ELISHA FREEMAN6 (Silvanus5, Edmund4, Edmund3, Edmund2, Edmund1) born 10 Aug 1747 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut;1 was one of the several children of Silvanus and Mary (Dunham) Freeman to move to Northern New England. Fig 1. Birth Record of Elisha Freeman, Town Clerk of Mansfield, Connecticut Elisha Freeman son to Silvanus Freeman by Mary his wife was born 10th day of August 1747 On May 23 1769, his father Silvanus quitclaimed the 45th right of land in the Township of Hanover, Grafton (then Rockingham), New Hampshire to Elisha Freeman.i Silvanus was an original proprietor of Hanover Township and about 53 years old at the time of the transaction. Presumably, he enjoyed his stable life in Connecticut and the land was more suited to please his 22 year old, adventurous son Elisha. Fig 2. Deed of land in Hanover from Sylvanus Freeman to Elisha Freeman, 23 May 1769.
Know all men by these presents that I Silvanus Freeman of Mansfield in the County of Windham, State of Connecticut in New England in consideration of twenty pounds in hand received of Elisha Freeman of Mansfield do give release & forever quitclaim unto him the said Elisha Freeman all my right, title & interest which I have might, could, or ought to have into or upon the whole or any part of the forty-fifth right of land lying & being in the township of Hanover in the province of New Hampshire. To have & to hold Fig 3. Division of land amongst the propreitors of Hanover, New Hampshire. Hanover Town Records, 1761-1818. The plot of land deeded to Elisha Freeman was originally granted unto his father Silvanus, whose plot is in the far left column and is the second square down. Elisha tended to 100 acres in Hanover and deeded the rest of the land to John Slafter Esq. of Mansfield, Connecticut on 7 Apr 1772. ii
Fig 4. Deed of land in Hanover from Elisha Freeman to John Slafter, 7 Apr 1772 To all people to whom there presents shall come Greeting Know ye that I Elisha Freeman of Hanover in the Province of New Hampshire for an in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money received my full satisfaction of John Salter Esq. of Mansfield in the County of Windham & Colony of Connecticut & sundry other credition to my father Silvanus Freeman of said Mansfield a list of whom is drawn of even date herewith with each person debt officed to his name the one signed by the said John Salter, the other by Samuel Gray in Behalf of said credition of the Silvanus Freeman. Here by their presence I do give grant bargain sell and confrim unto the said John Salter Esq his heirs & assigns, etc. Elisha was first noted as living in Hanover, New Hampshire when he paid the poll tax in 1773.iii, iv Starting a new settlement meant a great deal of initial work in establishing provisions for the community such as highways, churches, houses, etc. The town records, which kept receipts of the labour performed on the town s highway, notes that Elisha Freeman was amongst the road crew and had worked a total of 6 days and earned 18 shillings for his work.
Fig 5. Of Highways in Hanover exhibited to this meeting the account of labor in the roads of said town the year past by the following persons viz Fig. Town Records of Hanover, New Hampshire, 1761-1818, page 37. Elisha Freeman substituted for his father Silvanus Freeman Elisha was a respected member of Hanover. The townspeople trusted Elisha to provide security for the community. In 1774, the Hanover townspeople elected Elisha Freeman constable of the town and was paid a pound for warning out and conveying three people to Lebanon, NH. v In New England, warning out a person from the town meant they told them to leave because the town did not want to add on to their burden and provide for someone who was not economically viable. Fig 6. Elisha Freeman elected constable of Hanover in 1774, Hanover Town Records. Elisha married Lucy Bartlett 2 May 1775 in Hanover, New Hampshire vi, daughter of Gershom Bartlett and Margaret Darte. Gershom and Margaret gave birth to Lucy 18 Nov 1750 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. vii
