M. 18 Nov 1662 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Husband: Jedediah Strong
D. 17 May 1681 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Many women in the Puritan colonies had large families, and Freedom Woodward was no exception. But in her case, the frequency of her pregnancies seems to have taken a terrible toll on her body, and was likely the cause of her early death.
Freedom was born in about 1642 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Henry Woodward and Elizabeth Mather. She had two younger sisters who also had aspirational words as names, Experience and Thankful (she also had a brother named John). Freedom was said to be a first cousin of Increase Mather, an important figure in the Massachusetts Bay colony. The Woodward family moved to Northampton in 1658. On November 18, 1662, Freedom married Jedediah Strong, a Northampton farmer.
The first of Freedom's children was born on June 9, 1664, and this would be followed by 13 more. There were only short intervals between each child, and she was pregnant at some time during each calendar year from 1664 to 1681. Of the children born to Freedom, five died as infants, including two of the youngest, which suggests that she began having trouble carrying a baby to term. Child number 13 was said to have been born during a snowstorm, but miraculously survived.
While Freedom was pregnant, she usually had several young children needing attention.
Freedom's last child was born on May 10, 1681, and she died one week later on the 17th, probably of complications from childbirth. Her husband, Jedediah, lived a long life, remarrying twice, and dying in 1733 at the age of 96.
Descendants of Freedom include Nathan Hale, Ben Affleck, First Lady Lucy Hayes, Princess Diana, and Prince William.
Children:
1. Elizabeth Strong – B. 9 Jun 1664, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 17 Feb 1691, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. Ebenezer Wright (1663-?), 16 Sep 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts
2. Abigail Strong – B. 9 Jul 1666, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 24 Jul 1689, Hatfield, Massachusetts; M. Thomas King (1662-1711), 17 Nov 1683
3. Jedediah Strong – B. 7 Aug 1667, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 12 Oct 1709, Wood Creek, New York; M. Abiah Ingersoll (1663-1732), 8 Nov 1688
4. Ford Strong – B. 2 Sep 1668, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 1 Nov 1668, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts
5. Baby Strong – B. 11 Oct 1669, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 1669 (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts
6. Hannah Strong – B. 3 Feb 1671, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 20 Mar 1762, Coventry, Connecticut; M. Benjamin Carpenter (1663-1738), 14 Mar 1691, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
7. Thankful Strong – B. 15 Apr 1672, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 16 Apr 1742, Coventry, Connecticut; M. Thomas Root (1667-1759)
8. John Strong – B. 15 Nov 1673, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. Nov 1673, Northampton, Massachusetts
9. Sarah Strong – B. about 1674, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 25 Dec 1726, Lebanon, Connecticut; M. Thomas Cushman (~1670-1727)
10. Lydia Strong – B. 9 Nov 1675, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 16 Jul 1718, Coventry, Connecticut; M. David Lee (1674-1759), 5 Sep 1795
11. Mary Strong – B. May 1677, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 1677, Northampton, Massachusetts
12. Experience Strong – B. 19 Aug 1678, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 16 Sep 1678, Northampton, Massachusetts
13. Preserved Strong – B. 29 Mar 1680, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 26 Sep 1765, Coventry, Connecticut; M. Tabitha Lee (~1677-1750), 23 Oct 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts
14. John Strong – B. 10 May 1681, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 21 Apr 1699
Sources:
The history of the descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass., Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight, 1871
WikiTree
Famous Kin (website)
Genealogies of Connecticut Families: From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 1, Genealogical Publishing Com, 1983
