Cato Freeman: From Slave to Land Owner

As the nation celebrates Black History Month, we look at a local figure who made his own bit of history.

Slavery is a painful chapter in our nation's history. When many people think of slavery, they think of southern plantations. But there were slaves in Massachusetts. And even in Andover (and what is now North Andover). One figure in local history who stands out is Cato Freeman, born a slave and died a land owner in what is now North Andover. While not much is known about Freeman, we can guess that he made an impression on the community. Born in 1768 to slaves named Salem and Remas, Freeman was a slave owned by the Phillips family. In 1780, the Massachusetts Constitution outlawed slavery in the commonwealth. Cato, however, chose to stay with the Phillips family as their servant for several years afterward. The family had treated him as one …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)