INTRODUCTION

The incentive to produce “Freetown Past and Present” arose from the desire by members of the Historical Society to provide posterity with an account of the development of these beautiful districts of Freetown.

History is everywhere, the record of life, the road along which man came from clearing the land and growing crops between the stumps, carrying water from the streams, transforming wood paths to paved highways, children walking miles to one roomed schools, to modern day school consolidation with children being transported to classes by school buses, ploughing out potatoes, picking them with baskets and hauling them to the cellar by horse and cart to our modern bulk harvesting operation. These are only a few of the changes which we have tried to expose.

Many articles in this book have been submitted by persons as indicated. The other articles were researched and written by members of the Historical Society.

Residents and descendants of former residents interested in the past have cooperated to help produce accounts of the various aspects of life that combined to make Freetown the rural community that it has been and is. They have also cooperated in providing family genealogies, but there are many families who have resided in these communities who no longer have descendants here. Members of the committee have done extensive study and research in an effort to give a narrative on these families although there is a possibility that some may have been missed. The committee feels that all these former residents are a vital and important part of the history.

Despite our every effort to avoid errors, inaccuracies have a way of appearing in carefully written manuscripts. If you, the reader find mistakes or omissions, please accept our apologies for them.

It is our sincere hope that you will find “Freetown Past and Present” interesting, entertaining, exciting and educational.

Robert SP. Jardine, Chairman

Freetown Historical Society.

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