| Notes |
- Notes for RALPH FREEMAN:
History of the Town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, from
its first Settlement, to 1882. by William Bassett (1884)
Dan Freeman, son of Ralph Freeman and Sarah Capron, lived near the
Aaron Kelton place; born June 16 1745. He removed quite early to
Winchester. Had five children.
Yankee Freeman's
The ability to purchase land became a major factor in the
Freeman's migration movements. Few people wished to risk settlement
in a new area of the wilderness, until a town was laid out.
Particularly in New Hampshire where the raids on newly settled areas,
by the French and Indians, continued until 1765. Massachusetts was
active in Granting of these new settlements in New Hampshire, in
hopes of claiming more land. They issued Land Grants to the Veteran's
of the "Indian Wars", whom they owed a debt too. These Grants
created towns in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, on both sides
of the river.
Ralph Freeman III, our line, the grandson of the first "Ralph
Freeman of Dedham", was one of these settlers to New Hampshire. The
extremely rough hills of northern New England, contained only small
pockets of fertile land , along the river valleys, on which to grow
crops. The climate was more severe with a shorter growing season,
with intense winters filled with heavy snowfalls. Only the very
hardy could survive the difficult living conditions. The men and
women who settled this area were Americans in true pioneer spirit.
Ralph Freeman III settled his family in the town of Richmond,
Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Richmond was Granted by
Massachusetts, on 20 June 1735, to Captain Joseph Sylverster's men,
called Sylvester-Canada Grant. It was later Granted to Joseph
Blanchard and others, by the governor of New Hampshire , on 28
February 1752. A triangular tract in the north part of Richmond was
annexed to Swanzey Township on 11 December 1762.
The townships were divided into 70 different shares about 6
miles square in size. The settlers were responsible for setting up
the township, clearing land for roads and erecting a grist and saw
mill. They assume the rights of self government, church and school.
Ralph Freeman III, moved his family from Richmond to
Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, the next westerly
township, on the Upper Connecticut River.
In the book, "The History of the Town of Richmond, Cheshire
County, New Hampshire, From its First Settlement, to 1882" by
William Basset, 1884, it states, "Dan Freeman, son of Ralph
Freeman and Sarah Capron, lived near the Aaron Kelton place, born
June 16, 1745. He removed quite early to Winchester. Had 5
children." page 389.
The township of Winchester, Cheshire County, New Hampshire,
was Granted to Col. Josiah Willard and 63 others, on 11 February
1952. He had the proprietary rights to distribute land and assumed
responsibility for setting up the township. Winchester is located on
the Ashulot River in the south-west corner of New Hampshire. During
the "King George War" in the early 1750's, troops were constantly
moving to and from the Connecticut River Valley region, and many
people became interested in this previously unexplored land. They
saw it not only as rich farm land, but as a valuable area for
speculation.
Settlers had to locate near rivers for their connections to the
New England Markets. But links to markets were only one aspect of
the problems facing the new settlers. The frontier itself was nearly
self-sufficient in foodstuff supply, thus, local markets were
almost non existent for a pioneer family. Unable to produce large
amounts of marketable agricultural surplus, encumbered by transport
problems, burdened by high land costs, the aftermath of War time
financial policies, new settlements in the 1750's were not as
quickly absorbed by the commercial system of the region as most new
settlements had been in the 1600's and in such, living conditions
changed rapidly within large families. Each son had to carve himself
out a new settlement, in the wilderness and begin a new farm,
without the financial aid of his parents. Such was the life of the
Freeman's.
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1703 - 1777 (73 years)