The Freeman Family of Belchertown
By Cliff McCarthy
The Freeman family is Belchertown’s most enduring family of color. Descendants of John Freeman have been a part of that community from just after the Revolution into the 21st century. Here is a brief look at the early generations of the family.
Part 1: John Freeman, Dorcas (Green) and Polly (Frasher)
Nothing is known about John Freeman’s origins or his parentage. Although he is not listed among the residents of Belchertown in the 1790 census, his marriage to Dorcas Green, of Ludlow, on February 14, 1793 was recorded in the Belchertown records.[1]
The 1800 U.S. census lists “John Freeman, black man” as head of a household of six people, one of only two non-white families enumerated in Belchertown that year.[2] Since these census records do not identify each individual or their ages, we are left to speculate that the six people represented John and his wife Dorcas and their first four children, which were born prior to the census in 1800.
Belchertown records also indicate that at least nine children were born to the couple between 1794 & 1811.[3] The Freemans do not appear in the 1810 census for Belchertown, but John Freeman is listed on town tax records for 1810 and 1811.[4] In March of 1810, “John Freeman, laborer, alias black man” purchased 25 acres of land from Moses and Joshua Hannum for $100.[5] This land was in the vicinity of the Bay Road next to the land of Oliver Bridgman. In 1815, John Freeman sold two buildings on the property at the junction of what are now Bay Road and Federal Street.
Dorcas Green Freeman died January 17, 1815.[6] In July of that year, it appears that John Freeman remarried, this time to Polly Frasher [Frazier?].[7] It is also likely that this union resulted in at least one child, William Freeman, who was born about 1820. The 1820 U.S. census lists John Freeman (age 45+) as head of a household with six other people.[8] Five of those six were under 14 years of age, with one female between the ages of 14 and 26.
In 1821, John’s oldest son Ira, age 27, died without issue.[9] In his death notice in the Hampshire Gazette, he was described as, “a colored man of uncommon intelligence and sobriety, late of Springfield.”[10] John was named Ira’s sole heir by the probate court, receiving the balance of Ira’s personal estate of $384.36. Ira owned no real estate.
No Freemans are listed as heads of households in 1830 or 1840 in Belchertown. The female children may have married by then and the males may have been living with other families or moved away. There is a black John Freeman, aged 24-36, listed as head of a household of three in West Springfield in the 1830 U.S. census. If this person is related, he would likely be John Freeman, Jr., who was born about 1796.[11]
Part 2: Hiram and Charlotte (Felton)
Among the children of John and Dorcas Freeman was Hiram Freeman, a farmer who lived in Belchertown for many years. Hiram was born February 22, 1803 and married a white woman, Charlotte Felton, who was born in New Salem, Mass. in December of 1822. According to a family register in the Stone House Museum in Belchertown, they were married August 2, 1840 in Enfield, Connecticut.[12]
Their first child, Mariette, was born in Shutesbury, MA (recorded as “Mary Eddy Freeman” in Shutesbury vital records). Their next three children were born in Pelham, MA, but Hiram moved his family to Belchertown in about 1849. Charlotte gave birth to at least twelve children between 1843-1861, but at least two died very young. A female child died of “dropsy on the brain” and a male child died of smallpox, according to town vital records.[13]
Hiram and his family appear in Belchertown in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 U.S. censuses and the 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts census.[14] Hiram is named in the tax lists for every year from 1850 through 1874 and was listed as a legal voter in the 1865 state census. He was also listed among those enrolled in the militia in 1860.
Hiram and Charlotte bought 25 acres in Belchertown from the Hannum family in March of 1857 for $400.[15] This property was located near the land of Elisha B. Bridgman on what is now known as Bay Road. In 1864, Hiram and Charlotte purchased six more acres on the south side of “Pond Hill Road” (Bay Road) from George O. Cook for $310.[16] His real estate was only valued at $300 in the 1870 census, a comparatively small amount for a farmer, but by then he was 67-years old and working as a “farm laborer.”
