In the Belchertown, Massachusetts, 1800 federal census, John Freeman is listed as head of a household of six "All Other Free Persons." In 1820 he appears in the census for the same town with seven "Free Colored" people: he is in the column for men aged 45+, with a boy under the age of 14, four girls under the age of 14, and one female aged 14 to 25.