Prince Freeman lived in Conway, Massachusetts. He was born circa 1742, possibly in Harwich, Massachusetts, the fourth of nine children born to Prince, Sr. and Abigail (Dillingham) Freeman. He married Anna Wing in 1770 and the couple soon moved to Conway where thye had six children: Prince born in 1770 who died in infancy, Mary born in 1771, Abigail in 1773, Anna in 1775, Temperance born and died in infancy in 1778, and John born in 1780.
The 1790 federal census for Conway lists a White Prince Freeman with five people in his household. While Freeman was a common surname for an African American person, Freeman was also a relatively common surname among colonists of English heritage, as well. In 1875, Frederick Freeman published a genealogy in three parts of descendents of the Freeman family who emigrated from England. (Freeman, Frederick, Freeman Genealogy in Three Parts (Boston: Franklin Press, Rand, Avery, and Co., 1875) The name Prince for male descendents occurred early on, likely a version of Prence, the maiden name of Mary Prence who married John Freeman in the 17th century. "The name Prince as a Christian name has been common among the descendants of both Edmund Freeman No. 3, and John Freeman No. 5, since their connection with the family of Gov. P. The governor wrote his name Prence, but the prevailing orthography has long been Prince.” (Freeman Freeman Genealogy, part 1, p. 76)
By 1800, the Prince family was living in the town of Norwich in Chenango County, New York, where the census report listed a Prince Freeman with six people (including himself) in his household. The 1820 census for nearby Plymouth, New York lists the Freeman family with four members in the household. Prince Freeman is recorded as having died in Norwich in 1821.
According to Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Vol. 6, pg. 49), Prince Freeman of Conway, Massachusetts, served in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) beginning in 1776:
A transcription of his 1780 enlistment form is shown below. He was described as 38 years old, with a light complexion, and standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall.
belonging to militia of Conway who were mustered by Lieut. Col. David Wells for 3 months service at Claverack sworn to in Hampshire Co. August 3, 1780.
Capt. Densmore's co.
Residence- Conway.
Age- 38 years.
Stature- 5 ft. 8 in.
Complexion- light.