By Monica H. Callahan, 2018

 

Ms. Elizabeth Duncan Freeman was born 6 Feb 1819, in Plainfield, Cheshire (now Sullivan) County, New Hampshire, to New Hampshire natives Col. Edward Freeman [1781-1868] and his second wife Elizabeth Duncan–Freeman [1784-1871]. Her family was both an educated and prominent Hanover family, her father being the son of the Honorable Jonathan Freeman [1745–1808]: US Congressman; NH Councilor, State Senate, and State House; 40-yr Treasurer of Dartmouth College, and his relict and the family matriarch, the venerable Sarah Huntington–Freeman [1748–1846].

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Responding to a 1836 job advertisement, Elizabeth became a teacher at the tender age of 18 for the Madison Female Academy. She is identified as Ms. E.D. Freeman, teacher for the Female Department (10 Jul 1838) under the direction of Professor Osgood Pierce. Elizabeth never married and died 8 Oct 1838, in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, just prior to her twentieth birthday.

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While her parents and most siblings rest in the family cemetery in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, Ms. Freeman is interred in Madison’s Old Cemetery with a gravestone clearly denoting her laudable lineage, profession, and demeanor: "TO / the Memory of / Miss ELIZABETH DUNCAN / Daughter of Col. Edward & / Mrs. Elizabeth Freemen / of Plainfield, N.H. /

Teacher in the Madison / Female Seminary / To the most estimable qualities / of mind and heart which were / possessed by her in a very rare / degree, she added the character / of a conscientious Christian. / Obt. Oct. 8th A.D. 1838. Act. 20 / Hope lighted up the grave and led / Her joyful spirit to its rest in Heaven."

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Linked to: www.findagrave.com/memorial/62467317