to his father's relatives in England, and left with them to be educated. There he probably acquired that knowledge which served to nurture those qualities of character which were subsequently exhibited in the Assembly, and which Won the esteem and respect of his associates. Nothing is positively known of him, however, until he attains his twenty-fifth year, when we find him residing in London. In 1718 the three brothers, David, Levinus and Matthew, were established as merchants in London, Amsterdam and New York respectively. At some period within the next succeeding six years David returned to America; the date of his arrival in the Province is not known. Matthew was the only one of his father's family in the city at this time. Levinus and Anna had already gone to reside in Holland. On the 25th of January, 1724, when he had attained his thirtieth year, David was married to his cousin, Ann Margaret Freeman. This lady was born on the 31st of August, 1706, and was the only child of the Rev. Bernardus Freeman and Margrieta Van Schaick, the early guardian of her new son-in-law, and his maternal aunt. Mr. Freeman was a native of Gilhuis, in Holland. It is not known where he was educated, but, on the 16th of March, 1700, he was ordained by the Classis of Linge. He was then about forty-two years of age, and having received a call to preside over a congregation at Schenectady, a little village situated in a very pleasant valley twenty-four miles distant from the first castle of the Mohawks, he started from Amsterdam in the same year for his distant field of labor. It was in the summer following his ordination, on the 28th of July, that his ministry commenced at Schenectady. In addition to his duty as resident pastor he was appointed missionary to the neighboring Indians, and, having acquired considerable skill in their language, he translated a great part of the liturgy of the Episcopal Church into that tongue. His wife's nephew, the Rev. Thomas Barclay, says that he was told by Freeman that when he read the liturgy to the Indians they were much affected by it. Though belonging to the Reformed Church of Holland he seems to have been partial to the English Church, and would no doubt have accepted Episcopal ordination if there had been a bishop then in the colony. He was often entreated by Barclay to go over to a is a padive of Gilluis, in land. i where he was eduated, bat, on ch, 1700, he was ordained by the He was then about forty-two and having received a call to preside zation at Schenectady, a little village very pleasant valley twenty-four miles Tre the first castle of the Mohawks, he Amsterdam in the same year for his of labor 1. was in the summer folon the 28th of July, that ed at Schenectady. In addiresident pastor, he was appointed neighleg Indians, and, having terable, skill in their language, § seat part of the liturgy of ten Epis into that tongue. His wife gnephew, missionary nquired a islated copal C5 man the when he read the rgy to they re much affected by it. Tres (1) aging a the Reformed Chure! at Polla» |