James Freeman (clergyman)

James Freeman (April 22, 1759 – November 14, 1835) was the minister of King's Chapel in Boston for 43 years and the first clergyman in America to call himself a Unitarian. Unlike New England liberal Congregationalist ministers, who approached Unitarianism through Arianism, he was Socinian in theology and developed links with Unitarians in England.

Freeman was born April 22, 1759 to Lois Cobb and Constant Freeman in Charlestown, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. His father was a sea captain turned merchant. James received his secondary education at the Boston Latin Grammar School, where he studied under the well-known schoolmaster, John Lovell. He attended Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1773–77 and, despite the disruptions caused by the Revolutionary War, for a time afterwards pursued theological studies as a graduate resident.

After graduation Freeman prepared a company of men from Cape Cod for service in the Revolutionary army. In 1780 Freeman chartered a small ship bearing a cartel (a safe-conduct) and took his sister and brother to Quebec to rejoin their father, who lived there at that time. En route he was captured by a privateer and confined in a prison ship in Quebec for several months. He then remained in Quebec on parole until 1782. By the end of his life, he was fluent not only in French, as well as Latin, Italian and Spanish.

After he had candidated at various Boston pulpits, in 1782 the Episcopalians at King's Chapel asked Freeman to officiate as their reader for six months. Founded in 1686, King's Chapel was the first Church of England parish in New England. The Rector, Henry Caner, a Loyalist, had been forced to leave in 1776 when the British troops evacuated Boston. After the departure of his assistant a few months later, the Chapel was closed for about a year. In 1777 the Chapel proprietors gave permission to the members of the Old South Church (Congregational), who had been displaced from their own meetinghouse by the British, to worship in King's Chapel. Because of anti-British sentiment, it was popularly known as Stone Chapel. Before long, the original congregation returned to the Chapel, and the two societies, one Episcopalian and one Congregational, shared the facilities until 1783 when the Old South Church congregation returned to its newly renovated building. Freeman was well liked at Stone Chapel. When his six months were concluded, at Easter 1783, the proprietors asked him to be Pastor of the Church.

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