Elkanah Freeman (1772–1852) & Hannah Dunham (1776–1855)

Pioneers of Vermont and Western New York

Elkanah Freeman was born on February 2, 1772, in Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut, the son of Elisha Freeman and Chloe Alice Stevens. His childhood unfolded in the early years of the new nation, when New England families like his were beginning to look westward for fresh opportunities.

Before 1800, Elkanah married Hannah Dunham, born May 30, 1776, in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, the daughter of Jonathan Dunham and Mary Reno. Hannah grew up in a period of transition, as the Revolutionary War gave way to decades of expansion and settlement. Together, Elkanah and Hannah would live that story, carving out a home first in Vermont, then in the fertile frontier lands of western New York.

Their first son, Daniel, was born about 1800, likely in Vermont, where the family appeared on the 1800 census in Hubberton, Rutland County. Their household already reflected a young couple beginning to grow a family, balancing hard work with the promise of new beginnings. In Rutland, another son, Samuel, was born in 1803. Soon after, the family began their westward journey. By 1805 their daughter, Mariah (Marie), was born in New York, followed by Anice in 1806 in Genesee County, and then sons George (c. 1807) and Elisha (c. 1809).

The 1810 census placed them in Warsaw, Genesee County, though the census taker struggled with Elkanah’s unusual name, writing it down as “Eleana.” Such variations would follow the family in future records, with later censuses listing him as “Alkany” and “Elkong.” Despite these misspellings, the details confirm the same steady presence: a farmer raising a large household in western New York.

In 1813, the Freemans welcomed another son, Hiram, rounding out their growing brood. By the 1820 census, the family was well established in Bethany, Genesee County. Their household included both sons and daughters spanning nearly every age group, a bustling home full of youthful energy and the steady guidance of Elkanah and Hannah.

Land records from February 15, 1831, show Elkanah securing property in Western New York, a sign of both stability and ambition. By 1840, now in their sixties, Elkanah and Hannah were living in Bethany beside their son Elisha’s family, watching the next generation take root on neighboring land. Their household had grown quieter as most of their children married and moved on, but the close proximity to their son reflects a family that stayed bound together through work, land, and kinship.

In 1850, the census again recorded Elkanah and Hannah living with Elisha’s family, now in their twilight years. Elkanah passed away on June 3, 1852, at the age of 80, leaving behind decades of labor and legacy. His will, written shortly before his death, reflects a man who had worked hard to secure something lasting for his family.

Hannah lived three more years after Elkanah’s passing. She died on June 14, 1855, at the age of 79. Together, Elkanah and Hannah were laid to rest in West Bethany Cemetery, Genesee County, New York, their graves standing as a testament to a pioneering couple who carried their family from Vermont into the heart of western New York.

Their lives spanned a period of enormous change in America—from the Revolutionary generation into the decades leading toward the Civil War. But in their story, the values of perseverance, family, and faith endure. Elkanah and Hannah’s descendants carried their legacy forward, spreading from New England to the Midwest and beyond, rooted always in the sacrifices and journeys of this early Freeman couple.

Detailed Timeline