Mercy FREEMAN

Mercy married Chillingsworth FOSTER about 1705. Chillingsworth (son of Deacon John FOSTER and Mary CHILLINGSWORTH) was born on 11 Jun 1680; died in 1764 in Harwich, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary FOSTER was born on 5 Jan 1709/10 in Harwich, Massachusetts; died in Southeast, New York.

John married Sarah MERRICK on 10 Dec 1672 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. Sarah (daughter of William MERRICK and Rebecca TRACY) was born on 01 Aug 1654 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: Between 28 Jan 1626 and 1627, Billingshurst, Sussex, England
• Death: 19 Oct 1719

Notes:

Excerpt from Genealogical REcords: Pilgrim Genealogies and Histories, 1600s-1900s "Mayflower Planters Cape Code Series Vol. II": He came to New England with his father in 1635, when about 8 years old. He was prominent in the affairs of Eastham, being one of the planters of the town, and a deacon in the church for many years. He was a major of militia and saw service in the Indian wars, and was a member of the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas. His estate, consisting of land holdings, became extensive.

Name:
He was the youngest son of Edmund Freeman, the Sandwich settler, and was born in England. He came over with his father's family when a lad, in the ship Abigail, Captain Hackwell, in 1635. upon his marriage with Mercy, Gov. Prence's daughter by wife wife Patience Brewster, Feb. 13, 1649-50, he removed from Sandwich to that part of Nausett called Namskecket, now within the limits of Orleans and located, having paid his part of the purchase money. He was admitted a freeman in 1651, and the same year was one of the Grand jury from Eastham. In 1652, he was chosen to represent Eastham in the Old Colony court, and also elected in 1654, '56, '62, '63, '64, '65 and '66. He was chosen an assistant to the governor in 1666-7 in place of Mr. William Collier of Duxbury, and re-elected at every yearly election thereafter, until 1692. He was elected a selectman several years, but not as often as has been reported by some who have written concerning him. He was early connected with the militia. In 1665, he was the ensign of the company at Eastham, and in October, 1659, confirmed as lieutenant of the "troop of horse" by the colonial court. This was the only company of mounted soldiers in the Colon at this date. command was given to Capt. William Bradford of Plymouth....

He was one of the Council of War, and it seems, had seen some of the dangers of camp life during the war with King Philip. In a letter from Taunton, under date of June 8, 1675, to Gov. Josiah Winslow, to whom he was an assistant, he writes: "this morning three of our men are slain close by one of our court of guard; houses are burned in our sight; our men are picked off at every bush. The design of the enemy is not to face the army, but to fall on us as they have advantage." Tow of the men who fell as above mentioned were from Eastham, viz; Samuel Atkins and John Knowles....

John married Mercy PRENCE on 14 Feb 1649. Mercy (daughter of Gov. Thomas PRENCE and Patience BREWSTER) was born before 28 Sep 1631 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 28 Sep 1711 in Eastham, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: Bef 23 Nov 1698, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA

William married Rebecca TRACY about 1642 in Eastham, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. Rebecca (daughter of Stephen TRACY and Tryphosa LEE) was born between 1624 and 1627; died in 1668 in Eastham, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]