William Freeman is the only Veteran of the Revolutionary War buried at the Springfield National Cemetery.  He was born in Bertie County, North Carolina.  He enlisted in the North Carolina Militia and served at various times as needed during 1776, 1778 and1781. He served under the command of Gen. Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse which is considered one of the bloodiest and most bitterly contested battles of the war.

After the war he married Mary Bryan and moved west to Burke County, North Carolina. In 1832, he lived in Maury County, Tennessee.  In 1834 at the age of 75, he and his wife and five children moved to Greene County, Missouri.

Freeman settled on a 160 acre farm where Cherry and Glenstone streets meet today in Springfield.  He died January 27, 1838 and was buried on his farm.  In 1912, at the encouragement of the Daughters of the American Revolution, his descendants agreed to have his body moved to Springfield National Cemetery.  His remains were moved to Springfield National Cemetery on June 22, 1912.

Source -  Ozark Mountain Chapter Sons of American Revolution website.

WILLIAM FREEMAN

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