The surname Freeman is of ancient English origin. The coat-of-arms: Three lozenges, or. Crest: A demi-lion rampant gules, holding between his paws a like lozenge. Motto: Liber et audax.

(I) Edmund Freeman, immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1590, and came in the ship "Abigail" in July, 1635, with wife Elizabeth and children, Alice, Edmund, Elizabeth and John. He settled in Lynn, Mass. as early as 1635. Mr. Lewis, in his "History of Lynn," states: "This year (1635) many new inhabitants appear in Lynn, and among them worthy of note Mr. Edmund Freeman, who presented to the colony twenty corslets or piece of plate armor." He was subsequently in the Plymouth colony, and with nine associates was soon recognized by the government as a suitable person to originate a new settlement.
He was admitted freeman at Plymouth, Jan. 2, 1637, and after being for a short time a resident of Duxbury he settled in what was incorporated later as the town of Sandwich. Most of the grantees of this town were formerly of Lynn. Mr. Freeman had the largest grant and was evidently the foremost man in the enterprise. He was elected an assistant to the governor, and commissioner to hear and determine causes withn the several contiguous townships. He was one of the first judges of the select court of Plymouth colony. During the persecution of the Quakers he opposed the course of the govenment and was fined ten shillings once for refusing to aid in the baiting of Friends under pretense of law.
"Pre-eminently respected, always fixed in principle, and decisive in action, nevertheless quiet and unobtrusive, a counsellor and leader without ambitious ends in view, of uncompromising integrity and of sound judgment, the symmetry of his entire character furnished an example well worthy of imitation and remains as a rich legacy to his descendants."
He died in 1682, at the advanced age of ninety-two. His will, dated June 21, 1682, was offered for probate, Nov. 2, 1682. He was buried on his own land, on the hill in the rear of his dwelling at Sandwich. It is the oldest burial place in the town. His grave and that of his wife are makred by two boulders which he placed in position after her death, and called, from fancied remembrance, "the saddle and pillion." His home was a mile and a quarter west of the town hall and near the junction of the old and new county roads to the Cape.
He married Elizabeth ____, who died Feb. 14, 1675-76.
Children:
1. Alice, born in England; married Deacon William Paddy, Nov. 24, 1639.
2. Edmund, born in England; married (first) April 22, 1646, Rebecca Prence; (second) Margaret Perry.
3. Elizabeth, born in England, 1625; married John Ellis.
4. John, born in England about 1627.
5. Mary, married Edward Perry.
Robert and Samuel Freeman, of this family, were both heads of families in 1790, according to the Federal census. Robert settled in German Flats, Herkimer county, N.Y., and Samuel at Caughnawgo, same county.

(V) Noah Freeman was a descendant in the fifth generation from Edmund Freeman.

(VI) Lewis, son of Noah Freeman, married Catherine Towne.
Children:
George Lewis, mentioned below.
Margaret, married Orlando Sutherland.
Etta, married Volney Plumb.
Ada, married Henry Bliss.
Ida, married Charles Starkweather.
Morgan, unmarried.
William, married Maude Clark.

(VII) George Lewis, son of Lewis and Catherine (Towne) Freeman, was born at Schuyler Lake, Otsego county, N.Y. Dec. 22, 1846. He is serving in the capacity of superintendent for D. H. Burrell & Company, Little Falls, N.Y., having been in their employ for about thirty-six years.
He is a Baptist in religion and an Independent in politics. He is a member of Schuyler Lake Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.
He married, March 23, 1870, Florence E., daughter of Daniel C. and Nancy (Hartman) Peek. They had two children, one now deceased, and D. Everett, mentioned below.

(VIII) D. Everett, son of George Lewis and Florence E. (Peek) Freeman, was born at Little Falls, N.Y., Dec. 13, 1877. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, including the high school, Albany Business College, and Cornell College, attending the latter for one year. He is now employed in the clerical department of D. H. Burrell & Company, serving as head of the order and shipping departments.
He is a Baptist in religion, and a Republican in politics.
He is a member of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 414, and Little Falls Emcampment, No. 92, and Canton Little Falls, No. 9, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Rockton Council, Royal Arcamum; Exempt Firemen's Association, and Little Falls Fish and Game Protective Association.
Mr. Freeman married, Nov. 6, 1896, at Albany, N.Y. Alice E., born April 5, 1878, at Snell's Bush, Herkimer county, N.Y., daughter of Clarence S. and Eugenia (Helmer) Snell.
Clarence S. Snell was a farmer; he was a twin of Clifford Snell, and they were sons of J. G. and Betsey Snell. Eugenia (Helmer) Snell was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Helmer. Mrs. Freeman has a brother and sister, namely: J. G. Snell, married Delight Eades, and Anna, wife of Ross Sadler.
Children of Mr. & Mrs. Freeman, born at Little Falls:
Florence Eugenia, April 13, 1897.
Alice I., Sept. 1, 1900.
Both attend the public school. [this material was published in 1910].

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