USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 46
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 46
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 46
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 46
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 46
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WILLIAM FREEMAN.
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Knights of Pythias of North-east Harbor. He attends religious services at the Episcopal church.
ILLIAM FREEMAN, of Cherry- field, Washington County, Me., who has held many offices of public trust, was born in Portland, Me., November 17, 1822, being the youngest child of William, Sr., and Frances (Clarke) Freeman and a representa- tive of the seventh generation of his family in America.
His first paternal ancestor in this country was Samuel Freeman, who came from Devon- shire, England, with Governor Winthrop in 1630, and settled the same year in Water- town, Mass., where he owned, tradition says, "one-seventh part of the township, being a proprietor." He died in England about 1639, while absent on business, leaving three chil- dren in America. The following record shows the direct line of descent.
Samuel Freeman (second), third and young- est child of the first Samuel, born May II, 1638, in Watertown, married Mercy South- worth, daughter of Constant Southworth, of Plymouth, May 12, 1658. He became Dea- con of the church in Eastham, Mass., in 1676, and was Representative to the General Court in 1697. "A man of pecuniary resources and financial ability, he was of service to the town in times of peculiar straits." He died Novem- ber 25, 1712. He had nine children.
The second of these, Samuel Freeman, third, born in Eastham, March 26, 1662, mar-
ried Elizabeth Sparrow, February 5, 1684, and married second Bathsheba Smith about 1693. He died January 30, 1742-3. He was a long time in charge of the militia of Eastham, six years Selectman, and nineteen years Representative to General Court. Pratt says, "He was a man of large property for the time, always much engaged in public affairs, and a liberal supporter of education and religion." In town records he was called "Captain " and afterward "Dea- con." He had fourteen children.
Judge Enoch Freeman, the ninth child of the third Samuel, was born in Eastham, May 17, 1706, and graduated at Harvard College in 1729. Soon after his graduation he taught school in Barnstable and Eastham, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston. He went to Falmouth, now Portland, Me., in 1741, and settled there in 1742. He superin- tended for some years the affairs of Gen- eral Waldo, who had large estates in Cumber- land County at that time. These positions and offices were held by Enoch Freeman : -
Captain of first company of militia in Fal- mouth, now Portland (W. Shirley, Governor), date of commission 1744 (this year by order of the government he superintended the con- struction of a "breastwork and platform for ten twelve-pound cannon on the Neck for the defence of the harbor, and when finished commanded it") ; Selectman of Falmouth (Portland) three years from 1744; Major of Second Regiment militia in York (Governor Shirley) from 1746; Town Treasurer from 1746 to 1754; Justice of the Peace, commis-
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sioned 1748; Colonel and commandant of a regiment on Eastern frontier, 1748; com- manding officer of a guard to attend the Com- missioners appointed to treat with Indians (Phipps), 1749; Deputy Naval Officer (W. S.), 1749; Deputy Collector of the Port of Falmouth (Portland), 1750 to 1774; Judge of Court of Common Pleas twenty-nine years, - 1760 to 1788; Justice of the Quorum, com- missioned 1761; Judge of Probate eighteen years, from 1770 until his death in 1788; Justice through the State, date of commis- sion, 1775; Counsellor, negatived by Hutch- inson, 1774; Representative to the General Court, 1748, 1755, 1756, 1774, and to the Provincial Congress, 1774.
In 1774 he was one of the "Committee of Correspondence on the alarming situation of public affairs," and to call a convention of delegates from all the towns in the county, and was one of the delegates to and chairman of the convention, and on the Committee of Thirteen chosen at that meeting "to draw up the sentiments of the convention." He was chairman of the Committee of Inspection and Correspondence, also chairman of the com- mittee of the sufferers of Falmouth, Casco Bay, chosen by the inhabitants to "obtain re- lief from Europe." He was chairman of the Committee of Safety of Falmouth in 1775. He was Register of Deeds twenty-nine years, until his death, from 1760 to 1788. Judge Enoch Freeman's earlier commissions were under the Crown. His biographer, Alden Bradford, LL.D., says of him, "He was a zealous Republican during the Revolu-
tionary War, and his patriotism and zeal in support of civil liberty were always conspicu- ous. " The historian, William Willis, in Smith and Deane's Journal, p. 363, says, "He was a man of moral worth and strict integrity, and of great usefulness from his cducation and energy in our community."
