Since I find it very important to make sure that the women of my family are remembered (and not just brushed off to the side as they were in the past) I started my research on Elizabeth Freeland, the wife of Peter McQueen, the mother of Caroline McQueen and my 4th great-grandmother.
Since I just started my research, I don’t have too much to offer right now. But what I have found is pretty interesting.
What I do know about her is that she married Peter McQueen on November 27, 1820 in West Feliciana, Louisiana. She had at least three children: Loceisa (which could be a misspelling, misread) in about 1822, Malissa (possible misspelling again) in about 1824 and Caroline in 1826. There may have been more, though what I found today leads me to believe that Mary McQueen, age 18, listed on the 1850 census living with the Richards family, may not be Caroline’s sister, or at least not her full sister.
I found a divorce record for Elizabeth and Peter. The divorce was finalized on May 22, 1838 in Mississippi. The little information listed for the divorce records are: Peter may have deserted the family in 1827. At some point Elizabeth wanted to sell some land. Peter returned in 1837 and left at some point with the two oldest children, possibly taking them to Arkansas. The divorce record also states that Elizabeth had an older brother by the name of George W Freeland and that he had recently passed away in Sumter County, Alabama (though I haven’t found his death, I found a person that might have been him in Alabama in Sumter County and also in Marengo County).
I am ordering the divorce record to see if there is any other information in it. I recently heard from the Lauderdale County, Mississippi Historical Society (Lauderdale County is where the divorce took place) that the record is 18 pages long! Surely it’s a wealth of information, right? (I just hope it’s readable!).
I think I should take the time here to leave a little note for historical societies across the world: Lauderdale County Historical Society does it right. They have a form that you can fill out with what you are looking for. They will then respond immediately to let you know they received your request. Then they search for your record and send another email letting you know if it can be emailed or if it will need to to be snail mailed and the price, asking if you are still interested. THEN you have the option of sending a check or money order OR paying through Pay Pal! YES! This means that they get paid quicker, I get my information quicker and everyone is happy in the end. Take note, historical societies!
Good stuff girl....you do know how to DIG...keep it up!!!!...:)
Posted by: Thelma | 09/26/2011 at 10:30 PM
Interesting read! I am married into the Freeland family in Richland Parish! Wonder if there is a connection?
Posted by: Amanda Freeland | 10/22/2015 at 02:55 PM
Hi Amanda!
That's always a possibility! I will have to look into it!
Thanks!
Posted by: Stephanie | 10/25/2015 at 10:17 AM