George Edward FREENEY Jr. Paternal Genetic Genealogy Report

Freeneytown, Rusk County, Texas

Historical records provide insights into the institution of slavery in Rusk County, challenging assumptions about plantation distribution and scale. The DEVEREUX family papers and maps from the Texas General Land Office are valuable resources for understanding this aspect of the county's history.

Today, Freeneytown is a Black community located in the Laneville, Rusk County, Texas area of East Texas. George Edward FREENEY Jr’s father, George Edward FREENEY Sr, shared that Freeneytown was used to label for the descendants of the slaves of Monte Verdi Plantation and surrounding Plantations that found refuge in the area and remained for decades after being freed from slavery. “You been a slave your entire life, and now you are not, and your owner doesn’t want to let you go, but they had to. They had to go somewhere son.”, George Sr. shared. He continued to explain that the community grew into the local “Projects”. George’s Grandmother, Fannie Mae PUNCH was known throughout the community for adopting orphaned children in the Freeneytown community.

Freeneytown, Texas is part of the Texas Almanac's Land Rush program, allowing symbolic association with a specific place in Texas. George Edward FREENEY Jr. adopted Freeneytown through this program, contributing to his family's name heritage. The town holds historical significance as it represents the cities or towns within Rusk County where George Edward FREENEY Jr.'s enslaved ancestors settled and began reconstruction after being freed from slavery on June 19, 1865.

Freeneytown, Rusk County, Texas
Adopted by: George Edward FREENEY Jr. - Black Book: projects
In honor of the enslaved African Americans and their descendants, who continue to build strong community bonds and contribute to humanity.

Rusk County, Texas History

The Republic of Texas was established on March 2, 1836, when Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Modeled after the United States Declaration of Independence, the declaration emphasized the rights of citizens to "life," "liberty," and "property." The Constitution of the Texas Republic, ratified in September 1836, closely resembled the U.S. Constitution but also legalized slavery. The Republic faced economic challenges, ongoing tensions with Mexico, and difficulties in gaining international recognition and trade agreements due to the contentious issue of slavery.

During the Anglo-American colonization period and the Republic, individuals with French Huguenot ancestry, including David Crockett, Mirabeau B. Lamar, John C. Duval, and Pleasant W. Kittrell, migrated to Texas and played significant roles in its history. The DEVEREUX family, descendants of Huguenots, also made their mark in Texas. Fleeing religious persecution in France, they sought refuge in Britain before eventually settling in Texas. John William DEVEREUX and his son Julien Sidney DEVEREUX Sr. arrived in the Republic of Texas in 1841, leaving a lasting impact.

Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, worked towards peace treaties with Native American tribes, sought recognition from European nations, and addressed financial difficulties. However, European nations were hesitant to recognize Texas due to its support of slavery.

Texas was annexed by the United States in December 1845, ending its status as a republic and severing its diplomatic relations. The formal transfer ceremony occurred on February 19, 1846, officially making Texas a state within the Union.

Slavery persisted in Texas until June 19, 1865, when Black Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, on what is now known as "Juneteenth" or "Emancipation Day." General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3, declaring the freedom of all slaves in Texas and officially emancipating them.

Rusk County, named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, was established on January 16, 1843. The first Anglo-American settlers arrived as early as 1829, and the county experienced significant growth in its enslaved population during the mid-19th century, even during the Civil War. The 1860 slave census recorded 6,133 African American individuals in Rusk County, out of a total population of 15,803, including both enslaved individuals and free citizens.

In 1930, the oil discovery by Columbus M. "Dad" Joiner in Rusk County brought prosperity as oil extraction became a major economic driver.