Seventh Generation

74. Brigadier General Nathaniel* FREEMAN MD^{35,959,960,961,962} was born on 28 Mar 1741 in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., MA.⁹⁶³ In 1795 he was a Congressman in Washington D.C..⁹⁶⁴ U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1795-99 (5th District 1795-97, at-large 1797-99).

He appeared in the census in 1800 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.⁹⁶⁵ He died on 20 Sep 1827 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA. He was buried in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.^966,967 Sandwich Cemetery:


He served in the military (1776-1783) in , , MA.^964,968,969 Revolution: Lt. Col. in the Militia, later Brig. Gen. CS MA. He was a Medical Doctor in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.⁹⁶⁴ Doctor of Medicine, He was a Judge in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA.⁹⁶⁴ Judge of Court of Common pleas, Barnstable County register of probate. He was educated MD in Harvard College, Cambridge, MA. Brigadeer of General Militia 1781. Member MA Congress 1775. Medical doctor. 20 children. Nathaniel Freeman, (1741-1827), was a member of the General Court, 1775. Chairman of the first Committee of Safety of Sandwich and was chosen lieutenant colonel of militia, 1775. Served several terms in the General Assembly. He served as Colonel of Barnstable militia and was promoted brigadier general, 1781. He gave both civil and military service to the close of the Revolution. He held many civil offices of trust during his long life. He was a friend of Gen. Joseph Warren commander of the Rebels at Bunker Hill who was killed in the final storming of the Hill. He also knew John and Samuel Adams. Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Register of Probate for Barnstable County. In Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA in 1800 census.

"FREEMAN, Nathaniel, representative, was born in Dennis, Mass., April 8, 1741; son of Edmund and Martha (Otis), grandson of Edmund and Keziah (Pressbury), great-grandson of Edmund and Sarah, great, great-grandson of Edmond and Margaret (Perry), and great, great, great-grandson of Edmond and Elizabeth Freeman, who came from England to Saugus, Mass., in 1635. Nathaniel studied medicine and in 1765 removed to Sandwich, Mass., afterward studying law with James Otis. During the war of the Revolution he was colonel of militia in the expedition to Rhode Island in 1778 and was brigadier-general of militia, 1781-93. He was a representative in the 4th and 5th congresses, 1794-98; a judge of the probate court for forty-seven years and of the court of common pleas for thirty years. He published A Charge to the Grand Jury at Barnstable (1802). He died in Sandwich, Mass., Sept. 20, 1827." from 20 th C. Bio. Dict. of Notable Americans Vol. IV.

Nathaniel Freeman, a surgeon, was prominent in Cape Cod politics during and after the Revolutionary War. In 1773 he represented Sandwich in the General Court of Massachusetts and was appointed chair man of the town's newly formed committe of correspondence. He served in the Massachusetts militia, becoming a brigadier general by 1781. During the war and for some years after he was Barnstable County superintendent and at in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

There was a substantial number of Loyalists in the Cape Cod area, and the committee of correspondence was responsible for investigating reports of tory activity, conducting hearings, and administering oath of allegiance. In addition, the committee supervised the training and equipping of local militia and maintained communications with other neighboring committees.

In 1778 the committee investigated the activities of a one-legged stranger, Edward Davis, seen in the company of known tories. The inquiry exposed a group of Loyalists, their lines of communication with sympathizers in other towns and the British at newport, and their attempts to pass counterfeit money.

Scope and Contents:
The Schoff Revolutionary War Collection contains the Nathaniel Freeman Papers, documents relating to the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety at Sandwich, MA.

Almost all of the manuscripts in this collection are documents generated by the efforts in 1778 of the Committee to investigate allegations of Loyalist activity near Barnstable. There are 56 depositions taken in March and April, 1778, relating to the Edward Davis case; 18 letters and petitions dealing with the imprisonment of townspeople for refusing to sign the oath of allegiance; 10 items relating specifically to the case of one prisoner, John Jennings; 8 items concerning a second prisoner, Seth Perry, and his claim against the state in 1785 for confiscated property. Much of the collection appears to have been forwarded by Freeman
to the governor as documentation in the Perry case.

