History
Settled 1659 Incorporated 1683
Origin of the Town Seal of Freetown
In 1890 state authorities called the attention of town officers to the advisability of having town seals. Col. Silas P. Richmond, who at that time was chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Freetown, devised the present town seal. The idea was taken from the "consideration" named in the deal of Freeman's Purchase (the tract of land which is now Assonet) from the Indians, a part of which was "one little kettle". The device was accepted by the town as its official seal and was first used in 1893.
Location in State
Southeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Berkley and Lakeville on the north; Rochester on the east; Acushnet, New Bedford, and Dartmouth on the south; and Fall River on the southwest. Freetown is about 12 miles northeast of Fall River; 37 miles south of Boston; and 23 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island. (Source: DHCD, Mass.)
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About the Town
FREETOWN - TWO VILLAGES; ONE COMMUNITY
By Christopher Holt
For those visiting or moving to Freetown, even though Freetown is officially one town, it is know to many as two villages, Assonet (exit 9 and 10 on route 24/79) and East Freetown (exit 8 on route 140), both with distinct centers and histories. One example of this is during the Revolutionary War, in which Assonet Village was Loyalist, while East Freetown was with the Revolutionaries (Trivia: Loyalist houses were identified by white chimneys with a black stripe). However, both sides of town are united by our love of small town values and the community. The Freetown Historical Museum, which is located on Slab Bridge Road in Assonet, is an excellent source of information about this community. They sell books, Freetown: A Tricentennial Sampler and A Freetown Lexicon, which give this information in greater detail. They offer web sites, located in the main page, which provides further information and pictures.
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