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John Freeman
Member From: 1871 - 1873
- Birth Date: ca. 1820 Birth Place:Richmond, VA
- Death Date: December 10, 1876
- Gender: Male Race: African American
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- Occupation/Profession: Merchant
- Memberships/Affiliations: Virginia's Republican Party’s State Central Committee
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Additional Info Links:
Bio from Virginia's Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
Encyclopedia Virginia Biography
- Bio: John Freeman represented Halifax County in the House of Delegates from 1871 to 1873. One of several African American men of that name in the city of Richmond, where he was born, and Halifax County, where he moved in 1870 and bought property in 1872, it is not known how he emerged as a political leader among African Americans. He represented Halifax County in the Republican Party state conventions of 1870 and 1873 and was active on the floor during the two sessions of the General Assembly in which he served. He sought to, among other things, authorize local referenda on the state’s fence law, repeal the Funding Act of 1871, investigate the conditions under which elections were held, and abolish corporal punishment at the whipping post. He was also a member of the Republican Party’s State Central Committee. Freeman did not seek reelection in 1873. He died in 1876.
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871-1873 | Halifax | Republican | Public Property |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.