M. 18 Nov 1662 in Northampton, Massachusetts2
Husband: Jedediah Strong
D. 17 May 1681 in Northampton, Massachusetts3
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 about July 1642 in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Henry and Elizabeth Woodward.1 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 1659.4 On November 18, 1662, Freedom married Jedediah Strong, a Northampton farmer.2
The first of Freedom's children was born on June 9, 1664,3 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.6
Giving birth in a winter storm. (AI-generated image)
Freedom's last child was born on May 10, 1681,8 and she died one week later on the 17th,3 probably of complications from childbirth. Her husband, Jedediah, lived a long life, remarrying twice, and dying in 1733 at the age of 96.9
Descendants of Freedom include Nathan Hale, Ben Affleck, First Lady Lucy Hayes, Princess Diana, Prince William, Sarah Palin and Rob Schneider.10
Children:
1. Elizabeth Strong – B. 9 Jun 1664, Northampton, Massachusetts;5 D. 17 Feb 1692, Northampton, Massachusetts;4 M. Ebenezer Wright (1663-?), 16 Sep 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts11
2. Abigail Strong – B. 9 Jul 1666, Northampton, Massachusetts;12 D. 24 Jul 1689, Hatfield, Massachusetts;13 M. Thomas King (1662-1711), 17 Nov 168314
3. Jedediah Strong – B. 7 Aug 1667, Northampton, Massachusetts;15 D. 12 Oct 1709, Wood Creek, New York;4 M. Abiah Ingersoll (1663-1732), 8 Nov 16884
4. Ford Strong – B. 2 Sep 1668, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;16 D. 1 Nov 1668, Northampton, Massachusetts17
5. Baby Strong – B. 11 Oct 1669, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts18
6. Hannah Strong – B. 3 Feb 1671, Northampton, Massachusetts;19 D. 20 Mar 1762, Coventry, Connecticut;20 M. Benjamin Carpenter (1663-1738), 14 Mar 1691, Rehoboth, Massachusetts21
7. Thankful Strong – B. 15 Apr 1672, Northampton, Massachusetts;22 D. 16 Apr 1742, Coventry, Connecticut;23 M. Thomas Root (1667-1759)24
8. John Strong – B. 15 Nov 1673, Northampton, Massachusetts;25 D. Nov 1673, Northampton, Massachusetts26
9. Sarah Strong – B. about 1674, Northampton, Massachusetts;27 D. 25 Dec 1726, Lebanon, Connecticut;27 M. Thomas Cushman (~1670-1727)27
10. Lydia Strong – B. 9 Nov 1675, Northampton, Massachusetts;28 D. 16 Jul 1718, Coventry, Connecticut;29 M. David Lee (1674-1759), 5 Sep 179530
11. Mary Strong – B. May 1677, Northampton, Massachusetts;31 D. 1677, Northampton, Massachusetts6
12. Experience Strong – B. 19 Aug 1678, Northampton, Massachusetts;32 D. 16 Sep 1678, Northampton, Massachusetts33
13. Preserved Strong – B. 29 Mar 1680, Northampton, Massachusetts;34 D. 26 Sep 1765, Coventry, Connecticut;35 M. Tabitha Lee (~1677-1750), 23 Oct 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts36
14. John Strong – B. 10 May 1681, Northampton, Massachusetts;8 D. 21 Apr 16996
Sources:
1 Christening record of Freedom Woodward, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Jedediah Strong and Freedom Woodward, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3 Death record of Freedom Strong, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
4 History of Northampton, Massachusetts from its settlement in 1654, James Russell Trumbull, 1898
5 Birth record of Elizabeth Strong, M., B. & C.
6 The history of the descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass., Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight, 1871
7 “Two Anecdotes from Northampton,” biography of Jedediah Strong and Freedom Woodward (website)
8 Birth record of John Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Jedediah Strong Sr.
10 FamousKin.com listing of Jedediah Strong
11 Marriage record of Ebenezer Wright and Elizabeth Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12 Birth record of Abigail Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Death record of Abigail King, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Marriage record of Abigail Strong and Thomas King, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Birth record of Jedediah Strong (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Christening record of Ford Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Death record of Ford Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Birth record of Baby Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19 Birth record of Hannah Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20 Death record of Hannah Carpenter, Connecticut, Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934, FamilySearch.org
21 Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
22 Birth record of Thankful Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23 Find-a-Grave listing of Thankful (Strong) Root
24 Marriage record of Thomas Root and Thankful Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25 Birth record of John Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26 Death record of John Strong, M., D. & B.
27 Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Strong) Cushman
28 Birth record of Lydia Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29 Death record of Lydia Lee, C., D. & B.
30 Marriage record of David Lee and Lydia Strong, Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927, FamilySearch.org
31 Birth record of Mary Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
32 Birth record of Experience Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
33 Death record of Experience Strong, M., D. & B.
34 Birth record of Preserved Strong, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
35 Death record of Preserved Strong, C., D. & B.
36 Marriage record of Preserved Strong and Tabitha Lee, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