The Hon. Enoch Freeman married Mary Wright, August 31, 1742. She died January 7, 1785. He died September 2, 1788, aged eighty-two. They had seven children.
Judge Samuel Freeman, fourth of the name here mentioned, the eldest of the seven chil- dren of the above Enoch, was born in Fal- mouth, Me., June 15, 1743. His elementary education was obtained in the public and pri- vate schools of Portland, he being at one time a pupil of Stephen Longfellow. He after- ward attended lectures at Harvard College, but did not take the whole of the prescribed course. He studied philosophy and astron- omy under Professor Winthrop. His youth- ful days were spent in literary and mathemat- ical studies. He taught school in Falmouth, 1764 until 1766. In 1767 he took charge of Captain Alexander Ross's business, and at his death acted as agent in settling up his large estate for the widow. In 1772 he traded for himself, and shipped cargoes of masts and spars to England. He was for a short time surveyor of land. In 1774 he was chairman of the Committee of Correspondence "on the alarming situation of public affairs"; and at a general meeting of the committees of the towns in the county held in general conven- tion in Falmouth, September 21, 1774, he
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was chosen secretary, and his father, Enoch Freeman, president. At this meeting a Com- mittee of Thirteen, of which he was one and its secretary, was chosen "to draw up the sentiments of the convention, and report at the next meeting." This report, made mem- orable by subsequent events, was drawn up by him and presented by him at the adjourned meeting, and adopted. He was one of the Committee of Correspondence and Inspection, and a member of the committee of the sufferers of Falmouth to obtain aid in Europe. In 1775 he was elected sole delegate to the Provincial Congress from Falmouth. He was re-elected in 1776 and 1778, and at the third session of the Congress was chosen its secre- tary by a unanimous vote. When a House of Representatives was convened in July, 1775, he was chosen its clerk, which office he held until 1781, and was also an active member. He presided as Speaker of the House on some very important occasions.
Judge Samuel Freeman held many public offices and positions of public trust, twenty- two at one time. He was appointed Postmas- ter of Portland, October 5, 1775, commission signed by Benjamin Franklin. This office he held twenty-nine years. Judge Charles W. Goddard in writing of him said, "Deacon Freeman served through a number of dispen- sations, his official life of nearly twenty-nine years lasting through the remnant of King George III.'s nominal rule over the united colonies; through the continental régime; through the old confederacy; through the ad- ministrations of Washington and Adams and
until near the close of Jefferson's first term, when he was removed, being unwilling to sacrifice his federal principles for office."
He was Justice of the Peace during a long series of years, actively employed in the trial of civil and criminal causes, having the juris- diction now held by our municipal courts. He was Register of Probate thirty-six years; Judge of Probate seventeen years; Clerk of the Court of General Sessions forty-six years; Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas forty- five years, and, from 1795 until the separation from Massachusetts in 1820, of the Supreme Judicial Court, with the exception of the year 18II (that year he was removed by Governor Gerry, and the next restored by Governor Strong).
For a lifetime he was standing Moderator of the town meetings in his native town; for twenty-five consecutive years was Selectman, with the exception of one year, and most, if not all of the time, chairman of the board. For many years he was chairman of the School Committee. He also held other minor, at that time important, town offices. For in- stance, he and Woodbury Storer were elected Wardens. He was also on the fire ward and clerk of the market. He was chiefly instru- mental in obtaining appropriations in money for the sufferers from the Mowett fire, and, with others, in obtaining a grant of two town- ships of land from the General Court. He was clerk and general agent of the proprietors of the sufferers' townships, afterward the towns of New Portland and Freeman, and one of the committee to settle the same and
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purchase lands for the settlers. He was over thirty years one of the trustees of Portland Academy, being particularly active in obtain- ing the act of incorporation and a grant for it of half a township of land; and "it was through his unwearied exertions," Mr. Willis says, that a fund of three thousand dollars was raised for the academy, which the court im- posed as the condition for the grant.