Fig 7. Marriage Record of Elisha Freeman and Lucy Bartlett, Hanover Town Records. A relationship between Elisha Freeman and his probable father in law, Gershom Bartlett has been established in local documents. On the 14 May 1776, Gershom Bartlett granted Elisha Freeman along the Pompoonosauc River in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont near land owned by John Barnaps for the sum of forty pounds. viii Gershom Bartlett s will and estate, dated 29 October 1799 left Elisha Freeman the sum of 9 dollars and 34 cents by book. Elisha appears later on a page in the probate as having not furnished a voucher of payment for his portion of the estate. ix Neither of these documents reveal any information of Elisha s wife, but the absence of Lucy in her father Gershom s will is strong evidence that she has passed away. Fig 8. Deed of land in Norwich, Vermont from Gershom Bartlett to Elisha Freeman, dated 14 May 1776. Know all men by there presence that I Gershom Bartlett of Norwich in the County of Gloucester, in the province of New York, tradesman for in consideration of the sum of forty pounds L.M. to me in hand paid before the delivery hereof by Elisha Freeman of Hanover in the County of Grafton, Province of New Hampshire, yeoman the receipt where of I do hereby acknowledge have given, granted, bargained, sold & convey and by there presents [_] grant, bargain,
sell, convey & confirm to him the said Elisha Freeman his heirs [_] signs a certain piece of land, lying & being within said Norwich [_] & bounded as follows obey [_] then running N.E. on John Barnaps hundred acre lot one hundred & eight rods [_] NE corner bound of said Barnaps lot thence the same [_] lot to the rive Pompanoosock then running down river according to the [_] about two acres & one half of interval & one acre & one half on the interval of the hill where Cole Heaths [_] stood to a stake & heap of stones [_] bank of sad river then south 40 degrees 46 rods [_] stake & stones [_] to the first mentioned bound. To hold the granted [_] with the [_] there of to him the said Elisha Freeman his heirs to his & their property benefit [_] gaging to warrant & defend the said granted from [_] or demand of any person or persons [_] by from or under one of the original grantees of I have here unto set my hand & seal the 5 th day of March, 1776 Gershom Bartlett signed to the foregoing statement Lucy is most likely alive in the household of Elisha Freeman as enumerated in the 1790 US Federal Census. Elisha Freeman has four females in the household, three of which account for his known and only daughters. x An estimated year of death for Lucy can be dated to her last child (David Freeman) born 09 May 1793 and the will of Gershom Bartlett, dated April 1799. Upon the grant of land by Gershom, Elisha relocated across the Connecticut River in Norwich, Vermont. He identifies himself of said Norwich on 25 April 1777 in what was currently Gloucester County, New York along with five other siblings: Fig 9a. Deed of land in Hanover from Elisha Freeman et al to Sylvanus Freeman, 25 Apr 1777. Know all men by there presents that We Elisha Freeman in he County of Glouchester, NATHAN AND ELIZABETH (FREEMAN) KELCHER OF WOODSTOCK, CUMBERLAND, NEW YORK (VERMONT),
NATHANIEL AND SARAH (FREEMAN) HEWES OF HANOVER, GRAFTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MOODY AND KEZIA FREEMAN OF HANOVER, GRAFTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JAKE AND TEMPERANCE (FREEMAN) BENNETT OF MANSFIELD, WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT, ELEAZER AND MARY (FREEMAN) SLAFTER OF MANSFIELD, WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT, for & in consideration etc. The six Freemans deeded to their brother, Silvanus Freeman Jr. who had been taking care of their widowed mother, Mary (Dunham) Freeman in Mansfield, Connecticut, a right of land in Hanover, Township. xi Fig 9b. For & in consideration of the filial duty we owe to our honored mother Mrs. Mary Freman of the certain & sure dependence we have of her being well & comfortably supported during her widowhood, by her son Silvanus Freeman of Mansfield do freely & absolutely given forever quitclaim unto him the sd Silvanus Freeman his heirs & assigns forever all that our right, title, & interest which we have might could or ought to have in to or whom a certain or parcel of land (lying in Hanover township) which John Freeman late of said Hanover died seized of and which said John in his last will & testament bequeathed to our Hond Father Silvanus Freeman late of Mansfield since deceased intestate. Elisha enlisted for the Revolutionary War and has risen to the rank of Corporal by its end, however no record of his pension has yet been found. He
