GLOUCESTERÂ â Long before the abolishment of slavery in the United States, a Black man bought himself freedom and his son would buy the home and land on Essex Avenue that is now home to Wellspring, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent homelessness, provide job training and adult education.
In honor of Black History Month, Wellspring will open its doors at 302 Essex Ave. for free tours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon when visitors can learn more about the generations of the Freeman family in the âHistory Lives Hereâ exhibit. Docent-led tours of the exhibit will run every 15 minutes. The event also features family activities.
The exhibit tells the story of the Freemans, a prominent West Gloucester family who for more than 100 years owned and lived in the historic home that is Wellspringâs headquarters. It was created from historical research, made possible through grants from Wellspringâs funding partners, Mass Humanities, Essex Heritage and Gloucester 400+.
Melissa Dimond, president and executive director of Wellspring House, said the organization is honored to share these stories with the community through the exhibit.
âThrough meticulous research of public archives, the Wellspring team and our partners unveiled the remarkable journey of Robert Freeman, son of the once-enslaved Robin Freeman, who came to own the historic residence at 302 Essex Avenue in 1826,” she said. “These stories, though not widely known, reside within accessible public records, underscoring that history is not concealed but waiting to be discovered.â
Robin Freeman, born in 1731, was enslaved to Capt. Charles Byles, a mariner whose property was located in Gloucester, near the current Wellspring House, according to the history uncovered by the Wellspring team.
âBy 1769, Robin Freeman paid Byles to free himself from slavery. Robinâs son, Robert, followed in his fatherâs footsteps, successfully farming and becoming the largest landowner in Kettle Cove, Magnolia, a section of Gloucester, when he purchased 100 acres in 1803 to create Robbinâs Farm.
By 1826, Robert was able to purchase the house and land where Wellspringâs headquarters stands today. He and his wife, Rhoda, raised four children in the house which remained in the family for three generations. It is a remarkable story of Black American accomplishment on Cape Ann which was recently celebrated as part of the Gloucester 400+ anniversary celebration,â according to the research statement compiled by the Wellspring team.
Wellspring House, founded in 1981, opened the exhibit in June.
