Individual Details
Samuel FREEMAN
(1 Dec 1662 - Abt 1738)
From Freeman Families of New England:
"In 1696-1698 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey several deeds described land that abutted his land.
On 25 January 1695/1696 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey he received a grant of 100 acres of land, including a lot on the Elizabeth River and three other tracts.
On 4 July 1714 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey his nephew, David Brown, son of Thomas Brown of Newark, deceased, chose him as his guardian.
On 5 March 1714/1715 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, Samuel Freeman of Newark, New Jersey and others sold a plot of land in Milford.
On 3 January 1737/1738 in Orange (formerly Newark Twp.), Essex, New Jersey by a deed of gift, he transferred a tract of land at the Mountain Plantations to his son Stephen, yeoman of Hanover, Hunterdon (later Morris) County, New Jersey.
Samuel Freeman was the first of his line who was associated with the settlement that became the town of Orange, New Jersey. He inherited from his mother land in Newark that was described as bordering “the Mountain” on the west. He inherited and acquired land amounting to about 100 acres in Newark, New Jersey. He was a miller. He served as constable in 1701, pound keeper in 1693 and 1698, and fence viewer in 1695 and 1709.
The territory that became Orange, New Jersey was first called “Newark Mountain” and “the Mountain Society”. It was not until 1782 that it was first called Orange Dale and, in 1796, simply Orange. It became a separate township on 27 November 1806. A deed dated 13 January 1719, later in possession of the First Presbyterian Church of Orange, transfers 20 acres from Thomas Gardner to Samuel Freeman, Samuel Pierson, Matthew Williams, Samuel Wheeler, and the Society at the Mountain associated with them. As the Newark Mountain was settled, and up to the time of the Revolution, it was divided into several localities that were designated by the names of the families who had settled there. The Orange Valley was known as “Freemantown”.
During the early settlement of New Jersey, land titles became a source of controversy. Many planters (or settlers) bought land directly from the local Indians and possessed deeds based on those purchases. However, a royal charter was granted to a group of proprietors, who insisted that land deeds were valid only if they derived from purchases from the proprietors. On 19 November 1734 Samuel Freeman and his brother Stephen were among a group who pledged funds (10 and 12s respectively) to fight their cause in court. After the court decided in favor of the proprietors, the settlers either lost their land or were forced to buy it once again from the proprietors. Many of the former were reduced to poverty.
In 1718 many people who resided at the Mountain, including Samuel Freman, broke off from the First Church of Newark and founded the Mountain Society, which became the Second Church in Newark and later the First Presbyterian Church in Orange. On 13 January 1719 a tract of 20 acres was deeded to Samuel Freeman and three other men and the Society at the Mountains.
The churches founded by the settlers from Connecticut were of the Congregational denomination. However, as early as the mid-1680's, Scottish Presbyterians also settled in the same part of New Jersey. The differences between the two churches were primarily in governance rather than beliefs. By 1719 most of the Congregational churches had become Presbyterian. The Mountain Society, or the Church at Newark Mountain, retained its independence until 1748, when it, too, became a Presbyterian church.
He married Elizabeth BROWN, daughter of John BROWN, in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Born circa 1662 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Birth year based on her death date and age from her gravestone."
"In 1696-1698 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey several deeds described land that abutted his land.
On 25 January 1695/1696 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey he received a grant of 100 acres of land, including a lot on the Elizabeth River and three other tracts.
On 4 July 1714 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey his nephew, David Brown, son of Thomas Brown of Newark, deceased, chose him as his guardian.
On 5 March 1714/1715 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, Samuel Freeman of Newark, New Jersey and others sold a plot of land in Milford.
On 3 January 1737/1738 in Orange (formerly Newark Twp.), Essex, New Jersey by a deed of gift, he transferred a tract of land at the Mountain Plantations to his son Stephen, yeoman of Hanover, Hunterdon (later Morris) County, New Jersey.
Samuel Freeman was the first of his line who was associated with the settlement that became the town of Orange, New Jersey. He inherited from his mother land in Newark that was described as bordering “the Mountain” on the west. He inherited and acquired land amounting to about 100 acres in Newark, New Jersey. He was a miller. He served as constable in 1701, pound keeper in 1693 and 1698, and fence viewer in 1695 and 1709.
The territory that became Orange, New Jersey was first called “Newark Mountain” and “the Mountain Society”. It was not until 1782 that it was first called Orange Dale and, in 1796, simply Orange. It became a separate township on 27 November 1806. A deed dated 13 January 1719, later in possession of the First Presbyterian Church of Orange, transfers 20 acres from Thomas Gardner to Samuel Freeman, Samuel Pierson, Matthew Williams, Samuel Wheeler, and the Society at the Mountain associated with them. As the Newark Mountain was settled, and up to the time of the Revolution, it was divided into several localities that were designated by the names of the families who had settled there. The Orange Valley was known as “Freemantown”.
During the early settlement of New Jersey, land titles became a source of controversy. Many planters (or settlers) bought land directly from the local Indians and possessed deeds based on those purchases. However, a royal charter was granted to a group of proprietors, who insisted that land deeds were valid only if they derived from purchases from the proprietors. On 19 November 1734 Samuel Freeman and his brother Stephen were among a group who pledged funds (10 and 12s respectively) to fight their cause in court. After the court decided in favor of the proprietors, the settlers either lost their land or were forced to buy it once again from the proprietors. Many of the former were reduced to poverty.
In 1718 many people who resided at the Mountain, including Samuel Freman, broke off from the First Church of Newark and founded the Mountain Society, which became the Second Church in Newark and later the First Presbyterian Church in Orange. On 13 January 1719 a tract of 20 acres was deeded to Samuel Freeman and three other men and the Society at the Mountains.
The churches founded by the settlers from Connecticut were of the Congregational denomination. However, as early as the mid-1680's, Scottish Presbyterians also settled in the same part of New Jersey. The differences between the two churches were primarily in governance rather than beliefs. By 1719 most of the Congregational churches had become Presbyterian. The Mountain Society, or the Church at Newark Mountain, retained its independence until 1748, when it, too, became a Presbyterian church.
He married Elizabeth BROWN, daughter of John BROWN, in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Born circa 1662 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut. Birth year based on her death date and age from her gravestone."
Events
| Birth | 1 Dec 1662 | Milford, New Haven, Connecticut |  | ||
| Baptism | 21 Dec 1662 | Milford, New Haven, Connecticut |  | ||
| Death | Abt 1738 | Orange (formerly Newark Township), Essex County, New Jersey | |||
| Marriage | Elizabeth BROWNE |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth BROWNE (1662 - 1732) |
| Child | Stephen, Sr. FREEMAN (1687 - 1771) |
| Father | Stephen FREEMAN (1608 - 1675) |
| Mother | Hannah ASTWOOD (1636 - 1738) |
| Sibling | Hannah FREEMAN ( - ) |
| Sibling | Living ( - ) |
| Sibling | Living ( - ) |
| Sibling | Living ( - ) |
| Sibling | John FREEMAN ( - ) |
Notes
Baptism
Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920, Volume 71, Milford
Endnotes
1. Connecticut Vital Records to 1870 (The Barbour Collection).