Samuel Freeman

Background: One of my 256 great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfathers was Samuel Freeman. Reports of his birthdate vary from 1715 to 1727 in Chowan Pct., Albemarle Co., NC. His parents were William Freeman and Mary (Cording) Freeman. Some reports identify the mother of Samuel Freeman as Mary (Outlaw) Freeman. Some reports contends that he was descended from William Brewster, a Mayflower settler of Plymouth Colony. Others suggest that his ancestors were at Jamestown. I think it is highly unlikely that Samuel Freeman’s ancestors were from Massachusetts. The record abstracts that I have seen don’t support this. Instead, they suggest a family that originated in Lower Norfolk, VA. In about 1716, William and Mary (Cording) Freeman moved to what is now Chowan Co., NC, where Samuel was born. Samuel Freeman married Elizabeth Alexander, who was christened on Jun. 26, 1726 in Bathgat, West Lothian, Scotland, the daughter of William and Agnes Alexander. Two of Elizabeth’s brothers, Adam and Charles Alexander, signed the Mecklenburg Declaration in 1775. Samuel and Elizabeth (Alexander) Freeman moved from Bertie Co., NC to Granville Co., NC in about 1752. Samuel Freeman was a Private in the Granville Co., NC Militia in 1754. They moved to near Siloam in what became Surry Co., NC in 1767. Samuel Freeman died on Mar. 8, 1796 in Surry Co., NC. He owned 367 acres and 4 slaves at the time of his death. Elizabeth (Alexander) Freeman died after 1810.

Service: Samuel Freeman is shown on a Committee of Safety for Surrry Co., NC in 1775 and a Committee of Assembly in Surry Co., NC. He is also reported to have been a Captain in the Surry Co., NC Militia in 1774. A stone marker with a bronze plaque was erected by the DAR to mark the spot where he is buried on Hardy Road, near Siloam on a knoll overlooking the Yadkin River valley.
The following has also been reported on the internet, although not acknowledged by the DAR:
“At the age of 62 [Samuel Freeman] enlisted in Dixon’s Co., 1st NC Batt., commanded by Thomas Clark. Fought in the Battle of King’s Mountain. Appointed to General Assembly, served in House of Commons at Halifax 1780-81 (Surry County, NC Heritage Book Volume 1, pg. 188-189)… Supported by the Moravians at Bethabara who made a statement on his behalf on 8 Jan. 1781”

Family: (Generation 10) The 1790 census of Surry Co., NC (p. 185) showed the Samuel Freeman family as 1-2-3. This household contained one male born before 1774, two males born 1774-90, and three females. The identity of the younger males hasn’t been determined. Perhaps the extra female was Nancy Hughett.
The will of Samuel Freeman (Surry Co., NC Will Book ___, p. ___), written on Mar. 8, 1796 and entered into probate in May 1796, stated:
“Item. I give to my well beloved wife Elisabeth Freeman all the Lands and Tenements, Negroes and their increase and goods and chattels I am now or shall die possessed with or of, after payment of all just debts during her natural life or widowhood.
“Item. I bequeath to my daughter Rachel Early twenty shillings in money.
“Item. I give to Nancy Huet fifteen punds in money.
“Item. I bequeath to Nanny Badgett my daughter and wife of James Badgett one hundred pounds to be discharged in property.
“Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel Early’s four children, namely Asa and Lion [Note: Lion could be something else, perhaps Jim], Sarah and Elisabeth the one half of my lands and tenements.
“The remainder of my whole estate upon or after the discease of my beloved wife Elizabeth Freeman, shall be equally divided between my three sons, viz, Joshua Freeman, James Freeman, and Aron Freeman.”

The executors were “my beloved wife Elisabeth and my son, Joshua Freeman, and Jacob Shepperd. The witnesses were Edward Smith, Mordecai Richard, and Chr Isbell. Nancy Huett was NOT identified as a daughter. Samuel Freeman was very clear about relationships. The cause for her inheritance of 15 pounds has not been determined.
The Samuel Freeman Family Bible, a copy of which can be found with the Jeremiah Early Pension application, contained birthdates for five children.
The 1800 census of Surry Co., NC (p. 652) showed the Elizabeth Freeman family as 00100-11101. This household contained one female born before 1755, one male born 1774-84, one female born 1774-84, one female born 1784-1790, and one female born 1790-1800. As with the 1790 census, the younger female could be Nancy Hughett.
The 1810 census of Surry Co., NC (p. 170) showed the Elizabeth Freeman family as 00110-00101. This household contained one female born before 1765, one male born 1765-84, one male born 1784-94, and one female born 1784-94. She owned 6 slaves. This household was listed next to Jeremiah Early.
Elizabeth (Alexander) Freeman died intestate after 1810.

Samuel Freeman and Elizabeth (Alexander) Freeman had five children:
1. Aaron Freeman (born Sep. 11, 1751), married Nancy Hawkins.
2. Joshua Freeman (born Apr. 14, 1754, died Sep. 4, 1832 in Knox Co., TN), married Lucy King.
3. Rachel Freeman (born Apr. 7, 1755, died Nov. 11, 1840 in Surry Co., NC), married Nov. 12, 1791 Jeremiah Early.
4. James Freeman (born Jun. 20, 1757, died in Sep. 1827 in Blount Co., TN), married Lucy Foster.
5. Nanny Freeman (born Jan. 13, 1759, died after 1810/ before 1822), married ca. 1775 James Badgett (born 1750-55 in Granville Co., NC, died before Apr. 1, 1835 in Knox Co., TN).