He was clerk, agent, and general manager for the proprietors of four Eastern townships most of the time from 1762, inclusive, to near the present century, namely: No. I, Trenton or Thorndike township; Nos. 4, 5, and 6, now comprising Steuben, Millbridge, Harrington, Addison, and the southern part of Cherryfield. He was chairman of the committee for build- ing the jail, associated with William Gorham and John Frothingham. All through his life he was interested in and worked for the cause of education, and the academy particularly re- ceived his earnest support and fostering care. He was chairman of the committee for build- ing the court-house in Portland; was Parish Committee and Assessor and committee to sell lands in Standish; was one of the Over- seers of Bowdoin College; president of the board in 1816 to 1819, three years; also treasurer and trustee of the college and a committee to sell townships granted to said college.
He was one of the founders and president of the Maine Bank from its organization in 1802 to the expiration of its charter, also was one of the founders and an active member and president of the Portland Benevolent Society.
He was a prominent member and held offices in the "Eastern Society for promoting the Knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures, and es- tablishing Christian Order, Instruction, and Piety in the District of Maine," the Bible Society, Maine Education Society, Eastern Branch of Massachusetts Evangelical Society, and Tract Society, Peace Society, First Parish Charity Fund Society, "Society for the Suppression of Vice and Immorality," Sixty- nine Society (a temperance organization), Central Sabbath Committee, Portland Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews; and, with 'the exception of one or two, the rec- ord shows that he was one of the founders of them all. He was a member and most of the time Deacon of the First Parish Church for over sixty years.
While a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, he was one of a committee appointed by the Congress "to take depositions in perpet- uam, in which a full account of the transac- tions of the troops under General Gage, in their route to and from Concord on Wednes- day last, may be collected to be sent to Eng- land by the first ship from Salem." They were taken; and Mr. Freeman was with four others appointed by the Congress to "prepare a letter to our agent in London, Dr. Frank- lin," which was done.
Mr. Willis, in his "Courts and Lawyers of Maine," says of him: "Whoever held so many and such a variety of offices before? Yet we are assured, and partly know from our own observation, that no duty in any of them es- caped his attention or was neglected. He
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was the most industrious of men and the most exact and faithful. Long experience had given him great facility; and a firm constitu- tion, regular habits, and persevering labor enabled him to perform all his responsible and arduous duties with fidelity and correctness. At the same time he employed himself in pre- paring works for publication, which his offices showed him to be needed, and which proved to be exceedingly useful to the profession and others. These were the 'Town Officer,' 'Clerk's Assistant,' 'Probate Manual' and ' Justice's Assistant.' . .. His last work was the editing the journal of his venerable pas- tor, the Rev. Thomas Smith." This was undertaken by Judge Samuel Freeman when he was over eighty years old. He died in Portland, Me., June 18, 1831, at the age of eighty-eight.
The Hon. Samuel Freeman, fourth, married first, November 3, 1777, Mary Fowle, daugh- ter of Edmund Fowle, of Watertown. She was born November 21, 1749, and died Janu- ary 7, 1785. He married, second, Betsey, widow of Pearson Jones and daughter of Dr. Enoch Ilsley, of Portland. She was born Oc- tober 6, 1754, and died in March, 1831. Three children were the fruit of the first union and six of the second.
William Freeman, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, was the second son of Judge Samuel and Mary (Fowle) Freeman, and was born in Portland, July 3, 1783. His prepara- tory studies were pursued at Fryeburg and Berwick Academies, and he was graduated at Harvard College in 1804. While in college
he wrote many articles for the Boston press, chiefly poetry. At his graduation he deliv- ered a poem, for which he was highly compli- mented by the president and faculty. Soon after he studied law two years with his wife's uncle, Judge Green, of Berwick, and one year with William Symmes in Portland, Wood- bury Storer being his fellow-student. He was admitted to the Cumberland bar, and opened an office in Portland in 1807. In 1812 he moved to Limerick, where he became associated with Jonathan Bryant in trade and the manufacture of lumber. He remained there about eight years, and then returned to Portland, and resumed the practice of law. In 1824 he removed to Saccarappa, and built the house now occupied by Lewis Warren. In 1827 he built a cottage on the site lately occupied by Warren Brown in Westbrook (now Deering), and he resided there a year or more. At this period, finding that the East- ern lands conveyed to him by his father in 1826 required his personal attention, he spent most of his time in Cherryfield; and after the death of his father in 1831 he moved his fam- ily to Cherryfield. About the year 1832 he was instrumental in obtaining a charter from the State to build a bridge across the Narra- guagus River, where the present covered bridge now stands; and he erected the large building opposite on the east side, which was used for a hotel many years. From this time he lived in Cherryfield until his decease.
