L93.12.10; after debts were paid out a balance remained of L42.1.7.68 This was placed in Benjamin's trust, as guardian of Samuel's only surviving heir.

Family genealogists have erroneously reported that Chester Freeman, orphaned at the age of two, was adopted and brought up by his Uncle Benjamin.69 As the court-appointed guardian, Benjamin did bring him up for a time. But when Chester reached the age of fourteen, he appeared before a Justice of the Peace and "made choice of Mr. Roland Clark Jr. of Sturbridge for his Guardian."70 At that point, Benjamin turned Chester's inheritances, over do his farmer/neighbor Clark. When Chester reached the age of majority in 1791, he received from his second guardian the sum of L131.13.1, and then departed for upstate New York.

For eight or nine years Chester tried to make a livelihood in his newly-chosen home. On a return visit to Sturbridge in 1794, for the purpose of marrying Rachel Parker, he was considered "of Argyle, New York." However, by the time the 1800 census was taken (but after the 1798 direct tax), the couple had returned to live in Sturbridge, with a family of young children.71

Chester Freeman struggled without success to secure a competency for his family, which included in all ten children. His numerous land dealings reveal a pattern of mortgages, some of them never recovered, and sales made at a loss.72 Finally, in 1817 he conveyed his 125-acre farmstead to his son Chester (who mortgaged it back to him), and soon thereafter removed from to the home of their daughter in Gouverneur, New York.73 Both died there in 1832.

Chester Freeman Jr., who married Betsy Hyde in 1818 and died in Brookfield in 1835 at the age of only thirty-nine, struggled like his father to achieve a competency in agriculture. Worcester County land deeds show that he tried farming first in Sturbridge, then in Charlton, and finally in Brookfield. Over twenty transactions were recorded; it matched his father's as a record of mortgages and unprofitable sales. He died insolvent, leaving behind fifteen-year-old twin daughters and a pregnant wife.74

Widow Betsey Freeman stayed in Brookfield at least through the December 1835 birth of Joshua Chester, but by the time of the 1840 census she had returned to Sturbridge where she probably remained. In that year she was living in her brother Benjamin's household. Ten years later she and her fourteen-year old son resided in the family of another brother, John, a farmer thirty-two years of age with property valued at $3000, his young wife and their infant daughter.75

Samuel married CHENEY Elizabeth in 1766. Elizabeth was born in 1750; died in Aug 1772. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Chester married HYDE Betsy in 1818. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]