We found the house in Ipswich Massachusetts where our ancestor Peter Freeman was enslaved in the mid-1700s. His son John Freeman fought in the Revolutionary War most likely obtained freedom papers, and moved to Brunswick, Maine. They took the surname Freeman, as many Blacks did during that time. Hence began the Freeman lineage in East Brunswick Maine.
#mixedhistoryisamericanhistory #BlackNewEnglandHistory #chasingancestors #ipswichblackhistory #mostlywhitenovel #BlackRevolutionaryWarSoldiers #BlackHistoryisAmericanHistory #NativeandBlackAmericanHistory #BrunswickMaineBlackHistory
Most Blacks were mixed with Native Americans in New England as they were both enslaved by the settlers. Peter Freeman was most likely mixed Native (Wampanoag) and Black. Our mother who was born in Portland, Maine was a descendant of the Freemans. She always told us we had Passamaquoddy Native American, Irish and Black ancestry. It is time for this history to come out, we are all more connected than we realize.
I would appreciate any additional information or corrections for the article I'm writing at https://historicipswich.org/2022/11/30/african-american-revolutionary-war-soldiers-from-ipswich/. --Gordon Harris, Ipswich MA town historian.
Wow…..great work! Happy for you and yours.
“All more connected than we realize”……so true.