The subscriber below would like to know just what a "Freeman" is.... and I would like to give another person a chance to answer the question. Anyone ? Cynthia Administrator for Ma-Bay-Colony-L@rootsweb.com Bunnydust@attbi.com MBC archiver (postings) http://archiver.rootsweb.com and put (Ma-Bay-Colony in the box) > Excuse my ignorance, but every time I see one of these e-mails the question > arises in my mind again :-) > > Was a "freeman" a man who was originally indentured to an American in return > for his (and possibly his family's) passage to America and now that he has > worked for a certain number of years no longer has any obligation to his > sponsor? > > (I know we're way prior to the civil war here, and I think, anyhow, that > there's a "d" in the word when applying it to a freed slave??)
http://home.cfl.rr.com/dot/freemen.html says this: FREEMAN'S OATH 1638 In March 1638, Newport, Rhode Island, Thomas Emons took the oath of a Freeman. To become a Freeman a person was legally required to be a respectable member of some congregational church. This was an important status as only Freeman were allowed to hold office or vote for rulers. The oath as established by the General Court is as follows: "I, A.R., being by God's providence an inhabitant and freeman within the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth, do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the government thereof, and therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful name of the Everlasting God, that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereunto, with my person and my estate, as in equity I am bound; and I will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and priveledges thereof, submitting myself to the wholesome laws and orders made and established by the same. And further, that I will not plot nor practice any evil against it, nor consent to any that shall do so,but will truly discover and reveal same to lawful authority now here established for the speedy preventing thereof. Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the sight of God, that when I shall be called to give my voice touching any such matter of the State, wherein freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage,as I shall judge in mine own conscience may best conduce and tend to the public weal of the body without respect of persons or favor of any man. So help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ." ----- Original Message ----- From: <bunnydust@attbi.com> To: <MEYORK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 8:26 PM Subject: [MEYORK] Re: what is a "Freeman"....? Freeman's Oath > The subscriber below would like to know just what a "Freeman" is.... > and I would like to give another person a chance to answer the question. > > Anyone ? > > Cynthia > Administrator for Ma-Bay-Colony-L@rootsweb.com > Bunnydust@attbi.com > MBC archiver (postings) > http://archiver.rootsweb.com and > put (Ma-Bay-Colony in the box) > > Excuse my ignorance, but every time I see one of these e-mails the question > > arises in my mind again :-) > > > > Was a "freeman" a man who was originally indentured to an American in return > > for his (and possibly his family's) passage to America and now that he has > > worked for a certain number of years no longer has any obligation to his > > sponsor? > > > > (I know we're way prior to the civil war here, and I think, anyhow, that > > there's a "d" in the word when applying it to a freed slave??) > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237