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]
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)
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]
↑ 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
↑ 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
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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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).