The Wellspring and the Freeman Family story will be featured on Chronicle’s “Hidden History” show this coming Thursday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m, WCVB, Channel 5. There will be two segments, one about the Freeman family and the other about Wellspring’s role in researching and telling the story.
The Chronicle crew visited Gloucester’s Bray Cemetery to see the Freeman burial plot and the Freeman stones restored by Rob Surabian of Gravesite Preservation. So, with some luck I hope the Freeman burial plot made the final cut in the taping. This restoration was funded by a 2021 grant from New England Biolabs’ Social Justice Philanthropy Team.
The Freeman burial site contains two restored gravestones marking the descendants of a freed Gloucester slave, Robin. Each stone is signed by its stone carver. One marble gravestone pays respect to Robert Freeman and his two free Black wives: Rhoda (Tobey) Freeman and Lucretia (Hector) Freeman. Rhoda Freeman died in 1829, Lucretia Freeman died in 1851 and Robert Freeman died in 1854. Robert was the son of the freed Gloucester slave, Robin, and his wife Molley.
The other restored marble gravestone marks the passing of Robert and Rhoda’s son, Robert Freeman, Junior, who died in 1860 and was the grandson of Robin and Molley. The restoration and preservation of these two stones pays proper homage to one of Gloucester’s successful African American families who lived in a culturally diverse coastal city during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Tune in!
Here are some viewing options if you’re not by your TV (or in the Boston area) on Thursday: Stream Chronicle LIVE at 7:30 p.m.
Catch up on episodes after they air on our website or our YouTube channel or watch the next day via the VeryLocal app
