-7-

THE FREEMAN FAMILY 

According to Cutter's "Genealogical and Family History of Connecticut: "The surname Freeman is of ancient English origin. The coat of arms: three lozenges, or. (i.e., gold); Crest: A demi-lion rampant gules (i.e., red) holding between the paws a like lozenge; Motto: liber et audax". 

The Coat of Arms, which is displayed following, was located in the Connecticut Historical Society in the "Freeman Genealogy" by Dr. Frederick Freeman (pub. 1875) bound between pages 12-13. I saw it there as did genealogist Ted Atkinson of New Marlborough, Massachusetts, as noted in his letter to me.

In the "Freeman Family", published in 1973 by the American Genealogical Research Institute, pages 6-7, we find 

"Arms: Azure, three lozenges or. Crest: A demi-lion rampant gules holding in his paws a like lozenge. Motto: Liber et audax. (Arms: On a blue field, three golden diamond-shaped objects. Crest: a rearing red lion cut neatly at the waist, holding between his paws a golden diamond-shaped object. Motto: Free and bold. See Emblazon A)." 

"Only two Freeman coat of arms are recorded in America. Emblazon A is one of them. The other is found in a wax seal of a deed belonging to John Freeman, dated from the year 1680." 

The coat of arms in emblazon A was brought to Lynn (i.e., formerly Saugus) Massachusetts by Edmund Freeman...in 1635" (i.e., on the ship ABIGAIL). 

"All the descendants of the various Freeman family branches in America today are entitled to claim the arms of emblazon A." 

According to the "Visitation of London" (which follows), John Freeman was identified in Bentley, Northampton county, England in 1442, but this has not been proven out yet to our satisfaction. In the "ANALYSIS OF THE FREEMAN FAMILY LINEAGE FROM EDMUND FREEMAN OF PULBOROUGH/SUSSEX, ENGLAND (1635) BACK TO JOHN FREEMAN OF BENTLY/NORTHAMPTON (1442); AGREEMENTS AND DISAGREEMENTS IN DATA; LOCATIONS OF GENEALOGICAL DATA", (which follows), the major problem with the 1442-1530 period is that the Pulborough Parish Church records identify John Freeman "paterfamilias" whereas the other two sources. Coat of Arms Data, source 460/ and Boston Transcript item #3283, source 463/ identify the Freeman in 1530 as being Edmund; everything else "fits". Is John who died in Pulborough in 1629, b ca 1530, the same man as Edmund Freeman of Honington? This information is provided for future research efforts. 

Be that as it may, the Freeman Family has been proven out from circa 1530, as indicated in this research publication. 

The Freeman's living environment, from the 1530's, was in county Sussex (now known as West Sussex), England in the