George Washington Freeman
Encyclopedia
George Washington Freeman (June 13, 1789 – April 29, 1858) was the second Episcopal
bishop of Arkansas
and Provisional Bishop of Texas
.
Freeman was born of a Congregationalist family in Sandwich, Massachusetts
. He did not initially intend a career in the clergy, but he afterward went to North Carolina
and studied for the ministry of the Episcopal Church. Freeman was ordained deacon in Christ Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
, by Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft in 1826, and was ordained priest in New Bern, North Carolina
the following year by the same bishop. Freeman married and later had a son, Andrew, who also became an Episcopal priest.
In 1818, he married Anne Yates the granddaughter of Rev. William Yates
, the College of William & Mary's fifth president (1761–1764) and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus; and a descendant of William Randolph
, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Mary Isham, are referred to as the "Adam and Eve" of Virginia. She had married as her first husband, Thomas Gholson, Jr.
, an American
lawyer and politician. He represented Virginia
from 1808 to 1816 in the United States House of Representatives
from both Virginia's 18th congressional district
and Virginia's 17th congressional district
both now obsolete congressional districts. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1806 to 1809.
For two years he served as missionary in the diocese of North Carolina. In 1829, Freeman was elected rector of Christ Church, Raleigh, and served in that office until 1840. In 1840, Freeman removed to Columbia, Tennessee
, and from there, a year later, to Swedesboro, New Jersey
. After a short stay in Swedesboro, he accepted a call to become rector of Immanuel Church, New Castle, Delaware
. He was soon afterward elected missionary bishop of Arkansas and the Indian Territory, and was consecrated in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, October 26, 1844. Freeman was the 46th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated by Bishops Philander Chase
, Jackson Kemper
, and Leonidas Polk
. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of North Carolina
in 1839. Freeman died in Little Rock, Arkansas
, April 29, 1858.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
bishop of Arkansas
Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas is part of the larger Episcopal Church in the United States and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese is organized into 56 congregations, with its diocesan office in Little Rock. The seat of the Bishop of Arkansas is , Little Rock.-List of bishops of...
and Provisional Bishop of Texas
Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas is one of the largest dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The diocese consists of all ECUSA congregations in the southeastern quartile of Texas, including the cities of Austin, Beaumont, Galveston, Houston and Waco.The 153 congregations...
.
Freeman was born of a Congregationalist family in Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
. He did not initially intend a career in the clergy, but he afterward went to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and studied for the ministry of the Episcopal Church. Freeman was ordained deacon in Christ Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, by Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft in 1826, and was ordained priest in New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
the following year by the same bishop. Freeman married and later had a son, Andrew, who also became an Episcopal priest.
In 1818, he married Anne Yates the granddaughter of Rev. William Yates
William Yates (college president)
William Yates, was a clergyman in the Church of England, educator, fifth president of William and Mary College and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus-Biography:...
, the College of William & Mary's fifth president (1761–1764) and is the namesake for Yates Hall on the College's campus; and a descendant of William Randolph
William Randolph
William Randolph was a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He moved to Virginia sometime between 1669 and 1673, and married Mary Isham a few years later...
, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Mary Isham, are referred to as the "Adam and Eve" of Virginia. She had married as her first husband, Thomas Gholson, Jr.
Thomas Gholson, Jr.
Thomas Gholson, Jr. was an American lawyer and politician. He represented Virginia from 1808 to 1816 in the United States House of Representatives from both Virginia's 18th congressional district and Virginia's 17th congressional district both now obsolete congressional districts...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician. He represented Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from 1808 to 1816 in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from both Virginia's 18th congressional district
Virginia's 18th congressional district
Virginia Congressional District 18 is an obsolete congressional district. It was eliminated in 1843 after the 1840 U.S. Census. Its last Congressman was George W. Hopkins.-List of representatives:-References:*...
and Virginia's 17th congressional district
Virginia's 17th congressional district
Virginia Congressional District 17 is an obsolete congressional district. It was eliminated in 1843 after the 1840 U.S. Census. Its last Congressman was Alexander H. H. Stuart.-History:...
both now obsolete congressional districts. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1806 to 1809.
For two years he served as missionary in the diocese of North Carolina. In 1829, Freeman was elected rector of Christ Church, Raleigh, and served in that office until 1840. In 1840, Freeman removed to Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
, and from there, a year later, to Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
. After a short stay in Swedesboro, he accepted a call to become rector of Immanuel Church, New Castle, Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
. He was soon afterward elected missionary bishop of Arkansas and the Indian Territory, and was consecrated in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, October 26, 1844. Freeman was the 46th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated by Bishops Philander Chase
Philander Chase
Philander Chase was an Episcopal Church bishop, educator, and pioneer of the United States western frontier in Ohio and Illinois.-Life:...
, Jackson Kemper
Jackson Kemper
Bishop Jackson Kemper was the first missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.Baptized David Jackson Kemper by Dr...
, and Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk...
. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
in 1839. Freeman died in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, April 29, 1858.