Samuel Freeman, the eldest child of Judge Enoch and Mary (Wright) Freeman, was born in Falmouth, Maine, on June 15, 1743. He was a pupil of Stephen Longfellow in Falmouth, attended lectures on general subjects at Harvard College, and studied natural philosophy (physics) and astronomy under Professor John Winthrop there. He taught school in his native town from 1764-66. In 1772, he shipped cargoes of masts and spars to England, was a land surveyor, and served on important political committees.

In 1775, he was the sole delegate from the Falmouth district to the Provincial Congress, and he was re-elected in 1776 and 1778. At the third session of the Congress, he was made the secretary by a unanimous vote. He was clerk of the House of Representatives in the general court of Massachusetts from 1775 to 81, and he held twenty-two positions of public trust at once.

On October 5, 1775, he was appointed postmaster of Falmouth, his commission being signed by Benjamin Franklin, and he held the position for twenty-nine years. He was also a justice of the peace, register of probate for thirty-six years, judge of probate for seventeen years, clerk of the court of general sessions for 46 years, clerk of the court of common pleas for forty-five years, and from 1795 up to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts

In 1820, Samuel Freeman was appointed clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, a role that he held for all but one year, 1811. His administrative skills and reliability were also evident in his role as selectman of the town of Falmouth for 25 years, during which he was chairman of the board of selectmen for most of this period. He also served as chairman of the school board for many years, on the fire ward, and as clerk of the market. His commitment to education was further demonstrated in his over thirty years of service as a trustee of the Falmouth Academy, and his role as clerk, agent, and general manager for the proprietors of the four eastern townships.

Adapted from: Portland Maine History 1786 to Present

Samuel Freeman continued to recruit settlers to the area through the early 1800s. Thomas Archibald resided in Steuben from 1790-1800, moving to Cherryfield by 1810.