enlisted in Peter Olcott s Regiment; assisting in the retreat of the Strafford people on 13 August 1777 and he is listed again 9 Mar 1781 when the British came to fight in Royalton. At Royalton, he fought for 3 days and covered forty miles by foot. The British returned to Peachum on 9 March 1781 and it was in this battle that Elisha Freeman fought as a corporal. xii Elisha would remain in Norwich until about 1803, where he removed to Stratford, Orange County, Vermont based on the fact that he identified himself of said Stratford 4 May 1803 in quitclaim deed to Abijah Wheeler of Norwich, Vermont. xiii Know all men by these presents that I Elisha Freeman of Strafford in the county of Orange, etc. Fig 10. Deed of land in Norwich, Vermont from Elisha Freeman to Abijah Wheeler, 4 May 1803. No research on Elisha in the said town of Stratford has been undertaken. Elisha Freeman is buried next to his child David Freeman and Wife Lovina at Riverside Cemetery in Westville, Franklin, New York. The grave states he died 8 Jul 1838 at the Age of 92 years. xiv Fig 11. Gravestone of Elisha Freeman, Riverside Cemetery, Westville, New York. Northern New York Tombstone Project. No other records have been found of Elisha Freeman residing in Westville. Children of Elisha Freeman and Lucy Bartlett are: 64 i. John7 Freeman76, born 26 Mar 1776 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. (Vermont Vital Records, no father listed)
65 ii. Gersham Bartlett Freeman, born 14 May 1778 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont; died 25 Aug 1841 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont. (Vermont VR, no father listed) 66 iii. Temperance Freeman76, born 22 Sep 1780 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. 67 iv. Mary Freeman76, born 18 Apr 1783 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. She married Joseph Wilmott76 05 Dec 1811 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. (Vermont VR) 68 v. George Clark Freeman76, born 28 Jun 1786 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76; died 28 Aug 1857 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. He married Margaret Bartlett76 28 Jan 1811 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76; born 178876; died 29 Oct 1863 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. (birth and marriage listed in Vermont VR). 69 vi. Lucy Freeman76, born 30 Jan 1789 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont7676. She married Erastus Baxter76 08 Jan 1812 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. 70 vii. Jonathan Freeman76, born 15 Jun 1791 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76; died 20 Sep 1867 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont76. + 71 viii. David Freeman, born 09 May 1793 in Norwich, Windsor, Vermont. END NOTES 1 Town Clerk Register of Vital Statistics, Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut. Birth Record of Elisha Freeman 10 Aug 1747. Town Vital Records, page 138. Copy dated 9 Jan 2008. 2 Registry of Deeds, Rockingham County. Deed from Silvanus Freeman to Elisha Freeman, 23 May 1769. Hanover, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. (volume needs to be cited. Page 425. On Microfilm at NEHGS. 3 Registry of Deeds, Rockingham County. Deed from Elisha Freeman to John Slafter, 1772. Hanover, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. (vol page) On Microfilm at NEHGS 4 Robert R. Freeman, Freeman Families of New England, 3 vols. (Westminster: Heritage Books, 2005). 5 Dr. Gilman Frost, Genealogical Records of Hanover, New Hampshire, (Hanover: Dartmouth College Library, 1972), 36. On Microfilm at NEHGS. 6 Elisha Freeman in Hanover, New Hampshire Town Records. State of New Hampshire Town Records (Genealogical Society of Utah: Salt Lake, 1950). On Microfilm at NEHGS. 7 Record of Marriage for Elisha Freeman and Lucy Bartlett 2 May 1775 (Hanover, page 36). State of New Hampshire Town Records (Genealogical Society of Utah: Salt Lake, 1950). On Microfilm at NEHGS. 8 White, Lorraine Cook. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (Genealogical Publishing Company: Baltimore, 2004), Windsor Vital Records, p. 30. 9 Deed of Gershom Bartlett to Elisha Freeman, 4 May 1776. Land Records of Norwich, Vermont (book 1, page 27) Norwich, Windsor County, Vermont. Town Clerk s Office. Copy made 2009 10 Probate of Gershom Bartlett dated Apr 1799, Probate Records for Windsor County, Vermont. Hartford District, 1783 1851, (Gen. Society of Utah: Salt Lake City, 1982). On Microfilm at NEHGS. 11 1790 United States Federal Census. Listing for Elisha Freeman of Norwich, Windsor, Vermont. 12 Registry of Deeds, Rockingham County. Deed from Elisha Freeman et. al to Silvanus Freeman Jr. 25 April 1777 (Vol, page). On Microfilm at NEHGS. 13 Records filed with Moody Freeman. Elisha Freeman, compiled military service record (Corporal, Peter Olcott's Regiment, Vermont Militia), in Compiled Service Records of Soldiers
Who Served In The American Army During the Revolutionary War, Microfilm M881, Roll No. 896. 14 Deed of Elisha Freeman to Abijah Wheeler, 4 May 1803. Land Records of Norwich, Vermont (2: 241) 15 Transcription of the tombstone for Elisha Freeman. Franklin County, New York Tombstone Transcriptions, (online database, Northern New York Tombstone Transcription Project).