http://www.savefreemanbeach.com
Freeman Beach, LLC v. Freeman Heirs, New Hanover County File No. 08 SP 1038
In the 20th century, Freeman Beach was well‐known as the beach,
across from Seabreeze, where African Americans could enjoy the ocean
front. Present‐day Freeman family members have many memories of their
ancestors fishing from the beach and enjoying the natural beauty of the
area. The City of Carolina Beach has converted 143 acres of the
ocean‐front beach to a Park known as Freeman Park.
In dispute in this action are approximately 180 acres of undeveloped
waterfront property at the northern end of Carolina Beach. The original
owner of the land was a man named Alexander Freeman. He is remembered
today as a notable free black man during slavery times and an
incredibly brilliant entrepreneur‐agriculturist. Unlike many of his
era, Alexander Freeman created a Will in 1854. Alexander’s Will left
the 185 acres he owned to his son, Robert Bruce Freeman. Upon
Alexander’s death, which is believed to be sometime around the beginning or during
the Civil War, Robert Bruce Freeman became the owner in fee simple at
the approximate age of 24. During his life, Robert Bruce Freeman took
two wives, Catherine Ann Davis and Lena Swain. In total, he fathered
possibly 19 or 20 children between the two marriages. When Robert later
died intestate in 1902, the property was divided between all of his
children and his second wife.
The partition action is filed by a developer, who claims to own
approximately 72% interest in the land through what appears to have
been a judgment on a defaulted loan in the 1940’s by some of Robert
Freeman’s heirs, and through very recent purchases of other heirs’
interests. The remaining family members are looking for a way to
preserve something of their heritage and keep some portion of the land
undeveloped.
The clerk appointed a guardian selected by the Petitioner, to
represent the unknown heirs as well as known heirs, of Robert Bruce
Freeman.