William Freeman, Sr., while a resident of the town of Limerick, before the separation from Massachusetts, represented that place in
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the legislature of that State; and in 1829 he was elected to the legislature of Maine from the Cherryfield district. He did not seek these offices, but invariably shunned political honors. He declined several nominations to Congress and many to the legislature of his own State. He was a very industrious man, and was an enthusiastic poet from his youth up. While in college he wrote an ex- hibition poem on "Fiction, " and a Commence- ment poem on "Credulity." He also wrote a class poem, entitled "Indifference," which he delivered before the Hasty Pudding Club. During the Harrison campaign of 1840 and Clay campaign of 1844 he wrote many campaign songs. At the age of ninety- two or ninety-three he composed one hundred and fifty pages of poetry. In politics he was an ardent Clay Whig and a Republican from the formation of the party. He was a Uni- tarian in his religious views, but attended other churches, and contributed to their sup- port.
George B. Griffith, in his "Poets of Maine," says of him: "This distinguished philan- thropist was born in Portland, July 3, 1783, and died at Cherryfield, February 20, 1879, at the ripe age of ninety-six. He graduated at Harvard College in 1804, having written con- siderable for the Boston Palladium and other publications previous to that date. Mr. Say- ward, editor of the Bangor Whig, regarded Mr. Freeman as the most versatile writer then in the State, and many of his best verses were written under noms de plume.
"On the 4th of July, 1808, while a resi-
dent of Portland, he delivered an oration in the old wooden First Parish meeting-house by invitation of the town authorities. Mr. Free- man became a well-read lawyer, a lecturer, and peacemaker. It is said that he sometimes spent days in efforts to obtain peaceful settle- ments between parties who applied to him to prosecute or defend their claims before the courts. The great object of his life seems to have been to benefit his fellow-men, and for this he had the respect and esteem of all in his region."
He married August 29, 1806, Frances Clarke, daughter of Thomas Clarke, of Bos- ton, and grand-daughter of the Rev. Jonas Clarke, of Lexington, Mass. Her grand- father was descended from Hugh Clarke, who came to this country early, settled in Water- town in 1666, became a member of the An- cient and Honorable Artillery Company, and held other important stations. It was at the home of the Rev. Jonas Clarke that John Hancock and Samuel Adams often met for counsel, and there they passed the night pre- ceding the battle of Lexington.
Charles Hudson, in his History of Lexing- ton, often quotes and speaks of him. On page 161 he says: "Mr. Clarke was a man of high rank in his profession, a man of practical piety, a learned theologian, a person of general reading, a writer perspicuous, correct, and pointed beyond the standard of the day, and a most intelligent, resolute, and ardent cham- pion of the popular cause. He was connected by marriage with the family of John Hancock. To this circumstance, no doubt, may be as-
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cribed some portion of his interest in the po- litical movements of the day; while on the mind of Hancock an intimacy with Mr. Clarke was calculated to have a strong and salutary influence. "
On page 238 Hudson says: "His [Jonas Clarke's] counsels are known to have had a great and perhaps a controlling influence upon John Hancock at a time when he was sup- posed to be in doubt relative to his duty."
"Mr. Clarke's character for patriotism was so well understood that all the ardent friends of liberty used to frequent his home; and they never left uninstructed or unwarned with truly religious, patriotic ardor." The Lexington records teem with able and statesmanlike papers written by him. The inscription on the soldiers' monument was furnished by him. Governor Andrew said of him, "He was one of the most distinguished clerical patriots of Massachusetts in our Revolutionary age."
He was chosen and attended as a delegate the convention to form a constitution, "served at the meeting on several important commit- tees, where his good sense and ripened wis- dom were of great service."
The Rev. Jonas Clarke had twelve children, several of whom besides Thomas, already mentioned, were distinguished in themselves and descendants. His son Jonas settled in Kennebunk, was appointed Collector of the Port and Judge of Probate for the county of York. His „ daughter Lydia married the Rev. Benjamin Greene, who afterward was ap- pointed Judge of the Circuit Court of Com- mon Pleas and United States Marshal of the
district. Mary Clarke married the Rev. Henry Ware, of Hingham, professor of divin- ity in Harvard University, whose children - Henry Ware, Jr., and John Ware - also held professorships in Harvard College. Hudson, after speaking of each member of his family, adds, "It will be seen but few families can boast of distinction such as has fallen to the lot of the Rev. Jonas Clarke."
