William Freeman
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William Henry Freeman (1841 - 1891)

Private William Henry Freeman
Born in Hanover, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 49 in Whitman, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 15 May 2018
This page has been accessed 309 times.

Contents

Biography

William Henry Freeman was born in 1841 in Massachusetts[1][2][3]. He was the child of shoemaker Richard Freeman and Celia Franks. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

Education

In 1850, he is attending school in or near Hanover, Massachusetts.[1]

Occupations

  • 1880[3]: Shoemaker
  • 1863[4]: Farmer
  • 1860[2]: Apprentice shoemaker

Residences

  • 1890: Whitman, Massachusetts (US Veteran Schedules)[5]
  • 1880: South Scituate, Massachusetts with his mother and siblings[3]
  • 1863: South Scituate, Massachusetts (military enlistment)[4]
  • 1860: Scituate, Massachusetts with his parents and siblings[2]
  • 1850: Hanover, Massachusetts with his parents and siblings[1]

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company H of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, the second[6] regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 22 years old, single and working as a farmer when he enlisted on 10 December 1863 from South Scituate, Massachusetts. Mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.[4]

His brother Warren also served in Company H.

Military Pension

Military Pension Application No. 581558 Certificate No. 435664 (2 August 1886)
Military Pension (Widow) Application No. 522410

Race

Death

He passed away in 1891 and is buried at Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman, Massachusetts.[7] His cause of death is listed as "marasmus results of contracted in the army malaria and rheumatism"[8]

Projects

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1850 federal census
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 1860 federal census
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 1880 federal census
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Emilio, McKay Roster p. 374
  5. 1890 US Veteran Schedules
  6. and the first with federal recognition; the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment was against the wishes of the Secretary of War and filled only six companies, but did see action a full year before the 54th
  7. Find a Grave memorial
  8. Massachusetts "Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924" database with images, FamilySearch: 22 May 2019, 0961504 (004224896 > image 550 of 559; State Archives, Boston.
  • 1850 United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Hanover, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Roll: M432_332; Page: 104A; Image: 211
  • 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Roll: M653_519; Page: 596; Family History Library Film: 803519
  • 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: South Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Roll: 550; Page: 72B; Enumeration District: 553
  • 1890 United States Veterans Schedules for Whitman, Massachusetts
  • Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
  • Find A Grave: Memorial #145591407
  • Fold3.com. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900." National Archives Catalog #2588825. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861 - 1942." Free Access Black History Collection Records 5-28 February 2019.




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Comments: 1

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In addition to William Freeman's service in the famed Massachusetts 54th Regiment, Freeman is the great-grandson of two African American Revolutionary War veterans: the enslaved Asher Freeman (abt.1754-1820) and the free man of color Richard Gunderway (abt.1750-1820).
posted by Wayne Tucker II