FREEMAN’S WERE AMONG THE EARLY SAWDUST BARONS.

 

            The leading citizen and prop rioter in Liverpool in 1758 was Elisha Freeman. He was the clerk of the new settlement, keeper of the records, and the families of his sons and daughters became the LUMBER MAKERS for many years.

            Elisha Freeman and his wife the former Lydia Freeman had twelve children. Lydia had died before Elisha and many of his sons and daughters came to the new colony at Liverpool, NS. They came from New England. They brought their lumbering and saw milling know-how and expertise with them.

            “THE FALLS” at end of tide flow on the “Great River” was the target for the first sawmills to be built. This Freeman family built the first mill on the west side of the waterfall tumbling over exposed ledge rock.

            Another Mill-site was surveyed from this spot on the east side, and that site was one half mile in depth east of the river. It was a wedge of land, the apex of the triangle at the dam site.

            Simeon Freeman, eldest son of Elisha built his first house there, as he, his brothers and father were building a second sawmill on the riverbank. This was the second mill on the river; their first one had burned shortly after early operation. (They sold the irons of the first wreck to Simeon Perkins who had that mill rebuilt) The years that followed had other members of this Freeman building more mills, to be known as the Upper Gang Mill, the Middle Gang Mill and the Lower Gang Mill. It was to develop into a large number of Freeman shareowners as younger ones replaced the older members of the several families. Others than Freeman’s became shareholders in the mills also.

            “POTANOC FALLS”, one mile upstream from The Falls soon became the target of more sawmills. A grandson of Elisha, Enoch Freeman, son of Nathaniel, built an early mill there. Another grandson, Nelson Freeman, developed a mill site where the Beaverdam Lakes run into what is called The Kyack Brook, above the Beaverdam Meadow.

. Elisha’s youngest son became the sawyer at one of the mills at The Falls, his property was nearby, and his heir was his nephew, Zoeth, 2, who also followed and was one of Milton’s latter day barons.

It was soon evident that the lumber industry in this area was almost completely controlled by members of the Freeman family. The members of the Freeman family also owned 80% of all homes from Salmon Island to Potanoc Corner.

It was about 1870 that a terrible depression struck all activities in this area. Previous to this time the market was huge for all wooden articles. Shipbuilding was well advanced, demands for building materials was huge.

One of the largest Freeman companies that evolved was Samuel Freeman and Sons. Part of their enterprise was shipbuilding, their shipyard was on the river, where today is found Pine Grove Park. Their last ship had been launched; she was “The Wave”. She was rigged for the West Indies, loaded with lumber and other cargo, and started on her journey. A crewmember became ill, when she turned back to set him ashore, a large storm appeared and caused great havoc along the coast. The Wave was dashed ashore, completely wrecked and cargo lost within her home harbor. This loss was more than the Samuel Freeman and Sons could accept, and bankruptcy occurred. Similar situations caused many other companies to quietly fold up and close business forever. They like most large companies had used the banks to finance their operations preparing product for market. Liverpool’s two banks went bankrupt; all shareholders were held responsible, “double jeopardy”.

Milton’s sawdust barons could not survive losses of this nature, many suicides occurred, many just walked away from their assets and emigrated to points west, many even to California.

The original twelve children of Elisha and Lydia (Freeman) Freeman who were part of this branch of 1760 settlers to Liverpool were:

Eldest were three daughters, Eunice, Mary, and Lydia. Lydia married Nathan Tupper who became another Lumber Baron.

The next four were sons; Simeon, Elisha Jr., Barnabus, and Nathaniel. These were all trained as carpenters, sawmill operators, and millwrights, in their late twenties and early thirties. They were very capable, valuable leaders in this new community.

The remainder of the family was Phoebe; Lothrop (1), who died young, and Lothrop (2); and the twins Zoeth and John.  John had also died young; Zoeth was barely of age when the family came to Liverpool. Zoeth became a millwright and Sawyer in this family of Sawdust Barons.

This family of Elisha Freeman was a most remarkable family, they were an important part of this flourishing community. They were not the only Freeman’s to come to make Liverpool their home. Other Freeman families from the New England communities also came here and made a name for them.

HHW.