Prince was the son of Prince, Sr. and Anna Freeman of Conway, Massachusetts. The 1790 federal census for Conway lists a White Prince Freeman with five people in his household. His name is a common one for an African American man. It might be that the family was light-skinned and the census taker assumed they were White, but information on this family is scarce and without more, it is difficult to know their race.
Prince, Sr. lived in Conway, Massachusetts. He and his wife Anna had at least five children. Prince, Jr. was born in 1770, Mary in 1771, Abigail in 1773, Anna in 1775, and Temperance was born and died in 1778 at the age of three months. The 1790 federal census for Conway lists a White Prince Freeman with five people in his household. His name is a common one for an African American man. It might be that the family was light-skinned and the census taker assumed they were White, but information on this family is scarce and without more, it is difficult to know their race. Freeman was 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 occurs 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)
“Prince Freeman” was a common name among enslaved men who gained their freedom, making it difficult to identify a particular man with this name with certainty. According to Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Vol. 6, pg. 49), a Prince Freeman who lived in Conway, Massachusetts, was born circa 1742, possibly in Harwich, Massachusetts. He married Anna Wing there in 1770 and the couple soon moved to Conway where at least six of their eight children were born.
By 1800, the family might have been living in Norwich, New York, as the census report lists 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 is recorded as having died in Norwich in 1821.
Beginning in 1776, Prince served in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). 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.
A record of Prince Freeman's military service follows:
| Entry | Source | Vol Name | Date | entry id |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Freeman, Prince, Jr., s. Prince and Anna, May 25, 1776 | Conway Vital Records to 1850 | Births | 1770 May 25 | 1431 |