Background
Bernardus Freeman is known also and more correctly as Freerman, is said to have been a native of Gilhuis in the Netherlands.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Bernardus Freeman
Edit ProfileEducation
Though a man of parts, Freeman had little schooling and earned his living as a tailor, but the object of his ambition was the Reformed ministry.
Career
At the instigation of William Bancker, an Amsterdam merchant with correspondents in Albany, New York, Freeman was ordained March 16, 1700, by the Classis of Lingen as pastor of the Reformed church in Albany.
The whole procedure was irregular, for the Dutch churches of New York were under the patronage of the Classis of Amsterdam, which, as Bancker well knew, had already chosen the Rev. John Lydius for the position.
The rival dominies, sailing up the Hudson on the same boat, reached Albany in midsummer, handed their credentials to Elder Peter Schuyler, preached trial sermons, and awaited the decision of the congregation, which voted to receive Lydius.
Freeman quickly found a charge at Schenectady and was appointed by Gov. Bellomont to work among the Indians and, incidentally, to discover what he could about the activities of the French to the north and west. In a short time, he became unusually proficient in the Mohawk language and translated several religious texts for use among his converts.
The Mohawks are said to have been deeply impressed by his way of intoning the Litany. Lawrence Claessen's The Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, Church Catechism, Family Prayers, and Several Chapters of the Old and New-Testament, translated into the Mahaqne Indian Language is based, in part at least, on Freeman’s manuscript.
In 1702, Freeman received what purported to be a call from the four churches - New Amersfort, Midwout (Flat- Bush), Breuckelen, and New Utrecht - in Kings County, Long Island. This call turned out to be anything but unanimous, and the affair was further complicated by the fact that Freeman was in the employ of the government, that the people of Schenectady were loath to part with him, and that he himself had conducted the negotiations with great awkwardness and perhaps with impropriety.
Still worse was his action in securing a license as pastor of the Kings County churches from Gov. Cornbury. The result was an ecclesiastical quarrel that raged on Long Island for almost fourteen years and intruded into the council chamber of four provincial governors.
In the midst of it, the Rev. Vincentius Antonides was sent from Holland as a rival pastor. Ultimately the two men composed their differences and worked in harmony.
Achievements
Politics
Freeman was one of the leading spirits in the Coetus party.
Personality
Freeman was a close friend of Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen and John Henry Goetschius.
Connections
Freeman married, August 25, 1705, Margareta Van Schaick of New York, through whom he acquired some property.
-
Died
-
Nationality
American -
Political Party
Coetus party