Hiram Freeman died in 1874.[17] Apparently, the family fell upon difficult times, then. Charlotte was left without support, as was Hiram’s half-brother William. Both frequently received services at the alms house for the next ten years, although Charlotte is enumerated in the household of her daughter Mabel Stevenson in 1880.[18] At the town meeting in April of 1877, the town of Belchertown voted to take possession of some real estate of Hiram Freeman and use the funds from its sale or rental to support Mrs. Freeman at the almshouse.[19]
Charlotte sold her Pond Hill Road land to Edwin R. Blackmer in 1883 and moved to South Amherst, where she purchased “one acre on the road from East Street to South Amherst” for $600 in July of 1884.[20] Charlotte died on May 2, 1885 and left a will that named five of her children.[21]
Part 3: William Freeman & Susan (Squires) Freeman
William Freeman was probably the son of John Freeman and his second wife, Polly Frasher. Although no record of his birth has been located, this relationship is inferred from the fact that the children of Hiram Freeman referred to William’s children as cousins. It is also possible that William Freeman was John Freeman’s son by adoption, since in the 1880 census, the birthplace of William’s parents is listed as “unknown.”[22] Whether Hiram and William were related by blood or not, there was certainly some relationship between the two, since Hiram was likely the main source of support for William. In fact, it appears that William Freeman was only marginally able to support himself and his family.
William appears on the town’s tax lists beginning in 1848, although he rarely was assessed any tax. In the 1850 U.S. census, he was enumerated in the household of Oliver Bridgman, likely serving him as a farm laborer.[23] He was not listed in Belchertown in the 1855 state census or the 1860 U.S. census. However, he may be the William Freeman enumerated in Amherst in 1855 as a “hostler” in Lincoln’s hotel.[24]
In February of 1862, Elisha B. Bridgman purchased two acres of land for $400 to be held in trust for William Freeman, his wife, and family.[25] This property was just east of, and adjacent to, Lake Vale Cemetery with frontage on Lake Metacomet, then called Lower Pond or Bridgman’s Pond. Later that month, William and his wife Susan (nee Squires) gave birth to their first child, also named Susan, who died in infancy.[26] By 1865, William and Susan had two children.[27] By 1870 they had four, eventually raising five children to adulthood.[28]
Susan was listed as white in the 1865 state and 1870 U.S. censuses, though she was listed as mulatto or black in subsequent censuses.[29], [30]
At town meeting every year between 1862 and 1868, William Freeman was chosen sexton at the church. After his “brother” Hiram died in 1874, William appeared frequently among those served by the alms house. In 1883, he was paid $12 by the town for “clearing the cemetery.” The next year, William Freeman died and Henry Mellen was paid $3 for digging his grave.[31]
Susan, however, remarried. In 1886, she married Warren Converse, a black man much younger than herself.[32] In 1900, they were enumerated in Belchertown with Susan’s 12-year old grand-daughter, Edna. It is unclear who Edna’s parents were. Susan died in 1919 and in the following year, Warren was living in the home of his step-daughter Jennie Lovett.[33]
In September of 1938, Alvertus Morse, acting as trustee, distributed the property of William Freeman equally among Freeman’s five heirs: Jennie (Freeman) Dodge Lovett of Belchertown; Hattie (Freeman) Johnson of New Haven, CT; Ella (Freeman) Hamilton Dewey of Springfield, MA; Frank L. Freeman of Amherst; and the widow Denise and ten children of Cassius Freeman, deceased. Shortly thereafter, John Zielinski of Holyoke acquired interests in the Freeman property and proposed a plan to subdivide the land. Probably because of some of the property had frontage on Lake Metacomet, the proposal involved creating ten separate lots and each heir would have one lot with lake frontage and one without. He had already acquired the rights to the lands of two of William’s heirs. Later, this land was again consolidated and it was owned by a seminary in Granby. It is currently privately owned.
Part 4: Hiram A. Freeman, William H. Freeman and Abbie M. (Gordon)
Hiram and Charlotte Freeman raised two sons who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Hiram A. Freeman enlisted as a 19-year old on December 5, 1863 and was mustered into the 56th Massachusetts Infantry on the day after Christmas that year.[34] The 56th Massachusetts was a white regiment comprised mostly of veterans with at least nine months’ experience. It is uncertain if and when Hiram A. Freeman had been in the service before. It is known that he was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia in July of 1864 and was discharged for disability in June of 1865. Although it is unknown whether Hiram A. Freeman ever returned to live in Belchertown, he is interred there in Lake Vale Cemetery with a GAR veteran’s marker.[35]
William H. Freeman enlisted two weeks after his older brother and was mustered into the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry a month later.[36] The 5th Massachusetts Cavalry was a “colored” regiment which, in spite of its designation, was never issued horses. It served as infantry and participated in the final siege of Petersburg. In June 1865, the outfit was ordered to Clarksville, Texas, where it was stationed until the end of October when the unit was mustered out and discharged. William H. Freeman would have been in Texas for the first “Juneteenth” celebration, marking the end of slavery, there.
