George Freeman appears on the 1820 Clay County census, page 122, along with six female slaves. In 1830, he appears as a slave owner. Then, in 1840, he is listed with 4 free colored males and 6 free colored females. That same year, he began living with a white woman, Clarissa Centers, and in 1841 their first child, Elizabeth was born.
The 1850 census finds George and Clarissa on his Clay County farm and lists all of their ten children plus the white child, Franklin, that Clarissa had with a Jesse Brown.
Marriage between blacks and whites in Kentucky would not be legal for another hundred years. It appears that the state made at least one attempt to harass George and Clarissa. The following entry is in the Clay County Court Records: April 12, 1852:
"Commonwealth V. George Freeman for Fornicators. This day came the atty for the Commonwealth and the defendant tho called came not but made default and the process having been executed. It is considered by the court that the defendant make good therefore to the Commonwealth by the payment of sixteen dollars and sixty-six cents and that the Commonwealth recover her costs."
Apparently, George was not cowered for in 1853 the tenth and last child, Antony Senters, was born.
On the 5 June 1860 census, family No. 171 is "Clarica Centers", head of household. Therefore,
George Freeman must have died between 1853 and 1860, being anywhere from 63 to 70 years
old..