John Freeman

first name

John

last name

Freeman

gender

male

birth, death year

1788 , 1824

first, last year in records

--, --

confidence level

confirmed identity

freed status (year freed)

unknown

enslaver(s)

location(s)

Deerfield, MA

place of origin

Bio

John Freeman is listed in the 1820 federal census for Deerfield, Massachusetts with one in the column for "Free Colored" men between the ages of 26 and 44. In December of 1822, the Deerfield, Massachusetts Overseers of the Poor wrote to the overseers of Petersham, Massachusetts to see if they would take him on. Deerfield's Dr. Stephen West Williams stated that due to a badly swollen knee, Freeman couldn't work and needed care. Petersham town officials responded in February of 2023, saying:

you say John Freeman an negro has become Chargable and he is a Pauper of this Town and you charge the expence to this Town- we wholly denye the said John Freemans Settlement belonging to this town....

They refused to pay any expenses regarding Freeman. He died in Deerfield in 1824, at the age of 36.

Entry	Source	Vol Name	Date	entry id
• Col. John Wilson John Freemans Certificate	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1822 Dec 21	2118
• The bearer John Freeman has applaied to us for [support crossed out] Assistance has a bad swelling in his knee and is unable to labour Doctor Stephen W. Williams says he must be taken care of he probably has not any settlement in the Commonwealth we think it proper to send him to you to be taken care of Deerfield Dec^r 21^d 1822 Orlando Ware overseer of the Col. John Wilson- Ch^s Hitchcock Poor of Deerfield	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1822 Dec 21	1331
• Petersham Feb^y 28 1823 Gentlemen Selectmen and overseers of the Poor of the Town of Deerfield. we Rec^d your of the 18^th in which you say [John crossed out] John Freeman an negro has become Chargeable and he is a Pauper of this Town and you Charge the expense to this Town - we wholly denye the said John Freemans Settlement belonging to this town, and refuse to pay any expence which has or shall arise on the account of said Pauper we are respectfully Yours Hutchins Hapgood ^pr order and Charman of the overseer of the Town of Petersham	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1823 Feb 28	1332
• Petersham M March 4 Gentlemen Selectmen and overseers of the Poor of the Town of Deerfield John Freeman Negro-1823 [written sideways on left edge]	Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor	Box 9	1823 Mar 4	2119
• Freeman, John, March 24, 2824. Negro a. 36 y. CRI	Deerfield Vital Records to 1850	Deaths	1824 Mar 24	828
• Freeman, John, Hampshire Co. ( 6 "number of other free persons in family, except Indians not taxed, in his household)	Massachusetts Census 1800	1800	1800	1507

Entry

Source

Vol Name

Date

entry id

• Col. John Wilson
John Freemans Certificate

Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor

Box 9

1822 Dec 21

2118

• The bearer John Freeman has applaied to us for [support crossed out] Assistance has a bad swelling in his knee and is unable to labour Doctor Stephen W. Williams says he must be taken care of he probably has not any settlement in the Commonwealth we think it proper to send him to you to be taken care of
Deerfield Dec^r 21^d 1822 Orlando Ware overseer of the
Col. John Wilson- Ch^s Hitchcock Poor of Deerfield

Town of Deerfield, MA, Overseers of the Poor