| Notes |
- Notes for RALPH JR. FREEMAN:
The FIRST FREEMAN'S of ATTLEBOROUGH, BRISTOL COUNTY, MA., USA
In the 17th century, when Europeans arrived in the area, Native
Americans from two tribes, the Wampanoag and the Narragansett lived
on opposite banks of the Ten Mile River. The Naragansetts carried
out numerous raids on their neighbours before the English aquired
waterfront land from the Wampanoags which served to separate the two
tribes.
Captain Thomas Willett, who succeeded Miles Standish as head of
Plymouth's Colonial Militia, negotiated the Rehoboth "North Purchase"
from the Wampanoag leader, "Wamsutta", Massasoit's son. This purchse
included today's Attleborough and North Attleborough and the upper
Ten Mile River area. Captain Willett later became the first English
Mayor of New York.
The Ten Mile River area has rocky edges, deeply shaded pine
woods, open hardwood forests, fields, streams, swamps and bogs. The
English built the first grain and saw mills here as did David
Freeman, son of Ralph Freeman of Dedham, Ma. (Attleboro Town Records)
Later, the Naragansett leader resented the movement of the
English into these areas and this led to "King Philip's War" in 1675.
This area suffured greatly with many communities been attacked and
burned, including Rehoboth. The Narragansett's were totally wiped
out and it was a number of years before the Colonies recovered from
the war.
RALPH FREEMAN's WILL
Bristol County Probate Record, September 29th 1724,
In Ralph Freeman's Will, August 14,1725 describes himself as a
Cooper, Registered September 29, 1929 in 5th book of wills 170: 171:
172 by Stephen Paine, Register for Bristol County.
In the Name of God, Amen, the fourteenth Day of August 1725 I Ralph
Freeman of the Town of Attleborough in ye County of Bristol, Cooper
being Sick and Weak in Body but of perfect Mind and memory, Thanks be
given to God: Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my Body, and
knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye, do make and
Ordain This My Last Will & Testament. That is to Say, Principally,
and first of all, I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God
that gave it; and my Body I Recommend to the Earth, to be Buried in
Decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors; Nothing
doubting, but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same
again by the Almighty Power of God. And as Touching Such Worldly
Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life, I
give, Demise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner & Form
Imprimis, I give and bequeath to My Dearly beloved Wife, a Third
Part of my whole Estate in Lands Measuages and Tenements, by her
freely to be Possessed and Enjoyed, during The Time She Remains my
Widdow; and at the Time of Her marrying again, or Deceased without
marrying; I Will that the aforesaid Third part of my Estate in Lands
Measuages and Tenements, be Returned to my Beloved Son Ralph Freeman,
to be By him & his Heirs and Asigns Frely Possessed and enjoyed for
ever, without Let or hinderance. I Likewise give and Bequeath to my
Dearly Beloved Wife all my Household Goods to be by her Possessed and
Enjoyed during ye Term of her Life and at her Deceased, I eill that
they be Returned to my Well Beloved Daughters Sarah and Hannah. I
also give and Bequeath unto my Well Beloved Wife Ten Sheep and a
horse to be by her Received of my Executors imediately after my
Decease, by her freely to be possessed and Enjoyed for ever to her
Disposing.
Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto My well Beloved Son Jeremiah
Freeman, Five Shillings to be paid ( after my Deceased ) by my
Executor, to be Raised and Levied out of my Estate.
.Turn Over. Imprimis (page 1)
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Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto My Well-beloved Son Ralph Freeman
whome I Likewise Constit & make and Ordain My Sol Executrix of this
my Last Will and Testament (to Receive all Debts which is in any ways
Due to me, and to say all Lawfull Debts and demands which is owing by
me.) All and Singular my Lands measuage and Tenaments as also My
Stock of Cattle, Sheep, Cart and all my Husbandry Tools, to him his
Heirs and Asigns for Ever to Possess and Enjoy.
Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto my Well-beloved Daughters Sarah
and Hannah all my household Goods to be Equally Divided between Both
Saving only a Bead which I Will to my Daughter Hannah over and above
to be by them Received of my Executrix imediately after my Wife's
Deceased. Also I give & Bequeath to my Daughter, Hannah one cow (out
of My Stock of Cattle) to be by her Received of My Executrix one year
after my Deceased.
Imprimis, I give and Bequeath unto my Well-beloved Grand Children
Samuel and John Freeman Ten Pounds to Each, Current Money to be Payed
to them when they Come of Age, by my Executrix to be Raised and
Levyed out of my Estate but if they Dye before they Come to Age it is
not to Return to their Executors but to my Executor againe. And I do
hereby Disalow, revolk and ? all and every other formmer Testaments,
Wills, Legacies and Bequests, and Executors, by me in any ways before
Named, Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming This and no
other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness where I have here
unto Set My hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written
Signed, Sealed, Published, Ralph Freeman Sen'r
Pronounced and Declared by ye Said Ralph Freeman as his Last Will and
Testament in the Presents of us the Subscribers
Pentecost Blackmon
Abigail X Maxcey
(her Mark)
George Allen
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RALPH FREEMAN'S INVENTORY ( as of July 19th, 1726 by son Ralph
Freeman, Jr.)
We the subscribers who ware Chosen and Appointed to praise the Estate
of Ralph Freeman of Attleborough in the County of Bristol Lat
Deceased have praised sd Estate as
imprimis to his house and Land 350-50-00
item to his money 18-12-00
item to money owed by bonds and / 22-00-00
item to his wareing Aparil 6-5-00
item to three Cows 13-00-00
to one grove of Sheep 8-00-00
his Cart and Whels- 4-10 his plow and horse--- 5-12-00
his Coopers tools 2-17-6 his grindstone 3-1-06
item to his falling axes and long 00-14-00
item to his Barels tubs and milk vesels 4-6-00
Chests and tables 1-10-chairs and Whels 1-11-6 3-1-06
his best Bed and furniture 13-10 his Books 2-0 15-10-00
item to another Bed and furniture 12-10-00
to sheeps wool and one pare of sheep shears 3-17-00
Box iron heaters and lamp 0-12 Bag sive cord 8- 01-00-00
Table Lining 2-10: puter and earthen vesels 4-16-00
item to one hors and furniture (2 6) 10-00-00
to two swine 2-10: to pots Ketles & trumels 2-14 5-4-00
item to his warming pan 00-16-00
item to bels locks and chees fats 00-18-00
to one sithe and siths tacklin for two sithes 00-16-00
-----------------
490-16-06
Thomas Wilmouth
Hezekiah Peck
Edward Capron
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Attleborough Town Records, 1699-1789
"A stray Horse taken up by Ralph Freeman of Attleborough the 9th of
Jan 1722/23 of a dark bay colour with a star on his forhead & his
near feet are white. Branded on the near Butock with an uncertain
Brand,"
More About RALPH JR. FREEMAN:
Fact 1: August 14, 1725, Will, at Taunton, MA
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1662 - 1725 (63 years)