ajor John Freeman was Deputy from Eastham 1654-1666, Assistant to the Governor 1666-1686, appointed Bench Court Com. Peas. 1692, and Major on Josias Winslow’s staff 1658. (DAR Lineage Book Vol. 14 p96) John Freeman Sr. and his brother William Freeman arrived in Massachusetts, on the ship Abigail, in 1635 from Devonshire in England. John Freeman married Mercy Brewster Prence, who was the daughter of Patience Brewster and Gov. Thomas Prence. Patience Brewster was the daughter of Elder William Brewster (1567-1644). They came to America on the Mayflower. Their son John Freeman born between 1640 and 1650 left Massachusetts and went to Virginia and then to Albemarle County, North Carolina. He died intestate after 1722 in Albermarle County.

The last half of the above paragraph is obviously confusing the generations of John Freeman. Major John’s son, Rev. John (born Dec 1651, died 27 Jul 1721 in Harwich, MA) obviously stayed close to his parents, and Rev. John’s son John (born Jul 1678, died 1716) is the person who removed to NC. [jl]

Edmund and Bennett's son John was active in civic affairs and is frequently mentioned in public records. He served as a soldier, first as Lieutenant, then as Captain, and later as Major and took an active part in the Indian Wars. He was a major in the expedition against Indians at Saconet in 1677. He served as a member Council of War from 1667-76. He served as captain in the fight against Indians at Taunton in 1675. He was a major of Barnstable Troop in 1685 and Deputy at Eastham for eight years. He served as a selectman for ten years starting in 1663. John was assistant in the Government in 1666. On 7th Dec. 1692, he was appointed to the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas. For many years he was a Deacon of the Eastham Curuch.

John married Mercy Mary Prence, daughter of Governor Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster. Patience was the daughter of Elder William Brewster, the spiritual leader of the Mayflower. [Lee Murrah's Freeman Family Page]

JOHN FREEMAN Sr., son of Edmund Freeman and Bennett Hodsoll was baptized January 28, 1626/7, at Billinghurst, County Sussex, England; died October 28, 1719 [his gravestone says in his 98th year, but it was really his 93rd year], at Eastham, Massachusetts, and married, at Eastham, on February 13, 1649 to MERCY PRENCE, daughter of Governor Thomas and Patience (Brewster) Prence and granddaughter of Elder William Brewster (1566-1643), a spiritual leader of the Puritans and Mary Wentworth (1568-1626).

He came to New England with his father in 1635, being then listed as eight years old on the Custom House rolls. His home during his youth was with his father at Lynn and at Sandwich; he left the latter place for Eastham probably by or before 1649, the date of his marriage, and certainly before June, 1651, when he served on the grand jury from there. His name was propounded for freemanship in June, 1651, and he was admitted as such in June, 1652. His life was filled with official duties, even more than his father's had been; he served as a grand juror on various occasions, as surveyor of highways at Eastham in 1653, as a selectman there from 1663 for ten years, as a Deputy from that town from 1654 to 1666 inclusive and as an Assistant to the Governor from 1666 to 1686 and from 1689 to 1691, all inclusive. The break in his term of service from 1686 to 1689 was caused by the usurpation of Gov. Andros and the cessation of all colonial offices for that period. His duties in the latter capacity were quite incessant and much more varied than those of a Judge of our present-day courts. He was appointed as late as 1692 to the bench of the first Court of Common Pleas which was established after the Union of the Colonies, and his military service was a helpful as his civic activities.

In August, 1643, he was a member of the military company of Sandwich; on March 6, 1654/5, he was made ensign bearer of the Eastham Company, and in October, 1658, as such he became, by order of the Council of War, a member of the Council or Staff of Maj. Josias Winslow. Having apparently become a lieutenant before October 6, 1659, he was then made an officer of that grade in the cavalry. In April, 1667, as a result of a menace to the colonies by the French and the "Duch," there was appointed a council in each town to assist the regular officers and Lt. John was so named for Eastham. On September 15, 1673, the Court, with him present as an Assistant, "haueg considered the information giuen concerning the Duchtheire actings att New York and places adjacent" ordered that the "troopof horse allowed by the Court shalbe sixty, whoe shall haaue horse pistolls, and each of them a carbine, with other cculterments fitt for service;" that volunteers should be encouraged to bring the membership to that number and that in case of attack at any given town, the portion of the personnel of this troop which was resident in a near-by town might, by direction of their local council, hasten to their relief and might even "presse horses for their better expedition if they shall see cause."