Thomas Clarke, father of Mrs. Freenan, was born in Lexington, September 27, 1759. He moved from Lexington to Boston, and engaged in trade. He married Sally Conant. He was chosen Town Clerk in 1809, and held the office thirteen years. In 1822 Boston was incorporated as a city, and Mr. Clarke was chosen a member and clerk of the Common Council. These offices he held till his death, twenty-three consecutive years. He died in office in the seventy-third year of his age. The president of the Common Coun- cil, in announcing his death, said: "His pri- vate virtues and his long tried public service are too well known and too highly appreciated by you to require any eulogium from me. He has gone to the grave in the fulness of years, and his memory is honored by the universal respect of his fellow-citizens."
He was Captain of the Ancient and Honor- able Artillery.
The children of William and Frances (Clarke) Freeman were: William, born Feb- ruary 22, 1808, died February 23, 1808; Frances Sarah, born June 20, 1810, married first Dr. Tristam Redman and second John M. Hale, of Ellsworth, both deceased ;
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Lucy Helen, born August 9, 1812, who mar- ried Moses Hale, both deceased; George, born October 15, 1814; Elizabeth Dorcas, born March 1, 1817, died June 10, 1893; Charlotte, June 29, 1819, married Judge Caleb Burbank both deceased; William, November 17, 1822, married first Sophia T. Lewis, September 4, 1851, and married sec- ond Mary C. Freeman, December 24, 1880. William Freeman, Sr., died February 20, 1879, aged nearly ninety-six years. His wife, Mrs. Frances Clarke Freeman, died April 29, 1861.
At the age of six years William Freeman, the special subject of this sketch, went to live with his grandfather, Thomas Clarke, in Bos- ton, where he attended one of the public schools. He afterward spent eighteen months with his maternal aunts in the old Hancock House in Lexington, and while there attended the academy, which overlooked the battle- ground. About 1833 he was sent home to Cherryfield, whither the family had removed. He attended the town schools and academy in Cherryfield until 1836, when he was sent to the Wells Boarding-school at South Boston Point, where he remained six years, the last year as an assistant in the school. He taught school in Cherryfield one year, studied law in his father's and Judge Caleb Burbank's office, and was admitted to the Washington County bar in 1845, and practised law in Cherryfield. In 1850, becoming interested in timber lands, Mr. Freeman engaged in the manufacture of lumber of various kinds, which business he followed for nine years. In the winter of
1853-54 be built the first belt saw-mill erected in this section of the county.
In 1860 he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs, which office he held during the war of the Rebellion and until the fall of 1868, when it was removed to Millbridge. He was also Inspector of Customs during most of the time, retaining the office some years.
While Deputy Collector he seized a Confed- erate brig, which ran the blockade at Florida in March, 1863. On her way to St. John, N.B., for supplies for the Confederacy she ran into the mouth of Harrington River for a harbor in the night-time. The morning fol- lowing, fearing seizure, she hastily weighed anchor to escape, and in doing so swung against a field of ice, which held her fast. Mr. Freeman, who had been previously noti- fied of her presence, at that moment reached the bank, and saw her predicament. He en- gaged a man to row him to the brig in a small skiff; and, as he approached the vessel, the captain, who was pacing the deck, had the ladder which hung at her side hoisted on board. Mr. Freeman ordered the captain to put it back, which after some hesitation he reluctantly did. Mr. Freeman then boarded and seized the brig and crew without further opposition. The master made no resistance, believing, it was said at the time, that the Collector had an armed force upon the shore. This he judged from his temerity in boarding the vessel single-handed and unarmed, and taking the risk of being carried to sea, which could have been done, for she soon after was
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cleared from the ice. A new crew was put on board, and both vessel and crew were sent to Machias. The same year, 1863, Mr. Free- man was ordered to seize a schooner at anchor off Ripley's Point in Harrington, about one- quarter of a mile from the shore, which was engaged in smuggling. He went with two men to seize her. No boat could be found; and Mr. Freeman stripped and swam one- quarter of a mile, and boarded and took the schooner, but afterward gave her up, as there was not sufficient proof of her being a smuggler.
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