From Congressional Biographies:
"A Representative from Massachusetts; born in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Mass., on May 1,1766; attended the common schools; was graduated from Harvard University in 1787; studied law; was admitted to the bar about 1791 and commenced practice in Sandwich and the Cape Cod district; served as brigade major in the Massachusetts Militia for sixteen years; justice of the peace in 1793; elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Fifth Congress (March 4, 1795-March 3, 1799)..." This biography had a false death date for him of 1800.

From Otis: "Dr. Nathaniel Freeman, better known as Col. Freeman, was some time a resident in Barnstable. During the Revolutionary period, he was one of the most active among the patriots of his time. In character he was the counterpart of his ancestor, a man of talent, very decided in his opinions, and impetuous in action. Like all men of such a temperament, he made many enemies. The tories denounced him, in the bitterest of bitter terms. These denunciations neer affected his reputation as a man or a paatriot, but other causes did. He was not a meek man- he would not tolerate the least opposition, consequently made many personal enemies- and among them the aged who knew him. few speak in his praise.
He held many offices- he was a busy man- some of his duties he had not time to perform well- this his personal enemies noted; but with all his faults, he was a useful man and the services he did his country are appreciated. ( a footnote : See Probate Records. The poorest writing and worse spelling therein, occurs duting the time he was Register.)"

A Nathaniel Freeman was awarded lands in OH.
Brigadier General Nathaniel* FREEMAN MD and Tryphosa* COLTON were married on 5 May 1763.

75. Tryphosa* COLTON³⁵ was born on 18 Mar 1742/43 in Killengly, Windham Co., CT. She was buried in 1796 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA. Sandwich Cemetery. She died on 11 Jul 1796. Children were:

	i.	Edmund FREEMAN970 was born on 4 May 1764 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA. He died on 1 Jul 1807 in Winslow, , ME.
	ii.	Nathaniel FREEMAN971 was born on 1 May 1766. He died on 22 Aug 1800. He was educated a graduate of Harvard in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.
37	iii.	Abigail* FREEMAN.
	iv.	Martha FREEMAN972 was born on 10 Jun 1770. She died on 23 May 1851 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.
	v.	Jonathan Otis FREEMAN was born on 6 Apr 1772. He died on 2 Nov 1835 in Washington, , NC.973
	vi.	Rufus FREEMAN974 was born on 18 Oct 1773. He died on 5 Mar 1807 in Charleston, , SC.
	vii.	Tryphosa Colton FREEMAN974 was born on 14 Dec 1775. She died in Feb 1799 in Portland, Cumberland Co., ME.
	viii.	Sarah FREEMAN was born on 16 Jun 1778 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.685
	ix.	Nancy FREEMAN was born on 2 Sep 1780 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.975
	x.	Russell FREEMAN was born on 7 Oct 1782 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.975
	xi.	Abram Williams FREEMAN was born on 17 Aug 1784 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.975
	xii.	George Washington FREEMAN976,977 was born on 13 Jun 1789 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA.975 He died on 29 Apr 1858 in Little Rock, , AR. Second bishop of AR, and 46th in succession in the American episcopate. He became a resident of NC, and when thirty-three years of age decided to enter the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was admitted as a candidate for holy orders, by bishop Ravenscroft, first bishop of the diocese of NC, and after a course in theology was ordained as deacon, Oct. 8, 1826, and as priest May 20, 1827. He was on missionary duties, 1827-28; rector of [p.185] Christ church, Raleigh, 1828-40; of St. Peter's, Columbia, TN., 1840-11; of Trinity, Swedesboro, NJ, 1841-42; of Immanuel, New Castle, DE., 1842-43, and in 1843 was elected missionary bishop of the missionary district of AR and the southwest, and was consecrated Oct. 26, 1844, by bishops Chase, Doane, Otey, Polk, Whiningham, Elliot, Lee, Jolms and Henshaw, in St. Peter's church, Philadelphia, PA. He was married to Ann Gholson of VA. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of NC in 1839. He died in Little Rock, AR., April 29, 1858.