At a meeting of the Council of War held at Plymouth, July 8, 1671, relative to the menace to the colony of King Philip and his followers, it was decided to impress a body of one hundred men and "forty of our trustiest Indians" for a campaign against them during the following month and Lt. John was to be second in command under Maj. Josias Winslow. This action was followed on August 23rd by a decision to send letters to the neighboring colonies asking their advice and cooperation and the letter to Massachusetts Bay was sent by the hand of Lt. John. Before October 4, 1675, he had been made a Captain, for as such, on that date, he was one of a committee to take an account of the charges "arising by this spent war" meaning King Philip's War. He also served actively in that campaign and as a result his estate received a grant of land in Narragansett Township No. 7, at what is now Gorham, Maine. This section was not assigned to the heirs of the participants until 1733, or fifty eight years after the battle occurred, but it finally assured lot No. 34 to the estate of John. It developed that in June, 1678, Taunton still owed the colony certain sums "for billetting Captaine Freeman and his men and theire horses""in the late warr with the Indians," "likewise to pay for beef which was disposed off when Capt. Freeman was att youer towne, either by Capt. Freeman or any of youer celect men for the releiffe of some of youer poor, whoe were in extreamyty. On June 2, 1685, the military companies of Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth and Eastham were made the 3rd Regiment and John Freeman was commissioned Major Commandant thereof, with other companies added later. John was called upon to assist in auditing the books of the Treasurer of the Colony in 1662, 1664, 1673 and 1674. In 1663 he and two other were appointed for a year to hold certain wampum belonging to the colony and to pay from it fifteen shillings bounty to each Indian who would bring in a wolf's head. Of nine Indians who had stolen a cask of liquor in 1667, three were sentenced to be whipped and the other six were ordered to pay £10 to John as agent for the colony, in "Indian corne, or porke, or feathers." In June, 1670, he and Jonathan Sparrow were a Committee for Eastham to "looke after the Minnesters Rate." By or before that year the Court had ordered that no tar which was made within the colony should be sold outside of it, and that its price for a two-year term should be eight shillings in money for a small barrel containing not less than sixteen gallons, beer measure, or twelve shillings for a "great barrell" and that John should handle all that was made in Eastham. John was appointed to the bench of the Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 7, 1692. For many years, John was a Deacon of the Eastham Church.

"There were few men in the colony in his day who bore a better reputation than Major John Freeman. He was upright and impartial in all his acts while a public servant and correct in his religious walk." The gravestones of John and Mercy may be seen in a small burial place called "Cove Burying Ground", on the east side of the road leading north from Orleans to the present Eastham, which is but a portion of the ancient town. They are of slate and very small. The inscription on Mercy's stone is surrounded by a line forming a heart. Mercy Prence Freeman died on Sept. 28, 1711 and John died on Oct. 28, 1719; in the Mass. Bay Colony. [LeVonda's Family Tree]

FREEMAN, JOHN, Eastham, s. of first Edmund, b. in Eng. m. 13 or 14 Feb. (both days being giv. in rec. by Geneal. Reg. IX. 313, and 314), 1650, Mercy, d. of Thomas Prence, the Gov. had John, b. 2 Feb. 1651, d. soon; John, again, Dec. 1651; Thomas, Sept. 1653; Edmund, June 1657; Mercy, July 1659; Hannah; Prence, 3 Feb. 1666; and Nathaniel, 20 Mar. 1669; he was an Assist. of the Col. 1666 and foll. yrs. but neither his nor his w.'s d. is found. Mercy m. Dec. 1679, Samuel Knowles; and Hannah m. 14 Apr. 1681, John Mayo. [Savage, Gen. Dictionary, 1965] Major John Freeman settled in Eastham, in that part now called Orleans. On the 5th of June, 1651, he was made a freeman in the colony, and in 1653, when scarcely thirty years of age, with Daniel Cole, he was sent to the Old Colony Court as a deputy. In the Colony Court he represented Eastham in 1656, 62, 63, 64, 65 & 66. In 1667 he was chosen an Assistant to the Governor, and was re-elected yearly until the union of the Colonies in 1692. He was one of the first selectmen chosen in that town; and for many years deacon of the First Church. He belonged to the Militia, and served as Ensign, Lieutenant and Captain; and 1685 he was appointed Major of Militia forces of the county. After a long life of usefulness, he died at the advanced age of 97, Oct. 28, 1719; and his wife, Mary, Sept. 28, 1718, in the 80th year of her age. They lie buried in the ancient graveyard in Eastham.

There were but few men in the colony, of his day, that bore a better reputation than Major Freeman. He was upright and impartial in all his acts while a public servant, and correct in his religious walks through life.

Source: The Freemans - The Eastham Branch of the Sandwich Family - Major John Freeman by Josiah Paine, Harwich, MA. [Plymouth & Cape Cod MA Genealogy]

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