reeman⁴ Landers (Amos³, Richard², Thomas¹), born about 1732, died, perhaps in Greene, Me. (then in Cumberland County, now in Androscoggin County), after 1806.

He married 20 Nov 1755 Thankful Hinckley ("both of Falmouth" - Falmouth Town Records), perhaps the eldest daughter of Lt. John4 and Bethia (Robinson) Hinckley. Further research is needed because (1) it may be this daughter of John⁴ Hinckley married 8 Dec 1745 David Cobb, and (2) Lt. John Hinckley was a deacon of the Barnstable church, which facts point to some other identity for Freeman Landers’ wife, although John Hinckley witnessed a Quaker marriage in Falmouth in 1741.

It seems likely that Freeman was living at Falmouth in 1764 when he was named co-executor of his father’s will and he is given 6 shillings with the comment that he (Freeman) had been "provided for already" (presumably by deeds destroyed in the Court House fire in 1827). The will of John³ Landers, dated at Falmouth 24 Mar 1774, gives "To my nephew Freeman Landers, three quarters of all my Estate, Real and Personal" and "to Abishai Landers, eldest son of sd Freeman Landers, the other quarter of all my Estate and I constitute sd Freeman Landers & David Covel...executors" (Barnstable County Probates, 17:266).

But when the will of Amos³ Landers was probated in December 1781 it was John⁴ Landers who acted as executor, and who, in 1783, presented the accounting. That Freeman Landers was living at the latter date is shown by the fact that the accounting lists him as having received his 6 shillings.

He removed to Maine before the date of the 1790 Census which lists him as head of a family of three males over 16 and four females living at Lewiston and the gore adjoining which, of course, was in Lincoln County, then Massachusetts.

Proof that this is the same man is furnished by a deed dated 20 Apr 1788 and recorded 9 Jun 1788, by which "Freeman Landers of Lewiston, County of Lincoln...for money paid by Prince Landers of Falmouth, County Barnstable, conveyed part of the 28th Falmouth Lot of New Purchase, being part of the Hill lots...bounded Easterly by Joseph Bowerman" [etc.] (Barnstable County Deeds - Falmouth Town Records, 1:549). Evidently he later moved to Greene; in "Early Settlers of Weld, Maine" (Maine Historical Register, vol. 1-2, p.177), it is stated that: "Freeman Landers came in 1806, from Greene, Maine, and settled south of Amaziah Reed’s place. He lived in the town a few years and returned to Greene where he died. His wife was a sister of William Stevens". This note may refer to Freeman⁴, but if so then he had a second wife. It seems more likely that it refers to a son Freeman⁵; further search is necessary to determine whether there was a son of that name. [Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "Thomas¹ Landers of Sandwich, Mass.," NEHGR 124:268-269]

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