William H. Freeman did return to Belchertown. He married Abbie M. Gordon there in November of 1870.[37] In the 1880 census, William H. Freeman is enumerated in the household of his brother-in-law, Samuel Stevenson.[38] He is listed as unable to write and had no occupation, as he was disabled with consumption. Curiously, he is listed as “married,” but no spouse is enumerated with him. He is mentioned in the town’s annual report for 1881 as having received $169.50 in assistance during the previous year, as authorized by the Military Aid Acts of 1879.[39]
Descendants of these early Freemans lived for several more generations in Belchertown, establishing them as an integral part of the community.
Cliff McCarthy, Archivist at the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History and at the Stone House Museum in Belchertown, is also Vice-President of the Pioneer Valley History Network.
[1] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA), Book A, p. 200; Also Belchertown Vital Records, Book D, (as reproduced in the “Corbin Collection, Vol. 1”, Dunkle, Robert J., ed., (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 2003), (CD-ROM).
[2] 1800 U.S. Census, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[3] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA), Book A, p. 200.
[4] List of the Rateable Polls in Belchertown, May 1st 1810, (from “A Report of the Case of the Belchertown Elections”, published by order of the House of Representatives, Boston, January Session, 1811).
[5] Deed of Moses & Joshua Hannum to John Freeman, (Hampshire Co. Registry of Deeds, dated March 19, 1810, Book 30, Page 371).
[6] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA), Book A, p. 200.
[7] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[8] 1820 U.S. Census, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[9] Record of Deaths, Belchertown Congregational Church, (Church Record Book at Stone House Museum, Belchertown, MA).
[10] “Died”, Hampshire Gazette, 10 October 1821.
[11] Carvalho, Joseph, III, Black Families of Hampden County, 2nd edition, Massachusetts, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 2011; Also, Woodson, Carter G., Free Negro Heads of Families in the United States in 1830.
[12] Bardwell, Oramel, “Family Register for Hiram Freeman,” notes in file marked “Miscellaneous Genealogical Information from Files of Oramel Bardwell,” Stone House Museum, Belchertown, MA.
[13] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[14] 1850, 1860 & 1870 U.S. Censuses for Hiram Freeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA); 1855 & 1865 Massachusetts State Census for Hiram Freeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA); Belchertown Town Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[15] Deed of Stiles Hannum, et al, to Hiram & Charlotte Freeman, (Hampshire Registry of Deeds, dated 10 March 1857, Book 173, Page 478).
[16] Deed of George O. Cook to Hiram & Charlotte Freeman, (Hampshire Registry of Deeds, dated 13 May 1864, Book 218, Page 78).
[17] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[18] 1880 U.S. Census for Samuel Stevenson, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[19] Annual Report of the Selectmen & Treasurer of Belchertown for the Year Ending February 1878 [?]; Belchertown Town Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[20] Deed of Charlotte Freeman to Edwin R. Blackmer, (Hampshire County, MA, dated June 9, 1883).
[21] Hampshire County Probate Court, Northampton, MA, Box 198, #42.
[22] 1880 U.S. Census for William Freeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[23] 1850 U.S. Census for Oliver Bridgeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[24] 1855 Massachusetts State Census for Wm Framan (Amherst, Hampshire Co., MA).
[25] Deed of Henry A. & Mary Bridgman to Elisha B. Bridgman in trust for William Freeman & his wife & family, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA, dated 7 February 1862).
[26] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[27] 1865 Massachusetts State Census, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[28] 1870 U.S. Census for William Freeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[29] 1865 Massachusetts State Census, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[30] 1870 U.S. Census for William Freeman, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[31] Belchertown Town Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[32] Certificate of Marriage, (Warren Converse and Susan Freeman, 2 September 1886, Stone House Museum, Belchertown).
[33] 1920 U.S. Census for Alvin Lovett, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[34] American Civil War Research Database, (Historical Data Systems, Inc., Duxbury, MA, 1999).
[35] “Cemetery Records for Belchertown,” Notebook at Stone House Museum, Belchertown, MA; Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[36] American Civil War Research Database, (Historical Data Systems, Inc., Duxbury, MA, 1999).
[37] Belchertown Vital Records, (Town Clerk, Lawrence Memorial Hall, Belchertown, MA).
[38] 1880 U.S. Census for Samuel Stevenson, (Belchertown, Hampshire Co., MA).
[39] Annual Reports of the Selectmen & Treasurer of Belchertown for the Years 1873 -1890.