Gwinnett County GaArchives Biographies.....Freeman, John April 27 1805 - March 8 1881 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Traphofner trap_m@yahoo.com January 23, 2005, 10:47 am Author: Mary E. Traphofner BIOGRAPHY OF THE JOHN FREEMAN FAMILY OF GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA John and Jemima (Jones) Freeman were married December 2, 1827 in Morgan County, Georgia. John was born April 27, 1805 in Georgia. Jemima Jones was born October 19, 1801 in Georgia. Their first son John T. Jr. arrived in 1829, and in 1831 Joseph made his appearance, followed by James in 1833. After James came William in 1835 followed by Leroy in October of 1836 and Dudley arrived close behind in 1837. George Washington made his appearance in 1841. Hamilton Franklin arrived as a surprise in July of 1847. When he arrived the older boys were 17, 16, 14, 12, 11, 10, and 6. What a house full. All of the boys were born in Gwinnett County Georgia. They were not very wealthy but John did own a farm and of course all the boys worked it. With that many hands they probably always had a good crop and plenty to eat. Joseph married Elizabeth Bryant of South Carolina in 1857 and by 1858 they had their first child, Mary. James was married in the beginning of 1859 in Gwinnett County to Elizabeth F. Knight daughter of Isaiah and Rutha Knight of Gwinnett County. In December of 1859 they had their first child, Amanda Narcissus. In the 1860 census John had real estate valued at $850.00 and personal effects valued at $2500.00. William married Lucinda Hamilton in 1860 and John T., Jr. married Mary F. Harris in 1860. Mary was the daughter of Frances (Huff) and Samuel Harris. John had been married once before in 1848 but his wife died in 1857 along with their small son. He had a daughter Martha from this marriage born in 1849. In January of 1861 Joseph and Elizabeth had a son, Almond D., and later that year George Washington married O. Alice. By 1861 the civil war was starting. Dudley who at that time was living in Mississippi signed up in the confederate army of Mississippi 14th inf. In March of 1862 Leroy, and George Washington signed up in the 42nd regt of Company B “Gwinnett County Rebels”. In May of 1862, James enlisted in the confederate army “Gwinnett County Rebels” Company B. 42nd inf and John Enlisted in Gwinnett County Co. I , 55th inf. In September of 1862 Joseph signed up in Gwinnett County co F 35th regt.. Also, in 1862 Joseph and Elizabeth had a daughter Sarah, George Washington and O. Alice had a baby girl May Oma and James and Elizabeth F. had a daughter Neaty Carolyn. These births must have been the highlights of the Freeman family. While war was raging around them and men were dying 3 beautiful little girls came into being. In June of 1863 their worst fears were answered when they received word that their son Joseph had died of disease on May 24, 1863 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. They had only 2 months to mourn the loss of Joseph when they received news that George W. had died Jul 24, 1863 in a skirmish in Montgomery, Alabama. Then, as God would have it, in 2 more months they heard that their oldest boy John T. had been taken as a Prisoner of War on September 9, 1863 in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee where he died. John and Mimmie’s religious beliefs must have given them some small comfort. They were of the Baptist religion. In January of 1864 William signed up in Gwinnett County Co I 55th regt. And lastly Hamilton, the baby of the boys, signed up in March of 1864 “Gwinnett County Rebels” Co. B, 42nd regt. John and Mimmie must have felt great heartbreak when these two boys signed up. After all hadn’t their family done enough to serve the cause? No, not quite enough.....2 months after Hamilton signed up they received word that Leroy had been wounded in the left arm on May 25th 1864. It’s possible that they looked at this as one of God’s small blessings because at least Leroy was coming home. At last out of harms way. Now, God decided to give them 10 months before sending them their final blow from this war. In March of 1865 they would receive word that their son James had been killed in battle with a wound to his left breast on March 19, 1865 in what was to be the last battle of the war, The Battle of Bentonville. When their 4 surviving boys came home there must have been great joy mixed with bitter tears for the four who did not. Leroy was married to Jemima Caroline Davis in 1865 and they went on to have 10 children. Hamilton married Elizabeth Eunice Olds of New York on December 22, 1870. They had 6 children. Dudley remained in Mississippi. William and Lucinda continued to live in Gwinnett County and as far as it is known never had any children. Up until May of 1996 James had rested in an unmarked grave at the old Luthern Cemetary in Salisbury but in May of 1996, a marker was finally put on his resting place by the Daughters of the Confederacy. John lost his beloved wife, Mimmie in March of 1875. He then went to live with his son Hamilton until his death in March of 1881. John and Mimmie are buried at the Freeman Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Mary E. Traphofner 3rd great grand daughter of John and Jemima Freeman 2nd great grand daughter of James and Elizabeth F. Freeman Sources: Info gathered by Patricia Freeman Hardin of Mount Holly NC 1900 Gwinnett County census Family History Jemima and John’s Tombstones Jame’s Tombstone Ancestry.Com Marriages-GA to 1850 Gwinnett County Census 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Muster Roll of Co. B. 42nd regt Ga Vol Infantry Army of Tenn CSA Gwinnett Co., Ga "Independent Rebels" Muster Roll of Company I, 55th Infantry Regiment Georgia Muster Roll of Company F, 35th Infantry Regiment Georgia Index to GA Confederate Pension files US Genweb cemeteries list John Freeman’s Bible File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/gwinnett/bios/bs286freeman.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb