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Note: s and had 33 children. We know for sure of 4 marriages. The surnames of his wives were supposedly from a Mrs. Palmer. From Lincoln Co., TN Court records we have been able to piece together what is collected here. There is certainly room for correction and addition. There is a death record in Bedford County (1834)? Someone said that one of the first wives names was Lurany. Margy Sims told Grandmother(Vida Redd Sorrells) this is where the Indian blood comes into the Redd side of the family. She said that is was through the Freeman line. Cousin Charles MONK also confirms that his family always understood that Abner was Cherokee. Perhaps Nancy HAWKINS was Cherokee? Others say the REESE line. Patricia Linney states that she has always been told by her father that her great-great grandmother: Elizabeth Ann Freeman was full-blooded Cherokee. Appointed by the court in Surry Co., NC to be a Patroller in Captain Witcher's District on Fishers River Feb 1814. 1810 Census of Surry Co., NC (Indexed as FOREMAN) Abner Foreman 634 0011/0101 I have a Land Grant recorded 16 Mar 1835 to Abner FREEMAN in Lincoln Co., TN for 50 acres of land. 1820 Census of Lincoln Co., TN 4 males 0-10 (Samuel P., Andrew, Thomas, Daniel) 1 male 26-45 (Abner age-37) 1 female 0-10 1 female 10-16 1 f 16-26 1 f 45+ Agriculture -2 and 1 slave Neighbors of Abner FREEMAN's 1820 Lincoln Co., TN Census: 1165 26 Nichols, Moses 100010/21100 1166 26 Suggs, Aquilla 110001/01001 1167 26 Gillum, John 410001/01201 1168 26 Gibson, Thomas 100010/10100 1169 26 Gibson, James 000100/00100 1170 26 Bowlen, Willoby 110210/22110 1171 26 Foster, Ambrose 200010/20100 1172 26 Foster, Joel 021101/21001 1173 26 Bowlen, Robert 210010/21010 1174 26 Alexander, James 121101/50001 1175 26 Nichols, William 320001/11010 1176 26 Nichols, Henry 110010/32010 1177 26 Cunningham, Samuel 300010/30010 1178 26 Suggs, Henry 100100/00100 1179 27 Melson, Peter Sr. 210101/01001 1180 27 Melson, William 000010/10100 1181 27 Freeman, Abner 400010/11101 1182 27 Simmons, Thomas 100010/30100 1183 27 Manier, Agatha 000000/10010 1184 27 Simmons, James 200001/02111 1185 27 Simmons, James A. 000100/00100 1186 27 Hays, Thomas 200010/10010 1187 27 Moore, John H. 310001/10001 1188 27 Moore, Joseph 000100/00000 1829 Tax List on E. Fork Cane Ck. with 171 1830 Census of Lincoln Co., TN males:0113001 females:321001 0 males 0-5 1 male 5-10 1 male 10-15 3 males 15-20 1 male 3 females 0-5 2 females 5-10 1 female 10-15 1 female 1840 Census of Lincoln Co., TN (No wife) 2 m 0-5 1 m 15-20 1 m 20-30 2 m 50-60 2 f 10-15 2 f 15-20 Land Deed in Bedford Co., TN. by Tim and Helen Marsh: Deed Book MM, p.326, 15, Apr 1843, William C. Freeman to Abner Freeman a life estate in a tract of land as an heir of William Higginbotham, deceased. Then another deed that mentions William's wife, Nancy R. Freeman. 1844 Abner sold 109 acres of land in Bedford Co., TN to Aaron Bledsoe. 1850 Census of Lincoln Co., TN HH #275. Abner FREEMAN, 67 Farmer $2000, b NC Drucilla, 29, b TN Moses 15 Rills, 11 (transcription error should be Kills) James, 8 Mary, 6 Martha, 4 Stephen, 2 Alexander, 7/12 Nancy BEARDEN, 27 Josephine BEARDEN, 1 Listed with the family is a Nancy BEARDEN age 27 with a daughter Josephine age 1 (Perhaps Nancy is a sister to Drucilla. A Nancy Glidewell married a William Bearden 10 December 1848 in Lincoln County, TN ) Listed in the 1850, Lincoln County, TN Census as a farmer with $2000 real estate. 1860 Census of Lincoln Co., TN lists Drucilla, age 38 with the children. Will recorded Lincoln Co., TN Will Book #2 signed 8 Mar 1850 with his mark. 1st I will that my just debts be paid out of my estate by him whom the court may appoint as administrator. 2nd I will that my homeplace being part of the tracts of land being more or less belong to my wife Drusilla & my minor heirs being six in number during her natural life or widowhood. But if she should marry then for the land to be rented out till the youngest child should come of age & after that it shall be sold & all of the six minors to have at least one hundred & fifty dollars before any of the rest of the children shall come in and as they come of age, my minors I want them to have their one hundred & fifty dollars and I want all my notes & accounts after collected and my just debts paid to be put out at interest for the schooling & raising of the children together with the ---- of the place. Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of us. James Melson, James Barham, John G. Glidewell. Thomas H. Bledsoe filed an inventory of Abner's estate with the court dated 7 Aug 1854. Thomas H. Bledsoe, Administrator of Abner's will, vs. The widow and heirs of Abner Freeman, dated 28 Feb 1856, "This matter came on to be heard, and upon motion Charles A. Freeman is appointed guardian ad litern (friend of the court) for Moses, Achilles, James, Alexander, Mary A., Henderson, Martha A., and Altanta Freeman, children of Abner Freeman, and also of Abner and Mary Swinford-Lydia C., Eglentine, William, Perry G., Nancy R., & Mary F. Freeman to filed answers in this matter; and it further apprearing to the court, that publication has been regularly made for William Freeman, William Westerman & wife Hannah, William Martin & wife Jane, William Cunningham & wife Catharine and _________Moore & wife Sarah--and it further appearing that subpoenas & copy has been regularly served upon Drusilla Freeman, William H. Gibson & his wife Elizabeth, Saml. F & Daniel P. Freeman-and if further appearing that said parties have failed to plead, answer or demur to complaints bill acording to the rules of this court, the same is therfore, now, on this 28th day of February 1856 taken for confessed against them; and ordered to be set down and heard expartee as to them." Charles A. FREEMAN - was appointed guardian of the minor children of Abner:James, Alexander, Mary A., Henderson, Martha A, Atlanta (Who I believe to be Agnes). Publication for or suppoenas served on the following with no response: William FREEMAN - Hannah, wife of William WESTERMAN - Jane, wife of William MARTIN - Catherine, wife of William CUNNINGHAM - Sarah, wife of ____________ MOORE Elizabeth, wife of William H GIBSON - Samuel F. FREEMAN - Daniel F. FREEMAN - NOTE: Charles A. FREEMAN was also appointed guardian of Abner and Mary SWINFORD (apparently grandchildren of Abner) and Abner's known grandchildren, (the children of Andrew Jackson FREEMAN and wife Martha A. (Polly) as A J FREEMAN had died 20 Dec 1845, and even though his widow, Polly, had married 8 May 1853 William Franklin MELSON): Lydia C., Eglentine, William, Perry C., Nancy R., and Mary F. FREEMAN. Abner is buried at the top of a very high hill: Five miles NE of Petersburg, TN, west of Helton Hollow. This is accessed from Poor Grab Rd., crossing the fields and fences and climbing straight up the hill. Three graves there are marked with native fieldstones. "When Abner Freeman died, Drucilla's brother-in-law, James Barham gave all his children: Charlie, Tom, and Ruth (Ruf) -parts of the farm, and left Drucilla with just a homestead". (Fanny Freeman Davidson) At the time the farm was called the "Freeman Branch", and then became known as the "Barham Branch". Abner's estate records indicate that he evidently owed $2000+ and had enough cash to pay the debt down to $900+. One record indicates the court sent the county surveyor up to survey the farm and they were preparing to sell enough land to satisfy the debts. There are other documents but I ran out of time. In the tax records of 1851 he had 275 acres. My records on his family groups are from Grandmother's records that came through: Mabel A. Tucker, Rt 2, Box 170-A, Fayetteville, TN (931) 433-5991 Jul 21, 1840 lists an Elizabeth FREEMAN to William H. GIBSON in Lincoln Co., TN. There is no return of the license. Also Jun 11, 1841 a Letha FREEMAN to a John CRITCHET in Lincoln Co., TN. In my notes from conversations with my grandmother, Vida Redd Sorrells, she mentioned a Sarah J. Freeman who married William Owen Foster and went to TX. They were related to Ambrose Foster & Suzanne Medlin. (Perhaps these are their children.) Ambrose Foster from SC died in Lonesome Dove in Grapevine. The land for the old cemetery at Mt. Hermon was sold by Abner of Lincoln Co., TN. According to early deeds, this appears to be a part of the old Higginbotham tract purchased by William Higginbotham in 1810 and 1811. On October 15, 1830, one acre of land was deeded to Isaac Bennett, Peterson Grammar, and Henry Dean and their successors in office as trustees of the Meeting House at Mt. Hermon. Included in this transaction was the meeting house and all improvements thereon. Witnesses were William C. FREEMAN and James FREEMAN.
Note: From " John FREEMAN of Nolfolk Co., VA"- R. A. Freeman states that Abner was married 3 time
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